John Lennon died thirty years ago yesterday. He was as old then as I am now. It would have been the following day, thirty years ago today, when the news broke in Australia. I remember getting home from school and switching the television onto channel 9, probably to watch Skippy or The Curiosity Show. A ... [More]
I find it a little difficult to accept the big retailers’ claims that ensuring GST is applied to mail order goods ordered online from overseas will make a big difference. GST is only 10%. Take for example the DVD of Edge of Darkness, which I mentioned the other day. Amazon UK price: 3.97 + 3.68 ... [More]
A sign of the times: former Bentleigh MP Rob Hudson’s office, now vacated and up for rent. I wonder if anything gets handed across to the new member Elizabeth Miller’s office? In Federal land, Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt took over former member Lindsay Tanner’s office, but I suspect there was a big clearout ... [More]
This month it’s 25 years since the landmark mini-series Edge of Darkness concluded its first screening. I’m guessing I saw it a year or two later, and it remains one of my most favourite pieces of television ever… in fact it probably sparked my interest in the late-80s and early-90s in British television drama, particularly ... [More]
The PTUA’s Annual General Meeting was last night. There was some optimism amongst the committee and membership about where public transport is going since the change of government, but even before that, the political debate has been moving along nicely. An example we talked about last night… At a parliamentary hearing last year as part ... [More]
Interesting stuff: There is also growing research that younger generations do not relate to the automobile as enabling “freedom.” Instead, their electronic and social media devices–whether a smart phone, small lap top computer, music player, etc.–provide an alternate means for self expression and being free to do what they want. In the United States, kilometers ... [More]
Oh no, help me. Since seeing this I’ve had the chorus to “Livin’ on a prayer” going around in my brain. Mind you, maybe the words “Oh, we’re half way there” are appropriate for a tram trip.
Victoria: It’s part of the plan. Vancouver: *Be* part of the plan. It’s an important distinction.
Among the 12 (or more) seats lost by Labor in Saturday’s election were four in Melbourne’s south: Frankston, Carrum, Mordialloc, and Bentleigh. What do these have in common? The Frankston line. The Frankston line is the poorest performing in Melbourne. While overcrowding has eased since the June timetable change, punctuality is the worst in the ... [More]
Elizabeth Miller for Bentleigh. Energy, Trust, Commitment, and Snoopy. I certainly didn’t expect Bentleigh to go marginal in such a spectacular way. Apparently counting will resume at 4pm, and the result here may well determine the election. Earlier I spotted a journo and a photographer knocking on Rob Hudson’s door — without success. They then ... [More]
So how am I voting tomorrow? No comment. But I will tell you what I know about the policies on my pet topic: The Greens, as you might expect, have the best, most comprehensive public transport policy (though it’s not flawless by any means). Of course, we all know they are unlikely to be forming ... [More]
This morning on the Frankston line… Election stunt? The latest Metro Trains Authorised Officer uniforms? Year 12s last day/Schoolies celebration? Is there a Flashmob happening somewhere this morning? Or is it just the latest fashion? I wonder where they keep their Metcards/Mykis? (Caption on their bums: MorphSuits.com)
Taken from Deck 10 at the Adelphi Hotel at a friend’s birthday party a couple of weeks ago.
I’m not having a go at anybody in particular here, but making a point. I tweeted what I thought was an amusing comment from someone I don’t always find myself in thorough agreement with, Roads Minister Tim Pallas: Tim Pallas’s pledge: “I will never, ever, wear lycra in public.” http://j.mp/9Z9zlB #vicvotes — danielbowen A couple ... [More]
If you have your own internet domain name, you may have come across the Domain Registry of America (DROA), also known as the Domain Renewal Group. They’re a bunch of scammers who regularly and repeatedly send out letters which look like an invoice for a domain name, but are in fact custom advertisements for overpriced ... [More]
Last week Safeway Woolworths replaced all their trolleys as part of the makeover. And they all require a deposit — a $1 or $2 coin. Excellent. ‘Cos while I don’t usually use a trolley, when I do, I’m sick of them having wonky wheels because people have pushed them for miles and dumped them in ... [More]