Fear and misinformation about childhood vaccination

Posted to Knox Leader (22/4/2013) on 23/4/2013 at 12:40 AM
Commenting on "Belgrave GP hits out at people spreading “fear and misinformation” about childhood vaccination"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/call-to-vaccinate-children/comments-fngnvlxu-1226624633022

The following is an extract from Wikipedia on vaccination: "One of the most noteworthy allegations of vaccine-induced injury is the MMR vaccine controversy. A fraudulent 1998 paper by Andrew Wakefield, originally published in The Lancet, presented supposed evidence that the MMR Vaccine (an immunization against measles, mumps and rubella that is typically first administered to children before their first birthday) was linked to the onset of autism spectrum disorders. The article was partially retracted in 2004 by Wakefield's co-authors, and was fully retracted by The Lancet in 2010".

I would like those who believe in vaccination causing autism to tell me how many people out of the 23 million in Australia they know of are autistic. Autism and Asperger's Syndrome seem to be the new and popular neutro-medical jargons. Modern brain imaging techniques can look inside the brain but it cannot clearly identify a common pathology or to work out which part of it is causing anti-social behaviour.

What a fantastic thought that one day a scientist on this planet Earth discovers or isolates a vaccine to prevent idiocy!

Closure of Swinburne's Lilydale campus means students will face longer commutes

Posted to Waverley Leader (16/4/2013) on 16/4/2013 at 5:25 PM)
Commenting on "Closure of Swinburne's Lilydale campus means students will face longer commutes"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/closure-of-swinburnes-lilydale-campus-means-students-face-longer-commutes/story-fngnvlxu-1226620779603

With large land mass and therefore low population density, this is always a problem. Spare a thought for those coming from the regional areas to Melbourne to attend higher education. There is never enough money to go round to fund every education level.

The demographers were predicting a rapid population growth few years ago until a brake is put on in the latest census. The almost instant collapse of the international students coming to Australia to study distorted the statistical outcome, including the demand of TAFE, real estate and employment. Unfortunately, this is another disastrous consequence caused by the government policy-on-the-run. UK and Canada benefited immensely in economic terms from our international education door closure.

The government has no clue in what is going on in the education sector, and education sector has no clue in course rationalisation. The new funding model proposed by the Gillard government is half-baked; taking money from Universities to fund primary schooling is absurd and will result in massive shake out in the higher education sectors. There will be more closure of university campuses than just Swinburne Lilydale.

New CCTV cameras capture footage of people dumping rubbish at Huntingdale train station, police

Posted to Waverley Leader (16/4/2013) on 16/4/2013 at 1:59AM)
Commenting on "New CCTV cameras capture footage of people dumping rubbish at Huntingdale train station, police"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/new-cctv-cameras-capture-footage-of-people-dumping-rubbish-at-huntingdale-train-station-police/story-fngnvlxu-1226620843155

Come on, Mayor, you look pathetic sitting on a heap of rubbish like a fashion model. What sort of message are you trying to convey, an endorsement to hang around to be picked to the tip? I reckon that it is cheap shot for a photo session, in particular a person with a respectable position like a Mayor.

I have written on numerous occasions that I believe in no nonsense and zero tolerance. Culprits should not only be fined, but also do some real dirty hard labour, namely lifting the rubbish to a dump truck and clean up the place. They will be assigned duties on site to stop other dumpers from rubbishing the place.

Oakleigh's $20,000 art sculpture has divided residents

Posted to Waverley Leader (12/3/2013) on 14/3/2013 at 11:30 PM
Commenting on "Oakleigh's $20,000 art sculpture has divided residents"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/oakleighs-20000-art-sculpture-has-divided-residents/story-fngnvlxu-1226594891136

It is a matter of "the best man (artist) winning the ribbon", and in this case a Singaporean sculptor.

As a matter of fact, I agree totally with Loz that this is a hazard, and I firmly believe that this twisted metallic strip will cost Monash ratepayers millions of dollars for public liability compensation payment unless it is fenced up.

This public exhibit must be also very tempting for graffiti artists to show off their talent, and soon the silver surface with be multi-colour, matching the racial mix of City of Monash.

This piece of artwork is fated to join the former Melbourne sculpture Yellow Peril hidden in the wilderness!

Brandon Park Secondary College site could be home to four-storey residential development

Posted to Waverley Leader (9/3/2013) on 13/3/2013 at 12:27 PM
Comment on "Former Brandon Park Secondary College site could be home to four-storey residential development"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/former-brandon-park-secondary-college-site-could-be-home-to-four-storey-residential-development/story-fngnvlxu-1226592463666

Hadn't the former school created more traffic congestion than a 4-storey development?

Whether it is going to be a school, medium density dwelling development, business use or community multi-purpose building, we must understand the demographics of Brandon Park better. It is nice to have schools close to where the students reside, but then are the other schools in the area fully utilised? Holmesglen and Chisholm TAFEs are accessible by buses, and there are enough schools in the region. Be mindful of economy of scale.

There are times Brandon Park Shopping Centre carparks are seemingly full, but I can always find a space. Just have a look at the commercial building next to the shopping centre; there are still floors of unoccupied office space.

If a four-storey development is permitted, I can foresee Centro will apply permit for an extension of the shopping centre to go up to four storeys as well.
Property prices around Brandon Park have gone up leaps and bounce since the region was rezoned as Wheelers Hill. Further rezoning can only be a bonanza to the existing property owners.

Land is a scarce resource. I hope that there is balance of dwelling and recreational use of the site.