debritz.net - Grump

Time for a change

debritz — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:16:19 -0700

There ought to be a law against public clocks that don't tell the right time. There's one in Roma Street that's been stopped for years and, if I was running the show, I'd make the owners fix it or take it down. AT the very least they could remove the hands.

Email trail

debritz — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 14:04:30 -0700

A European Union report says between 50% and 80% of all emails are spam. If that's the average, who is getting all the legit email?

Radio's great leap forward

debritz — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:52:20 -0700

While we're still umming and ahhing about digital radio here in Australia, it's well established in the UK. In fact, they are just about to roll out what's described as a "killer application" that will allow listeners to download songs they like as soon as they hear them on air. Now that's got to be good news for the radio and music industries - who will both make money from the paid-for service. However, at the rate we're taking up technology now it'll be years before we have it here. Details here (requires registration).

Talking the talk

debritz — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 13:45:50 -0700

More young people talk: using the wrong form of the preposition. For example, "My bad" instead of "I'm bad".

Cycle of madness

debritz — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 22:43:13 -0700

I'm generally in favour of cycling - it's a great way to exercise and a good way to cut down on carbon emissions - but I've seen some pretty stupid bicycle riders in my time. Today three guys on bikes not only entered the tunnel under the inner-northern Normanby Fiveways against a sign that clearly indicated they were not to do so, they also wandered all over the road. Nobody deserves to get hurt, but these guys were really pushing their luck and it would be hard to blame any motorist who might have accidentally hit them.

Hale St blues

debritz — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 13:57:24 -0700

As The Sunday Mail reports this morning, Brisbane's Coronation Drive is to be dug up yet again as part of the controversial Hale St Bridge project. Is the bridge - which, in the words of someone in the know, will "completely stuff" the Queensland Theatre Company's relatively new $7 million offices and studio complex at South Brisbane - more trouble than it's worth? I'm a motorist but I'm, also aware of the damage driving does to the environment. Perhaps the council and the State Government should take a new tack - do absolutely nothing to help private motorists in the inner city and put everything they've got into improving public transport. Eventually, gridlock (and rising petrol prices) will force us to use it.

Awash with bad advice

debritz — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 16:29:29 -0700

How American do we have to be? I want to wash the car, so I looked up "car wash, Brisbane" in Google and was directed to an Australian-based directory. What greeted me there? The message: "Oops! Did you mean: automobile wash"? No, I meant car wash. I then went to another Australian directory site and, despite the fact that I typed in my Brisbane postcode, the first match it came up with was a business in Melbourne. It's a long way to drive just to get the car washed.
If it weren't for the water restrictions, I'd do it myself!

Help yourself

debritz — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:32:37 -0700

A colleague of mine pre-ordered drinks at the Lyric Theatre last night and asked the bar attendant where he might find them at interval. "Will they be outside?" he inquired, gesturing towards the balcony. "I don't know," the attendant replied, "but I'm sure you'll find them."
There must have been something in the air last night. After the show, I was scolded by a waiter for attempting to take a mineral water off his tray - as I have done on hundreds of occasions previously (although, admittedly, rarely involving mineral water). I gather he wanted me to ask for it first - which pretty much defeats the purpose of having them freely on offer.

Thorpedo crisis continues

debritz — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:02:41 -0700

The headline screams: Gould, Hackett lead tributes for Thorpe and, as I write, it's still leading ABC News Online. Goodness gracious, he's only 24, he's just a sportsman (albeit a very good one) and he's not dead. Get a grip, people.

Thorpedo crisis

debritz — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:25:51 -0700

The world holds its breath. The tension is palpable. The future hangs in the balance. Is it Iraq? Is it the environment? Has Kim Beazley put his foot in his mouth again? No, it's Ian Thorpe preparing to announce whether he'll swim competitively again. If this really is the most important story in the world, or even in Australia, right now, I'll walk backwards to Bourke.