I suppose trains need signals. And perhaps it’s another move to make Melbourne more European: this Cignall tobacconist in Queen Street is a Myki retailer. I’m not sure I have a strong opinion on this, but it does seem like an odd match, given smoking is banned on public transport vehicles, is also banned in ... [More]
Category: Consumerism
At the post office… no wonder the queues are so long; they even sell lollies now (though I’m not convinced many people are buying them). …and of course, they’re also agents for some mob nobody remembers called Telecom Australia. Wikipedia reckons the Telecom Australia brand was phased-out in 1995, so the sign is only 17 ... [More]
This interesting article about data mining shows just how devious they can be. For example, a casino: The system collects data each time a gambler uses their casino loyalty card – be it for gambling, purchasing food in the restaurant or paying for snacks from their room minibar – to create a pattern of their ... [More]
If you’ll pardon my boldness, I’ve worked out a new advertising campaign for Metro.
Unbelievable. After less than a year, and less than a-dozen uses, the Shelta umbrella I bought last May has already broken. It’s not totally unusable, but structural integrity has been severely compromised. I’ll certainly be chasing up the 12 months warranty as soon as I can find the receipt, but in the mean time, what ... [More]
The Chesty Bond singlet, something of an iconic Australian brand, used to be made in Australia, but is now made in China. I find that a little sad, but I suppose it’s a sign of the times. I seem to recall hearing on the news the other week that manufacturing as a percentage of Australia’s ... [More]
MX got to this before I blogged it. This issue is around Myki Pass (the equivalent fare to a Metcard Monthly/Yearly, but available for any number from 28 to 365 days). To calculate the Pass cost, you take the Myki Pass per day rate (eg zone 1 $4.02) and multiply by the number of days ... [More]
Categories
Drink-driving, anyone?
Perhaps the smallprint says “Do not use the fuel and the alcohol simultaneously.”
There’s often some interesting pictures to be had from the sixth floor of the renovated Myer store. I snapped these the other day.
Since Woolworths introduced gold coin deposits for trolleys at Bentleigh, you almost never see their trolleys abandoned in the streets. The same can’t be said for Coles Bentleigh, who appear to have some trolleys requiring a coin, and some not — I don’t understand the logic of this. On a walk last night, we passed ... [More]
(I’m at home today awaiting two tradesmen, so I’ve been a little creative.) Here’s what I can’t figure out: since late-2010, the Frankston line has run every ten minutes between the peaks. In 2011 they tidied this up and made all those trains run direct to Flinders Street, and then through to Newport, with alternating ... [More]
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Christmas pics
Here’s a pic of some fools taking a shopping trolley on the escalator at Highpoint, where Marita and I managed to do a surgical strike for last-minute presents, and be back on the tram to her place within 30 minutes, before it got stupidly busy this morning. Here’s some wrapping paper I bought last week… ... [More]
Myer will close stores in Victoria and New South Wales and shrink surviving stores in response to the two-speed economy and online shopping. — Myer to close or shrink stores as retail malaise bites Remembering that Myer Melbourne has already shrunk in size by about half, this isn’t a huge surprise. Sounds like some of ... [More]
Thanks to the miracle of advertising, we have a bank on a tram… …a tram on a bank… …and a bus stop on a bus stop. If you’re curious, the bus stop picture is portraying the 811/812 route on “Main Street”. Unfortunately the bus stop in the picture doesn’t appear to have another advert with ... [More]
Categories
Spotted at Minotaur
I’ve shopped at Minotaur Books for decades. I first found it in the early 80s when it was at the top end of Swanston Street. Then it moved to a multi-level shop in Bourke Street. Then to its current home in Elizabeth Street. It’s always had way more cool stuff than I could afford to ... [More]
Categories
Coke ads on the sides of trains
It was bound to happen once they started putting advertising on the sides of trains: Coke ads. Given trains are seen not just by passengers but also by motorists and pedestrians at level crossings, it could be quite lucrative for Metro. One can only hope the money goes into better services. My guess is we ... [More]