What type of World do we live in?

Tags: Transport, Environment, Living, Society, Art, Life, bicycle, cycling

What type of world do you live in when you can leave work at 6pm, catch an Open air art exhibition on the way home, and then grab a shower and be on a flight to Perth at 810pm? Mine!

Tranport!
Given I ride a bicycle it only takes me 10-15 mins to get to/from work, which makes life really easy and simple... I can even grab a coffee on the way to work at a good coffee shop instead of the less nice coffee shops closer to the office, riding up Swan St Richmond, coffee in hand (in sustainable/ reusable mug) to arrive with still hot coffee and no stress at all.  In fact I barely see another sole on the way to work.  A quick spin down King St and I am on the River, riding along unaffected by traffic, issues with trains or anything really.  Just a nice peaceful ride along the river, where I get to see the day start, measure the weather and just enjoy the crisp air to wake me up, arriving fully ready and awake at work, nothing better.
Oh and at the end of the day, I have of course done my pre-requisite 30 minutes exercise for the day easy peasy, no need to go to the Gym or take time out of my day to do exercise, it is done without even thinking, incidentally.

So I am off to Perth this weekend, followed by Brisbane next week.  I was at a Environemnt talk recently where they basically said "don't fly" which I just can't come to terms with.  I am a pretty hard core environmentalist, and I get that flying causes Climate Change, but I can't give it up!  If anyone had a vice, mine is visiting people.  I have no interest in the actual activity, that I could easily do away with... the airport queues, the cramped conditions, the checked baggage rules (oh... eurostar why not in Australia).
And I really would catch the train to Perth, Brisbane, anywhere in Australia if they only went fast enough!
I have to say not having invested in Fast Rail in Australia 20 years ago was the worst decision made by the Hawke Government (not suggesting they decided to or not, I don't know I was a kid, but I know they where in power)
But giving up the trips to Europe; that would be really hard.  And to be honest I don't think it is really justified.  The cost might be high, but it could easily be allieviated with the appropriate Offsets, at maybe twice the rate or something (now there is a story).
I think bringing the world closer together via cheap travel is the best opportunity we have to educate and ensure we all get along.  I would suggest that now that more people have seen the world, they can look beyond their front doorsteps (or front lips) to see the more global perspective.  I even read an article today where people where having the potential to have their house's bought up by the Government to build a rail line, they said "We don't mind more trains" but look at all the options, instead of saying the usual "not in my backyard" which I felt was great.

Mind in a lot of community meetings I often hear "I understand the need for x, but...." usually pertaining to "not in my backyard".  I think this is where the cause for a proper representation of the public would be useful.  A forum where everyone at all levels can "mingle" and really get to know the goals of the upper echolon of government.  This of couse is working in Corporate divisions where companies like IBM and Google are leading the way by encouraging discussion and forums to ensure everyone is on the same level, and working towards the same goals.

Enabling the public to understand the reason behind policy would ensure they can be "happy" with it, and also that the Policians actually are representing our views.  It is a far cry to fight for a more than 2 party system, or even 3, but really this system of towing the party line, it is really unconstitutional and riduclous, I do agree that the strategy of a party should be to show a united front, but I would like to see more crossing the floor, and that this behaviour be more accepted.  If your constituents believe in something then that belief should get a public representation in parliament.  I think the usual politics that goes down in question time is appalling, it would be great if they could sort that out.

Melbourne's roads... wider = more cars = congestion = wider = more cars = congestion

Photo source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/2007/06/28/1964151.htm
Tags: Politics, Controversy, Transport

Yet another study in Victoria to prove that building more roads does not solve congestion problems....http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/airport-road-wont-cope-with-demand-study-shows-20100228-pb7g.html... add to that the State Government still refuses to build a rail link to the Airport.  Do they know, or suspect that with Peak Oil people will have to stop flying, so why build the rail link to an Airport that has a limited lifespan..... who knows what they are thinking sometimes... which is a real point, but I will discuss that another time!

I recently decided to drive around Melbourne to visit a few potential clients.  I don't usually drive around, as I live and work, by choice, within a couple of kilometres.  So I was driving around all day from the inner city to the Outer Eastern Suburbs, and let me tell you, I have never come to understand more how bad the roads of Melbourne are.  Congestion is so bad in some places I saw people waiting in lines, to get through an intersection, up to 2 kms long.  I luckily was driving in the other direction.
Then you see the lovely East Link Tollway.... which I am sure everyone agrees is a great road for the East... it is wide, large and can handle huge amounts of traffic... however this road was almost empty when I went on it... why? Well people don't like "Paying" for a road directly, they much prefer to be lulled into a sense of security that they "don't pay" for the roads they drive on everyday.
No.... all the fuel levies and taxes you pay don't contribute to the Billions of dollars spent on the roads!! Not a cent.
I totally and completely advocate for a User Pays system like the Dutch are introducing using GPS - http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/dutch-plan-charge-car-drivers-kilometre/article-187394

Why shouldn't it be a user pay's system? It will encourage people to live and work more sustainably.... living in the outskirts of the city and running a car should be calculated into the cost of living, and decision making of moving out to the sticks!! Simple. Pay more rent, pay less Road tax.... have more time for yourself and family... why can't people see that.  http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/making-our-cities-better-by-design/?referrer=email
Well planned cities are just the beginning to this, and although Melbourne is a great city, it could easily become a terrible place to live if the future is not planned well, with Cars the LAST thing considered.

First Post

Introduction

Tags: Intro, politics, transportation, sustainability, alternative energy, electronics, tech, gadgets, projects, life

So I started writing my business blog last week, and thought it was time I got to writing some Raving's already.

The issue is I guess what on earth I should focus on out of the many interests I have from Politics itself to the things it focus on, Transportation, Sustainability, Climate Change, Environment, Alternative Energy, Electronics, Tech and Gadgets, Projects and well Life in general!

So I decided that I would not choose, but post the relevant Tags for each article, and make it easier to choose which posts you might like to read, rather than reading them all.

In fact I might post the Tags at the top of the Article as well.

I have to say I am writing my Business Blog in WordPress, and so far I am liking it much more, just an aside.

For those that don't know me, I am a highly opinionated, argumentative type that thinks everything could be done better, and is quite happy to tell people most of the time, in fact it is my job to do so, and it unfortunately carries across to my personal/ social life sometimes, even if I do try to keep it at bay.

Ok, so the idea for this Blog is to just write/ comment/ publish ideas of which I would like comments on, or just want someone to do, or I just want to write down my opinion at the time.

At no time shall this opinion be deemed my opinion other than at the time I wrote it, as per my mood and current knowledge at the time.

I am open to information, in fact suck it up like a vacuum, and can therefore change my opinion on different issues as more information comes to light.
For example I would happily take on board information from reputable sources on both sides of the Climate Debate, and regularly read the opponents opinions.
Mind the funniest thing is that the climate "denier" camp so often cite unworthy sources, or none at all it is hard to take them seriously at all, let alone the fact that they seemingly are happy to keep killing of millions of the world's poorest people by continuing on with business as usual... but let me leave that for a post on that particular topic.


So with the imminent release of Apples Content Delivery system, the Ipad, I choose to jump into the world of blogging on a personal level, and here it is.  Btw I am totally not an Apple person, but see some value in their products.... the usability factor I guess, maybe more people will jump on the gadget wagon... so all good Apple, just don't ruin it for us Geeks.


EnjoY!


Lambie
xx