Watch the news tonight.

Update lunchtime:

Press release: PTUA calls on politicians not to duck public transport issues.

Pic from the field:

Update Wednesday morning:

I’ve had a few unwanted visitors recently… mice in the fireplace (and scuttling around the rest of the house). The first cockroaches of the summer have appeared (and subsequently met their maker). And the other night some possums were making an unbelievable amount of noise in the ceiling.

But now I’ve got this in the mailbox: a spider. One of those big hairy ones which is probably more scary looking than dangerous… and has me scared to stick my hand in there looking for letters. I did try and whack it with a rolled up newspaper, but it scurried away into some dark corner, out of reach.

Speaking of letters, I got three last week from one of the banks: three identical letters (OK, one had a different date, but otherwise completely identical), all reminding me to start using my new credit card, and throw out my old ones. I thought I was seeing triple at first. No wonder the world’s forests are in trouble.

Are email and PDF putting couriers out of business?

When I first worked in the city in the early-90s, there were heaps of bike couriers around the place. You’d see them speeding around the streets, grabbing hold of trams and trucks to go up hills, zooming through lights, dodging pedestrians and cars alike.

Back then the technology for moving documents around electronically was somewhat lacking in reliability, and I vaguely remember hearing that people at one workplace had been told that if something was urgent, you didn’t email it, you’d fax it. And if it was really critical, you should send it by courier.

There don’t seem to be so many bike couriers around nowadays, nor do so many people send faxes. I suspect we only resort to these for documents when someone’s genuine analogue signature (or a crude digital representation of it) is required on the dotted line — otherwise email will suffice.

Strangely enough, the post office are apparently doing okay in this new world of electronic delivery. Australia Post reports parcels are up, citing eBay as one of the main causes. And probably helped by diversifying into all those things that make the queues so long when you just want to buy a stamp.

I went to the dentist on Saturday, and after the ritual inspect, scale, clean and brushing advice (for myself and the kids), I was chatting to him about how things had changed in the last generation. I mentioned that by the time I was 10, I had about 10 fillings, a stark contrast to Isaac (with one) and Jeremy (with none). He said that dental care had improved, as had education about brushing, but that he reckoned the main factor was fluoride in the water; that this more than anything else had led to healthier teeth for children.

Apparently even in this day and age, fluoride in the water is is common in Australia and North America, but not elsewhere. Despite the controversy (including some wacky conspiracy theories such as the view that the Masons are doing it for their own purposes), there seems to be general agreement from medical professionals that it’s a good thing.

Mind you, I have a vague feeling that the dentist I used to see as a kid was rather too keen on expensive cars.

Here’s my quick reviews of the second half of this year’s Doctor Who. (First half here.) Some spoilers for people who haven’t seen it. (Les, this means you.)

The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit — Terrific stuff. The tension in the first episode was fantastic, especially when the beast was stalking the archeologist. Scared the crap out of me. Loved the ending. Trivia: Voice of the Beast was done by the same guy who did the voice of Sutekh (also a manifestation of the Beast) way back in 1975.

Love & Monsters — Some people in fandom hated it, but I quite enjoyed this episode. A very quirky story, and I reckon a bit of a piss-take on the fans. And yes dammit, I do like a bit of ELO.

Fear Her — A couple of amusing bits, but ultimately a light fluffy episode that didn’t challenge the braincells too much. (more…)

PS. Tuesday pm: A great little video on the topic of 4WDs.

On the train the other day I overheard two students from my old high school, talking about the pros and cons of various teachers. I had to chuckle when a couple of familiar names popped up: Mr Kite and Ms Lester. Still there, 18 years after I left. (Gawd. 18 years. It’s a long time.)

I assume it was the last day for year 12s the day before. As I went past I noted big banners up — something about Year 12 (no doubt proclaiming how great they were) along with some kind of politically satirical slogans about North Korea. Glad to see the students of today are switched-on to world politics. (Ho yes, I do sound like an old man when I say things like that.)

The school has many traditions, including a very active Old Boys Association (which I’m ashamed to say I haven’t been a paid member of for some time… maybe I should rejoin). I’ve been pondering the fact that in all probability, my kids won’t get to go there, because entry — by exam, with the school picking the brightest — is very, very competitive.

And it’s getting moreso every year, which I’ve noted via some of the discussions I’ve heard from their students on other occasions… one I recall was not discussing the latest popular music, computer games or TV shows, but something extremely complicated (that I certainly couldn’t understand) in the field of mathematics.

But ultimately it’s not wearing the same old school tie that’s most important, it’s the quality of the education, and I’m confident my kids will get that where they’re going, and with the bonus that, like my old school it’s also government, so I won’t be paying through the nose to do it.

Cam of TPN is off to America to make his fortune, and his latest podcast is a “Goodbye Australia” edition. But what I found really interesting about it is him talking about the (metaphorical) journey — how he’s got into this position, and how successful people work: meeting people, making contacts, helping those contacts when you can, often without any direct incentive. Jumping off the cliff to try something new. Challenging yourself.

And he ponders the importance of a distinctive look, particularly for the mainstream media — he’s on the front cover of The Bulletin this week wearing a “geek” t-shirt and his Elvis sunglasses. I just can’t believe at the end, his mostly just-listening co-hosts didn’t proclaim “Elvis has left the building.”

I suspect my look is a dorky haircut. Not very distinctive, actually.

Oh and he claims to be an introvert. Having met the man, I don’t believe that for a second.

Interesting stuff, anyway. Good luck Cam.