Categories
music

Tonight I’m going to see Pulp

…along with all the GenXers Common People. Festival Hall tonight, and part of M’s birthday present. In the all-ages (alcohol-free) section, because that’s where the best seats were! Apparently that’s just how Festival Hall works; I wouldn’t expect a large number of youngsters attending for this old person music. Looking forward to it immensely. If  ... [More]

Categories
Bentleigh Net

We spotted ourselves on Google Street View

In January 2010 we spotted a Google Streetview car passing the post office in Bentleigh. Google Streetview finally updated its pictures, and it includes imagery from that day. Alas, it wasn’t shooting when the car passed us, but it did once it entered the nearby side street — that’s why you can see it turning.  ... [More]

Categories
driving

Servicing a car that barely gets used

Somewhat to my surprise, I’ve now had my car for almost three years. This means the dealer warranty that came with it is just about to run out, which in turn means I don’t have to keep driving it across town to Alan Mance to keep it current. Good. I’ve only made use of that  ... [More]

Categories
Melbourne

Downfall of the Pharaoh

Eventually even the Pharaoh will suffer his downfall. Banners for the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition at the Melbourne Museum are coming down.

Categories
News and events

“Lovely crinkly edges” – Our thoughts are with you, Norway

Lovely crinkly edges. Our thoughts are with you, Norway. … PS. Perhaps if nothing else, this will serve as (yet another) warning about the dangers of extremism — no matter whose — and the importance of democracy, and letting people have their say and input into the political process by peaceful means. As the Norwegian  ... [More]

Categories
Geek / tech TV

How to get ABC iView on your Samsung television

I’d heard ages ago that there was a Samsung ABC iView app in the works. It’s now out, but some kind of screw-up means it’s visible to newer (2011) Samsung television owners, but not owners of last year’s models. Thanks to wiser people than me on the ABC iView forums, here’s how you do it,  ... [More]

Categories
Culture transport

The surrealist tram

(Probably my favourite lightbulb joke when they were all the rage was: Q. How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb? A. Two. One to hold the giraffe and the other to fill the bathtub with brightly coloured machine tools.)

Categories
Home life

Plumbing mishap

I thought I’d be clever and change all the washers in the bath, and show the kids how it’s done at the same time. The shower ones were okay, but when we tried to take off the bath hot, it broke away. Result: nothing to grip onto. I assume the whole bit will have to  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Govt plan: you must have a Myki to travel

This is a Short Term Ticket. Part of the Myki system, they are available in regional cities using Myki, for two-hour or daily fares, for people who don’t have a reusable Myki smartcard. Something that was missed in the announcement last month was that it’s not just trams where you won’t be able to buy  ... [More]

Categories
Culture transport

Art on local stations

Some local railway stations seem to have gained a lot of art in the last few weeks. Patterson station’s road underpass got a mosaic mural, with local schools contributing to a project devised by Pamela Irving. There’s some quite good pieces: It’s all aimed at improving the look of the station and reducing graffiti. THE  ... [More]

Categories
Going green Politics and activism

A few thoughts on the carbon scheme

New for June… a Lego house with solar panels on the roof. Here’s a few thoughts on the carbon scheme announced yesterday: 1. I simply don’t understand how the deniers can continue to be taken seriously by anybody when the vast majority of climate scientists agree there’s a problem that needs to be fixed. It  ... [More]

Categories
Politics and activism PTUA

A quote from forty years ago today

But solution of our problems involves hard cash. Of this, at present, public transport is getting less and less. … (Minister for Transport) Mr Wilcox emphasises that Government action depends largely on public demand. If such demands are not made funds go elsewhere. He says that while the motor car owner readily provides funds for  ... [More]

Categories
TV

What does WTFN stand for? (Keep it clean)

When their logo pops up on the telly at the end of some production, I often wonder what, if anything, WTFN stands for. Their offices in Hawthorn East have the logo above the entrance. Any suggestions welcome. But keep it clean. (If the photo looks distorted, it’s because I took it from the tram zooming  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Rail project “characterised by costly mistakes”

This week’s Regional Rail Link shutdown is not, of course, the first time major works have been done on the railways. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Fascinating stuff from The Argus, 17th October 1914: CAULFIELD RAILWAY. COSTLY DUPLICATION WORKS. ESTIMATE GREATLY EXCEEDED Provision has been made for the expenditure of  ... [More]

Categories
transport

How many trains are coming?

Just so we’re clear here about how many trains we are getting… Under Labor, in May 2007, initially 10 trains were funded. As political pressure over crowded trains increased, in October 2007, this was expanded by 8, making 18. In May 2009 this was expanded further by 20, making 38. All of these 38 are  ... [More]

Categories
Politics and activism transport

Labor’s controversial transport brochure dissected

Glen Mount Waverley MP Michael Gidley got into a scrap with some ALP campaign workers on Wednesday outside Parliament Station. On exiting the station, I received a brochure from an individual. I then sought advice from authorised officers at the station on the distribution of this information because I do not believe it is appropriate  ... [More]