In a couple of hours, we will be beginning the year of 2008. So, we have til midnight to complete any New Year resolutions of this year.
For me, I just want the New Year to be
1. Less hot, and
2. More peaceful.
To everyone, stay safe and be happy!
The Age published an interesting article last week revealing the 100 most read stories of 2007. Even though Paris Hilton made #3 on the list, #1 was reserved for the tragic CBD shooting which sent the city into lockdown earlier this year.
Here is our 10 most read posts of this year.
10. Walking with Dinosaurs LIVE
9. What is it?
Still don’t know what they are.
7. “Game, set, match. Pervert wins, 3 upskirt shots to 0 arrests”
6. CNN The Scene: Holly Valance in Melbourne
It’s strange seeing an email from a CNN reporter asking us to check out something they wrote about Melbourne.
5. Beautiful Picture of Comet McNaught
4. Birrarung Marr Ferris Wheel
The huge ferris wheel is still standing on the banks of the Yarra and is set
to finish on January 4th.
Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, Metroblogging
Final wrapup for the year - thanks to Neil and Adrock2xander for taking the time to scour the archives.
Have a brilliant New Years Eve - y’all! Roll on 2007!
Over the next twelve days, we will revisit some of the posts from the past year.
Colin reported on the Great Bikini March - which was to finish at the Islamic Information and Support Centre. Understandably a few people got a little het up about it……..”
Adrock2xander, strapping young man that he is - shared his joy for Connex train inspectors on a dark and gloomy night.
Our Johnnie won the World #1 Mayor moniker! I think Johnnie rocks….obviously, and I also think he deserves the utmost respect. Despite what some may say……yes, he does have an accent….and yes, those of asian background may cringe a little - Adrock? Which really asks the question if you’re proud of your heritage, why bag others success? Melbourne is literally as multi-ethnic as we can get…..and it’s wonderful.
December hasn’t been kind to Victoria, bush fires in the regional east burned bright and us city slickers lived under a pall of smoke minor compared to the devastation our regional cousins have suffered. Then come Christmas day snow fell on the alpine region…..where firefighters had been fighting long and hard for 3 weeks. Mother nature is REALLY pissed off.
Zara reminded us that Stage 3 Water restrictions kick as of tomorrow, it hasn’t rained enough this year…..again, Mother nature is REALLY pissed off.
Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs
Over the next twelve days, we
will revisit some of the posts from the past year.
Ben took up the challenge to join MOvember, a fundraising event for Men’s issues…..it was a very interesting month for hirsute men - with punters “wondering is it for Movember or………”
Metroblogging Melbourne turned 2 in November - HUGE thank you to all our readers and supporters that keep coming back and of course the authors that take the time to share their Melbourne.
Zara reported on our Deputy Lord Mayor’s moves to set up a gay marriage register. About time I say, and hopefully a step closer to full rights for our Victorian Gay and Lesbian community.
Ronny had a moment with an interesting elevator…..
Neil brought us the new “Lose yourself in Melbourne” - Giant advertisement which proved a hit with our readers…..testing their Melbourne knowledge.
Melbourne’s Myer windows are a traditional must see for the Chrissy season……however this year a mechanical failure spiced things up the “Australiana window” - maybe Mr Koala had a little too much eggnog……GOLD!
Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs
Over the next twelve days, we
will revisit some of the posts from the past year.
How unaustralian! Viewers of the game show Temptation and non-viewers alike were horrified when contestant Lainie showed her true colours during the fast money segment of the show. Realizing that her chances of winning were shot - she was at $25 and the other two were at $65 - she decided to continue “buzzing in” after Charles reached $80…..preventing Harry from making ground. Lainie also admitted that she liked Charles better than Harry and that she didn’t actually know the answers…….wonder who got a lump o coal for Chrissie?
Neil reported on the outrageous claims of the banning of our beloved concentrated yeast extract spread - Vegemite…..truly a national gastronomic icon. Equated in the media with Enemy #1 Osama - as a dig at the yanks (sorry guys), this story also blew the lid on cronyism in the media….life’s hard in a petrie dish like Geelong. Something tells me it was a slow news week.
Lil Audrey, Melbourne’s beloved Skipping Girl Vinegar neon sign has been saved with a makeover and heritage listing - noice! She also hit a major milestone as Metroblogging’s 50,000th post. Metroblogging has over 700 bloggers contributing to 51 cities…..congrats to all for their great work!
Newbie Ben, he of the Movember fame, broke his MB cherry with a call for Melbourne’s best Trivia nights with a side of Parma and a pot of course……
The daily commute can be pretty dour, Janice shared a special experience with a singing tram driver…..according to our readers it’s not such a rare experience, the trams are peppered with comedic warbling tram drivers - entertainment enroute - priceless!
Our Melbourne MB lads had a moment discussing their members…..all courtesy of adrock2xander…..who else?
Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January February March April May June July August September
Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs
Over the next twelve days, we
will revisit some of the posts from the past year.
September kicked of adrock2xander’s “Where Art Thou” series, testing how well we know our beloved town via photographic clues. Readers and MB Melbourne authors alike were quick to identify his many pics. A tour of quintessential Melbourne locations, starting with a sneaky pic of Melbourne’s State Library in town; Kooyong Tennis Centre - home to the AAMI Classic, Movida - for the best tapas in Melbourne and then returning to the State Library for the annual - Vic Police dance-off, hmmmm I think we might be able to track adrock’s haunts with these clues.
Surprisingly, I encounter few vending machines in my life…..the bane of my existence tends to be the malfunctioning parking ticket machine or old skool parking meter, usually when I’m running late….City of Port Philip are you hearing me?
Colin shared his love of grabbing a quick snack whilst waiting for a train…..and that awful moment when that little coil just doesn’t turn enough - just as you can taste that chocolaty crunch……what do you do? He called the hotline and amazingly got his money back.
The saga of miz Naomi Robson continued - with a dash to Papua via Indo to save little Wa-wa from being eaten by his tribesman. In true Naomi-style (or should that be lack of?) she, of the hard hitting Today Tonight, forgot to get the right visas and was summarily “asked to leave”.
It’s been a blast watching this one implode. Poor dear just can’t get it right - it all started with her getting caught on camera yelling obscenities at her production crew - then there was her “relationship” with convicted drug dealer Tony Mokbel…..apparently
she knew him as a businessman; who can forget her lessons in hair and makeup whilst Australia was awaiting the fate of the two men trapped in the Beaconsfield mine collapse and her homage to Steve Irwin in khakis accessorized with live lizard. Neil summed it up with Hey Indonesia, you can take her. In fact, we will trade you for Corby.
Zara gave us some home truths with a rant about rubbish bin robbers in her area of Fitzroy, and the diplomacy of her local garbage men - apparently they only empty the ones from the City of Yarra. It would seem that there is quite a hobby in stealing bins in Fitzroy; bjorn suggested wheelie bin races…..iew…..
Everyone has walked passed these guys a million times, finally we know their names - Johnnie, Charlie and Bob. Yep, our forefathers Batman, Swanston and Hoddle - not just random alien dudes crafted for tourists to pose with or stick a ciggie in their mouths. We also found out through reader Brett that Melbourne could have been named “Bearbrass”, “Glenelg” or “Dutigalla” - thank god they chose Melbourne.
September was the month where the world lost Australian International icons through tragic accidents. The first was the passing of Steve Irwin, our Crocodile Hunter and Melbourne born racing legend Peter Brock, King of the Mountain. Closer to home fans of the famed South Melbourne dimmie said goodbye Master Dim Sim maker Ken Cheng.
Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January February March April May June July August
Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs
Over the next twelve days, we will revisit some of the posts from the past year.
Colin laments on the lack of interesting bar activities on a weeknight. Melbourne, boring? Fair dinkum, mate!
I stayed up for 10 hours through the night for a good cause. Go homeless people!
Things that look out of place, do look out of place. Check out this balloon faux pas. Glad no one was hurt.
For all of John So’s popularity, i still cringe and experience major bouts of Asian embarrassment whenever the Lord Mayour speaks. We can wax all the lyrical we’d want about him, but the truth still rings true - John So still can’t manage an intelligible sentence in English without you straining to pick out his wacky enunciation.
Read above. Nuff said.
Hundreds of cab drivers of mainly Indian descent congregrated at the steps of Parliament this very night to silently protest against the lack of safety implements in cabs.
Unless you’re incredibly well-off, every Melburnian would have once boarded a cab. These are hardworking folks who shuttle the rudes, the arrogants, the drunks, the maniacs and even the ‘runners’, so to put up with unaggravated physical attacks is more than what they can take.
If you’re reading this, i urge you to pay for your cab ride, be nice to the driver, smile, and manage a ‘thank you’ when you alight. It isn’t much, but it’s the little bits that count.
Gota say, Melbourne has got to give herself more credit sometimes. This city is far nicer than many think. Bar a few dingbats, Melbourne is a wonderful city with polite and friendly people.
Neomien and i get into a passively heated exchange (?!) over the authenticity of her claims that some Anglo Australians have Asian blood in them. C’mon Neomien, who you kidding?
Only in Melbourne can you witness a lively banter of a 100+ footy book with foreplay, romance and handball.
Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs
Over the next twelve days, we will revisit some of the posts from the past year.
Colin made good use of his ears and dishes the dirt on the customs in Australia. Good advice for me, as i return to Melbourne in a few days’ time. Only worry now i have is - what kind of alcohol beverage should i buy? :O Hmmmm decisions decisions…
Here in Melbourne, we are so unique in our own funny way. While the Sydneysiders fret over racial tensions and are divided by racial and ethnic hatred, Melburnians are divided by the Yarra River. As for me, i live in Brunswick, so that makes me north of the river. However, due to my friends and weekend biking trips, i do make trips to the south of the river rather often.
But yeah, Sydneysiders sure are weird! :O
First we had dodgy customs at the airport, now squirt reckons parking at the Melbourne Airport’s a rip off. At $15 for 2 hours, i’d say, “Hell yeah!”
2006 also saw the opening of Dungeon Crawl, a funky and reclusive video game shop that specialises in rare games, good prices and personable service. Very unlike a major video gaming chain that we all know about…*cough* E *cough* B *cough*…
Dungeon Crawl - have you been there?
In a move that’s has traces of the riduculously strict Singapore government, the Victorian government imposes a complete ban of photo-taking, claiming it’s an attempt to beef up security in the prime area. Bollocks i say. Mate, if i wana blow up a building, i’ll strap bombs to myself and walk into it. No need to advanced photo-taking preparation.
Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January
February
March
April
May
June
Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs
Over the next twelve days, we will revisit some of the posts from the past year.
Our favourite weather phenemenom Mr El Nino continues to play tricks on us. On this particular day, he pulled a giant rabbit out of his hat and gave us sunshine and warmth at a time the temperatures were beginning to plummet.
We wonder aloud if pubs and public establishments alike will be open to cater to masses of round ball newbies who’re curious about the game. Work productivity not withstanding, something that happens every 4 years should be greeted with much fanfare, shouldn’t it?
3 goals in the last 8 minutes. Millions of Australians witnessed history when Australia came away with all 3 points after a historic first win in the World Cup.
It was a bloodbath as Melburnians and New Yorkers had each other by their throats over the title of the undisputed King of Sandwiches. I’ve never been to New York, but after reading this post, i’ll like to fly there just for them sandwiches!
In my very first post, i question the integrity of Australian round ball haters. Having despised the world game for decades, Australians developed a sudden interest in the game. Such a fickle crowd to satisfy.
So who’s batty enough to brave a 4 degree winter’s cold to watch the World Cup? Not me!
So how famous is Melbourne exactly? The Age’s Melbourne Magazine hits the streets in America, Asia and Europe to find out how far does the Melbourne brand name travel to. Apparently, not much.
“There is no world event that is beyond the capacity of Australia to organise superbly.” - John Howard.
In this post, i explore the remote possiblity of Australia hosting the World Cup. An in-depth analysis later, i must say, it’s rather rar-fetched indeed.
Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January
February
March
April
May
Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs
Over the next twelve days, we will revisit some of the posts from the past year.
Squirt chances upon a company that prints quality photos into chocolates. The idea of ‘looking good enough to eat’ is taken to a whole new level!
Great observational skills aside, Squirt wonders out loud how beauty in Melbourne is defined. Personally i like them women freckled. :O
Vigilant cops are beginning to clamp down on reckless behavious on trains, namely forcing them doors open to either get in or out. They’re doing such a great job, doors are still being forced open on a regular basis. Quit loading around coppers and arrest them juvenile delinquents/drunk bogans/bored dole-bludgers!
As World Cup fever afflicts all Australians, a curious little question mark appears over their oval ball obsessed heads: “Just what in the world is the offside rule?” We attempt to investigate.
Squirt gripes about a distinct lack of civic-mindedness and public politeness. My two cents’ worth? Hailing from overseas, i can honestly say that Melbourne is genuinely a nice bunch of folks who look out for one another, has nary a pretence and are sincere to a fault. You get the odd seat hogger once in awhile, but even the dodgiest looking bloke is capable of offering their seat for the needy. I say it coz i’ve seen it.
Previous Yearly Wrapup posts:
January
February
March
April
Technorati Tags: YearlyWrapup Melbourne Metblogs MelbourneMetblogs
