This is a record of when I voted on B$ and what I saw
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
AOL vows to charge for mass e-mails
AOL vows to charge for mass e-mails: "AOL vows to charge for mass e-mails
Raise your hand if you wanna see that happen?
ok, now raise your hand if you think it CAN happen....
I thought so
azfamily.com Personal Technology 3/1/06 7:15 PM Personal Technology"
AOL vows to charge for mass e-mails
(No description.)
azfamily.com Personal Technology 3/1/06 7:15 PM Personal Technology
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Insanely Cute Quiz
Beloved by all, puppies are energetic, playful, and loving. Your playful and friendly nature is part of what makes you a puppy. Known for their loyalty, puppies make great pets for young and old alike. And an innocent puppy face can melt anyone's heart!
You were almost a: Squirrel or a Pony
You are least like a: Turtle or a GroundhogWhat Cute Animal Are You?
You Are A: Puppy!
Beloved by all, puppies are energetic, playful, and loving. Your playful and friendly nature is part of what makes you a puppy. Known for their loyalty, puppies make great pets for young and old alike. And an innocent puppy face can melt anyone's heart!You were almost a: Squirrel or a Pony
You are least like a: Turtle or a GroundhogWhat Cute Animal Are You?
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Aman - Engish News: "August 03rd, 2005 - 08:02 (Posted By: Dima Qbeiwi)
Serial Rapist In Phoenix Breaks In, Appears Near Women's Beds
New york times
-- Phoenix authorities have formed a special task force and tip hotline to find a serial rapist.
Suspect/s: White or Hispanic male with tan or olive complexion, 20-35 years old, 5'6-6'0 with heavy build and distinct beer or pot belly. Suspect is clean shaven with short hair described as bald or buzz cut.
He's already attacked 11 women in the city since November. Officials said he targets women who live alone and apparently tracks their movements before breaking into their apartments in the middle of the night. Victims said he just appeared by their bed.
Since November 2004, police said the suspect has entered the apartments of several victims during the late evening to early-morning hours. The victims are awakened by the suspect and then sexually assaulted, police say. The rapist then flees the apartment. No vehicle has been seen.
Patrol officers have spent the past several days fanning out across the city to pass out composite sketches. They are warning residents that even the simplest precautions could make a difference. One detective said people need to check and double-check that everything is locked.
A detective said the rapist appears to methodically select his victims. All have been white women ranging in age from 20 to 46 and almost all lived alone. "
He was finally caught Monday Night. It was quite a circus.
Aman - Engish News: "August 03rd, 2005 - 08:02 (Posted By: Dima Qbeiwi)
Serial Rapist In Phoenix Breaks In, Appears Near Women's Beds
New york times
-- Phoenix authorities have formed a special task force and tip hotline to find a serial rapist.
Suspect/s: White or Hispanic male with tan or olive complexion, 20-35 years old, 5'6-6'0 with heavy build and distinct beer or pot belly. Suspect is clean shaven with short hair described as bald or buzz cut.
He's already attacked 11 women in the city since November. Officials said he targets women who live alone and apparently tracks their movements before breaking into their apartments in the middle of the night. Victims said he just appeared by their bed.
Since November 2004, police said the suspect has entered the apartments of several victims during the late evening to early-morning hours. The victims are awakened by the suspect and then sexually assaulted, police say. The rapist then flees the apartment. No vehicle has been seen.
Patrol officers have spent the past several days fanning out across the city to pass out composite sketches. They are warning residents that even the simplest precautions could make a difference. One detective said people need to check and double-check that everything is locked.
A detective said the rapist appears to methodically select his victims. All have been white women ranging in age from 20 to 46 and almost all lived alone. "
Monday, September 19, 2005
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Film | Actress Zellweger in privacy pleaHere's a shocker for you...
They met and married within a week or two. He said he fell in love with her in her first movie. Did he think he was marrying the actress, or the movie character?
: "Actress Zellweger in privacy plea
The couple wed on a beach in the Virgin Islands in May
Actress Renee Zellweger has said she hopes her split from husband Kenny Chesney after four months can be achieved 'as privately as possible'.
The Oscar-winning star and the country singer are seeking an annulment and Zellweger listed 'fraud' as the reason.
But she said it was 'legal language and not a reflection of Kenny's character'.
She added: 'I would personally be very grateful for your support in refraining from drawing derogatory, hurtful, sensationalised or untrue conclusions.'
Chesney also released a statement on Friday describing it as 'an incredibly sad time'.
'I just hope everyone can respect the privacy that I know Renee has already asked for,' he added.
US TV show Entertainment Tonight reported a further joint statement saying the split was due to 'the miscommunication of the objective of their marriage at the start'.
'Renee and Kenny value and respect each other and are saddened that their different objectives prevent the success of this marriage,' it said, according to Entertainment Tonight.
'They are disappointed that the legal term 'annulment-fraud' has been publicly misunderstood and exaggerated.'
The Bridget Jones star, 36, married Chesney, 37, on a Caribbean beach in May, four months after meeting at a benefit for tsunami victims.
Chesney, one of the biggest country music stars in the US, was named entertainer of the year at the US Academy of Country Music awards in May.
Zellweger won a best supporting actress Oscar for Cold Mountain in 2004, and was also nominated for her roles in Chicago and Bridget Jones's Diary. It was the first marriage for both.
Marriage invalid
In US law, an annulment is a decree that a marriage was invalid from its outset.
Anyone seeking an annulment on the grounds of 'fraud' must prove that their partner misrepresented some matter that was vital to the marriage.
This may include the concealment of a fact such as an existing spouse, permanent impotence or a criminal history.
If either party was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the marriage took place, it may also be grounds for its annulment.
In her court submission, Zellweger also demanded that the court rule out the possibility of spousal financial support for Chesney.
"
Sunday, September 11, 2005
happy bunny quiz
you are the "I hate you so bad" happy
bunny. You hate everyone and eveything and your
not ashamed of it.
which happy bunny are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
pervert081805
If you recognize the man in the picture, call the Daily News at (212) 210-1574 and let them know.Hunt perv
caught in a flash
Fone gives cops pic of subway suspect
By TRACY CONNOR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Image from cell phone camera belonging to subway rider Thao Nguyen captures shot of man (below) she says leered at her and exposed himself aboard R train last week.
When a pervert exposed himself on a Manhattan subway last week, Thao Nguyen reached for her secret weapon - her camera phone.
The quick-thinking 22-year-old snapped a shot of the smirking sicko, took it to cops and then posted it on the Internet.
Word of her campaign to nail the flasher raced through cyberspace, and more than 45,000 people had viewed the photographic evidence by last night.
"I just hope they catch him," Nguyen told the Daily News.
"Maybe someone will recognize him. Maybe it will stop other people from doing it," she said. "Maybe other women will use their camera phones to stop crime."
Nguyen's transformation from quiet Web developer to feisty crimefighter happened on an uptown R train the afternoon of Aug. 19.
She was on her way back to work after a job interview when a middle-aged, blond-haired man dressed in a black shirt and jeans sat down across from her.
"He kept staring at me," she said. "I could feel his eyes on me. I wanted to avoid eye contact so I looked away, but I could see his reflection in the window.
"I saw him massaging himself and then he unzipped and pulled it out. I thought, 'I can't believe he's doing this in the middle of the day!' "
The subway car was mostly empty and Nguyen felt nervous, so she pulled out her Samsung P777 cell phone, equipped with a 1.3 megapixel digital phone.
"I turned on the camera," she said. "He was still masturbating. I aimed it and quickly took the shot. As soon as I took it, he zipped up and got off the train."
Nguyen said she was disgusted by the incident and immediately reported it to a police officer at the 34th St. station.
The next day she filled out an official complaint, and the following day a detective had her look at hundreds of photos of ex-cons.
None of them was the culprit, but Nguyen wasn't about to give up. She posted the degenerate's photo on the Web sites Flickr and Craigslist, and bloggers began linking to her site.
Her photo and story drew a few juvenile snickers, but most of the comments have been positive. One Netizen wrote: "You go, girl!" Another commented, "I hope his mom sees it." The NYPD, which confirmed Nguyen had filed a complaint, also was impressed.
"It's great she took the picture; it'll help with the investigation," said NYPD Detective Kevin Czartoryski, who warned that a woman should be careful if the flasher sees her taking the picture.
"If it can be done in a safe manner, it'd be helpful to locate the suspect," said Czartoryski, a NYPD spokesman. "Common sense should be used when deciding if a picture can be taken."
Nguyen isn't the first straphanger to use her cell phone to catch a criminal.
In May, two Catholic schoolgirls took a photo of a man en flagrante on the F train and showed it to a cop, who nabbed the pervert.
Nguyen said even if her tormentor isn't caught - and charged with public lewdness, a misdemeanor that carries up to three months in jail - she's glad she took action. "He made me feel creepy," she said. "I want to embarrass him."
If you recognize the man in the picture, call the Daily News at (212) 210-1574 and let us know. Originally published on August 26, 2005
caught in a flash
Fone gives cops pic of subway suspect
By TRACY CONNOR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Image from cell phone camera belonging to subway rider Thao Nguyen captures shot of man (below) she says leered at her and exposed himself aboard R train last week.
When a pervert exposed himself on a Manhattan subway last week, Thao Nguyen reached for her secret weapon - her camera phone.
The quick-thinking 22-year-old snapped a shot of the smirking sicko, took it to cops and then posted it on the Internet.
Word of her campaign to nail the flasher raced through cyberspace, and more than 45,000 people had viewed the photographic evidence by last night.
"I just hope they catch him," Nguyen told the Daily News.
"Maybe someone will recognize him. Maybe it will stop other people from doing it," she said. "Maybe other women will use their camera phones to stop crime."
Nguyen's transformation from quiet Web developer to feisty crimefighter happened on an uptown R train the afternoon of Aug. 19.
She was on her way back to work after a job interview when a middle-aged, blond-haired man dressed in a black shirt and jeans sat down across from her.
"He kept staring at me," she said. "I could feel his eyes on me. I wanted to avoid eye contact so I looked away, but I could see his reflection in the window.
"I saw him massaging himself and then he unzipped and pulled it out. I thought, 'I can't believe he's doing this in the middle of the day!' "
The subway car was mostly empty and Nguyen felt nervous, so she pulled out her Samsung P777 cell phone, equipped with a 1.3 megapixel digital phone.
"I turned on the camera," she said. "He was still masturbating. I aimed it and quickly took the shot. As soon as I took it, he zipped up and got off the train."
Nguyen said she was disgusted by the incident and immediately reported it to a police officer at the 34th St. station.
The next day she filled out an official complaint, and the following day a detective had her look at hundreds of photos of ex-cons.
None of them was the culprit, but Nguyen wasn't about to give up. She posted the degenerate's photo on the Web sites Flickr and Craigslist, and bloggers began linking to her site.
Her photo and story drew a few juvenile snickers, but most of the comments have been positive. One Netizen wrote: "You go, girl!" Another commented, "I hope his mom sees it." The NYPD, which confirmed Nguyen had filed a complaint, also was impressed.
"It's great she took the picture; it'll help with the investigation," said NYPD Detective Kevin Czartoryski, who warned that a woman should be careful if the flasher sees her taking the picture.
"If it can be done in a safe manner, it'd be helpful to locate the suspect," said Czartoryski, a NYPD spokesman. "Common sense should be used when deciding if a picture can be taken."
Nguyen isn't the first straphanger to use her cell phone to catch a criminal.
In May, two Catholic schoolgirls took a photo of a man en flagrante on the F train and showed it to a cop, who nabbed the pervert.
Nguyen said even if her tormentor isn't caught - and charged with public lewdness, a misdemeanor that carries up to three months in jail - she's glad she took action. "He made me feel creepy," she said. "I want to embarrass him."
If you recognize the man in the picture, call the Daily News at (212) 210-1574 and let us know. Originally published on August 26, 2005
Friday, August 05, 2005
Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq reaches low point
AP Poll: Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq reaches low point
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans' approval of President Bush's handling of Iraq is at its lowest level yet, according to an AP-Ipsos poll that also found fewer than half now think he's honest.
A solid majority still see Bush as a strong and likable leader, though the president's confidence is seen as arrogance by a growing number.
Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq, which had been hovering in the low- to mid-40s most of the year, dipped to 38%. Midwesterners and young women and men with a high school education or less were most likely to abandon Bush on his handling of Iraq in the last six months.
American troops have suffered heavy casualties in Iraq in recent days. On Wednesday, 14 Marines were killed in the Euphrates River valley in the worst roadside bombing targeting Americans since the war began in March 2003.
William Anderson, a retired Republican from Fort Worth, said Bush "has the right intentions, but he's going about them the wrong way."
"Iraq is one of the issues that everybody has a problem with," Anderson said. "There are some big discussions about it around town. Everybody's got their agreements and disagreements. It seems like there's no end. Is it going to end up another Vietnam?"
Continuing worries about Iraq may do more than drag down Bush's standing with the public. They could become a major issue in the 2006 midterm congressional races, and if the war is still going in 2008, they could be a factor in the presidential race.
Bush's overall job approval was at 42%, with 55% disapproving. That's about where Bush's approval has been all summer but slightly lower than at the beginning of the year.
The portion of people who consider Bush honest has dropped slightly from January, when 53% described him that way while 45% did not. Now, people are just about evenly split on that issue — with 48% saying he's honest and 50% saying he's not.
The drop in the number of people who see Bush as honest was strongest among middle-aged Americans as well as suburban women, a key voting group in the 2004 election. A further erosion of trust could make it tougher for Bush to win support for his policies in Congress and internationally.
"The reason that trust is so important has to do with the long-standing belief that you could trust him, even if you don't always agree with him and don't understand what he's doing," said Bruce Buchanan, a political scientist at the University of Texas. "The honesty dip is partly caused by a loss of faith in his credibility on Iraq."
The president said Thursday from his ranch in Crawford, Texas, that threats from al-Qaeda's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, "make it clear that Iraq is a part of this war on terror, and we're at war." Bush pledged to "complete this job in Iraq."
Almost two-thirds in the poll described Bush as strong and likable.
"He's a man of character," said Cheryl Cheyney, a school bus driver from Cumming, Ga., and a Republican. "He's very honest in the things he says. I agree with his belief system, the way he believes in God and is not afraid to show it. That's very important to me."
But the portion of people who view his confidence as arrogance has increased from 49% in January to 56% now.
"This country is a monarchy," said Charles Nuutinen, a 62-year-old independent from Greenville, Wis. "He's turning this country into Saudi Arabia. He does what he wants. He doesn't care what the people want."
Six in 10 said they think the country is headed down the wrong track, despite some encouraging economic news in recent weeks.
"Iraq is just a great weight holding down perceptions of an economy that is quite robust," said Karlyn Bowman, a public opinion analyst at the American Enterprise Institute. "Whenever you have troops in harm's way, people are anxious about things in general."
The poll of 1,000 adults was conducted Aug. 1-3 by Ipsos, an international polling firm. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans' approval of President Bush's handling of Iraq is at its lowest level yet, according to an AP-Ipsos poll that also found fewer than half now think he's honest.
A solid majority still see Bush as a strong and likable leader, though the president's confidence is seen as arrogance by a growing number.
Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq, which had been hovering in the low- to mid-40s most of the year, dipped to 38%. Midwesterners and young women and men with a high school education or less were most likely to abandon Bush on his handling of Iraq in the last six months.
American troops have suffered heavy casualties in Iraq in recent days. On Wednesday, 14 Marines were killed in the Euphrates River valley in the worst roadside bombing targeting Americans since the war began in March 2003.
William Anderson, a retired Republican from Fort Worth, said Bush "has the right intentions, but he's going about them the wrong way."
"Iraq is one of the issues that everybody has a problem with," Anderson said. "There are some big discussions about it around town. Everybody's got their agreements and disagreements. It seems like there's no end. Is it going to end up another Vietnam?"
Continuing worries about Iraq may do more than drag down Bush's standing with the public. They could become a major issue in the 2006 midterm congressional races, and if the war is still going in 2008, they could be a factor in the presidential race.
Bush's overall job approval was at 42%, with 55% disapproving. That's about where Bush's approval has been all summer but slightly lower than at the beginning of the year.
The portion of people who consider Bush honest has dropped slightly from January, when 53% described him that way while 45% did not. Now, people are just about evenly split on that issue — with 48% saying he's honest and 50% saying he's not.
The drop in the number of people who see Bush as honest was strongest among middle-aged Americans as well as suburban women, a key voting group in the 2004 election. A further erosion of trust could make it tougher for Bush to win support for his policies in Congress and internationally.
"The reason that trust is so important has to do with the long-standing belief that you could trust him, even if you don't always agree with him and don't understand what he's doing," said Bruce Buchanan, a political scientist at the University of Texas. "The honesty dip is partly caused by a loss of faith in his credibility on Iraq."
The president said Thursday from his ranch in Crawford, Texas, that threats from al-Qaeda's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, "make it clear that Iraq is a part of this war on terror, and we're at war." Bush pledged to "complete this job in Iraq."
Almost two-thirds in the poll described Bush as strong and likable.
"He's a man of character," said Cheryl Cheyney, a school bus driver from Cumming, Ga., and a Republican. "He's very honest in the things he says. I agree with his belief system, the way he believes in God and is not afraid to show it. That's very important to me."
But the portion of people who view his confidence as arrogance has increased from 49% in January to 56% now.
"This country is a monarchy," said Charles Nuutinen, a 62-year-old independent from Greenville, Wis. "He's turning this country into Saudi Arabia. He does what he wants. He doesn't care what the people want."
Six in 10 said they think the country is headed down the wrong track, despite some encouraging economic news in recent weeks.
"Iraq is just a great weight holding down perceptions of an economy that is quite robust," said Karlyn Bowman, a public opinion analyst at the American Enterprise Institute. "Whenever you have troops in harm's way, people are anxious about things in general."
The poll of 1,000 adults was conducted Aug. 1-3 by Ipsos, an international polling firm. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
BBC Moblogging article
Digital postcards from a mobile phone
Dot.life - where technology meets life, every week
By Darren Waters
Hoover Dam was an early stopping and blogging point
Millions of people around the world have set up their own web logs (blogs), writing about myriad things - from their pets and families to world politics.
I have never felt any real desire to start a blog.
While I recognise that some people have a tremendous range of opinions on a wide variety of topics, as well as a burning desire to see those opinions published online, I have been much happier as a blog reader than as a blog writer - until now.
A planned road trip to the US with my wife, I felt, would be a good opportunity to start a blog about the holiday.
Read my holiday blog - US Road Trip 2005
I wanted to be able to send friends and family a series of "digital postcards" in near time - accounts of our holiday that people were able to read while we were still away, rather than a week after our return as is often the case with the traditional postcard.
My plan was "to blog on the go" - publishing a daily update about the trip with pictures so that friends could follow our progress and even leave us messages.
Straightforward tools
Setting up a blog is simplicity itself - there are an enormous number of companies that provide straightforward tools to get you published online within minutes.
I chose Blogger.com, one of the original blogging sites, which offers neophytes simple instructions.
Choose a unique name for your blog, a log in and password, pick a template for how you want your blog to look and hey presto - you will be given a website address and access to a simple online text editor that will have you publishing your original, or not so original, thoughts, within minutes.
Not many internet cafes at the top of Yosemite Park
You can access and edit your blog from wherever you have an internet connection.
Our road trip would be taking us from Las Vegas to San Francisco in two weeks, and while we would have no problem finding an internet cafe in these cities, our other stops such as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and the Sequoia National Park could prove more problematic.
The solution was moblogging - or mobile blogging.
It is now possible to blog using a mobile phone or handheld computer equipped with e-mail capabilities.
Add a digital camera to the phone, enable international roaming on your mobile service, and you have all the tools you need to send pictures and text from across the globe.
Unique e-mail
Popular online photo service Flickr lets people e-mail photos and text which are then published online to a number of different blog sites.
By creating a free account with Flickr I was given a unique e-mail address to let me blog our trip within seconds of writing a few words and snapping a photo.
And so began our holiday blog, US Road Trip 2005.
Each day we would blog one or two photos and a few lines of text which were then devoured back in Britain by family and friends.
A blog, of course, is accessible to anyone who knows the website address, so it is wise to remember that the world could be looking in although in reality few blogs ever attain any level of mass readership.
We ended the trip - and the blog - in San Francisco, the digital city
The mobile phone we were using had a 1.3 megapixel digital camera built in and while the photos were not exactly of professional quality they were more than serviceable for online publication.
Using a mobile had a number of benefits - it meant all the tools for blogging were contained in one device, while the familiarity of the phone meant it was easy to use.
Even my wife - who is often the most strident technophobe - became an ardent blogger and on more than one occasion we battled over who would send the daily blog.
Some drawbacks
Using a mobile to write messages had some drawbacks - the small keypad necessitated short, snappy updates rather than lengthy musings.
But that was probably more welcome to readers than rambling accounts and helped give the blog that postcard feel I was aiming for.
The other big drawback is expense - using a GPRS connection to send an e-mail abroad can cost about £7.50 per megabyte so take care when sending photos as attachments.
Friends were able to leave comments on the blog - most of which were complimentary about the blog and the holiday.
Now that the trip is over we have a permanent record of our adventure, which sits alongside our photos and our memories.
I cannot wait for our next holiday - not least because it gives me a reason to start a new blog.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Hell on wheels
Hell on wheels
BY BRUCE McDOUGALL
June 22, 2005
THEY'VE become one of the biggest scourges of city streets %u2013 idiots on two wheels who daily place themselves and others in mortal danger.
Bending the rules with no regard for other road users, they run red lights, ride on the footpath and blatantly refuse to wear a helmet.
In some of the worst cases, caught on camera by The Daily Telegraph, they even ride the streets while speaking or text messaging on a mobile phone.
Finding new and creative ways of breaking the road code has been turned into an art form by a growing band of two-wheel maniacs.
Professional couriers, long among the greatest offenders, have been joined in their law-breaking ways by a range of other cyclists of all ages.
It took us just three hours yesterday to compile a series of more than a dozen photographs showing cyclists endangering themselves and others.
When The Daily Telegraph showed the photos to Roads Minister Michael Costa yesterday, he said the examples concerned him %u2013 and flagged a blitz on dangerous cyclists.
"As a regular road user I have experienced inappropriate behaviour by cyclists," Mr Costa said.
"The Daily Telegraph's photos highlight some of the issues that need more attention.
"This includes not obeying traffic signals, not wearing helmets and riding on footpaths.
"All cyclists have a responsibility to obey the road rules like every other road user. Safety and courtesy are the priority.
"That's why I have asked the RTA to see whether more needs to be done, including education similar to other road users and effective enforcement of the road rules."
Sydney's cycling population is booming. Statistics show more bicycles than cars are sold throughout Australia.
While a war on errant cyclists is looming, Bicycle NSW chief executive officer Alex Unwin said some cyclists may be forced to break the rules in the interests of their own safety.
"On a bike on the road if you have an altercation with a car you'll come off second best," Mr Unwin said.
"So generally cyclists are sensitive to their safety and focused on ensuring they don't get knocked over.
"Sometimes the smartest thing is to hop on to the footpath so they don't get squashed by a truck."
Those who transgressed were a minority, he said.
Fears arose that cycling issues would be downgraded when the RTA's bicycles and pedestrians general manager was moved recently.
But a spokeswoman said yesterday the role had been folded into another senior position %u2013 traffic management general manager.
Cyclists spoken to by The Daily Telegraph yesterday said their numbers were growing rapidly in most suburbs. "Many want the benefits of cycling %u2013 it's healthy, easy to park, low impact on the environment and simply fun," one said.
BY BRUCE McDOUGALL
June 22, 2005
THEY'VE become one of the biggest scourges of city streets %u2013 idiots on two wheels who daily place themselves and others in mortal danger.
Bending the rules with no regard for other road users, they run red lights, ride on the footpath and blatantly refuse to wear a helmet.
In some of the worst cases, caught on camera by The Daily Telegraph, they even ride the streets while speaking or text messaging on a mobile phone.
Finding new and creative ways of breaking the road code has been turned into an art form by a growing band of two-wheel maniacs.
Professional couriers, long among the greatest offenders, have been joined in their law-breaking ways by a range of other cyclists of all ages.
It took us just three hours yesterday to compile a series of more than a dozen photographs showing cyclists endangering themselves and others.
When The Daily Telegraph showed the photos to Roads Minister Michael Costa yesterday, he said the examples concerned him %u2013 and flagged a blitz on dangerous cyclists.
"As a regular road user I have experienced inappropriate behaviour by cyclists," Mr Costa said.
"The Daily Telegraph's photos highlight some of the issues that need more attention.
"This includes not obeying traffic signals, not wearing helmets and riding on footpaths.
"All cyclists have a responsibility to obey the road rules like every other road user. Safety and courtesy are the priority.
"That's why I have asked the RTA to see whether more needs to be done, including education similar to other road users and effective enforcement of the road rules."
Sydney's cycling population is booming. Statistics show more bicycles than cars are sold throughout Australia.
While a war on errant cyclists is looming, Bicycle NSW chief executive officer Alex Unwin said some cyclists may be forced to break the rules in the interests of their own safety.
"On a bike on the road if you have an altercation with a car you'll come off second best," Mr Unwin said.
"So generally cyclists are sensitive to their safety and focused on ensuring they don't get knocked over.
"Sometimes the smartest thing is to hop on to the footpath so they don't get squashed by a truck."
Those who transgressed were a minority, he said.
Fears arose that cycling issues would be downgraded when the RTA's bicycles and pedestrians general manager was moved recently.
But a spokeswoman said yesterday the role had been folded into another senior position %u2013 traffic management general manager.
Cyclists spoken to by The Daily Telegraph yesterday said their numbers were growing rapidly in most suburbs. "Many want the benefits of cycling %u2013 it's healthy, easy to park, low impact on the environment and simply fun," one said.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Washing machine fingers lazy male
By Virginia Phillips
BBC radio science unit
Time to give up those beers and do some house chores
A Spanish designer has come up with what could be the perfect solution for the woman who feels frustrated that she has to do all the house chores.
It is a washing machine called "Your Turn", which will not let the same person use it twice in a row.
It uses fingerprint recognition technology to ensure the job of loading is not dumped on just one individual.
Pep Torres was approached by a Spanish white goods manufacturer to come up with an innovative Father's Day gift.
I hope both women and men will think it's time for the men to do more around the house
Pep Torres Designer "I thought it would be good to finish with macho man from the ice age who doesn't do anything around the house except drink beers," said Torres, from DeBuenaTinta in Barcelona.
"Spain is changing a lot, and I wanted to come up with an invention to enable men to do more around the home."
Fast fingers
Some men may disagree that it is a good present for Father's Day and argue that it is more of a gift for the lady of the house.
"It was a tongue-in-cheek idea which seemed to catch the imagination," said Torres.
"It's an invention that has a philosophy behind it and I hope both women and men will think it's time for the men to do more around the house."
Your Turn requires both partners to register their fingerprints on the sensor while it is hooked up to their home computer.
When the sensor is then plugged into the washing machine, the software will only allow the wash programme to start if a different finger is placed on it each time.
So what about the cheats - how can you get round it?
Torres has an unusual solution: "I suggest the man can leave his finger at home... we have 10 fingers, so he won't miss one - well, you don't use the little finger a lot.
"Seriously though, the only way to override the system is to crawl around the back of the machine, unplug the sensor, take it back to the home computer and re-programme it - not that easy.
"We have to make it difficult to change otherwise it defeats the object of the exercise."
All thumbs
Your Turn is also childproof. Parents can be confident that young fingers will not be able to operate the washing machine as it is only their fingerprints that can start it.
But there is one bone of contention. The same person can still load the washing time after time. The finger print sensor only controls who starts the programme.
In future designs, Torres hopes to bring the door release mechanism under the thumb of the fingerprint sensor, too.
In the meantime, Your Turn is expected to go on sale in the next couple of weeks.
The one thing it will not do though is something that most guys are notoriously bad at - separating the whites from the coloureds.
BBC radio science unit
Time to give up those beers and do some house chores
A Spanish designer has come up with what could be the perfect solution for the woman who feels frustrated that she has to do all the house chores.
It is a washing machine called "Your Turn", which will not let the same person use it twice in a row.
It uses fingerprint recognition technology to ensure the job of loading is not dumped on just one individual.
Pep Torres was approached by a Spanish white goods manufacturer to come up with an innovative Father's Day gift.
I hope both women and men will think it's time for the men to do more around the house
Pep Torres Designer "I thought it would be good to finish with macho man from the ice age who doesn't do anything around the house except drink beers," said Torres, from DeBuenaTinta in Barcelona.
"Spain is changing a lot, and I wanted to come up with an invention to enable men to do more around the home."
Fast fingers
Some men may disagree that it is a good present for Father's Day and argue that it is more of a gift for the lady of the house.
"It was a tongue-in-cheek idea which seemed to catch the imagination," said Torres.
"It's an invention that has a philosophy behind it and I hope both women and men will think it's time for the men to do more around the house."
Your Turn requires both partners to register their fingerprints on the sensor while it is hooked up to their home computer.
When the sensor is then plugged into the washing machine, the software will only allow the wash programme to start if a different finger is placed on it each time.
So what about the cheats - how can you get round it?
Torres has an unusual solution: "I suggest the man can leave his finger at home... we have 10 fingers, so he won't miss one - well, you don't use the little finger a lot.
"Seriously though, the only way to override the system is to crawl around the back of the machine, unplug the sensor, take it back to the home computer and re-programme it - not that easy.
"We have to make it difficult to change otherwise it defeats the object of the exercise."
All thumbs
Your Turn is also childproof. Parents can be confident that young fingers will not be able to operate the washing machine as it is only their fingerprints that can start it.
But there is one bone of contention. The same person can still load the washing time after time. The finger print sensor only controls who starts the programme.
In future designs, Torres hopes to bring the door release mechanism under the thumb of the fingerprint sensor, too.
In the meantime, Your Turn is expected to go on sale in the next couple of weeks.
The one thing it will not do though is something that most guys are notoriously bad at - separating the whites from the coloureds.
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