I had a chance to walk down Lygon Street over the weekend. Friends and family of the two killed (Raed “Ali” Marouche & Mohammed Moussa) have erected a memorial on the lamp post. Just meters down the road near the phone box, as seen in the far distance of the photo is the memorial for Damian Cooper. In an even stranger twist, it appears that the driver’s brother died in similar circumstances seven years ago, further up Lygon Street.

Links:

Melbourne Metblogs: Change out of a Tragedy and Hoons

Herald Sun: Two sons died on same street

Finally, Tony Mokbel is back in Victoria, after spending at least the last 2 years as a fugitive somewhere around the world, enjoying his freedom. That was happening while his sister-in-law went to jail because she was unable to pay the $1 million surety for Mokbel’s broken bail conditions. Now that he is spending his days and nights in Barwon Prison, murder charges may finally be underway for the murders of the Morans’ families.

This particular saga has been at least 2 years in the making, when he made his escape from Melbourne, followed by the escape/disappearance of his girlfriend until their reappearance in Greece. What were they doing during that time? Where did they go? What did they do?

The underbelly saga continues …
p.s. Does that mean Victorians might finally be able to watch the Underbelly series in the near future?

News Links
Herald Sun’s “Tony Mokbel back behind bars”

Herald Sun’s “Mokbel to face court”

The Age “Mokbel mission is accomplished“

Just a quick quip (and maybe an edit later) before I head off to work - what is up with the gun activity of late?

Did ’someone’ not mention that, in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootout, gun-control legislation in Australia were strict, and so prevents similar incidents in our colleges?

South Melbourne this Morning: Man dies in shoot-out with police (The Age)

On my way to work in Doncaster yesterday morning, the bus I was in got caught in a traffic stand still. Frustrated (as I was late for work), I wondered what the commotion was. Glancing ahead, I noticed a steady stream of cars filtering into the servo along Doncaster Road. With petrol prices averaging $1.50/L lately, disgruntled drivers are always on the look out for good deals.

Turns out, the servo had an offer going on. Holy shit, but am I right to assume $1.3950/L’s cheap in this dark petrol days? That’s the offer the servo had; the price was in neon colours. Hard to miss really.

What’s the best price you’ve seen while driving lately? I don’t drive (as I don’t own a car), so I won’t be the best judge. But I reckon $1.3950’s pretty darn cheap!

PS: In case you guys haven’t been paying attention to the news lately, the 4 cents you save on petrol when you present your docket from Coles isn’t saving you any money. In fact, you’re still paying more than the industry rates. Read here for more details.

Image from news.com.au

Update: Well it looks like blocking off one of the busiest intersections paid off. Cabbies get their safety screens as well as other demands. Could it be? The government cares? Either way, it is a positive result for all. Updates at The Age.

No one gives a shit about taxi drivers, at least that’s what Melburnians think. They endure low pay, health problems, drunk customers, and increasing violence. Worst of all it seems for them, is that no one listens. So out of desperation, they have decided to protest on the intersection of Swanston and Flinders St. creating a massive gridlock in town.

But c’mon, you think blocking all tram and vehicular traffic on one of Melbourne’s busiest intersection is the way to win people over? The government and the transport minister don’t care. They don’t care about the choking train system and they don’t care about taxi drivers. They would rather spend $500 million on an unnecessary new ticketing system. It was almost 2 years ago that we reported on Rajneesh Joga, a taxi driver who was killed in similar circumstances to yesterday’s near fatal attack. Bracks didn’t meet with them and all they were asking for was a bit of safety. Two years down the road, nothing has changed and current Transport Minister Lynne Kosky refuses to go down to the protest. At the very least, install the damn safety shields.

What shocks me even more is the general disdain towards taxi drivers. MelbourneManiac, a mostly positive forum had its users posting scathing comments towards taxi drivers.

(more…)

…even the mailbox in Moonee Ponds. Where’s the tomato sauce?

Can you live on $269 per week? That includes food, bills, rent, transport as well as medication. This is what the average pensioner receive.

Current Affairs had been showing a series programs about the conditions in which pensioners have to live in, on only $269 per week. Not knowing whether I can believe them, I tried living on $269 a week. Its definitely not easy.

After food and transport, I’m down to less than $100. Saving for future bills such as water, gas and electricity, there really isn’t much left to save for a rainy day.

Extra such as additional medical bills, prescriptions, dentist visits as well as unforeseen expenses will not be possible.

Can you survive on $269 a week?

I’m possibly the only Victorian who couldn’t give a rat’s ass about Underbelly. I care about it so much, I haven’t even seen it. At my housewarming party several weeks ago, the blokes were sitting around the barbie talking about which mafia leader eating what pasta dish at that Lygon Street joint.

I guess that’s completely relevant ‘coz they grew up in Melbourne and Mr ABC of ABC Drug Cartel used to make headlines and they grew up watching and reading up on them on the media. Perhaps they left out how they spent $10 a week on dope from the local deli just round the corner from here.

The only gangland killers I know are the teenage wannabes from Merrylands High School who surrendered themselves to the coppers the moment they turned up. What idiots. They didn’t even get to damage some public property before they were arrested. Pfft.

But hey, looks like Underbelly will now be shown in other parts of the world. That might just spur me to watch it at your nearest pay-per-view channel in Asia when I visit my relos. Yup, ‘coz that’s so much easier than driving to my mate’s place in NSW for the same reason.

adrock2xander still hasn’t seen Underbelly.

The Crusty Demons are in town! If you are wondering who or what they are, they are a group of freaks or daredevil riders who love their motorbikes. They travel around the world doing all sorts of stunts (on their super motorbikes of course!).

The last time they attempted the stunts was in Las Vegas and they broke a couple of world records. Tonight, they will be in Calder Park Raceway attempting several world records, including the following:
1. Motorbike - Longest distance jump ramp to ramp
2. Motorbike - Longest distance jump with a trick ramp to ramp
3. Motorbike - Longest mini bike distance jump ramp to ramp
4. Motorbike - Longest mini bike distance jump with a trick ramp to ramp
5. Motorbike - Highest jump in Step Up
6. Quad Motorcycle - Longest distance jump ramp to ramp
7. Quad Motorcycle - Longest back flip ramp to ramp
8. Road Bike - Longest distance jump
9. Road Bike – Longest burn out
10. Snow Mobile – Longest distance jump

Tickets aren’t cheap. Adult for $89 and child for $79. Parking at Calder for $10.
Gates open from 2.30 pm and limited tickets will be available at the gates.
Weather wise, according to the Crusty website, tonight’s events are expected to go according to schedule. They expect the afternoon to be clear with easing winds.
Of course, if you are heading towards Bendigo or the Western suburbs tonight, expect traffic, along the Calder Highway.

First it was no bicycles during peak hour train rides but they retracted that. Now, Connex is thinking of ripping off all the seats and provide ceiling straps for passengers to hang on to for standing room only train carriages. What’s next? Passengers on the roof? Passengers are not allowed to carry bags?

More passengers should just mean adding more trains to the schedule, not thinking of ways to squeeze more people into a limited volume.

Imagine what you will do with those ceiling straps? I’ll be swinging like a monkey! Assuming I can reach one!

News Link
Herald Sun “Train plan a third world joke”