Council resolute on Kingsway footpath policy

Posted to Waverley Leader (27/4/2011) on 27/4/2011 at 10:53 AM
Commenting on “Council resolute on Kingsway footpath policy”
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/council-resolute-on-kingsway-footpath-policy/

OK, outdoor diners, all civic conscious and sensible people sympathise with your plight. We understand that you are contented to smoke or breathe in second-hand smoke to be lung cancer suffers causing grief to your loved ones; be an inconsiderate nuisance to create hazards forcing parents pushing prams or shoppers with trolleys into the street and get knocked down by cars wanting to park at the bays; an environmental hypocrite wasting valuable energy during winter using very inefficient ceiling heaters; gulp down the dirty and silent carcinogens pumped out from vehicles which do not complement well with the presumably healthy food you are consuming.

Oops, I forget to mention about the filthy mess, including the cigarette butts that scattered on the footpaths. Yes, City of Monash is a multicultural city, I do not mean ethnicity related culture, what I mean is the practice of those who want to be seen as trendy and mindless.

Yarra traders fume over smoking bans

Posted to Melbourne Leader (21/3/2011) on 25/3/2011 at 12:16 AM

Commenting on “HAVE YOUR SAY: Yarra traders fume over smoking bans”

http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/yarra-traders-fume-over-smoking-bans/

I strong disagree with Peri's view that "If I am not enjoying the atmosphere I simply move seats. It's called tolerance." No, Peri, it is called apathy.

Unfortunately, most people in the society take the attitude that “it’s not my problem”, “has nothing to do with me”, “let someone worry about it” and “who cares?” We read about whingers, and hear their moaning and complaints, and yet they don’t take their grievances to the authority, customer relation departments, consumer affairs, etc. During election time, they close their eyes and their hearts and simply voted some good for nothing representatives in the council, state parliament or federal parliament. If everyone continues to live for his own self-interest, our social fabric will decline to a state of no return! We MUST intervene!

According to Food Standard 3.2.3, Div 2, Para 3(d), "The design and construction of food premises must to the extent that is practicable – exclude dirt, dust, fumes, smoke and other contaminants." That paragraph alone is more than sufficient to support the banning of smoking at outdoor café.

Should Yarra Council ban outdoor smoking?”

Posted to Waverley Leader (16/3/2011) on 19/3/2011 at 1:46 AM

Commenting on “HAVE YOUR SAY: Should Yarra Council ban outdoor smoking?”

http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/melbourne-council-considers-outdoor-smoking-ban/

City of Monash should be praised for banning smoking in many public areas, but unfortunately the Monash Councillors were gutless to ban smoking in outdoor dining cafés / restaurants recently. It was said that "Monash-specific ban would be hard on traders and thinks that the cost is too great to implement it."

There will always be people who enjoy lighting up a cigarette inside or outside eating places, but there are a lot more who don’t. By promoting Yarra as a complete smoke-free zone for café, it can attract non-smokers coming to help improve the food business in the City.

It will be fantastic if Yarra is the first City to implement such policy in banning all outdoor dining.

Karaoke out of tune

Posted to Waverley Leader (4/1/2011) on 7/1/2011 at 11:51 AM
Commenting on "Karaoke out of tune"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/no-support-for-glen-waverley-karaoke/

There are more concerning issues regarding this proposed development:

• Over concentration of restaurants / food premises will cannibalise existing businesses
  
• A lot more late-night alcohol-fuelled violence will be in the precinct
  
• More demand on Police and Council resources to ensure Monash residents peace and quiet enjoyment of their properties at night
  
• Possible organised gangs will be attracted and infiltrated to this area with early morning licence
  
• Non-existing by-laws to ensure balanced mix of business
  

Although I’m a Chinese by descent, I definitely do not like to see the Kingsway turned into a Chinatown like Box Hill, Springvale, Richmond in Melbourne, or Eastwood, Chatswood and Cabramatta in Sydney - almost filled with Asian restaurants or businesses.

Only a balanced mix of businesses and ethnicity in the City of Monash will ensure racial harmony in the near and long-term future.

Monash hospital fights fat

Posted to Waverley Leader (12/11/2010) on 14/11/2010 at 1:34am
Commenting on “Monash hospital fights fat”
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/monash-hospital-fights-fat/

I get very upset when people use derogatively the term "junk food" on food items that could be good for the children if taken in moderation.

Anything eaten in excess will have undesirable effects, including the so-called healthy foods. Fried food can increase appetite, and may be used as a motivator and enticer for someone to consume his/her meal with other "healthy" foods.

Steam Dim Sims can be considered as a reasonable balance diet - the “skin” is made out of flour which contains protein and carbohydrate; the minced meat is protein; some may contain cabbage which is a form of fibre. The meat does contain fat, but the fat content in a Dim Sim would not be as high as that of butter being spread on a piece of toast.

I can't really see why Sushi be a much better food than pizza. The seaweed sheet is high in salt and possible iodine. While it may reduce fat intake, it increases the chances of high blood pressure, and causes side effects for iodine intolerant consumers.