Despite the cold, there’s a surprising number of people on the Sunday morning 9:58 to Frankston. Two uniformed sailors heading perhaps to the naval base at Crib Point after a night out (this train connects with the Stony Point train); a lady who insists on standing all the way to McKinnon, papers in her hand, ... [More]
I’ve been wondering about this for a while: if the government won’t fund wind power, is it possible to invest in it privately? I may not be able to buy my own personal windfarm, but could I buy a share in one? Yes I can. Thanks to a story on AM this morning, I found ... [More]
I know from last time that a post like this may set the cat among the pigeons, so I was going to spend a bit more time refining this. But I haven’t had time, so what the hell. Smoking would have to be the worst habit anybody could have, ever, wouldn’t it? Millions are addicted. ... [More]
When you see the Pope (or any world leader) speaking, at least you know the words are coming out of his own mouth, even if he may not have written it all himself. I do wonder though how much of a role the Pope had in sending the papal SMSs last week. Tue 15 July ... [More]
There are times when your comments go through the sausage factory that is the modern media machine, and come out elegantly encapsulating the issue, raising legitimate concerns, and capturing public opinion. And then there are times like these: But Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said most peak hour commuters wouldn’t see the new ... [More]
(Part I) 28/5/2011: Pictures tweaked.
Spot the difference… From the $5 million Eddington report (full version) page 84, section: “What other cities are doing” From urbanrail.net, a rail enthusiast web site run by Robert Schwandl Shanghai (China) — The Shanghai metro is one of the youngest in the world and among the most rapidly expanding. The first line opened in ... [More]
Judging from the bounces I’m getting from spammers appropriating my email address to use as a Sender, something which is alas unstoppable, the latest trend is to put an unbelievably tabloid subject line on the messages in the hope that people will open them. Or perhaps it’s to try and get through spam defences that ... [More]
Here’s how I’d work carbon trading if I were appointed Grand Emperor of the World, based on my ten minute assessment of the situation. I’d set an emissions cap on the world, starting in say 2010, based on the total emissions output of the world as of 2009. Each country gets a share of this, ... [More]
Dropped through Myer last Sunday (last day of their stocktake sale) to see if they had any nice work shirts or ties on special. I hate clothes shopping, but discounts numb the pain. Saw a shirt I thought looked all right. Special price: $29.95. Pelaco, okay brand. Take to counter. Extra super discount: rings up ... [More]
That cult show, the one I’ve liked for 30+ years. I think it’s really gone mainstream. Nice touch the ads being on phone booths, too. Not quite as well done as the Get Smart ones though.
The Melbourne Press Club have put up the MP3 recordings of last month’s “Public Transport: Ticket to Where?” debate. Their web page is a bit confusing (you have to click on the Quicktime logos), but here’s a summary of the MP3s: 1. Introductions — Not really worth listening to. 2. Paul Mees — You can’t ... [More]
If you were wondering (because I was), about the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae names that are way too cutesy to be companies managing $6 trillion in funds… turns out they are actually the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal National Mortgage Association respectively. There’s also: Farmer Mac (the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation) ... [More]
They’ve almost finished revamping the streetscape along Centre Road. As a resident and ratepayer, I have only one question about the lighting outside the post office: Why? I could perhaps understand it if it was a popular spot at night. But it’s not. I suppose it looks kinda cool, kinda groovy, the green light emanating ... [More]
The CSIRO says petrol could reach $8 per litre by 2018, due to supply peaking, then declining. (Of this, even at a cost of $10 per tonne of carbon, only 25 cents would be an emissions charge.) Jayne’s history blog notes that this month in 1940, “Petrol rationing was introduced, with motorists permitted to travel ... [More]
Shopping at an IGA Supermarket near me is a bit like stepping back in time. The cash registers don’t have the full colour screens like in Coles and Safeway. But the shelves do have those electronic price tags that were all the rage in the early-noughties at places like K-Mart, before they realised that they ... [More]