Melbourne Metblogs » squirt

Spring has arrived …

squirt — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:23:30 +0000

according to the cherry blossom tree near my place.

cherry blossom

USS McCain at Station Pier

squirt — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:24:50 +0000

The USS John S McCain (naval destroyer) has arrived at Station Pier in Port Melbourne with around 300 naval crew. I read in the papers they will be staying in Melbourne for the coming week, enjoying the sights and leisure activities around town. Some of the crew will be staying in the hotels just so they can enjoy the comfort of a proper bed and a decent shower. Imagine the tight conditions that they live and work in, I suppose some would enjoy some privacy as well.

I read as well, that a hundred years ago, when the US Great White Fleet arrived in Port Melbourne, they had 14000 sailors. Around 300 of them enjoyed Melbourne so much that they ended up staying permanently. If around the same number decided to stay in Melbourne, there might not be enough crew member left to take the destroyer back home!

Links
USS John S McCain website.
Herald Sun’s “USS John S McCain …”
ABC Melbourne’s “USS John McCain in Melbourne”
The Age “…Great White Fleet comes calling “

Melbourne At Home

squirt — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:05:18 +0000

Another event to add to the list of activities that are occuring around the city this weekend is the Melbourne at Home exhibition at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. If you are looking to renovate or build a home, it might be a good idea to check out the latest trend and technology.

Check out on the latest green products, home security systems or the latest surround sound systems (which isn’t going to be carbon friendly).

The show will run til 31st August, between 10 am and 9 pm on Saturday and til 7 pm on Sunday. Buy your tickets to save a couple of dollars. Ticket at the door is $18 per adult.

For or Against: Shopping bag levy

squirt — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:52:04 +0000

So, are you for or against the shopping bag levy? Started yesterday, major supermarkets in Warrnambool, Wangaratta, Fountain Gate and Narre Warren started charging 10 cents per shopping bag. It is a month long trial to investigate its feasibility and to test consumer support. Is it possible to have negative consumer support and yet have a successful trial? Oh yes, don’t shop there!

Personally, I refuse to pay 10 cents for a shopping bag. Its a rip-off and its environment impact is really just 2% of all plastics produced in Australia (according to an analysis conducted in 2002). Ireland is the only other country in the world that charges a significant (around 27 euro cents?) levy on plastic bags but supermarkets provide paper bags as an alternative as well as reusable bags. So, where are the paper bags in Australian supermarkets?

I use my green bags, because I am concern about the environment, just not fanatical about it, but more because I refuse to pay an additional tax just for living.

Another levy, another name for tax.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

More bad news for the West

squirt — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:35:09 +0000

Just when things are quiet, we get a shooting and a machete attack on the same day. A woman was shot by her ex-partner at the Watergardens Railway station during the evening peak hour. With trains arriving every half hour to bring residents home, many were unable to move their vehicles because they were part of the crime scene. Good thing it was a Monday evening. There would have been more people milling around on Thursday and Friday evenings, with the attached Watergardens shopping centre opened til 9 pm.

Earlier in the day, a teenager was attacked with a machete in Copperfield College on their Delahey campus. How a youth can go around carrying a machete baffles my mind, and where in Victoria do you buy a machete?

Just another day.

News Link
The Age “Double shooting at station”
Herald Sun “Gunman shoots himself dead …”
The Age “Teenager to face court …”
Herald Sun “Teenager to face court …”

Busy busy in the city … Open Day at RMIT

squirt — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:59:46 +0000

If you are already in the city, I am sure you will see crowds of people heading for the RMIT Open day. People are willing to brave the chilling wind and cold just to check out their University of choice, or not.

Open days are usually good fun. You see the enthusiasm of the students and staff alike, never the downside of University life. I always enjoyed asking questions the students and staff are not willing to answer, such as “What do you dislike about the University or course you are studying?” or “Are there any subjects or course you do not recommend or is a total waste of time?”

As I say, just plain good fun.

Open Day at RMIT started this morning and should finish around 4 pm.

Polos

squirt — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:09:26 +0000

Not the sport played on horseback, but the rolls of peppermint candies. This a strong peppermint flavoured candy, which you have to taste to fully experience its sharpness. I never thought I’ll see them in Australia. And if I do, I know they sell for about $2 for a tube in a specialty candy store in Melbourne. So, imagine my surprise, when I found these in my local reject shop.

So, they’ve been rejected by someone. But I don’t care. At a price of $1 for a pack of six, I will happily indulge myself!

You know that the Olympics is happening soon

squirt — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:49:08 +0000

When major shopping malls and food courts are installing large television sets. I was in QV’s Urban Market or what I call the food court last week, watching the technicians install large television sets in various locations.

I wonder if they expect people to stay there all day and night watching the events …

And what’s with the stripe tshirts of the athletics (I saw the swimmers arriving in Beijing on TV in the news)? They were all wearing black and white stripe tshirts, which reminds me of prisoners.

Nursing homes

squirt — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:02:59 +0000

These days, all we hear on a regular basis are news about how Australians and everyone else are getting fatter, with obesity and related health issues all dominating our news. So, to me, it is really sad to hear about people living in nursing homes who are malnourished, constantly being underfed.

I doubt if we will ever hear the complete truth. The operator Kirralee Residential Aged Care alleged that they failed only 33 out of 44 basic standards due to poor documentation and not due to poor care. Looking at their website, I quote

Our onsite cook prepares fresh, delicious and nutritious meals daily. A seasonal menu is provided with also caters for any special dietary requirements.

Still doesn’t explain how or why some residents are considered dangerously underweight, a couple weighing less than 25 kg. The food must be quite inedible if residents are not eating it, despite being hungry.

Where are all the Gordon Ramsays in Victoria to give the onsite cook some tongue lashings?

News Link
Herald Sun “Ballarat nursing home faces charges for malnourishment“

Anyone panic buying yet?

squirt — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:55:35 +0000

Has anyone noticed that there is a truckies strike at the moment? Supposed to last for the next 2 weeks. Some of those interviewed on the news say that the strike will affect retailers. I think that might just translate to items running out on the shelves.

The strike action had been organised by two group, the Australian Long Distance Owners and Drivers Association (ALDODA) and the National Road Transport Forum (NRTF) but the largest truckies union, Transport Workers Union (TWU) are not part of the strike.

So, I went shopping today and the shelves are still being replenished. I guess the effects are not going to be felt until much later or when everyone decides to panic buy.

I’ll be curious to see what happens if there are no more petrol at all the petrol stations …

News Links
Herald Sun’s “Renegade truckies begin strike action …”
The Age’s “Truck strike won’t hit us: Woolsworth“