I’m fumin’. I’ve seen Frontline, so I know not to watch Today Tonight or A Current Affair and expect to see serious or accurate reporting. But last night Media Watch revealed just how far TT would go in the chase for ratings. This time, they’ve edited comments from Australian Muslims, leaving an impression of them ... [More]
Time to walk faster
Well, there’s one bloke I shouldn’t expect a Christmas card from this year… Maybe that came over as being a bit harsh, but it was an attempt to subvert what was essentially a fluffy publicity piece and provide a view of how well his ministry is actually performing. Most people, including those who don’t use ... [More]
Quick reviews
The Station Agent — A train spotter with dwarfism… and he’s probably the most normal character in it. I found the attitudes of some of the passers-by towards him a little strange, and at odds to the way I’ve seen people react to short people. But a very enjoyable film; quite amusing in parts, thankfully ... [More]
My first tax return
During the continuing clearout of junk, today I came across my first tax return, from 1988-1989. The highlights: I had a HECS debt of $900 Income was $3167 from Austudy, and $2368 from my part time job The only other money earnt was a mighty $1.57 in bank account interest Total income a huge $5536, ... [More]
Doctor Who 2005: the second half
(See also: my review of the first half of the season.) 8. Father’s Day — Like almost every episode of the series, this turned out to be much better than the trailer would have had us believe. It takes a sci-fi element — travelling back to when Rose’s father was still alive, and saving his ... [More]
Blargh. I have a cold. I could feel it coming on yesterday afternoon… the tell-tale throat (itchy, then sore), the sneezing, the lack of energy. It took hold last night. So another day off work. Jeremy was sick on Tuesday; Isaac and I today. I’m sure it would be economically better for me if everyone ... [More]
I was told there was a good article in this week’s Big Issue. So I went looking for it this morning on the way to work. Normally I pass at least two sellers on Collins Street, plus another at the Parliament station exit. Do you think I saw any of them today? Nope, not a ... [More]
The great clear-out of junk has commenced, with my filing cabinet being trimmed of fat. Accordingly, I decided to borrow my mum’s shredder to make sure that no bits of paper I’m chucking out will fall into the wrong hands. I’ve tried to avoid getting paranoid about such things in the past, but with the ... [More]
Canberra day 3
(This post backdated to the date it happened, not the date I wrote it.) Not much to day 3, but during breakfast a rather impressive hot air balloon sailed by not too far away. We caught a cab to the airport, the only notable thing about the trip back being that tea strainers bought on ... [More]
Canberra day 2
(This post backdated to the date it happened, not the date I wrote it.) It might have been a negative-something night outside, but the bed was lovely and warm. We awoke, had breakfast and showers, and … Wait, I should mention the shower. Everything in the serviced apartment we stayed in was great. Except the ... [More]
Canberra day 1
(This post backdated to the date it happened, not the date I wrote it.) Marita, Justine and I got a lunchtime flight out of Melbourne, and got to Canberra, Australia’s capital city, a little less than an hour later. Straight off the plane, through baggage claim and into a cab bound for Kingston, and the ... [More]
Off to Canberra
I’m off to Canberra until Sunday. Be good, and don’t burgle my house. PS. 12:05pm. Courtesy of Justine, hello from the Melbourne Qantas Club. Woo hoo, free Internet! PPS. Sunday 12:40pm. Well I just flew back from Canberra, and my arms are tired. Will post about it soon. In the mean time, Tony and Rae ... [More]
Here it is, the house in all its glory… The livingroom(this is the agent’s picture, so the furniture isn’t mine) The kitchen(furniture not mine) Hopefully it’ll look half as good with all my crap strewn around it!
Blogging and chocolate
Blogging is starting to be taken seriously by product promoters. Some time back I posted (rather bitterly I admit) about the exhorbitant price of a TV theme mobile jingle I bought. Someone at the TV listing company that had linked to it (not the actual jingle company who got the money) saw that post, tracked ... [More]
Mortgage angst
I had a sudden moment of philosophical mortgage angst yesterday morning on the train. Reading the paper I found myself pondering if I was doing the right thing, signing up to borrow ARGH thousand dollars, to spend the next 25 years paying it off. Working for The Man, money goes in, money goes out… is ... [More]
Petrol prices climbing
Petrol prices are hitting record levels, something that’s been predicted for some time by the Peak Oil people. On Sunday I took the kids across town to visit their grandad’s/my dad’s place, for his 74th birthday. With my last petrol fill-up costing over $60 (thankfully it’s only about fortnightly), my public transport travel already paid ... [More]