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Jamie Oliver sells vintage Fiat with unique plate number

Jamie Oliver is putting up his 1955 Fiat 1100 pick-up for auction on Saturday September 28. The celebrity chef, who is an avid car enthusiast, has owned the vehicle since 2012, and it is still in its original and unrestored condition, with just 43,000 km on the clock. The ute was imported from Italy in 1973, and the celebrity chef is the third UK owner of the vintage vehicle. Not only does the ute still have its original steel wheels - with yellow highlights - it has a unique plate number that spells out '677 Yum'. The rear of the car has been embellished by the celebrity chef, with a sticker of a white hearts and the initials J.O which stands for both his name and his wife Juliette, known as Jools. The Fiat 1100 is painted green and has brown vinyl seats, with the spare wheel stowed behind them. It has a four-speed manual gearbox that connects the four-cylinder petrol engine to a live axle rear-end. Classic Car Auctions, the auctioneers selling the car, has assessed the vehicles condition and given it an overall grade of 80 out of 135, meaning that the car is still in 'good condition'. The ute is expected to sell for between £6000 and £8000 ($AU11,700 to $AU15,600). Images: Classic Car Auctions

Money & Banking

Heritage Aussie number plate to fetch over a million

A South Australian number plate is expected to sell at auction for over a million dollars. The sought-after No. 8 Plate was first issued in 1906 to Arthur Ernest Ayers, the son of South Australian businessman and politician Sir Henry Ayers, the original owner of the Ayers House in Adelaide. The number plate became available for the first time in February this year, with the online auction going live late last month. Almost 1,700 bids have already been made, with the leading bid as of Monday morning at around $1.32 million with the auction closing at 7pm (local time). “It’s very rare and very special,” Historic Plates auctioneer, Stewart Kay, said. The last time the SA Government issued a single digit number plate was in 1985, when plate No. 7 was sold. “These plates are all about the paperwork, so having a set of number plates hanging in grandad’s shed might not necessary confer ownership.” He added that the plate would likely be sold to a prominent Adelaide businessman for around $1.3 to $1.5 million. This is a record price for a South Australian number plate, with the previous highest being for a SA No. 1 Plate commemorating the Adelaide Grand Prix, which fetched $593,000 in 2020. Kay added that the older the number plate and lower the number, the higher the return expected at auction. “Number plates are a very historic connection back to 120 years ago when they were first issued,” Kay said. “They’re sort of triple threat, they look fantastic on a car, they have a great return in terms of investment and they have a certain level of prestige to them.” Anyone can purchase the rights to a number plate, however the plates can only be affixed to a vehicle that is registered to the state it belongs in. In New South Wales, a No. 1 plate surpassed its $10 million estimate and was sold for $12.4 million in January. Earlier this year, Victoria’s "luckiest" number plate with the number 888-888 sold for an eye-watering $230,000 to an anonymous buyer after it was privately owned for the past 30 years. Image: 7News

Money & Banking

"Hilarious" number plate somehow slips past the censors

In a world where innovation knows no bounds, one Perth driver has taken the art of personalised license plates to a whole new level, leaving us all wondering: is it plain rude, or just plain hilariously? The car in question, a humble Kia Sportage, seems innocent enough at first glance. But wait, what’s that? A custom plate that reads 37OHSSV? Seems harmless, right? Wrong. It turns out, if you dare to flip the plate upside down, you'll unveil a cheeky message that spells out none other than "a**hole" in bold, red letters. Yes, you read that correctly. Someone actually managed to sneak that past the scrutinizsng eyes of state transport officials. Unsurprisingly, the discovery of this plate sent the internet into a frenzy, with the post garnering over 2000 shares and nearly 1000 comments. And guess what? Almost everyone loved it! “This is so clever and hilarious,” exclaimed one amused user, echoing the sentiments of many. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen,” chimed in another, probably still laughing. “That is brilliant, I love it,” added a third, undoubtedly already planning their own witty plate. But amid the laughter and applause, there’s a serious question lingering: How did this driver manage to bypass the stringent regulations that typically govern custom plates? In the last financial year alone, nearly 1000 applications for personalised plates were rejected in Western Australia due to being deemed too offensive for the road. Among the rejected gems were GEN3CID, SAUC3D, and RAMP4GE. Clearly, the censors were not amused. And let’s not forget the demographics at play here. According to the stats, a whopping 71 percent of custom plate holders are men, with the average age hovering around 41. So, it seems that mid-life crisis isn’t just limited to buying flashy sports cars; it extends to personalised license plates as well. So whether you find this particular plate downright rude or ingeniously innovative, one thing’s for sure: it's got people talking. And in a world where monotony often reigns supreme, a little dose of humour and creativity on the road might just be what we need. So, hats off to you, mysterious Perth driver. You may be a bit of an a$$hole – but you’re our kind of a$$hole. Image: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Australia’s most expensive number plate breaks record

Australia’s most rare licence plate has broken records in the days before it is set to be auctioned off, with the single-digit number plate expected to sell for over $10 million. Heritage number plates are in high demand amongst collectors, with the first plates coming out of each state only branded with a single number. The first ever NSW heritage plate, which was first made for the state's first police commissioner, is being auctioned off for the first time in over a century, with the plate simply reading “1” attracting nation-wide attention. The plate was last year <a href="https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDetails.aspx?smode=0&aid=47033&lid=4617672&_ga=2.27604924.1274045232.1705885942-1957527670.1705885942">listed</a> on Lloyds Auctions, where bidding soared to over $10 million within the first 72 hours on the site. Lloyds described the plates as “the holy grail must-have for any blue-chip passion investor or the no. 1 gift for that person who has ‘everything’.” Lloyds Auctions chief operations officer Lee Hames called the plate a “unicorn” and said the public auction listing was “truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”. “Generally, rare heritage plates such as these are usually passed down through generations within families,” Hames said. After being made for the police commissioner in 1910, the number 1 plate was then handed over to Sir Fredrick Stewart, the founding chairman of Australian National Airways, who held onto the plates until his death. The extraordinary value comes from the rarity of the plates, with only nine single digit number plates available in each state and territory. “These are as rare as hens’ teeth and the perfect addition to any rare classic or prestige vehicle,” Mr Hames continued. “In fact, you could potentially say that the number plate will be most likely worth MORE than the car you put it on.” At its current bidding levels, NSW 1 will be the most expensive number plate ever to sell in Australia. Image credits: Lloyds Auctions

Money & Banking

Bring a plate! What to take to Christmas lunch that looks impressive (but won’t break the bank)

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-ball-14718">Lauren Ball</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-kirkegaard-1401256">Amy Kirkegaard</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/breanna-lepre-1401257">Breanna Lepre</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-burch-438717">Emily Burch</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Christmas lunch is at your friend’s house this year, and they’ve asked you to bring a plate. Money is tight. So, you find yourself wondering, “What’s cheap, healthy but also looks impressive?” While a tray of mangoes would certainly be a cheap, healthy and colourful contribution, you want to look as if you’ve put in a bit of effort. If you’re struggling for inspiration, here are some tried and tested ideas. <h2>First, choose your ingredients</h2> Check your pantry for inspiration or ingredients. Crackers, dried fruit or nuts are great ideas for a charcuterie board. You can use herbs and spices to add flavour to dishes, or you could use up packets of dried pasta to make a <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/salmon-and-pasta-salad">pasta salad</a>. This is also a great way to clean out your pantry. Focus on fruit and vegetables that are in season, so are cheaper and more readily available. Keep an eye out at your local fruit and veggie shop or market as it will usually have in-season fruit and vegetables in bulk quantities at reduced prices. Check out <a href="http://seasonalfoodguide.com/australia-general-seasonal-fresh-produce-guide-fruits-vegetables-in-season-availability.html">this seasonal food guide</a> to help you plan your Christmas menu. Ask around for deals by chatting to your local butcher, fishmonger or grocer and let them know your budget. They may suggest cheaper cuts of meat (such as, <a href="https://www.australianbutchersguild.com.au/the-blog/the-abg-blog/underrated-cuts-of-beef/">oyster</a>, <a href="https://www.australianbeef.com.au/know-your-meat/beef-cuts/">blades, rump caps</a>). Try cooking <a href="https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/slow-cooker-corned-beef-mustard-sauce-recipe/z47lwrbv?r=entertaining/9clz7475&h=entertaining">corned beef</a> or <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/slow-cooker-roast-chicken">roast chicken</a> in a slow cooker with lots of vegetables. Slow-cooked meals can be frozen and can come in handy for left-overs. Lean into <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4608274/">legumes</a>. These are packed with fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. They are also budget-friendly and a great way to add texture to salads. Tinned chickpeas, or cannellini, kidney, or butter beans are quick and easy additions that can make filling dishes go further. You could even turn tinned chickpeas into homemade hommus for a healthy and delicious side dish. Check out these healthy legume <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/filter/keywords--legumes">recipes</a>. <h2>7 ways to keep food costs down this Christmas</h2> 1. Plan ahead Plan your menu by asking how many people are coming and checking for any food preferences or dietary requirements. Check for items you already have at home, and make a shopping list for only what you <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/BFJ-12-2017-0726/full/html">need</a>. 2. Use free recipes Use free online recipe collections and e-books tailored for budget cooking that can help you design your Christmas menu to meet your budget. This <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/uploads/Our-Guide-to-the-Perfect-Christmas-Feast.pdf">one</a> was created by a group of <a href="https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/working-dietetics/standards-and-scope/role-accredited-practising-dietitian">accredited practising dietitians</a> and has healthy, budget friendly recipes and ideas. You could also try this budget friendly collection of Christmas recipes from <a href="https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections/budget-christmas-recipes">taste</a>. 3. Involve the family Get together with other family members and make it a challenge to see who can make the cheapest, most delicious dish. Get the kids involved in fun activities, such as making a DIY gingerbread house or putting together mixed skewers for the barbecue. 4. Pool your resources Larger quantities of a single dish will be cheaper than multiple different dishes (and easier to prepare). 5. Frozen is fine Use frozen fruits and vegetables if you need to. These can have just as <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25526594/">many vitamins and minerals</a> as fresh, are often cheaper than fresh produce and last longer. Try using frozen berries to decorate the pavlova or add them to your favourite cake, muffin or pie. 6. Make your own drinks You could make your own drinks, such as home-brewed iced tea. See if anyone in your family has a soda stream you can borrow to make sparkling mineral water. Add some freshly squeezed lemon or lime for extra flavour. 7. Reduce waste Use your own crockery and re-use leftovers to reduce waste. After all, washing up is cheaper than buying plastic or paper plates and better for the environment. Remember to save any leftovers and re-use them. Leftover fresh vegetables could be used to make a hearty soup or chutney. <h2>It doesn’t have to be perfect</h2> Christmas comes and goes quickly. If your cooking ideas don’t work out, it’s not the end of the world. Choosing healthy foods on a budget is important all year around, so you may like to think about trying these tips throughout the years to come. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/196565/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-ball-14718">Lauren Ball</a>, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-kirkegaard-1401256">Amy Kirkegaard</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/breanna-lepre-1401257">Breanna Lepre</a>, Research Fellow, Mater Research Institute, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-burch-438717">Emily Burch</a>, Dietitian and Researcher, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/bring-a-plate-what-to-take-to-christmas-lunch-that-looks-impressive-but-wont-break-the-bank-196565">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

L-plater attacked with traffic cone reveals what sparked road rage outburst

A Perth teenager was behind the wheel for the first time, when the "classy" passenger of a BMW behind erupted with rage. The woman attacked the L-plater behind the wheel in a bizarre outburst, yelling out expletives and hurling a traffic cone in their direction. The L-plater behind the wheel, Aleyna Helvaci, 16, was accompanied by a professional driving instructor when the ugly incident occurred after she accidentally stalled at a busy intersection. “She was just full out wild, I turned (the car) back on, put my foot on the clutch, and everything was ready," Helvaci told 7 NEWS. “I was going to take off, but before I could there was a really loud horn.” Footage of the interaction went viral after the teen's mum posted the outburst on TikTok. “F*** you” the woman screamed as she stormed down the road in front of standstill traffic before pretending to chuck her handbag in the car's direction. She then reaches for a nearby traffic cone and hurls it at the car. “F***ing sl**, move on up!” she screamed before storming back to her own car - its horn still blaring at the teen. At one point, the equally enraged male driver held the horn down for nine seconds straight, as the person calmly filming the incident is told to note down the plate number. The woman eventually sits back down in her car, but doesn't stop screaming expletives at the teen. When they finally merged right to flee the scene, the driver got in on the action himself, honking his horn and flipping his middle finger at the teen. The video racked up thousands of views on TikTok before it was removed, a number of people have slammed the SUV owner's “disgusting behaviour”, adding that “we were all learners at one stage”. “Absolutely disgusting behaviour. I am so sick of this sh*t. Control your anger and grow up!” one commented. “This is so bad! It’s always the ones with the rich cars too hey … Y’all so 'classy,'" wrote another. Helvaci's family has since filed a police report and the teen told 7News that it would take some time before she felt safe behind the wheels again. “It is all about building confidence in the end, so this is all part of the experience,” she said. Images: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Picking up a King Charles III coronation commemorative plate? You’re buying into a centuries-old tradition

Mugs and plates celebrating the coronations, marriages and deaths of British royalty are not unusual sights in the Australian home. With the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III on May 6, such memorabilia cluttering our cupboards are only likely to increase. Guides to “<a href="https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/king-charles-coronation-memorabilia-2023">the best King Charles III memorabilia</a>” are already advising what souvenirs to buy, including commemorative coins, biscuit tins, tea towels, plates and, of course, mugs. Yet the royal souvenir is not a recent invention. <h2>History of the royal mug</h2> The tradition of celebrating royal events with a mug or drinking vessel dates to at least the 17th century when the current king’s ancestor and namesake, Charles II, was restored to the English throne in 1660-1. Several mugs and cups produced at the time have survived and depict the “<a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/charles-ii-guide-restoration-why-merry-monarch-how-many-children-rule/">merry monarch</a>”. The restoration of Charles II (after his father Charles I had been executed by order of parliament in 1649) was greeted with rejoicing throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. The famous social climber and diarist Samuel Pepys embodied the general feeling of this time when he wrote that on the day of Charles II’s coronation he watched the royal procession with wine and cake and all were “<a href="https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1661/04/22/">very merry</a>” and pleased at what they saw. Drinking and eating in celebration may account for why mugs and plates were, and remain, such popular forms of royal memorabilia; they were used to <a href="https://stuarts.exeter.ac.uk/education/objects/delftware-cup-c-1661/">drink loyal toasts</a> of good health to the monarch on special days of celebration. While a strong ale was the preferred liquid for 17th-century toasts, as the British Empire expanded tea drinking became a common pastime. Teacups became popular royal souvenirs during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century. <h2>Fostering support</h2> The earthenware mugs made for Charles II’s coronation were relatively inexpensive, but not produced on a mass scale. With the industrial revolution of the 19th century and the rise of souvenir culture, royal memorabilia in all forms became more <a href="https://theconversation.com/royal-family-why-even-a-charles-and-diana-divorce-mug-is-important-for-the-monarchy-176588">popular and widespread</a>. Since 1900, royal births, deaths, marriages and coronations have been big money for manufacturers of royal memorabilia. The pitfalls of mass production were realised in 1936 when Edward VIII abdicated from the throne just months before his planned coronation in May 1937. Manufacturers were stuck with <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/178313173?searchTerm=%22coronation%20mug%22">thousands of mugs</a>, plates and other items celebrating the coronation of a king that would not happen. Many of these mugs still made their way out to the market, while other manufacturers such as Royal Doulton <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_2012-8022-5-a-c">adapted existing designs</a> and used them for the coronation of his brother, George VI. English monarchs were not the only royals to encourage the use of their image on objects collected, worn or used by their subjects. Renaissance Italian princes popularised the <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/renaissance-portrait-medals/exhibition-themes">portrait medal</a> and the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, Charles V, fostered support in his vast territories using mass-produced medallions <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/197126">bearing his image</a>. Objects with images of royalty served similar functions in the 20th century. Australian school children were often <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141777602?searchTerm=%22coronation%20mug%22">given medals</a>to commemorate coronations, while children in England were gifted pottery mugs to drink to the sovereign’s health. When Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, <a href="https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/artifact/coronation-of-hm-queen-elizabeth-ii">English children</a>received mugs, tins of chocolate and a spoon or coin. <h2>Measuring popularity</h2> Royal memorabilia don’t just foster support but act as a barometer of the popularity of the royal family around the globe. Coronation mugs became popular in the reign of Charles II in 1661 because these objects captured the joyous feeling of a nation that had endured 20 years of warfare and political chaos. Support for the royal family has often been shown through royal weddings and marriages: plates depicting Charles II and his Portuguese bride, Catherine of Braganza, were made to celebrate their union in 1662. Recently a <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/metal-detectorist-discovers-rare-gold-pendant-celebrating-henry-viiis-first-marriage-180981557/">gold pendant</a> inscribed with the initials of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, likely worn by a supporter, was also discovered. For Prince William and Kate Middleton’s highly anticipated wedding in 2011, thousands of types of mundane and wacky <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-royal-wedding-souvenirs-pictures-photogallery.html">souvenirs</a> were produced, such as plates, mugs, magnets, graphic novels, toilet seat covers and PEZ dispensers. Over 1,600 lines of official merchandise were produced for the marriage of Princes Charles to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. <a href="https://issuu.com/accpublishinggroup/docs/june_july_2022_mag/s/15960301">Less than 25 lines</a> were produced for Charles’ unpopular second marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. While Charles may not be <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2023/03/01/celebrities-dont-care-to-perform-for-king-charles-iii/?sh=56487b7a20f8">as popular</a> as his mother, coronation fever has most definitely taken hold in the United Kingdom. Royal fans are set to spend £1.4 billion (A$2.6 billion) on <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21911733/shoppers-spend-billion-king-coronation-may/">coronation parties and souvenirs</a>. The availability of coronation souvenirs and party supplies in Australia is somewhat more limited – perhaps an indicator of Australia’s diminishing appetite for the royal family amid increased calls for another <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-24/king-charles-australias-head-of-state-alternative-republic/101470156">vote on a republic</a>. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/picking-up-a-king-charles-iii-coronation-commemorative-plate-youre-buying-into-a-centuries-old-tradition-200646" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Home & Garden

Victorian man’s anti-Dan Andrews plates deemed “offensive” by government

A Victorian man could lose his personalised number plates referencing Premier Daniel Andrews after the state government’s transport body said they had deemed them to be “offensive” and “inappropriate”. In September, Peter Dunlevie received plates that read, “DANOUT”, from VicRoads and attached them to his 2003 Commodore ahead of the state election on November 23. “Well, I want Andrews gone,” he told 7NEWS. “I’m just sick of him.” The plates are accompanied by other anti-Andrews messages, including stickers reading, “Save Victoria” and “SACK ANDREWS”. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/danout1.jpg" alt="" width="880" height="495" /> Peter Dunlevie attached plates reading ‘DANOUT’ to his white Commodore. Image: 7NEWS However, VicRoads has since written to the Gippsland man and told him to return the plates, writing that the plates are “negative”, “offensive” and “inappropriate”. “A review of our records has identified that the combination ‘DANOUT’ has specific negative references, and may be considered offensive by the broader community,” the letter read. Dunlevie has questioned VicRoads’ assessment of the plates, telling the news outlet that it’s just “a bit of fun”. “What’s offensive about them?” he said. “This is just an old bloke having a bit of fun.” While VicRoads has the authority to cancel personalised plates, Dunlevie said he felt like the transport authority was “trying to gag me”. Following the letter from VicRoads, the state’s Department of Transport has begun a review into the decision to remove the plates from Dunlevie. Image: 7NEWS

Travel Trouble

Mother and daughter in shock over $900 restaurant bill

A mother and daughter on holiday on the beautiful island of Mykonos have been left reeling at the price of two drinks and a share plate. The pair were sitting outside the restaurant on their deckchairs for a while before deciding to order two cocktails and share plate of crab legs. The relaxed duo then asked for the bill – but were left in shock when it arrived at a huge cost of $900. The two drinks and the share plate altogether cost €520 ($A775) and a €78 ($A116) tip was added on top. Shocked at the bill, the mother and daughter refused to pay and tried to leave but were stopped by staff. The mother then said she would file a police report after finding out that it was a common thing that happened to tourists. She also informed her travel agent to let other tourists be wary of the scam when arriving at the restaurant. “We knew that the bill would not exceed €200 ($A300); suddenly they asked us to pay €600 ($A900),” she told the travel agent. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

P-plate speedster loses licence an hour after passing driving test

A P-plater has been caught driving at a whopping 193 km/h and lost his licence just one hour after passing his driving test. The 18-year-old Sydney man was pulled over by police from Burwood Highway Patrol in Moombooldool, about 50km east of Griffith, after he was clocked speeding in an old Toyota Hilux. The officers - also from Sydney - were en-route to Griffith to start a traffic enforcement campaign in the area and shared their encounter on social media. “After stopping the vehicle and speaking to the driver (officers) discovered the driver had only (an) hour earlier passed his driving test,” the post on NSW Police’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Command page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TrafficServicesNSWPF/posts/5245654198832851" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read</a>. Police revealed the driver’s teenage sibling was also in the car and that the driver received a hefty punishment, including a penalty notice for speeding by more than 45 km/h and not displaying his newly-received P plates. “His licence was suspended on the spot for a minimum of six months, which will be extended due to the excessive loss of demerit points,” the post read. Highway patrol officers based in rural areas who spoke to <a href="https://www.drive.com.au/news/p-plate-driver-busted-at-193km-h-moments-after-getting-licence-also-a-toyota-hilux-can-do-193km-h/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drive</a> said they were surprised by how many city motorists get caught at high speeds. “People don’t realise (the highway patrol) are everywhere across the state,” one officer told the publication. “A lot of people think they can floor it in remote areas, but the dangers are significant, with wildlife, livestock and trees by the side of the road. “It’s also easier to detect speeds because there is usually only one road in or out of a regional centre. If you speed, you will get caught because we’re out there.” Image: Traffic and Highway Patrol Command - NSW Police Force (Facebook)

Legal

“It doesn’t look half bad”: Fake number plate draws acclaim

An Ohio man’s uniquely creative approach to rustling up a fake licence plate has drawn laughs – and some acclaim – from around the world after he was booked by US police when they spotted something a little off with his number plate. The driver was pulled over in Millersburg, Ohio, on September 2, and at the time a Millersburg highway patrol officer said in a statement on Facebook: “Something just didn’t seem right about this particular licence plate.” It turns out – yep, you guessed it – the driver’s licence plate had been completely drawn on, and quite realistically too. “After further investigation it was determined that the driver of the vehicle had no insurance and was driving on a suspended licence,” police explained further, before adding: “Pro Tip: Don’t forget to draw the registration sticker.” While the ultimate penalty handed down to this particular driver remains unknown, reactions to his creative effort had people on Facebook highly amused. “I ain’t even mad,” commented one woman, “that’s dedication.” Another man added “you can’t knock that effort”. And even more went on to comment that the hand-drawn effort was actually surprisingly well done. “I mean... it doesn’t look half bad, if I’m being real,” wrote one commenter. “From art class to the jail house,” said another. Many others agreed that the police could perhaps have spent their time catching more serious perpetrators. Image: Facebook / Millersburg Police

Travel Trouble

Share your car with an L-plater? You could be slapped with a $161 fine

Drivers have been warned that they can be fined whilst making a simple mistake while driving and teaching a learner driver, or sharing a car with a P-plate driver. A Facebook post by Victoria Police asked social media users to vote on whether or not they thought that fully licensed drivers could be fined for displaying L or P plates. If you share a car with a learner or P-plate driver, you know how easy it is to forget to take off the plates before driving. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fvictoriapolice%2Fposts%2F2781842688554516&width=500" width="500" height="478" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> With more than 18,000 votes, the poll overwhelmingly thought that yes, you can be fined. However, it wasn’t until the Victoria Police confirmed if they were right. “Under the Road Safety Drivers Regulations, you will receive a $161 fine for displaying L or P-plates when not required,” Victoria Police wrote. Not only will accidentally leaving P-plates on land you a fine, you will also be hit with three demerit points. Many were quick to voice their annoyance. “Geez a simple and easy thing to forget to take off. Victoria police you look for anything these days to fine people,” one commenter said. “Stupid rule. Who does it hurt? It only warns other drivers to be weary of you,” another wrote. Another argued that drivers should be warned and not fined. “When you’re teaching your teenagers to drive, it can be easy to forget about the one on the rear of the car. Should be a warning not a fine,” they wrote. One person pointed out that the law was more than 20 years old and that road users should be aware of it. “This law has been around for more than 20 years, don’t get your knickers in a knot because now they are advertising that they will enforce it,” one commenter said.

Legal

Emoji number plates are on their way!

Always wanted to nab yourself a personalised number plate but didn’t want it to be too obvious? Well, there’s good news. From March 1, those residing in Queensland will be able to add fun emoji characters to their licence plate, which will not only brighten up a dreary plate, but will also guarantee a smile on anyone who comes across it. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.06060606060606px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7824053/emoji1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6c25a276adf943238fdce5dff465b830" /> Photo: 9News To start off with, motorists will have the choice between five emojis – the laughing face, winking face, heart-eyes face, sunnies face, and a standard smiling face. But it doesn’t come cheap, as one emoji plate will set you back $500. Will you be getting an emoji plate for your vehicle? Let us know in the comments below.

Legal

Aussie drivers warned of numberplate cloning scam

If you’ve received an unexplained parking or tollway fine, you could be a victim of a sophisticated number plate cloning scam. Crooks are using these cloned numberplates to rack up huge toll bills, speeding fines and even stealing petrol, safe in the knowledge that the fines will be sent to the real plate owner. The process of cloning a number plate is said to be as simple as finding a vehicle of identical model and colour, noting its number plate, and reproducing it. Geoff Gwilym from the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce said that it was "disappointing" the innocent parties had to prove the car in question wasn't theirs. "The way that cloning works is that somebody sees a car and it's like the car that they've got or they look on the internet for a similar car, and they basically copy the numberplate and put it on their car," he told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/08/24/18/49/crooks-cloning-number-plates-to-lump-innocent-drivers-with-fines">9News</a> last year. If you receive a suspicious fine, Gwilym advises you to challenge it and report it to the appropriate authority.

Legal

P-plate driver caught on camera swerving across highway whilst eating bowl of cereal

A P-plate driver could receive a hefty fine after being caught on camera eating a bowl of cereal while driving and swerving across a busy highway. The driver, whose behaviour was described by police as “ridiculously dangerous” was caught swerving while travelling along Marmion Avenue in Perth. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F7NewsBrisbane%2Fvideos%2F2072476032776519%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> The driver was holding her bowl in one hand and her spoon in another, appearing to be steering the car with her legs. The footage was posted online and sent to WA’s Police Commissioner Chris Dawson. “The report I got was that the driver (who witnessed the incident), who had their passenger take a photo of this, noticed because the car was weaving across the lane,” Mr Dawson told Seven News. Mr Dawson said her driving was extremely dangerous and said the police had the registration number. “You can't be driving a car and eating your brekkie at the same time,” he said. It is likely the driver will get a charge of careless driving which could even result in the loss of her license. Last month, a woman from Perth received a fine of $400 when she was caught driving and blatantly using FaceTime. The woman also lost three demerit points. Have you witnessed any dangerous driving behaviour like this before? Tell us in the comments below.

Insurance

Do smaller plates make you eat less?

Eric Robinson in a behavioural scientist and senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool. His research examines obesity and psychological influences on how much people eat and drink. You may have caught the show <a href="http://www.channel4.com/programmes/food-unwrapped/on-demand/61830-011" target="_blank">Food Unwrapped</a> on television. The programme covers two topics of interest to me; portion sizes and plate sizes. There is evidence that portion sizes of commercially provided foods have increased over time and the programme covered this story. One of the main reasons this is of relevance to public health is because there is also now <a href="http://advances.nutrition.org/content/5/6/829.full" target="_blank">compelling evidence</a> that the amount of food you are served or provided with reliably affects how much you eat – and that larger portions appear to cause most people to eat more. Our modern day “obesity epidemic” is thought to have been caused primarily by an increase in how much we are eating. So this is important stuff. The other topic covered by Food Unwrapped, however, is a pet hate of mine: plate size. There is a commonly held belief that using smaller plates reduces the amount of food that people eat. It sounds plausible; when you use a smaller plate, you serve yourself less and because of this you end up eating less. Right? Wrong. I became interested in the magic of smaller plates after reading an article that discussed some of the research on smaller plates but neglected to mention a number of studies that had found that smaller plates <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24341317" target="_blank">did not reduce how much people ate</a>. Not long after that a team of us reviewed and analysed all available studies <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25040672" target="_blank">that addressed this question</a>. Our conclusion was that the evidence for the magic of smaller plates was very unconvincing. There were more studies that had found no benefit on calorie consumption of dining with smaller plates than there were studies that supported the smaller plates equals eat less hypothesis. Also, the studies that did support the smaller plate idea all came from the same research group and we noted a number of important limitations in some of those studies’ methodologies. It just so happens that it was the same research group that has recently come under fire <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2017/mar/02/fresh-concerns-raised-over-academic-conduct-of-major-us-nutrition-and-behaviour-lab" target="_blank">for questionable research practices</a>. We next <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/dishware-size-and-snack-food-intake-in-a-between-subjects-laboratory-experiment/DB9DE726AA10FCC19B1039A9C559C66A" target="_blank">conducted our own study</a> to examine if giving participants smaller bowls to serve themselves with popcorn reduced the amount of popcorn that they ate. We did not find that using a smaller bowl reduced how much participants ate – if anything participants ate more when using a smaller bowl, as opposed to a larger bowl. Likewise, <a href="https://synapse.koreamed.org/search.php?where=aview&id=10.4162/nrp.2016.10.5.524&code=0161NRP&vmode=FULL" target="_blank">a further study</a> in 2016 from another research group found no evidence that smaller plates promoted reduced food consumption. Now back to Food Unwrapped. The programme tried a similar experiment to the one that we did and what did they find? Again, like us they found no evidence to suggest that giving people smaller plates reduced how much they ate – instead they appeared to find the opposite – participants ate about twice as much when dining with smaller as opposed to larger plates. Why might smaller plates not reduce how much people eat? One good guess is because if you are using a smaller plate you may initially serve yourself a little less but then go back for second helpings – you do have a small plate after all. Rather worryingly though, at the end of the episode we were reassured that there is still clear evidence that smaller plates do make people eat less and Food Unwrapped’s experiment must have been a fluke. The idea that simply giving people smaller plates to eat from will magically reduce how much they eat is an idea that may never die (indeed the Food Unwrapped programme was a repeat of an episode first shown in 2016). But it should do. This is because we need to make sure that we are taking aim at the types of environmental factors that can reliably help people eat more healthily. So what should we be sizing up? There is now <a href="http://www.thelancetnorway.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60813-1/fulltext" target="_blank">accumulating evidence</a> that if the food industry made substantial reductions to the number of calories in popular food and drink products then we would be eating less as a nation. Making this kind of change happen will of course be more difficult than simply telling the general public to eat from miniature plates, but if we are to tackle obesity effectively then it is a change that must happen. Written by Eric Robinson. First appeared on <a href="http://theconversation.com/" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Body

This country just banned all plastic cups, plates and utensils

Plastic cups, plates and utensils are quite useful when it comes to entertaining (particularly if you’re catering for a large group of people), but if you’re planning on throwing a party in France in the next few years you might have to find another option. France has officially become the first place in the world to place a ban on all plastic cups, plates and utensils. Plastic ware will be officially be phased out by 2020 and from that point on replacements will need to be made from biologically sourced materials. In 2015 alone over 4.73 billion plastic cups were discarded in France, and lawmakers hope the move will put an end to the country’s dependence on disposable plastic wares. The move has been welcomed by conservation groups, concerned about the problem of dealing with increased amounts of waste that are caused by a growing global population. Not everyone’s happy though. Industry group Pack2Go Europe actually thinks the measures will make the problems worse, with secretary general Eamonn Bates telling the Associated Press, “We are urging the European Commission to do the right thing and to take legal action against France for infringing European law. If they don't, we will.” What’s your take on the move by France to get rid of all plastic ware? Do you think Australia should take similar measures? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/09/common-laundry-machine-mistakes/">6 common laundry machine mistakes</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/09/things-you-didnt-know-your-rice-cooker-could-do/">7 things you didn’t know your rice cooker could do</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/08/why-there-is-a-hole-in-your-pasta-spoon/">The reason why there’s a hole in your pasta spoon</a>

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Share your car with an L-plater? You could be slapped with a $161 fine

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P-plate driver caught on camera swerving across highway whilst eating bowl of cereal

Do smaller plates make you eat less?

This country just banned all plastic cups, plates and utensils

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