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4WD (Reply - See below)
you make it sound like we drive four wheel drives just for the hell of it. unlike a majority of city slickers we actually use our fwd for its purpose. Not all of those who drive fwds are agressive drivers who never leave the bitumen, some of us actually go into the bush with them, otherwise why would you own one? John |
Well here I am again, with another fresh batch of issues that makes me want to vomit:
World Youth Day - What a crock of manure. Yes, lets disrupt all the major hubs to the running of the country all for the sake of what? I still don't know the answer to that yet. It's gonna the NSW taxpayers more to host this event than what the Govt is gonna receive from these so called 'pilgrims'. Whats wrong with hosting this event elsewhere (like out of the metropolitan area) so disruptions will be minimal and give a local area a massive tourism boost.
Schapelle Corby - She got done, she won't be getting any time too. Get over it. You do the crime, you do the time.
Fuel Prices - Well if the Govt is supposably getting so much more $ from alcopop taxes, why not subsidise fuel nationally, like what Qld is doing for thier residents. Take off the GST, reduce the excise by half and use the revenue from the taxes to fund renewable fuel resources. We're only making the OPEC countries richer by continuing to use 'gas-guzzlers' like V8's and 4WD's.
Mortgage Belt Crisis - Well its just a shame that most of the problems I've seen on the TV & papers comes from those households that are 'living the champagne life on a beer budget'. Why is it that these people NEED the big house, the wide screen plasma TV, the Foxtel, the 2 new cars and other 'over-indulgances' when they cannot simply afford it. Whatever happened to saving for these items, or only getting 'mid-range' items.
Forward Passes & Walking Off The Mark - Gee I tell ya what, the NRL should start to closely scrutinise the 'play the ball area' of the game I love and losing patience of. The game is becoming more and more decided on inches and feet to the stage where players are either walking considerable distance off the mark where they were tackled (up to 1.5m) and/or the dummy half throwing forward passes (up to 3 a set of 6). Why can't one touch judge stay on the defensive line (to judge offsides with the referee) and the other touchie in line with the play the ball area (to judge walks off the mark and passes as well as assist the ref in other play the ball infrigements).
Big Brother - I'd be ashamed and embarrassed to admit watching this poor excuse of Australian TV. What a joke of a program that Ch 10 use to make up a big chunk of thier "Australian Content". Its high time Big Brother be evicted and the house condemed for all eternity. WoodDuck Add your comments |
Prejudice!
What about the responsible and sensible P-platers who car pool and use designated drivers after 9pm or 11 pm at night (curfew of NSW P-plate passenger restricted law)?!?! We use this as a way to avoid high cab fees and unsafe public transport at night. It's discriminatory to those of us who abide by the laws and use our driving licenses as a privilege! It's completely prejudice and is going to make a lot of young drivers mad especially if it's only a few who give us a bad name!
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curfew on P-plate drivers
The notion that the teenage brain is half developed and is unable to cope in over stimulated environments (i.e. even if this means a few social distractions behind the wheel) has been used as an argument to support the new passenger limits on red P-plate drivers after 11pm at night in NSW. As a P-plater I am concerned that this policy may be released in Victoria. How are me and my friends who are responsible drivers supposed to car pool and help each other out. WHat about getting home with a designated driver and avoiding unsafe public transport or spening big bucks on cab money?!?!These are things taht need to be taken into account for young drivers, espeially those who are reponsible and sensible. It discriminatory and prejudice for the good ones out there. Polly
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GROW A BRAIN!!!
How the hell do you expect people to drive at 90k's?? Just this morning i drove to the next town from us, the roads are narrow with a speed limit of 100km/h. It was pouring with rain and I am a learner so I drove at 90km/h, only because that is all it was safe to do. The other drivers on the road tailgated like madmen (attempting unsuccessfully to intimidate me) and then overtook in the pouring rain and sped off at speeds greater then 100km/h. The problem does not stop with the young, older drivers are TOTAL MORONS TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! John
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Homophobes
As a gay kid at my school I am constantly getting picked on by the straight kids. they call me Poof. Unfair, Homophobes!
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PCYC YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR
It was great to see that Sam Johnson has been named the PCYC's young person of the year. His story proves that if someone cares enough about giving you a go you can aspire to better things. But its a shame that the PCYC does not offer the same chances for all young offenders. As a mother of a young person who applied to volunteer at the local PCYC. But had his application rejected!
To find Sam Johnson's story today in the newspaper about the PCYC Young person of the year who had similiar offences to my child being allowed to volunteer for the same organisation which my child has been denied. I would like to say well done PCYC for helping some young people but choosing not to help others. I can prove my claim by way of letter from the PCYC. kazza
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Goverment is For All the People
We do expect Kevin Rudd to have an Agenda as that is what he is employed for by Australians to deliver. However he is narrowing his agenda and fogetting that there are youths and pensioners living here as well. There are different cultures and different age groups and all should be able to be heard. I hope we are not going to have to have fighting between the cabinet and the public service as this is a sure way to all get off the hook of doing anything that will be of help to us. So New government,do what you should do and let your conscience be your guide.
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Courts in New South Wales
It is my understanding of the law that during a court hearing where a person is on trial over a driving charge. That previous driving offences are not to be mentioned during the court case,as it might be seen as an attempt to sway the court to a finding of guilt. Having had a prosecutor tell the magistrate that the person who stands accused has a matter of drive whilst disqualified. Before the court. Then a police officer who was a witness in the case also states to the court that the young person was a disqualified driver. My understanding of the law is that this information should not to be brought before a court until a finding of guilt has occurred. As it might be deemed as trying to prejudice a courts decision. If I am wrong in my understanding of the law I would like to know. Kazza
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LIES I'VE TOLD MY 3 YEAR OLD RECENTLY
Trees talk to each other at night.
All fish are named either Lorna or Jack.
Before your eyeballs fall out from watching too much TV, they get very loose.
Tiny bears live in drain pipes.
If you are very very quiet you can hear the clouds rub against the sky.
The moon and the sun had a fight a long time ago.
Everyone knows at least one secret language.
When nobody is looking, I can fly.
We are all held together by invisible threads.
Books get lonely too.
Sadness can be eaten.
I will always be there.
RAUL (lifted but credited!)
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SP
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Reply To KB
Well, all I can say in reply is that you young 'uns seem to see that having a licence and driving as a right. It ain't a right, its a privilege and one that must be earned the right way.
I would not of expected any other sort of reply from a typical arrogant, pretentious person. Get off ya high horse and get a decent haircut. Woodduck ADD YOUR REPLY |
50KS HOW BOUT 50 MILES? (see below)
WHY BOTHER PEOPLE WILL LEARN, I JUST FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO GET CAUGHT UP IN ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY DRUNKERDNESS. THATS USUALLY THE CASE IN THESE MATTERS AND LICENCES ARE SUSPENDED INDEFINITYLY SOMETIMES. SO IF PEOPLE DRIVE TO FAST OR TO SLOW IS ANYONE REALLY HAPPY TO OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THEIR ACTUALLY A CRAZED MANIAC EVERY TIME THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OR MAYBE WE WILL JUST GET RACE CAR DRIVERS TO DRIVE AS FAST AS THE SAFTEY CAR AND THEN WE WILL NEVER KNOW IF WEVE ACTUALLY PAID FOR A PEFORMANCE VEHICAL OR JUST A PILE OF SH*T. MAYBE YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THE ROADS IN THAT AREA. NOT EVERY PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A SIGN D.A.N
Hey, DAN. How about losing the caps? ED. ADD YOUR REPLY |
Eye Opener (see below)
YEA WELL THAT SOUNDS TRUE ENOUGH ONLY I WAS MORE WORRIED WHERE THESE YOUTHS GET THE FUEL FOR LIGHTING FIRES. IT HAD TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE AND ANYWAY THERE YOUTHFULL LIVES SEE WHAT THERE DOING MIGHT BE WRONG, FULL STOP, WHERE THEY REALLY OUT TO HURT THE POPULATION OR WAS SIMPLY JUST A MISUNDERSTANDING OF BRAINS OVER BRAUN? MAYBE ALL THEY NEED IS MORE OF A SOCIAL FACTOR IN THEIR LIVES RATHER THAN CHILDISH AMUSEMENT. FOR THEIR BENIFIT IN MAYBE 10 TO 20 YEARS I HOPE SO. LUCKY THEY WEREN'T CAUGHT SMOKING HEY. D.A.N ADD YOUR REPLY |
Tared Out
WELL MATE HALF THE PROBLEM WITH THE SMOKERS GUILD OF AUSTRALIA IS IT DOSN'T HAVE ONE. THIS IS THE REASON FOR THE SO CALLED TAX INVASION THAT STEADILY INCLINES. I JUST THOUGHT OF YOU AS THE NON SMOKING COMMUNITY DO GOODER AND LAWS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUT INTO PLACE SUGGEST TO ME THAT WHEN YOU WALK FROM THE SHOPPING CENTER TO THE STREET DID YOU EVER CONSIDER THAT SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY FOLLOW THOSE SAME LAWS? IF PEOPLE ARE SO IRROSPONCABLE THEN WHATS THE COMPLAINT AND FUTHER MORE DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK THAT MORE THAN HALF THE POLLUTION IN THE WORLD IS CAUSED BY NON-SMOKERS. IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH TO GAG ON THEN WHO EXACTLY IS STICKING UP FOR THE BENIFITS? THE CORPERATIONS THAT INVEST BILLIONS EVERY YEAR. WHO SAID A BILLON PEOPLE CAN BE WRONG. D.A.N ADD YOUR REPLY |
Take a good long hard look at yourself too
There may be a proportion of P-platers that ?drive recklessly and without giving a tubney toss about the road rules or road ettique?. But you are only looking at one side of the story. You are completely ignoring the fact that plenty of fully-licensed drivers do not bat an eye-lid when they fail to use their indicators at round-a-bouts and intersections, executing a u-turn in a T-intersection, changing lanes without looking and yes sir, people like you tailgate P-platers too. Oh yes, and not to mention that I know personally at least a handful more fully-licensed drivers than provisional drivers who think nothing of exceeding the speed limit by at least 20km/h. And like you, they bag on P-plate drivers.
Oh, the shame.I myself am a green P-plater and I am sick of the rap that we as a collective group get. Sure, the percentage of P-platers doing something illegal is allegedly higher than Fully licensed drivers, but then again the proportion of fully-licensed to provisional is higher. Yes, a lower amount of fully licensed people are of danger to the general public. Lies, lies and statistics.
Oh, do not fear woodduck. I feel your pain, because I, like you, venture out of my home everyday in my fine, bogstock, road legal motor vehicle and play run the gauntlet with a number of cars without p-plates. I?m lucky to be alive right now with the number of times I?ve almost been run over by motorists who do not look where they?re going. Even better still when they think they are in the right. Just the other day some middle aged male almost ran into me.
Let me spell out the situation for you.
At a four way cross intersection. Myself turning left. Middle aged male on other side of interesection indicating his intention to turn right. Whoop! A suitable gap in the traffic! I begin to turn and I notice Mr. Middle age man is trying to turn at the same time as me. HE believes that HE has right of way. HE continues to go off at me.
HE who has his full license and has had it for quite some time should KNOW his road rules and that he has to give way to left turning traffic on the opposite side of the road.
But this is not an isolated case this has happened to me a total of FOUR times in the past SIX months.
Oh, but WoodDuck, the best is yet to come.
About two months ago I had a lady driver in her 30?s in a barely running pulsar overtake 3 cars on a moderately busy section of road close to home. This was only a two -way street with no overtaking lanes, not even any turning lanes where she did this. Do you want to know where she did it? She overtook 3 cars on the LEFT side of the road, where there was no lane. Then when she got in front of me, I beeped at her. So she slammed on the brakes and continued to yell at me for the next 2 minutes for something that, she in fact, did wrong. And NO she wasn?t a P-plater.
The only time I have ever had an incidence with a P-plate driver is the other day when they used their right hand indicator to blink off on a roundabout.
So maybe... this is just a thought... Maybe we should change the age that people should legally be allowed to get their L?s until they are 60.
The notion that you propose is laughable. There is always going to be the minority of people who like to do stupid things. It doesn?t matter if you postpone giving them their license or making them do more hours on their learners. There will still be the stage where those types of people will go ?YES, I have my license, now let?s abuse it.?
I call upon these next few points that you made:
*Make the hour requirement for L-Platers to 250 hours.
*Increase P1 & P2 time to 24 months each all at a max speed limit of 90 km/h.
*Longer and sricter tests
*Increase thier CTP Green Slip by 15%-25% and not fully licensed drivers.
*Increase thier license costs by the same margin.
(these two points are foolish - no-one except for those who are somewhat well off would be able to get a license if these were to come in place, but I suppose that?s what you want)
*Penalties for not adhering to road rules increased, not just loss of licence on the spot, but increases in fines and possible jail time.
So, what, do you propose, we do about all the other drivers, P-platers or not, who missed out on this veritable opportunity and therefore their skills are hampered and pose a greater risk to these newly highly educated drivers on the road. You see all the older generations of drivers will not have experienced such good treatment, and would not have a nearly as in-depth knowledge as those who have been under these new restrictions.
You see, it does not matter how much driving ?experience? you have if you have learned things incorrectly from the start. A driver with 8 years driving experience is still as much of a risk as a driver of 1 years driving experience, with the amount of tests you have to go through these days.
Take, for example, Mr middle aged man who doesn?t give right of way. This could result in an horrific accident under the wrong circumstances. He would have somehow misunderstand one of the road rules that said that you have to give way to people opposite you going straight ahead and left. So it doesn?t matter how much experience he has if he has the habit of not giving right of way.
Maybe we should introduce a testing system of once every 5 years, just like you do on your Ps, where you do a practical driving test and a knowledge test. Just to keep our ?experienced? drivers on the up and ante.
But perhaps this is too much of an inconvenience to our more senior drivers, those who prefer to pick on those in the minority who have little leg to stand upon. Perhaps you should take a look at your own driving habits sometime. A little more objectively... KB. ADD YOUR REPLY |
The Weekly Rant
G'day again, here I go again, but not on just 1 issue where I go in depth, but touch a number of issue and give my opinion of them
*World Youth Day - The Catholic Church should pay for all the downtime it'll cause the city of Sydney. It's not just the APEC like sercurity for nearly a week, the loss of trade for businesses that have to shutdown, the extra public transport required. I just think that this event is a economic black hole & holds no revelance in society today.
*Nick D'Arcy - Yes, he should be kicked out of the team, banned for an indefinite period of time, however, why is this such a hot issue that has just as much papparazzi around him like those trollops Britney Spears of Paris Hilton?
*2020 Summit - I thought it was originally a meeting about 20/20 cricket! Fair enough some points raised I'm happy about such as; reducing HECS fees through some community service. A republic I'm not sure about, wouldn't becoming a republic open the floodgates to minority groups to severly influence the way we are as a nation?
*IPL - As much as I hate Indian Telemarketers ringing constantly and at the worse times, they sure know how to put a tournament together. For me, a cricketing purist, I'm happy to see this form of the game taking off this way. Remember, it was Kerry Packer that revolutionised the game by making it one day, now its another empire making the game shorter and more entertaining. Let's face it, current 50 over 1 day format is becoming stagnate.
*Teenage Families - I was sick with disgust after seeing last night's 60 Minutes story glorifying teenage families. I'd reckon that most of the girls deliberately get themselves pregnant to either claim welfare or sponge out on maitenance from the poor father. They got little education, little potential, little aspirations, they've just given up on life. Have they not heard of contraception, abortion or abstinance. I say to them the same thing whenever I see them at the local shopping centre or out of my car window, "Great future this counrty's got" WoodDuck ADD YOUR REPLY |
Young People & Alcohol
Well, well, well. If you thought I had a good ol' rave about young P-Plater drivers, I'm about to enahance my feeling towards young people and alcohol abuse.
Not only am I a professional student, I've worked in the hospitality industry since I was 18 (approx 8 years). Might I say the amount of young people (age 18-23) drinking in pubs and clubs has increased greatly and the attitude amongst them has worsened.
For these people, going out to pubs and clubs is not about going to socialise any more, it's about going out to get drunk beyond recognition and do nothing else but start negative attitude towards other patrons, staff and sercurity personel.
Whilst we as bartenders have powers to turf these people out after they've appeared to had too much, but with these young people, it's not much needed to put them over the edge. I'm quite stringent when it comes to RSA, yet there is only so much staff and sercurity can do, we are not expected to remember every single face that comes up to the bar, or know of the people that are drunk and get others to supply thier alcohol for them. Sure, better communication can help, but there are always some that slip under the radar. I seem to 'cut-off' more young people than older people by a ratio of 5:1 on most days.
On occasions where I have been working in a bottle-shop, too often I have had a car group of young people pull up, 1 person come out and expect to but a truckload of grog. Yet I turn them away. Furthermore, I've had older people come in buying grog which demographically I know won't be for them (eg: a 50yo woman buying a case of Vodka Cruisers), I refuse them too. I'm a bit of alcohol "Nazi" when it comes to my RSA, yet to all that think spiralling alcohol dramas are caused by the staff, it ain't such the case. It's the business and the governments that allow such behaviours to exist.
The following are some measures I've come up with to try and stem the flow of alcohol related crimes and problems, some you would of heard time and time again, but a combination of all of these is needed.
*Raise the legal drinking age to 21 in licensed premises.
*Ban youths between the age of 16-21 from all licensed premises
Following is for any situation off licensed premises:
*Any youth under 21 caught with alcohol at a venue (other than at thier home in prescence of parents of legal guardian), fine of $100 (1st offence), $500 (2nd offence), $1000 (3rd and continuing offences)
*Any adult directly suppliying alcohol to youths ($10,000 per offence/up to 3), then 5 years jail every offence thereafter.
*Any adult (not parent, relative in direct care or legal guardian) in presence of youths with alcohol (eg: an 'all-age' party) will be assumed that they supplied them with alcohol and be fined $1000 (1st offence), $2500 (2nd offence) and $5000 (3rd and continuing offences).
Yet businesses need to be further targeted for non-compliant RSA offences such as (non RSA drink promotions), lack of refusal of service, and non-compliant acts by sercurity guards. Measures/Acts should be taken such as:
*Licensed premises (except for Casinos and nightclubs [defined where there is only bar/s and dancefloor, no gaming facilities or lounge areas]), need to cease alcohol trading at 2am and close premises no later than 3.30am.
*No entry into any of the abovementioned premises after 11pm.
*Giving front door sercurity breathilizers to scrutinise would be patrons and refuse entry to those partons above a house limit (no lower than .150)
*Bar staff to not serve doubles at any time & no shooters after 10pm
*Bar staff to only serve ONE drink per person after 8pm (eliminating 'the shout')
*Either increasing the price by 33% or banning the selling of strong drinks (eg: Smirnoff Black, Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey, Bundy OP, Absinth and the like) after 8pm.
Concluding, I hope that this is agreed upon by a lot of people and put pressure on local, state and federal governments to put such regulations/laws in place to stem the flow.
Coming up next... MySpace & FaceBook, the world's biggest procrastinator and waste of time/money. WoodDuck ADD YOUR COMMENT |
aca news story dogs vs dogs
In the issue dogs versus dogs, I think there should be places just for kids and also places just for off leash dogs, as i think they both have just as much right. Luke ADD YOUR COMMENT |
Jail for P Platers
Yes there are many a P plater flying past us all on the roads. But also there are many people of full licences that do the same thing. Why should one only penalise the P Plater. And to make comment about possible jail time for road offences by P Platers. The court system in New South Wales already puts young offenders in jail for speeding and dangerous driving. Due to the fact that police channel them into the Local Courts instead of Childrens Court. Kazza ADD YOUR COMMENT |
P-Plater Nightmare
This may seem another dig at those young P-Plater drivers who drive recklessly and without giving a tubney toss about the road rules or road ettique. Just today making my usual commune down the F3 to University, I was in the far overtaking lane, overtaking 2 trucks (which in itself I find annoying), travelling at around the legal speed limit 110-115km/h. Where I was tailgated by a RED P-Plater, driven by a female for over half a kilometre. Once I did the right thing and merged into the left lane after overtaking the trucks I got the usual 'one-finger salute' off the young idiots and they took off. I know my physics quite well, I estimated that they went to about 130 km/h before I took my exit.
This is not an isolated incident, every day I'm driving (which is most days) I come across at least 3-5 cases of P-Platers not adhering to road rules. They are either driving too fast, tailgating, overloaded, non-legal vehicles, and who knows what other illegalities.
It'll be no doubt that young drivers will see article and say either "Well I'm not one of them", or "It's only a small percentage that give us a bad name", mind you the amount of young P-Platers driving these days has increased greatly since I held my P-Plate license which was 9 years ago.
It seems that these new P-Plate restricted license types and the regulations and conditions about it are nottough enough and in fact are futher encouraging illegal behaviour by these drivers. Well, this ain't exactly true. The 0.00 BAC I accept, the speed limits (90 & 100 for P1 & P2) are tolerable even though they are not adheared to, but thats about it when it comes to the regulations I accept.
What I'd like to see is a further tightening of regulations to not only cut the death toll on the roads of young drivers, but to increase the safety and travelling conditions for other fully qualified drivers.
I'd like to see regulations implemented such as:
*Giving P-Plater drivers under 23 NO demerit points, meaning 1 illegal act caught by police, licence GONE.
*The curfew of P-Plater drivers be extended between 8pm-4am ALL DAYS of the week.
*NO P-Plater to drive vehicles over 4 cylinders or 2.5L capacity or cars that have engines modified for performance (ie. turbos, naturally aspirated tuning, etc), major body modifications (lowering, wings, side skirts or mags), or exotic/luxury/sports cars over the value of $25,000.
*Increase the age of ability to attain L-Plates to 17.
*Make the hour requirement for L-Platers to 250 hours.
*Increase P1 & P2 time to 24 months each all at a max speed limit of 90 km/h.
*Longer and sricter tests
*Increase thier CTP Green Slip by 15%-25% and not fully licensed drivers.
*Increase thier license costs by the same margin.
*Penalties for not adhering to road rules increased, not just loss of licence on the spot, but increases in fines and possible jail time.
This may seem a bit harsh, but this is the first in a series of ranting letters to stem the damage that young people are causing to our nation as well steering them into the right direction in all aspects of life.
Next edition... Young people and alcohol, tsk tsk tsk, bad combination. WoodDuck ADD YOUR COMMENT |
Protestors Spoil Child's Dream
I was horrified to see the footage of demonstrators trying to rip the Olympic Games flame from the hands of that beautiful little girl in France. A day that should have been one of the most memorable and fantastic days of her life has just become a nightmare. All because a group of people supposedly old enough to know better decided to use her dream moment to make a statement about some political event she no doubt has never even heard of. Shame on you! It is about time the adults grew up and had a little respect for their children. Yes Tibet was invaded a long time ago but so has every other country been at some stage in its history. Your country is exactly what you represent it to be. Just as recently we were embarrassed to be Australians so too should those Tibetans be cringing right now! What has happened to Tibet is past history. Leave it in the past and do something about creating a safer and more peaceful homeland. Where ever that homeland may be right now. Events like the Olympic Games are opportunities for us to learn to get along and put an end to these injustices once and for all. If the adults can?t play together how on Earth can our children stand a chance of living a peaceful and safe life. After her most terrifying experience today at the hands of ?a spiritual protestor? there is at least one little girl who shall have no sympathy for the suffering Tibetans. One grownup too, Me!
Shame on YOU!
Katrena ADD YOUR COMMENT |
QLD Earth Day
I'm a frequent visitor to Queensland and I love it. What's not to love?
Yesterday evening was one of those so-called Earth Day days. At 8pm, supporters were asked to turn their lights off for an hour, to save power. From my highrise balcony, it seemed that few, if any, were participating. I can understand why.
In this most beautiful place, power is wasted day-in, day-out because people are forced to live in darkess from 5:45pm. I realise that this is a very old chestnut, with passionate arguments both for and against daylight saving time. However, I have not seen any data indicating that Queensland is taking an environmentally responsible view of the issue. If Queenslanders were given the facts, i.e. does it cost the state to be dark at 6pm or would it help the state and the Earth to change the clocks (perhaps by more than 1 hour and perhaps permanently) then just maybe, the outcome would be different. Where is the data?
Regardless of the argument, I'll still love Qld. Cheers.
Malcolm L
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HOUSING CRISIS !!!
Hi , my name is Gabriel and I am really concerned about the housing situation. All the power has been given to real estates and the home owners, us renters are been treated like scum. I voted labor and always have done, please I am an australian born patriotic australian who needs the honourable Prime Minister Rudd to to release more land, help with affordable housing, give some rights back to average battlers with no hope of buying a property or even renting one. This problem is serious and should be addressed and worked on asap, because it will take decades to fix as it is, start attacking these issues it is happening to me and millions of australians. We need your help, please help the situation is nearly beyond repair, the future is bleak 4 everyone if it isn't fixed. Rent prices are a joke it isnt governed properly and there is no goverment financial help in this time of urgent need. relese lots of land and bring down the level of rents so it can match the average wages or people will be out on the streets soon, it is a big factor in rising debts in this country, when 75% of our wages go to rent then there is no option to be behind each week robbibg peter to pay paul. PLEASE DO SOMETHING NOW !!!! PLEASE I BEG YOU... reply to me let me know you care and let me help fix these problems with feed back, i need to know you are responding thankyou... gabby
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China and Tibet
think this shows us more than ever that the Communist Party of China does not represent the people of China any more than the Qing Dynasty. These people are not asking for much, namely an end to human rights abuses and semi-autonomy, but the Party is too proud to back down so much as an inch on these issues.
Religion is not poison. The Communist Party of China is atheist, yet it is responsible for more human deaths and suffering than any band of raving jihadists. President Bush labels these people as enemies of freedom. But the cold calculation of the Chinese Government is infinitely more deadly than any diehard kamikaze figure.
The People's Republic of China claims to represent over two thousand years of progress. I see no difference between then and now. The only thing that has changed is the technology with which the government suppresses the people. The people of China are no better off now than they were then. Perhaps someday they might realise this, and the Chinese people could get the freedom they long for. Shepard
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That Bonus?
We have heard a fair bit about the carers bonus ,and seniors bonus , how unfair it would be to take it away
and i certainly agree with that . I would like to point out however that peple that recieve a disability support pension dont get a bonus at all ,I wonder if thats fair?. My wife and I are both on a disability support pension ,my wife recieves a carers allowance as because of my disability ,I am not able to perform some personal tasks.Last year she recieved the carers bonus [which was 600 dollars, not 1600 as touted by the media], and I as a disabled recieved nothing. itspa ADD YOUR COMMENT |
Carers Bonus
I am disappointed that the Labour Government are being so parochial when they come to "at home matters" .The reason that they were voted in "to my and most of my friends say so " was to do some housekeeping instead of running around the world fixing nothing except getting accolades . Are we becoming a welfare country ? Cant we look after our own with dignity anymore or are we all to line up and get a hand out because the government does not grasp whats going on. We all volunteer for one thing or another snd save the government money.When does the time come around for those in need?!! Carolina ADD YOUR COMMENT |
The Australian 11
After watching the bebacle of the Australians against the India Cricket team in the one day International Tri series, one must surely arrive at the conclusion the match was fixed. Just as the drumming up of ill feeling against Singh was intended to rile the crowd to add color and cloud the issue in it's entirety.
Those who offered themselves to play in the 20-20 series in India are the culprits should you believe otherwise, then you believe in the "tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny" and so on.What were they offered? Hansie did it for South Africa, so too did those Aussies in England when the Brits had to make 400 in the last day to win. What were the odds of that happening? Ask those who prospered and threw that match! Corruption, graft,bribery and dishonesty has reached yet another level throughout the world in sport, politics and every day life. However what goes around, comes around and in due course those people will suffer for the greed of their actions. For mine though, I have now lost interest in Cricket and sport in general with the introduction of drugs, cheating and whatever, but shame on the Aussies who performed so miserably and surrendered for a price. RTL ADD YOUR COMMENT |
Leadership of the Liberal Party.
Politics and leadership of any party has always been the image of the one selected to lead. In earlier times Robert Menzies ruled supreme because his opposition was Arthur Caldwell. No one would ever consider Arthur to lead, thus his long reign. Once Arthur gave up the leadership....Gough romped it in at the next election....Gough bought about his own demise and Malcolm Frazer was assured of success over Bill Hayden.....then came Hawke, a man with charisma who unseated big Mal....Keating ousted Hawke and was handed the reigns before the next election....the "unlosable election" of John Hewson reinstalled Keating because Hewson was unable to cope with the "icing on the cake" of the GST.
John Howard ruled because his opposition were mostly non-identities. He lost I believe because the younger voters knew little of the past Labor Party deciding it was time for change. Well may we see the error of judgement by the electors, but the leadership of the Opposition will need someone more dynamic than those contenders. Peter Costello would have been the ideal leader who had that ability to prove everybody wrong, but he quit. He still has the opportunity, but will he reconsider in the face of turmoil within the coalition. Shame on him for not taking the leadership and giving it a go for a while at least. RTL ADD YOUR COMMENT
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Brendan Nelson's Liberal Leadership
First, let me say that I voted for the Liberal party in the last election. Yes, we lost badly and I actually felt physically ill when Krudd won. How could this have happened. All my fears for our future freedom of life and living as we knew it, were being threatened.
I am still not convinced that we won't be suffering the long term effects of the last election, some of which are I fear, are already happening. {Check out the letter I wrote in the archive column - Aborigines, "Saying Sorry"}.
So I ask you Mr. Brendan Nelson, what are you going to do about the dismal state the Liberal Party is in, especially now when your personal opinion poll is at an all time low of 9%, as was reported on the news this morning. You know, normally I wouldn't even take these polls seriously, but since loosing the last election, I may just pay closer attention to them in the future.
Mr. Nelson, I hate to say this, but the reason that your public opinion is so low is, that you simply don't inspire trust in people.
I'm sorry to say this, but when I look at you, all I see are shifty eyes and a false smile which say, "I am untrustworthy and not to be believed".
I know that you can't help the way you look, but when you are in the public eye every single day, it isn't your performance or what you have to say which we notice at first, or remember. Instead, we, the ordinary people, check out how you look and present yourself.
I know it's wrong and that I am probably the only person I know who will admit to it, but it is simply human nature. Yes, most people really are this shallow, at least in the beginning.
When the Liberal Party voted on who would be their new leader, I cringed at the choice between you and Malcom Turnbull who isn't any better by the way, although he doesn't look quite as dopey as you do.
I thought to myself, 'if this is the best that they can come up with, we won't have a chance in hell to win the next election'.
And what will happen if Krudd does call an early election? With you as the Leader of the Liberal Party, we may as well save Krudd the trouble and concede defeat again right here and now.
Is it really so difficult to find someone in the entire Liberal Party who everyone respects or even likes, who doesn't have any, or at least many, skeletons in their closet. Someone who is confidant enough to stand up against Krudd and Gillard, without sounding like an arrogant arse, but at the same time is also pleasant to look at.
Surely somewhere in the Liberal Party you can find someone we could be proud of to represent Australia to the rest of the world.
Mr. Nelson, please stop flogging a dead horse. You simply don't have what it takes to be likable to the average Australian voter. For the good of the Party, resign please and take Malcom Turnbull with you, if we are to have any chance in the next election.
Because seriously, with the anti popularity contest you are winning, even I could do a better job, despite my annoying habit of telling people what they really rather not hear said out loud.
A character fault I am sure, which has caused me more than my fair share of grief over the years, labeling me anything from a shit stirrer, to a bigot, to a racist, for simply voicing that which many people only ever dare to think, because in todays politically correct society we are suppose to be above such ordinary and sometimes petty human emotions. Why? because they are just that, politically incorrect and because freedom of speech is dead, but hopefully not buried.
M.Donna
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Youths
When are the youths of today going to get a whack over the head to get them to wake up to themselves, they are ruining the lives of many today, I live in Melton and they just do what they want when they want, every night the thumping music from cruising cars echo around the streets as residents try to sleep as well as the street racers that do burnouts in every street.
The other day I decided to take the wife for a drive to watch some planes take off and land at Tullamarine Airport, as we drove around the back of the airport we came across a car full of youths eating take away and throwing all there rubbish on the ground in one of the viewing areas and they just stared at us as we drove past, we went on to another viewing area only to have them drive past later doing burnouts on the side of the road.
With all that is happening around Australia today the youths are getting out of hand and there should be something done about it NOW! They have no respect at all!
On another note, whats happening with the Tennis, I try and watch it but it is so boring, its like they are playing in slow motion, they take too much time serving with bouncing the ball a gazillion times and asking for the towel after every point, I watched Serena today and she was walking around like she had all the time in the world, they seem to be putting all there energy into the serve and nothing else. So boring.
Thats it for me. Disgruntled
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I believe that a lot of the problems we are now having with them, is a result of a snowball effect:
Government bodies that are supposed to be in place to help educate our young are in fact disrupting them for us. Long before many of our youths become a problem for the extended community, they are stripped of their individualism,respecting their family traditions and rights as a fellow human being to be able to think for themselves. All of this they quite cleverly disguise as behavioural management. A simple example is the recent appearance of 'contracts' that are being passed out to primary school students to sign and abide by. Where minor parts of this agreement focus on good behaviour, and the majority of it is focused on stripping the children of decent jewellery whilst accepting some which can get dangerously ripped out. Whilst I am all for reigning in some of the latest trends in fashion that have become ridiculously the 'norm' for our youth while in schools, at the same time younger children are being encouraged and even pressured at some schools to abandon family traditions. I have an 11 year old daughter who has recently joined in with the women of her maternal ancestry in wearing a gold golf bangle, not a bracelet that would get caught. I know this may seem like a lame example to some, but if you consider the importance of this from a childs point of view then it becomes clear that while authority figures are running around trying to be 'right' and 'politically correct' the mind of a young child is being brainwashed into believing that their place in this world is to follow follow follow. Now maybe we can begin to see why youths act like they do. Afterall as an adult don't we like to rebel(all be it verbally) when we feel like we are being stripped of our place in this world. Cassie Lee
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Speed limits?
Theres another angle on this that the snobby Sydney-ites just aren't thinking about here.
We try to slow down the drivers to suit the pedestrians here all the time. Have we ever thought of the other end - how about the pedestrians start looking before they cross.
I live in Sydney too, I have lived in the western subs, the eastern subs and the southern subs. I have seen the differences between the people in different areas and their road crossing habits.
I have right to comment as I am a pedestrian too - and I watch where I am going.
You can't say that people don't hear or see the cars, I drive a flash looking sports car which is fairly loud, you can hear me coming - its my business car. People always hear and see me coming. But yet I still notice people are absolutely ready to jump out in front of me at any chance! pedestrian crossings, even lights where they shouldn't! People who do this should not be allowed in the courts whatsoever! I mean give me a break - lets look at this logically shall we?
A) if a person saw an elephant running in a straight line would they step out in front of it? No they wouldn't because they would get hurt - whats different with a car - use your logic! Watch where your going so you don't get hurt! Would you take the elephant to court if you got hit by it and lived?
B) Yes cars should be careful - I agree 100% As someone who holds a Gold license in car and a full license for motorcycling I understand the hazards on the road. But it lies in both courts to be more careful not just the drivers! I would say that Sydney drivers are so into themselves that almost every person on the road thinks they have more right then the others - give me a break! Those ones should be put through courses on patience!
C) The driver trainers should be watched more carefully - no one who has below a certain standard of English should be allowed to drive on our roads. This isn't a racist thing - its a common sense thing! If i went to another country and didn't know their road rules or how to understand their signs I don't think they would let me on the road.
D) This one is related a bit - don't fine someone for speeding - take their license from them the second time they do it and stop them from driving after that. The public transport system in Australia is one of the best in the world! In Africa a woman has to carry a baby under each arm and walk 10 KMS with a clay jar on her head to get water each day in some places! the fine thing is just another way for our greedy government to get more of our money and we all know it! They take the food from our children's mouths if we let them!
They just drop speed limits regularly to increase the amount of people who get fined regularly in my opinion - greed.
Anyway, there's my rant - have your say!
Reply to: Speed Limits
Totaly agree! There is a thing called stupid ignorance, pedestrians don't care but neither does the Government or RTA. As long as they can collect a thing called revenue that is all that matters. Sure enough there are ignorant drivers but even more ignorant pedestrians. Worse to come when they are over 60 years old couple and still disobey the law. Need i say no more! Pluto
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Don't Blame The Breed For Irresponsible Owners
Recently, the breed of Rottweilers have received alot of bad press. The incidents were tragic. However, since these events there have been numerous calls for a ban of this "dangerous dog". Before people condemn the breed, maybe some research would be helpful. The breed itself is not aggressive by nature, they are kind, loving and a wonderful family pet - If raised correctly. The Rottweiler is by nature, a work dog and it does it's job well.
When it comes to the fatal attacks on humans, it is always because of bad owners/breeders. All dogs must be raised correctly from young or else they will be "dangerous". They are just like raising children. A number one rule is too never leave children alone with ANY adult dog. This has been said by many vets around the world.
After these recent accidents, I contacted my local councel to find out about the breed's temperment. Within my shire there are 631 Rottweilers and only 7 declared dangerous with zero attacks. So when people call for a ban, how do you think the owners of those dogs feel? And the dog itself is now out casted.
I personally am freinds with a person who is confined to a wheelchair and he has a male rottweiler of his own. He is his best freind and companion. The dog opens doors, sit by his side - all day and is kind to every person who walks through the front door. This is the true side of a rottweiler or any dog in that matter.
Blaming the breed and calling for a ban upsets Rottweiler and animal enthusiast worldwide and is a misrepresentation of the Rottweiler. They are a very loyal companion to man and have saved many children and adults from terrible situations. The moral is not to condemn to good for the mistakes of the bad. And more importantly don't blame the breed for the irresponsible owner. AS Brisbane
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No plastic in pads please (NPIPP)
Over the years I had found a reliable pad that contained no plastic. This is important to me as I do not wish my bodily needs to become pollutants upon the planet. I am an organic creature and I wish all of my by products to be organic and to reassimilate into the earth. The product I found that fell into this catagory was sold by most supermarkets under the 'homebrand' label.
Over the last couple of years I have seen this change and now there is no pad available that does not contain plastic. Supermarkets must be sourcing these products elsewhere and they have changed in this regard.
If you consider all of the menstrating women, all of those in the incontinence catagory and all of the babies requiring nappies - this is alot of plastic!
Please, 'no plastic in pads please".
I would like to know if anyone has any ideas about how we could get this idea out there.
Liz Agars
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Kenya:
Emilio Mwai Kibaki was given 5yrs term. Why has he now changed? His wife who said he will not run another term and he went on doing it. Remember the statement 'Kibaki tosha' ? Agwambo did it. Step down Emilio, let peace prevail. You are a shame to Our Country. Joseph Weswa (Luhya tribe) from Dar-es-salaam.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and his political rival Raila Odinga
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Happy New Year...
Above: A man wipes his face in front of the remains of a church where 50 people were burned alive in Eldoret January 1, 2008.
Blood bath in Kenya:
Where is the United Nations or the African Support Group? People are being burnt alive!!
How can the world not do something?
Tony ADD YOUR COMMENT |
THE FISH ONE_PAGE PRIZE 2008
2008 One-Page Short Story Prize
"This is your annual opportunity to turn your hands to what is one of the most difficult, and rewarding tasks that a writer might elect to face; to create, in a tiny fragment, a completely resolved and compelling story. Flash Fiction is a wonderfully entertaining thing to read and a frustratingly challenging thing to write, but we love it and so do the readers of our Anthology, and so this is another chance to get one of your stories, however small, into this year's Fish Anthology."
Looking for something to do over Christmas? Why not enter this fun competion.. and check out the Fish site while you're there.Click Here |
I'm Not One Of Those Fancy College-Educated Doctors
I'm a doctor, and I'm damn good at it. Why? Because I learned to be a doctor the old-fashioned way: gumption, elbow grease, and trial and error. I'm not one of these blowhards in a white coat who'll wear your ears out with 10 hours of mumbo-jumbo technical jargon about "diagnosis" this and "prognosis" that, just because he loves the sound of his own voice. No sir. I just get the job done.
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On Global Warming
Global Warming is a natural phase in earths history. It is amazing that we as humans have come to the conclusion that it is our doing that is causing the rise in temperature. CO2 is in Fact such a small percentage of the earths atmosphere that is is like saying our car broke down we won't check the engine or the gear box but a small screw holding the rear door trim. We have used Global Warming to create a multi-billion dollar industry. Perhaps we are using Global Warming as propaganda for political movements and agendas. Perhaps it is just another way for the people in power to make more money and another way for them to control the public. How about the truth. Please?
Reply to On Global Warming
Perhaps it is beurocracy, but end of the day....the end is very near. Lets put it this way, we were given the land the country and the globe to work with. Prblem is there were too many young morrons on this earth that decided to move things quicker. I won't mention who for now, but this only created more chemicals that you and I are not aware off.....not to mention the rest of the crap that is behind it all. We don't have to be scientis to figure this all out, one can only watch some of the documentury to see it comming alive. Wake up !!
Alexander
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Heading: Rudderless Ship!
Come ON.... Do you live in such a place that affords you the luxury to be blinded by a range of false promises and hoodwinks that make you feel "warm & fuzzy" and allow you to justify your sheltered mind to "feel good" about your decision to act in a democratic function under the guise of helping our nation overcome the suppresion of a tyrant government that has brought our great nation to hold its own in today's international marketpace. You my friend have had an excellent 11 years of "sheer torture" find yourself a brand new rock you will need it when the preverbial really hits SOON!
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News Readers
I have noticed over the past few weeks that BBC 24 News Readers are falling into the turn of phrase "20 past" "15 mins to" etc when giving out the time. This is a lazy attitude and is of no asistance at all to Partially Sighted or Indeed Blind people who listen to the programe. I would remind the readers it is 20 to 3 or 20 past 4. Please can somebody have a word and sort this out. Also a slight reduction in the attempted comedy chat from the likes of Sopple and Meatcham wouldbe appreciated.
Thank You for an otherwise excellent service.
Graham
Graham, I think this is because they broadcast around the world, and although the minutes are the same in all time zones, the hours differ. Ed
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How do you feel now?
Well, now that our nation has had its say in the recent federal election, what winners we live amongst!
So far the "Prime Minister Elect" stated we need to be careful with regard to the numbers of the Kyoto Protocol signing. There was a timely press release regarding a study by "an expert group" (probably "LJ Honkey's") that a new study into housing demand in our nation would not be met for many years to follow... "I will be a prime minister for all Australian's" lets the educated "Wokers rights" voters down gently again standing on his vow to "give back the dream of home ownership to all Australians". GREAT ! I can only say at this point in time that here we go again.... I am disappointed yet again by my fellow countrymen/women to demonstrate their true intellect in the competent management of this so called "Lucky Country" it appears that the only element of luck appears to be the fact that we have no common borders with the real threats of todays world...(allies)
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HIV/AIDS
My home country Sierra Leone is now becoming HIV/AIDS virus place. I need the urgent intervention of UN to come to our aid. Lamina
Reply to HIV/AIDS
Well, this is sad!! No matter what one would say.]
Simple answer to this comment is the system has failed. It wouldn't matter what country what race you could say I feel negative. overall ask me, I got worse things to tell yall. No one cares anymore. It is simple as that!
Eddie
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Babies/Kids
All these babies that are being dumped these days are a joke on our health system that is put there to help protect kids and there parents... Babies being dumped in trash cans or parks.. Who in all the people involved in that childs life could not know something was wrong.. Yes i understand some people won't ask for help as they feel they either don't deserve it or will get punished from those there to help..
Such an occasion happened late last year to a friend when she gave up her 2 young children to a very close friend.. This was a private arrangement with approval from maternal health centre workers.. Said children went to live with friend while mother came around everyday and helped with general care of kids.. She then went home to her own house..This was arranged as the mother was having private issues and was slightly afraid for the kids safety. Doing the right thing she got help..Busy body people opening there mouths got DHS involved after a family member of the kids came for a visit and pressured the already unsteady mother into allowing them to take the kids home.. After thinking and disscusing this decission with others she then revoked it on the next day when the kids were bought round to say bye.. cont>>> |
<< cont.
The family then asked to keep the kids for lunch and return them later in the day.. Yes they could do that.. The day went away with a phone call around 3pm from a weekend emergency DHS worker saying there had been reports of neglect and abuse of the kids and that they had gone to live with family.. Mind the kids did not know these people at all yet were allowed to go and live 400km away... This all led to court where the kids were then placed with a new set of strangers in a foster home..Visits were allowed but then imagine a child of 3 and not quiet 1 being allowed home to mum then taken away again back to strangers.. Does it give them insecurities do you think???
We wonder why all these people are just dealing with there own problems.. They get no results when asking for help or don't help when people make complaints like the 7 year old in NSW that died of starvation.. If only they had made sure to actually see the child instead of taking someone else's word for it..
4/12/07 cindy m
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Call a spade a spade!
Let's go back to calling football soccer. It is not the major sport played with a football in Australia, and therefore it is a confusing term.
The soccer marketeers thought that if they called it "football" it would assume more importance. They used the European and English as proof that our game was mis-named.
Wrong.
Soccer will become Number One in Australia when we become more competitive against other countries who have it as their only ball sport.
Let's keep the term Soccer, and leave football to mean a generic ball game of no determinate nature.
Who knows? When we get to the top, the world will start calling it Soccer.
Sann
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Homeless community agrees to phase out giant plastic bag usage
In what has been described as a massive coup for Australia's environmental movement, the nation's homeless have put their support behind the push to phase out giant plastic bags.
"This is a great day for Mother Nature," said Clean Up Australia spokesman Ian Kiernan. "From now on, we can expect to see homeless people using reusable giant green bags to carry their meagre possessions, not those planet-harming stripey plastics."
Shamelessly borrowed from The Chaser.
BREAKING NEWS: US Underfunded Schools Forced To Cut Past Tense From Language Programs The Onion |
A great day for Australia! dj
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Hello |
CONGRATULATIONS TO MAXINE AND KEVIN
As a Bennelong voter I am proud to have played a part in telling the Liberal Party that we have not liked their policies. Let this be a lesson that there are no safe seats. The only reason that Howard has lasted so long in Bennelong is that there has been no strong alternatives on the ticket. Maxine McKew would have won any seat, so it was brilliant for Labor to put her up against the biggest target, the Prime Minister.
WAS HOWARD A GREAT LEADER?
No. He's been a glorified public servant, managing a group of pollies. Not leading a country. He has been bland. Un-inspiring. Boring. Predictable. His gun laws were the only positive contribution to Australian society.
WHAT GOOD IS A SURPLUS?
Mr Howard bragged that he had a huge budget surplus. This is disgraceful when so much infrastructure is suffering from lack of funds: Schools have been crying out for upgrades: most school toilets are unusable. Our hospitals are understaffed and under-cleaned. Badly designed and maintained roads cause hundreds to die every year.
REGIONAL ASIAN ISSUES
When Mr Howard took over the reins, he immediately dropped all the good work that Keating had done in the region. He was not an international player in his own right, just a follower of the USA's foreign policies. Talk about a "Me Too'er"!
His mean spirited attitude to refugees has been an international embarrassment.
DEFENCE ISSUES
A recent Four Corners TV program pointed to billions of dollars being spent on our buying 'unsuitable' fighter planes from the USA, against the advice of the experts. What is the story here? Are we just supporting the American aeronautical industry because that's what mates do?
DID HOWARD HAVE A MANDATE LAST TIME?
No. Last election the Labor Party made a big mistake in chosing the wrong leader. We saw that Mr Latham was not clever or wise, and reluctantly had to re-elect Howard as the lessor of two evils.
Mr Howard mistook this victory to mean that he had a universal mandate, and proceeded to un-do all the good work that unions had done over two hundred years.
For the past 11 years Australia has been marking time. Let's hope we can get back on the right path now that Mr Rudd, Ms Gillard and the likes of McKew are steering.
Sann, Putney
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Will there be a salt factory next to the new de-salination plant in Sydney? ps ryde
Adult matchfinder screwball billing method
I recently signed up for a 1 month membership with the adult matchfinder website. And I found they kept billing after the first month so when I queried this they said you should have read the terms and conditions. I had in fact read the terms and conditions and thought that was that as usually all the terms and conditions are found in the terms and conditions in one set of terms and conditions so after you have read the terms and conditions you don't tend to look for any more. Now according to adult matchfinder a 1 month membership defines a 3 month membership and the autorenewal membership terms are blatantly left out of the terms and conditions and a long way down the page away from the duration of your membership area, this is so that the person will probably not pick up on this because they have chosen there time frame for membership which should be what you have chosen and read the terms and conditions. Now extra payments can occur with the billee realising this to late because terms and conditions are left out of the terms and conditions the fact that a person chooses 1 month and is then billed for three months is completely misleading, you choose a month and thats what you get. This a complete sham I read the terms and conditions but was unaware that there was another set of terms and conditions when all terms and conditions by Australian Law are always contained within in one complete document. Do not use this website. Ben Luckie
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As paul williams said.. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH... illegal or not a lot of immigrants should not be allowed.. not only is it getting hard to spot the aussie but our self worth and confidence is deteriorating.. How many young aussies are in uni doing a subject that is helpful. eg.. doctorate, teaching etc.. These jobs are taken by people imported from other countries and we wonder why the aussies don't want to work.. Yes a lot are plain lazy but there are some that genuily want to work but feel not able to even bother due to immigrants employed before australians most times..
DO WE NEED THEM THAT BAD?????? 11/10/07 CM
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As an example to this i am using the two eleven year old boys that recently started fires in n.s.w.
What is going to happen to them when they front up to court.. not alot as it's going to be there first offence, their parents are going to cry and sob carry on about how this could happen we bought them up to be good boys... YES that's why they started the fire... I for one think they are old enough to know better therefore should be punished as a child of 16 is.. We tell them at a young age that it's ok to light fires if they not punished, by the time they're 16 they are pretty set about the rules especially repeat offenders(even repeat offenders for different things) we let them off because they are to young.. 11/10/07 CM
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WORKPLACE LAWS
Can i just point out one very important thing about the Howard government? Regardless of whether the workplace laws are good or bad, how did they come in? They were rushed in, by John Howard, and rushed through, basically we were told this is how it is and you can't do anything about it.
Now do we want a government that is going to rush through laws like that? there has to be a reason why it was rushed through like that? It was either dodgy, and howard did not want it scrutinised too closely, and or it was very beneficial to john howard and he did not want anyone to pick up on this.
We don't want a government that rushes things through that suit itself. we want a government that considers what is right for the people. Not like that is ever going to happen though. polititians are all the same.
The best we can hope for is around a 50 50 split in government so everything gets argued about and hopefully something fair is determined before becoming law.
rob
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Rob you are sadly disallusioned...for many years Labor had the balance of power in the Senate and resisted against everything the Howard Government put up.... resulting in frustration and nothing passed. Lib/Nat's now have the balance of power and a Bill passes more quickly than in the past, usually to the benefit of all.....but wait you only see one side of a story such as has been shown on TV by the Unions....there is more than you are being shown or told. Have a look at Question time in the Parliament and judge on the antics of both sides......if Labor win the Federal election we will have another recession...is that what you want?
Concerned. (reply here)
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and the winner is...
Its goodbye to...
Howard endorses Costello
It does not surprise me that Costello has resigned. He never had the ticker to challenge the PM when he should have... and now when its finally his turn to run the party, he runs away.
It's a triple blow to Howard: not only did the PM lose his election and seat... he is made to look silly by endorsing a candidate who was so not right for the job.
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The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, has to be joking. After 12 years of government ANYTHING that he promises has to be taken as pork-barrelling. 1. Changing the pre-amble in the Constitution to include Aboriginals?? Why didn't he say "Sorry" seven years ago? 2. Taking over the finances for one or two hospitals that happen to sit in marginal seats...der! Bring on the election. I can't wait to get rid of the dead wood. FG Bennelong.
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Best Prime Minister
I would think John Howard would be the best Prime Minister this country has seen since Federation. He has made mistakes as we all have, but he has had a lot to put up with during his term in office. The Polls are governed by the media and what they feed the public. I feel the young people of today have bought about the gap between the two parties. John Howard has been there for 11 years and what would a 24 year old voter today know of the previous Labour Government. They were 13 years of age or less during the Hawke-Keating era when we had the recession we had to have bring the interest rates up to 17% and as high as 23%. But memories are short....... just as the Russians once said when they shot down the Korean Airline, "In time you will forget!"
Already we are seeing how the deficit is increasing within the Labour States and yet those "loyal Labour supporters continue to be blinded by the fact their Dad always voted Labour........ or John Howard is too old!!!!! It's time for change....same old Merry Go round after 10 years"
Slowly people are taking more interest in politics and not before time.......but to have Labour in all 8 States is beyond comprehension.
Send in your opinion RTL
Drop the speed limit to 30km/h in Sydney Streets I'm so frustrated. There has been debate on some Sydney talk stations this morning about speed limits on residential streets. The proposal that sparked the argument is to drop the speed limit to 30km/h. The talk host was defiant! people will not want to slow down.
That's despite the scientific evidence being presented by her guest. We could have saved 70 lives in New South Wales this year alone, if cars were travelling at 30km/h rather than 50km/h when they hit pedestrians or other vehicles.
I am in support of lowering the residential speed limit to 40 initially and then to 30 if it's needed. Who can argue against a measure that could save so many lives.
Callers against the idea of taking their foot off the pedal complain that in other countries, there are no speed limits and people drive at up to 230km/h.
Yes, that fact is true. It's a jump to go from talking about local residential zones to freeways, but I have a spring in my step, lets do it.
Some parts of Germany's AutoBarn allows cars to travel as fast as they like. Ring roads around most Scandinavian capital cities allow speeds of 110km/h.
Yes they travel fast. But they have the infrastructure to allow people to do so safely.
Their roads are true freeways. They don't pass through shopping strips like Victoria Road. They don't have families living at their sides like the Pacific Highway. There are no telegraph poles or road signs to hit, there are wide lanes, safety dividers, no driveways, sufficient lighting and proper side walls to keep animals and people out of road corridors.
These countries also have strong driver training in place to allow people to travel safely at these speeds. It costs thousands to earn your licence and young drivers must pass several tests in Summer and Winter conditions to prove their ability.
But let's build these freeways. Link Sydney's North to its South and West with a safe motorway. Connect Sydney with Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne.
Then you'll find people will use these motorways rather than take short cuts through residential areas, where they're more interested in going 10km/h faster, than saving the life of a local kid.
Peta, Coogee Add your comment using the online form or email direct
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Chaos in Dubai airport
Due to insensitivity of the Emirates staff, 100s of stranded passengers are suffering along with a lot of children. due to cancellation of many flights and inefficency of the staff, many people of different nationalities are suffering without food or place to stay at the Dubai international airport today 18/11/2007. This kind of treatment is unwarrented without any major calmity.
Jebaraj
WHAT GETS ME IS THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT SAYS WEBCKE IS A HERO. HOW IS HE A HERO, HE PLAYS A GAME OF FOOTY AND ADMITS WELL AFTER THAT HE WAS EXCUSED FOR TAKING A DISALLOWED DRUG, VERY POOR. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF HIM SAVING SOMEONES LIFE SO HOW IS HE A HERO. DR NSw Comment
I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this. Newspapers never seem to allow you to comment on political articles, you would think that in this information age and with the ease of communication using the internet they would welcome people expressing their opinions. Obviously they don't want to know what people think! JDP
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2 months ago I approached a staff member at Melbourne Central station, about the state of the men's bathroom on the station. Holes in the walls, no locks on the doors.To this day, nothing has been done. I wrote to CONNEX, and got the normal "we'll look into it".
If this was China, Japan, or Germany it would have fixed in a week. But I guess this is AUSTRALIA's, "we'll do it later" attitude. GB
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What a disaster we have in our aboriginal communities: the widespread substance abuse, the all-to-common assaults of women and children, the extreme poverty, and the seemingly impossible plight of our indigenous australians.
Can the problem be fixed? i did hear one ex-politician say directly that the problem could not be solved. but we NEED to do SOMETHING: it cannot just continue as is.
My suggestions would be to:
ensure safety and welfare of women and children as a priority. this may involve removing them from their communities especially if they cannot be shielded from their male elders practising their "tribal laws".
no more "tribal law". when it's an excuse to perpetrate heinous deeds then we have to get rid of it. we are all australians and we have decent laws for our society.
welfare payments to all adult aborigines to be "controlled" with a large % to be debited from an account and only to be spent on essentials (food, clothing, etc).
all aborigines found to be abusing substances, will only get access to their essential supplies account.
all young aborigines to be in school.
we can go an about civil liberties, and believe you me i feel desperately for our indigenous australians, but this situation is so dire that we must step in and take drastic measures to correct this.
greenie
Email a comment: letters@haveyoursay.com.au |
Islamic school in Camden
Ok, does anyone else think that this is ridiculous?
What a racist country we are! Who are we to protest against an Islamic school? Education is one of the most important things that we can give to children, why should we deny Muslim children that right? The same right that you would demand for your child.
One woman commented "But why can't they go to school with our kids?" Well in response to that the curriculum that we teach in schools is written by the hegemonic group, obviously Islamic culture is not considered in this (many other cultures are not considered either). So this makes it inequitable for these kids to be taught in 'normal' schools. Many people would say, "well they moved to this country, they should assimilate" WELL no we are a multi-cultural country and we should cherish that.
I would like to ask people who are protesting against this school to put yourself in their shoes...how would you like it if you were told you had to put aside your own culture and belief's and 'convert' and that you couldn't build a school for pete's sake. That's a lesson we should have all been taught.
I am currently at university studying teaching and feel disgusted that people can actually think that this type of behavior is okay, all children have the right to an equitable education, ALL children. If you don't think these kids have a right to this then please look up the Social Justice Goals of the Adelaide Declaration. It makes me sick to my stomach to see this racism and ignorance displayed by the people of Australia.
Food for thought: Unless you are native to this country you yourself "flew here". Think twice before calling yourself an 'Aussie' and denying others the right to call themselves the same.
EmV.
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Emus harrassing passing motorist, near Thredbo, Snowy Mountains
WHAT GETS ME IS THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT SAYS WEBCKE IS A HERO. HOW IS HE A HERO, HE PLAYS A GAME OF FOOTY AND ADMITS WELL AFTER THAT HE WAS EXCUSED FOR TAKING A DISALLOWED DRUG, VERY POOR. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF HIM SAVING SOMEONES LIFE SO HOW IS HE A HERO. DR NSw Comment |
TIME BOMBS AND HUMANS
Well, another day another massacre.
Another deluded human being feeling wrong done by takes matters into his own hands.
How do you feel, nauseated, numb blank horrified, myself it comes as no surprise,just one more timebomb that had its wick shortened.There is only one person on this earth that you can know and that is yourself, and in knowing yourself you are the one responsible for every thought and action that you do,you are to me another timebomb as i am to you, and in that knowledge I as a fellow being am aware that my own thoughtlessness can be the wick shortener if i was to tick off one of the timebombs that walk freely around this world.
What am i saying, well its simple, we are all accountable for ourselves, no one else is responsible for how we interpret the world, no one else can make a decision for us, its our own personal choice that gets us wherever it is we are going. The shooter in Finland is no different to you or I he just became deluded with his own interpretation of who should live and who should die, he became his own God his own judge jury and executioner, what he forgot to do was to be responsible for his own actions, and it seems he never will be accountable now as he has escaped that fate by indeed putting the bullet in his own head.
If you wish to know who these people are out there, they are anyone and everyone, they are in your home, your street your school your workplace, they are all just waiting to be ticked off, and for that reason it is with great carefulness that you must tread, always think that for every action that you initiate their is a response, be it good or bad, and this is something every single one of us needs to start getting through our own heads, no one has the right to harm anyone, no one has the right to kill, the only right we have as humans is to be responsible for every action we take, and to be prepared that there is always a consequence good or bad, if you steal you will pay a penalty, if you help someone you will reap a reward in some way or another, if you kill you will be killed, this is how the world works, nature is often stated to be a cruel force, let me say that nature has nothing on us in the cruelty department, humans outdo that a millionfold.
So again i leave you with this thought, every action you take every decision you make has a reaction and a consequence, just be very sure that you as an individual make the right choices, if we all do this there will be fewer massacres, fewer deaths, fewer problems for society as a whole, and before you speak think what it is you are saying and how it can be interpreted, you never know when you may be speaking to a timebomb, you never know until you are the timebomb. A Mutton
Keep the Flag.
Our flag bears the stars that blaze at night,
In our Southern sky of blue.
And the little old flag in the corner,
Is part of our history too?
It's the English, the Scots and the Irish,
Who were sent to the end of the earth?
The rogues and the schemers, the doers and dreamers,
Who gave Australia its birth?
And you, who are shouting to change it,
You don't seem to understand.
It's the flag of our law and our language,
Not the flag of a far away land.
There are plenty of people, who will tell you,
How Europe was plunged into night.
That little old flag in the corner,
Was the symbol of freedom and light?
It doesn't mean we owe allegiance,
To a forgotten imperial dream.
We have the stars to show where we are going,
And the old flag to show where we have been.
Displayed at the R.S.L. in Rosebud. Originated from Poet's Corner a segment in the Australian Post. RTKL
This sport is legal in Alabama!
This is disgusting. Who thinks that killing a beautiful animal with a gun is sport? Who lets a child do it? And now we discover that it was a pet pig, named Fred! And it did not die quickly.. it was chased and shot at for 3 hours. A terrifying death. Shame!
CHILD CARE (see below)
That’s why the ABC centre is worth so much. I send my child to a community run child care, the profits are put back into the centre and not into the hands of the owners and staff are better paid.
What I don’t understand is why hard working people are not rewarded by having government support when sending your children to child care, and why do the unemployed and single mothers who stay at home all-day are able to send their children for as little as $1 dollar are day and they don’t work and are able to look after their children during the day...
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CLASSIFICATIONS
Has anyone seen the Nando Patch "Stripper" Commercial?
I was totally outraged that such a Commercial was allowed to be shown!
I switched from watching Ten, Win & Prime because of not only their constant ad bombarding but also the lack of something worth watching, only to find that also on SBS you can be watching something rated G or PG thinking it's safe for all the family, only to be hit with an x rated commercial like that Nando Patch Ad.
Does every ad these days have to have naked women, boobs, or sexually explicit everything? Why don't people do something about it? If I had the power I would sack those so called Classification Officers and the one that is responsible for the so called Code of Conduct!
I mean what kind of people are they? Do they have any sense of morals?I know they are not responsible for the trashy Ads but they are responsible for accepting them as ok to show on Television
Has anyone complained about it to those responsible?
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SELF EMPLOYMENT
Why would you bother trying to start your own business? I have just started out on my own landscaping and what happens? The really nice revenue collecting barstads from the department of fair trading come along and fine me.
Now I know I am supposed to have to a license, but whilst at TAFE studying a few years ago I was told that I had to have 3 years experience, 3 completed jobs for inspection and my trade certificate. Now I’m told they have changed the rules as from January this year. Why didn’t they put an add in the paper letting everyone know that the rules have changed and to check it out. Well I was well on my way to getting 3 years on the job when work dried up so I decided to go it alone.
Just when you think you are getting ahead, doing the right thing working hard, paying your taxes, paying all your bloody bills that go with being in business. Then some crones from Canberra wanna knock you down again. Wh | |
