I believe the classical and timeless style of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300 is difficult to supersede; functionality unfortunately is a whole new discussion. The blue lacquered dial and matching ceramic scalloped bezel that is brushed and polished is the best version of a long running series. The 300 metre depth rated dive watch is somewhat obsolete as an effective dive time monitoring device as personal dive computers effectively calculate depth, time and decompression obligations. Who actually dives with tables anymore?

In what was once a required dive instrument, the dive watch along with dive tables are now superseded as dive monitoring tools. Despite the obvious declining functionality of the dive watch as less and less people use dive tables and a depth gauge. I love the aesthetics of the Seamaster Diver 300 reference 212.30.41.20.03.001. The deep lacquered dial and ceramic bezel of the Diver 300 is bold and extremely mesmerising. The brushed and polished stainless steel case sits well on the wrist.

Despite the fact that for most recreational diving applications, the dive timepiece is pretty much obsolete; we all know that – for many it is required dive equipment. A new model of the Seamaster Diver 300 has recently been introduced at Baselworld, despite the excitement, I prefer the previous model. As 2018 is the 25th anniversary of the Diver 300 and the 70th anniversary of the Seamaster range necessitated a revamp. I still believe the dive timer is an essential back-up device and a great day-to-day timepiece that I wear to work and on weekends.

Johnny Farnham burst onto the scene as a pop/rock singer in the late 1960s with his popularity skyrocketing during that period, he was a household name in Australia.

When John first hit the airwaves in Australia I wasn’t even born yet, then as I grew up in the 1970s we all knew who Johnny Farnham was although we tended to think he was washed up after his teen idle status morphed into more of a TV personality. John made a comeback of sorts with a stint replacing Glen Shorrock from the Little River Band from the early to mid 1980s so you tended to think he was trading more on past frame than current form.

That all changed when Whispering Jack was released in 1986 with the album gaining notoriety when You\’re the Voice was released. We all knew who John Farnham was and once this single received radio airtime the album’s success was guaranteed, You\’re the Voice is a brilliant song and remains popular to this day.

I was working away in a remote area as I was asked what’s happening in Perth? My reply was Johnny Farnham had released an album and it looked like it was going to be big, little did I know how big this album was going to be. I liked the album, this turned out to be a massive understatement by myself, I never guessed the album was going to be this big.

Naturally, like everyone else I had a copy in vinyl. My favourite track was Reasons as I really identified with the lyrics, the tune was pretty special too. A Touch of Paradise was very popular gaining plenty of radio airtime as well as Pressure Down. John’s stalled career had been resurrected and his transformation was complete, he was once again a recording artist in his own right held in high respect by pretty much everyone.

We were all overjoyed, he had been trying hard for so long and his persistence had payed off, he is a good guy and his success was well deserved. Thirty two years after Whispering Jack was released, the singles from the album still get airplay. They don’t feel dated and despite his constant assurances that this is his last tour, John still performs live to adoring fans. Maybe I will finally get to attend one of his concerts, then I will be annoyed I didn’t do it twenty years before.

I work in a toxic work environment, in order to create an equitable work environment, the purpose of conducting a review is to firstly identify a problem exists and then work on a solution informing the people involved how their actions affect others.

Or we can take another approach, you want to create a toxic work environment, let me show you what a toxic work environment really is – let’s reverse roles. Most people don’t like their jobs – that’s why they have to pay you to show up everyday. I didn’t fall into that group, I really liked my job, I was happy to show up to work every morning.

Then I was accused/identified of reporting the strategic business unit to the Corruption and Crime Commission and that’s when my enjoyment of the job ended. From what I gathered when I was accused in the office, an anonymous report had been made and I was the guy to be held responsible. When you are employed in the state government, it is the duty of government employees to report unethical and corrupt behaviour to the relevant authority. This is exactly the reason why the state government created whistleblower legislation with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003.

Severe penalties apply with up to a $24,000 fine and 2 years imprisonment for taking detrimental action against a person making a disclosure of wrongdoing. Yet we all know workplace bullying with people hiding behind positions granted via means not meeting the merit selection process is common practice in the government. The Public Sector Commission has created a whole set of guidelines for disclosures, for managers and for public authorities. The guide for disclosures is titled Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up with a line from Plato on the front cover ‘Your silence gives consent’

So when the roles were reversed and these people were subjected to the same behaviour and stresses they imposed on others, they didn’t like it. You can bet they didn’t like it, there was abuse, threats and screaming at me and they really thought it upset me. No, it did not – this is what it feels like when the roles are reversed and the more these individuals react, the harder I laugh at them. I might not start the trouble but you can be sure I can return the stress to a higher level than it was dispatched.

You and your cronies created a toxic work environment and now you are the ones suffering the effects of this new workplace culture that has evolved – I can play this game too. Don’t ever forget that; I can make your life more miserable than you could ever believe. It cuts both ways and since I have been accused of making a public interest disclosure, I also fall within the provisions and the protections of the Act so there is little incentive to take detrimental action against me now – it just won’t work.

It is almost an unbelievable feat, all twelve boys and their coach have been rescued from the Tham Luang cave. The whole world watched on as the Thai Navy SEALs led the rescue, the unit is the Underwater Demolition Assault Unit from the Thai Naval Special Warfare Command.

The rescue was a tragedy however, former Navy SEAL First Class Petty Officer Saman Gunan volunteered to assist with the rescue lost his life staging cylinders in the cave system. This was in anticipation of the rescue operations as conditions deteriorated both inside and outside of the cave forcing rescuers to make a hard call.

The risky decision was made to evacuate the boys in an underwater rescue with supplies ferried to the boys the 2.4 km distance from the water’s edge to the rescue base. The boys were in poor health with two possible lung infections, coughs and a lack of food so that no doubt was a controlling factor. I find it such a tragedy that a volunteer lost his life trying to save lives.

I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up last minute tickets to P!nk’s final Perth show at the Perth Arena on Saturday night. As I understand it, she had two scheduled shows in Perth on Tuesday and Wednesday but owing to sold out shows and plenty of demand, she put on a further two shows on Friday and Saturday night. She can’t ever be accused on not giving what the fans want.

I can’t say that I have ever bought one of her albums and I don’t really know the names of her songs. I do know pretty much all her tunes as she has had plenty of radio time in Perth – they are, after all, very catchy. The show began at 7.30 pm with The Rubens playing as the support act, as I was in general admission due to my very late ticket purchase.

That means I had to stand, a sore knee was going to give me some stress. I really couldn’t see myself up and dancing so that was just going to be standing for me. There was also a DJ playing in-between but I just don’t get it, a DJ plays other people’s music and then he had all shortened versions of part verse and chorus – that I found annoying.

So P!nk, Ms Alecia Moore comes on at 9 pm, at this stage I’m thinking my leg already hurts. I’ve been standing in one place for an hour and a half with people pushing into me, bumping into me getting drinks and so on – I really wished I had a seat. What I do learn is the show is very energetic, there are dancers moving all over the place, a moving backdrop with the show starting with P!nk hanging from a chandelier singing.

I was close enough to see her white teeth as she sang once she had been let off her harness, at one point the show became very intimate with a cello and double base. Throughout the show two of my favourite instruments were playing, the piano and violin with the performers jumping around as they played. There was the arbitrary electric guitar and drums supporting the modern pop sound that P!nk belts out.

What I am witnessing is a performer at the top of her game, there was plenty of dance, aerobatics and good fun. What impressed me the most is her fitness, she is getting flung around on a harness, upside down and doesn’t miss a beat. The show finishes with P!nk in a harness being moved around the whole arena so she sings directly to the people in the back rows.

She is tumbling around, doing cartwheels as she moves and singing, at one point she looks like she is running through the air. You look up while she passes overhead whizzing past and she gets that close you think the sweat will drip off her. I had nearly forgotten about my sore leg at this point – this was a great show.

When I began my undergraduate degree, a unit comprised of a dual critical thinking and academic writing course that I had to complete. I must admit, I was pretty excited by this unit. As I had been a tradesman for twenty years prior to that, I was already making similar decisions, I just didn’t know the actual mechanics and thought processes behind critical thinking.

I would like to expand the study of critical thinking to include deductive reasoning and reflection. Firstly, we were given a large number of academic readings on critical thinking yet most readings failed to succinctly define what critical thinking actually was – I had to go looking for my own answers. They just don’t want to give you a definitive answer, maybe the idea is to work it out yourself, we couldn’t even read a reference book on the subject.

Secondly, we only had a collection of what I thought was unrelated academic readings, no textbook existed for the unit. Since then, my love of bookshops allowed me to stumble across a reference book on critical thinking – if only I had that text during the course. They really do not give us a definitive answer for the definition of critical thinking.

So, I need to define what critical thinking actually is. In one paper, the description of critical thinking was defined as the opposite of irrational and illogical thinking, not a brilliant definition by any standards. So I searched further and found a definition from the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking.

A statement presented by Michael Scriven and Richard Paul at the 8th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking and Education Reform in their paper existed where others did not. For me, this was an improvement but probably not as succinct as I had hoped as I want a definition I can cite easily.

According to Scriven and Paul, critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualising, applying, analysing, synthesising, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness. So, critical thinking must include higher-order skills linked to individual skill-sets of reasoning, problem-solving, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The skill sub-sets involved in critical thinking tend to incorporate the development of an academic argument.

This involves the identification of flaws and weaknesses in an existing argument indicated by making relevant connections and links across multiple disciplines. This then requires analysing the material from a range of sources and perspectives and synthesising possible responses. It is not only important to gather information, the sorting of sources is equally important.

Applying deductive reasoning to academic argument, the process of reasoning requires applying a number of known premises to reach a logical conclusion. As such, general rules of logic are applied to concordance of multiple premises generally assumed to be true. Also described as top down logic, deductive reasoning proceeds from general premises to a specific conclusion.

Finally applying self-reflection to learning, the willingness to seek awareness and consciousness allows a deeper level of learning. Not only are you motivated, being self-critical allows you to analyse study habits to prepare for examinations. If you get the question right, was it because you knew the answer or was it a lucky guess?

Likewise, if you get a question wrong, was it a simple mistake or a lack of knowledge? As a test preparation I have found reflection and critical analysis a tool to not only improve perform in examinations but to increase knowledge retention in general. I can’t claim to be the greatest test taker, instead, with my limited intellect I attempt to use what I have to the greatest effect.

I was never a fan of the wave dial on the older Seamaster Diver 300 timepieces, so when Omega updated to the deep blue or black lacquered dials, I finally decided to part with my cash and purchase an entry-level Seamaster. I think the new wave dial is more elegant than the older series wave dial but while this is a sports watch, it can’t be worn as a dress watch.

Could the 212.30.41.20.03.001 reference or the 212.30.41.20.01.003 reference be worn as an everyday timepiece? The answer is easily yes, could both these timepieces be worn in more formal settings? Again the answer is yes but I’m not so sure with the 2018 release of the Diver 300 but for Omega to bring back the wave dial after just one model indicates there is definitely demand for the wave dial.

The state government in Western Australia has banned single use plastic bags with the law coming into effect on July first. Already retailers have begun phasing out single use plastic bags and reusable plastic bags are on sale if you forget to bring your shopping bags with you. This is a positive initiative and I fully support the state government on their decision.

Whilst it is an inconvenience for me as I live in a small household not producing much waste, we used the plastic bags as rubbish bags never filling our bin up anyway. Now I will have to go out and purchase plastic bags as rubbish bags, that being said, I understand the devastating effect single use plastic bags has on the environment and the need for such laws. Next I believe the state government is going to ban plastic drinking straws and at a local government level helium filled balloons have also been banned as these rise away and end up as rubbish – more good news.

I have been reading the headlines with commentators telling us the the Apple smartwatch has outsold the entire Swiss watch industry – I’m not at all surprised. I am then reading the headlines where these commentators predict the end of the luxury Swiss watch industry – I respectfully disagree.

A luxury mechanical timepiece is a feat of engineering excellence and in most cases an object of aesthetic mechanical beauty. They are mostly purchased by wealthy individuals for their engineering prowess, heritage and style. Performing a little research, I find that Swiss watch sales account for just 1.7% of international sales yet account for approximately 57% of the value of watch sales – that’s some serious value adding.

What we are comparing here is two totally different market segments despite both being wristwatches. Just as the quartz watch disrupted the mechanical watch industry in the 1970s, the tool watch of the previous era reinvented itself into the luxury timepiece segment. People with high disposable incomes are looking for more than just a tool to tell  time, they are seeking brand recognition, style and engineering prowess highly valuing the mechanical timepiece.

The smartphone that is current technology is already in decline, Nokia, Errikson and Motorola phones are no longer for sale – the Blackberry is also history. Payment systems are now contained in rings, people are already getting micro-chipped and other devices will emerge, the smartphone as we know it will be around for a little longer yet .

Whilst Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Rado, TAG Heuer, Tissot and Longines are all well known brands forming the bulk of Swiss watch sales figures, they are not the elite timepieces. The serious timepiece manufacturers of Patek Phillipe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Blancpain, Jaeger LeCoultre, Chopard, IWC, Cartier and A. Lange & Söhne are lessor known outside of the timepiece community yet they are the pinnacle of engineering design.

Just as the fashion watch didn’t destroy the luxury watch industry, brands such as Hugo Boss, Daniel Wellington, Fossil, Michael Kors, Guess, Diesel, Armani, DKNY, Marc Jacobs, Swatch and Lacoste all fulfill a need. These watches are strap on technology designed to be obsolete in a couple of years, this is a totally different philosophy to the luxury watch market.

Tissot is extensively sponsoring sporting events as an official timekeeper, the Australian Football League known as the AFL has been sponsored by Tissot for a couple of years now. The best on ground player on the Friday night game is awarded a Tissot watch after the match; needless to say, this is the premier time slot. I am also informed that a commemorative watch is struck for each player in the Grand Final winning team.

The AFL Grand Final is a huge sporting event on the Australian calendar held on the last weekend of September with the two teams winning their way through the finals series to the Melbourne Cricket Ground event with a capacity of just over 100,000 people for a match to crown the premiership team. Tissot is well placed to capitalise on this market, Tissot is an entry-level watchmaker with a number of sports models.

The National Basketball League in the United States has had Tissot performing timekeeping duties. The NBL is followed worldwide by basketball fans so would have a very high exposure to fans around the globe with individual players gaining international notoriety. Tissot is a mid-tier timepiece in the Swatch Group, one expects as an entry-level Swiss timepiece, this sponsorship would appeal to the mass market as an affordable wrist watch.

I am now starting to see Tissot watches on the wrists of people when I am out and about, so one expects this sponsorship to continue into the future whilst the branding remains successful. Tissot as a brand is supported by the technology invested within the Swatch Group, a consortium of elite Swiss watchmakers filling the full range of watchmakers from entry-level to ultra prestige brands. Is the Tissot strategy working? I would suggest so, this mid-tier timepiece is positioned to cash in on their support of elite level sports.