Here we go again. The Australian government is having another crack at protecting us from ourselves again. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy has announced a trial of internet filtering at an initial 6 ISPs.
Welcome to the new China. It amazes me how when China filters the internet, the world is up in arms about free speech. When Australia does it, we are protecting people.
When do the change the Australian flag to a nice shade of red I wonder?
Here is a link to the ministers web site an announcement.
http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/005
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Stupid NSW Government - Epping to Chatswood Railway
Unfortunately I live in NSW, and have to put up with an incompetent NSW State Government. One of their most recent stuff-ups has been the Epping to Chatswood Railway line.
Despite being in the pipeline since the 1920's, the government has struggled with the whole concept of building this line. It came to an interesting climax in December 2008, with this report from the Daily Telgraph.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22883898-5001021,00.html
A quote from the article is this...
"TRANPORT Minister John Watkins and RailCorp chief Vince Graham have confirmed that one in 12 CityRail trains have been banned from using the Epping to Chatswood tunnel because of a design bungle.
It also appears that the 12.5 kilometre tunnel was designed and was well underway to being built years before the problem was known.
The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed the design bungle, which was initially met with denials from authorities.
However Mr Graham today admitted the Tangara trains - around eight per cent of the CityRail fleet - could not be used on the tunnel because the 4km incline from under the Lane Cove river would cause the train's traction motor to burn out too quickly"
You have to laugh. The track is too steep for the Tangaras. Not a hard concept. Major blunders like this will continue as long as we have a system of having ministers WITH NO experience in their portfolios.
What a stupid system we have. It would make sense, to say, have the Health Minister, be a professional hospital administrator, doctor, or even a trained nurse. How about someone with a business degree... but no, we have someone with ZERO experience in the health field heading up the hospitals. Same for nearly every portfolio.
And we wonder why NSW is nearly broke, with hospital and transport systems in a utter mess.
Despite being in the pipeline since the 1920's, the government has struggled with the whole concept of building this line. It came to an interesting climax in December 2008, with this report from the Daily Telgraph.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22883898-5001021,00.html
A quote from the article is this...
"TRANPORT Minister John Watkins and RailCorp chief Vince Graham have confirmed that one in 12 CityRail trains have been banned from using the Epping to Chatswood tunnel because of a design bungle.
It also appears that the 12.5 kilometre tunnel was designed and was well underway to being built years before the problem was known.
The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed the design bungle, which was initially met with denials from authorities.
However Mr Graham today admitted the Tangara trains - around eight per cent of the CityRail fleet - could not be used on the tunnel because the 4km incline from under the Lane Cove river would cause the train's traction motor to burn out too quickly"
You have to laugh. The track is too steep for the Tangaras. Not a hard concept. Major blunders like this will continue as long as we have a system of having ministers WITH NO experience in their portfolios.
What a stupid system we have. It would make sense, to say, have the Health Minister, be a professional hospital administrator, doctor, or even a trained nurse. How about someone with a business degree... but no, we have someone with ZERO experience in the health field heading up the hospitals. Same for nearly every portfolio.
And we wonder why NSW is nearly broke, with hospital and transport systems in a utter mess.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Stupid RTA - Speeding
One of my bug bears for a long time has been the introduction of double demerit points and the loss of 3 points off your NSW licence for speeding offences of 1-15kms over the speed limit.
When I started driving only about 17 years ago, drivers had 12 points on their licence and got points back after 2 years. In real terms, a driver on average could have 6 minor speeding offences a year before they were deemed to dangerous to be allowed on the roads.
Since then, they changed the time before points are returned from 2 years to 3 years. They have also moved the offence from 1 point to 3 points. On top of this, they have introduced "double demerit points" for holidays periods.
17 years ago, you could have an offense every 2 months before your life is totally disrupted (potential loss of job, additional hardship etc). Now, it can be as little as every 18 months, if your offenses are during double demerit points. All it takes is 5kms over the limit twice on holidays, and tear up that perfect driving record.... no licence for you.
What we are seeing now, is that ordinary Mums and Dads are now losing their right to drive over what traditionally has been a minor driving infraction. Just recently there were articles in the newspaper that the NSW RTA is revisiting the 3 point penalty.
All this bears an interesting question. Who got it wrong, and did they lose their job over it. Either way you look at it, the penalty for minor speeding has increase by up to a whopping 9 times. So, did they get it wrong 17 years ago, or have they got it wrong now? Someone had to have gotten it wrong, and are they still working at the RTA? Or was it NSW government intervention that was responsible? Are they still employed? On their government pension?
Lets look at the other side of the coin. Driving is dangerous, so why stop there. If 9 times the penalty is not enough (people are still dying on the roads), why not make jail mandatory for any offence? Hell, why stop there, why not bring back the death penalty. If everyone who speed, was executed, we would have dramatically reduce the road toll. Even if it was for the fact nobody was left to drive on the roads.
But would that make the statistics look great!!! As they say..... Lies, lies and damn statistics.
When I started driving only about 17 years ago, drivers had 12 points on their licence and got points back after 2 years. In real terms, a driver on average could have 6 minor speeding offences a year before they were deemed to dangerous to be allowed on the roads.
Since then, they changed the time before points are returned from 2 years to 3 years. They have also moved the offence from 1 point to 3 points. On top of this, they have introduced "double demerit points" for holidays periods.
17 years ago, you could have an offense every 2 months before your life is totally disrupted (potential loss of job, additional hardship etc). Now, it can be as little as every 18 months, if your offenses are during double demerit points. All it takes is 5kms over the limit twice on holidays, and tear up that perfect driving record.... no licence for you.
What we are seeing now, is that ordinary Mums and Dads are now losing their right to drive over what traditionally has been a minor driving infraction. Just recently there were articles in the newspaper that the NSW RTA is revisiting the 3 point penalty.
All this bears an interesting question. Who got it wrong, and did they lose their job over it. Either way you look at it, the penalty for minor speeding has increase by up to a whopping 9 times. So, did they get it wrong 17 years ago, or have they got it wrong now? Someone had to have gotten it wrong, and are they still working at the RTA? Or was it NSW government intervention that was responsible? Are they still employed? On their government pension?
Lets look at the other side of the coin. Driving is dangerous, so why stop there. If 9 times the penalty is not enough (people are still dying on the roads), why not make jail mandatory for any offence? Hell, why stop there, why not bring back the death penalty. If everyone who speed, was executed, we would have dramatically reduce the road toll. Even if it was for the fact nobody was left to drive on the roads.
But would that make the statistics look great!!! As they say..... Lies, lies and damn statistics.
Welcome to Stupid Stupid Man
Welcome to Stupid Stupid Man blog. This blog is all about the stupid things that happen in society, life, government etc. There will be slant toward Australia and NSW in particular, as this is where I live (and get exposed to the stupid things that happen around me).
So sit back, and enjoy the rantings of a mad man.
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