Wednesday, August 25, 2010

POLITICS

Politics is the prime subject at the moment.
We have a HUNG Parliament and four independents who could split down the middle or go to the wrong party.
Here in Queensland, we have two lines of thinking of WHY!!!!
A] the ousting of Kevin [which personally I think was a good thing, even though I voted for his party at that election.]
B] Anna Bligh!!!! and this has to do with the factor of privatisation [which is not needed]

The main claim I think lies with point B.
Oh! Yes there was some flack over Kev 07. But was there really that much of a backlash?
Afterall, the Libs changed leaders three times and noone seemed outraged.

Now! If you remember your Australian history and also the hype when Anna won the election. You will recall that she is a direct descendant of Govenor Bligh. Him of the BOUNTY and hiding under the bed when the troops were after him in Sydney.
Personally, I see the resemblance. Watching her in Parliament on the news,
doesn't instil confidence in her.
She has made up her mind and as far as she and her offsider [treasurer] are concerned, that is it.
I urge everyone to vote against her at the next election, but, I wouldn't be voting for the LNP as they are so disunited it is rather hilarious.
OH! Well. It looks like we need to run for parliament ourselves.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Go Card

Today I went to to a briefing on GO CARD. It was for Seniors.
I've been against this total conversion to the GO CARD sinse it was announced last year.
You and I were not consulted on this at all.
The press from Ms Rachel Nolan has been [to my mind] negative.
Add to this the factor that she has not stuck to the same story in any one interview makes her not caring one way or the other.

Now, most of what I heard today was positive. Go Card is a good idea. BUT! there is no real benefit to the user, other than the factor that they get a cheaper fare than a paper ticket holder.
When I mentioned the factor of the discrimination here, I was told that it was an emotive response.
Having checked with the ACCC about this early on, I found that although there is discrimination here, the factor remained that the Minister[Ms Nolan & Translink] had not lodged their proposal with the ACCC before going ahead with the price increase. Therefore, because the proper papers had not been submitted, there was not a thing they could do.

The only way you can receive a discount on GO CARD is after doing 10 trips.
Originally Ms Nolan was wanting people to move their travel habits to OFF PEAK time zones. Fine if you are not working. Otherwise, you go to work, you go home. 10 Journeys. Now unless everyone in the family has a GO GARD, you are not traveling by public transport. Because it is only after 10 journeys that you start to get a discount.
Now, what they haven't taken into account with other systems using a Plastic Card, is, the factor work on the basis of that card user only paying OFF PEAK Fare for any trip regardless of time of day.
Also, the factor that paper tickets are still available to users in those places with a Plastic Card system. For example, LONDON with the OYSTER CARD and PAPER TICKETS.
The other problem for me today was the factor that I [being only 61] was found to be not OLD ENOUGH.
Well, The event was for Senior Card holders. As I told them, the card was totally useless to me, unless I want free coffee at McDonalds [with purchase] and the occassional place that accepts Seniors Cards, and, there are very few in the vicinity and most for things I don't need.
So there you have it.
After 1st January, no more paper tickets. Until then the OFF PEAK daily [used throughout the set times] is your best choice. I have it down to one day a week where I can do all the travel I need to, within the time frame,and, that includes multi trips.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

PARKING

I don't drive. But! I know enough to know, where you can and cannot park.
My observances over the past week, lead me to beleive that the general public, "Just don't care".
Firstly, there was the car parked outside the Homemakers Centre ON A YELLOW LINE.
That in anyones book is a No No!!!
Then there were the cars parked partially or fully across driveways.
The cars parked on the footpath.
Photographs have been taken and are being forwarded to Council.
Number Plates are visible in ALL cases.
I would suggest that Brisbane drivers learn their road rules.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Council Down Time

Council Down Time!
Did you realise, that it takes 13 working days for council to get back to you on a question you pose?
It takes 2 if you don't give them your name!
Obviously they don't like anonymity!!!!!!

Tuesday 17th August.
Would you believe it!
I've had no reply to my question to council of the 3rd.
Now when I complained about the noisy dog a few years back [the event that they couldn't fit in between their tea breaks] I received an answer/reply sooner.
This time I questioned them on Main Road Parking.Still no response.
I'll keep you informed!!!

Neighbours

Neighbours!!
Who needs them?

Do you live in a block of units?
If so, you have probably come across "The Director". Yes he/she is the one who thinks that they control what goes on at your units.
They're the one who DO, but complain if someone else does.
They're the one who get in a knot when some else does.

We have one in the units who, If you DO, you are damned and if you DON'T you are damned.

I recently had a run in with him.
His problem is a Martyr Complex.
Everyone is against him. Everyone wants to take his tasks away from him.
Everyone has some reason to be haunting/stalking him.
For twenty years we have put up with this and his abuse of various tennants as his insane desires have progressed.
Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done.
You see, we live in a set of units owned by the Department of Housing.
We can't remove him, they won't remove him.
In the meantime, we have to put up with him abusing the other tennants at whim.
The recent impact was that some signage was replaced by myself for some that had been torn down by him some weeks ago.
It seems that I hadn't asked his permission, or, he saw it as someone else directing where he thought he should have been.
The funny thing was, that when I reported it to the Department of Housing, they had no problem with what I had done.
Now most units dwellers would have to go to their body corporate and get a NO for the answer.
I know because a friend tried it.
But back to my situation.
How do you get people like this removed?
In another instance the Department moved one of two troublemakers.
Unfortunately, she was moved into our block of units.
So what have we had to put up with since she arrived.
Well, first she set up her waiting room. Apparently she had been in the Medical profession [a lie].
Then she started on the recycle bins. Ostensibly to tidy. REALITY! Looking for anything to steal Identity. I caught her out. I also followed the paper trail, as she had taken my SHREDDED paper from the bins and there was a trail to her door of the bits she lost.
She also collects cigarette butts off the street. Now she has been warned about the fact of various diseases possible. No effect.
She has her son living with her, but no permission.
He is Schytsophrenic and doesn't take his medication. We've had the police a number of times.
She also volunteers for Lifeline. I wonder how much they lose?
Between the two of them [Director & problem woman] we have a major problem.
Nought can or will be done. Meanwhile we have two manic depressives, a former drug addict who is on the way out, a Scitsophrenic, a slightly impared [6 toes 4 fingers], a 45 year old virgin who doesn't know the meaning of mastubation, a socially impaired, One who thinks he is GODS gift[ until you get a whiff of him], A sex change who doesn't look good in a dressing gown, and, a woman who thinks she is a Jehovas witness but dresses like a muslim woman and sells grass!
Most should either be in asylum or sheltered care.
So much for the government resources. The community has to put up with the rejects of society that the government don't want to deal with.
Of the 16 units occupied here, 8 of the people need more than the pension to help them. Most including the "director" need some sort of Pshycologicsl or Pshychiatric help.
But we have to live with them and try to get on with our lives.
But why should we??????