The RSPCA is calling for a ban on jump racing in Victoria and South Australia, the last two states permitting these events.
Any type of race involving riders and horses carries a risk of death for both human and animal. The fact that jump racing requires contestants to leap over barriers increases that risk.
The question seems to be - just what is an acceptable risk ?
Just about every known sport has the risk of an accident, and yet many people only become concerned when an animal is involved. There are those who would like to see polo banned - and yet more riders than horses suffer injury.
One line of complaint in seeking a ban on jump racing concerns the matter of consent. Riders are well paid for accepting the risks involved - and do so of their own free will. The horses do not have this luxury !
The fact that jump racing exists in just two states indicates that it's proponents are fighting a losing battle. Each time there is a spectacular fall it gets air time on the evening news - and opinion swings to greater support for a ban.
In the end - it will be public opinion that decides the issue !
Monday, 31 May 2010
Sunday, 30 May 2010
A fading need !
Next month the cost of posting a letter in Australia will jump by five cents - to sixty cents !
The need for the postal service is in serious decline, and as mail use drops we can expect ever increasing costs. The day will come when posting a letter costs several dollars because the infrastructure in place to handle mail will be servicing a mere fraction of the present letter rate.
The mail is under attack on all fronts. Many people communicate with friends using email rather than writing letters. This new " Skype " software is making video calls both free and exciting - actually seeing the caller on the monitor is a new experience - and in the commercial world the letter is as outdated as button-up boots and buggy whips !
Little by little service providers are only accepting clients who agree to pay their bills by automatic bank transfer - and this will accelerate as the cost of a stamp to mail out your monthly bill pushes up costs.
Have you noticed the trend to add what is euphemistically called a " bill paying fee " of anything from fifty cents to two dollars to your bill total ?
How long will it be before postal charges will depend on the distance between point of posting and the address of the recipient ?
Probably not long, considering that the great bulk of mail travels to the mail boxes of corporations in either Sydney or Melbourne. We already have " distance rates " when mail is destined for overseas destinations. In many cases, mail between Wollongong and Perth travels similar distances.
Cheap mail rates were a thing of the past geared to high volumes - and those high volumes are fast fading from the scene.
Get ready for paying more for mailing a letter !
Much more !
The need for the postal service is in serious decline, and as mail use drops we can expect ever increasing costs. The day will come when posting a letter costs several dollars because the infrastructure in place to handle mail will be servicing a mere fraction of the present letter rate.
The mail is under attack on all fronts. Many people communicate with friends using email rather than writing letters. This new " Skype " software is making video calls both free and exciting - actually seeing the caller on the monitor is a new experience - and in the commercial world the letter is as outdated as button-up boots and buggy whips !
Little by little service providers are only accepting clients who agree to pay their bills by automatic bank transfer - and this will accelerate as the cost of a stamp to mail out your monthly bill pushes up costs.
Have you noticed the trend to add what is euphemistically called a " bill paying fee " of anything from fifty cents to two dollars to your bill total ?
How long will it be before postal charges will depend on the distance between point of posting and the address of the recipient ?
Probably not long, considering that the great bulk of mail travels to the mail boxes of corporations in either Sydney or Melbourne. We already have " distance rates " when mail is destined for overseas destinations. In many cases, mail between Wollongong and Perth travels similar distances.
Cheap mail rates were a thing of the past geared to high volumes - and those high volumes are fast fading from the scene.
Get ready for paying more for mailing a letter !
Much more !
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Protection removed !
Way back when Henry Ford brought motoring to the masses he made sure that his Model T had a solid steel barrier - front and back - to protect the car from accidental contact with other items.
They were called - bumper bars !
By the mid twentieth century car design people were more concerned with appearance than funtionality. Those bumper bars were now much lighter pieces of metal, chromed to add eye appeal - but still capable of deflecting minor impacts.
Towards the end of that century more changes had occurred. Chrome was no longer in favour and metal had been replaced with plastic. Even worse - the body colour had been extended to the so called " bumper bars " and even the slightest scratch had become a costly paint job to repair.
Advance to the present day - and now the bumper bar has completely disappeared.
The modern car is a magnificently complex piece of machinery that is light years ahead of the trusty old Model T in reliability - and yet is it unprotected. It competes for space on over crowded roads and jockeys for position to park at the kerb or in parking lots - and that means contact with others - and inevitable damage.
The difference is that the modern car has moved from being simply functional - to a very expensive fashion accessory.
It seems that car designers aim for physical attraction to make a new model " must have " - and induce us to have the latest, even though it means trading our present car every two or three years because it has become slightly shoddy in appearance - and no longer reflects who we are.
Those who ride in cars have the added protection of air bags and seat belts. Unfortunately the vehicle itself has less protection than it did nearly a century ago !
They were called - bumper bars !
By the mid twentieth century car design people were more concerned with appearance than funtionality. Those bumper bars were now much lighter pieces of metal, chromed to add eye appeal - but still capable of deflecting minor impacts.
Towards the end of that century more changes had occurred. Chrome was no longer in favour and metal had been replaced with plastic. Even worse - the body colour had been extended to the so called " bumper bars " and even the slightest scratch had become a costly paint job to repair.
Advance to the present day - and now the bumper bar has completely disappeared.
The modern car is a magnificently complex piece of machinery that is light years ahead of the trusty old Model T in reliability - and yet is it unprotected. It competes for space on over crowded roads and jockeys for position to park at the kerb or in parking lots - and that means contact with others - and inevitable damage.
The difference is that the modern car has moved from being simply functional - to a very expensive fashion accessory.
It seems that car designers aim for physical attraction to make a new model " must have " - and induce us to have the latest, even though it means trading our present car every two or three years because it has become slightly shoddy in appearance - and no longer reflects who we are.
Those who ride in cars have the added protection of air bags and seat belts. Unfortunately the vehicle itself has less protection than it did nearly a century ago !
Friday, 28 May 2010
Liquor abuse !
Its about time the government started to think outside the nine dots when it comes to curbing liquor abuse.
People are actually losing their lives when mobs of drunken revellers disgorge from late night pubs and clubs - and commence to brawl in the street. Club and pub owners have an incentive to promote excessive drinking - because the more booze they sell - the more profit they make - and that is where the key to more moderate behaviour can be found.
We need a law change to make patron behaviour determine the hours that licensed establishments may trade.
If a club or a pub becomes the scene of frequent street brawls at closing time, then the police should be able to appeal to a court to have the trading hours restricted. For instance, should unseemly behaviour mean a 3 am license was curtailed back to midnight for a six month period - that would provide a huge incentive for the proprietor to engage security guards - and most importantly - enforce the appropriate serving of liquor so that patrons do not get stinking drunk !
Forced earlier closing would inflict a massive hit to the profit motive - and the profit motive is the only inducement that will make venues take measures necessary to curb excessive drinking and the mayhem that causes from intoxicated patrons.
We are looking in the wrong direction by using the police to break up drunken behaviour at closing time. The answer is to make it unprofitable for publicans and club owners to allow the serving of liquor to create the problem in the first place.
Refusal of service for those approaching their liquor tolerance limit needs to occur - at the point where the line between reasonable sobriety and becoming drunk happens - and that is where the empty glass is proffered for a refill !
People are actually losing their lives when mobs of drunken revellers disgorge from late night pubs and clubs - and commence to brawl in the street. Club and pub owners have an incentive to promote excessive drinking - because the more booze they sell - the more profit they make - and that is where the key to more moderate behaviour can be found.
We need a law change to make patron behaviour determine the hours that licensed establishments may trade.
If a club or a pub becomes the scene of frequent street brawls at closing time, then the police should be able to appeal to a court to have the trading hours restricted. For instance, should unseemly behaviour mean a 3 am license was curtailed back to midnight for a six month period - that would provide a huge incentive for the proprietor to engage security guards - and most importantly - enforce the appropriate serving of liquor so that patrons do not get stinking drunk !
Forced earlier closing would inflict a massive hit to the profit motive - and the profit motive is the only inducement that will make venues take measures necessary to curb excessive drinking and the mayhem that causes from intoxicated patrons.
We are looking in the wrong direction by using the police to break up drunken behaviour at closing time. The answer is to make it unprofitable for publicans and club owners to allow the serving of liquor to create the problem in the first place.
Refusal of service for those approaching their liquor tolerance limit needs to occur - at the point where the line between reasonable sobriety and becoming drunk happens - and that is where the empty glass is proffered for a refill !
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Rain danger.
There must have been a lot of worried Wollongong residents yesterday. Heavy rain brought back memories of 1998 when torrential rain on the escarpment flooded parts of the city and caused landslides.
A lot of remedial work has been done since that disaster. Many properties that were at risk have been bought and demolished by the government and the land turned into recreational parks, but the danger is not yet over.
Abnormal rain events are inevitable from time to time, and with a steep escarpment behind us this water is certain to do damage as it escapes to the sea.
One aspect of 1998 is worth giving some thought. In the aftermath of that disaster three insurance companies reneged on claims - and their policy holders have not received a cent.
Those insurance companies are again selling policies in Wollongong and it would be a very good idea to have them publicly explain their attitude now if a similar disaster was to occur.
If they refuse to make their intentions clear and give a commitment to covering catastrophic rain events - make sure you are not a policy holder - because a repeat event some day is almost a certainty !
A lot of remedial work has been done since that disaster. Many properties that were at risk have been bought and demolished by the government and the land turned into recreational parks, but the danger is not yet over.
Abnormal rain events are inevitable from time to time, and with a steep escarpment behind us this water is certain to do damage as it escapes to the sea.
One aspect of 1998 is worth giving some thought. In the aftermath of that disaster three insurance companies reneged on claims - and their policy holders have not received a cent.
Those insurance companies are again selling policies in Wollongong and it would be a very good idea to have them publicly explain their attitude now if a similar disaster was to occur.
If they refuse to make their intentions clear and give a commitment to covering catastrophic rain events - make sure you are not a policy holder - because a repeat event some day is almost a certainty !
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
A right royal mess !
The actions of " Fergie " - the Duchess of York - have not done a lot to uphold the good standing of the Royal family - or the monarchy for that matter !
Trying to peddle access to her ex-husband for half a million dollars is not exactly the behavior expected of somebody who exalted in being addressed as " Your Royal Highness ".
But then Fergie was an unfortunate choice of bride for a Royal person !
She has been perilously close to financial disaster on many occasions, and yet has not learned to tailor her spending to her income. When Concorde was flying the Atlantic she was a regular passenger. She seems to consider the high life her prerogative - as long as somebody else is paying the bill.
The poor old Queen must despair. She has led a blameless life - with the single indiscretion of indifference in the early days of Princess Diana's untimely death - and yet her good example has been consistently let down by lesser Royals.
Fergie has certainly handed a media bonanza to those republicans steadily chipping away at support for the monarchy !
Trying to peddle access to her ex-husband for half a million dollars is not exactly the behavior expected of somebody who exalted in being addressed as " Your Royal Highness ".
But then Fergie was an unfortunate choice of bride for a Royal person !
She has been perilously close to financial disaster on many occasions, and yet has not learned to tailor her spending to her income. When Concorde was flying the Atlantic she was a regular passenger. She seems to consider the high life her prerogative - as long as somebody else is paying the bill.
The poor old Queen must despair. She has led a blameless life - with the single indiscretion of indifference in the early days of Princess Diana's untimely death - and yet her good example has been consistently let down by lesser Royals.
Fergie has certainly handed a media bonanza to those republicans steadily chipping away at support for the monarchy !
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
The new " Gestapo " !
When the state of Israel was established in 1948 it was done in a world wide wave of sympathy for the horrors disclosed by the Holocaust. It was almost beyond reason that a supposedly civilized country - Germany - would seek to exterminate an entire race of people in their death camps.
Over six decades later it is depressing to find that the Zionist citizens of this new state have descended to the level of their Nazi oppressors in the treatment of another race of people under their control.
Savagery is practised on both sides of what is really a war between two races. The Israeli security agency - Mossad - has no compunction in stealing the identities of citizens of friendly countries and using forged passports to carry out an assassination of an enemy leader.
The governments of Britain, Ireland, Germany and Australia have every right to dismiss Mossad agents from Israeli embassies in their countries. Unfortunately it is evident that Israel shows no hint of concern or apology - and would no doubt do the same again without compunction.
It seems that there is little difference between the security people and their methods whether the emblem on their sleeves is the swastika - or the star of David.
To the oppressed - both seem to represent a new " Gestapo " !
Over six decades later it is depressing to find that the Zionist citizens of this new state have descended to the level of their Nazi oppressors in the treatment of another race of people under their control.
Savagery is practised on both sides of what is really a war between two races. The Israeli security agency - Mossad - has no compunction in stealing the identities of citizens of friendly countries and using forged passports to carry out an assassination of an enemy leader.
The governments of Britain, Ireland, Germany and Australia have every right to dismiss Mossad agents from Israeli embassies in their countries. Unfortunately it is evident that Israel shows no hint of concern or apology - and would no doubt do the same again without compunction.
It seems that there is little difference between the security people and their methods whether the emblem on their sleeves is the swastika - or the star of David.
To the oppressed - both seem to represent a new " Gestapo " !
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