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Geek Net Toxic Custard newsletter

The need for speed part 1: Internet uploads

Not to pre-empt anything, but this year I expect to have two film and television students in the house. For this, I’m considering upgrading my Internet. We’re currently on iiNet Naked ADSL2+ costing $69.99 per month (for 1000 Gb of data, of which, to my surprise, we’re using about a quarter). Actually I’m paying an  ... [More]

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Net Toxic Custard newsletter

Some blog stats for 2015

Here are a few blog stats from 2015… Posts: 166 — more than I thought, but I suppose there’s been a post every few days. Comments: 1,692 Top ten commenters: Daniel 176 (seems I still like commenting on my own posts) Roger 132 TranzitJim 69 Llib 52 David Stosser 48 Andrew 47 enno 45 John  ... [More]

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music Toxic Custard newsletter

Ocean Colour Scene touring Australia

Back in the day I watched the 1998 movie Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and liked it. Then I watched the 2001 TV spin-off Lock Stock which was okay I guess (it was notable for having Martin Freeman in a couple of episodes, in one of his early roles). But what really grabbed me  ... [More]

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Doctor Who Sydney 2015 Toxic Custard newsletter

Sydney Sunday: Doctor Who galore

Sunday! And so we get to the main excuse reason for the trip to Sydney on this specific weekend: the Doctor Who Festival. I’ve been to Comic-Con in Melbourne twice, but this was a different beast: 98% dedicated to Doctor Who, with little bit of Sherlock (which has many of the same producers/writers/crew members/fans!) getting  ... [More]

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Toxic Custard newsletter TV

It’s okay

I don’t know if anybody’s done this before, but… It’s from The West Wing, the finale of season 1, a signal the staff work out to indicate that the Space Shuttle has resolved an issue while on a mission. The show is known for infusing humour into the drama — in this case, the Shuttle  ... [More]

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Consumerism Retrospectives Toxic Custard newsletter TV

The ABC Shops to close

Warning! No transport content! If you only want to see transport blog posts, you can use this URL, or sign up to the email alerts! My first recollection of the ABC Shop in Melbourne was a small space in their then Lonsdale Street radio HQ, which was where the County Court is now — on  ... [More]

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Toxic Custard newsletter transport TV

Sense8’s public transport. Can you name the cities?

I’m always interested to see portrayals of public transport in popular culture. I’ve been watching the Netflix series Sense8 — I’m a bit over halfway through it. (And I just realised the Wikipedia article includes spoilers, so watch your step if you’re planning to watch it). It’s pretty good — at least, I’m intrigued enough  ... [More]

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Consumerism Culture Geek Toxic Custard newsletter

Oz Comic-Con 2015 – and marriage equality

Science fiction and fantasy conventions used to be a homespun affair, run by the local clubs, featuring broadcasts of rare episodes and out-takes (before it all got released on DVD) and fan films. If there were guest artists, often they would appear only if they happened to be in the country at the time, and  ... [More]

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Film Geek Photos from ten years ago Toxic Custard newsletter transport

Ten years ago: Arise Lord Vader

Here’s another in my series of ten year old photos. Arise Lord Vader — episode 3 got a lot of promotion. Or, as I joked at the time: Connex was aligned with the Dark Side. The Dungeon: platform 13 at Flinders Street. The screens have been replaced with a flat model, and an escalator was  ... [More]

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Film Geek Toxic Custard newsletter transport Video games

Crowdfunded documentaries

I’m aware that my blog has evolved… these days most of the posts are about transport, reflecting my current interests. I wonder if this is a bit dull for those who have been on the old Toxic Custard mailing list, which is the descendant of the humour-based email list I started while at uni. Yet  ... [More]

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Doctor Who Photos from ten years ago Toxic Custard newsletter

Photos from March 2005

In my continuing quest to post ten year old photos, I went looking for good stuff from March 2005. There isn’t much of interest, alas. It was the month that the new revamped rebooted Doctor Who started — on 26th March 2005 — and I did find this photo of Jeremy — not watching from  ... [More]

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Toxic Custard newsletter TV

The West Wing and widescreen

This is one of those blog posts which is mostly for my own interest. We’re up to the start of season 2 in our West Wing DVD (re)watching. That season 1 cliffhanger is brilliant… only spoilt by the excessively perky end theme music (I love the opening title music, but I’ve never liked the ending  ... [More]