In Jozi's glitzy suburbia
The dirt-poor bloke licks his cracked lips
As the flashy wagons breeze by
Wondering how it might feel to have it all
The filthy-rich dude bites his reddened lips
A sitting duck in the Q7 as wretched masses dive and dock by
Wondering how it might feel to lose it all
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Susan Boyle on the Boil!
Scottish singing sensation, Susan Boyle is making a name for herself and in the process raking in serious bucks. Her star is about to shine like you wont believe it!
Having come up second in the 'Britain's Got Talent' reality show, Ms Boyle is carving a place for herself in the global music industry. She has already sold over a million copies of her debut album I Dreamed A Dream in the UK and US alone. Currently enjoying an unprecedented run in the charts both the US and the UK, she is on her way of becoming a superstar. Ms Boyle has sold more than 410 000 copies of I Dreamed A Dream - the biggest first week sales for a debut album in British chart history.
The album has outsold the rest of the top five albums combined, including boyband JLS, Black Eyed Peas and Queen. The 48-year old Boyle is also climbing the US charts and "is already outselling Rihanna, Lady Gaga and 50 Cent", according to her spokesperson.
A fascinating example for all late bloomers.
May her star as well as yours continue to shine in years ahead.
Having come up second in the 'Britain's Got Talent' reality show, Ms Boyle is carving a place for herself in the global music industry. She has already sold over a million copies of her debut album I Dreamed A Dream in the UK and US alone. Currently enjoying an unprecedented run in the charts both the US and the UK, she is on her way of becoming a superstar. Ms Boyle has sold more than 410 000 copies of I Dreamed A Dream - the biggest first week sales for a debut album in British chart history.
The album has outsold the rest of the top five albums combined, including boyband JLS, Black Eyed Peas and Queen. The 48-year old Boyle is also climbing the US charts and "is already outselling Rihanna, Lady Gaga and 50 Cent", according to her spokesperson.
A fascinating example for all late bloomers.
May her star as well as yours continue to shine in years ahead.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Cents & Sensibility
There is evidence pointing to the fact that the global economic contagion is bottoming out. There is some sort of optimism on the distant horizon in many markets out there.
The Chinese economy is in a sound shape. In its China Economics Outlook for 2009, the Hong Kong-based Morgan Stanley Asia forecast China's baseline GDP growth would be around 7.6% percent this year, with the bull and bear scenarios projected at 9 percent and 6 percent respectively. That is pretty decent considering the acute downturn in China's exports to the west.
The Indian economy is also doing pretty fine; driven by domestic consumption and a growing middle class with a colossal appetite for the fine things of life. A 6.5% growth rate is forecasted for 2009.
Going forward, China and India are clearly two of the most important markets considering the weight they carry in global trade. After all, these two make up about half the population of the entire global village. The other BRIC economies-Russia and Brazil-are expected to record very low growth in 2010.
Commodity prices are beginning to show signs of positive momentum. So there are some indications of hope.
Having said that, it will take years before there is a complete upswing in the global economy once again. The expected growth in Africa stands around 3.5% this year. Pretty dismal!
There is, therefore, the need for nations, firms, families and individuals to continue keeping a tight budget for the foreseeable future. A cent saved here and there will ultimately bring about a relief to the many living on the borderline.
It is time to upload the austerity measures. Swap the fuel guzzler for an economy car. Cut down on your utility consumption to the barest minimum. Postpone the holiday travels. Cut out eating out altogether, if possible. Do your shopping at the cheaper alternatives.
However, in all your cuttings, make sure your life policy, retirement policy and medical aid policy are not sacrificed for comfort. You never know when you will really need them.
Finally don't forget to search within yourself for other skills you have that you could utilize to bring in the extra buck. Entrepreneurship is critical at a time like the one we are living in not just as a means of survival but most importantly for building a solid foundation for prosperity in the next cycle of boom. Where there is a will, there is always a way.
The Chinese economy is in a sound shape. In its China Economics Outlook for 2009, the Hong Kong-based Morgan Stanley Asia forecast China's baseline GDP growth would be around 7.6% percent this year, with the bull and bear scenarios projected at 9 percent and 6 percent respectively. That is pretty decent considering the acute downturn in China's exports to the west.
The Indian economy is also doing pretty fine; driven by domestic consumption and a growing middle class with a colossal appetite for the fine things of life. A 6.5% growth rate is forecasted for 2009.
Going forward, China and India are clearly two of the most important markets considering the weight they carry in global trade. After all, these two make up about half the population of the entire global village. The other BRIC economies-Russia and Brazil-are expected to record very low growth in 2010.
Commodity prices are beginning to show signs of positive momentum. So there are some indications of hope.
Having said that, it will take years before there is a complete upswing in the global economy once again. The expected growth in Africa stands around 3.5% this year. Pretty dismal!
There is, therefore, the need for nations, firms, families and individuals to continue keeping a tight budget for the foreseeable future. A cent saved here and there will ultimately bring about a relief to the many living on the borderline.
It is time to upload the austerity measures. Swap the fuel guzzler for an economy car. Cut down on your utility consumption to the barest minimum. Postpone the holiday travels. Cut out eating out altogether, if possible. Do your shopping at the cheaper alternatives.
However, in all your cuttings, make sure your life policy, retirement policy and medical aid policy are not sacrificed for comfort. You never know when you will really need them.
Finally don't forget to search within yourself for other skills you have that you could utilize to bring in the extra buck. Entrepreneurship is critical at a time like the one we are living in not just as a means of survival but most importantly for building a solid foundation for prosperity in the next cycle of boom. Where there is a will, there is always a way.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Do you Believe In Visions?
Early this morning, whilst having my quiet time, I had a closed vision.
A really exciting vision if you ask me.
I saw a green bucket half-filled with nominal cash sitting before me.
Also in my hands was a huge bundle of cash in the same currency.
It was a really short vision. Just as it came, it suddenly went.
It appeared to me as if I was removing the white strips of paper binding the cash, counting it and then placing it in the bucket.
I am still trying to understand the vision.
Three things are clear though.
A really exciting vision if you ask me.
I saw a green bucket half-filled with nominal cash sitting before me.
Also in my hands was a huge bundle of cash in the same currency.
It was a really short vision. Just as it came, it suddenly went.
It appeared to me as if I was removing the white strips of paper binding the cash, counting it and then placing it in the bucket.
I am still trying to understand the vision.
Three things are clear though.
- A green bucket ?????????????????
- Lots of crisp cash in an unknown currency ?
- Cash was properly bundled in white paper strips ?
If you really understand visions( not dreams because I was awake), please help me out here with understanding.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Plumber Gives Away Plum Treasure
In this dreary season of severe shortage of all manner of cash, how could a cash-forsaken plumber mistake a bounty of a treasure for a bomb?
A clueless plumber digging a drainage system for the purpose of installing water pipes in the East Rand of Johannesburg comes across a sopping cooler box buried about two metres below the surface.
Convinced that he had chanced upon a deadly cocktail of super bombs similar to Saddam Hussein's yet unearthed weapons of mass destruction, he dialed the police hot-line to report that the clicking devices are about to flatten the motherland.
The bomb disposal unit arrives in a flash.
Box is meticulously opened and... instead of a dreadful beast of super bombs, they unwrap 1.5 million rands in hard cool cash.
Cops dutifully load bounty into their car for 'further investigations', leaving behind bewildered plumber to his fate of digging up dirt.
What would you have done?
A clueless plumber digging a drainage system for the purpose of installing water pipes in the East Rand of Johannesburg comes across a sopping cooler box buried about two metres below the surface.
Convinced that he had chanced upon a deadly cocktail of super bombs similar to Saddam Hussein's yet unearthed weapons of mass destruction, he dialed the police hot-line to report that the clicking devices are about to flatten the motherland.
The bomb disposal unit arrives in a flash.
Box is meticulously opened and... instead of a dreadful beast of super bombs, they unwrap 1.5 million rands in hard cool cash.
Cops dutifully load bounty into their car for 'further investigations', leaving behind bewildered plumber to his fate of digging up dirt.
What would you have done?
Friday, November 7, 2008
Matters of Speed and the Pocket
Yesterday, I had some me-time and decided to go and check out some of the latest cool toys in town at the Johannesburg International Motor Show.
Let me state forthright that I love cars, good cars I mean.
After literally jumping all over the place, I could not make up my mind on what I would buy if I had the money.
Like all forms of window-shopping, visiting a motor show has its own advantages.
First, you don't need to part with any money apart from the entrance fees and whatever you choose to spend on snacks. Second, it is a feast for the eyes. Third, you can stand by some of the cars and dream yourself to mechanical heaven.
The problem, of course, is when you see something that you really want but the pocket is not deep enough to afford it. With the credit crunch pointing to severe financial troubles going forward, I don't want to take anything on credit.
Four New models really caught my attention: The Audi Q5, the Merc C class, the Nissan Murano and the Land RoverLRX. All of these cars are fabulous and wicked but where the heck am I supposed to get the absurd money for something which for all intents and purposes will become an anti-matter in a matter of two years.
My verdict: I am keeping my golden oldie!
Let me state forthright that I love cars, good cars I mean.
After literally jumping all over the place, I could not make up my mind on what I would buy if I had the money.
Like all forms of window-shopping, visiting a motor show has its own advantages.
First, you don't need to part with any money apart from the entrance fees and whatever you choose to spend on snacks. Second, it is a feast for the eyes. Third, you can stand by some of the cars and dream yourself to mechanical heaven.
The problem, of course, is when you see something that you really want but the pocket is not deep enough to afford it. With the credit crunch pointing to severe financial troubles going forward, I don't want to take anything on credit.
Four New models really caught my attention: The Audi Q5, the Merc C class, the Nissan Murano and the Land RoverLRX. All of these cars are fabulous and wicked but where the heck am I supposed to get the absurd money for something which for all intents and purposes will become an anti-matter in a matter of two years.
My verdict: I am keeping my golden oldie!
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