propertymistro wrote:
I researched cork today, and think it may potentially dint a lot with use over time eg.furniture legs, high heels, when things are dropped on it.  I also researched rubber flooring and I'm still considering rubber flooring as an option.  Polished concrete flooring may be body corporate/noise insulation issue as I live in a…[Read more]

zmagen wrote:
Abe hasn't been waiting for your ingenious couch commentary, and is way ahead of you –

You reckon? Perhaps you should read your reference articles more thoroughly then;

Still, analysts have cited the backpedalling as one of the key disappointments in Abe's growth strategy announced in June. Robert Feldman, chief economist at…[Read more]

Wages are rising at last!!

TEPCO Doubles Hazard Pay For Fukushima Workers

Reuters reports, hazard pay for the thousands of workers on short-term contracts will be increased from 10,000 yen ($100) to 20,000 yen a day,

My guess is that Fuk workers will invariably contribute to the declining population meme in coming years. All for $200/day

Mistro you might want to consider cork tiles. Some pretty mad textures and designs available now. It's relatively easy to self lay as well. They even make tiles for showers.

http://www.mapsoul.com/things-you-should-know-before-installing-cork-wall-tiles/cork-wall-tiles-for-shower/#page

Anything with a fleck pattern will hide almost anything.

Come on Ziv you can do better than that. The idea that the consumer increase in spending is a positive is a stretch. There's lotsa misleading MSM comment around both consumer spending and employment.

Consumer spending has been rising since 09.

Your bigger than normal bump is in anticipation of rising consumption taxes and was spent mostly on…[Read more]

This article neatly summerises many of the points I've been making in recent times. My personal opinion is that the QLD govt will enter a period of 'increased  misallocation' of capital as it struggles with budgetary issues and falling revenues in an increasingly credit constrained world.

If coal’s in trouble, why build more coal ports?

The…[Read more]

When I read this comment I couldn't help but think how relevant it was to your poor old 99% of Japo's in the street..

"Well, in our country," said Alice, still panting a little, "you'd generally get to somewhere else — if you run very fast for a long time, as we've been doing."

    "A slow sort of country!" said the Queen. "Now, here, you see,…[Read more]

It just keeps getting worse for the 99% at least….

Japanese Households Without Savings Climb to Most Since ’63

The proportion reached 31 percent, according to a Bank of Japan survey released in Tokyo yesterday, up from 26 percent a year earlier and the highest since the poll began in 1963.

’Grim’ Situation

“The survey shows a grim wage…[Read more]

JT I don't buy the speculation about future consumption levels. There's a lot of industry driven hype around this topic with an agenda to encourage investment and capital expenditure around coal based industries.

The simple fact is that over capacity has to be addressed even at current growth rates. The reality is demand may well stay flat for a…[Read more]

These are the guys you have to worry about.

They are effectively collapsing the price of coal for Australia.

The other concern for AU is that it has less than 80 years of known reserves. There is unlikely to be a significant growth in coal exports. Strategically AU will eventually be forced to stop exporting to ensure it's own future energy…[Read more]

Coal (thermal) is near it's peak I'm guessing. The Chinese are choking themselves to death on pollution and the rest of the world as well. In the scheme of things India takes bugger all. See graphic below for usage distribution.

Since this chart was released China has capped its use of thermal coal because of pollution so the graphic should…[Read more]

State governments are hurting with a steady drop off in revenues. There's worse to come and the big guys know it. Subsidies or tax reductions won't be enough to progress a project on its own. What many don't realise is that the Chinese are getting set to reduce over capacity in their system that is fueling massive distortions in the placement of…[Read more]

From your fist link above;

–Japan Sep Avg Wages +0.1% Y/Y, 1st Rise in 3 Months: Aug -0.9

this is a monthly average and doesn't elaborate on the trend

–Japan Sep Avg Base Wages -0.3% Y/Y, 16th Straight Drop

base wages are falling on a long term trend.

–Japan Sep Overtime Pay +3.5% Y/Y; 6th Straight Rise; Aug +3.0%

production is lifting…[Read more]

*****The 99%

"I pay more when I go grocery shopping. I also pay more for gasoline," said Noriko Kobayashi, who works at an advertising agency. "As my monthly salary and bonuses haven't increased, the rise in consumer prices hurts me," the 39-year-old said. "I haven't felt any benefits from Abenomics."

Ms. Kobayashi's woes are shared by millions…[Read more]

The next big theft comes next year when the consumption tax jumps from 5 – 8%. They expect to raise Y8T but then give back Y5T in stimulus. We all know who will get the most benefit from that stimulus package and it won't be Mr &Mrs Tojo

Some how this is being pitched as debt reduction –

Abe takes bold tax step towards cutting debt
Japanese PM…[Read more]

zmagen wrote:
no "move quick and break things" philosophies, they do it carefully, slowly, and with plenty of room to retract if things go bad

Again your credibility is on the line with statements like this.

Explain to me what part of slow and carefully applies to smashing their currency

What part of slowly and carefully applies to BOJ QE…[Read more]

Quote:

…Japanese corporations are compensating with bonuses and overtime, in order to satisfy shareholders and management

…what I said was that the reason they are not raising base wages is to satisfy stake holders.

When you make contradictory statements like this and then accuse me of misreading …… jeez! You should take up writing…[Read more]

zmagen wrote:
Alzheimer's again? Poor chap…just to reiterate – Japanese corporations are compensating with bonuses and overtime, in order to satisfy shareholders and management,

Do you really believe that propaganda?? When in time has any business ever raised employee compensation to satisfy shareholders and management.  When you say stuff…[Read more]

In terms of the inflation outlook for Japan this will be problematic. There is a belief that CB's can 'manage' inflation. The idea is almost laughable. CB's have only ever had limited success in this area. Anyone who thinks that after decades of deflation the BOJ has now discovered how to generate inflation and then control it is misguided to say…[Read more]