Taxi Licence Test Is Too Difficult

Making entry tests for such things as taxi driver licences or new residents has really gone off course. This is not restricted to Australia. The US test for residency has been shown to have incorrect answers to key questions. New migrants to Australia complain about the relevancy of some questions. In regard to the test for a taxi licence in Queensland one in six is failing despite many being Australian born.

The Queensland test is extensive with reading, writing, numeracy. speaking and listening all being evaluated. Just how this improves taxi service and safety is unclear. It should be adequate for drivers to understand what customers are saying and to be able to communicate satisfactorily in return. It seems the whole job is tested as well. Map reading, following verbal directions, determining fares, giving change and solving situational problems are all thoroughly checked. It is known that many people are stressed and nervous doing such examinations. Even normally intelligent and adaptable people can fail.

Queensland taxi drivers are saying the test is too extensive and unnecessary. Even Australian born drivers with decades of experience are not passing. Many say it is a show test, a gimmick developed by bureaucrats. Many things tested for can only be learned on the job, after drivers have a licence to use. Experienced drivers are also being caught out because they must sit the examination when renewing their licences. One driver who had driven taxis for most of his life failed and said that's the end for me I will have to live off the pension now.

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Society

Them Scooters Ain't Motorcycles?

I don't know about other countries but here in Australia there is a silly law that says you can ride a scooter on a normal motor vehicle driving licence. I believe that this is also the case in other English speaking countries - let me know. It is true that motor cycles are different monsters than cars. A quite different drivers technique is involved. It is said that many people could not handle a motorcycle and sidecar, for example, because steering it around corners needs some natural skill that one is born with.

Surely if one can ride a scooter, 60cc motorcycles should also be included. The engines are powerful enough to give a good ride to a large person over hill and dale. Years ago there was a "chink" in British law which allowed people to drive a three wheeled vehicle on a motorcycle licence. Some took offence at this and set many three wheelers alight in car parks. They were made of fibreglass and readily burned. This is much like the hostility some have towards those darned electric vehicles that try to run you down in shopping centers. The ownership of them should be controlled. People drive up to the tills then boldly walk in. There nothing nothing wrong with them.

Getting back to real issue. It seems scooter manufacturers are bending the law in new scooter designs. Take a look at this link Pinktentacle.com. There are some great space age designs here. They are nothing like the traditional Italian made machines. You wouldn't be laughed at drawing up on one of these. The bike above looks somewhat like a Harley Davidson. The Bosozuku is terrific. Perhaps it is the paint job but it looks just like a fast motorcycle at a glance.

In my view there is too much made of a situation with revolves around having fresh air between your legs. For all intents and purposes these machines are motorcycles. It seems if authorities make a ridiculous law the smart ones will change things to slip under the barrier.

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Microsoft Is Being Greedy by Charging Charities

Use Microsoft and pay an arm and a leg - well maybe not quite. Schools using Microsoft software have always enjoyed a discount on the number of copies they use for teaching purposes. Until recently charities also used the Academic Open licence. Microsoft got tough on them and shut them out of the cheap licencing system. An Australian charity negotiated with Microsoft and got a good deal paying only 40 percent of the full rate. Seventeen charities now enjoy this benefit.

It pays to negotiate individually. Anglicare Tasmania got an even larger discount. So much pressure was brought to bear that other charities were allowed back onto the new Charity Open licence which is very cheap indeed. Microsoft is still playing a waiting game keeping charities that do not make a challenge on the full enterprise rate.

Let's face it. Microsoft is too greedy. It has the market to itself and governments need to legislate to override international trading laws. It is a monopoly and should be controlled accordingly. Before discounting Microsoft demands $150,000 up front. this is a strong arm tactic. Some countries protect consumers from finance company demands when they cannot pay a loan on time. There should be similar protection laws from Microsoft. Some charities are moving to Red Hat software. They shouldn't have to do this.

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