Recent Posts
Ok, so basically probably about 70% (*made up fact*) of people will sit behind the wheel and drive a car at some point in their life, for the last three weeks I've been in a car I've probably travelled 300 kms. Now Lots of other people are doing the same thing at the same time, Thus it makes sense that Driving laws should be the most prevelent in the legal system.
We're bombarded by "enough is enough" campaigns, along with the "every K over is a killer" campaign, and "drink and drive, you're a bloody idiot" campaigns. But are they actually doing anything?
In my short stint behind the wheel I found the most dangerous of all things I did whilst driving was taking my eyes off the road every few seconds to check I wasn't speeding. This of course got me thinking. What if we eliminated speed limits and had recommended speeds instead? Much in the way those yellow corner ahead signs recomend a speed.
Think about it, keep your eyes on the road at all times and also to the sides of the road and feel free to do 100 in the zone that was previously 60kms an hour. Think that 40kms in too high a speed that the road wasn't made for? Try watching some of those roads at some stage, I can assure you, a very large majority speed every day on our roads, it's usually the people who go 20kms under the speed limits that actually cause accidents.
Personally I can see a lot more benefit in teaching people to drive then boring them with threats about how if you go two kilometres over the speed limit you're going to kill someone. Sorry but last time I checked, a person who is hit at 100kms an hour is no more alive then a person hit at 105kms. Either way, probably dead.
Now this education should in no way be limited to drivers, what about teaching the pedestrians, more than we currently teach now. Sure we teach our children stop look both ways before crossing a road, but as we get older we think we get smarter in avoiding cars ... If only.
But will this system ever happen? Definatly not, and not from a safety aspect. More so because of a revenue raising aspect, all those speed cameras would be made ineffective, police would have to hang up their radar guns, and no longer pull anyone over for speeding. So instead they confront our TV's with the million dollar advertising which doesn't seem too effective and I know I for one think is an unrealistic portrayal of certain situations.
TV naturalist Mark Amey, 44, who worked alongside Irwin, backed the sentiments, saying, "My message to people is don't watch the show. It's distasteful s**t. Let's hope none of Steve's fans who keep poisonous animals happen to find the addresses of those behind the show and leave them a nice surprise."
For those who have been living under a rock for the last little while, this of course refers to the latest south park episode aired in the US titled Hell on Earth 2006. In said South Park episode Satan holds a huge Halloween party on earth. Also in said episode, the late Steve Irwin makes an appearance
with the stingray still attached to his chest.
Distasteful! Foul! Disrespectful! Or is it?
For those who have watched the (as the media have named it) Steve Irwin south park episode, you would know that the cartoon depiction of Steve Irwin was only on screen for a maximum of 30 seconds, and even that is stretching the time friendship. And as far as South Park goes, what was said was actually tasteful and tame.
So why all the controversy? Because the media gets attention from it. But not only that, so does the creators of South Park themselves. Thats right
by causing such controversy, Mark Stone and Trey Parker are getting there point across even clearer then before. Because people who wouldnt have known about the episode previously have now read about the controversy everywhere before.
But where does this get us? Should we smash our television sets every time something we dont like and dont understand comes along (see Cartoon Wars Part 1 episode)? What does this achieve? Absolutely nothing. Freedom of speech just becomes non-existent.
In the wise words of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Either everything is free to write about, or nothing is
The mythical currency, now seen in Bronze medals from the Sydney 2000 Olympics
Most of us who have lived in Australia for the past 16 or so years will recall the mythological beasts that once existed within Australian Currency. Thats right, Im talking about the 1 cent and 2 cent pieces that once were plentiful and far more annoying then that 5 cent shrapnel we now had to deal with.
However back in its prime 1 and 2 cent pieces were a treasure to kids everywhere. We would scrounge around the back of the sofa and car seats, look underneath beds, maybe even sell lemonade just to get some of that precious currency. Then once enough had been collected it would be taken as if it were worth a million dollars, preciously held in tightly clutched hands, down to the local corner store to stock up on sweets and treats. I can see it now. In 40 years time Ill have all the grandchildren eagerly huddled around my ankles as I sway back and forth knitting on my rocking chair, absent mindedly telling the onlooking children about what joy we got when we were children, simply from buying a handful of lollies for a meagre 3 cents.
Now it was a very traumatic time in my life when those beautiful shiny coins were no longer a viable option. And then what chaos did it cause, in shopping centres we had to begin to round up and round down prices, some prices went up to compensate, however most just stayed at the cheaper ($).99cents. Slowly money can be lost, but more importantly, made from this non-existent currency.
But its only 1 and 2 cents you say! Or is it? 100 people buying a chocolate bar at 1.99 but paying with real cash would be paying $2 a pop. Thats 200 dollars. From a mere 100 people that shopping centre has made a full dollar profit for nothing. Still not a lot? Think about the major chain shopping centres and how many customers they bring in daily and how much profit they could make.
To make matters worse, our little echidna pal on the 5 cent piece is now looking at heading towards the endangered list. Our Kiwi neighbours, as of November 1st 2006, are eradicating their own 5 cent piece. And yes, talk of following suit has occurred in Australia. Think of the carnage! Instead of handing over that little echidna buddy we'll have to hand over a shiny 10 cent piece from rounding up. Now were talking in terms of 5 cents a time, not just 1 cent. That chocolate bar will be at a reduced price of 1.95, however youll still have to pay with a $2 coin, and they now make $5 off absolutely nothing.
Do you want to live in society which is missing a 5 cent piece in its currency? I didnt think so.
|
|
|
Add Comments
Comments (3)
Read More
Comment by Purge Your Mind
on Bennigan's Shennanigans
Purge Your Mind