Categories
Going green

Powered by the sun

They came with a compass. Which way’s north? Ah, thought so. Do you want it on the front, or the side? I don’t mind… front’s better — I’ll be setting a good example. Behold: a green geek. The ladder went up. The collector went up and got connected. The old tank got ripped out and  ... [More]

Categories
Melbourne

Behave, or…

In the spirit of Overheard in Melbourne, this one heard the other day at Victoria Gardens shopping centre while on an Ikea run: “If you don’t behave, I’ll take you to the police station!” Puh-lease, talk about an empty threat. Unless the mum thought the kid was guilty of terrorism charges or something. As I’ve  ... [More]

Categories
Geek Video games

Back to the arcade

It was like stepping back in time. Down the stairs we went, into the darkness. Electronic beeps and bloops could be heard from all directions. Flickering lights. Most of the classics were there. Centipede. Galaga. Ms Pacman. Asteroids. Space Invaders. Donkey Kong. And more. A handful in cocktail tabletop cabinets, but most the way God  ... [More]

Categories
Politics and activism

I don’t miss you, Johnny

Did you see the stuff Howard was spouting in an address to American conservatives the other day? (Text of speech) … his most bitter remarks were reserved for those seeking to unwind his WorkChoices legislation … Mr Howard also attacked Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s decision to withdraw combat troops from Iraq as “naive and dangerous”.  ... [More]

Categories
transport

The big picture

Oil prices went over US$100/barrel again last week. Caltex expects people to pay more than $3 a litre in the next ten years. Meanwhile the interim Gaurnaut report came out, warning of the need to cut emissions. Recently when petrol nudged $1.50 per litre, I heard Wayne Swan on the radio having a whinge about  ... [More]

Categories
Culture Melbourne

Where’s Clancy now?

Maybe things haven’t changed all that much in the last 119 years. And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle Of the tramways and the buses making hurry down the street, And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting, Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet. —  ... [More]

Categories
Geek Retrospectives

Goblins!

The party made their way slowly down the corridor. Leading was Raftor the Brave, followed closely by Roder the dwarf. Bringing up the rear were the wizard Pyhus and Felonius, the group’s thief. They came to a door, which marked the end of the corridor. Raftor tried the door; it was locked. Felonius got out  ... [More]

Categories
Consumerism

Domestic tip of the day

Don’t use Dymocks bags for permanently storing things in. They seem to be made of some kind of plastic that degrades quite rapidly. I’ve had two that were kept in drawers, out of the sunlight, which have unexpectedly disintegrated into lots of little plastic bits. Actually I think it’s great that they’re using this kind  ... [More]

Categories
Friends and loved ones News and events

Eddy and Neville and Pat

When I first needed childcare, back in 2000, I first looked at council-run places. There were none without a long waiting list, so I looked at private. I found a place nearby called Wilmar, run by a lovely couple called Neville and Pat, with a handful of staff. So I signed the kids up there.  ... [More]

Categories
Film Geek

I must see this movie

OMG. Why did nobody tell me about this before? The King of Kong. I know, I know… I didn’t actually list the original Donkey Kong in my top ten games… I don’t know what I was thinking of — it’s definitely one of my favourites. My own high score is around the 31,000 mark. It’s  ... [More]