The other week at dinner with friends, we got to talking about being a spokesdude. Michael was describing his experiences doing media on behalf of an organisation, as I just sat there nodding in sympathy. He was describing being rung up by 3AW at half-past-six in the morning, to be quizzed on his particular expertise, ... [More]
Month: October 2007
Categories
A punt on Cup Day
I’ve taken a punt on Cup Day, even though I’ll be flying back from Adelaide about the time the race is on. The hot tip is that the Reserve Bank will decide to up interest rates on that day. In fact, the doom-and-gloom merchants at ANZ are predicting up to three rises in the next ... [More]
Categories
Footpath rage
After all that neighbourly togetherness on Saturday, it was almost a moment of footpath rage yesterday. One of my pet hates is cars parked across footpaths. So when I saw one such a car while we were walking down to the library, I made a point of walking around it by going via the offending ... [More]
Categories
In your neighbourhood
My goodness it’s neighbourly out there today. All I did was go for a walk to the supermarket, and on the way back had a chat with the bloke next door, taking his young kids for a short walk, who thanked me for last night letting him know his car lights were left on; the ... [More]
Categories
Flawed footballers
Apparently the mainstream media (and I guess the public) like nothing better than the tale of a flawed footballer. At one stage yesterday afternoon, the top three stories on The Age website were about Gary Ablett Snr’s car crash, Ben Cousins on the way to rehab, and Alan Didak’s acquaintance. And it’s not even football ... [More]
Categories
When less is more
My sister and I recently bought our dad a microwave. Dad’s not a big technology fan. He’s at home with a typewriter and a telephone and a television, but that’s about all he needs and perhaps all he can handle. Jeff Atwood has illustrated perfectly the problems of microwave ovens: most modern models have a ... [More]
Categories
Getting into hot water
The water bill arrived, and gives me the first chance to see the difference the efficient shower-head I installed in July makes. Water consumption is down 20% compared to the same period last year, down from about 250 to 200 litres per day. And according to the little charts, we’re apparently using less water than ... [More]
Categories
Couple of pics
Passed the scene of a scaffolding collapse on Thursday afternoon on Collins Street. Apparently nobody was hurt. But it all fell onto a 4WD. See what you get for driving your Toorak Tractor into the city?* On Friday morning I found this giant Christmas tree being assembled by Santa’s helpers disguised as construction workers… seems ... [More]
Categories
There’s an election on
In case you hadn’t heard, there’s an election on. From yesterday’s Sunday Age “Heckler” page: THE DIRT: Politicians are trying to stack the outspoken Public Transport Users Association. The association is facing elections and there has been a flurry of nominations by Labor and even Liberal political staffers. What happens if Team Brumby takes over ... [More]
Categories
Animal meme
I was tagged by Clay for an animal meme. Though I suspect these answers won’t be terribly interesting. An interesting animal I had… I don’t currently have any pets. In the past it was goldfish and cats, and when I was very young, budgies. The one I had the longest was Sooty the cat, who ... [More]
Categories
Domesticated
I must be getting more domesticated… I look outside and see it’s a warm and windy day and think “wow, what a great day for washing.”
Categories
Ramadan is over
I was quite fascinated to listen to the start of The Conversation Hour on 774 Melbourne last Friday (MP3 available). Co-host Waleed Aly is very witty, and has a gift of being able to explain his Muslim beliefs and practices in terms that even the most ocker Aussies can understand. (01:15) Jon Faine: Is it ... [More]