I’m annoyed right now at the Queensland Governments policy of enforcing speed limits. They are currently trialing digital cameras with no margin of error.

This means that you will no longer be booked at 67Km p/h on Queensland roads in a 60 zone, you will be booked at 61Km p/h.

I’m not looking for an excuse to speed. As a sensible driver over the last 15 years I have had not one speeding ticket. I am, shall we call it, a “sedate” driver. I take driving very calmly and see driving as a journey, not a destination.

I really enjoy it.

I don’t ever have to worry about speed cameras, Police cars and radar traps. Why? Because I stick to the speed limit. The speed limit is a non-negotiable for me. I was recently in Sydney and was about to start the long journey home when my Aunt (who I was staying with) informed me to “watch out for the speed cameras”. I politely informed her that I was not in the least bit concerned about getting a speeding ticket. She was horrified, “how can you be so blase? It could cost you double demerit points?”. I had to gently explain that I wasn’t going to get a ticket because I don’t exceed the speed limit, how could I be concerned about the Police and speed cameras if I don’t speed?

So now we get to the crux of this post.

The Queensland government has announced that it is about to go digital with all it’s speed cameras.

What does this mean to the average motorist? I means that the the actual speed limit will now be enforced rather than the current variation of 10%.

The Western Australian government has got it right, they have reduced the variation to 5%. This will ensure that motorists are not penalised if the accidentally go a smidge over 60km p/h. It also allows for variations in the speed camera calibration and the calibration of motorists speedometers.

Want to set your cruise control to the speed limit? YOU CAN’T

This is because:

1. Next time you have cruise control on - watch carefully, the speedo will routinely go over your speed setting by a K or two on declines and downward slops and then correct itself
2. Your speedometer might be out - there are all sorts of things that can affect your true speed like tyre pressure, it’s your responsibility to ensure that it is correct

Why you can’t use the speed limit as a guide for general driving

You will need to drastically change your driving habits to stop Queensland Government main roads coffers from overflowing! Drive 5% under the posted speed and you will be OK.

Drive on the speed limit, let your mind wander, go over the posted limit by more that 1 K, and they have got you.

Queensland is in for a rude shock when this policy comes into effect.

Let me repeat, I have never had a speeding ticket, I don’t speed. But when digital cameras are rolled out across Queensland, I plan on keeping my untarnished record intact, regardless of my feelings about a policy that is all about increasing government coffers – I will continue to abide by the speed limit.

No longer is there a bit of grace there just in case you go over a little.

You will need to drive at 5% under the posted limit to ensure that you don’t get booked by accident.

Courier Mail article

I just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This is just a short post, but it’s the small things that really count in this season of joy thanksgiving!

We have a possum infestation here – 4 or 5 possums have made their home on our roof at night… our roof has been dubbed “Possum Highway” so over the last month or so I haven’t had a single decent night of sleep!

They wander around up there at all hours – padding back and forth and indulging in the odd “Possum Fight”.

Until a few days ago I was usually awoken by a heavy “thunk” as a possum throws itself mightily from a nearby tree branch… the entire tree is now gone… I chopped it down in desperation. Actually “Chopped” might not be the correct way of putting it… I lept “mightily” from the roof onto the tree and snapped it in half. Dad was watching me do this and thought it was hilarious.

So I’m about ready to strangle them!

An hour ago I chain sawed another branch down on the other side of the house in an effort to reduce access points onto our roof… I hope tonight will yield some success in this endeavour!

{Christmas 2007}

I made it with iMovie on my new Mac Book Pro and my Canon TX1.

Wow,
Os Hillman slipped his iPhone out of his left pocket this morning and showed it around to us poor ignorant Aussie’s down here with no iPhones. Funnily enough he didn’t gloat one bit, and he was so nice about it! I didn’t get to touch it, maybe I will get to touch one when Brett Moller finally get around to buying a hacked one on eBay for me to play with!

Check out my new personal weblog:
www.matthewsweet.net

Not much their yet, but it wil be more personal stuff whereas freedom generation will be more about God and Jesus and stuff!!

I also want to start reviewing podcasts of great preachers like Ps Brian Houston, Joel Osteen and Ed Young, to name a few!!

I have been working a great new site for my old landlord and now client Bryce Roadley.

www.wealthwithattitude.com is starting to look really awesome, we have been putting alot of work into it the last few weeks and I’m excited to see how it will go as a full membership site.

We a using amember, a membership management system to manage what we hope will be a large subscription based site in the (near) future. Also, we are using the excellent 1shoppingcart service for payment and ecart plus their extraordinary auto-responder system. Finally, we are using Joomla for the content management system (CMS) and a variety of Joomla extensions for managing content and making the site SEF (Search engine friendly) and SEO (search engine optimized).

I have been really impressed with the volume of content about a variety of issues such as overcoming fear, self esteem, attitude and leadership that Bryce has been feeding into the site. You can tell he’s very passionate about the subject matter and really wants to see people step confidently into an abundant life.

Make sure you stop by and pick up the free PDF eBook by filling in the form in the top right corner of the site.

There is alot I like about Myspace.

It’s an incredibly viral and sticky site.

What I mean is, it’s addictive and I keep wanting to come back for more.

I love how you can customise your profile to look any way you want.

Looking for old friends is like a game, a kind of synthetic hide and seek!

Most of my friends are on it.

I can let people know what I’m up to with bulletins.

There are alot of cool things about myspace that make it unreal!

I thought I would do my bit to pronounce our Prime Minister John Howard as “The Greatest Living Australian”.

The man has done so many great things for Australia. After seeing the latest budget, I am amazed at how he has taken us from disaster to a prosperous country.

If you want to see what it takes to be “The greatest living American” on google, take a look at this article.

Apple just announced the iPhone

The whole incredible deal on Engadget!