Fruit is Funny

Victorian councils spraying drinking water on dusty roads

AS millions of Victorians save shower water in buckets and watch their gardens die, councils are spraying fresh drinking water on dusty streets.

The Greater Dandenong Council council says it's all part of a dust suppression treatment program for its seven unsealed roads, a report in the Dandenong Leader says.

Neighbouring Casey Council also uses fresh water to reduce dust rising off its roads.

But the revelation has angered Dandenong Cr Peter Brown, who called it a "scandalous squandering of drinking water".

"(To think that) mains water has been used as a frequent roads dust suppressant while residents have watched their trees and gardens die by complying with the water restrictions is little short of scandalous," Cr Brown said.

He said more council roads should be sealed to stem the waste.

Engineering services director Tim Tamlin has confirmed the council used "potable water" for its unsealed roads network.

He could not say how much water had been used during road construction, but the council has spent $16,000 on dust suppression on a one road alone last year.

How much water was used "depended on the weather", Mr Tamlin said.

South East Water spokeswoman Fiona Fernandes said the water authority would work with the council to find alternative solutions.

Read the full story here.

Herald Sun 14 April 2008

Typical Roman Empire attitude, punish the people, whilst living in opulence !

Government supports business water cheats

Car Wash facilities have been popping up all over Melbourne over the pas 15 or so years.

Since the official sanctioning of water by the government, Car Wash facilities did not provide recycled water, but the people were told if they washed their car at home they would be fined. The minimum average cost for a car was at a facility is $10, whilst the cost of washing your car at home can vary from 2 to 5 cents.

Since the privitisation of Melbourne’s water, there has been no provisions for more water storage or even additional infrastructure provided by the various businesses. A clear money making exercise.

News media publishes stories titled “ Water cheats escape Justice”

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23160103-5010020,00.html

yet support water wastage by business, usually under the banner that it employs people, and helps stimulate the economy.

The government is quick to fine individuals, but dodgy operations at shopping centres (illustration: Highpoint Shopping Centre – Melbourne) go unnoticed.

Coca Cola pays $1.40 per 1,000,000 litres, whilst residents pay $0.80 per 1,000 litres, or approximately 570 time more.

Dad acquitted of baby's manslaughter

A father who was jailed for the shaking manslaughter of his four-week-old baby has had his conviction quashed.

Tomas Klamo, 24, has been in jail since April 23 last year after admitting he shook his crying son Izaiah in July 2005.

He told police he was "a little pissed off" with his child, but said the shake was "nothing too full-on".

The baby died about a week later from a brain haemorrhage at Sunshine Hospital in western Melbourne.

At the time, the jury took less than a day to find Mr Klamo guilty of his son's manslaughter.

He was sentenced to two years jail.

"I've been wrongly accused, obviously, and how can you [the jury] make the verdict that quick?'' Mr Klamo protested from the dock at the time.

However, the Court of Appeal decided today that there was insufficient evidence to suggest the shaking incident was the cause of death.

While a doctor's report found the cause of death was brain injury, it stated there was no other signs of damage caused by shaking.

ninemsn 9 May 2008

Only(?) Two years jail??? !! WTF ! is this law system on about ?? !! They should shake him just a little bit, "nothing too full on" so he hemorrhages from the brain too, suggestion 20g of force from either side. Pity there is no screening process for TpT breeders.

Men charged after skull dug up, used as bong

Authorities in Texas have filed corpse-abuse charges against two men who allegedly removed a skull from a grave and used it as a bong.

The Harris County District Attorney's Office confirmed yesterday that misdemeanor abuse of corpse charges have been filed in the case.

One of the men allegedly told police they dug up a grave in an abandoned cemetery in the woods, removed a head from a body and smoked marijuana using the skull as a bong.

Police found the cemetery and a grave that had been disturbed but are still investigating the rest of the story, officials said.

Reuters 9 May 2008

As is normally done by plain and simple TpT. Expect too much and expect disappointment.

Govt banks on $1.5 billion fines bonanza

The Victorian government is banking on a $1.5 billion traffic fines bonanza to top up its bottom line by the 2009-10 financial year, a secret report shows.

The cabinet report, revealed in the Herald Sun, shows the government plans to collect $1.3 billion through Victoria's 2000-plus speed cameras and $200 million in on-the-spot fines by 2009-10.

The assessment, prepared by VicRoads, does not count the expected $125 million-a-year windfall from the EastLink toll road, which has not yet opened.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the document was showed the government is addicted to traffic fines.

"The forecast revenue in this document is more than five times the promised tax relief in this week's state budget, showing John Brumby is more interested in gouging drivers with fines than lifting the tax burden on Victorians," he said.

Forecasts for traffic camera revenue for the next four years were not released in the budget, but released a total fine figure for next financial year of $500 million, the Herald Sun said.

The government on Thursday refused to release the latest forecasts for the next four financial years.

A government spokesman said all speed camera fines went to the Better Roads Victoria Trust.

"It is our hope camera fines decrease due to people slowing down, which could save Victoria part of the estimated $3.5 billion a year road trauma costs," the spokesman said.

ninemsn 9 May 2008

Corporate Terrorists : - Coles Express leads petrol prices up in four capitals

Australia’s national consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commisson(ACCC) has confirmed something most motorists probably already knew, petrol retailers are leading fuel prices higher, and it’s particularly laid the blame on supermarket discounter, Coles Express.

In a statement released tonight the ACCC said consumers should shop around in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide as Coles Express are leading petrol prices higher as the petrol pricing cycle peaks.

In these cities, petrol prices tend to cycle over seven days. Prices are often the lowest on a Wednesday morning and highest on a Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

“Analysis of petrol pricing in a 9 a.m. ’snapshot’ today shows that Coles Express sites have set the highest prices in the four capital cities,” Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Petrol Commissioner, Mr Pat Walker, warned. “Today in all four eastern capitals Coles Express was setting the highest prices at a significant number of its sites, which is consistent with a recent trend.

“There are often a range of retail prices for unleaded petrol charged by service stations in these cities. On any given day the range from the lowest available retail price to the highest is usually between 15 to 20 cents per litre.

“Consumer must look carefully at price boards to check the competition in their area before topping up their tanks.

“It is important that consumers do not automatically rely on their petrol discount voucher to necessarily deliver the lowest price,” Mr Walker said. “In these cases, loyal shoppers redeeming their voucher at the highest priced sites are paying much more than they need to.”

caradvice.com.au 7 May 2008

ACCC - no Esater Petrol ripoff - LIES

An article appearing in the Herald Sun on 25 March 2008
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23428275-664,00.html?from=public_rss
claims that motorists are not ripped off during Easter regarding petrol prices.

Motorist groups claim this is not the case. During EVERY festive season motorists are warned to fill up their tanks before the break, by the general media. The fixing of petrol prices has always been inflated over the norm during these periods. YET, the ACCC still blatantly LIES to the general public, that the prices are not inflated.
As quoted from the article " He said the rapid drop in prices over Easter after the spike was also usual practice." Why is this considered as normal?

The truth of the matter is that the Petro-Chemical industry is owned by a few people and controlled by a select group of individuals.

There is NOTHING a little ACCC, in a negligible economy like Australia, can do to the benefit of the Australian motorist.
The Australian Government surcharges a 60% tax on fuel.

The USA currently has approximately 5% of the World's population, but consumes approximately 25% of the oil reserves.

Amy Winehouse arrested over 'drug video'

Troubled British soul singer Amy Winehouse has been arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, police and her spokesman said, after footage appeared of her apparently smoking crack cocaine.

Scotland Yard said that "around 1pm (12pm GMT) today a 24-year-old woman from the Camden area attended a London police station by arrangement and was arrested in connection with the alleged possession of a controlled drug."

"She remains in custody. This is in connection with an investigation connected to footage passed to the Metropolitan Police on January 22."

Winehouse was not named, in line with force policy, but a spokesman for the singer said: "Amy Winehouse voluntarily attended a London police station today by appointment.

"She was arrested in order to be interviewed and is co-operating fully with inquiries. The interview relates to a video handed to police earlier this year."

The video footage obtained by The Sun tabloid apparently showed Winehouse, who has fought a very public battle against drink, drugs, eating disorders and self-harm, inhaling fumes from a crack pipe.

She was also shown apparently snorting ecstasy and cocaine.

The Grammy award winner was previously arrested on April 25 and spent a night in police cells for slapping a man during a booze-filled night out in north London.

She received a police caution and apologised.

Winehouse's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, 25, is currently on remand in prison awaiting trial on charges of assault and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

ninemsn 8 May 2008

Aaahhhh Soul, singer, smoking crack, it's all taking shape quite clearly. Husband remanded in prison. "apparently smoking crack cocaine" No one smoke icing sugar at parties do they ??? The problem with people like this is that they have more money than brain cells.
In Amy's case it might not be that much. None the less, a story worthy of the E.T. bin.
But wait ! Lets get some doctors involved, crank out a story of child abuse, find a few NEW acronyms, and all will be good.

'Cruel' couple on the run with 100 dogs

A couple found guilty of animal cruelty are on the run from authorities in South Australia with up to 100 dogs in a trailer, the RSPCA says.

The society's spokeswoman Aimee McKay is calling for local communities between South Australia and Victoria to be on the lookout for two people pulling a trailer carrying a large number of dogs.

Last week Joseph and Margarete Higham were found guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court of 11 counts of animal cruelty.

They failed to attend court for the trial, were convicted in their absence and absconded before being sentenced.

The charges related to about 170 dogs seized after RSPCA raids on properties at Swan Reach, east of Adelaide, and Eudunda, north of the city, in 2006 and 2007.

Ms McKay said many of those dogs were suffering from mange and other health problems including fleas, worms and some had infected wounds.

She said it was now feared the same problems would befall the dogs still in the Highams' possession.

A warrant has been issued for the couple's arrest and the RSPCA believes they might be headed for Victoria.

She said people were being asked to look out for anybody travelling in a twin cab ute with an enclosed trailer with any number of dogs of various breeds with them.

The couple might be moving the dogs in batches to various locations, she said.

"Anything that resembles that at all, it's better to call police and we'll check it out," she said.

"It's better to report it and nothing come of it than to let an animal cruelty offender slip through the radar."

Ms McKay said it was believed the couple suffered from a type of mental illness which led to their behaviour.

"Like people hoard things in their garage, they hoard dogs," she said.

ninemsn 7 May 2008

Lets give the doctors something to do, like a new name to their sickness like ADHD ILCTA ( I like cruelty to Animals).

Just plain and simple TpT on the run with their trailer trailing.