My waterproof jacket self-destructed late last year, and while Melbourne hasn’t been over-endowed with rain recently, part of my plan to become a dedicated pedestrian includes having the appropriate gear to stroll down the street no matter what the weather, so I’d been meaning to buy a new one. Last week via some junk mail ... [More]
Brrr. Winter time. Wintertime. How is it that Mother Nature knows to make it cold as soon as we go off summer time? Saturday was wet in Melbourne (much-needed rain), but at least it wasn’t cold. Sunday… dry but cool and windy. The moment the sun went down, cold. I felt the need to wear ... [More]
So today we’ve had the Citylink tunnels closed due to a fatal crash, a gas leak in Malvern causing the suspension of Frankston and Dandenong trains, a big grass fire in Sunshine, and vomit-inducing fumes last night at a restaurant in Doncaster. And I heard a truckload of (non-flammable, apparently) orange bottles spilled all over ... [More]
Marita & Justine’s dog Maisie will occasionally get it into her head that she knows a complete stranger. “I know you!” she’ll think, and barrel up to them, tail wagging. “I like you! I know you! I do!” But she doesn’t. I got a similar feeling yesterday, queuing up to buy some lunch. A man ... [More]
I don’t know if there’s ever been proof that males have some genetic thing that makes them (well, most of them) inherently interested in engineering, but sometimes it seems that way. Everyone has their own particular interests, of course. Most people know that I’m not particularly impressed with cars. Although I will confess to liking ... [More]
You know, there’s a reason they’re called golf umbrellas. It doesn’t make them suited for crowded CBD footpaths. And why is it that smaller people seem to like them so much? You’d think they had less body mass that needed rain protection. Fair enough if multiple people are cowering under them I suppose. But more ... [More]
I write on various blogs regularly. (Okay, some aren’t really meant to be blogs, but use blogging software.) You bash out some text, hit Post and you’re done. Just try writing for a paper medium though. I’ve been putting together the latest PTUA newsletter, which gets posted out on (recycled) paper to members. 7 pages ... [More]
Santoro’s out. I think it’s kind of a shame. It’s rare that the Australian parliament can boast his level of alliteration. He wasn’t just Santo Santoro, he was Senator Santo Santoro. A few months ago I mentioned theories about fluoride improving dental health. Now a study has concluded that yes, it’s made a big difference. ... [More]
Following up from yesterday… In many cities, it’s common for white-collar male workers to wear shirt+tie, though casual Friday is becoming more popular in some companies. For some people, it appears that even the suit jacket is compulsory, including on the hottest days. From what I can see, this primarily seems to include (male) politicians ... [More]
I can understand why some white-collar women wear runners on their commute given how uncomfortable and impractical some of the shoes they wear around the office look. I don’t understand why some men feel the same way though. It’s not like they wear platform shoes or high heels at work. (Unless their work is odder ... [More]
Don’t forget. Must remember. Don’t forget. Must remember. Yearly ticket runs out tomorrow. Yearly ticket runs out tomorrow. Yearly ticket runs out tomorrow. Yearly ticket runs out tomorrow. Maybe I’ll just put the next ticket in my wallet right now.
It’s hard rubbish week. Not even anybody on Freecycle wanted my ratty old couch, so out it goes. I let the kids run riot on it yesterday after we took it out onto the nature strip. By this morning, various other bits and pieces of crap, including my mum’s old broken washing machine, had been ... [More]
Ah, it’s the long weekend… perfect for sleeping in, reading the paper, lazing around the house and… updating your blog. I’m doing some tweaks, to upgrade the software (to get anti-spam filters working properly; you should see the amount of comment spam I get), fiddle with the template etc. So if you notice it looking ... [More]
Warning: This post has been flagged TMI (Too Much Information). You have been warned. Hair on my head gets lopped off by the barber every month or two; whenever it seems to long (getting wavy at the top is usually the indicator for me) and I have the inclination to stop looking like a long-haired ... [More]
Bullbars have a legitimate use in some rural areas, where threats such as kangaroos and other wildlife can do significant damage to a car and its occupants. In urban areas though, they’re a menace, significantly increasing the chances of injury and death to other car occupants, cyclists and pedestrians. Given that 90 percent of 4WDs ... [More]
When I were a lad, my sister and I walked to primary school with our friends — at least in the upper part of primary school; I don’t recall the first few years; I assume my mum walked with us, though she’s said a friend in the same block used to occasionally drive us. But ... [More]