(This is a second go at this picture, which didn’t quite get the long row of cabs I’d been hoping for. I can probably find longer if I try.) PS. Maybe I have a fascination for pictures of rows of things. Like garbage bins.
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Helping yourself
The bigwigs in retailing have talked about this for ages. Last week I tried out the funky new self-checkout computermachines at Big W at QV. Why queue to have someone serve you, when you can serve yourself? It’s a bit like a combination of using one of those price checker scanner things, and an ATM. ... [More]
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Odd, I thought
The other day I found a coathanger sitting on top of the hedge at the front of my house. Not one of those wire coathangers used by drycleaners, but a metal and plastic one like you might get when you buy a coat. Perfect condition. Odd place to find such a thing, I thought. Attempted ... [More]
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Time dreams
I might not have blogged about it, but I’ve had dreams before about having to be somewhere semi-unexpectedly, and running late. Last night’s was that (matching reality) I had to be somewhere today by 11am, out of my usual routine. In the dream, I woke and found every single clock in the house not working ... [More]
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Winter solstice
It was the winter solstice on Wednesday, and there’s been cold weather to match it this week. In Australia, we claim winter starts on the 1st of June. In many other countries, they say it starts on the solstice. By my reckoning, being the shortest day, it should actually be the middle of winter. I ... [More]
As a parent, I know one of the worst things is unwanted parenting advice. As such, it’s generally a topic of conversation I avoid like the plague — even in my blog when it’s directed at nobody in particular. But this has been bugging me, so just this once I will offer my opinion on ... [More]
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Need any clay?
While I was waiting for a train at Brighton Beach yesterday morning, there was a bulldozer doing its thing nearby. I stood there watching it ferrying loads of dirt from one pile to the other. I was pondering if someone could make a mint of money by setting up a quarry somewhere, and letting blokes ... [More]
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When is a shuttle not a shuttle?
Thoughts on the free Melbourne Tourist Shuttle bus service: Despite the name, it’s not a shuttle, it’s quite clearly a loop. I was going to say that unlike the (also free) City Circle tram, every bus I see go past is empty. But it’s not true: I saw one last week that had about 10 ... [More]
The good We had a low-key but enjoyable celebration of Marita’s birthday on Saturday. In doing so I discovered that both our suburbs are host to dog-related cafes — the Dancing Dog in Footscray, and the Spotted Dog in Bentleigh. And both do a very fine meal. The bulk of the rest of the weekend ... [More]
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The drought in urban areas
I’m guessing the drought is still on, because there doesn’t seem to have been much rain recently. (Today being an exception.) Obviously the impact in rural areas is a big problem, but what does it mean in urban areas? Water restrictions will keep going. No bad thing. I can’t believe until recently people used to ... [More]
Walk The Line — The story of Johnny Cash, and in particular his drug addiction and relationship with June Carter, based on his autobiography, which doesn’t paint him in entirely a good light. Interesting to see where some of his better-known songs, such as Folsom Prison Blues, and Walk The Line, come from. Really good. ... [More]
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Who is the real customer?
You might think you’re the customer at the supermarket, but actually supermarkets make most of their money by selling shelf space to manufacturers. They are the real customers. You might think you’re the customer when you buy a newspaper or watch the TV, but the media make their money by delivering viewers/readers to the advertisers. ... [More]
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It’s all about the timing
You have to feel some pity for the Australian morning daily papers. All this World Cup excitement, including a game last night won by Australia, but the lead times to get their newspaper onto peoples front lawns by breakfast time means they can’t report the results. They try and make up for it, but there’s ... [More]
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Happy with work
“In the mansion of life, we can’t all be the state bedroom. Someone’s gotta be the outside bog, and that’s you!” — Vince, in Pratt Outta Hell, by Ben Elton I wonder how many people are happy with the job they’re in, and how many are just killing time/earning some bucks while they work towards ... [More]
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My most played songs
Here is a combined list of my most played 21 songs from both my home PC/iPod, and work PC. I’ve listed 21 (rather than 20) because I’m going to assume the top one is some kind of computer glitch, since there’s no way I’ve listened to that song more than a couple of times since ... [More]
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Predetermined outcomes
The Howard government is doing it again. It’s just like the republic debate all over again. Back then it was not Do you want a republic, it was Do you want a republic with a Prez replacing Her Maj and the GG, appointed by a two-thirds majority of parliament. This time the energy inquiry being ... [More]