tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58206443966832761002024-03-14T09:23:52.911+11:00Bulleen 3105 JustLocalJustLocal. Covering the area of Bulleen, Victoria, Australia 3105.Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.comBlogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-57312273250390235942014-01-13T22:09:00.001+11:002014-01-13T22:09:16.984+11:00Digital TV retune date for Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham area.I wasn't aware that some digital TV channels will need to be retuned. According to the government's website, the retune date for Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham area is the 7th of February 2014. If you find you're missing any TV channels you'll need to retune your TV set or digital receiver. <br><br>If I read the information correctly the SBS channel may be the channel affected. At the moment we don't receive SBS so it may not affect us at all. Different areas around Melbourne are affected in different ways.<br><div apple-content-edited="true"><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none;">Kelvin Eldridge </span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none;">Ph: 0415 910 703 for computer support.</span></div> <br>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-76432405793403894882013-12-25T00:31:00.001+11:002013-12-25T00:31:55.732+11:00The preferred Australian English spelling dictionary now available for Apple's MacBook Air and Mac computers using OS X.If you're not happy with the spelling suggestions made by Apple's built-in Australian dictionary you're not alone. Most people don't like American spelling suggestions (which are secondary spelling variations in Australia).<div><br></div><div>Previous dictionary products I've supplied for Mac users have only worked with Microsoft Office products Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but not Outlook. Outlook use Apple's built-in dictionary and not Microsoft's dictionary. Now Outlook users on the Mac can have the preferred Australian spelling.</div><div><br></div><div>You can find the preferred Australian English spelling dictionary for Mac OS X at <a href="http://www.australian-dictionary.com.au/mac/">http://www.australian-dictionary.com.au/mac/</a>. </div><div><br><div apple-content-edited="true"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none;">Kelvin Eldridge </span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><a href="http://www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au">www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au</a><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none;">Ph: 0415 910 703</span> </div> <br></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-18894249502836667582013-11-06T22:27:00.000+11:002013-11-07T09:57:12.168+11:00Welcome to Big Brothers Pizza Bulleen<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000"> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Looking for an excellent pizza at an excellent price. Check out Big Brothers Pizza in Bulleen. You can now find Big Brother Pizza on the Bulleen page of JustLocal (<A href="http://www.JustLocal.com.au/3105">www.JustLocal.com.au/3105</A>), or view the Big Brothers Pizza menu at <A title=http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/big-brothers-pizza-bulleen/ href="http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/big-brothers-pizza-bulleen/">http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/big-brothers-pizza-bulleen/</A>.<BR><BR>Kelvin Eldridge<BR>Online Connections<BR><A href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</A><BR>Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.<BR>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<BR></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-47017724880429559712013-08-22T11:37:00.001+10:002013-08-22T11:37:33.722+10:00Manningham FEASTival bargains on 23rd of August.<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000"> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">I saw the promotion of the Manningham FEASTival online and thought I'd check out the specials. Some aren't particularly good but some do offer good value. The following are the offers I thought may be worth considering.<BR><BR>Cocoa Moon Cafe Warrandyte – Buy one get one free coffee.<BR>Eastern Court Restaurant – 50% of the total bill when you mention the FEASTival.<BR>Yarra Valley Country Club – specials look interesting but I don't know their regular prices.<BR><BR>Be careful however with the offers. I could not find an end date for the FEASTival and that could catch some people out.<BR><BR>Kelvin Eldridge<BR>Online Connections<BR><A href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</A><BR>Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.<BR>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<BR></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-3218919963893261232013-08-10T07:53:00.001+10:002013-08-10T07:53:09.803+10:00Alert: Postal Vote Application delivered to your mail box may not be from the Australian Electoral Commission. Beware of material from Kevin Andrews MP.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I must admit this one shocked me. A couple of days ago I had a Postal Vote Application Form, which I was going to pass on to friends of the family to use, since they could use them and I had no purpose for them. The forms had arrived in the mail. I was gutted when I read the following.<br> <br><i>People who intend to vote this way have been urged by the Australian Electoral Commission to take extra care when filling in forms, as postal voting applications sent to the household may be a vehicle for political parties to collect the most personal details of the voting public.... <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/postal-applications-a-political-ruse-to-get-personal-details-20130809-2rnei.html" target="_blank">Read More</a></i><br><br>These forms reportedly aren’t from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and in fact are from the political parties. In my case I suspect the Liberal Party because it has on the back “With the compliments of Kevin Andrews MP”. When you fill out the forms according to the newspaper article they apparently go to the party where the information is collected and the form then passed on. It is illegal not to pass the form on.<br><br>This is all totally legal. I personally see this as a straight out scam. We expect it on the internet but when our own politicians do it what hope is there for this country. I’m both shocked and disappointed. <br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-59514882165669881352013-06-27T17:44:00.001+10:002013-06-27T17:44:19.060+10:00Doncaster electorate currently held by Mary Wooldridge to be absorbed into other electorates.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I thought this was interesting.<br><br><i>Two seats have been completely scrapped, one in Doncaster and the other on the state's northern border, and replaced by new seats in the growth corridors in Melbourne's west and north-west.... <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ministers-seat-gone-in-electoral-shakeup-20130627-2oyn5.html" target="_blank">Read More</a></i><br><br>For the Bulleen district it appears more of the Doncaster district has been included and a small area of Doncaster East around The Pines has been removed. To me it didn’t seem to make sense the area of Doncaster East was included in the Bulleen district, but in the end the aim of the boundaries is to try to keep numbers fairly even across districts.<br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-81491393653204922013-05-31T11:51:00.001+10:002013-05-31T11:51:07.275+10:00Trio arrested over rabbit theft from Bulleen pet shop in Templestowe Road<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>THREE women have been arrested for stealing eight rabbits in Melbourne's north to add to their collection of more than 100. ... <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/trio-arrested-over-rabbit-theft/story-fni0fee2-1226654055143" target="_blank">Read More</a><br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-77012893935308337992013-05-09T11:04:00.001+10:002013-05-09T11:04:41.979+10:00Search Australia new features including searching using your choice of Google, Bing or Yahoo, quick access to a JustLocal postcode page and check if you're using the preferred Australian English spelling.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.justlocal.com.au/search/australia/">Search Australia</a> was added to <a href="http://www.justlocal.com.au/">JustLocal</a> to give those who wish to search a search engine which focuses on Australian sites and removes many of the directories which have now taken over the internet. I’m pretty happy that if I search for ‘fish and chips’ in a local suburb, if the business has a web presence I can now see their page. Of course many small businesses don’t have a web presence which doesn’t help them or their customers. I’ve shown a number of local businesses how a site I’ve put on the internet for them can generate hundreds of leads a month but in the end they don’t seem to care. <br><br>The worst example of not providing up-to-date information is when I went into a fish and chip shop in Doncaster Road. After placing the order via telephone the order was some 15% dearer. Every customer was complaining because like me they were ordering from an out-of-date menu and the business decided to increase their prices without letting them know. Had the business put their menu on the internet I would have known before I ordered and so potentially could everyone else. I’ve never used the business again so an out-of-date menu can and does lose businesses customers. A single page site assists hundreds of customers a year and is easily paid for by a single repeat customer. Small business can’t see if they don’t provide the tools people need they’ll go elsewhere and the bigger companies ARE providing online menus.<br><br>But I digress. The real purpose of this post is to let users of JustLocal know of three new features I’ve added to Search Australia, the search engine available on every JustLocal page and also available as an Add-in to Internet Explorer. If you add a single letter at the start of the search phrase you can select your preferred search engine, go to a JustLocal postcode page, or find out if you’re using the preferred Australian English spelling for a word. <br><br>1. Type in <b>g</b>, <b>b</b>, or <b>y</b> and go directly to Google, Bing or Yahoo. If you add a space and then your search query (such as ‘g fish and chips templestowe’) you’ll get search results for local fish and chips shops without all the directories. That is hopefully if they have a site you’ll get the actual business’ site.<br><br>2. Type in <b>j</b> and you’ll go to JustLocal. Type in j followed by a space and a postcode (such as ‘j 3106’) and you’ll go to the JustLocal postcode page. That’s a pretty convenient method to go direct to your local JustLocal postcode page. Keep in mind if your area isn’t covered you’ll get a place holder page with generic ads. As soon as a business or person in your area takes up the mantle to promote JustLocal in your area the generic page will be replaced with local information.<br><br>3. Type in <b>w</b> followed by a word and you’ll go direct to the Word Check page to check if you are using the preferred Australian English spelling for a word. You do need a password to see the answer. All clients of mine are provided with the password. In fact if you use Search Australia from JustLocal and type in ‘dictionary’, you’ll have access to Word Check for a while. A thank you for trying out Search Australia. <br><br>On top of removing dozens of directories now cluttering search results when using Google (not Bing or Yahoo) and the ability to enter a single word or couple of words to go to the top searched for sites by millions of users, these new features should make Search Australian even more useful. Clients are welcome to request the list of top site search terms. I don’t currently publish the terms on the internet because of the work involved collating the list so please feel free to ask for a copy to assist you in your searches.<br><br>Don’t forget, the most convenient way to use Search Australia is to use the link to add Search Australia as your default search engine in Internet Explorer. Then you can perform a search direct from the address bar in Internet Explorer. If everyone in Australia used Search Australia (heaven forbid as my server wouldn’t hold up to it) if could potentially save many hundreds of millions of searches when people are looking for major Australian companies, a TV guide and even the weather. Search engines want you to end up on their page to make money from advertising. I want you to get quickly to the site you want to get to.<br><br>For me the real test of whether or not something I’ve developed is worthwhile is whether I use it myself or not. Search Australia is my preferred search tool. It doesn’t stop me from using Google, and in fact if I want to use Google I simply enter the letter ‘g’ and I go direct to Google. I can quickly decide which search engine I’d prefer and not be stuck with just one. With one or two words I access most of the popular sites such as ANZ, eBay, Gumtree, Freeview (TV guide) etc., so it makes sense to use Search Australia rather than end up hunting through Google results that have become so cluttered. I hope you find Search Australia useful too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Kelvin Eldridge<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Online Connections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au"><span style='color:blue'>www.OnlineConnections.com.au</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Call 0415 910 703 for computer advice and support.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-76959216329048110292013-05-07T11:02:00.001+10:002013-05-07T11:02:49.785+10:00Alert: Please log off Google services such as Gmail and YouTube when using my sites.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Disturbingly I’m now seeing up to 50 per cent of people reaching my sites who may be logged on to a Google service and so could be tracked at the individual level.<br><br>I use Google’s blogger, Analytics and sometimes Google advertising on my sites. If you are logged on to a Google service your activities can be linked to you as an individual. What you are doing on the internet can thus potentially be tracked to you as an individual.<br><br>What people don’t know is when you visit a site which has advertising on it, that advertising is often provided by Google. Many sites use Google’s Analytics software to record statistics for their sites. As you move from site to site your activities can potentially be recorded as an individual.<br><br>As you read the major daily news sites, as you search for information, when you go to many sites on the internet your activities can be tracked to you as an individual. In addition it is also possible your location is being tracked without your knowledge because often the internet address you use to access the internet is known to be in a certain area.<br><br>It is up to each person to decide whether this matters to them or not. If it does matter to you then consider logging out of all Google services (and potentially other services). When you are logged on to services you can be tracked individually and a profile of you and your activities can be created. Some of this information can potentially end up in the wrong hands. The most obvious outcome is you’ll be directly marketed to and could end up paying more for products and services.<br><br>We can’t stop the government and companies collecting information, but most people aren’t aware that their activities on the internet can be tracked to them individually. Because more than 90% of Australians use Google for searching, if they are logged on to Google services (my logs are indicating up to 50% of people may be logged onto a Google service when they reach my sites) then your activities across the internet may be being recorded.<br><br>Log off online services as soon as you are finished with them. Don’t keep services such as Gmail and YouTube logged on and running in the background. This doesn’t just apply to Google. Any service that you are logged in and has software they’ve created installed on another site could be doing the same. The type of services that come to mind are social networking services. Where a site you visit displays a button from a social networking service you don’t know what that code does and neither do I. The code could be tracking you. By logging off you reduce some of your online activities being tracked. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Kelvin Eldridge<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Online Connections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au"><span style='color:blue'>www.OnlineConnections.com.au</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Call 0415 910 703 for computer advice and support.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-52083041265515032052013-03-29T12:05:00.001+11:002013-03-29T12:05:28.828+11:00Eight rabbits stolen from Templestowe Road Pet Shop in Bulleen.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The media is reporting that thieves broke into Templestowe pet shop. To my knowledge there isn’t a pet shop in Templestowe. The pet shop in question is located at 14 Templestowe Road Bulleen.<br><br><i>Thieves break into Templestowe pet shop and steal eight rabbits... <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/thieves-break-into-templestowe-pet-shop-and-steal-eight-rabbits/story-fngnvlxu-1226608246099" target="_blank">Read More</a><br></i><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-63988484525152670552013-03-27T23:06:00.001+11:002013-03-27T23:06:15.464+11:00Easter special - Free advertising on JustLocal for postcodes 3105, 3106, 3107, 3108, 3109, 3093, 3094, 3095, 3113 for home based businesses.<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000"> <DIV>My desire with JustLocal is to build a stronger local community by building a stronger local business base. In particular I'd like to help others running businesses from home in the Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Eltham, Lower Plenty, Montmorency, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Bulleen and Warrandyte areas. As an Easter special I'd like to make a free offer to home based businesses in the above areas.<BR><BR>My offer for the remainder of March 2013 through to the end of April 2013 is the following:<BR><BR>1. Three months free advertising on your JustLocal postcode page. No catches, no cost.</DIV> <DIV>2. An additional three months of advertising on your postcode page if you provide a link from your main page of your site to your JustLocal postcode page (to help promote yourself and others businesses in the area) and during the first three months purchase from three other businesses advertising on your postcode page.<BR><BR>That's a total of six months of free advertising in your local area for free, nada, nix.<BR><BR>The normal terms and conditions of JustLocal still apply, such as a maximum of two of the same type of business and one network marketer from the same network marketing group. Additional conditions of the offer is since the advertising is free you don't have rights over the lot as paid advertisers do, just the ability to use the lot to promote your business. Also the offer is for a single lot on a postcode page.<BR><BR>At the end of the six months you will be under no obligation to continue advertising on JustLocal. My aim is to show local businesses that JustLocal works and the best way to do that is for businesses to participate.<BR><BR>To take up the free offer go to your JustLocal postcode page, click on an empty lot (a white block). Fill out the details and submit your information. At the payment screen since this is a free offer, just close the screen. No need to make a payment. Then send me a graphic image you'd like me to use to promote your business.<BR><BR>If you don't own or run a local business in one of the above areas, but know someone that does, please pass on the offer to others you know in the area.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Happy Easter everyone.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Kelvin Eldridge</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.JustLocal.com.au">www.JustLocal.com.au</A> <BR></DIV></DIV></DIV>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-21973346460861810482013-01-10T15:39:00.001+11:002013-04-09T17:56:18.468+10:00Should compulsory voting go?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At the last state election I was surprised to hear there is one law
which wouldn't be enforced, or more specifically, unlikely to be
enforced. It is compulsory to vote in a Victorian state election and it
doesn't matter what your age is. However during a briefing for
independents it was said the law would unlikely to be enforced for
those over 70 and I have to say I was very surprised.
<br />
<br />
To me having a law which isn't enforced and actively disregarded by the
government is a law that doesn't make sense. All it does is add
confusion and cause stress to elderly.
<br />
<br />
The wording on the voting information sent out for the last local
government election was equally confusing and led people to think they
didn't have to vote. My initial reaction was "what the" when I read the
information which implied voting was not compulsory. I then saw another
young person who read it the same way as myself so it just wasn't my
reading of the material.
<br />
<br />
To me compulsory voting enables the major parties to easily determine
the safe seats and thus they can focus on seats which are marginal.
<br />
<br />
In the Bulleen electorate 86.47% voted for Labor or Liberal. There were
4.84% informal votes. That leaves less than 10% of the votes for anyone
else, making it close to impossible to be elected you aren't a Labor or
Liberal party member. If I were to advise anyone wishing to stand as an
independent I would have to say, do the sums and determine a seat where
the chances of being elected are greater. The implication of that is
don't waste your time on safe seats and to me that isn't good for the
majority of Australians. As consumers we buy brands and the Labor and
Liberal brands are entrenched into us all from a very young age. We
appear to be educated to vote one way or the other most of our lives.
Nothing much will change if we continue to vote for a party and not a
representative that puts our interests first before a party. Members of
parties have to put the party first so your interests will always come
second.
<br />
<br />
Compulsory voting makes it very easy for the parties with their large
marketing budgets to focus only on a small number of marginal seats. If
compulsory voting was removed every seat potentially could be seen as a
marginal seat and every representative would need to work harder to
ensure they were elected.
<br />
<br />
We shouldn't have laws which are put into place that the government
doesn't actively enforce. Voting if it isn't enforced for over 70s
should be optional, otherwise we send the message that the law is silly
and one if law is silly, then how many of our laws are silly.
<br />
<br />
I should state I am in favour of optional voting. To me it means it is
much harder for the political parties, and all areas get treated equally
rather than a few marginal seats benefiting. The outcome may not differ
in terms of party representation, but if it did, my hope is that it
would mean people are voted to represent the people first and the party
second.
<br />
<br />
Kelvin Eldridge</div>
Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-86259491489433634682012-12-15T19:12:00.001+11:002012-12-15T19:12:22.106+11:00Tanker has rolled over at entrance on Eastern freeway on ramp at BulleenA tanker has rolled over at the Bulleen on ramp to the Eastern freeway going East. Rescue workers are in attendance and a large crane is present used to right the tanker. The on ramp is closed to traffic. <br /><br />Kelvin Eldridge<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br />Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer. <br />No problem too small. <br />Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-81868940095164058862012-12-10T18:06:00.001+11:002012-12-10T18:06:04.502+11:00June Duncan, Yvonne Boyall and Barbara Green are members of the Templestowe Probus Club craft group<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Top honours for Templestowe Probus Club... <a href="http://manningham-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/top-honours-for-templestowe-probus-club/" target="_blank">Read More</a><br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-63698622081713118452012-12-01T01:02:00.001+11:002012-12-01T01:02:27.015+11:00Internet Explorer 10 - The preferred Australian English spelling now available<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I’m pretty excited to announce I’m now making available the preferred Australian English spelling file for Internet Explorer 10 running on Windows 8.<br><br>Internet Explorer 10 has Australian English spellchecking built in, but like Microsoft’s Office products, the spellchecker accepts thousands of secondary spelling variations such as words with “ize”, American spelt words such as “mom” and some errors. The preferred Australian English spelling file corrects these issues.<br><br>If written communication matters to you the preferred Australian English spelling file is a must have. If you’re a student, applying for jobs, or write reports or sales material, the preferred Australian English spelling file is a must have.<br><br>You can find the preferred Australian English spelling file for Internet Explorer 10 at <a href="http://www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au">www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au</a>.<br><br>Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>The creator of the preferred Australian English spelling dictionary.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-31012064479766189262012-11-30T18:11:00.001+11:002012-11-30T18:11:54.105+11:00Suspicious fire destroys Bulleen house<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Police believe the house in Rose Ave was broken into about 1pm on Monday, November 26 while the owner was at work.... <a href="http://manningham-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/suspicious-fire-destroys-bulleen-house/" target="_blank">Read More</a><br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-33106601339563485462012-11-20T10:47:00.001+11:002012-11-20T10:47:21.590+11:00New site for The Preferred Australian English spellcheck dictionary<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Recently Google changed their algorithm which significantly impacted the position of the Australian English spellcheck dictionary in the Google search results. From number one position to nowhere to be found. In essence traffic to the site dropped 80% overnight. This should be a warning for anyone who puts a lot of time and money into obtaining a position in Google. All your time, energy and money could be wasted overnight by decisions Google makes in terms of generating traffic to your site.<br><br>The preferred Australian English spellcheck dictionary is the only free service available to Australians to assist them with using the preferred Australian English spelling. Over a thousand people a week used the site and Google simply changed their algorithm making the page almost impossible to find. The original page will remain (<a href="http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/oooau">www.justlocal.com.au/clients/oooau</a>), but in addition, you can now find the main page at <a href="http://www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au">www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The site <a href="http://www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au">www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au</a> will become the main site for my dictionary work.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can still find the main page if searching (“Australian Dictionary”) using Bing, where the site is positioned in first position and in Yahoo where the site is positioned second. My apologies for any inconvenience. What Google does is outside of my control.<br><br>I hope you find my work to be of assistance.<br><br>Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a> <o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-49117187168176896742012-11-08T16:15:00.001+11:002012-11-08T16:15:07.027+11:00AN 18-year-old Campbellfield man was arrested by police at his property this afternoon over a series of alleged armed robberies at gaming venues.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Seven armed robberies occurred across five gaming venues in January, March, April, July and September this year. The venues were in Bulleen, Eltham, Bentleigh East, Doncaster and Thornbury.... <a href="http://www.humeweekly.com.au/story/524417/campbellfield-man-arrested-over-armed-robberies/?cs=12" target="_blank">Read More</a><br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-63331134305877652812012-10-27T10:17:00.001+11:002012-10-27T10:17:20.155+11:00Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro upgrade is not a straight forward upgrade for all Windows 7 editions.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I decided to buy the Windows 8 Pro upgrade from the Microsoft Online Store this morning. I have an older development machine I’d like to install Windows 8 Pro on. The machine is currently running the trial version of Windows 8 Enterprise Edition which expires after three months. I opened my notebook and went to download. From the first screens presented on the Microsoft Online Store I couldn’t just buy and download Windows 8 Pro and then burn it to a disk. The screens take me through the steps of checking my machine and at this point I decided I’d rather go to Officeworks and buy Windows 8 Pro on special for around $9 more. I’m hoping the special also includes the DVD so I don’t have to spend the time downloading and burning a DVD.<br><br>The problem I find with downloading programs is things can and do go wrong. When I support people I take into account people have a range of skills. If things go wrong for me, then they’ll go wrong for others and really, I want people to have the best experience they can, given what technology often puts us through. On a number of occasions when I’ve assisted people who have downloaded their software, they don’t have a copy of their software to reinstall when there is a major problem. This means to fix the problem they have had to buy the software again. In other situations people have lost their product key, or the product key is in their emails on their computer which is no longer working. People should have a copy of their software and their product key stored separately to minimise the chance of having to incur additional costs and delays.<br><br>One big surprise for me was the following statement on the Microsoft Online Store.<br><br><i>“If your PC is running Windows 7 Home Basic or Home Premium, your files, programs and settings will easily transfer to Windows 8. If your PC is running Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, Windows XP or Windows Vista, you will need to reinstall your programs. Some features such as touch may require a new PC. To check compatibility, visit your PC manufacturer’s website and check out www.windows.com/upgrade to run the Upgrade Assistant to check for compatibility and get more details on system requirements.”</i><br><br>To me an upgrade is you insert the disk, run the program, the upgrade occurs and you continue working. This is generally relatively easy for anyone who is comfortable working with technology. Having to reinstall all your programs is much more time consuming. You never know if you’ve got all the disks, the licence numbers and even if some of the programs such as drivers will even work. Reinstalling your software can often wipe existing data for some applications and that is pretty scary if you don’t know what you’re doing. I’ve often reinstalled Windows and then spent hours downloading and updating drivers for sound cards, video cards and other devices in the computer. An upgrade to a new version of Windows can mean some of your peripheral devices don’t work and may never be able to be used again with your upgraded computer.<br><br>What surprised me and I didn’t know, even though I’ve spent numerous hours researching, installed Windows 8 Release Preview, installed Windows 8 Enterprise Edition, and attended a Microsoft day-long seminar, that the upgrade will only work easily with Windows 7 Home Basic or Home Premium. I mostly now support micro and small business clients (as well as home users) and for business I’d always recommend the Pro version of Windows. People buying Home editions would often bring a computer into a large business or government environment wanting to use their computer for work, but couldn’t because it couldn’t connect to their network at work. There were also other features missing in the Home edition. Thus it was safer to purchase the Pro edition of Windows.<br><br>Now every one of those computer running the pro edition of Windows 7, will now effectively have to do what is nearly a complete reinstall of their computer. That is a very costly exercise if you are using an IT consultant to upgrade your computers. I wouldn’t upgrade a machine without first doing a review of the machine, determining what programs and data the user has on their machine, performing a backup of their hard disk, and then installing the new operating system, reinstalling all their applications, bringing across their data and then fixing any issues that have been created, such as drivers for hardware or peripherals not working. This could easily be a $300-$500 (or more) cost per machine. I personally find it hard to justify putting that amount of money into an older machine.<br><br>Windows 8 is not a simple upgrade anymore and it is now an upgrade you need to think seriously about. If you have to pay $300-$500 to upgrade an older machine, that sum of money could easily go a long way towards the cost of purchasing a new machine. With a new machine at least you know the machine has been designed to run the new operating system. You don’t have to try to fix things that didn’t work in the upgrade. Because your data is still on your old machine you can take your time to migrate your data and applications. I often leave the old decommissioned machine with the client for two weeks just in case something they hadn’t realised the was something on their old machine they needed to be migrated and now doesn’t work on their new machine. Then after that period the old machine can be cleaned and reused in another part of the business. <br><br>As an extra tip I don’t generally buy the Office software licence with the machine as that software can only be used with that machine. I purchase the more expensive stand-alone version of the Office. That enables me to use the software on two machines (a desktop and a notebook) and to transfer the software to a new machine. (I’ll need to recheck the licence to see if this still applies.) I’ve had clients who have had their computers stolen. The insurance companies won’t pay for the software and the software is only licensed for the machine that was stolen. The client can’t use the software on the new replacement machine and are thus out of pocket hundreds of dollars. I’ve also confirmed this with Microsoft.<br><br>Until today I didn’t realise that only the Home editions of Windows 7 will be a relatively straight forward upgrade exercise. That means for me, the majority of machines could potentially be equivalent to a reinstall and that is a much more time consuming and thus expensive exercise. Many of those who purchased a machine recently running Windows 7 with a $14.99 upgrade to Windows 8, will probably now be regretting they didn’t just wait and buy a new computer and save themselves the time and energy required to upgrade. I’ve recommended that my clients defer purchasing machines until after Windows 8 ships. Retailers who just wanted the sale would have been pushing out machines and not advising clients of the time and effort to upgrade. Consultants who have advised clients to purchase a Windows 7 machine and then to later update may get some agro from their clients. Some consultants would have done this knowingly to obtain additional support work and others would not have known the upgrade wouldn’t be a simple upgrade.<br><br>I’m posting this article to all my blogs including my Online Connections blog (<a href="http://www.blog.onlineconnections.com.au">www.blog.onlineconnections.com.au</a>) and also each of the JustLocal postcode blogs I maintain, to ensure people I support now know if they are thinking of upgrading to Windows 8, there is more work involved than previously anticipated. <br><br>If you’d like to be kept informed with technology related news, most news is posted to my Online Connections blog (<a href="http://www.blog.onlineconnections.com.au">www.blog.onlineconnections.com.au</a>). For clients I also provide the MyAnswers solution database where I post problems and solutions I find when working with clients. This enables me to share solutions between clients reducing the costs overall for all clients. You can keep updated on new solutions on the MyAnswers site (<a href="http://www.MyAnswers.biz">www.MyAnswers.biz</a>) by looking at the Recent solutions posted. I expect to post quite a number of issues and solutions relating to Windows 8.<br><br>Kelvin Eldridge<br>Online Connections<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for computer advice and support.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham, Templestowe Lower, Lower Plenty, Doncaster East, Montmorency, Bulleen, Warrandyte and Research with no travel or call-out fee. For suburbs outside this area travel time is chargeable. <br> <o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-16595313114342146552012-10-26T08:41:00.001+11:002012-10-26T08:41:17.294+11:00Windows 8 release date in Australia is today. Windows 8 Pro upgrade available now.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Windows 8 Pro upgrade is now available for download from <a href="http://www.clixgalore.com/PSale.aspx?BID=116993&AfID=113435&AdID=12295&LP=www.microsoftstore.com.au">Microsoft’s Online Store</a> for $39.99. There are a number of things you should keep in mind.<br><br>1. Whilst at $39.99 the Windows 8 Pro upgrade is a bargain compared to previous upgrades, if you have an ageing computer think about whether it is best to save the money and put it towards a new computer, or to install Windows 8 Pro to keep your existing computer going and use the latest version of Windows.<br><br>2. Keep in mind Windows 8 is very different from what you are used to. At first this will be frustrating for most, but as with all past changes, once you get used to it, it won’t really matter.<br><br>3. Around 10% of older computers I’d estimate won’t be able to be upgraded. I estimate there will be over 100 million computers currently being used worldwide which won’t handle the upgrade. Check Microsoft’s refund policy, or the policy of the store where you purchase the software. The system requirements stated on the Microsoft web site do not take into account many computers which exceed the minimum requirement cannot install the Windows 8 upgrade. This is based on testing the Windows 8 Preview Release and I don’t believe this has changed. <br><br>The Microsoft Online Store provides a link to the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant which you can use to test if your computer can install Windows 8. I’d recommend running the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant before purchasing the Window 8 Pro upgrade. On the netbook computer I use (it is around three years old) 11 issues were found and one was quite serious.<br><br>4. Keep in mind only upgrading from Windows 7 is what we’d normally consider a real upgrade. Windows Vista and Windows 8 will require reinstallation of your applications and isn’t an upgrade to me. My concern here is people running the upgrade on a Vistra or Windows XP machine will end up with a machine where there programs won’t run if they don’t understand how the upgrade works. I’d suggest Windows XP and Windows Vista users consider the upgrade to be like a fresh install. If you had to do a new install of your computer what do you need to save first.<br><br>5. You should perform a backup of your data (including programs you may have download and any settings your programs may store) before you perform any upgrade to your computer. <br><br>I’m suggesting to my clients they should purchase the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro even if they don’t install the upgrade right now. Until January 31<sup>st</sup> 2013 you’ll be able to buy Windows 8 Pro via download for $39.99. After that date the price will most likely revert to the very expensive upgrade prices of past, which means it may no longer be worth upgrading an older machine. This of course may change and Microsoft may decide to keep the upgrade prices at a reasonable level, but I wouldn’t count on it. Based on what I’ve read the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro on DVD could cost as much as $290. To me it doesn’t make sense to pay that much money to upgrade an older machine when that money could go to a new and faster machine.<br><br>You can buy Windows 8 Pro upgrade from a retailer, or save some money and download the upgrade from the Microsoft Online Store. The upgrade from a retailer will cost around $20-$30 more. I’m not sure at the moment, but I suspect the retail version may include a DVD. You should check if the DVD is included in the purchase from a retailer.<br><br>As I find issues with Windows 8 I’ll add the issues and solutions to <a href="http://www.myanswers.biz/">MyAnswers</a> for clients. I’ve already identified and documented a shortcoming of Windows 8 Mail which largely stops me from using Windows 8 Mail and may stop others.<br><br>Most importantly, do run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant first to make sure upgrading your computer won’t cause you any grief. Well, no more grief than normal.<br><br>If you forget where you can download the Windows 8 upgrade, the Microsoft Online Store is available on the main page of JustLocal (<a href="http://www.JustLocal.com.au">www.JustLocal.com.au</a>). JustLocal is an advertising service I’ve created to help local businesses advertise cost effectively.<br><br>Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<br><br>NOTE: The link to the Microsoft store above is an affiliate link. Purchasing using this link means I receive a commission but does not affect the price you pay.<br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-17360590901198639802012-10-24T23:48:00.001+11:002012-10-24T23:48:13.190+11:00Police post $100,000 reward in hunt for armed robbers<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Investigators believe that the same four men were involved in seven armed robbery attempts across gaming venues in Bulleen, Eltham, Bentleigh East, Doncaster and Thornbury.... <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/police-post-100000-reward-in-hunt-for-armed-robbers-20121017-27qar.html" target="_blank">Read More</a><br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-87119944864299440882012-10-24T23:06:00.001+11:002012-10-24T23:06:30.859+11:00Women warned over sex pest<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>WOMEN are being urged to travel in pairs at night and carry a phone in their hand as police continue to investigate a spate of sexual assaults across Manningham, Whitehorse and Boroondara.... <a href="http://progress-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/hunt-for-sex-offender/" target="_blank">Read More</a><br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-23098686009750489162012-10-19T22:50:00.001+11:002012-10-19T22:50:43.669+11:00Google search Australia and Google advertising has now been removed from JustLocal.<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Recently Google updated their search algorithm which resulted in my dictionary page going from the number one position in Google when people search for “Australian dictionary” to nowhere to be seen. That means around a thousand people each week using my free Australian English dictionary service will no longer find a free Australian English dictionary service. If Google can do that to me so easily, they can do it to any business.<br><br>I’ve also noticed that between 25% and up to possibly 40% of searches coming to my site have no search term, which means people are logged onto a Google service and whatever they search for is being tracked to them individually.<br><br>These actions concern me. I don’t want to encourage people to put time and effort into creating a presence in Google search results when any time, effort, or money they outlay, could easily end up being wiped away so easily. I’m also very concerned about the privacy of Australians. Over 90% of Australians use Google for searching with 25-40% of those having their search activity tracked to them individually. I’ve read this information can be handed to law enforcement agencies without a court order. How this information is being used by others is not known to us and for me that is a concern.<br><br>Whilst I can’t stop using all Google services, I’ve decided at this point to remove Google advertising from my site and the Google custom search engine.<br><br>JustLocal has been designed to provide single click access to businesses in an area. Something which is very difficult and time consuming with a search engine. For example, a very popular fish and chip shop called Shark Tank Seafood opened a few months ago in Templestowe. My blog entries appear in Google’s search results, but the page with the menu at <a href="http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/shark-tank-seafood-templestowe/">http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/shark-tank-seafood-templestowe/</a> cannot be found. If you visit <a href="http://www.JustLocal.com.au/3106">www.JustLocal.com.au/3106</a> (the page for Templestowe), you can access the Shark Tank Seafood menu with a single click.<br><br>JustLocal offers single click access to local businesses. Google offers endless searches with no guarantee of finding what you want.<br><br>By continuing to include Google’s custom search in JustLocal, people will continue to unproductively search for local businesses often being presented with large overseas businesses, or business not in the area with deep pockets to advertise. Once people realise there is a better way to find a local business using JustLocal, JustLocal will grow to service locals better. Shark Tank Seafood receives over a hundred views of their menu a month as a result of JustLocal’s efforts to promote them. That’s a lot of potential business. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for your continued support and I trust JustLocal assists local businesses and residents.<br><br>Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.JustLocal.com.au">www.JustLocal.com.au</a><br>Help to build a stronger local community through stronger local businesses.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-66513507432502144842012-10-09T23:29:00.001+11:002012-10-09T23:29:51.184+11:00Spate of tool thefts in Templestowe and Bulleen<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>POLICE are urging tradies to watch out for white vans after a spate of tool thefts in Templestowe and Bulleen.... <a href="http://manningham-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/spate-of-tool-thefts-in-templestowe-and-bulleen/" target="_blank">Read More</a><br><br>- Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.OnlineConnections.com.au" target="_blank">www.OnlineConnections.com.au</a><br>Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.<br>Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820644396683276100.post-75520534899756444622012-10-09T19:51:00.001+11:002012-10-09T19:51:19.918+11:00Will the government automatically refund red-light camera fines and demerit points they weren't entitled to?<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Eight red-light cameras have now been shown to have an incorrect timing for the amber light causing thousands of motorists to be fined and lose demerit points.<br><br>The cynic in me wonders whether the government will show integrity and refund the money and points they weren’t entitled to. If the government requires people to lodge some form of request they know full well there will be a large number of people who won’t be bothered and many who simply won’t even realise. A way to gain revenue I do not consider to be ethical or appropriate.<br><br>For those who were fined at the red-light camera on the intersection of Doncaster Road, Manningham Road and Tram Road I’ve posted videos of the traffic lights as they were when people were fined when the amber timing was set to 3 seconds, and after they’ve been corrected which shows the amber light at 4.5 seconds.<br><br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfvWv77cqis" target="_blank">Manningham Road, Doncaster Road, Tram Road Red-Light Camera. Amber Traffic Light set at 3 seconds</a><br><br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7qKpGiwtZQ" target="_blank">Manningham Road, Doncaster Road, Tram Road Red-Light Camera. Amber Traffic Light set at 4.5 seconds</a><br><br>The first picture is taken 0.5 seconds after the light turns red which would indicate anyone with a fine of up to 2 seconds may be entitled to a refund.<br><br>The details of the red-light cameras which were not set to AustRoads guidelines are the following:<br><br><b>Terminal Drive & Centre Road, Melbourne Airport</b><br>AustRoads guidelines: 3.5 secs<br>Actual time: 3.0 secs<br>Incorrect amber period: 16 Nov 10 - 24 Jan 12<br><br><b>Doncaster Road and Williamsons Road/Tram Road, Doncaster</b><br>AustRoads guidelines: 4.5 secs<br>Actual time: 3.0 secs<br>Incorrect amber period: 5 Oct 11 - 7 Aug 12<br><br><b>Fyans Street & Moorabool Street, South Geelong</b><br>AustRoads guidelines: 4.0 secs<br>Actual time: 3.5 secs<br>Incorrect amber period: 11 May 10 - 24 Aug 12<br><br><b>High Street & Mahoneys Road/Keon Parade, Thomastown</b><br>AustRoads guidelines: 4.5 secs<br>Actual time: 3.0 secs<br>Incorrect amber period: 20 Oct 11 - 26 Sep 12<br><br><b>Warrigal Road & Centre Road, Bentleigh East</b><br>AustRoads guidelines: 4.0 secs<br>Actual time: 3.0 secs<br>Incorrect amber period: 1 Aug 10 - 16 Aug 12<br><br><b>Heatherton Road & Gladstone Road, Dandenong North</b><br>AustRoads guidelines: 4.0 secs<br>Actual time: 3.0 secs<br>Incorrect amber period: 29 Dec 04 - 16 Aug 12<br><br><b>Foster Street and McCrae Street, Dandenong</b><br>AustRoads guidelines: 4.0 secs<br>Actual time: 3.0 secs<br>Incorrect amber period: 18 Oct 10 - 16 Aug 12<br><br><b>Stud Road & High Street, Wantirna</b><br>AustRoads guidelines: 4.5 secs<br>Actual time: 3.0 secs<br>Incorrect amber period: 28 Dec 06 - 23 Aug 12 <br><br>Whilst I haven’t confirmed (as I was not able to get through on the Fines Victoria telephone line) you should review your fine with regards to the time difference and keep in mind the first picture is taken at 0.5 seconds after the light turns red. Thus I suspect you should be able to add the 0.5 seconds to the time difference between the AustRoads guidelines and the Actual time.<br><br>In an ideal world the money and points should be automatically refunded. Being far from an ideal world it would be prudent to lodge a submission for a refund of the money and points.<br><br>There is still no guarantee the government will be refunding anything, just that the situation will be reviewed.<br><br>My own experience at the Manningham Road/Doncaster Road intersection is that during the time whilst the amber light timing was incorrectly set it created a very dangerous situation for drivers. Whilst approaching the lights at normal speed, well below the 70kph speed limit, the amber light changed so quickly you have to brake much harder than normal which could easily cause a car behind to crash into the rear of a vehicle. I believe the intersection should also be reviewed for crashes which may have occurred as a result of the amber light timing being incorrectly set.<br><br>Please let others know about the situation at the intersections mentioned above. The number of people who have been incorrectly fined could easily be in the tens of thousands and may be someone you know. They may not have even mentioned being fined as many people are embarrassed by being fined. In this case they could have easily been fined for something which was not their fault, but the fault of VicRoads, if VicRoads is in charge of setting the timing for the amber light.<br><br>Kelvin Eldridge<br><a href="http://www.JustLocal.com.au">www.JustLocal.com.au</a> <o:p></o:p></p></div>Kelvin Eldridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05865583396682424015noreply@blogger.com0