New Changes to AdelaideNow - The Sunday Mail - The Advertiser ... time has finally come to be ripped off

As many avid readers of AdelaideNow would now have discovered, the 'so called' new era of news being bought to Adelaide is simply a load of crap to make us pay for crappy news stories, and shit loads of bloody advertising.

I could put up with the advertising, and the endless boring stories that sit on the pages for one or two weeks, but I will NOT pay to use this sub-standard news service.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying when you get value for money, but I don't think AdelaideNow rates as a number one news service. Apart from the odd main stories - complete with woeful spelling errors and incorrect grammar - AdelaideNow had progressed into a mish mosh of New Idea / Woman's Weekly with a bit of news thrown in. In some sections, stories stayed there for one or two weeks.

Well, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The 891 ABC on-line Website supplies an excellent news service with heaps of local content WITHOUT all the crap advertising and cheap tabloid bullshit about what Kym Kardashian said to her hairdresser last Thursday.

The website is:

http://www.abc.net.au/adelaide/news/

Give it a go, I think you'll like it.

Get Real

Update  16/08/2015

AdeladeNow / News Corp have introduced a relatively new "Premium Story" option... for the want of a word. You will find that stories with a small coloured icon (usually on the bottom right hand side) can't be accessed with standard 'membership'. You have to be a paid member to view these stories. The icon looks like this example.

I've found the use of this icon varies day to day. Between Monday to Friday, it tends to be used on popular national news stories, but it really hits hard on Saturdays and Sundays, when there are obviously, more readers. In fact, I counted today's "icons"; so for Sunday 16th August 2015, there are 35 icons. You can't view these premium stories unless you've paid the associated cost to become a premium member. Another strangle hold on News Corp customers. What will we have in a years time? A double premium icon where you have to have a double premium membership fee to see some stories? I think I got the icon count right, because as I've mentioned before, stories (or links to the story) appear more than once on the "home page". You'll have a headline near the top of the page, then further down, will be a "most viewed stories" area, and likely on the right hand side, will appear some minor headline taking you to the same story. I sort of understand the idea of doing this, but in the end, it's a filler to take up space and make the physical news service page "bigger" than what it actually is. To make it look like you're getting better value for money, if you're a paying subscriber.

And can we please get rid of the crap "gossipy" sections of supposed "news". I don't care about Kim Kardashian and her hairdresser, or whether Sean Penn has broken up with so and so. If I wanted gossipy stuff, I'd go visit my parents and borrow my Mum's Woman's Weekly. I want news! And if good quality news was served up and didn't appear multiple times on one page, I might actually consider paying for it, but until then, I'll find ways of getting my news without any cost.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS: I've found something new as well. If like me, you refuse to pay to receive news, go to the top right hand corner of the old Advertiser/Sunday Mail site, and you'll see NETWORK, click on this and it'll show you all the papers that come under the brand. You can actually click into say THE TELEGRAPH, and read news stories and it's not affected if you've read your limit of 5 news stories, so I read all the local stuff in my limit of 5 stories, then switch to The Telegraph to get Australia wide stuff, then maybe go to the Herald Sun for international stories. It's a few extra clicks, but hey, it beats the system. I use the Google Chrome Browser (and it probably works with Firefox as well), but if you highlight the headline of the story and right click, one of the options in Google Chrome is to search for that story (in a new tab). Usually within the first few results, you find the story on an alternative site. OK, it's a little more mucking around, but many times the new sites don't have all the full page 'splash' advertising that is now the norm with The Advertiser site. It may seem like a lot of mucking around but I find it so easy. I have my brekky and coffee and get to read all the news before going to work and in reality, the extra clicks and stuff add a minute to my searching. And like I said previously, I have no qualms paying for a decent news service, but AdelaideNow / Advertiser is not that. If you filter out all the 'filler' stuff thrown in to make it like like it's an exciting website, there's really not a lot of news in there. I know Adelaide's a small town .. err.. sorry.. city, but surely they can muster up more than they serve.

Also, another tip. In Google Chrome and Firefox, highlight (or select, it's the same thing), the story headline, right click to pop up a list of options, and you'll find Search for .... (whatever you selected/highlighted), and a new window or tab will open up with news stories from other tabloids that have that headline. In fact, I do this most of the time now. It's so easy, and I get all my news with very little effort.

I've tried the NineMSN and Yahoo7 sites, and they're OK, but they're filled with junk stuff .. well, junk to me anyway. If you want to follow the Royal Baby and other stuff relegated to weekly magazines, then they might be good for you, but I'm plain and boring. LOL, I like my news and want it plain and simple.

Get Real

10 Year Old Declan Sables, charged with assaulting teacher and has DNA sample taken by South Australian Police.

POLICE have the DNA samples of more than 4500 children under the age of 18 in the state's criminal database.

The figures have emerged after Declan Sables, a 10-year-old autistic boy from Orroroo, was asked to provide a DNA sample to police after he assaulted a teacher at his school.

The request was made after Declan was charged with aggravated assault for throwing a bag of 20c pieces at his principal. Thank god he didn't point a pencil at the teacher, he would have been charged with attempted murder WITH a deadly weapon.

Declan's stepfather Gary Rubben said an autistic boy having to provide his DNA to police was "despicable". YES, the person who authorised this should be sacked.

"He's a 10-year-old child with a disability - for him to be treated like this is absolutely despicable," he told Channel Nine.

"It's still a traumatic thing for a ten year old."

Police informed the family that a sample of the boy's DNA would no longer be required. Duh, well, why did you take it in the first place?

Because maybe SAPOL want to build Australia's biggest and best DNA database, and they don't give a stuff or care how they get that database together. Stuff being innocent, that doesn't matter!

Any person suspected of committing a serious offence can be asked to provide a DNA sample to police.

It's interesting that South Australian Police (SAPOL) seem always to hide what is regarded as a "serious offence" from the public. This gives them huge leeway when it comes to collecting DNA from every soul possible. It's more like a "We'll get your DNA now, so if you commit an offence when your 30 and you leave DNA, we've already got you marked".

To me, a serious offence is rape, murder, robbery or assault with a deadly weapon etc. It's not a 10 year old with a bag of 20 cent pieces. It just goes to show if you don't stick up for your rights, the police will try and walk all over you. They'll take what they can when they can, in fact, it's almost criminal.

I put it to any member of the police force to write a comment on this blog and state for the record just exactly what constitutes a 'serious offence'. And no bullshit, just put it plain laymans terms.

Samples can be taken from a person when they reach the age of offending relevant to the criminal law, which is 10 years old.

Police said very few DNA samples were taken from children aged 10 to 12 years of age and an application could be made by the child or their guardian for the destruction of the DNA.

I would seriously suggest to anybody charged with a minor offence and asked (= demanded) to give a DNA sample, to fight for their right as to what is considered a serious offence, and demand the sample be destroyed.

It's about civil liberties and having respect for people in society. Not treating them all as though they are guilty, "so prove your innocent", type attitude.

Get Real

Are South Australian drivers the worst (and dumbest) in Australia? In my opinion - YES

I have driven in every capital city in Australia - with the exception of Darwin, and in my opinion, South Australia, and it's capital, Adelaide, have the worst and most irresponsible drivers in Australia.

In addition to this, South Australians have the dubious honour of having the oldest and run down fleet of cars in Australia.

As most drivers, I pretty much follow the same major route to and from work every day. And the idiots I see are just incomprehensible. I can't see how these fools get their licenses in the first place. Maybe driving instructors are just plain slack as well .. who knows.

Some things make me laugh initially, but when that car suddenly pulls behind me, I get uncomfortable knowing there is an idiot behind the wheel. Take the following examples of stupid and irresponsible driving I've seen simply driving to and from work:

• A driver eating a crumpet, WITH an open coffee cup on the dash.
• The classic running late for work and drivers weaving in and out recklessly through traffic.
• Men shaving with cordless shavers.
• Women applying makeup whilst stopped at lights, AND whilst driving.
• And - what is fast becoming a classic - looking down into your lap whilst at stop lights. Also known as, sending or receiving text messages.
• Drivers reading magazines (or the paper) whilst at lights and whilst driving.
• Drivers in peak hour traffic totally unaware of their surroundings and just pulling into different lanes without using indicators. These sort are downright dangerous. Well, lets face it, they all are.

And, there is absolutely no common trait of an idiot driver. They can be young, old, male, female, Asian, African, Aussie. There is no one trait. You'd think older drivers - having more experience - would be more aware of road rules, and would be more 'old school', but no, they are just as bad as the young.

Since it's winter now and usually coming into dusk when I leave work, I get to my car, start it, and the first thing I do is put on seat belt then headlights. But there seems to be this whole other range of people that get to there cars, start engine and just drive off with absolutely no thought to the fact that it's starting to get dark and probably by the time they get home, it'll be pitch black. Then there's those drivers who think "Oh, it's just starting to come into dusk, I'll just put my parking lights on only - not my headlights - just parkers, and then when it gets darker, I'll go onto full headlights". Of course, we know what happens then, they forget they only have parkers on because the dash lights are on, and they end up driving in the dark with only parkers. These people are dickheads and as thick as bricks. Why would you get into your car and make a conscious decision to only put on your parkers when you know (or should know) that you'll probably need full headlights within 10 minutes or so anyway? Why not switch on your full headlights right from the start? Duh!

At the end of the day, we have to face the fact that we have a lot of stupid people on our roads that plainly shouldn't be driving. It's like they get into their cars and they put a set of blinkers on - you know, the ones they put on horses to stop them seeing what's happening around them. To make them look straight ahead and not side to side. Well, we have a heap of humans that do exactly the same every time they get into a car. It's like they suddenly lose all ability to think rationally.

Every time I hop into my car and set off, I see examples of bad driving. A prime example of people not being aware of their surroundings is when they turn from a 60kmh main road into a smaller 60kmh road, but because they are not looking AROUND them, they fail to see the 60kmh sign and they automatically slow to 50kmh. OK, if you're on the road by yourself at midnight, this is no big deal - it shows you're an idiot - but it's no big deal. But if it's peak hour traffic and drivers are tired and grumpy from work, the last thing they want to put up with is dickheads doing the wrong thing. OK, I hear you say, the speed limits are maximum limits, not minimum limits, so if people want to drive at 50kmh on a 60kmh road, let them. Well, that's fine if it's midnight because you're not affecting other drivers, but in peak hour traffic, in my opinion, you have a responsibility to do the right thing by those around you.

Then there are those drivers who when they pull up at a set of traffic lights, think it's time to fiddle around in the glove compartment, or the back seat, or looking for something in a wallet or purse, send text messages blah blah. NO IT'S NOT TIME FOR THAT - JUST DRIVE. When the lights go green, you'll be ready to take off efficiently and quickly so you don't hold up traffic behind you.

THINK when you get into your car!! "Do I need something from my back seat"? "Do I need something from my purse or wallet"? Get everything ready, then drive off. It takes no time at all, and saves you giving the shits to other drivers. Get up 10 minutes earlier so you don't have to put your make-up on in the car! Get up 10  minutes earlier so you don't have to eat toast and have open cups of coffee in your car. Ditto with shaving.

Just imagine if you will, how much easier traffic would flow if everyone did the right thing. We all know those traffic lights that have a big line-up, go green for 7 seconds, then amber, red again and it takes you 5 or more  repetitions of the lights to get through. Then you get those dickheads that are mucking around in their cars, looking all airy fairy into mirrors and stuff, then realise the lights have gone green and the car in front of them is now 50 metres away, they start to drive forward, and usually just make it over before the lights change back to red again, leaving the people behind them so pissed off because if that driver had been paying attention and driving responsibly, another 3 or 4 cars may have made it across the intersection. This pisses me off so much because of another persons inattention, myself and other drivers have to suffer. If drivers paid proper attention and did their bit, the drive to and from work could be a lot more pleasant.

I really can see how some people become so frustrated at dealing with dickhead drivers, they blow their stack and vent it in road rage. It doesn't give it validity, but I can see why it happens. Add to that, badly designed roads still planned as if we are still in the 60's, and badly programmed traffic lights, peak hour driving is still a real hassle.

I think it must be the attitude festering in Adelaide that road planners just don't seem to be able to plan for the future. They (finally) modify a road, that should have been done 15 years ago, and now traffic can flow a little easier, but they don't seem to look at what it will be in the next 20 or so years. It fixes a problem for now, but will only re-occur again in 15 years. Just do it properly in the first place. Prime example: Southern Expressway.

If you're a driver and reading this. Start thinking how you can be more responsible on the road. Are you one of these people who is forever running late for work - usually because you spend to much time pressing the snooze button - then start acting responsibly. If we can get as many people as possible doing the right thing and driving efficiently and confidently, getting around in peak hour traffic may become a breeze - not to mention it'll probably affect the accident rate, in a good way.

And finally, to all those that think I spend too much time looking at what others do on the roads. well, you're right in a way, but all of the things I see can (possibly) affect me in some way or another. I don't want some dickhead driving behind me who's sending text messages or fossicking in their glove compartment. They might run into me. And yes, I want drivers to be more responsible and think of others on the road because that'll make my trip - and your trip - home, faster and a lot more comfortable. They trouble is too many people are stuck in their own little blinkered worlds, and have no idea what's going on around them as soon as they sit behind a wheel.

Get Real

ps: Don't even get me started on the wrecks of vehicles driving on our roads. People seem to have no idea that they have a blown headlight, blown parkers, no brake lights. To make a point, this very night (Thursday 6/6/2013), I visited a mate after work. On the 20 minute drive home in the dark, I saw 3 cars with only one headlight, one four wheel drive who thought it'd be fun to drive with full high beam on AND with Xenon headlights (AND behind me). And a speeding P plater doing about 75 in a 60kmh zone. And that's in a space of 20 minutes. What are our police doing? Why aren't they out at night catching these dills and warning them to get headlights fixed etc?

Magistrate Bob Harrap and his bad decision regarding Aaron James Buttfield, Daniel Graham James Pool and Yiorgo Fotis Zabanias

I can't believe my eyes when I read the way this court case unfolded. And pretty much how these three bogans got off with no penalty at all. It makes a mockery of our criminal justice system and leaves the victims as though no punishment has been administered.

As it reads, pretty much if you're a bit dumb and childish (or allude to being this), go in front of Magistrate Bob Harrap, and he'll let you off scott free!

I talk about the case of these three blokes being prosecuted for firebombing a Lockleys couples home because the couple reported the trio of bogans to the police for unruly riding of a dirt bike (presumably motorised) in Linear Park and doing burnouts in the street. In retaliation, the trio put together a firebomb and Zabanias set it off on the couples doorstep.

In punishment, Magistrate Bob Harrap had the wool pulled over his eyes and let them off scott free. How disgusting!. We pay magistrates and judges good money - for what ? Crap decisions. I damn well hope the prosecution appeals this decision. Not even a fine or being forced to pay for repairs - at least in what was reported.

I find it hard to comprehend that Magistrate Bob Harrap could believe the young men had various elements of autism and couldn't fully appreciate the gravity of the acts they committed, yet they had enough intelligence to put together a firebomb and be in a car doing burnouts in the street. Again (presumably), one of those men have a car license, so couldn't have been too dumb to get that!

Here is a grab from a news report:

In sentencing, Magistrate Bob Harrap said the incident was terrifying with serious ongoing consequences for the victims. (Read: "however, stuff the victims").

However, that had to be balanced with the trio's lack of prior offending and the damage convictions would do to their lives and employment. (Who gives a stuff, they need to be punished).

People who do lesser crimes get thrown into jail without any consideration as to what a criminal conviction and jail time will do for their futures and employment, but these three get off with NOTHING, exept a bit of bad publicity. Tough luck. You do the crime, you pay the price. Pity Harrap didn't think of this during sentencing.

It's this sort of crazy balances and legal decisions that really get my goat up and pisses me off. Here is another example of where the law has looked more after the criminal perpetrators than the victims. Thanks Bob Harrap - for nothing!

I tell you what, in the unlikely chance I ever got charged with something. I want the lawyer(s) who represented these bogans and want to go in front of Magistrate Bob Harrap. Yippee... free ... and stuff the victims ... who cares about them anyway ... Not Bob Harrap.

Get Real