Adam – Page 58 – Verbo.se

Cork City Litter Wardens: 2 Fines A Day?

02/07/2009

Cork Politics published this a couple weeks ago*:

City council issued 1,565 litter fines in 2008

NEW figures unveiled by Cork City Council have revealed that the local authority issued 1,565 on the spot fines in 2008. A total of 670 of these were issued for offences committed at The Fairfield and Clashduv Road bring sites. The figure represents a substantial increase on the number of fines issued in 2007, something which the council attributes to a new pilot programme introduced last year whereby CCTV cameras were installed by Cork City Council at the bring sites at The Fairfield, Fairhill and Clashduv Road, Togher. Under The 1997 to 2003 Litter Pollution Acts fines are issued for any incidents of dumping .

The wife reckons there’s about 240 working days in the year, including annual leave. I emailed and asked how many wardens there are, and apparently there’s 3 wardens and 1 supervisor. Even if you assume the supervisor doesn’t issue fines, according to my (admittedly terrible) maths…

1565 / 240 = 6.5 / 3 = 2.16

…the Cork wardens are issuing just over 2 fines a day each? That can’t be right surely? Snowed under with paperwork? According to minutes from 2005 there’s more people to help when needed – 14 back then – so surely not. Is there some other kind of work the wardens do? Seriously, it can’t just be 2 tickets a day like!

* I can’t check because for some bizarre reason their posts aren’t dated!

600 HP Mini Monster Truck

01/07/2009

The Jalopnik guys are pretty scathing and there’s no really technical details but then who needs ’em!? It’s a massive engine, with a supercharger, and zoomies, in a dinky frame, with 4 wheel steer. It’s awesome!

[liveleak f07_1246322556]

Pirate Bay Bought Out?

30/06/2009

This is all over the news today. Sounds to a bad April 1 prank, have the lads their dates mixed up?

The Pirate Bay has been (effectively) acquired by a gaming company called Global Gaming Factory X, who is plunking down nearly $8 million for the privilege. Their grand, surprising plan for the Pirate Bay is to pay content providers. Seriously.

via Gizmodo.

Entire New 13-Story Building Tips Over in Shanghai

30/06/2009

This past Saturday, an entire apartment building in Shanghai collapsed. To be fair, the building was under construction and thus unoccupied, but it’s still a minor miracle that there was only one fatality.

via Giz.

Micro-USB Mobiles in Europe

29/06/2009

Obsolete before it actually happens?

Top mobile telephone suppliers have agreed to back an EU-wide harmonization of phone chargers, the European Commission said on Monday, hailing the pact as good news for consumers and the environment.

The Commission said the agreement would involve the creation of an EU norm, and that the new generation of mobile phones would use a standard micro-USB socket to ensure compatibility.

via Reuters.

10l Radial-Engined Goggomobil

29/06/2009

Yes, it actually runs, FF to 3:20.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIdQFnUvCA

The Russian-built, 10220cc Vedeneyev M14P radial engine was originally commissioned in the 1930’s for airplanes and over the years power rose from 360 HP to a stout 460 HP when electronic injection was added. The Goggomobil was a German-built micro-car, like many ulta-compacts which sprouted up during the post-war era. Its most powerful iteration produced all of 20 HP. The two were never intended to go together, but a German mad man named Uwe Wulf has married radial monster to microcar for what is easily one of the most technically impressive and plain old-fashioned spectacular small car/big engine transplants we’ve ever seen.

More details and photos on Jalopnik.

Sidebike?

26/06/2009

Autoblog: How to put the ‘car’ in sidecar motorcycling.

Sarychev Volcano

26/06/2009

NASA: A fortuitous orbit of the International Space Station allowed the astronauts this striking view of Sarychev volcano Russia’s Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan in an early stage of eruption on June 12, 2009. Sarychev Peak is one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Island chain and is located on the northwestern end of Matua Island.

Alan Ralsky & Scott Bradley plead guilty to stock fraud

24/06/2009

Holy god, I never thought I’d see the day. The names won’t be familiar to most, but these are two of the biggest guys in spam.

Alan M. Ralsky, 64, of West Bloomfield, Mich., and Scott K. Bradley, 38, also of West Bloomfield, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and to violate the CAN-SPAM Act. Ralsky and Bradley also pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and violating the CAN-SPAM Act. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Ralsky acknowledges he is facing up to 87 months in prison and a $1 million fine under the federal sentencing guidelines while Bradley acknowledges that he is facing up to 78 months in prison and a $1 million fine under the federal sentencing guidelines.

FBI via Justin.

Sloppy Driving

18/06/2009

Saw this on telly the other day, a definite “holy god” moment.

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Author: Adam