tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-221805832024-03-14T20:55:20.576+11:00Notes From Melbourne...Notes from an Englishman in old Melbourne town who ran out of space on the back of his beer mat, so decided to write on a blog instead...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-61800498289681867902010-07-30T19:58:00.002+10:002010-07-30T20:02:08.936+10:00iPhone therefore iAm ? #2<div class="entry-content"> <div class="snap_preview"><p>Today the iPhone 4 was released in Australia. For my opinions on such displays of human covetousness please read my post of July 12, 2008. The queues were surprising considering the iPhone 4 apparently has reception ‘issues’ and doesn’t work as it says on the box. I think I’ll stick to my iPhone 3g for a while longer, until the issues are resolved (and I am out of contract). I’ll let the early adopters throw away perfectly good existing 3g iPhones and fork out massive termination fees for their breaking their contracts all so they can be the first (among thousands) to own the latest (partially defective) status symbol*.</p> <p>*Written whilst shaking head in despair at the gullibility of the human race and its innate weakness in the face of rampant and strategic, manipulative, cynical marketing.</p> </div></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-11560587789499771432010-05-15T14:15:00.001+10:002010-05-15T14:16:47.658+10:00Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!In this year's Australian budget $625 million was allocated for the environment. A noble course, and what you might think is a fair amount of money, until you look at the money allotted to sport - $1.2 billion. I am disgusted. Even for a country obsessed with sport (sport being, in my humble opinion, a pointless exercise to keep the unimaginative occupied) there is something manifestly and abhorrently wrong about this. As much as I like many aspects of this country, there is still a lot wrong with the attitude here. On reflection though, I imagine this type of governmental funding disparity is unique to Australia.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-62081737333244088702010-01-25T18:14:00.034+11:002010-01-26T09:44:56.395+11:00Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIsTPzf-TYjUUqVc0-WFoVu8Y_7sUu4uP4pGTmQafFunoM89pwtPNcO_FUhbilWpgdLKwtri_3MyCG8FyMM7F3lDQMca5_2PEJ3utblgq5a8Is9A7KBMGsytTjO2GaAUZusE_/s1600-h/australian+flag.jpg"><img style="text-align: center;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 255px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIsTPzf-TYjUUqVc0-WFoVu8Y_7sUu4uP4pGTmQafFunoM89pwtPNcO_FUhbilWpgdLKwtri_3MyCG8FyMM7F3lDQMca5_2PEJ3utblgq5a8Is9A7KBMGsytTjO2GaAUZusE_/s320/australian+flag.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430809647937954546" /></a><br /><div class="entry-content" face="times new roman"> <div class="snap_preview"><div class="entry-content" face="times new roman"> <div class="snap_preview"><div class="entry-content"> <div class="snap_preview"><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The Australia Day national holiday this year falls on a Tuesday, tomorrow in fact. A good opportunity for many to take a long weekend by having Monday off as annual leave. Not me though. I made the effort and went in to the office. In fact it’s a good day to do it. The trains are almost deserted and the whole city seems to be in a holiday mood.</p> <p>As I write these words thousands of generation Y kids will be excitedly preparing their Aussie flags ready for wrapping around themselves tomorrow, making sure they have plenty of VB in the drinks fridge and using facebook to plan where to go to be loud, drunk and annoying with their friends.</p> <p>I’m best off staying at home tomorrow I think… Luckily I have neither a large Australian flag or a desire to be insincerly patriotic in public.</p> </div> </div></div> </div></div> </div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-22602113265411727532009-11-26T19:34:00.006+11:002010-01-26T15:11:22.413+11:00The end of the world... Again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I8bLL1rJx0qSJEgXi9RtU5dBivGtYyiOrXk50Ne5DWiIdRMUYXQsA90Eva39QXoaP20qpMYyKtbNCGjfc9jZ5dnRzrSi9hn4tLH-qssIgSdj5WCl-DPv7spoBxyNXo_OjIfR/s1600/2012_Poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I8bLL1rJx0qSJEgXi9RtU5dBivGtYyiOrXk50Ne5DWiIdRMUYXQsA90Eva39QXoaP20qpMYyKtbNCGjfc9jZ5dnRzrSi9hn4tLH-qssIgSdj5WCl-DPv7spoBxyNXo_OjIfR/s320/2012_Poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408339267905119810" border="0" /></a>So December 21, 2012 is the end of the world according to Mayan legend. Actually the Mayan calender says no such thing, it is just that 2012 is simply the end of the cycle and after that it merely starts up again. My point is that any excuse is jumped upon these days for a good 'end of the world' panic. It must be something particularly deeply embedded the human psyche as it's been going on for centuries, leaving poor, confused and possibly disappointed believers still alive time after time. For example I was reading Samuel Pepys diary last night and came across an interesting entry, part of which quoted below:<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />25 November 1662</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Great talk among people how some of the Fanatics do say that the end of the world is at hand, and that next Tuesday is to be the day."</span><br /><br />Obviously it wasn't as Pepys went on to write many more years worth of diary entries detailing his life (and the fact you are reading this blog) attests to the inaccuracy of the Restoration London doomsayers.<br /><br />So why does this odd 'end of the world' phenomenon exist in so many societies? In my opinion it stems form a deep seated human insecurity about loss. Early man had little control over his world. Over time his power increased and his control has now become almost supreme (poorly managed, but supreme) yet still that archaic, instinctual fear of the dark remains, the only difference is now he just makes money out of it.<br /><br />See you at the movies...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-77046029682596711822009-09-26T22:17:00.005+10:002010-05-15T14:18:10.930+10:00Victoria Stops...Today is Aussie Rules Football Grand Final day. The whole of the 'footy' season has led inexorably to this point, the final clash between the two best teams of the year. Now I am totally and utterly unimpressed by any sport, especially the seemingly pointless running after a ball on some grass (either playing, as I was sadistically forced to by gorilla like P.E. teachers, at school, or watching it live or on the TV). However, I understand this actually makes me an aberration to the average Australian. The concept of a male who is not into sport is beyond many of them, and for the rest I defy categorisation.<br /><br />Grand Final day is always on a Saturday and it is always interesting to be out and about in the afternoon (the game starts mid afternoon). Everywhere is deserted, it's like Christmas Day on Mars, there is not a soul about. It's a different story in the morning before the game of course, supermarket and alcohol retailers are awash with party goers and throwers stocking up on slabs of beer and meat for the inevitable BBQ's.<br /><br />This afternoon I visited Bunnings (major hardware chain) which is normally packed with people buying home improvement paraphernalia and has checkout queues snaking for miles, but this afternoon, I swear I saw tumbleweed rolling down the bathroom fittings isle. The normally harassed staff members were huddled in groups looking forlorn and slightly confused by the lack of custom.<br /><br />Back home the street were empty, the usual kids on bikes, the dog walkers, the cars driving past were all missing from the scene, it was weird and slightly unnerving, OK so it may have something to do with the fact it was freezing cold and intermittently pouring with rain, but undoubtedly the game is the main reason for the uncanny quietude.<br /><br />So Grand Final day is a possibly one of the most important dates on any Victorian's calendar (except for me of course) and along with Melbourne Cup day 'the horse race that stops a nation' (which I have talked about elsewhere on this blog) it will grind the state to a virtual halt. Personally I prefer Melbourne Cup day as it's on a Tuesday and everyone in Melbourne gets a holiday, whether they plan to watch the race or not, now that's a sports mad attitude for you...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-47031957109791407012009-09-24T19:58:00.001+10:002009-09-24T19:59:47.096+10:00"Disappointed" Not!So the major share holders have held a panic meeting to decide upon what action to take in response to the federal government’s descision to separate Telstra’s wholesale and retail divisions, effectively reducing the monopoly of Australia’s incumbant telecommunicatios provider. It makes me laugh to see these scared monopolizers running about like headless chickens desperately trying to salvage their portfolios and keep the country shackled to an outdated and expensive buisness model. I can almost hear the CEOs bemoaning to each other the possibility they may have to reconsider the purchase of their new BMWs, and the fact it may be difficult to justify that planned third overseas holiday this year, whilst outwardly stating they are selflessly acting on behalf of the shareholders. They would prefer to keep the country paying through the nose for basic services than compromise their ivory tower positions and allow decent competition. Such is capitalism I guess. <br /><br />So regardless of the federal government’s real intentions behind the decision, I congratulate them on their attempt to slay the spoilt, petulent dragon and level the competitive playing field. I’m just glad I don’t hold any BMW shares.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-88887129903901895452009-08-29T09:54:00.002+10:002009-09-24T19:57:58.035+10:00SelloutI feel like a sellout. After my vitriolic post last year about the Apple iPhone I have about faced and bought one, in fact I am writing this post on it. I still have the same opionion of the iPhone and its users, it was however the best smart phone and the best deal for me at the time. I do though have an abiding fear I may become cool and groovy by owning it...<p>Sent from my iPhoneSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-32648575726327101632008-09-10T22:05:00.006+10:002008-09-10T22:26:12.833+10:00Into the void, maybe<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">So the CERN Large Hadron Collider was turned on today. A machine that when put to the purpose for which it was designed in the next week or two could potentially lead to some of the most important discoveries in physics and, in turn, the nature of the universe and existence itself. Pretty important some might say. However, how many people have you heard discussing it in the street, the office or the home – beyond the sensationalist “It will create a black whole and the Earth will be sucked in and we’re all doomed!” type conversation? I haven’t heard or been a part of many such discussions.<br /><br />Does this mean that people aren’t really interested in the nature of existence and the discoveries that might result in answers to the biggest questions mankind can ask? Seems so to me, and to be honest, I’m really not that surprised. Then again it might not matter if we are all sucked into that (possible) black hole, it couldn’t be much more vapid than the average TV reality show that you probably have heard people discussing today.</span>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-50595131455078127322008-07-12T16:35:00.002+10:002008-07-12T16:42:20.034+10:00iPhone therefore iAm<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I was going to write something about yesterday’s release of the iPhone in Australia, but I have thought better of it. If you are interested in my opinion of those who queued for hours to be some of the first Aussies to join the “groovy tribe” (as Dr. Lisa Dethridge, creative media lecturer at RMIT referred to these people) check out my blog posts from 2006 regarding the frenzy over the opening of the first Krispy Kreme Doughnut stores in Melbourne<a href="http://notesfrommelbourne.blogspot.com/2006/03/i-wouldnt-queue-for-that.html"> </a><a href="http://notesfrommelbourne.blogspot.com/2006/03/i-wouldnt-queue-for-that.html">here</a> and <a href="http://notesfrommelbourne.blogspot.com/2006/06/cops-called-to-quell-krispy-queue.html">here</a>. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">No, I will write something here as I feel like I am the only person who is not falling at the feet of the great Apple god and worshipping it with my hard earned cash. I just question how having something that is so coveted, and soon to be commonplace, makes you individual and cool. Within days we will be seeing iPhones everywhere, negating their perceived coolness, surely the antithesis of coolness is commonness. I make no comment on the iPhones technical aspects here, I am sure that it is brilliant at what it does, and in true Apple style it will continue to break the mould of accepted design. But I don’t think the majority of people will be buying it for these reasons, I think that the iPhone will continue to be popular because people think they are buying ‘coolness’ when in fact they are buying some fantastic marketing. </span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-5507015551336200162008-03-06T19:33:00.011+11:002008-07-12T23:13:53.985+10:002020 Vision? We'll see.<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">It is true, there is no denying the fact Australia has possibly one of the least developed broadband structures in the western world, it lags a long way behind Europe, America and much of Asia. I think this strange considering I have found the Australians have a great love affair with new technology, and appear to be some of the world’s greatest early adopters in this area. In my experience, backed up by a little research, I have decided this situation has much to do with the Australian telecommunications incumbent, Telstra, and its apparent inability to see beyond the profit spreadsheets. It seems to be too busy funnelling money to the shareholders rather than investing it in new infrastructure and actually doing something about this embarrassing state of affairs. Telstra’s stranglehold on the telecommunications marketplace means that the smaller telecommunications providers are always behind the proverbial eight ball when it comes to taking the lead and implementing new infrastructure. Of course, this is just my opinion, and thankfully I live in a country where free speech is regarded as paramount and I know that should anyone within the Telstra organisation happen across this little blog post, they will appreciate it for the informed and independent opinion it is meant to be, and if they feel differently they might comment in a constructive and objective manner.<br /><br />Considering the above it seems to me that Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has taken the lead in sorting this issue out with his newly announced 2020 summit, which will take place in April and will apparently “discuss the challenges facing Australia” <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/lightning-internet-on-way/2008/03/01/1204227055167.html">see here</a>. However, I personally think he read <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7264106.stm">this article</a> on the BBC news website which describes Australia as,</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" > “- a country that is surprisingly backward when it comes to things like broadband speeds and major infrastructure projects” </span><span style="font-size:100%;">and he was shamed into announcing plans to drag the country into the modern era when it comes to high tech communications. I just hope that Telstra CEO, Mr Solomon Trujillo saw the article too.</span>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-70613279337853084462008-02-24T19:15:00.009+11:002008-03-02T13:12:57.054+11:00Who turned out the lights?<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:100%;">My company moved to new a new office building last year. I found my new desk was situated in a fantastic position, in fact the best position I have ever found myself sitting, I had a full length window which overlooked the Yarra river and enjoyed that most sought after of commodities in an office, natural sunlight, all through my working day. You may have noticed that that last statement was in the past tense. That’s because my beloved position has moved, yes it’s over and I, along with the rest of my department, have been banished to the dark and foreboding cave that is the centre of the open plan floor, a space with no more than three faltering and asthmatic neon tubes to illuminate the pervading gloom.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I have been sitting at my new desk now for a week, and as expected, it is like working on the night shift. Whilst at my desk last Wednesday, just before drifting off into a short doze brought about by the monotonous work and the low, almost romantic, light levels, I counted all of the desks I have sat at in the past ten and a half years of working for my employer. It was quite surprising, almost twenty in fact, spanning five buildings. You can see how I fell asleep can’t you?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-46994853807985746252008-02-13T17:47:00.005+11:002008-02-13T18:32:38.983+11:00Australia says "Sorry"<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;" lang="EN-AU" >So today saw the Prime Minister make a formal apology to the indigenous peoples of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region>. This is something that the former Prime Minister John Howard refused to do for the last ten years as he didn’t seem to think it was needed. It has taken only two and a half months for the new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to say “Sorry” on behalf of all Australian citizens, something that, according to one pole I saw today, about 70% of Australians supported him in doing.</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;" lang="EN-AU" >Two observations on my part about this: A Wednesday morning in the middle of the working week was chosen to make the speech. Granted large TV screens were erected around the place to televise Kevin Rudd’s apology speech, but why wasn’t it done on a weekend when more people would be able to actually take notice and be a part of it, underlining the supposed support for the action? My second observation is that of an average nine to fiver slaving at my desk, an observation which was quite enlightening I thought. There was precisely no reaction at all. In the office there was no mention of the speech that occurred during the morning, no discussion amongst my fellow employees, not even a fleeting comment did I hear. No acknowledgment that anything as politically and historically significant as this apology was occurring whatsoever. This surprised me a little. Consideration reveals two possible reasons, and in reality it was probably due to a combination of these two reasons, one being I am temporarily working amongst a office full of call centre staff (of which I am not one I wish to add here – not that there is anything wrong with call centre staff) with a median (mental) age of about twelve, and my second reason is that there seems to be a overwhelming sense of outward apathy on the ground (as it were) regarding this issue amongst many. I make no conclusion here, perhaps my observations are not particularly worthwhile as a lot of people, I know, prefer to keep their political convictions private, I just wanted to mention my (hopefully unbiased) observations here today.</span><span style="font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-30725200660714384952008-02-09T16:33:00.000+11:002008-02-09T18:48:18.939+11:00A new year and some imminent new arrivals...<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Georgia;">Well another new year and it is nearly the middle of February by the time I get around to writing in my blog. Nothing new in that I guess, It does make me realise how disciplined you need to be to keep up regular posts though. So I suppose that makes me irresponsible? No I don’t think so, just time challenged.<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Georgia;">Things are fairly quiet around here right now, after hosting family and friends since early November the house has returned once more to the quiet peaceful abode it was prior to becoming a temporary hotel for international visitors. Don’t misunderstand me though, it was great to see everyone, but it is nice to chill out a bit after they have gone home. This peaceful state of affairs will I doubt last for long though. We are expecting the arrival of twins in a couple of months and then, well let’s just say it will be different. I haven’t mentioned this here before as it didn’t seem too real for some reason, now though, with a heavily pregnant wife to try and avoid bumping into in the narrow parts of the house, and piles of new baby items accumulating in every spare corner, it is time to blog about it, as I am sure that soon, I will have nothing else to talk about but babies and all the many and varied things that accompany them<o:p></o:p></span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-70901867443534228692007-11-29T16:53:00.000+11:002007-12-03T10:01:08.441+11:00I Vote Therefore I Am?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUCSyD-zC-Up2bsbZ0ZLLAbvJxMBGH83Rv8eTFg3GLYXiCcS4iyC5mlVSxXrl87rSxjv4gJZzytXn_MTKFm-4wqGqFomq53NF_PQ_P8izBWnNqG5UTcXu8LileL7CS1JdwtMi/s1600-h/Polling+Place.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138137802309501746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUCSyD-zC-Up2bsbZ0ZLLAbvJxMBGH83Rv8eTFg3GLYXiCcS4iyC5mlVSxXrl87rSxjv4gJZzytXn_MTKFm-4wqGqFomq53NF_PQ_P8izBWnNqG5UTcXu8LileL7CS1JdwtMi/s320/Polling+Place.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Georgia;">I meant to mention this as soon as I had done it, but well, as usual time got away from me. Last weekend was the Australian general election and I did my duty as a new(ish) Australian citizen by voting. Of course the privilege of playing a part in the democratic election of government in a country you were not born in is taken very seriously by most immigrants – especially if they are relatively new to the place. So, with a fair amount of pride I made my way to the nearest polling station on Saturday morning and stood in a snaking line which passed the obligatory sausage sizzle table, beneath the burning Australian sun and waited to perform my civic duty.<br /><br />In the UK, if I had felt so inclined, I may have exercised my right to abstain from voting, however here, there are no such rights – everyone over the age of eighteen has to vote. How do they make you do that? Well if you don’t get your name ticked off the electoral roll, which is done when you turn at the polling station, you are slapped with a $50 fine, unless you can prove there was no way you could have made it. This is of course a great incentive to make people play a part in the election of a new government or the return of the existing one. You have to have very strong convictions to say “No, I refuse to vote as all politicians are untrustworthy” or words to that effect and not turn up - $50 buys a lot of beer…<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-76646203210259749132007-11-23T19:40:00.000+11:002007-11-23T20:26:58.295+11:00Radio Wasteland<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12;">Today is a dark day for Australian radio, it marks the end of one of this country’s best comedy shows. ‘<a href="http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/shows/getthis/index.html">Get This</a>’ with Tony Martin, Ed Kavalee and Richard Marsland on the Triple M radio network was broadcast for the last time this afternoon after just under two years on air. It was axed by Triple M who cited various ‘production reasons’, even though it had the highest listening figures of any show on the station. By way of protest for this unforgivable act, I for one will never listen to Triple M again. ‘Get This’ was the most irreverent alternative comedy show on commercial radio in this country and it’s loss has dealt a blow to quality programming. ‘Get This’ was the proverbial breath of fresh air in a stagnant sea of unimaginative and predictable radio (please forgive the mixed metaphor).<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12;">As the final echoes of ‘Get This’ recede into the ether, </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12;">I know I am not the only one who has hit the off button on Triple M for good.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">RIP ‘Get This’.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-70823121349137055102007-11-17T09:12:00.000+11:002007-11-23T21:56:44.975+11:00Look Up...<span style="" lang="EN-AU">A recent gardening experience has reminded me that I haven’t actually mentioned any stories regarding Australian spiders on this blog. I suppose the ‘bizarre fauna of Australia’ type post is only of any interest to non- Aussies, as many of those who grow up here are not really that bothered about random encounters with the country’s various selection of often dangerous, or at the least nasty looking, arachnids. However the locals do love to tell newcomers apocryphal stories of spider attacks and ambushes, especially to foreigners. This, I have deduced through experience, is done solely to extract a terrified reaction out of said newcomer and thus a good laugh for themselves. My favourite of this type of story involves the large huntsman spider which is I think one of the more vsually shocking spiders to come across, with a span of up six inches and more. Anyway, the story involves a driver who flicks down the sun visor whilst driving, but nestled between the sun visor and the cars roof lining is a large huntsman. The spider drops from its hiding place and lands on the lap of the driver. The shock of having a large, fast moving spider and on the lap causes the driver to swerve and loose control of the car resulting in an accident. Now although this story is told across the country and is almost mythical in status, this does actually happen, and although it hasn’t happened to me (yet) it has happened to someone I know, although they managed to retain control of the car.<o:p></o:p></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p>Luckily the Huntsman is not a particularly dangerous spider, you wouldn’t come to any adverse harm if you were attacked, however, if you happen to crash as a result of a close encounter that fact won’t be too much of a comfort. In fact the Huntsman is likely to fall you almost anywhere. They mainly live in narrow spaces between the bark of a tree and the trunk and are quite flat to allow this – this also means they are quite adept to finding their way into houses. Often I have woken to find a large black spider shape in the bedroom, kitchen or bathroom. Finding yourself in the shower only to look up once the water is running to find a Huntsman on the ceiling directly above your head can be memorable experience. They are a heavy spider and not particular good at retaining their grip on a slippery surface, say the damp piece of ceiling above a running shower. A shower under these circumstances is usually a quick shower. Another favourite Huntsman trick is to drop on you as you open an outside door. They sometimes sit half on the door and half on the door frame. When the door is opened they are dislodged, and if you are particularly unlucky and get the timing wrong, they drop right on top on you; again the shock value when this happens can be considerable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p>Seems I have waffled on too much in this post, so the tale of my recent gardening encounter with an antipodean arachnid will have to wait until my next post. </span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-16192304540939816452007-10-24T12:01:00.000+10:002007-11-01T20:31:49.637+11:00Where's the sunscreen?<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;">As much as I hate starting a sentence with a cliché, spring is in the air in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city>. Last weekend we had our first taste of warmer temperatures this spring. It made it up thirty three degrees centigrade and, well, it was kind of sweaty to be honest. The hum of wall mounted air conditioning units permeated the quiet of the suburban streets, and nothing much stirred – other than some of the thirstier suburbanites on their way to that great Aussie institution, the bottle shop*, to stock up with another slab or two of Victoria Bitter.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;">I find people can be separated into two types during the hotter part of the day, those who are sensible and retire inside to shelter from the raging UV, and those who go to the beach in order to seek it. Those who go to the beach are quite mad. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;">You can only know what it is like to be under the midday summer sun in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> if you experience it personally. The UV rays can be felt intensely the second you expose any naked skin, you can almost feel the thousand of skin cells cooking, it’s like you were standing in a large microwave oven…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;">Perhaps my discomfort in these conditions<span style=""> </span>stems from the fact I posses fair English skin, the type that turns angrily red in the time it takes to get from the house to the car or vice versa. I am cursed here in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> with the inability to spend time outside between the months of October and May. Of course I can apply sunscreen, but that’s a bit of a pain, I mean you have to reapply every five minutes as that is all it takes to sweat off what you have just put on. Perhaps I too easily become the stereotypical ‘Whinging Pom’ but I just don’t understand how so many of the born and bred Aussies, complete with fair hair and, albeit often leather like, skin can wonder about apparently unperturbed by the suns vicious rays – often they can be seen not even wearing sun glasses, I am completely blinded on the brighter days - there goes the whinging Pom again. I had better shut up and continue my slow assimilation process into Australian society – but something tells me I will always stick out like a sore thumb, maybe it’s the sunburn…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;"><span style="font-style: italic;">*For the benefit of international readers, the bottle shop is </span><st1:country-region style="font-style: italic;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-style: italic;">’s version of the British off license or American liquor store. The most interesting aspect of the Aussie bottle shop in my opinion is the fact that many provide drive through facilities, allowing the customer to remain in the drivers seat and buy their beer/wine/various pre-mixed drinks.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-17822115752778618942007-07-18T18:36:00.000+10:002007-07-18T19:18:46.554+10:00A Month Later...<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;">Things have been relatively quiet in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Melbourne</st1:city></st1:place> of late. There have been no high profile city shootings and the place appears to have resumed its usual laid back style of going about things. The events as described in my previous posts happened a month ago now. The murderer turned himself a few days later and justice, I am sure, will be done in his case. The funeral of the Good Samaritan shot dead took place a week after the shootings amid the inevitable (but relatively subdued) media attention. The other Good Samaritan (who was seriously wounded) made his first public appearance on the news a couple of days ago and hopes to leave hospital imminently. It turns out he was a Dutch tourist who had been in Melbourne only a day or two before he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. As might be guessed he plans to return home to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Holland</st1:place></st1:city> as soon as he leaves hospital, no doubt with some rather dubious memories of his visit.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10;"><br />Bad things happen in all big cities, but Melbourne always seemed a little bit less like Dodge than other cities of comparable size around the world. Events like this tend to remind you there is always a stratum of society who regard themselves immune to the rules, there are always those who are just so out of touch with reality that rational choices are beyond them, and there are those who are desperate. It’s when these things align in one person it inevitably turns nasty.</span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-71815736910652467112007-06-18T10:00:00.000+10:002007-06-18T10:01:09.024+10:00Loose GunmanThings have been interesting in Melbourne this morning. Around 8.20, from the vantage point of my work desk by the window, I saw a number of Police vehicles squeal to a halt outside in the street. They began closing off the nearby intersection, people began running for cover as they were told to leave the area, obviously something was up. A quick search on the net gave the terse story – a shooting one street away – three people shot in the street outside a café…<br /><br />This of course was a not the usual Monday morning routine, a buzz of excitement ran through office. Stories began flying around the office thick and fast. Apart from the meagre amount of information available from internet news sources, there was no definite story. Where these many and varied (and often quite elaborate) versions of the basic facts came from I couldn’t exactly work out, especially since the building was locked down at the time and no one let in or out.<br /><br />More office workers arrived and found themselves unable to enter their buildings, and with nowhere to go, began milling around on the street with bemused looks on their faces, mobile phones stuck to their ears being herded around by Police in flack jackets.<br /><br />More of the story was revealed through repeated hitting of the refresh button on the net browser and eventually the story emerged that a man had got out of a taxi allegedly holding a woman against her will. A couple of good Samaritans came to her aid. The man began shooting. One of those coming to the aid of the girl was shot dead and the other in a critical condition. The woman too was shot and is critical. As I write this the gunman was still at large.<br /><br />An hour or so later and the crowds of people have now dissipated a little, the street is now open, a police helicopter has been buzzing overhead. The Police on the ground have disappeared but there seems to be no more news about the loose gunman.<br /><br />Not your normal Melbourne Monday morning, and perhaps a sad example of why people find it harder and harder to be good Samaritans these days…Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-40630029173822206022007-06-10T16:12:00.000+10:002007-06-11T17:14:31.396+10:00Environmentally Responsible?<p class="MsoPlainText">Seems to be a thick layer of dust over this blog. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t post any entries for nearly six months. I would like to say I have been doing something more important that kept me from blogging like furthering my career, engaging in charity work in Africa or maybe saving a rainforest / some whales / the world from vacuous reality TV shows, but none of it would be true, hell, I haven’t even reduced the size of my carbon footprint – I’ve probably increased it with the new free flow Chevy twin exhaust system I’ve just fitted to my V8 ute*.<span style=""> </span>Nothing much else has occurred worthy of mention, other than my hitting the ten year milestone in my job. It’s a strange feeling – on one hand I feel like I have achieved something making it to ten years, and on the other I wonder what I’ve been doing with my life. It is a bit difficult to move to a new employer in a lot of ways – an old job feels comfortable, although comfort breeds boredom. However boredom is something that is only a minor irritation in the big scheme of things, especially when you own a mortgage, that may, one day, become a home of your own.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p>In addition to this I have also forgotten to mark the first anniversary of this blog.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p>I haven’t been totally inactive since January though. I thought I’d sort out some of my digital photos and put them up on a Flickr page. They are mainly images taken in and around Melbourne – only a couple of pages worth at the moment but more on the way.<o:p><br /></o:p><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Don’t worry though, due to environmental reasons (and the price of fuel) I don’t drive my ute all that often, so my carbon emissions are minimal, and I always burn rubber responsibly.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-1169893604801607712007-01-27T21:26:00.000+11:002007-01-27T21:26:44.813+11:00In The Days Of The Comet<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Another overcast night in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:City> and again I miss out on seeing the brightest comet in thirty years. Comet McNaught seems intent on eluding me. When I actually remember to go outside after sunset and have a look it’s inevitably overcast and I am thwarted in my attempt to be amazed at the celestial event of the decade.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p>I’ll try again tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-1168942571754953932007-01-16T21:11:00.000+11:002007-01-16T21:16:11.776+11:00Melbourne’s Tennis Shame<o:p></o:p>Yesterday saw violence flare at the tennis during the Australian Open here in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:City> between Serb and Croat supporters. As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, I’m not into sport much myself, but we are all used to riots at the football, in fact it’s expected but, this is tennis, not the sort of game that engenders the pack mentality that male dominated football does, I mean old grannies might have spilled their strawberries and cream.. Is there nothing sports fans won’t come to blows over?<o:p><br /><br /></o:p>Today temperatures hit the forties again around <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Victoria</st1:place></st1:State>; bushfires near Benalla took out a transformer which supplies electricity to the state from NSW resulting in major loss of load and subsequent power blackouts. Trains and trams are badly effected, many traffic lights are out and more than 100,000 homes are without power (luckily I’m not effected at this time so I can still blog). Major thunder storms and flash flooding episodes are forecast for tonight and the public are being told to stay indoors to avoid possible death by lighting and or hail stones…<o:p><br /><br /></o:p>You know, some days it just feels like the end of the world is nigh.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-1168597712517876292007-01-12T21:21:00.000+11:002007-01-12T22:12:12.510+11:00Zen And The Art Of Wireless Network Maintenance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1423/2253/1600/312917/DG834G.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1423/2253/200/982703/DG834G.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-AU">OK – time for what seems to have turned into a monthly post on this blog. It may appear to be an easy to answer question (the answer being because they are not lazy like me) but where do people find the time to blog every day, or even every few days? Maybe I need to learn some self discipline.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Well the bush fires continue and we are still getting some days where the city is choked with wood smoke. Still, the damage to property and loss of life has been relatively minor to what it might been – but there are still months of fire season to go yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p>My main concern at the moment though is trying to get my home wireless network happening. All the literature, both supplied by the manufacturer of my new Netgear DG834G wireless router and that written by independent sources (who I guess to be nerds), claims the network is simple and easy to set up. I disagree - in the strongest possible terms. After nearly a week (on and off) of desperate fiddling with proxy settings and permissions it is still not working. Sure I can get the thing connected (eventually - and I am still not sure how exactly) to the net via the Ethernet cable, but getting it to run without the cable (surely the point of the purchase) is a different story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p>The conclusion I must draw after all this time wasting and frustration is this; I am either stupid, or the thing has been designed by the type of nerd who’s idea of logic and ease of installation is not the same as those of us with even the slightest amount of common sense (which must cover most of ‘em in my experience). I tend to favour the latter theory, but that may just be vanity talking.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-AU">Apologies to </span>Robert M. Pirsig<span style="font-size:10;"> </span><span style="" lang="EN-AU">for the title of this post.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-1165575194541514002006-12-08T21:29:00.000+11:002006-12-08T21:53:14.553+11:00Bushfire season is hereThe worst bush fire threat in seventy years the authorities are saying tonight. More than ten major fires are burning in the east of the state of Victoria currently and the fear is they will merge over the weekend making a fire front more than one hundred kilometres long. Living in Melbourne I’m a fair distance from the danger, but everywhere over the city lingers a thin veil of light grey smoke. The smell is both sweet and acrid, and you can’t escape it. The sunset was surreal tonight, there was a diffused bright orange glow everywhere caused by the smoke. Even though we are not in immediate danger here in the city, it is worrying. The towns near the fires have been to told to evacuate or prepare to fight the inevitable firestorm. Not a nice choice to make – abandon your home to the possibility of being burnt to the ground, or stay and defend it with whatever means you can find, and possible die in the process. So far the fires have destroyed over 150,000 hectares of bushland and the temperatures are set to rise up into the high 30s centigrade tomorrow.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180583.post-1162811681848756232006-11-06T22:13:00.000+11:002006-11-06T22:14:41.863+11:00Melbourne Cup MondayThe Melbourne Cup is Australia’s equivalent to the UK’s Grand National when it comes to horse racing. I am not into horse racing, but nobody in Melbourne can escape from it. The city becomes horse racing mad and odd looking hats are to be seen everywhere. The race is actually held on the first Tuesday of November every year and the best bit about it, especially if you are not necessarily into horse racing, is the fact that because of the cup all of Metropolitan Melbourne gets a public holiday, ostensibly to allow them to attend the race. Yes the city stops for a race. Unfortunately that leaves today, the Monday before the race as a normal working day standing in the way of a four day long weekend. Obviously you can take an annual day on the Monday if you want to do this, but usually you have to book it months in advance otherwise you’ll find lots of people have already secretly arranged it without anyone but the boss knowing, so they get in first and those that leave it too late have to come in to work so someone will be in to run the department. I have been working today, there are two reasons for this: the first being I forgot to organise it in time, and the second is that I don’t have enough annual leave to take it anyway after my recent trip to London, and I have to save what little I do have for Christmas.<br /><br />So Melbourne Cup Mondays are always the same. The usually busy Monday morning commute is quiet – with maybe only half the usual number of people on the trains, the city is almost like it is on a Sunday afternoon instead of the usual weekday throng and everyone has a laid back attitude – knowing that they have a day off tomorrow. The strange thing about this holiday though is the way it only extends to those in the ‘metro area’ meaning people beyond the confines of the city limits have to watch on jealously as the city folk spend the day in the sun, having barbies and drinking too much Victoria Bitter and maybe even going to the races...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148338519464665539noreply@blogger.com0