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Smartcard faces two-year delayArticle from: AAPMarch 25, 2008 12:44pmMELBOURNE'S embattled smartcard public transport ticketing system has hit another stumbling block with the Victorian Government revealing it may not be complete for another two years.Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the Myki ticketing system for trams, trains and buses would be rolled out next year but may not be fully operational until 2010."Yes, it's got some delays to do with the software, that's not unusual," she said."We're expecting that it will be rolled out next year and fully in place, hopefully, by the end of next year, early 2010."That is across all modes and it will be rolled out slowly so that people get used to the new ticketing system as well."The system will cost about $1 billion, including $494 million in start-up expenses, plus operating costs.Ms Kosky said Myki would be trialled on buses in Geelong in the first half of this year and progressively rolled out across the transport network.V/line country services would be fitted last, after trams and metropolitan trains, she said.Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said Myki was a fiasco."This ticketing system's been a dud from the start, it's a ticketing system which has been flawed in the tender process, the Government's been trying to conceal information, it's overdue ... it's massively over budget and no one can point to any benefits."
Ticketing boss axed for Myki woesRick Wallace | April 02, 2008THE contract of Victoria's highest-paid public servant has been terminated at the height of the debacle over the introduction of the $1 billion smartcard system for Melbourne's public transport system.Tcard and MykiNSW residents know what it's like to have a failed smartcard transportation systemTransport Ticketing Authority boss Viv Miners has left his $500,000-a-year job on the eve of a scheduled grilling before a parliamentary committee into the crisis-plagued Myki ticketing system.Mr Miners was supposed to oversee the delivery of the ticketing system for trains, trams and buses but will leave the job without success - years late on the timetable, well over the budget and with questions over his shareholding in a company linked to the successful bidders.His contract was "terminated by mutual consent", the authority announced yesterday following a board meeting, although it would not confirm if this meant he was sacked.Mr Miners's departure came just a day before he was due to face the parliament's public accounts and estimates committee over the bungled project.The TTA said last night Mr Miners would still attend the hearing and would continue to be available to provide technical advice to the project.The $500 million system was supposed to be up and running, but is now expected to be delayed until 2010 and the cost has blown out by $200 million.Transport Minister Lynne Kosky last week admitted Myki was three years behind schedule.Mr Miners attracted criticism late last year when an audit revealed he had a stake in the company Headstrong, which was a subcontractor to the winning bidder, and once served as its vice-president.Myki's future remains in doubt. Premier John Brumby, believed to be furious over the delays, pledged to stick with the consortium "for the moment".The ticketing system contract was won in May 2005 by US company Keane's Kamco consortium with a design that is supposed to allow commuters to use one electronic card to travel on trams, buses and trains and have the correct fare deducted automatically.Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said Mr Miners owed the state an explanation over his departure."He's been Victoria's highest-paid public servant and he's been on the public payroll for a number of years," Mr Mulder said. "Given the perilous state of the Myki project with cost blowouts and delays, I think the public is entitled to an explanation."My grave concern is that this project's taking water at a rate of knots. It's sinking. When you look at what happened in Sydney, whereby you've got the contractor suing the Government, the Government suing the contractor, they've all walked away from the project - it does make you very, very concerned about the project here in Melbourne."The ticketing authority said Mr Miner would not be forced to pay back his bonuses.As part of an apparent restructure of the TTA, a new chief operating officer for the project was named. Chairman Michael Pryles said Howard Woodall "brings to the TTA a wealth of public transport and card services experience, as well as critical skills required for the project's next phase"."Mr Woodall's immediate priorities are to focus on budget and program delivery to ensure the complex public transport ticketing system is successfully delivered," Mr Pryles said.A replacement chief executive has not been announced.Rick Wallace is The Australian's Victorian political reporter
Myki payment withheldArticle from: Herald SunJohn FergusonApril 15, 2008 12:00amWRITTEN evidence has emerged of how the Transport Ticketing Authority has withheld lucrative payments to the consortium charged with delivering the troubled $500 million public transport smartcard.And the TTA revealed yesterday it had stopped all service payments to the Kamco consortium since last April.Freedom of Information documents show the TTA refused to pay $1.1 million to Kamco because it had not delivered according to the payment schedule.The documents, released by shadow transport spokesman Terry Mulder, detail how the Government punished the consortium.They show how former TTA chief executive Viv Miners and staff were debating in May last year whether or not to pay Kamco for work.TTA emails show that senior staff discussed stopping rewarding Kamco via special service payments.The emails suggest Mr Miners -- once the state's highest-paid public servant -- had backed Kamco being paid in April on the condition that a so-called corrective action plan was put in place.When alerted to this, one of Mr Miners' staff said: "I still have my doubts that a CAP (corrective action plan) is enough to justify a discretionary payment."The TTA spokeswoman said no service payment was made after that point. "That was a normal discussion going on internally as to whether the TTA should restart service payments," she said.The TTA had suspended the service payments and the emails reflected the internal debate about whether they should be restored.Mr Mulder said there were questions that needed to be answered about the way the contract was being handled."Why have service payments been stopped?" he asked. "What is the full amount owing to Kamco?"What does this mean for the overall project?"He called for a "full and frank" explanation of when the smartcard project would be finished.Myki, if implemented, will be a bank-like travel debit card that can receive funds over the internet or at tram stops.The system was meant to have been launched more than a year ago and might not go online until late next year.Premier John Brumby is known to be furious with the way the contract has been handled.The departure of Mr Miners and two other senior executives has added to speculation that the Government has drawn a line in the sand on the entire smartcard operation.
Smartcard trials on track: Vic premier13:00 AEST Tue May 13 2008A crucial trial of Victoria's troubled new transport ticketing system has been showing good results, Premier John Brumby said.The $1 billion smartcard system, known as myki (pronounced my key), is running three years behind schedule and Mr Brumby recently warned that if the trials did not meet expectations, the government could reconsider the project."My understanding is that the trial in Geelong has been progressing well, my understanding is that the benchmarks have been achieved for that, so that's a positive step forward," Mr Brumby told reporters."There's been no formal assessment of it at this stage but I did have a discussion with the transport minister about this yesterday and she informs me that to date the trial has gone very well and the KPIs (key performance indicators) have been achieved."The system was due to begin in March last year but will not start operating until 2010 at the earliest.It is designed to replace the state's existing single or multi-use Metcard tickets with a rechargeable plastic card.The government has blamed software glitches for the delay.Former Transport Ticketing Authority chief Viv Miners, who was in charge of delivering the project, left his $540,000-a-year job last month by "mutual consent".
Myki ticket system delayed in $216m hitArticle from: AAPWiresMay 26, 2008 07:51amMELBOURNE'S already overdue myki smartcard ticketing system may not see the light of day until 2012 and may cost taxpayers another $216 million.The Victorian government has extended its contract with the operator of the existing Metcard system, OneLink, until 2012, Fairfax reported today.Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky has previously said the $500 million myki ticketing system - originally due in 2007 - would be ready in 2010.But extending the OneLink deal avoided problems with a new system in 2010, an election year, opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said.The $216 million OneLink deal was a "hell of an expensive life raft for a sinking ship", he said."It is an election-winning ploy that comes at huge cost to taxpayers."The myki system has been plagued with computer faults.But a spokesman for Ms Kosky said trials of the myki system on buses in Geelong had gone well."The minister is awaiting a full brief on the test results and myki status but has been told good progress has been made," he said."Some of the software problems have been ironed out but myki will not be introduced until the government is satisfied it is working as it should."The Transport Ticketing Authority's Adrian Darwent denied the contract extension meant taxpayers would be paying more.
Lynne Kosky backs bungled myki system as costs soarArticle from: Herald SunNick HigginbottomMay 27, 2008 12:00amTHE Brumby Government is backing its bungled myki public transport ticketing system despite a new $350 million budget blowout.Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky yesterday revealed the system would now cost taxpayers a whopping $850 million to install plus $500 million to operate over 10 years.Despite the ballooning costs, Ms Kosky said the system was still expected to be running by early 2010.She said she was incredibly frustrated with the mistake-riddled system, which is almost three years behind schedule, but said tests for the troubled smartcard were going well.The staunch backing of the system comes after months of thinly veiled threats from Premier John Brumby that the Government would "have to look very closely at this arrangement" if the latest tests were unsuccessful.Ms Kosky said the new $350 million was part of a wary approach to successfully implement the smartcard and build commuter confidence."We are taking a more cautious approach, making sure that both the technology is working properly and also that customers are feeling very confident with the system," she said."There is, as a result, an additional cost to the system of around $350 million . . . "But I believe the new ticketing system, when it's in place by early 2010, will be a terrific system."The extra money will pay for:A 12-MONTH extension of the current OneLink ticketing system, which will see concurrent ticketing systems in place for 18 months.AN increase in each card's capacity from one to four kilobytes.THE upgrade of ticket machines to accept notes as well as coins and to provide disability access.Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen questioned the system's value."We've got crowded trams and trains, infrequent bus services, we've got suburbs crying out for rail extensions," he said."There's no shortage of places where you could spend that money and get much better value for public transport users."Public transport users would say the priority is not with the ticketing system, it's with providing basic quality of service."Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the myki project had been a disaster from the start."This ticketing system goes from debacle to debacle," he said. "Now we're in a situation where taxpayers are going to be fronting huge amounts of money to prop up a ticketing service in advance of another ticketing service the community isn't comfortable with in the first place."Ms Kosky said the new capacity of the smartcard would allow it to be used later for other services if required.
$400k myki ad not so smartMELBOURNE might not have a smartcard ticket system, but it does have an advertising campaign for it.A $400,000 taxpayer-funded ad campaign for the troubled myki smartcard has been sitting on the shelf for almost a year because of delays introducing the new technology.Brisbane-based advertising agency Clemenger Harvey Edge last year completed 10 commercials for use this year as the ticket system was introduced.But the campaign, titled The Blue Line, remains under wraps.The ad campaign is just the latest embarrassment for the Victorian Government in the myki fiasco.The system was due to start in 2007 at a cost of $300 million.But last month, Government contracts emerged that showed the card might not be fully operational until 2012 - although Transport Minister Lynne Kosky has promised a 2010 starting date.The cost has now blown out to $850 million, plus another $550 million to run it for the first decade.The debacle has already claimed one high-profile scalp, with Transport Ticketing Authority boss Vivian Miners removed in April.Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said she expected the ads to be used when the myki project was finally launched.The ads were made by Brisbane-based production company Zoom Film & Television. Zoom spent $115,000 on hotels, location scouts, air fares and production expenses.Neither Zoom nor Clemenger Harvey Edge would comment yesterday. However, a Clemenger source told advertising industry magazine B&T last month that the Transport Ticketing Authority had been "terrible to work for", and that "the technology problems (with myki) have meant we have shot a lot of ads that have never been screened".A spokesman for the authority, Adrian Darwent, said the ads would eventually be used, and $400,000 was standard for an ad campaign. "These commercials will go a long way to educating people on how to use the new system," he said. The authority has refused to release stills or details of the advertisements.Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the ads could be a waste of taxpayers' money because they might never screen. "They put the cart before the horse. Even before the card works, they are running around making ads to market it," Mr Mulder said.The Government said it would soon release details of a myki trial in Geelong, which it said had proved successful.
No transports of delight in myki's soaring costDate: June 18 2008EditorialThe public transport ticketing system fiasco keeps rolling along as the rail network itself creaks under the weight of demand.SOME time in the future ? it may be three years, it may be longer ? patrons of public transport in Victoria will hold in their hands a card about the size of a credit card. They will use it to travel on train, tram and bus. They may also, if they wish, buy the groceries with it. When they hold this card and consider how convenient it is, will they also pause and think: "This little card has cost myself and my fellow taxpayers in the region of $1 billion, but it was worth the wait."The card is myki. Its existence, when it becomes a fact of commuter life, will be testament not to smooth, efficient process, but to the very opposite. It is difficult to summon an example to better serve the label of "monumental blunder" in the implementation of a new service than in the myki fiasco. Its carriage from its first announcement to the world in 2003 by the then transport minister Peter Batchelor to the present under the guardianship of Lynne Kosky has been a journey littered with budget blow-outs, rescheduling on the time of arrival and blood on the tracks. Still, the State Government keeps faith in it, and asks the public to do the same. The Government can hardly do otherwise; it has invested too much time and money to pull the pin on the sorry affair.The latest instalment, published in The Age yesterday, revealed the Government's optimism in myki, if nothing else. A $400,000 advertising campaign for the card has been sitting on the shelf for almost 12 months. The advertising agency Clemenger Harvey Edge, which is based in Brisbane, completed 10 commercials last year to be used with the card's introduction. The campaign was called The Blue Line. Given the delays plaguing myki, it is as well the ads are being held back. It would be too much to ask of people to recall what they have been shown, three or four years hence.In May, government contracts for the card showed that its introduction may not occur until 2012. Ms Kosky, however, maintains it will be operational in 2010. Its starting date was supposed to be last year. It was supposed to cost $300 million. That was when it was first proposed. Since then the cost has ballooned to $850 million, with an estimated annual running cost of $55 million. State cabinet was forced last month to dip into the coffers and pull out an extra $350 million for the project. Ms Kosky, while being "incredibly frustrated" at delays, indicated that the Government had underestimated how complex the new system would be to introduce. One month before that, the person given the responsibility for myki, the chief of the Transport Ticketing Authority, Vivian Miners, suddenly departed. It is believed he had lost the confidence of Premier John Brumby and Ms Kosky.The Government, however, is taking no chances when it comes to not losing the confidence of the public and not underestimating the backlash from commuters; it is keeping the Metcard ticketing system running ? at a cost of more than $200 million ? in tandem for 18 months when myki is introduced. This is no coincidence. A state election is due in 2010. The Government would be aware, and if it is not it should be, of market research done in 2005 and 2006 that revealed commuters would much rather have a better public transport system, than a new ticketing system.It would seem, to this newspaper, an obvious point. Yet it is one that does not seem to carry sufficient momentum the nearer it approaches Spring Street. It is to be hoped that the mooted $20 billion action plan that Mr Brumby is set to unveil towards the end of this year is farsighted enough that it sufficiently anticipates and accommodates the public transport needs of a state, and a capital in particular, experiencing a boom in patronage. Ms Kosky acknowledged last month that Melbourne had experienced in two years a patronage growth that had not been expected until 2016. When this rise is factored in with Melbourne's surge in population, rising fuel costs, road congestion and the need to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, then the matter takes on the hue of a crisis.A year ago, The Age reported that the train system was stretched to its limit; 12 of 15 suburban lines exceeded passenger loads set by Connex, and patronage was at a 60-year high. On V/Line, patronage was at a 50-year high. It is true the Government has provided money for new trains, refurbishments and driver training and in the state budget allocated $278 million for rail infrastructure. However, it is also true myki is costing four times that last figure. Priorities have been derailed, and those feeling it most acutely are the commuters, squashed into carriages or waiting for a train that never arrives.
Victoria's Myki still a messRick Wallace | June 19, 2008NEW tests show Melbourne's bungled and increasingly expensive ticketing system is still not operating correctly, although authorities claim some progress has been made.But in a show of faith in the beleaguered myki system, Transport Minister Lynne Kosky visited the Transport Ticketing Authority yesterday for the release of the results of a small trial of the system in Geelong.The trial was conducted on five buses over three weeks in Geelong last month - using staff instead of real passengers - and TTA chief exective Gary Thwaites said it had a 90 per cent success rate. He blamed the 10 per cent failure rate on software problems.The release of the trial results today coincided with warnings from Melbourne's metropolitan train operator Connex that some lines have hit capacity.Myki is expected to be operating in 2010 but is already three years late and $300 million over budget, with taxpayers bearing the brunt of the cost overruns.
No fine for late delivery of smartcard06:26 AEST Wed Sep 3 2008The consortium that has failed to deliver the troubled myki public transport smartcard has been paid $20 million this year by the Victorian government, documents reveal.The massive payment comes despite the project being hundreds of millions of dollars over budget and the government being able to fine the consortium $50,000 a day for late delivery of the myki smartcards.Documents released to the Victorian Opposition under freedom of information show the Transport Ticketing Authority paid Kamco $20 million in February this year, Fairfax newspapers reported.Kamco signed a $494 million contract with the Victorian government in 2005, including big fines for late delivery of the myki system.Myki is now three years behind schedule and should be completed by 2010.It will now cost $844 million to install and $550 million to run for a decade.But the Transport Ticketing Authority sped up payments to Kamco rather than fine it for the delays, opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said."How many sparkies or plumbers would receive a payment for work in advance if they were three years behind in a major contract?" he said.Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the payment followed the completion of a project milestone."The payment was because works set out had been achieved," a spokesman for Ms Kosky said."Unlike the opposition, the Brumby government invests in public transport."
Myki finally gets its ticket to ride * Clay Lucas * October 2, 2008VICTORIA'S controversial $1.4 billion myki ticket system will make its long-overdue debut on Geelong buses in December.Commuters will get the first chance to deliver a verdict on the much-maligned smartcard system on December 8.But traditional paper tickets will still be available on the buses as myki is finally introduced, over schedule and over budget.After the Geelong launch, myki will be introduced in Ballarat, Bendigo and Seymour in May.No firm date has been set for myki's launch in Melbourne, but June 2009 is the tentative schedule.However, the Melbourne introduction will come too late for 145 buses that have been wired for myki but will be off the road by the time the smartcard is introduced.Myki was originally scheduled to be in place by March last year and 2100 Melbourne buses have been wired for it, but the 145 ageing buses are about to be decommissioned.Those buses will have their myki wiring removed. The removal and re-installation of the wiring in a new bus costs $360.State Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the need to swap the wiring in new buses was emblematic of the project, which is $350 million over budget."A lack of planning and waste has engulfed this entire project," Mr Mulder said. "How many buses does Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky believe will have their myki wiring ripped out before the card is working?"A spokesman for Ms Kosky yesterday directed queries on the $1.4 billion smartcard - which was budgeted at $300 million in 2003 by then transport minister Peter Batchelor - to the Government's Transport Ticketing Authority.The ticket system now will cost $850 million to create and install, and will cost another $550 million to run over 10 years.The Transport Ticketing Authority disputed the number of buses that would have wiring removed. Only six had been decommissioned so far, spokesman Adrian Darwent said.But sources close to the project said this was wrong and that 34 ageing buses had already had myki wiring removed.Another 21 will be decommissioned soon, and 70 more buses will have wiring removed before myki is fully introduced.
Myki running late again * Clay Lucas * November 25, 2008THE controversial myki smartcard has slipped behind schedule again, with the first public outing of the $1.4 billion smartcard next month to be reduced to a launch among selected "customers" only.The first public test of the ticket system, which is three years late and $350 million over budget, was due to begin in Geelong on December 8.But that launch date has slipped again, with the first public release now restricted to a small group of selected travellers, who each will be given a smartcard.The cards will be used on 24 Geelong buses, on the McHarry's and Benders lines.A Transport Ticketing Authority spokesman confirmed use of the myki ticket in Geelong would be restricted to selected customers, and that the public would not be able to buy a card."A small number of ? customers will be given myki cards to use for their everyday travel on selected Bellarine Peninsula routes," spokesman Adrian Darwent said.Myki is a smartcard that calculates the best fare for travellers and allows them to top up the card online.The Transport Ticketing Authority has said only that myki would start being rolled out in Melbourne some time next year.Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky has also declined to name a launch date for Melbourne.
Blind Freddy sees itBrendan DonohoeNovember 30, 2008 12:00amTHE Transport Ticketing Authority and its contractors have decided on a select and secret group to road test the myki "smart card" transport ticket system.The new system is the $1.4 billion time bomb ticking under John Brumby's Government.Only one member of the Public Transport Users' Association has been chosen to be in the group of 10 myki road testers in Geelong. That one person, who doesn't want to be named, happens to be blind.Let's call him Fred, or to be a bit flippant, Freddy. The TTA and its contractor, Kamco, should get full marks for choosing a vision-impaired commuter. After all, myki should be user-friendly to all, especially anyone with disabilities or impairments.However, the secrecy surrounding the use of Freddy and others as taxpayer test pilots deserves questioning and reflects, yet again, that the myki system is not winning public confidence, despite it draining the public purse.Before he was given his myki test ticket, Freddy was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. That reveals one key point: The TTA and Kamco don't want members of the public speaking publicly about tests, conducted in public, on a public transport ticket, using publicly-funded buses.Oh no. That has to be kept private.The last time Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky went near a myki machine it was a public relations disaster. The note receptor refused to accept a $20 note and the ticket machine fell off its perch.So spooked is the TTA about bad publicity, Freddy has been told he can't tell his mates what he is doing or what buses he travels on with the myki equipment. All they know is Freddy has a funny-looking ticket in his wallet and he won't say whether he is being paid to participate.The last series of tests in the Geelong area - using company staff - recorded a 90 per cent success rate for the troubled system. Given that the cards are supposed to store commuters' hard-earned money, that is not a success rate to write home about or one that inspires public confidence.Would you deposit money into a bank card that worked 90 per cent of the time and you had to swipe on and off when you went to the bank? For all we know, the system may be on the improve. Freddy and his test pilots colleagues may be experiencing a seamless system.But I doubt it. The limited feedback is more about advancing in small steps in what has become a painful marathon. The ticket system is three years overdue. Setup costs have blown out by $350 million to almost $850 million, enough to build a fair-sized children's hospital.The running costs of the system are earmarked as $550 million over 10 years, but the current Metcard system will have to run for an additional two years as a backup system in case myki fails.That must beg the question about whether the entire project should go the way of the New South Wales experience and be junked in the name of not throwing good money after bad.While the Government talks about spending billions of dollars on road and rail tunnels, the public is being kept in the dark on a massive project spending taxpayers' funds at a dazzling rate.Victorian taxpayers and commuters, including blind Freddy and nine other test pilots, deserve better.- BRENDAN Donohoe is state political reporter for Seven News.
Myki team wanted corporate makeover * Kate Lahey * December 31, 2008AS THE wait continues for Victoria's new $1.4 billion public transport ticket system, the people in charge of delivering it have been pondering: "Should we give ourselves a makeover?"The Transport Ticketing Authority has taken expert advice from identity management firm CATO Partners on how to reposition its corporate image, a report obtained by the Opposition shows.The electronic ticket system, myki, is three years behind schedule and its initial budget of $300 million is now $1.4 billion ? including $550 million in running costs over 10 years.The NTS (New Ticketing System) Progress Report, prepared by the authority in June 2007, includes a timeline for the authority's corporate brand evolution, showing that in 2008 it was to be renamed.But yesterday the authority distanced itself from the rebranding when asked about it. "There's no plan for any renaming and no plan for any corporate evolution, apart from getting the system up and running," spokeswoman Helen McInerney said.The report says CATO was consulted on the positioning of the authority and "that a renaming strategy would need to be considered following the delivery of myki"."CATO has identified a bridging strategy where TTA's corporate identity, including logo type and colours, could be evolved," the report says.Ms McInerney said CATO's $6000 monthly retainer was for work on the myki brand over two years and any advice on the brand would have been covered by that.No one at CATO was available to speak yesterday.The authority was established to deliver the ticket system, due to start in March 2007 but now expected to be rolled out by early 2010.Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the report showed bureaucrats were peddling furiously to reinvent the TTA to cover its poor record. He accused the authority and Transport Minister Lynne Kosky of concentrating on corporate image instead of delivery.
Myki smartcard work goes overseasArticle from: Herald SunNick HigginbottomJanuary 08, 2009 12:00amVICTORIAN jobs are being sent overseas under the Brumby Government's bungled $1.3 billion myki smartcard system.Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky's Transport Ticketing Authority is sending software development jobs to myki's "back office" in Hyderabad, India.Freedom of Information documents seen by the Herald Sun reveal the authority has visited the Indian site where myki contractor Kamco is developing and integrating the back office software.The Cabinet documents also showed details of a two-week delivery cycle from Hyderabad of work on previously reported defects.Such software defects have been the major cause of the smartcard's $350 million budget blowout and why it's running about three years late.Shadow transport minister Terry Mulder said Ms Kosky and Information and Communication Technology Minister John Lenders should explain why the jobs had been sent overseas."While Mr Lenders's Multimedia Victoria is trying to attract information and communication technology investments to Victoria, Ms Kosky's TTA is exporting software development jobs out the door," Mr Mulder said."Victoria's manufacturers, historically a major employer, are experiencing difficult times."It makes sense to support emerging industries such as the ICT sector, but the Brumby Government is sending the wrong message."Mr Mulder called on Ms Kosky to reveal how many myki software jobs were located overseas, and said the smartcard was "a mess".TTA spokesman Adrian Darwent said myki contractor Kamco was owned by Keane, which had proven experience in developing complex information technology projects."Part of the Keane global operation, including use of Keane's global skills and resources, was a feature in the award of the contract to Kamco," Mr Darwent said.Ms Kosky said in June last year that the system, initially due for delivery in 2007, would be rolled out gradually across the state and be completely delivered by 2010.The smartcard is operating on eight bus services in the Geelong area.
Bumpy birth of a troubled childSunday Herald SunJanuary 11, 2009BRENDAN DONOHOEGARY Thwaites knows more than most what it's like to be under pressure and to have to work your way through life.Growing up in Warrnambool in the 1970s, his father died when he was 14, leaving his mother to raise three children.At 15 he started work in a local shoe store and then experienced a range of jobs, including a few years at the Fletcher Jones factory and a Golden Circle cannery in Queensland.He even worked as a prison officer before gravitating towards public sector management and major project roles involving communications, such as the Intergraph emergency call system and the State Emergency Services.Now, at 47, Thwaites is sitting in the hot seat of the Victorian Government, overseeing the introduction of myki, the trouble-plagued smart card supposed to revolutionise public transport ticketing.Myki is now scheduled to start in early 2010 -- an election year -- and to say the Brumby Government is sweating on it being a success is an understatement.If the system is not up and running by then, the Opposition will have a field day at the Government's expense. Transport Minister Lynne Kosky must wish she had never heard of the funny-sounding system.But the reality is that, years behind schedule and way over original budget, myki is having a troubled birth, so much so that the Transport Ticketing Authority has proceeded with the softest of soft launches in Geelong and on Bellarine Peninsula, having sold only about 100 $5 myki tickets on seven bus routes over the past five weeks.Once the Geelong trial has finished, it will move to Ballarat, Bendigo, Latrobe Valley and Seymour, trying to iron out bugs that have slowed down the system.Sitting in his office at the Paris end of Collins St, Thwaites admits the original time frame from the introduction of myki was unrealistic and that a similar system overseas would have taken four years to set up.And he strongly believes introducing the system with one big-bang approach would not have worked. Those trialling the system are being urged to test the equipment to death -- to see how it tolerates the rough and tumble of public transport life.Buying a ready-made system off the shelf was not an option, Thwaites says, and points to the surge in the number of buses that have to be fitted: 5000, or double the original estimate.One major policy decision yet to be made involves whether to penalise passengers who don't ``scan off'' their ticket when they leave a tram, train or bus. If you scan on and off, the system will automatically give you the best available price. But if you fail to scan off, the computer doesn't know how far you travelled and how much to charge you.Minister Kosky will have to make the sensitive decision about fining passengers (by charging them the maximum trip cost) who mistakenly or deliberately leave a tram, train or bus and don't scan off their new-fangled ticket.Thwaites says he will recommend a commonsense approach to the Minister's office, but he knows the Government's decision will be crucial to the success (or otherwise) of the system.The myki boss returns to work tomorrow week after holidaying in his home town of Warrnambool, straight back into the hot seat and staring at his computer, which has the state-wide myki start date pencilled in for early 2010. Fingers crossed.
Myki on slow roll to publicArticle from: Herald SunGeraldine MitchellFebruary 24, 2009 12:00amTHE Brumby Government wants to roll out its bungled $1.3 billion myki smartcard ticketing system in stages to avoid a "big bang", Cabinet documents show.The Transport Ticketing Authority is planning to launch separate projects of the system next year -- such as "Metro Go Live" and "Victoria Go Live".It also suggested a "Geelong Go Live" launch as part of a progressive roll-out across the regional bus network."The purpose of this approach is to continue to progressively increase the ramp up of Go Live activities and to decrease the risk of a 'big bang' approach," one of the documents states.The documents, obtained under Freedom of Information, show the briefing was prepared in September 2007.Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said yesterday taxpayers had a right to know how much the roll-out would cost."The Transport Ticketing Authority is operating to a political time frame and agenda. Labor fears a public backlash if myki is rolled out all at once," he said.A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the ticketing system was already operating on several bus routes in Geelong."And it will be operating across the entire Geelong bus network in coming weeks," Stephen Moynihan said.
Myki to slow tramsArticle from: Herald SunGeraldine MitchellMarch 03, 2009 12:00amIF you thought your tram ride was already slow, it could be about to get slower.Testing of the new $1.3 billion smartcard ticketing system has found it takes passengers longer to get on and off trams than using the existing metcards.The results of the tests, released under Freedom of Information, show it takes an extra five seconds to tag on and off using the myki system.About 30 passengers were given varying scenarios, such as passengers blocking doors and students with bags, to test the new system in February 2007. The tests found swiping the new myki card took an average of 38 seconds compared with 33 seconds using a metcard.But the results were not definitive, with the researchers finding it may take longer."At 95 per cent confidence all we can say is without tagging: average is somewhere between 29 and 39 seconds, with tagging: average is somewhere between 33 and 43 seconds," the report says.Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the Government must reveal how much longer a peak and off-peak travel will take when the new system comes into effect next year."In nine of 11 tests, the requirement for passengers with myki passes to either 'tag on' or 'tag off' as they boarded or alighted meant that myki slowed loading and unloading," he said."If trams take a few seconds longer at stops, they will inevitably miss traffic lights."There will be a knock-on effect as other trams are forced to slow to a crawl."Myki is already three years late and at least $350 million over budget."But a spokesman for the Transport Ticketing Authority said the main purpose of the tests was to understand how customers would interact with new ticketing system devices on trams.
Geelong's public transport switches to myki smartcard systemArticle from: AAPAshley GardinerMarch 02, 2009 02:23pmGEELONG commuters have become the first in the state to completely switch to the new myki smartcard system.Every bus in the city and on the Bellarine Peninsula is now converted to myki after old fare equipment was removed over the weekend.Today marks a major milestone for the troubled system, about three months after it was first introduced in the city.Transport Ticketing Authority chief executive Gary Thwaites said a few minor glitches had been identified and fixed.?There have been no problems that have impacted on passengers,? Mr Thwaites said.Introduction of myki in Geelong has been slow and was initially only on two buses.?We would much prefer to be cautious and get it right,? Mr Thwaites said.Commuters have purchased 5100 ?starter packs?, which include reloadable-value cards.Bus drivers also sell short-term tickets on board.Mr Thwaites said older passengers had been the quickest to start using myki, which paralleled the Perth experience when smartcards were introduced there.Unlike Metcard, where a ticket needs to be validated once, myki users need to swipe their cards as they board and leave.Mr Thwaites said Geelong users had got used to this system.?No-one had complained bitterly that I?m aware of,? he said.Seymour will be the next city to convert to myki, and Melbourne commuters were scheduled to be using it later this year or early next year.The system, which has been dogged by cost and time blowouts, was supposed to be fully operational in Melbourne by 2007.
Myki debut a debacle for commuters and drivers * Clay Lucas * March 9, 2009COMMUTERS and bus drivers in Geelong say the first week of operation of Victoria's new myki smartcard has been riddled with problems.Geelong is piloting the new public transport ticket and the city's 167 buses started using myki last Monday.Passengers say trips have been made longer as a result.Buses are stopping for longer as passengers, under the new smartcard system, must touch on and touch off or be charged a higher fare.If a Geelong commuter forgets to touch off ? or the myki reader fails to register their smartcard, as some claim is happening ? they are charged $3.20 for a daily ticket instead of a $2 two-hour fare.North Geelong resident Joe Cicero said on that one bus trip he had tried to touch off to get the cheapest fare, but the myki reader had failed to register him leaving.Since then, Mr Cicero has monitored other passengers touching off. "Only 50 per cent realise that, because the machine isn't doing what it is supposed to, they are not scanning off."One bus driver said the myki computer system was regularly crashing, forcing them to reboot ? slowing down buses further. "It is really hurting our times," the driver said.The Brumby Government's Transport Ticketing Authority is rolling out myki. Chief executive Gary Thwaites rejected claims myki's first week had not gone well."We have got a way to go in terms of teaching people how to use the system. We are doing everything we can," he said.
Travel smartcard's bad startArticle from: Herald SunAshley GardinerMarch 11, 2009 12:00amA REPORT into the first week of the $1.3 billion public transport smartcard system has given it the thumbs-down.The Public Transport Users Association surveyed Geelong bus passengers and found they were being overcharged and misinformed.But the Transport Ticketing Authority (TTA) defended the myki system's performance, and said it had received only three complaints since January.Users association president Daniel Bowen said Geelong bus commuters reported a range of problems, including:DEDUCTING fares when the passenger had already been charged.MORE time spent picking up and dropping off passengers.LITTLE or no information about fares at bus stops or on vehicles.SINGLE-USE tickets that do not display cost or expiry time.Mr Bowen said call centre staff unable to answer customer questions had used the excuse: "I'm not in Geelong"."It (myki) slows down bus services, leaves some passengers short-changed and gives single-use ticket-holders no information about the validity of their ticket," Mr Bowen said."Maybe some of these problems can be ironed out, but myki is clearly not off to a good start."The flaws in the system are already evident and will cause yet more chaos on Melbourne's already suffering public transport system."Mr Bowen has called for the introduction of myki to be halted until the problems are addressed.TTA chief executive Gary Thwaites said there had been no complaints of overcharging, adding: "If people have got a problem, they should contact the call centre."On-time running is about the same. There has been very few differences."Since last week, when it was introduced across Geelong, three myki devices out of 449 had required servicing, Mr Thwaites said.He said he would investigate the provision of customer information.
Myki to be rolled out across MelbourneArticle from: Herald SunApril 28, 2009 12:00amTHE Brumby Government's bungled $1.35 billion myki ticketing system is finally being rolled out across Melbourne nearly two years later than first planned.After cost blowouts and extensions for its delivery time, the first of the smartcard system's devices were installed on some trams across the metropolitan area yesterday.But despite the progress strap-hangers won't be able to use the new system until late this year.The Brumby Government is preparing to launch a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign to coincide with the myki launch.The Transport Ticketing Authority chief executive Gary Thwaites said nearly 1000 driver consoles and 5500 myki readers would be installed across the network of trams as part of the roll-out.He said it would continue on the city's train stations and buses once the installation had begun on trams.
New song to promote Brumby Government's myki smartcardArticle from: Sunday Herald SunPeter RolfeMay 03, 2009 12:00amTHE Brumby Government has spent $13,000 on a jingle to promote the troubled $1.35 billion myki smartcard system.The Transport Ticketing Authority paid a South Yarra marketing firm the fee to create a song to be used on a DVD spruiking the Government's new ticketing system.The total cost of the DVD, titled Takes Me Places, was $80,000.With myki more than three years late and more than $350 million over budget, Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said Road To Nowhere would be a more suitable song."It's amazing the State Government can spend so much money advertising their failures," he said."Taking you places? In reality all taxpayers know they are just being taken for a ride."The jingle and DVD will be played at the Government's myki Discovery Centre at Southern Cross Station and on a promotional bus it is sending around Victoria to advertise the smartcard.TTA spokesman Adrian Derwent said it would also be used at industry events where myki was being marketed."The music forms part of a presentation that explains what myki is and how people can use it," Mr Derwent said.He defended the spending and said the tune would be used until late next year."It is not unusual to pay a commercial fee to use music and this one is considered modest compared to industry standards," he said.Myki, which requires passengers to swipe their card at the start and end of a journey, has been rolled out in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Seymour.Some Melbourne trams were fitted with the technology last week, but the system is not expected to operate in the city until late this year.Mr Mulder said regional passengers using myki had complained computer screens often froze and passengers had been allowed to travel on buses for free when their cards had failed to read."This project should never have got off the ground when we don't have enough trains and the ones we do have are too old, have faulty brakes and are constantly running late," he said.
Myki double dipping alarmArticle from: Herald SunAshley GardinerMay 04, 2009 12:00amMAJOR flaws in the $1.3 billion myki transport fare system could see thousands of commuters ripped off.About 100 commuters have already been overcharged by myki, which is operating in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Seymour.The State Opposition has called for a full audit of every myki account amid fears the real number could be much higher.Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the latest revelations were a disaster for the new system."People will not accept this level of incompetence," Mr Mulder said yesterday.The Transport Ticketing Authority has confirmed some passengers are being overcharged if they accidentally swipe their card twice.Late services can also force passengers to pay for a second fare.Mr Mulder said these examples were fundamentals flaws in the smartcard system."This is very basic and the system should be able to detect it," Mr Mulder said. "If this cannot be rectified, then this is a disaster."Mr Mulder said many more commuters could be overcharged once the system was introduced in Melbourne later this year. "There will be thousands if they can't rectify this."The flaw has emerged because commuters must validate twice, once as they board and once as they leave.But some commuters have swiped their card twice as they are leaving, which leads to the overcharging.Mr Mulder said each individual myki account should be audited as there could be many passengers unaware they have been ripped off.Passengers were also being overcharged if their service ran late, Mr Mulder said.If a bus that was scheduled to arrive before the expiry of a fare is late, the passenger must pay for a second fare."The system is unable to deal with that," Mr Mulder said.TTA media relations manager Adrian Darwent said about 100 customers had complained of overcharging and had been reimbursed."In the early stages of learning to use the system some customers have touched off and accidentally touched on again," Mr Darwent said."As customers get used to the system, instances of this should not occur."Mr Darwent said 20,000 cards had been issued across the cities where myki operates.
Myki ticketing system chaos loomsArticle from: Herald SunAshley GardinerJuly 16, 2009 12:00amTHE introduction of the myki transport smartcard system could be thrown into chaos with dumped contractor ERG warning of major disruption to commuters while the existing system is phased out.In a blistering attack on Kamco and the Transport Ticketing Authority, ERG executive director James Carroll said a seamless transition from Metcard to myki could be in doubt.Mr Carroll said Kamco had not paid its bills and ERG would now take it to court, seeking $30 million.The Herald Sun revealed yesterday that Kamco had terminated its contract with ERG, which was to install and maintain myki equipment.Mr Carroll said ERG believed the termination was unlawful and was done so Kamco could avoid paying.The contract termination was designed to deflect continued criticism of Kamco's own poor performance on the myki contract in total, he said."The TTA is now happy to risk major disruption (that) further threatens the timely delivery of a project with an already woeful track record for meeting its scheduled commitments," Mr Carroll said."The commuters of Melbourne deserve better from the extraordinary amount of money the Government is spending on replacement of the fully functional and high-performing Metcard system," he said.Mr Carroll said ERG was considering its position against the TTA since it had ultimate authority over whether Kamco could terminate the contract."It appears the TTA avoided its obligation and allowed Kamco to terminate the contract without any reference to us and the prevailing facts," he said.TTA spokeswoman Rebekah Miles said the organisation had fully complied with its obligations under its contract with Kamco."The TTA was satisfied that this change in Kamco subcontractor would not affect the delivery of myki," Ms Miles said.Myki would begin operating in Melbourne later this year, she said.Kamco communications director John Fergusson said the group was aware of ERG's intention to sue but had not been served with documents.Mr Fergusson said Kamco paid its sub-contractors in a timely manner for work completed."In line with this practice, we have paid ERG for work done," Mr Fergusson said."Kamco strongly rejects that the termination has been unlawful and we will vigorously defend our position."
Fee of $10 for myki cardsClay LucasAugust 10, 2009MYKI ticketing system.PASSENGERS using the new myki smartcard in regional Victoria were overcharged 10,800 times in the ticket system's first four months of operation.And as the launch of the $1.3 billion ticket system nears in Melbourne, it is also now clear that travellers will be expected to pay a $10 fee for the microchipped card, on top of normal ticketing charges.This $10 myki card will expire after four years, the State Government's Transport Ticketing Authority confirmed on Friday.A spokesman for the authority said a $10 fee for a myki card was justified. ''Unlike paper tickets, a myki (card) will last for many years, and within just a few weeks of using myki customers recoup the cost of the card when compared to buying short-term tickets,'' Adrian Darwent said.A number of introductory offers would also occur when the myki card was launched in Melbourne, making the card temporarily cheaper, he said.Mr Darwent said the teething problems in the first months of the regional program - which saw buses slowed down dramatically and 10,800 passengers overcharged - had been solved. Almost 37,000 myki cards have been sold in regional Victoria.Myki is Victoria's new public transport ticket, to be used across Melbourne by the end of this year. The smartcard can be topped up automatically or online, and requires users to ''touch'' on and off, or be charged a higher fare.The smartcard system began operation in March on buses in Geelong, and is now also on buses in Ballarat, Bendigo, the Latrobe Valley, Warragul and Seymour.Myki equipment is now also installed in 80 of Melbourne's 211 railway stations, on 279 of the city's 495 trams and on 636 of 1600 metropolitan buses.Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said news of passengers being overcharged using myki came after the Government claimed ''a few early bugs in the system'' had been fixed.''These 'bugs' are now breeding like rabbits,'' he said. ''Lynne Kosky's myki is gouging money from unsuspecting rural bus users.''Mr Mulder demanded a halt to the proposed rollout of myki cards until there was proof that users would not be overcharged.
Vandals attack myki machines 500 times in four monthsArticle from: Herald SunAugust 21, 2009 12:00amVANDALS have attacked myki smartcard machines 500 times.The equipment has been progressively installed across Melbourne in the past four months.Machines at unstaffed stations have suffered the most damage.Transport Ticketing Authority spokesman Adrian Darwent said of the 500 reports, 74 cases were of severe, malicious damage.Mr Darwent also said Metcard machines were attacked 1500 times in three months."However, less than 1 per cent of myki machines have been seriously damaged," he said, adding taxpayers would not foot the repair bill."The myki operator, Kamco, is cleaning and replacing any equipment as quickly as possible," Mr Darwent said.Myki is operating in regional Victoria and is expected to be in use in Melbourne this year. Its equipment has been installed on 270 trams, 80 buses and at 90 train stations.
Myki team are splurging thousands of dollars on taxpayer-funded cab faresArticle from: Herald SunMatt JohnstonSeptember 07, 2009 12:00amBUREAUCRATS overseeing Victoria's bungled new public transport ticketing system are splurging thousands of dollars on taxpayer-funded cab fares.Staff at the Transport Ticketing Authority, which is managing the roll-out of the over-budget and over-schedule $1.3 billion myki system, have been catching dozens of taxis within the CBD.Some Cabcharge slips show short trips were made from "home" back to "home" and one receipt revealed a staff member spent $10.70 catching a taxi from the TTA's Collins St office to the "train/bus".The TTA said it was trying to reduce its taxi spend, but some taxi trips were unavoidable "where public transport options are limited".Freedom of Information documents obtained by the Herald Sun show the most expensive taxi trip in 2007-08 cost $150 for a ride to the airport, while the smallest fare was $6.50.For that year, bureaucrats spent almost $15,000 on taxis.Opposition public transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the use of taxpayers' dollars on short taxi fares during the day was typical of an organisation in charge of a new ticketing system way over-budget."It's absolute rank hypocrisy. Taxpayers already have to fork out another $350 million for the myki system," Mr Mulder said."Lynne Kosky's transport bureaucrats are choosing taxis and shunning public transport. It's hardly an endorsement of the transport system."The myki system, which will automatically choose which fare is best for a public transport customer, is scheduled to be rolled out in Melbourne by the end of the year. It has been plagued by glitches during trials in regional Victoria.During development, myki set-up costs have blown out from $500 million to $850 million.Transport Ticketing Authority spokesman Jake Hatton said the TTA had cut spending on taxis by 16 per cent since the 2007-08 financial year."We are continuing to work hard on reducing the amount we use taxis," Mr Hatton said.
Myki to offer cheaper off-peak fares in Melbourne * Ashley Gardiner * From: Herald Sun * September 10, 2009 10:32AMPUBLIC Transport Minister Lynne Kosky has hosed down expectations of cheaper off-peak fares when myki is launched."The Government's priority is to get myki introduced in Melbourne before the end of the year and while it gives the flexibility for new ticket types, the focus remains on myki's introduction,? Ms Kosky's spokesman, Stephen Moynihan, said.The Minister was forced to respond following comments by Department of Transport secretary Jim Betts this morning, who said the introduction of the myki smartcard could see discounted off-peak fares introduced.Mr Betts said free pre-7am train travel had been successful and would be retained.?Maybe that?s a precursor for what we might be able to do more generally,? Mr Betts said.Myki technology would allow for different fare prices to be charged at different times of the day.Lower prices could be offered in a bid to encourage people to use public transport during less busy times.Mr Betts said demand for travel was its heaviest from 7.30am to 9am.Myki will be operating in Melbourne later this year.Mr Betts, speaking at a Melbourne Business Network breakfast this morning, said adjusting fares was an alternative to expensive projects.?When you?re seeing really big patronage growth, it?s easy to say the answer is the government has to write a huge cheque for a lot of capital investment. It?s tempting to do that,? he said.?But, in reality, you have to explore different ways of managing that demand without necessarily requiring the government to spend millions of dollars.?One of the options we came up with ? was to look at the fact peak hour demand on our rail system is very concentrated basically between 7.30am and 9am.?Anything that we can do to make travel earlier advantages the services which existed prior to the peak period might help.?The myki system will allow changes to be made to the fare structure more easily, Mr Betts said.?It will give us immensely greater flexibility to be more creative about how we charge people for public transport usage and difference incentives to travel in the off-peak for instance. That?s something we will look at.?Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said many people had to travel in peak hour because off-peak services were inadequate.?Discounts can certainly help, but it's critical that off-peak services be boosted,? Mr Bowen said.?With long waiting times and few express trains outside rush hour, it's not surprising that so many people endure the daily crush.?People know if they catch a train after 7pm they'll have to wait up to half an hour, so they cram in during peak hour instead.?Running trams, trains and buses frequently all day and into the evening would get more people moving their trips to outside peak hour.?
Vandals hit myki systemStephen DrillUP to 60 per cent of the new myki transport ticket machines have been subjected to vandalism or graffiti months before the system begins operation.A Sunday Herald Sun survey of the new ticket machines found smashed, broken and fire-bombed units across the network.That comes as a flaw in the troubled myki ticketing system means passengers will be charged more than $2 extra per trip if the machines malfunction.The myki system, $350 million over budget and three years late, will charge passengers the maximum price for a ticket if they do not scan off at the end of their trip.But passengers cannot scan off if card readers are damaged.The State Government admitted the problem and will set up a call centre to take complaints from overcharged passengers.Passengers' accounts will then be changed to show the correct fares.An inspection of the Pakenham, Werribee and Upfield train lines on Friday showed six in every 10 card readers has been vandalised, though the system is yet to start working.The system is expected to begin on December 1, but the Government is yet to release a date.Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder has slammed the fault, saying it is another example of the bungling that has dogged the myki system."If you are going to have an electronic ticketing system it needs to be foolproof and damage proof - this is neither. Thousands of commuters are going to be ripped off," he said.Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said it was unreasonable to expect passengers to have to make a call in order to be charged the correct fare.Stephen Moynihan, a spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky confirmed myki would charge a higher fare if a passenger did not scan off, even if they couldn't due to damaged machines."So if that happens to someone they can call the call centre and get the extra charge taken off and credited to their account," he said.A spokesman for myki, Jake Hatton, said vandalism was a problem across the public transport network."Unlike the old Metcard system, myki software will be able to tell when myki machines are down and this will allow the operator to get them fixed quickly," he said.
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Warren is not a big fan of soup so I tend to make what we refer to as "Soup You Can Walk On!" It is what Rachel Ray would refer to as stoup. Thicker than soup and thinner that stew, Here is my version of Chicken & Rice Stoup.
Before I could make the stoup I doctored canned chicken broth because I ran out of my homemade chicken stock. You could just use the canned broth but since we need cooked chicken for the recipe it is well worth the extra 30 minutes if you have the time.
1 1/2 quarts canned chicken broth
1 lb chicken parts (I used thighs because they were on sale)
1 small carrot, cut into chunks
1 clove, garlic, peeled
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, partially cover the pot and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.
Strain stock. Discard vegetables. When cook enough to handle, skin and de-bone the chicken.Set aside for use in the soup.
Chicken Soup You Can Walk On!
6 cups chicken stock or broth
1/2 cup white rice
2 carrots, peeled and cut into small pieces
1 celery stalk, minced
Chicken from stock above or 2 cups cooked or raw boneless skinless chicken, chopped
Bring the stock to a boil. Add carrots, celery and rice and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Add the chicken. Cook for 10 minutes if raw or 5 minutes if cooked.
Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sharing Cultures Dinner
April 11, 6-8pm
Pork with Czech Dumplings
Traditional Czech cuisine.
Sweet and Sour Cabbage
Common part of Czech, German and Austrian
Cuisine. Saute onion in butter until golden brown.
Add the sugar, vinegar, pepper and salt.
A strudel is a type of layered pastry with a filling that is usually sweet. It became popular in the 18th century throughout the Habsburg Empire.
Ask every Czech what he miss from home and they'll likely list a few items: football, Pillsner Urquell beer and kolaches pastry.


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Please note that there has been a change of venue for the Full Council Budget Meeting to be held on Wednesday 13th December at 7pm.
It will now take place in - ST MICHAELS CHURCH HALL.
Address: St Michaels Road, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1RA
Members of the public are very welcome & encouraged to attend as normal.


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Here's a chance to have your say about what we are doing right, what needs improving and input suggestions.
If you don't tell us then how are you going to help us deliver the best Summer Season in 2015/2016.
Please wait a moment and the survey will appear below. If it doesn't, please click here.


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We're Not as Dumb as You Think We Are…11
June 19, 2011 by Rhi
There's a very amusing chap on twitter, who goes by the name of Old Holborn, who I follow not out of support for what he says, but more out of need to have a good old laugh at what passes for political comment these days.
He's not really a rabid right-winger. In fact, such is the flimsiness of his arguments, I'm not entirely sure that he's for real. And he does say some funny things in a tongue in cheek fashion, which make me howl with laughter. And so he's on my follow list, and I occasionally pop onto his blog to see what soundbites he's setting forth to the masses on the issues of the day.
The trouble with what he says, is that it's very similar to the rest of the right wingers on twitter – all bombastic outrage, and supposition presented as fact. A bit like Daily Mail headlines. And the main trouble is, he writes tweets with sweeping ideals, but which can easily be picked apart in all of three seconds. For example, this appeared in my feed the other night:
Now, I decided I wasn't going to get involved in the right or wrong of his argument. He's against tax and is a great believer in every man for himself. But I did take a little delight in pointing out to him a glaring error in his rhetoric. His argument hinges on fairness for "The Taxpayer". But public sector workers pay tax as well, at the same rate as non public sector workers. So he's contradicting himself. They can't be working longer and paying more tax whilst also retiring early. I did try to point this out, but I don't think he understood.
The I read this blog post, which appeared not long after the comments made by Philip Davies regarding the minimum wage. The tone of the post is one which I have noticed creeping into right-wing commentators in recent times. It was also present in Mr Davies comments in the House of Commons. It's one which is meant to make people believe in the inherent goodness of what the speaker is saying – one which gives the impression that the idea which is being discussed is actually of benefit to the poor people. It's not because of a need to protect their own interests, oh no. It's to give poor people the same opportunities to better themselves. Philip Davies was full of concern for people with learning difficulties, being oppressed by the silly liberal lefties. Similarly, Old Holborn wants those people without work to take back control of their destiny. He argues that it's so terribly unfair for them to have to work for a rate which the Labour government set, and not one which they themselves are happy to work for. And so the minimum wage is holding everyone back, and stifling individuals. Unemployment would drop if the minimum wage were abolished, and if we can't see it, we're daft.
Hmmm. Well, it's a nice ruse, I'll give him that. It's ALMOST like he thinks he and his ilk care about unemployed people. However, what it actually amounts to is a cynical attempt to get something for nothing, which is not unusual for those who would like to see laissez-faire return to the table.
Unemployment rates are high because there are more jobs than there are people. The recession has forced cutbacks, and companies are working out how few people they can get away with having on their staff. Abolishing the minimum wage would not change that. For big business, no minimum wage would allow them to pay a pittance, and take away the chance for people to earn a living wage for a job which often is worth more than the minimum wage you would currently receive for it. Abolishing the minimum wage would only reduce unemployment if companies were willing to take on two people instead of one, for the same rate (i.e. pay each on £3 per hour, as opposed to one person £5.93). Which is completely unlikely. Companies, when faced with the choice of more employees or more profits, are going to take the profits every time.
So, we've got just as many unemployed people, just as few jobs for them to apply for… and now a bartering market where the prospective employee, according to our learned friend's reckoning, is in control of how much his/her labour is worth. A-hem. When it's an employer's market, it's quite obviously going to be they who are in control of how much they pay, and it's up to the employee to name the right price. So what we're looking at is a reverse gazumping scheme, where people are falling over themselves to work for the lowest amount of money, in order to secure a job. Which, of course, is a situation which perfectly suits right-wing sensibilities. Young people, and those at the lower end of society, kept at the bottom, with no wage guarantees, and no job security, whilst business owners and "old skool" Tories sit at the top like King Fucking Solomon saying "We're not sure we can afford to renew your contract on your current rate. Any chance you could drop to £3 an hour, squire?"
The thing which I find most sinister about this new generation of Tories, is they ease to which they've adapted to the old "Call Me Dave!" act. Policies and ideas designed to maximise profit for those sitting pretty on other people's money, are dismantled and repackaged in a snazzy new form, with added hand wringing and buzz words, to make it sound as those they're so keen to help the poor people better themselves. I've mentioned in another post how, on the very day George Osbourne spoke about needing entrepreneurs to step up and help the economy, I discovered that the Government funding which I could have access to start my own business, had been frozen by the new Government.
Old Holborn's harmless enough, a gentle amusement with a neat line in soundbites, but his ideas ultimately lack substance. But the trouble is he's not alone… and these ideas which are marketed as being helpful to the poorest in society, but which are actually there to hold them further down in the mire of unemployment, are dangerous. Hopefully, the great British public are too smart to fall f or it…
11 thoughts on "We're Not as Dumb as You Think We Are…"
What exactly IS Government funding? You do know the Govt has NO money and has to borrow from future generations, right?
If my precious "job security" is bought using the money my children have yet to earn, I'll won't have to make sure they piss on my grave when I'm dead.
"But public sector workers pay tax as well, at the same rate as non public sector workers. So he's contradicting himself. They can't be working longer and paying more tax whilst also retiring early. I did try to point this out, but I don't think he understood."
Where do you think the money comes from to pay the public sector workers in the first place? I am afraid it is you who does not understand the simple economics.
Fuck – I started reading that blog post – but by Christ it was boring. I had to give up….
Isn't it just lovely to have some nice political comment going on out there and I think its just wonderful to have some people who are prepared to comment on it:
"Fuck – I started reading that blog post – but by Christ it was boring. I had to give up…."
If you aren't prepared to join the debate in any particular way, why comment at all. Surely you might consider it a waste of your bandwidth. If so, just get lost because if you aren't prepared to contribute then you shouldn't bother. This is an important point about the state of the jobs market in our economy and requires proper consideration and not some internet yobbos deciding that it isn't worth their time and telling us thus.


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How to Book & Cancel Yoga Classes
Our complete timetable of yoga classes is below. Please also note, we use the online site Punchpass to manage all of class schedules. you can no longer book into classes without an account with Punchpass.
We have weekly classes for all levels, from beginner through to intermediate and advanced, It is recommended that you book for any yoga class you do, at any level. This is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended because it will make sure that classes are a comfortable size. (See also how to cancel below, as a courtesy to others).
Please only book classes up to seven days in advance of any particular class, especially BEGINNER classes. This gives everyone an ongoing fair go at booking classes.
It also overcomes the problem when people forget to cancel a class they can't attend. We find classes are often booked out, but the "no shows" means there are spaces available. In the meantime, other students have missed out on using those spaces.
For this reason, we are likely to cancel classes that are booked more than seven days in advance. Where this happens, please just re-book within the seven day time period.
If you have previously booked a class, we have created an account on your behalf, using the the email address you provided. Please reset the password to gain access.
- If you haven't booked a class before, click the 'create account' button and open your own account (remember your password)
- If you are a Direct Debit or a 10 Pass holder, click 'create account' button and open your own account (remember your password), and track your history
- If you have an existing account, click 'sign-in'
- Once you have created your account or signed in, you'll arrive at the button called class schedule – list
- Reserve your class:
- Beginners - select the beginners yoga class you want to book, fill in your details and reserve your spot
- Transition to Intermediate, Intermediate, Experienced, Gentle Yoga, Individual Needs, Relax and Renew - select the class you want to book fill in your details and Reserve your spot.
- You can also use the button 'class schedule – calendar' to look at classes by the month
- When looking at classes by the month use the tab at the top, to page through the months.
To see the full schedule of ALL classes, click here.
Have you completed your Medical Information / Health Form?
As a student of Flametree Yoga Studio, you are required to provide us with your Medical History. If you are new to Flametree Yoga or have not previously completed the form, would you please click this link to complete it.
Not able to attend a class?
No problem…but please cancel the reservation... because others can then attend.
There are 2 ways to cancel your reservation…
1... log into your Punchpass account below. In here you will see a list of your upcoming reservations. To cancel, simply select the 'cancel' option to the right of your class
2... Every time you make a reservation, you will receive an email confirmation. On this confirmation is a link to 'click here to cancel this reservation'.


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Modern mobile applications often collect, use and distribute personal data of users without their knowledge. Why is this happening?
When installing software, people inattentively read user agreements and do not check privacy settings. To restore user's control over personal information, scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a machine learning-based application Privacy Assistant.
Privacy Assistant analyzes already installed applications, and also checks data transfer settings each time user downloads and installs new programs. After that, the smart assistant gives recommendations which settings to change so that not to provide personal data to third parties. From time to time, Privacy Assistant sends a notification about what data the user is transmitting at the moment and whether settings are to be checked.
It is important to note that the application of American scientists can be launched only on gadgets with open operating systems.
According to PwC statistics, 91% of US adults do not know which data is provided to third parties, since they do not control this process. The head of the Privacy Assistant project, professor Norman Sadeh, hopes that soon the developed application will become a ubiquitous tool for protecting privacy.


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The first meeting was attended by over forty retirees of all ranks. From that initial group, an organizing committee was formed, and Tom Mullins was appointed its chairman. The committe met weekly at Tom's house, utilizing his den for a base of operations. Every meeting was attended by no fewer than ten members, and the committee met until the very first Board of Officers was installed in January 1987. Later that year, on December 1, the Association was officially incorporated in New York State.
In the beginning, meetings were held at either the Haverstraw Elks or the Rockland Lake Manor, located on Rt. 9W in Congers (now Town & Country), which is where the first Board of Officers installation ceremony was held. Afterwards, meetings were held in a variety of locations in Rockland, Orange and Westchester counties. Some months, three meetings were held, one in each county! A decision was then made to hold meetings in Rockland exclusively because the cost of moving the meeting from one county to another proved prohibitive, and also because the majority of members lived in Rockland. Early on, charter member John Hayes introduced the Association to the William DeBevoise Jr. American Legion Post#1682 in New City, and thanks to the efforts of charter member Jim Ferris, the Association has called the Post home since the early 1990's.
Today, the Hudson Valley 10-13 Association membership is over 900 members strong and is drawn from all ranks of the NYPD. It is now the second largest of all the NYPD 10-13 Associations in the United States and looks forward to its continued growth and solidarity.
A Not-for-Profit organization of retired & active New York City Police Officers of all ranks, committed to the Health & Welfare needs of all its members, their spouses and their children"


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50-50 Grooming Raffle helps keep race fee down
North American Vasa
Fri, Feb 1, 2008 - By Vasa
We have been blessed this year with some incredible ski conditions. The TART groomers have done a great job this year and in years past to provide us with great ski opportunities. Grooming is the single biggest expense involved in staging the Vasa races.
The Vasa board of directors has worked hard to keep entry fees down in an effort to make our races attractive to as broad a spectrum of skiers as possible. Our annual 50-50 Vasa Grooming Raffle plays a big part in keeping race fees down while keeping Vasa in the black. All proceeds will be used to offset race grooming costs as well as to fund future trail improvement projects.
As many of you know, we resurfaced over six miles of trails last fall which improved the ski/bike/hike surfaces tremendously, especially through Jack Pine. We have also done considerable cleanup on the long-neglected 50km loop. We have very aggressive plans to improve the trail surfaces on the 10k, 25k and 50k loops this coming year and the raffle proceeds will help pay for gas, grass seed, signage, etc.
We are counting on your support. Thank you in advance for your purchase of a 50-50 Vasa Grooming Raffle ticket. The drawing will occur at the awards party at the Hagerty Center following the races on Saturday, February 9. The tickets are $50 each and features the following prizes:
The grand prize is 50% of all raffle proceeds.
Second prize is a weekend getaway at Timber Ridge Resort
Third prize is a pass for ten rounds of golf at Elmbrook Golf Course.
The drawing will take place at 7:30 pm. You need not be present to win, though it's more fun if you can attend the awards party. You can obtain your ticket by contacting Deb Westphal (
) or Judy Vajda at (
) or any other Vasa board member.
Please help us, not just with your purchase, but by promoting this raffle among your ski friends.


text: This weeks President Rose was given to two equally deserving individuals. Ian Peddie received the rose for all of his hard work and dedication that he put into the IDD Committee. Brian Quinn also received this weeks rose for his work along with Ian's in the Partners In Caring project. Between the two of them and their committee they managed to sell all 1200 Hockey tickets. Congrats to both of you!


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Carry-out order
In placing my order for dinner, I start,
"Well, this is to go," while proceeding to chart
My items. But clerk at the counter will throw:
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"Will this be for here?" No, 'cause this is to go.
Resuming, I finish, to minimize fuss;
Except what I'm asked is: "You're dining with us?"
I'm shaking my head no — "to go" is quite clear.
She reads back my order: "And this is for here?"
Surrender! I'll eat this right here, I concede;
It's hardly my preference, but I will accede.
Then waiting while — oh! how this order has dragged;
They bring me my food …which is boxed up and bagged!
Don Munday


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You should install the latest version of our Firefox extension (v0.3.2) to make wishing really easy!
- Click the "Allow" button near the top of this window. Your download should start automatically.
- After installing the extension, restart Firefox.
- You will then have a icon at the bottom of the window that you can click when you see an item you want to wish for (on any site)!
Sadie's Big Dreams
|Savannah Sunburst F-Style mandolin with case, book, DVD & 3 picks.
|Grant Wish


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Over time, your pool and it's deck and paving can show its age: leaks, cracks, fading finishes, even outdated styling. And you begin to wonder what happened to all of the fun around the pool.
Tropic Pools Houston is Houston's expert in quality pool construction, and our pool remodeling can revitalize your backyard swimming pool and make it the backyard oasis it was before.
All phases of work are owner supervised, giving you peace of mind. Tropic Pools can remodel or rebuild your pool to make it even better than it was before:
- New pool shape, style, and depth
- Pool deck repairs and remodeling
- Concrete swimming pool repair
- Pool resurfacing
- New tile and pool paving
- New filtration and cleaning systems


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Virtual reality is gradually becoming a… reality. So what's next? A 3D printed hologram pyramid for your smartphone? Short answer: YES.
Gianluca Pugliese is a maker based in Italy. His specialty is working with light and related 3D printing projects but, he tells 3ders, "for some reason I never share those creations online".
He made an exception when posting plans for his 3D printed hologram pyramid to Thingiverse, and the excitement has been spreading like wildfire. The contraption projects 3D holographic images and videos on your smartphone without any modification or 3D goggles.
It began when Pugliese found instructions for a transparent pyramid that creates 3D effects in a dark room. He took this idea a step further. By 3D printing the pyramid, the same effect could be realized on a standard touchscreen found on any smartphone or tablet.
The big problem? Printing something perfectly transparent. Without real transparency, a holographic effect can't be fully achieved. The image ends up fuzzy, distorted and distracting.
After numerous tweaks and tests, he perfected the recipe. An ABS print finished with a Smooth-on product. To try it yourself, check out the instructions on Thingiverse.
Once the pyramid is printed, it's ready to use. No special apps or downloads required. Hologram-ready videos can easily be found on YouTube (usually with stirring inspirational background music).
Pugliese is already excited about the possibilities of the little Holo Pyramid.
"The next step would be create an openscad file in order to make the pyramid parametric and able to be adapted to bigger screens. Then you can create an app which reproduces kaleidoscopic videos displayed as holograms."
While that may take some work, it's only a matter of time until an avid printer posts their own full-size hologram pyramid tutorial for the rest of the world to play with. Come on, internet! You're our only hope for readily-available holograms! (Via: 3ders.org)
License: The text of "3D Printed Hologram Pyramid: No Glasses Required" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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$54.99 - Sold Out
Ready to roll from car to stroller! Convert your stroller into a travel system. This car seat adapter will attach a Peg Perego Primo Viaggio car seat to your Mountain Buggy, creating a travel system for your baby.
Car seat clip 3 is compatible with the following stroller models:
urban jungle
*Please note that this adapter fits pre-2010 urban or urban elite stroller models but has not been safety tested. This adapter will NOT work with the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 model. Unsure which car seat adapter you need? See Mountain Buggy's matrix here.
© 2019 Momease Baby Boutique Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Buy Property
Rent Property
Close to New Spinneys, 4 BR With Study & Kitchen Appliances - THE VILLA for Rent in The Villa, Dubai Land
AED 24 Per sq.ft 160,000 AED
- Reference No:LR1118
- Community Dubai Land
- Bedrooms 4
- Unit Type Cordoba
- Size 6,749 sq.ft
- Property Villa
- Sub-Community The Villa
- Bathrooms 5
- Built 2013
Permit # 23291
The Villa Project, Dubai Land
- 6749 sq ft
- 4 bedrooms+Maids Room+ Study
- Private Upgraded Garden
- Kitchen Appliances
- Big Dinning area.
Master bedroom with dressing area, en-suite bathroom and terrace, It has a large, private garden, making this a perfect choice for a family home. There is a spacious living area and a private dining area connected with the kitchen.
Centro Type C villas are extremely spacious, free standing 4 bedroom villas, with marble floors & plenty of built-in storage. Designed in a Spanish theme, there are 4 spacious bedrooms upstairs: Large Master bedroom with a en-suite, second bedroom with en-suite , third and fourth bedrooms shared bathroom.
In addition there is large Family room at the top of the stairs perfect for a TV area/study. On the ground floor, off the entrance hallway, study is very large, perfect for a children's play room, there is a generous size, bright living/dining room at the back of the property, with doors leading to your private ready garden. The high quality kitchen with dining area is next to a large laundry room & store room. There is an unusually large maids room & en-suite, guest bathroom & another store room at the base of the staircase.
Features Include:
1.Gated Community
2.Round the clock security
3.Lush, landscaped streets-cape
5.Children's Nursery
7.Community Centre, Supermarket & Restaurants planned.
- About ANQA -
The Word ANQA means Phoenix. This Bird is known for its Mystical Healing Powers and strength, also known as the Fire Bird.
We take Dubai Real Estate as ANQA Phoenix "Re-born from Ashes" "Mystical Powers" Healing the country's economy".
Call Us for More Info
Mobile: +971 561795505
Map & Directions
- 5 BR Individual Villa With...AED 150,000


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Océ TDS 700
Did you know you can trade in your printer for an upgraded model?
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Drivers and Manuals
Download Océ TDS 700 drivers, manuals, software, firmware, safety data sheets and other customer support files.
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