Melbourne’s $1.5 million party to bring in New Year

Posted to Melbourne Leader on 17/12/2009 at 12:18 AM

Commenting on “Melbourne’s $1.5 million party to bring in New Year”

http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/melbournes-15m-party-to-bring-in-new-year/

Heartless, inhumane, spendthrift, selfish and stupid are the words I can think of to describe Robert Doyle and his fellow Councillors who will spend $643,000 on the New Year's Eve "street party", out of which $224,000 spent for fireworks alone - more aptly up in smoke!

Only senseless idiots would spend a total of $1.5 million, another $500,000 more than last year’s budget on the New Year’s celebration which probably benefits the fireworks factories in China, imported explosive experts, and underpaid overseas students to clean up the mess. This is no difference from the Rudd’s Government mismanaging the money of the people.

I'm absolutely disgusted that the Councillors do not spare some thought for the homeless and unemployed, who could share the money to buy some decent food or clothing to welcome the New Year.

Robert Doyle and fellow Councillors, do you understand homeless and unemployment rates are not numbers but real human’s suffering? Before you spend that money, check up the words “hunger”, “human dignity”, “self-esteem”, “cardboard boxes” from a dictionary.

(Robert Doyle is the Mayor of City of Melbourne)

Carlton protester dices with death in hunger strike

Posted to Melbourne Leader on 17/12/2009 at 12:49 AM

Commenting on “Carlton protester dices with death in hunger strike”
http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/carlton-protester-dices-with-death-in-hunger-strike/

Paul Connor does not get a sympathy vote from me. His inaction of doing something constructive, sitting for more than a month outside the Parliament House, makes him just as useless as the rest.

If Paul is really passionate about the climate change issues, he should start demonstrating and giving talks to the public especially the younger generation how he can help to bring about a clean and healthy Earth - he will use a bike or walk instead of a car, install renewable energy generator, drink from glass bottle instead of plastic one, (photo of Connor in the paper shows that he was holding a plastic bottle of water) grow his vegetables instead of buying from green grocers, turn off his heaters and wear more clothing, etc.

Words are cheap - are Paul's ideals implementable ideas? Almost all the people in the world fail to realise that the experts and governments concentrating on slowing down climate warming will not avoid any future global destruction. Paul, should the climate change gets worse, are there any escape routes for the victims? Why don't you start "preaching" / campaigning for funding in global cooling research?

Einstein was not accepted by his peers when he talked about the Theory of Relativity. Climate cooling is not that farfetched. Is it?

Federally funded insulation sparks 13 house fires in Melbourne

Posted to Waverley Leader on 16/12/2009 at 10:28 PM
Commenting on "Federally funded insulation sparks 13 house fires in Melbourne"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/federally-funded-insulation-sparks-13-house-fires-in-melbourne/

I can't agree more that the Rudd Government has no concept of money management. The insulation grant benefits the insulation material producers, installation companies which employ large team of inexperienced cowboys; many are overseas students and people who don't quite understand English.

Roof insulation is a totally biased grant. A lot of heat gain or heat loss is through glass windows. The grant should have included all drapes, curtains, internal or external window blinds, door seals, window films, and any glass insulation etc.

I really wonder any member of the Government has substantial financial interests in the insulation business. The opposition, Liberal Party, should seriously look into this matter. I smell rats!

Street parties, events make good neighbourhoods

Posted to Waverley Leader (2/12/2010) on 16/12/2009 at 10:01 PM
Commenting on "Street parties, events make good neighbourhoods"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/street-parties-events-make-good-neighbourhoods/

Tenants have neighbours, too. If you are a tenant, and don't mix with the property owners or tenants in your street, you are just another stuck-up like the rest.

I know all my neighbours in the court, and two adjoining ones at the back of my house. I make an effort to welcome new neighbours moving in to my area. I am also a zone leader in the Neighbourhood Watch, dropping NW newsletters in the neighbour mail boxes.

Good neighbourhood is a two-way traffic. Whether you are young, full of grey hair or even bald, go to knock on your neighbours' doors tomorrow first thing in the morning, and give them a great Oz G'Day. You'll be surprised that they are no different from you once - waiting for someone to make the first move!

VCE students get their marks

Posted to Waverley Leader 14/12/2009 at 7:08 PM
Commenting on "VCE students get their marks"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/vce-students-get-their-marks/

Who was the smart cookie that decided 99.95% was the perfect score? No wonder Australia has literacy and numeracy problems!

Literacy problem - not understanding the meaning of perfect; numeracy problem - 100% means the whole without missing bits!