I just bought a car. Well, subject to a mechanic giving it a going-over. Holden Astra CD TS, 2000 hatchback “Olympic edition”. Which means it’s from two Olympics ago, and that it has a few little extras like fog lights. Silver, electric windows, airbags, ABS, CD player, alloy wheels (like I care), remote locking. Perhaps ... [More]
Where is that damn train? Flinders Street Station, 1920s (or maybe 30s?) (From the Public Record Office Victoria) Flinders Street Station, 2007 Yeah the angles don’t match, but I reckon it’s not bad given that I took the new picture last year, before seeing the older one. AND it’s exactly the same platforms in shot. ... [More]
Race is a funny thing. I think gradually (at least in the bit of society I inhabit) attitudes are changing. It seems common for people of my parents’ generation to refer to someone’s race. It’s not necessarily anything negative, just a reference. That Jewish man. The Chinese doctor. The Indian lady. When I talk about ... [More]
Some things never change. Colliers International researchers found that in December last year, house prices for suburbs near trains and trams hit an average of $526,000 – with top rail suburb prices soaring by up to 57 per cent in the year. — Herald Sun, 24/7/2008 (See also a similar article on
I went to see the Art Deco exhibition at NGV International last Friday night. I would have gladly paid, but happily went when invited as part of a corporate thing, which was great, as there were no crowds. I’ve long liked art deco, and there’s some terrific pieces, highlighting that the style influenced not only ... [More]
A Herald Sun article last week quoted figures showing that ditching cars and switching to PT could save you between $4,000 and $10,000 per year. (Seriously, it’s not just fuel — if you take into account finance, rego, insurance and repairs, it adds up fast.) Problem is that somewhere in the sausage factory that is ... [More]
One of the things I do (inconsistently) when signing up for things online is to use an email alias specific to the customer I’m signing up to. The theory is that if that email address ever got leaked to spammers, I’d know who leaked it. If you own a domain name, it’s easy to do, ... [More]
Some interesting movement on grocery prices, with the ACCC report noting a lack of competition, and making some recommendations, such as unit pricing. You know, I’m pretty sure my memory isn’t failing me in this: Safeway used to have unit pricing. I’m sure that 10 or 15 years ago, in the small print on the ... [More]
How is it that the suit and tie is almost global? With the exception of military leaders and some of those guys in the South Pacific who wear skirts, just about every male politician from every country in the world wears one, for instance, and they all look almost identical. As it happens, I need ... [More]
As I’m sure everybody’s heard by now, Google launched Streetview for Australia today. My neighbourhood is certainly in there, as are a lot of other Australian cities and towns and regional areas. View Larger Map Cool things I’ve found so far: Puffing Billy at Menzies Creek The Great Ocean Road It’s quiet in St Kilda. ... [More]
Judging from the reviews, Salute looks like a good film. I was pondering if it might be educational to my kids, when I noticed the rating. PG. For “Civil rights themes”. Hmm. Can’t say I’ve spotted that particular classification before. It almost sounds like more of a recommendation than a warning. (The trailer is here.)
On a packet of chocolate (via Marita and Justine)… See, it’s not just the nuts you need to watch out for. It’s the other nuts as well.