Is it over for Rann?

[Bum Crack]

You're kidding me. You didn't read another bloody survey???

Reading is a common relaxation in some circles...
For Grade 7 I went to a new primary school [Croydon] and I'd read the entire school library by October, as well as several newly published books that came out that year.

[Jimmy_041]

Bum Crack went to a new school in Grade 7 as well, and had burnt it all down by October

[Psyber]

You're kidding me. You didn't read another bloody survey???

Reading is a common relaxation in some circles...
For Grade 7 I went to a new primary school [Croydon] and I'd read the entire school library by October, as well as several newly published books that came out that year.

I'm proud to be a "nerd" if being interested in many things makes me one..
But, I don't wear glasses, and wasn't only a bookworm - I was in my school hockey team and played lunch time Soccer, and I was the Uni Fencing team too.
I'll compound my crimes by admitting, too, that at high school I was VP of the Debating Society and the Camera Club and assistant stage manager when we produced "Hamlet".
Provokingly yours, Psyber.

[Of course being VP of the Camera Club did give me the key to the dark room...]

[Bum Crack]

Bum Crack went to a new school in Grade 7 as well, and had burnt it all down by October

You've got me mixed up with someone else. I only made it to Grade 5

[Squawk]

For Grade 7 I went to a new primary school [Croydon] and I'd read the entire school library by October, as well as several newly published books that came out that year.

So Psyber, how big was the library at Croydon primary school? Two books and a years subsciptions of Readers Digest?

[interested observer]

You're kidding me. You didn't read another bloody survey???

Reading is a common relaxation in some circles...
For Grade 7 I went to a new primary school [Croydon] and I'd read the entire school library by October, as well as several newly published books that came out that year.

I'm proud to be a "nerd" if being interested in many things makes me one..
But, I don't wear glasses, and wasn't only a bookworm - I was in my school hockey team and played lunch time Soccer, and I was the Uni Fencing team too.
I'll compound my crimes by admitting, too, that at high school I was VP of the Debating Society and the Camera Club and assistant stage manager when we produced "Hamlet".
Provokingly yours, Psyber.

[Of course being VP of the Camera Club did give me the key to the dark room...]

Mate, we are what we are...
If that's what floats your boat, then good for you..
There is a bit of "nerd" in all of us, I am sure.

[Psyber]

For Grade 7 I went to a new primary school [Croydon] and I'd read the entire school library by October, as well as several newly published books that came out that year.

So Psyber, how big was the library at Croydon primary school? Two books and a years subscriptions of Readers Digest?

A standard wooden classroom with two walls of bookshelves I think, all fairly light stuff but not magazines.
I kept getting sent to the library every time I finished, too early, the stuff the teacher set in class to keep us quiet while he marked books.
It didn't exactly make me popular with him - especially when I started protesting that I'd read the Library - the other kids got a giggle out of it though.
He eventually took to saying, "Well, just go and read one again!"

We had the Readers Digest at home, and my sister subscribed to the Saturday Evening Post. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Saturday_Evening_Post
I think I didn't tackle the complete works of George Bernard Shaw until I was 16.

[dedja]

Only Psyber can answer a taking the piss question with a serious answer ...

[dedja]

I'll compound my crimes by admitting, too, that at high school I was VP of the Debating Society ...

Mass Debater?

[Jimmy_041]

dedja's been out to lunch, me thinks

[Psyber]

Only Psyber can answer a taking the piss question with a serious answer ...

Sometimes it is hard to tell whether someone is taking the piss or not, so I treat them seriously and with respect if there is any doubt about it - it is a lot easier to tell anyone's intent face to face..
Of course, sometimes I choose to stir by responding seriously even if I think they are taking the piss.

[Jimmy_041]

Rann sweetens electorate with power, water handouts
Greg Kelton
The Advertiser February 17, 2010 12:00AM

The State Government is promising up to $98 a year extra to help elderly and low-income earners cope with rising utility bills - its $60 million first salvo in the election campaign.
More than 235,000 South Australians would get the increased energy bill concessions under the move announced by Premier Mike Rann yesterday, setting the scene for a spree of spending promises leading up to the March 20 poll.

All concessions would increase by 5 per cent each year on July 1, until 2012. Water bill relief would increase from $160 to $185 for renters and from $200 to $232 for owner-occupiers.

It is the biggest election bid so far even though the campaign will not officially begin until Saturday, when the Governor, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, issues the writs. Both major parties have engaged in an electoral bidding war in recent weeks, with promises on land tax relief and also rescue packages for the drought-stricken Riverland.

Low Income Health Care cardholders and those assessed by the Families and Communities Department as being low-income earners would be deemed eligible.

The proposal would lift energy bill concessions from $120 to $165 by 2012-13. Water concessions for tenants would go from $160 to $185, water concessions for owner-occupiers from $200 to $232, sewerage from $95 to $110, and Emergency Service Levy concession on property from $40 to $46.

The increased concessions would cost $12.9 million in the 2009-10 financial year, $16.6 million in 2011-12 and $20.5 million in 2012-13.

Government data shows 215,000 people receive the energy concession, 130,000 owner-occupiers and 35,000 tenants get the water concessions, and 130,000 people get the sewerage concessions.

Mr Rann said the Government's plan had been fully costed and the aim had always been to provide relief when the Government could afford it.

"We have been rigorous in our costings, which contrasts us with our opponents who are making spending after spending promises," he said. "They are promising everything to everyone but never explaining how they are going to fund them."

It is understood the Government has a huge "war chest" of contingency funds in Treasury and would be able to tap into this to help fund its election promises.

There will be a steady stream of targeted announcements from Saturday but Government sources said some major spending proposals would be kept under wraps until the major policy speech, likely to be made by the Premier in the last week of the campaign.

Mr Rann said the increased concessions came on top of the free public transport concessions for seniors announced last year.

Ridgehaven Pensioners Brian and Beryl Donovan, 73 and 76, said any contribution towards their electricity bills would give them the opportunity to spend money on activities and items they usually go without.

"The pension isn't going up very fast and every time it does, other bills go up, so it all evens out," Mr Donovan said.

The couple gave up their home nine years ago and moved into a retirement village because of mounting bills and home maintenance costs. They said seniors should not feel like they could not afford to put on their airconditioning.

"If we need to put the airconditioner on, we put it on but I know people who sit there and suffer with it off to save money," Mr Donovan said.

WTF - I pay the water bill for my tenants - is that correct?

And he says its fully costed but doesn't say how - out of the excess funds they suddenly found, I assume.

[Psyber]

WTF - I pay the water bill for my tenants - is that correct?
And he says its fully costed but doesn't say how - out of the excess funds they suddenly found, I assume.

Last time I rented the tenant paid for their own utility use, but I think the water rates may have been paid by the owner with provision to pass on any excess usage charges.
I don't know what the rules are now. Rents would have to go up if the owner had to pay the excess as there would be no restraint...

[A Mum]

As far as I know - Renters only pay the excess water.
However - I have known some landlords to pay the excess water (if they're nice )

[dedja]

As far as I know - Renters only pay the excess water.
However - I have known some landlords to pay the excess water (if they're nice )

Correct ...

[Jimmy_041]

So....lets see if I get this right

If I am the landlord, I pay the water rates

If the pensioner is out the zealously watering my garden to the point of, probably, wasting a precious resource, Rann will subsidise them

Seems like a very good plan Mike - the heading should be:

RANN ENCOURAGES EXCESS WATER USE WITH INCREASED SUBSIDIES

[redandblack]

If he solved the middle-east crisis, you'd still find fault, Jimmy

[Jimmy_041]

If he solved the middle-east crisis, you'd still find fault, Jimmy

If he thought he could get away with it, he'd blame the middle-east crisis on the Liberal Party

[Wedgie]

If he solved the middle-east crisis, you'd still find fault, Jimmy

If he thought he could get away with it, he'd blame the middle-east crisis on the Liberal Party

Nah, he'd just say it didn't happen whilst other world leaders took lie detector tests to prove he's a liar!

[Jimmy_041]

You are quite correct about sloppy journalism though

Why didn't one of them ask Rann about the fact that most landlords pay the water-sewerage charges other than excess costs?

Why do I always have to see through their spin?

Goddamn lefty press in this state!

maybe I'll twitter the twit and ask him............