On Friday at work we all shuffled up to our new offices, on the slightly dizzying 28th floor. The view is fabulous, of course. Anything would be fabulous after working on the 2nd floor, where the view consists of a wall on another building. No, from the 28th, you can see the other office towers ... [More]
On Saturday I met a man who was about to die. Well, a political death, that is. Here, for posterity, is a transcript of my hard-hitting in-depth dialogue with Liberal opposition leader Robert Doyle, merely hours beforehe spectacularly lost the election. I think you’ll find this free and frank exchange of views somewhat revealing, both ... [More]
Last year I bought the DVD ofStar Wars: Phantom Menace. It was okay… good special effects and stuff. But the acting and the plot left something to be desired. When I bought it, I got a limited edition "slip case" – an extra bit of cardboard that wraps around it. Apparently only 10 zillion of ... [More]
Monday lunchtime. I just went to the post office. Oh, the trauma. Yes, the lunchtime queue. Why on earth, in this day and age, do people still go to the post office pay bills? Do they think they’re living in the 20th century or something? They have no telephone, no internet access? They feel they ... [More]
I have an idea for any budding sociologists. Take a train late at night. You’re guaranteed to meet a cross section of people from all walks of life, the most obvious being the 10% or so who are the drifting type – the human flotsam, apparently barely surviving urban life, because they’re drunk, high, stupid, ... [More]
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Zzzzzz. Ring, ring. Zzzz. Ring, ring. What’s that? The phone. I’m asleep. If the phone rings and I’m asleep, it must be important, right? Last time someone rang me up in the night when I was asleep, it was to tell me my dad had had an accident and gone to hospital. I’d better get ... [More]
On Wednesday night, I suddenly found my car spot had been vacated. Where the mystery car came from, or where it vanished to, was destined to remain… err… a mystery. On Thursday night I went and gave blood. I was all prepared for a long wait like last time, and took a book. But to ... [More]
Well on Wednesday, I got my car back from the repair place, my wallet somewhat (figuratively) lighter for the experience. Drove it home, and… found someone in my car park spot. A beat up old red Ford Laser. Harumph. I didn’t recognise it, so I wasn’t sure whose it could be. Maybe flat 4. So ... [More]
The landlady was predictably shocked at the $330 cost of the window repair last weekend. Well, that’s her fault – if she’d had it fixed when I told her it was cracked, it wouldn’t have been so expensive. Despite her original false claims that I had cracked it, I refused to pay, and she backed ... [More]
Tinka’s New Dress – deep, multilayered, thought-provoking. Wasn’t sure what to expect, but damn, this was brilliant.
My dad told me about the biography of Lillian Roxon, who was the author of the world’s first encyclopaedia of rock music. The biography which includes a bit about him, because he knew her. I considered buying it, but then I reada review on the SMH web site, which said it wasn’t the world’s best ... [More]