Since when does the Queensland Government think they have the right to sell-off publicly owned assets and companies?

The “Government” is a caretaker for the people of Queensland. If they wish to sell off an asset that belongs to the people of Queensland, they need to ASK. Our tax dollars are used to pay for these assets so we own them, NOT the Government.

Fellow Queenslanders, were you ASKED if you wanted your assets to be sold? NO, you weren’t.

Go here and tell Ms Bligh what you think, she’s looking forward to hearing from you.

Don’t let the Government (ANY Government) ride rough-shod over your rights, or tell you what you need. They are there because the people of Queensland put them there to do our bidding... to work for us, therefore they need OUR direction or they’ll continue to run off the rails.

The people of Queensland run the state via the Government, not the other way round.

Wake up Queensland. We’re quickly become the DUMB state.

1. Drive the car till the battery won’t turn over the starter motor.

2. Call RACQ and ask for roadside assistance to replace the battery.

no mess, no fuss.

Benefit: They also check that the alternator is charging correctly, and you don’t get your hands dirty.

As a professional working in the IT industry (I’ll assume you’re a professional) how do you respond to the question (from the person who still has no real comprehension of what computers are and do) “So... what do you do?”...

I get this quite a lot, and more often than not it’s from those people who grew up without them and never had to use them (lucky really).

I used to respond as best I could with what I thought would be understood, but this was usually met with, glazed eyes, more questions or silence.

So how do you respond?

a) mumble something incoherently and quickly change the subject

b) embark upon a TLA tirade that leaves your inquisitor stunned to silence

c) deny everything, lying through your teeth

d) ask for personal details in a menacing voice, writing it down before continuing

e) other

Is anyone else becoming a little tired of hearing about the “Financial Crisis” and how the world governments are rallying together to try and solve it?

I know I am.

The countless billions of dollars governments are throwing at what is arguably the result of rampant greed, is quite astounding. They are trying to save a system that put them in this position in the first place. A problem that could have been avoided by just taking less.

A birds eye view of the world, while it tries to deal with this self-made problem, is rather depressing. For while the world throws mind-boggling amounts of money at propping up the financial sectors, countries are still warring, people are still dying of starvation at a time when there is an excess of EVERYTHING, there are homeless living on streets of every capital city in the world, children are being abused and neglected in every country.

The old saying “Money is the root of all evil” holds especially true in these times, and to me, the saying “Money for jam” is the embodiment of that sentiment. Money for jam is exactly the opposite to taking less. Not only that, but people who use the term Money for jam in an attempt to get other people to take more than they ordinarily would, or would need, in return for doing something that they ordinarily would not...

There is more than enough in the world for everyone. There is no need for Money for Jam or the people who subscribe to the notion.

Tags: frustration

“House prices up as greedy cash in on first homebuyer grant rise.”

This was the headline on a recent news.com.au article.

Show of hands. Who thought that wouldn’t happen? ...I see no hands.

Once again we see the true nature of a lot of people. Not ALL people mind you, and probably not the majority either, but a lot.

Unfortunately in the housing market, it only takes a minority to ruin the whole shebang for the majority. In this case, and that of the news article, it is once again those who don’t have a home being preyed upon by those who are wanting to ditch one.
What is the possibility that those selling are actually selling, not the family home but one or more additional houses they have acquired? Fairly high I would think.

Perhaps real estate agents should name and shame those vendors who want to re-list their properties at a higher rate to consume the increase of the first homebuyers grant.

This opportunistic feeding happened the last time there was an increase, and indeed even when it was introduced.

Why not just give the vendor the money? It’s what’s happening now anyhow. (joking!)

Better yet, stop promoting the housing market as a way to make easy money. Everyone needs a home, ONE home. Maslow new about it. It’s right there in his hierarchy of needs.

Tags: frustration

* Halve the number of trucks.
* Quarter the number of cars.
* Double the number of motorcycles.
* Quadruple the number of pushbikes.

Then we'll be on our way to resolving...

1. the poor road infrastructure
2. lessening the impact on the environment
3. reducing road rage
4. reducing stress

The solution is simple, but requires people of vision, back-bone and balls.

Well good folks, it seems I've been pinged for speeding!
Not an uncommon occurrence these days, but in this instance completely unjustified.

How fast was I going? 110kph in a 110kph zone. Do you now see my confusion?

As I was traveling home this afternoon I, as per usually, got onto the highway, set the cruise control to 110kph (depending on road conditions) and then cruise my way to the 100kph speed zone at Cooroy.

I was on the Bruce passing North Arm, just north of Yandina, when in the distance I saw the camera car on the side of the road. It was sheltered under the overpass. I double checked my speed and the speedo said a perfect 110kph. I was the only car on that stretch of road at that moment. A car and a semi trailer were about 1 km behind me. I have been passed hundreds of speed cameras at 110kph and never been pinged ever, so I thought nothing of it. I was obeying the road rules and driving to the conditions.

About 300m out I noticed the policeman standing beside the van with the speed gun on me. It had to be me. I was the only one within range to aim at. I checked my speed again, all good there, needle still on 110kph and I considered giving the fellow a wave as I passed.

But the flash fired.

As I've said, I have been passed hundreds of cameras and never been pinged. I have had radar guns pointed at me and after reading my speed the Cop has moved on to the next vehicle, never a problem.

But the flash fired.

I know from passed experience that my speedo is fine. My tyres are due for replacement so that should have even cut down my actual speed somewhat.

But the bloody flash fired!

So what could have possibly changed?

The only thing I can think of is the extra few PSI I added to the tyres two weeks ago. I usually run 34psi in all four tyres. When my car is serviced, Toyota reduce the pressure to 32, after which I add another two. Now, for the Aussies reading this, you will have probably seen the ads on TV saying that running a few extra PSI in your tyres increases your fuel efficiency by reducing drag on the road, and as such making your car somewhat better on the environment.

Two weeks ago I decided to give this a try.

For the first week I upped the tyre pressure to 40psi. Quite a jump.. all of 6. I checked my fuel consumption the next fill-up and the ads were correct. I had improved my fuel consumption. But 40psi is a lot of air in the tyres of a smooth riding 4 cylinder Camry, so last Friday I reduced the tyre pressure to 38psi which seemed to strike a nice balance. That was until today.

When the bloody flash fired!

I now await the portrait in the mail from the Queensland Police department. I know the look on my face will be one of calm oblivion. It's a pity they didn't get the shot AFTER THE BLOODY FLASH FIRED.
They had better have a bloody good excuse for pinging me because from what I can see I was perfectly within the speed limit and hence the law. I did not touch the brake because my conscious was clear.

I know I won't have much recourse. These days you're guilty until you can prove yourself innocent. I was alone in the car, no witnesses, and was not about to frantically grab for my phone to take a photo of my speedo. So I have almost resigned myself to contributing to the Charity of the Queensland Police Retirement Fund.

I can't remember who puts the ads on TV but if it comes to pass that it was tyre pressure that put me over the speed limit, I'll be writing a strongly worded letter to the RACQ advising them to inform motorists to be very careful when following the advice of ads on TV, and that they petition the stations to pull the ad from TV altogether.

I'm not impressed. Not impressed at all.

----
update: 27 February 2008
No ticket has arrived in the mail and it's been nearly 3 weeks. Looks like it was a stuff-up. Just as well, I say.

Some people just won't learn from the accident reports and deaths from speeding in wet weather... or dangerous driving at anytime.

This is pointed directly at the couple of idiot drivers on Black Mountain who, on the afternoon of Thursday 10 January '08, with children on board decided to race down the left hand side of the lane in peak hour traffic, try then to merge at high speed when the rest of the traffic was doing 60, just to get 50 metres ahead of where they were. One even had a "Baby on board" sign in the rear window. I hope you're proud of yourselves for acting like complete f*cking irresponsible morons.

Those drivers need to be removed from the gene pool, unfortunately it will probably be done at the expense of their kids. I just hope child services intervene before it's too late.

You two deserve the "salute" the kind lady gave you after you nearly pushed her into the oncoming traffic as she tried to merge right.
Please hand your license into the nearest Police station and tell them why you shouldn't be driving.

Congratulations to the twit who nearly took off my front bumper this morning on the way to work. The incident occurred on the Bruce Highway around 7:40am just north of the BP Bellbird exit, Nambour.

I know you saw me coming up fast in the right hand lane. I saw you look in your right hand wing mirror. I saw you see me... and yet you pulled out anyway. Smart move moron!

You won't survive too many more of those. I just hope you don't take anyone with you when you go.

And while I'm on this rant...

Cooroy, main street, Monday afternoon. Bravo to the owner of the blue Hyundai Excel who managed to reverse park over the white line at such an idiotically acute angle that they nullified the next space along.
I fail to understand how a driver of such a small car could stuff up a reverse park of this type.

For you specifically, may the fleas of a thousand camels infest your carpets and continue to bite you with their sharp pointy teeth till the end of your days.

...now if it had been a once off I would have thought nothing of it. But it's now happened to me a number of times. What is it with car drivers that makes them want to wash their windscreen when a motorcycle is behind them?
Do they think it's funny?
Do they get some kind of obscene pleasure from firing their misaligned jets of sudsy water at riders who have a hard enough time as it is trying to read drivers minds and anticipate every split second last minute lane change that brings threat to life and limb? Is it like listening to running water that makes the "bladder control" challenged go dashing for the nearest latrine? Is this phenomenon like the sudden urge to go?
If it is then, for God's sake cross your friggin legs and HOLD IT!
I just hope the light turns red on the next driver who showers me in sudsy water and bug splats so I get a chance to "thank" them in person.