<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032</id><updated>2011-11-27T16:08:57.895-08:00</updated><category term='story'/><category term='obesity'/><category term='Doom'/><category term='stimulus'/><category term='recession'/><category term='Economic downturn'/><category term='Corporations'/><category term='budget'/><category term='Mitsubishi'/><category term='stealing'/><category term='General Motors'/><category term='policy'/><category term='moral'/><category term='belt'/><category term='downturm'/><category term='government'/><category term='CSIRO'/><category term='belting'/><category term='borrowing'/><category term='pressing'/><category term='Wayne Swan'/><category term='banks'/><category term='bankruptcy'/><category term='home'/><category term='bike'/><category term='fiscal'/><category term='Rudd'/><category term='losing'/><category term='carbon'/><category term='FIAT'/><category term='clothes'/><category term='downsizing'/><category term='optimism'/><category term='emissions'/><category term='Adelaide'/><category term='Gloom'/><category term='Lehman Brothers'/><category term='electric cars'/><category term='small cars'/><category term='economic'/><title type='text'>The economic downturn</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>15</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-4994618355708911128</id><published>2009-09-21T14:20:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-21T14:35:02.168-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The disposable Russian bride</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Srfug3ddvXI/AAAAAAAAAqU/iErVnJiNzag/s1600-h/week8+041.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384034127955475826" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Srfug3ddvXI/AAAAAAAAAqU/iErVnJiNzag/s320/week8+041.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Not so long ago, before a guy with a Russian sounding name brought the financial institutions to their knees, the Australian industry was crying out for skilled workers in all fields. The Australian Government, like any good and democratically elected government, has quickly reacted to this and has promptly increased the immigration numbers, adding a special visa for the skilled migrants.&lt;br /&gt;Australia has always been in this &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;privileged&lt;/span&gt; situation - whenever there was a shortage, the immigration gates would open.&lt;br /&gt;It seems that now the Chinese economy is recovering faster that expected, so companies who have been laying off staff like there was no tomorrow are again crying out for skilled workforce.&lt;br /&gt;But like so many men affected by mid-life crisis who have had enough of their &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;wives&lt;/span&gt; cooking and are looking for some fresh &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;Russian&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;borscht&lt;/span&gt;, these companies are doing the same.&lt;br /&gt;They are telling the government that the old workforce is way too old and it is impossible to re-train old staff (even though the staff would be doing the same job).&lt;br /&gt;And the government, like any good and democratically elected government, seems to be embarking again in searching for the disposable Russian bride.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What to do with poor old women left behind?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-4994618355708911128?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/4994618355708911128'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/4994618355708911128'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/09/disposable-russian-bride.html' title='The disposable Russian bride'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Srfug3ddvXI/AAAAAAAAAqU/iErVnJiNzag/s72-c/week8+041.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-5602934925228472679</id><published>2009-07-27T15:30:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-27T15:36:09.648-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='optimism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Gloom'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Doom'/><title type='text'>Economic doomsters</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sm4q4s9q6XI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/cwK_3nmuk5E/s1600-h/Day+2+BVAD+drawing+002.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363271359875705202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sm4q4s9q6XI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/cwK_3nmuk5E/s320/Day+2+BVAD+drawing+002.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Almost half a year to go and some people believe 2009 is not a good year.&lt;br /&gt;I say, there is still time.&lt;br /&gt;Before you spend your money on rope and soap, take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the ride. You'll get there, eventually. Why rush into it?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-5602934925228472679?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/5602934925228472679'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/5602934925228472679'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/07/economic-doomsters.html' title='Economic doomsters'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sm4q4s9q6XI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/cwK_3nmuk5E/s72-c/Day+2+BVAD+drawing+002.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-6870350160015511263</id><published>2009-07-21T13:08:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-21T13:16:31.252-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Corporations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Lehman Brothers'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='downsizing'/><title type='text'>Current world economy - corporate suicide</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SmYgngmE4pI/AAAAAAAAAig/WY56YbRlRso/s1600-h/Day+2+BVAD+drawing+001.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361008269567779474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SmYgngmE4pI/AAAAAAAAAig/WY56YbRlRso/s320/Day+2+BVAD+drawing+001.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; I found this on a window and I am wondering if it's wishful thinking or a premonition?&lt;br /&gt;It is hard to believe it is true &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;when&lt;/span&gt; you consider that corporations are getting stronger through mergers and acquisitions. especially in times like this.&lt;br /&gt;Some corporations may fail, like those Blues Brothers, but others will get fatter.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-6870350160015511263?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/6870350160015511263'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/6870350160015511263'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/07/current-worle-economy-corporate-suicide.html' title='Current world economy - corporate suicide'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SmYgngmE4pI/AAAAAAAAAig/WY56YbRlRso/s72-c/Day+2+BVAD+drawing+001.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-7710879807054422744</id><published>2009-06-11T14:32:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-11T14:35:15.485-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Unemployment in Australia at 5.7%</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="color:#000000;"&gt;UNEMPLOYED&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;WILL DO ANY&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;PAID&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;WORK&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-7710879807054422744?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/7710879807054422744'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/7710879807054422744'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/06/unemployment-in-australia-at-57.html' title='Unemployment in Australia at 5.7%'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-2364020974297969999</id><published>2009-06-01T14:55:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-01T23:19:53.871-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Holden just doesn't get it</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SiRO0Wp9VqI/AAAAAAAAAa4/2ET2L7O3HBY/s1600-h/downsizing+10.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342481719309981346" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SiRO0Wp9VqI/AAAAAAAAAa4/2ET2L7O3HBY/s320/downsizing+10.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;On the day General Motors has filed for &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;bankruptcy&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;Holden&lt;/span&gt;, their Asia-Pacific subsidiary has announced they're in a great position. They are in the process of implementing some revolutionary technologies to their six cylinder engines which power their enormous Australian cars. Australians are already lining up to spend their Rudd government stimulus package on the new engines.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Out of excitement, millions of Australians who are losing their jobs due to the economic downturn are buying &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;&lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;Holdens&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; from their separation packages.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-2364020974297969999?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/2364020974297969999'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/2364020974297969999'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/06/holden-just-doesnt-get-it.html' title='Holden just doesn&apos;t get it'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SiRO0Wp9VqI/AAAAAAAAAa4/2ET2L7O3HBY/s72-c/downsizing+10.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-3042609936303840031</id><published>2009-05-28T17:31:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-01T23:25:53.780-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='bankruptcy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='electric cars'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='small cars'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='General Motors'/><title type='text'>Downsizing Italian style - 4</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sh8tKGsnzpI/AAAAAAAAAaI/qrah6r_m0aU/s1600-h/downsizing+6.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341037334704410258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sh8tKGsnzpI/AAAAAAAAAaI/qrah6r_m0aU/s320/downsizing+6.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;General Motors may survive bankruptcy - great news! Maybe this time around they will learn to make what people need!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-3042609936303840031?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/3042609936303840031'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/3042609936303840031'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/downsizing-italian-style.html' title='Downsizing Italian style - 4'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sh8tKGsnzpI/AAAAAAAAAaI/qrah6r_m0aU/s72-c/downsizing+6.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-7637603259823451883</id><published>2009-05-23T22:15:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-23T22:19:45.147-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='recession'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='clothes'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='pressing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='losing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Economic downturn'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='home'/><title type='text'>Ironing - one of the victims of the Economic downturn</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/ShjYKdpS2GI/AAAAAAAAAXM/uoIz6vtjxqQ/s1600-h/Belt+030.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339255032515844194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/ShjYKdpS2GI/AAAAAAAAAXM/uoIz6vtjxqQ/s320/Belt+030.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;One of the first luxuries to go in recession is ironing. Why would you need pressed &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;clothes&lt;/span&gt; if you are unemployed and losing your home?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-7637603259823451883?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/7637603259823451883'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/7637603259823451883'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/ironing-one-of-victims-of-economic.html' title='Ironing - one of the victims of the Economic downturn'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/ShjYKdpS2GI/AAAAAAAAAXM/uoIz6vtjxqQ/s72-c/Belt+030.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-61698301696382399</id><published>2009-05-19T14:37:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-19T14:43:53.454-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Downsizing Italian style 3</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/ShMnbGFLchI/AAAAAAAAAVY/dzB-bjH2G0g/s1600-h/downsizing+5.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337653329806455314" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/ShMnbGFLchI/AAAAAAAAAVY/dzB-bjH2G0g/s320/downsizing+5.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; With the Australian &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;Government&lt;/span&gt; confident that Australia will be out of recession this Christmas, following yesterday's &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;assessment&lt;/span&gt; by the Reserve Bank, there will be a long time before you'll see these cars on Australian roads.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-61698301696382399?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/61698301696382399'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/61698301696382399'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/downsizing-italian-style-3.html' title='Downsizing Italian style 3'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/ShMnbGFLchI/AAAAAAAAAVY/dzB-bjH2G0g/s72-c/downsizing+5.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-9210055603681288397</id><published>2009-05-16T14:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-16T14:50:53.479-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Recycling</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sg80ViBA3_I/AAAAAAAAAUc/AOua6vom19M/s1600-h/vienna07172.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336541627970281458" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sg80ViBA3_I/AAAAAAAAAUc/AOua6vom19M/s320/vienna07172.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; In a move to reduce cost, car manufacturers have gone to extremes after massive layoffs have failed to bring results. From July, all new cars will have between 10% and 90% recycled parts.&lt;br /&gt;The good news - recycled parts have been extensively tested.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-9210055603681288397?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/9210055603681288397'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/9210055603681288397'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/recycling.html' title='Recycling'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sg80ViBA3_I/AAAAAAAAAUc/AOua6vom19M/s72-c/vienna07172.JPG' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-5560926230800938571</id><published>2009-05-14T14:25:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-14T14:30:19.997-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Fighting the recession</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgyMfRaNECI/AAAAAAAAAT8/EsHsc3dtMBA/s1600-h/beating+the+economic+downturn.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335794127404339234" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgyMfRaNECI/AAAAAAAAAT8/EsHsc3dtMBA/s320/beating+the+economic+downturn.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;In these tough times, to survive, you need to think inside the square. That's where the cashed-up tourists are.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-5560926230800938571?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/5560926230800938571'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/5560926230800938571'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/fighting-recession.html' title='Fighting the recession'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgyMfRaNECI/AAAAAAAAAT8/EsHsc3dtMBA/s72-c/beating+the+economic+downturn.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-90115908653114923</id><published>2009-05-12T14:22:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-12T15:57:29.174-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Wayne Swan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='CSIRO'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Rudd'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='emissions'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='belting'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='carbon'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='obesity'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='government'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='stimulus'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='budget'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='belt'/><title type='text'>Good news in Wayne Swan's Budget</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgnoyxaX6-I/AAAAAAAAATU/OManV-lzI_g/s1600-h/Belt+017.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335051192552123362" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgnoyxaX6-I/AAAAAAAAATU/OManV-lzI_g/s320/Belt+017.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Retailers are the big &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;winners&lt;/span&gt; from yesterday's budget, as Australians are lining up to spend the Rudd government's stimulus package on the new belt developed by the &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;CSIRO&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The belt is said to be 25% stronger and 30% shorter than a normal belt and it is expected to last a minimum of ten years.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The belt is expected to &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;drastically&lt;/span&gt; reduce the obesity rate in Australia and the carbon emissions.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-90115908653114923?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/90115908653114923'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/90115908653114923'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/good-news-in-wayne-swanns-budget.html' title='Good news in Wayne Swan&apos;s Budget'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgnoyxaX6-I/AAAAAAAAATU/OManV-lzI_g/s72-c/Belt+017.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-6549888462286431568</id><published>2009-05-10T14:12:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-10T14:19:02.268-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Downsizing Italian style (2)</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgdDiZqfujI/AAAAAAAAAS0/LHR2EL8mwtQ/s1600-h/downsizing+2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334306541927381554" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgdDiZqfujI/AAAAAAAAAS0/LHR2EL8mwtQ/s320/downsizing+2.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; GM Holden have announced the introduction in production of a new compact car.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;To get the support of the public, management have decided to replace all Company cars with small cars (see picture), effective immediately.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;The move is expected to allow Australia to reach its carbon emissions target and has been welcome by the Greens.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-6549888462286431568?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/6549888462286431568'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/6549888462286431568'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/downsizing-italian-style-2.html' title='Downsizing Italian style (2)'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgdDiZqfujI/AAAAAAAAAS0/LHR2EL8mwtQ/s72-c/downsizing+2.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-1504722512022926433</id><published>2009-05-09T14:44:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-09T14:49:09.251-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Happy Mother's day!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgX5iQbDj9I/AAAAAAAAASU/S1kAJQ_11f4/s1600-h/Small+paintings+011.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333943700609535954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgX5iQbDj9I/AAAAAAAAASU/S1kAJQ_11f4/s320/Small+paintings+011.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Found these flowers heavily discounted at the supermarket and I thought I'll share them with all the mothers in the world. It is encouraging to see that supermarkets are helping the community celebrate Mother's day in this economic climate.&lt;br /&gt;Happy Mother's day!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-1504722512022926433?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/1504722512022926433'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/1504722512022926433'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/happy-mothers-day.html' title='Happy Mother&apos;s day!'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgX5iQbDj9I/AAAAAAAAASU/S1kAJQ_11f4/s72-c/Small+paintings+011.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-6282414282641037625</id><published>2009-05-08T18:54:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-08T18:58:54.141-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='stealing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='policy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='bike'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='banks'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='borrowing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fiscal'/><title type='text'>Borrowing has become harder in the current climate</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgTimqYEKXI/AAAAAAAAAR8/SJUeXVXJ3qE/s1600-h/borrowing.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333637012551641458" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgTimqYEKXI/AAAAAAAAAR8/SJUeXVXJ3qE/s320/borrowing.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Small businesses are feeling the effects of the economic downturn, as it becomes harder to borrow money from the banks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-6282414282641037625?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/6282414282641037625'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/6282414282641037625'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/borrowing-has-become-harder-in-current.html' title='Borrowing has become harder in the current climate'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgTimqYEKXI/AAAAAAAAAR8/SJUeXVXJ3qE/s72-c/borrowing.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7483204547084616032.post-7033085343363784063</id><published>2009-05-06T20:25:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-06T20:30:39.115-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='FIAT'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='moral'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Mitsubishi'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Adelaide'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='economic'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='story'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='General Motors'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='downturm'/><title type='text'>Downsizing Italian style 1</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgJU2AAcIbI/AAAAAAAAARE/aR0iJyAKrPc/s1600-h/Downsizing.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332918195451601330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgJU2AAcIbI/AAAAAAAAARE/aR0iJyAKrPc/s320/Downsizing.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;No wonder FIAT is buying General Motors.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A while ago, a friend of mine went for a job interview with Mitsubishi in Adelaide.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;He told them that the future for the Australian car manufacturers would no doubt be to build small cars. They laughed and sent him away.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Who are they now, I hear you say, and rightly so.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7483204547084616032-7033085343363784063?l=theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/7033085343363784063'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7483204547084616032/posts/default/7033085343363784063'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://theeconomicdownturn.blogspot.com/2009/05/downsizing-italian-style-1.html' title='Downsizing Italian style 1'/><author><name>Stefan Maguran</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17424584021650134892</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='33' height='23' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/Sty_pri7bHI/AAAAAAAAAuI/QLTs1z8t6og/S220/Stefan+Maguran+small.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zsmMFGdKym4/SgJU2AAcIbI/AAAAAAAAARE/aR0iJyAKrPc/s72-c/Downsizing.jpg' height='72' width='72'/></entry></feed>
