On Thursday morning ABC radio 774 is running a special programme on Melbourne’s transport problems, with opinion from interested parties and 774 listeners. 774 ABC Melbourne’s Jon Faine will lead a special broadcast where we, with the help of our listeners, map the traffic and public transport problems, and black spots, across Melbourne. Yours truly ... [More]
Year: 2005
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The Unrealistatrons
Whoops, I forgot to mention this until now: the Doctor Who story that just finished on the ABC’s repeats last night, Warriors of the Deep, was the one that I used as the basis for my spoof: Doctor Who — Revenge of the Unrealistatrons. It’s still one of my favourite things that I’ve written.
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Big crowd
A huge crowd for the demonstration against the Federal Government’s industrial relations reform package in the city today. Work commitments meant I couldn’t join in, but I did pass nearby and saw all the people. This is the crowd outside Flinders Street Station at 9:50am, as snapped by the Omni webcam. In the nearby arcades, ... [More]
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The first payment
The first automated payment to my home loan went through yesterday, along with the first interest charge. As one might reasonably expect, but I had not previously quite appreciated, in one fell swoop the interest charge wiped out around 85% of the payment. Were I a more emotional person, I might have screamed in anguish ... [More]
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Problem solved
The locksmith came on Saturday and fitted shiny new locks, gleefully pointing out the deficiencies of the old ones. Then, with the benefit of a small metal tool from his locksmith’s opened the filing cabinet with the lost key, which took all of 2 seconds.
Remembrance Day at Flinders Street Station, 11am this morning. Two police stop the traffic. The crowd stops moving, and grows silent. A bugler plays The Last Post. A minute’s silence. Then the Rouse. A simple, yet moving commemoration for the war dead. Update 11/11/2013 — Revised pics, and fixed video.
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Friday casual day
Sometimes I find Friday’s casual day a stress. I find normal weekdays easier — any idiot can look half-decent in an expensive suit. (Have I told you about my suit? It’s really nice. It was pricey though. It’s so expensive that it doesn’t have a pocket for small change. The makers must have presumed it ... [More]
It’s almost two weeks since I moved. When they were shifting the filing cabinet, the movers handed me the key for safe keeping. I put it somewhere safe. So safe than I still can’t find it. All the papers I immaculately filed over the past few weeks are locked away where I can’t get at ... [More]
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Speed-limit sign stupidity
This is one of the silliest things I’ve seen in quite some time… At my very rough estimate, the signs are about 20 metres apart. By my (admittedly sometimes dodgey) maths, driving at 40kmh you’d cover that ground in 1.8 seconds. (10 points to whoever guesses where it is.)
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Dodging telemarketers
When I moved, I rang up the phone company to get my new number, which like the old one, is silent, to dodge telemarketers. I also asked if it was a fresh, unused number, and the operator said it hadn’t been used in five years. Excellent. And to avoid telemarketing calls, I’ve started quoting a ... [More]
(Updated Sunday, and Monday) The Age has launched a major series of articles about the public transport system. Well worth reading. I (and the PTUA) don’t necessarily totally agree with the myriad of points of view expressed, but it’s good to see this debate getting the attention it deserves, which will hopefully convince the government ... [More]
Wednesday night’s trip home wasn’t particularly pleasant, with many trains running late, and lots more cancelled — three in a row for my station, in fact. Lots of waiting around and sardine-like conditions. But that’s nothing compared to Thursday morning, when storms caused a signal failure at Caulfield knocked out trains completely for about 90 ... [More]