Categories
TV

When I were a lad

I was noticing the other week that Isaac referred to some past golden age “when I were a lad”. I asked him if he knew where the expression came from. He didn’t. Where it comes from (at least in our house) is the Four Yorkshiremen sketch, which has been adopted by Monty Python, but in  ... [More]

Categories
Consumerism

Kmart – promoting responsible parenting

(Or: Acting on childhood obesity.)

Categories
Culture Melbourne

Pic: Anubis on his way to catch a train

Anubis on his way to catch a train at Southern Cross Station. I wonder if he uses Google Chrome?

Categories
transport

Armed guards at stations

The debate around armed Protective Service Officers on stations is heating up. The Police Association, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the Public Transport Users Association want a high-level meeting to develop the best way of tackling crime and safety problems. … Support for the armed guard plan is evaporating. … There now appears  ... [More]

Categories
Melbourne

The view from a helicopter beats Google Earth

This morning we took a helicopter ride. It was a gift from M for my birthday last year. Here’s the footage. The chopper was very loud; we had headsets to talk with, so you can’t hear most of our commentary. I’ll add a few captions, but no doubt you may spot stuff I didn’t. Unfortunately  ... [More]

Categories
Social media

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-04-09

@veedub3057 Well you know Brit dentists have a reputation. in reply to veedub3057 # Why do some shows like A Quiet Word on #ABC1 now look so pixellated? # Ah, Sunday timetables. Next few trains Footscray to City: 9:20, 9:31, 10:00, 10:11… #MetroTrains #NotCustomerFriendly #

Categories
transport

Now there’s no excuse for not standing on the left of the escalators going into Parliament Station

Now there’s no excuse for not standing on the left of the escalators going into Parliament Station. Surely nobody could miss this new signage. Mind you, “exit promptly” doesn’t really apply when you’re on your way in. But full marks to Metro for addressing this problem here… now if they can get prominent signage into  ... [More]

Categories
transport

In Lonsdale Street you can park legally in the bus stop

Melbourne’s busiest bus street, Lonsdale Street, has a bus every minute or two. By my estimate, based on looking at the Melway (because there is still no system-wide PT map available) and checking a few timetables, between the peaks on weekdays, on the busiest section of Elizabeth Street to Russell Street, we have… routes 200/201/203/205/207:  ... [More]

Categories
transport

RRL: We must build more rail lines. This is a rail line, therefore we must build it.

Regional Rail Link is a $5ish billion project to separate out V/Line trains, by running the Geelong line via new stations at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit to Deer Park, then into the City (along with Ballarat and Bendigo line trains) on dedicated tracks. Yesterday it was confirmed that it would go ahead. The idea of  ... [More]

Categories
Geek / tech

Facebook, why must you do this?

I don’t understand why Facebook keeps changing my “most recent” news preference to “top news“. I don’t trust “top news” because it keeps hiding stuff from me that I want to see, and showing me stuff I don’t. Comments here indicate I’m not alone.

Categories
transport

New platforms at Southern Cross

When Southern Cross Station was built/renovated/unnecessarily renamed, someone made the wise decision to include provision for an extra two platforms: 15 and 16. These are now being built as part of the (possibly otherwise ill-fated) Regional Rail Link project, and seem to be progressing nicely. July 2010: Last week: There’s a catch. It’s the big  ... [More]

Categories
Social media

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-04-02

Just caught two buses. First had 27 aboard. Second 14. But of course, nobody catches buses, esp on weekends. #402 #223 # Yes, I catch buses. That's just how I roll. # Last night the Cats scraped in by a point. Somehow I doubt NSW Labor will be that lucky. #nswvotes #

Categories
Health Melbourne

Bushwalking

I had intended for us to do regular bush walks this year, as part of getting fitter and burning off some flab. We did one, at the You Yangs, in January. We did the walk up to Flinders Peak to admire the view and get the heart pumping. Turns out the park was damaged during  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Quick review of the new Metro timetables

So, the new Metro timetables are out, and those of us with geeky tendencies have been poring over them. (As one journo commented, it must take a special kind of person to work on these things for months on end.) Here’s my summary: In the west Altona Loop trains originate at Laverton, meaning a lot  ... [More]

Categories
News and events Sport

So, apparently Ponting’s stepping down

Not much chance of missing this news.

Categories
Politics and activism

Don’t just complain. Take action.

(Pic originally posted in October. Accompanying Facebook group.) No doubt this will sound familiar to those who are active in voluntary advocacy groups: “I DEMAND TO KNOW WHY YOUR GROUP OF OVERWORKED VOLUNTEERS, WHICH I AM NOT A MEMBER OF, IS NOT PURSUING MY PERSONAL GRIEVANCE.” I suspect many people have a genuine grievance, but  ... [More]