Social media shutdown: a diversion from issues that matter

Social media shutdown: a diversion from issues that matter

A few years ago, the Black Lives Matter movement in the US faced worse carnage than the situation in Port Moresby on January 10, 2024. Despite this, even Trump didn’t contemplate a social media blackout.

The crucial focus should be on addressing key issues:

Police Discipline:

Whilst frustration over pay is understandable, abandoning posts over pay is unacceptable, considering the potential consequences in a city susceptible to exploitation during a vacuum. It’s not the first time this rampage occurred, and police would have foreseen this.

Human Error:

The system failure during the first pay day of 2024 was a result of human error in adjusting the payroll system on time, highlighting a failure in duty along the chain. Someone messed up along the chain, and needs to be held accountable.

Lawlessness:

Growing impunity in PNG reflects a lack of respect for law, fellow humans, and property. If the government continues to neglect investment in law and order, we will see this again and again. Every election is considered worse than the previous one. This will continue unless a serious effort is made to address a breakdown in nationwide law and order.

Government Decisions:

Government claims of no recent tax increases overlook the impact of previous raises, contributing to the ongoing economic challenges and rising inflation. If the tax threshold is increased to K20, 000 but inflation is 5%, your actual pay per annum is K15, 000. If you are taxed at around 40% in perious years, just because there was no increase in 2024 doesn’t mean you’re better off. You are still taxed at 40%, and then inflation takes away 5% of your money’s worth. But you will never hear that from the government.

Ignorance and Lack of Awareness:

Many Papua New Guineans lack understanding of the impacts of taxes and high inflation, partly due to a government communication gap.

Shutting down social media is not the solution; instead, the government should prioritize honesty, conduct awareness campaigns, or consider resigning if unable to address these issues effectively.

“Glitches in the Systems “

“Glitches in the Systems ” – (A Computer Programmers View)

By Melford Ipata via LinkedIn

Hey there! So, imagine you’re using a fancy computer system, like the Alesco Payroll System that the PNG Government uses. Some people might think there’s this magic thing called a “glitch in the system” that can automatically undo changes made by the people. Well, as a computer programmer, let me clear that up for you.

Computer systems, including Alesco, are super carefully designed software by smart programmers to follow specific instructions. Sure, sometimes there are bugs or glitches, but they’re not little ‘computer wizards’ undoing tax rates on their own. Usually, those glitches happen because of human mistakes during the coding process or when different parts of the system don’t get along. But on a commercial systems like Alesco, they have been fixed long before.

Now, the Alesco System is top-notch commercial software used worldwide. It’s been tested like crazy by expert programmers from all over the world for users. So, the idea that it can randomly undo changes all by itself doesn’t make sense as in the case of Finance Department & IRC. Computer programs don’t have brains; they just do what they’re told. If they are confused, they will generate an error message seeking additional information from the users but undoing changes on its own is out of concept.

In programming, being accountable is crucial. If something needs fixing or changing, it’s up to us programmers or someone authorized to do it on purpose. The thought that a system can magically change/undo things without a human is not possible. It overlooks the hard work and responsibility of programmers.

To sum it up, don’t buy into the idea that a “glitch in the system” can undo changes magically. Understanding computer programming is more complex than that. Alesco, being a worldwide-used commercial payroll software, is reliable and has minimal glitches. So, be careful what you say about it – making false claims can lead to legal trouble!

James Marape in fact fears MAN

Don’t believe this front page story. James Marape fears man. James Marape’s fear of man is evident through various actions:

  1. The Speaker, a Pangu Pati member, convened a 2020 Parliament meeting after the legal adjournment to prepare for a no-confidence vote chaired by the deputy speaker.
  2. In 2020, Marape’s government unlawfully convened and passed legislation unopposed, avoiding a no-confidence vote while the opposition, with majority support, was in Vanimo.
  3. The replacement of the Parliamentary Business Committee (PBC) with government MPs, responsible for vetting no-confidence vote notices, further highlights Marape’s manipulation of processes.
  4. Marape, a Pangu Pati member, denied a no-confidence vote in 2020, citing a sidelined MP, despite the opposition having the numbers.

These actions raise questions about Marape’s professed fear of God, as his maneuvers in parliamentary procedures and engagement in unconstitutional practices to evade a no-confidence vote suggest a deeper apprehension of man. After all, a vote of no confidence is a human-driven process, not divine.

Happy New Year 2024

1 January 2024

No motivational talk here.

We work our asses off in 2024. Luck favours the hardworking. A few things that might help:

  1. Write it down

Setting goals brings descipline, even if you don’t achieve it all. You generally move in the direct of the goals you set, even if not precisely.

  1. Sense of progress

As you meet the first minor targets, it sets in motion momentum. It’s the small gains, the tiny successes. The dopamine that comes with it.

  1. Consistency

If, for instance, your plan is to read one book every two weeks, be consistent. Consistency means you read a page when your grandma dies. Read a page when it’s your brother’s bride price. Read a page during public holidays. Read a page when your team loses. Consistency means just that, consistency.

  1. Compounding effect

By December 31, 2024 you will look back at the incremental gains of 2024. It will become the dopamine for 2025.

Everything compounds. Knowledge compounds. Success compounds. Dopamine compounds.

Give yourself a chance by writing it down. And then working you ass off.

  1. The Art of Not Giving A Fuck

It’s actually the tile of a great book. Find it, and read it.

Decided whose opinions matter, and that it should affect your emotions, decisions, etc., and then tell the rest to go to hell.

(Note: this doesn’t mean you something illegal or unethical).

Happy New Year 2024!

Best posts of 2023: Academia Nomad

Active year on Academia Nomad blog and especially the Facebook page. Below are the top 5 Academia Nomad post on Facebook that went viral. In addition are the most funniest, most controversial, most useful, call for action, among few others. Which one was your favourite? Is there any we missed?

Posts on Facebook that went viral:

A. Snax / Em Nau Biscuit (the company almost shut down)

477 shares

B. Investing in BSP-Kina is simple, follow these steps

463 shares

C. K10, 300 phone (cost of one iPhone 15 PROMAX)

415 shares

D. A response to PNG’s K6 million expense on King Charles’ coronation

228 shares

E. Why is PNG so uninformed and out of touch? (Referring to the Governor General of PNG sitting on the chair whist the Prime Minister of Fiji sat on the floor)

188 shares

Others:

A. Funniest post of 2023: Repost of Wilson Punim’s ‘Solwara i silip sore’:

Close to 1000 reactions 😂

B. Controversial post of 2023: No thunder, just rain: Mainline Churches in PNG

Post referencing mainline churches’ contribution to integral human development of PNG

C. Best places voted for visit in PNG: Kavieng, Tufi, Kopkop Island

D. Call to action: during the height of JT branding PNG primitives and trip to UK costing K6 million, we provided a template and instructions on how to lodge complaints to the Ombudsman Commission (more than 200 shares, and a good number of people used the template to lodge complaints)

E. Most useful post of 2023: List of Platforms in the Pacific that pay you for writing

It’s been a great year on Academia Nomad. Thank you all.

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