31 July 2015

The piracy laws of Australia are a farce


It's all over the mainstream media news!

Australia is a nation of 'pirates'!

No surprise really, as the 'country' is a lawless country anyways....

Why there was (officially) 40 years of Martial Law once Captain Cook came to 'town', where the genocide of Indigenous Australians began - bet that don't teach you those FACTS in school, do they?

But alas we digress...

Let's get back to the topic of 'piracy', not Ethiopian style, but the one from this great "Southern Land".

So apparently a company in the United States in a suburb called "Hollywood" said that no one can 'pirate' their movies.

'Pirate' - whatever that means, maybe stealing might be more appropriate?

But we never actually 'took' anything, from your place of business or trading now, did we ??? !!! ???

So, Aussies are led to believe that a company in Hollywood will issue them with an invoice for $15,000 for a movie they 'pirated'?

Would love to see that hold up in a court of competent jurisdiction!

Fret not, Aussie pirates!

Apparently now, the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are in on the act as well and stopping 'piracy' (we still do not understand) and giving information to this private company in a suburb in Hollywood (read SEVERE breach of PRIVACY - i.e. SUE the ISP!!! !!! !!!).

Well.... We have some good news for our swash bucking Aussie 'pirates'.

We have information about Telstra customers that (allegedly) 'pirate' 500 GB (five hundred gigabytes) of 'pirated' (Damn!! We're still stumped with that term) movies / series, whatever per month and STILL no door knocks from the Hollywood Pirate Police or the AFP (Australian Fathead Police).

Aaahhh well, Aussie Pirates 1: Hollywood business: 0.

P.S. The names of the alleged 'pirates' can be given to the AFP or a Hollywood Pirate Police person upon sending us an email.

On second thoughts, Australia's 2500 'metadata' cops should be on the job, or are they hacking into too many doughnuts?

We would love to document the successful prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction.

30 July 2015

Victoria Police fraud - Speed and Red Light Camera Fines

Illustration of serco servicing red light cameras.


Q: Is this one of Victoria Police's greatest fraud against the people?
A: ?

Q: Does anyone really know how much money is at stake here?
A: In 2015 approximately $1,000,000 per day (from what we are told).

Q: Why does the corporate media NOT report on such a significant matter?
A: Oh, but it does [you silly 'conspiracy theorist']!

What the corporate media tells the plebs:

A little while ago, the corporate media reported drew to the attention of the plebs, that a 'barrister' or some other person person involved in the legal fraternity in Australia was going to challenge the speed camera or red light camera fines, where the result was going to be futile.

Could this have been done deliberately in order so the sheep do not rise above the 'authorities' who beat them with a (virtual) stick into submissiveness?

What the corporate media does not tell the plebs:

  • Australia is a legal 'joke' according to some involved in the 'profession'.
  •  Australia's 'laws' are based on Roman Code (guilty until proven innocent and strict / absolute liability) / contractual agreements (where consent is needed to proceed), where many Acts are not factually lawful.
  •  You do not need to be a QC, or a constitutional lawyer to beat ANY fine.


How are Victoria Police involved in fraud?

  • For starters, ANY fine that is issued by Victoria Police, according to 'law' is null and void.

  • Victoria Police, as of 17 December 2013 are a corporation, under the unlawfully passed Victoria Police Act (2013).

  • Victoria Police (ABN: 63 446 481 493) are (unlawfully) involved with another (unlawful) entity called Civic Compliance Victoria in extortion and coercion worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Victorian motorists via the unlawfully issued speed camera and red light camera fines.
  • Speed / Red light camera photos are altered photographs and as a result cannot be lawfully used in court as evidence against the alleged offender.

  • Entrenched laws of the U.K. protect people from 'fines'.

  • The Acts that the 'authorities' rely to issue fines are not lawfully passed.

  • From the beginning a court is 'rigged' against you, where you are 'ambushed' as it is not 'neutral' territory.

  • Apparently, the DPP, is an officer that works for the court, already showing bias against you.

  • Apparently the Victorian government guarantees due process of law / Human Rights, where all this is totally disregarded in the issuing of a 'fine'.

  • A 'business' Civic Compliance Victoria (CCV) issues the 'offender' with a fine on Victoria Police letterhead where the return address is to CCV GPO Box 2041 Melb VIC 3001 / Ground Floor, 277 William St. Melb VIC 3000.

  • Even by the unlawfully passed Acts, the issuing of a fine via the (unlawfully established) 'Infringements Court' is not lawful.

  • All 'fines' start of their administrative process as 'civil' and are transferred to 'criminal' - unlawfully.

  • In order for a crime to occur a victim has to have harm, where a victim statement needs to be filed, and cross examined if the need arises in a 'court'. 
  • In criminal law, the first point to establish is identity, where the police will fail every single time in speed/red light camera 'fines'.

There are many more points in 'law' that have been omitted, but will be covered at a later point in time.

Here's the proof that Victoria Police do not want you to use in court:


In this document Victoria Police state that:

  • "The resolution of each image has been adjusted for online publication and may not reflect the original quality of the images used to identify the vehicle".

What this means that images are altered, and realistically cannot be used as proof in a court, including the 'original'.

The statement made:

  • "This document is provided for your information only and is not produced for use in court"

This means that it should be used to provide the proof you need to win in your matter.

Victoria Police state that:

  • "Speed cameras save lives".

Not once in the history of mankind has a 'speed camera' saved a life.

Another false statement by Victoria Police.

Make NO MISTAKE about it Victoria Police is involved in a huge fraud, and they are certainly not going to own up to it.

They WILL lie about it to you.

When will YOU do something about it?

How Coke can impact your body up to an hour after drinking it

Unhealthy ... A pharmacist has revealed what happens up to an hour after you have a can o
Unhealthy ... A pharmacist has revealed what happens up to an hour after you have a can of Coca-Cola. Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited
 
MANY of us love the fizzy taste of our favourite soft drink but one pharmacist is taking aim at Coca-Cola, telling how it affects the body up to an hour after it is consumed. 

Niraj Naik has outlined the health issues on his blog Truth Theory and the findings are alarming.

Doctor’s advice ... Niraj Naik says those who care about their health should not drink Co
Doctor’s advice ... Niraj Naik says those who care about their health should not drink Coke. Picture: YouTube Source: Supplied
 
The First 10 Minutes: You consume 10 teaspoons of sugar (100 per cent of your recommended daily intake). It is actually that sweet that your body should vomit but
phosphoric acid cuts the flavour allowing you to keep it down.

20 Minutes: Your blood sugar spikes giving you an insulin burst. Your liver responds by turning sugar into fat.

40 minutes: Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your livers dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.

45 minutes: Your body ups your dopamine production stimulating the pleasure centres of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works.

>60 Minutes: The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play. The buzz dies down and you’ll start to have a sugar crash.

MORE: Are naturally sweetened soft drinks better for you?

Alarming ... What happens in the first 40 minutes after you drink a can of Coke. Picture: 
 
Alarming ... What happens in the first 40 minutes after you drink a can of Coke. Picture: Truth Theory. Source: Supplied
 
Dr Naik said he started investigating Coke after being puzzled why people on a strict low fat diet were gaining weight.

“Fructose is the form of high fructose corn syrup is found in pretty much all processed foods such as ready meals, fast foods, sweets and fizzy drinks and most people are totally unaware of its danger,” he wrote on his blog. “Many fruits also contain fructose, but nature has provided the antidote, as these fruits are also packed with fibre which prevents your body from absorbing too much of it.

“There are 1.6 billion servings of Coke sold each day worldwide!!” he wrote. “If you care about your heart, health and mind then please remember this article next time you reach for that bottle of Coke!”

MORE: How to eat well if you’re going fructose-free

Try water instead ... What happens after you drink a can of Coke. Picture: Truth Theory 
 
Try water instead ... What happens after you drink a can of Coke. Picture: Truth Theory Source: Supplied

news.com.au 30 July 2015

Coca Cola is one of the world's premier poisons for the human body, yet it is one of the more (if not most) popular bottled drink.

In Australia the government has mandated that cigarette companies label their product as carcinogenic ( for liability purposes), but no such mandate for Coca Cola Amatil products.

If you drink this product you deserve the sickness it brings to your body.

28 July 2015

Political donations: John Madigan leads push for Senate inquiry

EXCLUSIVE
John Madigan and Nick Xenophon are backing a Senate inquiry into political donations.
John Madigan and Nick Xenophon are backing a Senate inquiry into political donations. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Moves are under way to establish a Senate inquiry into political donations, with one crossbench senator saying the system encourages the idea that politicians are for sale.

The issue has been in the spotlight after Fairfax Media's revelations that Clubs NSW donated $20,000 to the fundraising body supporting federal Liberal MP Kevin Andrews. At the time he was responsible for writing the Coalition's policy on poker machine reform.

Victorian senator John Madigan said major donors always expected a return on their investment and the system left politicians exposed.

"There is potential here for corruption of the democratic process," he said.

"Recent media reports that Clubs NSW donated large sums to Kevin Andrews while he was in the process of formulating the Coalition's poker machines policy highlight flaws in the current system."

Senator Madigan said donations should be disclosed before elections and individual and total donations should be capped.

"Politicians should not be for sale, yet this is exactly what the current system encourages," he said.

He told Fairfax Media he would begin lobbying his crossbench colleagues for an inquiry before Parliament's resumption on August 10.

Fellow crossbench senator Nick Xenophon said he would support an inquiry and hoped it would dovetail a bill he plans to introduce aimed at increasing transparency.

 "It's long overdue. There needs to be fundamental reform," said Senator Xenophon, speaking from Thailand.

Senator Xenophon said it was unacceptable that political donations didn't have to be declared for up to 20 months after they were made, which could be after an election had taken place.

"You can't stop people spending money for a candidate and a cause, but what we can do is have full and more timely disclosure of where the money's coming from," he said.

Lower house independent MP Andrew Wilkie lashed out at the major parties on the receiving end of the gambling industry's "grubby money" and said the system left Australia looking little better than corrupt developing nations.

Mr Wilkie said modest attempts to curb the use of poker machines were quickly reversed after the Coalition's election to power, with the support of Labor, which he attributed to the industry's donations to both sides.

"We in Australia rail at wads of cash in brown paper bags in other countries but our political donations system is little better," he told the ABC.

Senator Madigan would need a majority in the Senate to establish an inquiry into political donations.

The shadow special minister of state Gary Gray wants to lower the threshold for a political donation to be declared from $13,000 to $1000 and supports faster disclosure.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has warned that any reduction in private funding of election campaigning could result in the public paying for political parties' election campaigns.  

theage.com.au 28 Jul 2015

Australian politicians - the elite of white collar criminals, literally untouchable by law.

Making a Complaint against Police.

Illustration of former head, Mr. Ken Lay,  of the business commonly known as Victoria Police (ABN: 63 446 481 493)

I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t seem to realise they can make a complaint against police in Australia. I know when I was young I had no idea we had our own version of Internal Affairs and I am emailed regularly by people asking how to complain about an officers misconduct.

The CCC defines police misconduct as;
  • an officer who is disgraceful, improper or unbecoming a police officer, or
  • shows unfitness to be or continue as a police officer, or
  • does not meet the standard the community reasonably expects of a police officer.
    If you are concerned about the conduct of a police officer and want to report it, consider whether the conduct is police misconduct or rather a customer service issue or minor breach of conduct.Examples of customer services issues or minor breaches include:
    • a slow response to your call
    • simple rudeness
    • failure of an officer to identify him/herself.
These issues should be reported directly to the QPS.

The QPS has there own complaint form located here:
But for more severe issues you don’t even need a formal declaration.
  1. Exceptional circumstances. In specific exceptional circumstances, you may claim an exemption from reporting corruption via a statutory declaration. Claim an exemption under exceptional circumstances.
  2. Public interest disclosure. If you are a public interest discloser, you are not required to use a statutory declaration to report corruption. Make a public interest disclosure.
  3. Notification by public officials. Public officials who have a reasonable suspicion of corrupt conduct must notify the CCC (in accordance with ss. 38 and 40 of the Crime and Corruption Act 2001), but are not required to complete a statutory declaration. Notify the CCC.
  4. Provide information. If you choose to provide information about suspected corruption without a statutory declaration, the CCC may consider your information but may not be able to deal with your concerns. Provide information to the CCC.
Fill out this form to make a statutory declaration and fill out this.
Keep in mind under s.13 of the Oaths Act 1867 (Qld), a statutory declaration must be witnessed by:
  • a justice of the peace, or
  • a commissioner for declaration, or
  • a notory public, or
  • a conveyancer, or another person authorised to administer an oath, under the law of the state, the Commonwealth or another state, or
  • an Australian lawyer.Forward your completed statutory declaration and supporting information form to –
Crime and Corruption Commission
GPO Box 3123, Brisbane Qld 4001
If you need any more help, contact, PoliceLeaks Australia
O
ther states are generally the same, but the CCC should be the first place you go if your complaint is serious.

The great Australian $1 trillion rip-off: Why our superannuation system is ‘broken’


An expert on superannuation says Australia’s system is broken.
An expert on superannuation says Australia’s system is broken. Source: Supplied
 
IT’S a key plank of every Aussie’s financial security, but it has become a “broken system” that seriously favours the rich at the expense of everyone else. 

Superannuation is something that most younger people barely consider. The money is paid into a fund (somewhere) without you having to do anything, and is left to accumulate.

But our mandatory retirement saving scheme has come to the average Australian’s attention since Treasurer Joe Hockey and Prime Minister Tony Abbott kicked off a national conversation about whether younger people should be allowed to dip into their super to pay for their first home.

But an expert on the system, Richard Denniss from progressive think tank the Australia Institute, says both sides of government have failed to address loopholes in the system that cost the Federal Budget about $30 billion a year in lost revenue.

Dr Denniss, the institute’s executive director, told news.com.au that the key issue with Australia’s superannuation system was that it gave lucrative tax concessions to rich people that were not offered to low-income earners.

“There’s a very clear problem at the moment: tax concessions go disproportionately to the wealthy. We could fix that and we could save the Budget a lot of money,” Dr Denniss said.

 Your Money superannuation generic images. Brunette woman holding one hundred dollar bill 100 cash note.
Superannuation is the intergenerational rip-off that most Australians don’t know about. Source: News Limited
 
While our income tax system is proportional, meaning you pay more if you make more, superannuation is taxed at a flat rate.

High-income earners pay over 45 per cent tax on every dollar they earn above $180,000. But if that income comes from a superannuation account, the tax rate drops to 15 per cent.

Meanwhile, a low-income earner who makes $10,000 a year would pay no income tax but is still obliged to pay the same flat rate — 15 per cent — on their super.

As a consequence, the benefits of super tax concessions flow largely to Australia’s super rich.

“High-income earners get a tax break, while low-income earners pay more tax on their super than their income. It’s ridiculous,” Dr Denniss said.

He said the worst part of the scheme was that any income from superannuation was entirely tax-free if you were over 65.

“If people understood this there would be riots,” Dr Denniss said. “It’s legal money-laundering.

“If you can sink $100 million into your super fund and you are over 65, you will never pay tax. It’s obscene.

“The system is broken. It’s unaffordable and there is no chance it will last for the next 40 years.”

Australia Institute executive director Richard Denniss says Australia’s superannuation sy
Australia Institute executive director Richard Denniss says Australia’s superannuation system amounts to “legal money-laundering”. Source: News Limited
 
Dr Denniss said this was something the average Australian should be concerned about “if they would like to see more money spent on their kids’ education, if they would like to avoid a co-payment for health and if they would like to get the Budget into surplus”.

“A government that decides that high-income earners don’t have to pay tax is costing itself a lot of money,” he said.

He said both sides of politics had failed to adequately address this problem because they wanted to win the votes of rich and influential Australians.

“They are both chasing the same demographic,” Dr Denniss said.

“They both want to appeal to older, high-income earners and the superannuation industry, which generates $20 billion in fees.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will argue today that Australians will be almost $1 trillion worse off within four decades due to the Abbott Government’s superannuation decisions.

A Labor analysis has found that the government’s decision to delay the scheduled mandatory increases to super contributions and to scrap the super rebate for low-income earners would make our collective savings pool $983 billion weaker by 2055.

Labor leader Bill Shorten will address Monash University today on the issue of superannua
Labor leader Bill Shorten will address Monash University today on the issue of superannuation. Picture: Jonathan Ng Source: News Corp Australia
 
The Abbott government has frozen the super contribution at 9.5 per cent until mid-2021, after which it will gradually rise to 12 per cent by mid-2025.

“An average income earner, aged 25, will retire with $100,000 less in retirement savings,” Mr Shorten will say in a speech at Monash University today.

“The Liberals’ attack on Australia’s world-class compulsory superannuation scheme will undermine retirement savings by nearly one trillion dollars and put greater pressure on the age pension.”

Labor has argued the super contribution level should rise to 10 per cent in mid-2015 and hit 12 per cent by mid-2019.

But Dr Denniss said Mr Shorten’s argument about the rate of super contributions was “not what the debate is currently about” and was “dodging the main issue”.
An expert on Australia’s super system says the system favours the rich.
An expert on Australia’s super system says the system favours the rich. Source: News Limited
 
He said the Coalition had set up the generous super concessions, but Labor governments had done little to fix them.

Labor did establish a super tax rebate for low-income earners, but the Abbott Government scrapped this.
“Labor did very little to rein in the loopholes for the rich,” Dr Denniss said.

“(Both sides of politics) are guilty of not trying to fix the big picture.”

A spokesman for Mr Shorten said Labor had made changes in their area that were later unwound by the Abbott Government.

He said Labor’s reforms meant people earning more than $100,000 from their super would have to pay 15 per cent tax on amounts over $100,000.

Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told news.com.au that the delay in increases to superannuation payments was necessary for the government to deliver on its election commitment to repeal the mining tax without imposing additional costs on the Budget.

“Individuals are free to make voluntary contributions in place of the increase,” Mr Frydenberg said. “They are therefore no worse off as a result of delaying the Superannuation Guarantee increase.”

He said the Coalition was “sticking to its election commitment not to make any unexpected detrimental changes to superannuation” and pointed to an upcoming tax white paper, which will examine super.

“The government will not pre-emptively rule anything in or out as part of this process to ensure a proper debate can be held around superannuation and retirement income tax settings,” he said.

Mr Denniss said Australians were paying $20 billion a year in fees to superannuation funds. “We are being robbed blind by the industry,” he said.

The Intergenerational Report released last week showed Australia’s ageing population would put enormous pressure on pensions, health and aged care over the next four decades.

 news.com.au 11 Mar 2015

It's arguable to say that the system is 'broken' as it makes billions of dollar in profits for the corporatocracy annually, and a very little for the slave populous.

Aussie families are no doubt getting ripped off blind (read defrauded) by these scams schemes called "superannuation", but there is NO criminal investigation by the so called 'authorities'. 

Why? 

Because they profit from the fraud.

Note that once 'your' money (read corporate promissory note) has left your hands and you put it in the (e.g.) bank, it's not yours it's the banks.

950 million Android devices are at risk

A SECURITY research company has discovered what it describes as the “worst Android vulnerability in the mobile operating system’s history”. 
 
According to Zimperium ZLabs, 950 million Android smartphones and tablets are currently vulnerable to attacks from a bug codenamed Stagefright.

Zimperium zLabs vice president of platform research and exploitation Joshua J. Drake said hackers can gain access to the victim’s device without them even knowing — all they need is the user’s phone number.

“The scariest part is that a Stagefright attack does not require any action by the victim, meaning the flaw can be exploited remotely while a device owner is asleep,” he told Business Insider.

“This is different from spear-phishing attacks, which require users to open an email attachment or click on a link for the attack to be successful.

“It amounts to an attacker sending a media file via MMS, which again requires no action from the user.”
When a device is exploited the hacker has access to many of the phones applications, which they can use to spy on the victim or steal their data.

“Once an attack is complete, the hacker has access to many of the phone’s applications, notably the audio and camera,’ he said.

“By controlling these applications, an attacker can essentially spy on their victim by listening in on conversations or watching the device’s surroundings.

“Sophisticated attackers could also create what we call ‘elevated privileges,’ which would provide complete access to the phone’s data.”

While there is no fix for the bug at present, Mr Drake said Google was working hard to rectify the issue.
“[Upon] discovering the Stagefright vulnerability, we alerted Google and provided patches for the problem to help them begin the lengthy update process.”

news.com.au  28 Jul 2015

So with the reality of 'smart phones' being easily hacked, why are people being given very few choices if any nowadays to purchase non 'smart phone' type phones?

Surely it's not just because of demand? Is this a policy?

What better way to steal customer data, by making people reliant upon their smart phone for 'everything'.

27 July 2015

Here's a handy chip - Corporate Slavery 101

So in order to enslave the plebs even more, the corporate world (naturally) thought of the next best thing in order to eliminate the corporate promissory note, commonly referred to a 'money', with a great new invention, OBVIOUSLY for the benefit to the consumer, that being the implantable microchip.

Adding even more credibility to the task at hand (pun intended) it was not injected to some moron from the masses, but a (credible?) professional, in the I.T. industry.

The politics(?) / "Conspiracy Theory":

In order for the herd populace to follow, the thinking behind the task at hand (pun intended) is that if he ( the I.T professional) did it, it must be safe/okay/good or whatever else.

So is this ass clown a paid corporate shill or just another moron from the masses??? !!! ???


N.B: Wearable 'smart watches' are easily susceptible to hacking

26 July 2015

You've been misled on boat people - Here are the facts



Victoria Police owned by crime bosses?

Victoria Police has very strong ties to the criminal underworld.

From the 'foot soldiers' in the low level ranks right up to the top, 'Vic Pol' is engaged in criminal activity with the states top crime gangs.

The state's so called top 10 'crime bosses' could easily be put away (incarcerated) if Vic Pol wanted to, and according to the Speaker of the House - Bronwyn Bishop - for "the safety of the people". 

Could it be that since the crime bosses 'own' Vic Pol it seems they are getting away with murder?

From a new 'credible witness' to a police 'blunder' drug lords and killers (are deliberately?) let lose to go about their (criminal) business., with FULL SUPPORT of Victoria Police.

What may seem as a plausible scenario to the lay person from off the street, is actually a calculated move orchestrated by police to let their 'criminal' off.

Make no mistake about it, Victoria Police are NOT working for 'you' and definitely are not your 'friend', but rather an oppressive 'force' that is responsible for extortion, coercion, violence, unlawful incarceration and as an example: fraud worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Victorian motorists.

The article below illustrates how Vic Pol let criminals walk free, all by deliberate design with the support of  law makers and politicians.

From The Age 26 July 2015

Case weakens against alleged crime boss Rocco Arico


The case against gangland boss Rocco Arico has been undermined by claims from Mr Arico's brother-in-law Jadran Delic.
The case against gangland boss Rocco Arico has been undermined by claims from Mr Arico's brother-in-law Jadran Delic. Photo: Pat Scala
 
One of Victoria's most important organised crime prosecutions against alleged gangland boss Rocco Arico has been undermined by the intervention of a prominent construction industry family with links to the underworld.

Mr Arico, who has been named as a major player in Melbourne's organised crime scene, has been charged with extortion, making threats-to-kill, blackmail, assault, drug and weapon possession, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

But The Sunday Age can reveal that the case has been weakened after Mr Arico's brother-in-law, Jadran Delic, has claimed to be the owner of the handgun, ammunition and drugs uncovered during a raid on Mr Arico's luxury Docklands apartment.

Jadran Delic is the son of Jadran "Adrian" Delic, a controversial construction industry figure and known associate and business partner of several prominent underworld figures, including members of the Mokbel crime family.
 
Adrian Delic, whose business interests include a major plastering company, safety equipment supplier and a funeral home, has close personal and business links with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
The CFMEU's alleged links to organised crime has been a major subject of inquiry for the ongoing Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

In a statement to police tendered to the Melbourne Magistrates Court, Mr Arico's brother-in-law has unexpectedly taken responsibility for the gun, ammunition and GHB – or liquid ecstasy – discovered in the locked storage compartment of a Vespa motorcycle parked in the garage of Mr Arico's Docklands apartment that was raided in March.

A forensics lab has found that two of the three DNA samples located on the gun belong to Mr Delic, who has also been identified as the likely owner of the motorbike.

The other DNA sample is not attributable to Mr Arico despite one key to the Vespa being located in Mr Arico's possession at the time of his arrest and another found in his apartment, according to court documents.

"(Evidence about the ownership of the Vespa), the preliminary DNA testing results with respect to the firearm and the admission by Mr Delic of the ownership of the firearm, lead me to the conclusion that it is highly likely that the firearm did in fact belong to Mr Delic," Magistrate Jelena Popovic said in her written decision for Mr Arico's bail hearing in May.

Victoria Police charged Mr Arico in early March following an investigation into claims he threatened and assaulted an associate – known as Witness A – after they were allegedly ripped off in a drug deal that went bad in 2010.

It is alleged that Mr Arico forced Witness A to work as a drug courier as partial repayment of the $350,000 owed for the stolen kilogram of cocaine. When Witness A failed to make his repayments on time, he was allegedly threatened and his home firebombed and car vandalised.

Witness A was also allegedly ordered to kill the drug thief, a demand he refused.

A detective from the Purana anti-gangland taskforce has testified that $24,000 found on Mr Arico at the time of his arrest was believed to be the proceeds of this extortion attempt – a claim that is now also facing a serious challenge.

Ms Popovic has described as "compelling" a statement tendered by one of Mr Arico's associates, William Mitris, that the $24,000 was actually from a cash loan he made to Mr Arico.

In light of this new evidence and concerns about the health of Mr Arico's wife, Ms Popovic released Mr Arico from custody on a $300,000 surety in May.

The Sunday Age can also reveal that authorities are struggling in their bid to freeze nearly $10 million in assets linked to Mr Arico that Purana alleges are the proceeds of crime.

Despite stating that gambling is his primary source of income, Mr Arico is linked to properties in Brighton, Moonee Ponds and Mornington Peninsula, as well as a popular Lygon Street cafe.

A luxury home owned by Mr Arico's 30-year-old wife is next door to a property linked to her father, Jadran "Adrian" Delic, and is currently undergoing a major renovation.

But the Director of Public Prosecutions' asset confiscation unit has so far only obtained a restraining order over Mr Arico's $1.8 million holiday home.

This move has also been challenged by Adrian Delic, who has filed documents claiming he holds a financial a stake in the property stemming from a previously undeclared loan made to Mr Arico nearly three years ago.

Mr Delic has admitted in the past to concealing assets in the names of others in a bid to avoid paying out employees injured on his work sites, according to court documents.

The other properties of interest to authorities have either been sold or are held in the names of associates and family members, land title records show.

A confidential report by the Australian Crime Commission has identified Mr Arico as one of the top ten organised crime figures in Victoria.

He is also suspected of helping to orchestrate the prison murder of Carl Williams after it was revealed the drug kingpin was co-operating with Purana's investigation into Melbourne's gangland war and allegations of police corruption.

Real estate agents' tricks exposed

When it comes to buying property, cool furniture and non-essentials like this uber-cool l
When it comes to buying property, cool furniture and non-essentials like this uber-cool library can ruin your chances of making a rational decision. Source: Supplied
 
BUYING your dream home is a process that’s bound to stir up strong emotions. 

Endless Saturdays spent at auctions — and the frustration of watching someone else seal the deal on what looks like your ideal abode — can take their toll.

But the worst trap a homebuyer can fall into is letting their feelings take over the transaction, an experience that’s all too common, especially in Sydney’s hyped-up property market.

Whether it’s high ceilings and polished floorboards, a luxurious second bathroom, a wine cellar or a French provincial kitchen that captures your heart, keep in mind that the fundamentals of a property’s value may have nothing to do with these trimmings. Nor do the designer furnishings installed by interior decorators, whose bread and butter is extracting more money from you.

A Commonwealth Bank survey of Australian buyers in 2013 found many admitted to being influenced by emotional characteristics of the property up for sale — and 44 per cent paid more for a property simply because they “really liked it”.

With properties selling as much as 10 per cent over the price guide the norm, it’s hard to know when to walk away, especially once buyers get caught up in the theatre of an auction.

The ever-present FOMO (fear of missing out) can push a house hunter over the edge and into dangerous overspend territory.

Keeping emotions in check when an auction is under way is easier said than done.
Keeping emotions in check when an auction is under way is easier said than done. Source: News Corp Australia
 
Property expert Peter Boehm, author of The Great Australian Dream, said first home buyers were particularly vulnerable to being led by their hearts.

And the number one tip he has for them is to “check your emotions at the door”.

“Buying a property is an emotional experience, because it’s probably the biggest investment you’ll make in your whole life,” Mr Boehm told news.com.au

“It’s going to be with you for some time, so it’s got to feel right. But the problem with that is that something that might feel right, might be out of your capacity to buy.”

He said many first home buyers “start looking at properties they shouldn’t, and then they get discouraged.”
They might show up at a few auctions and be quickly outbid, or have an offer on their dream property rejected, then become disheartened by the whole process.

“Unfortunately, the reality in today’s world is that you’ve got to be pragmatic,” Mr Boehm said.

The best approach, he said, was to understand your buying power, set your budget, and only look at suburbs where the median selling price is within it.

And once you are at the auction, “never bid with your heart”.

“You could end up being a slave to your mortgage and your first home could be a trap, it could be like a prison,” Mr Boehm warned.

Keep in mind that a sophisticated auctioneer will be working to draw you in, get your confidence, and generate competition among bidders.

“It’s their job to engage with you and talk about all the good points of the property.”

In your dreams: you may one day be swinging from the Venetian glass chandeliers of this $
In your dreams: you may one day be swinging from the Venetian glass chandeliers of this $6 million Mt Eliza mansion, but if you’re a first-time buyer, it’s unlikely to be yours soon. Source: Supplied
 
Psychologist Sarah Godfrey said emotions were an inevitable part of making big purchases, but you could minimise their impact by being aware of how they affect you.

“All our decisions are emotional, no matter what,” Ms Godfrey said.

“Studies should that we can’t actually make a decision unless we can get a sense of how we feel about the options.”

It’s just how we’re wired, she said.

And skewed decision-making often reared its head in distinct ways at auctions, where Ms Godfrey said there was four personality types to watch out for — in yourself and others.

1. The competitor: “This is the person who is in it to win. It doesn’t matter if they want the house or not, they just don’t want you to have it. They get caught up in ego and pride, because you are bidding against them.”

2. The dreamer: “The buyer who walks into a house and is off in fantasy land — women are particularly bad at this. They fall in love with a person’s lifestyle or status and are mesmerised by a clean and beautifully-decorated house.”

3. The adolescent: “Wants it now and doesn’t want to think about the long-term implications, driven by impulse and immediate gratification. Not realistic about price or essential characteristics of the property.”

4. The narcissist: “This is the person who has the real estate agent tearing their hair out. They believe they should get the house at a better price than anyone else and will not back down, they are grandiose and will fight to the last $1000.

Ms Godfrey said that while we’ve all got a bit of these archetypes in us, watch out for them or you might make a decision you will regret.

If you’re standing next to someone who appears to be “bidding without thinking” in a bid to get one up on you, “step back and think. Why is this person bidding this way? Is this becoming a battle?”

Don’t be swayed by the art and wine collection — it doesn’t come with the house.
Don’t be swayed by the art and wine collection — it doesn’t come with the house. Source: News Corp Australia
 
Sydney buyer’s agent Marcus Gould knows how easy it is to make the wrong decision in the property market.

“We take the approach that if you’re buying a property as your primary residence, you should see it as an investment,” he said.

“That’s what having an arms length buyers agent on your side is good for; it gives you that advantage.”

While it’s his job to remove stress from the process by taking over the search, Mr Gould has some tips for those who want to go it alone — starting with “do your research”.

“You’ve got to understand the suburb you’re buying in,” he said.

“Which streets are selling for a higher price, and why? Some streets are better than others; do your due diligence.”

This means looking past the shiny floorboards and tasteful furnishings which the agent has carefully ensured will capture the eye.

“The beautiful furniture and styling, it’s all there to make you want to buy. You’ve got to see past that and look at the quality of the structure,” he said.

“It’s important to look at the floor plan, and check to see if they’re common in the area. If not, you might have trouble selling it because it’s not as suitable,” Mr Gould said.

And it might sound obvious, but take a fine-tooth comb to all the relevant inspection reports.
“I know people who get the building and pest reports and they don’t even read them,” he said.

What kind of bidder are you? Know your personality type and be aware of your emotions, saWhat kind of bidder are you? Know your personality type and be aware of your emotions, says psychologist Sarah Godfrey. Source: News Corp Australia
 
A good buyer’s agent will take down all the attributes of a potential purchase and put them in a spreadsheet for you, comparing them in detail with similar properties that have sold in the area.

“We look at the comparable sells — not the ones the seller’s agent puts in front of you, because sometimes they are no directly comparable,” Mr Gould said.

When it comes to bidding at auction, he said, “we’re always there first.”

“See how many people register, so you know the level of competition. Not all registered bidders will actually bid, but it’s good to keep an eye on what’s going on.”

Then, he said, look for signs of weakness in your competitors. Mum-and-dad buyers could be spotted a mile away, and were notoriously emotional bidders.

“When they start to bid in smaller increments, it’s a sign that they’re coming to the end of their budget. So if they start bidding in increments of $5000 or $10,000, we continue bidding at $20,000.”

Finally, patience is key: it takes most buyers up to six months to secure a property that is right for them.

news.com.au 25 Jul 2015

A 'trick' can be deceptive conduct, false advertising, misrepresentation of the actual product or a variety of other false or misleading information given in order to obtain a purchase.

In Australia, it is illegal under various Acts to 'trick' people, but not many are aware or may even wish to pursue compensation as a result of a 'fraudulent' act carried out by dodgy real estate agents.

Australia the 'lucky country' (for 'tricksters').

Windows Phone 10 preview



Having a read on the internet from various sources about Windows Phone 10, it could be said that there are not enough hands on reviews on the new up and coming operating system to show the user what’s in stall for them.

With this in mind we put the feelers out to get an actual account of the operating system in question.



This is what was obtained:



To start off with the basics, Windows Phone 10 (Insider Preview) comes installed with some apps or rather shortcut to apps that lead to the actual application being downloaded from the Windows Phone Apps store which include: Facebook, OneNote, Skype, Voice Recorder and (MSN’s) Weather apps.

Upon first glance


  • The void distance between the titles is decreased making the actual tiles bigger utilising the entire screen of the phone.


  • The pulldown notifications menu not only contains 4 customisable toggle options, but also carries a function where a plethora of 16 (4 x 4) options are available, including a nice touch called Flashlight.


  • Microsoft has introduced an app or program (in the old school terminology), called File Explorer, a first on its Windows Phone platform, even though it was a standard function of an earlier incarnation of a mobile Windows platform called Windows Mobile (2003 for Pocket PC).


  • The Alarms menu option from WP8 is replaced by Alarms & Clock which also includes great features like a  World Clock, timer and stop watch. 


  • Unlike Apple’s iOS platform, Windows Phone 10 (at least in the Technical Preview), STILL does not contain a native print function (the likes of AirPrint), where one can print pdf files from one’s phone.


  • The built in Battery app, when pinned to the Start screen does not contain the percentage level of the battery as it did in the previous incarnation of version 8.1.


  • There is an app called Film & TV which may contain the films you buy and rent in the Store, which is totally useless for Aussies who are apparently the world's largest pirates?

  • Out with the old called Internet Explorer and in with something called Microsoft Edge, where it’s “the brand new browser for doing”, whatever that means.


Security, Security, Security

With security / privacy being a hot topic of debate in the political and social media world, Microsoft has responded with options allowing the user more control over which applications have access to which resource e.g.:
Location, Camera, Microphone, Motion, Speech, Account Info, Contacts, Calendar, Messaging, Background Apps, Advertising ID, Other devices, 
which is a huge bonus to the user which make them feel that their information is more secure, despite that Microsoft may have built in a few backdoors for the US intelligence agencies to access each user's device, as is the case with iOS smart phones and other devices.

There are no doubt many other features/improvements that have been noticed about WP10 that do not make it into this review, not because they do not count nor that they are not welcome, but rather the limiting factor being  the post size on this blog.


Apart from minor issues arising from the test version of WP10 like some WiFi networks not connecting properly, an occasional unsuccessful loading of HERE Drive+, Start screen titles correctly matching to device, apps taking longer to load, a slower camera app, which one would expect to be ironed out once the full release is ready for distribution, the operating system itself is an overall welcomed improvement.

One important improvement to note is the battery management of the operating system. On the same device with the same suite of applications, overnight battery level could fall as much as up to 30% under Windows Phone 8.1, whereas a 5-10% drop in battery level overnight is a huge improvement.

From an Application Developer / Tester’s point of view much more information could be brought to the attention of Microsoft, but that would be regarded as ‘consulting’ and would require a ‘fee’ to be paid for such a service.