Hot Hot Heat January 9, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Melbourne.1 comment so far
I really hate the heat. The past five or so days have been incredibly hot. I’ve managed this summer rather well, until this week. I can handle one or two hot days, but five in a row (I think it was five, the long days just started blurring into each other) I just can’t take.
I can’t think. I started reading On The Road by Jack Kerouac. I was really enjoying it (I can’t wait to read more American beat writing) but I couldn’t read one word while it was hot. Paul Cézanne despised the heat and couldn’t paint when it was hot.
At the end of 2006 there were several bushfires in country Victoria. Our area (Melbourne’s south, by the beach) is over 200 kilometres from the fires, yet the smoke made its way to us. Photos below.
The only fire problems we had was a minor grass fire along a freeway. A man’s overalls spontaneously combusted, he threw it out of his truck and it set fire to the dry grass. And a few days ago our power went out. Apparently there was a small fire at the substation. The power was off for almost four hours. If we had thought the heat was bad we had no idea how bad it could get without power.
Lying in bed, my shirt sticking to my back, bemoaning the oppresvive heat, my mother in the background worrying about the contents of the fridge and the freezer, I thought about the residents of Baghdad. 6 hours of power a day. In weather that can reach over 50c (around 121F).
I really wish I could say this made me feel much better about my situation, that although I was very uncomfortable there were people worse off. But it didn’t.
I really, really hate the heat.
Victorian Bushfires – Photo #1 January 9, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Melbourne, Photography.add a comment
Sun blocked by bushfire smoke, originally uploaded by dave128.
Early morning sun behind smoke (and yet we live nowhere near the fires.)
Victorian Bushfires – Photo #2 January 9, 2007
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Smoke from fires, originally uploaded by dave128.
Behind that cloud of thick smoke was a beautiful blue sky. It was hard to breathe outside that day.
Victorian Bushfires – Photo #3 January 9, 2007
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Victorian Bushfires – Photo #4 January 9, 2007
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Insight: Melbourne Television News July 15, 2006
Posted by dave128 in Media, Melbourne, Television.add a comment
Yesterday I was shocked to see no mention of the Israeli bombings in Lebanon on the Channel Nine news updates. These updates, or news teasers, managed to include a fluff piece about a smelly pig. I don’t watch Nine News, but last night I did, just to see if they even bothered to report the conflict in the middle east. Alas, it was their second story.
Also shocking, it was the lead story on 7 News. Shocking, because 7 rarely ever show anything news worthy. It’s depressing, the two main news services in Melbourne are just tabloid nonsense. I’m just grateful that we also have SBS, a fantastic news service. I also decided to watch ABC Victoria News last night, just to see what stories they reported. The ABC is a highly respected news service, however I think it’s starting to slip, if last night’s bulletin is anything to go by. Yes, it was much more intelligent than 7 and 9, however there were some dubious stories (the murdered solicitor seems too tabloid for the ABC). And their reporting on the Israeli bombings seemed to focus almost entirely on the plight of Israeli civilians, whilst they practically glossed over the civilian dead in Lebanon and Palestine. SBS’s reporting seemed much more even handed.
I decided to write down every story that was reported on each of the TV news bulletins and in what order they appeared (except for Channel Ten). I think it’s interesting. Stories in bold were reported in detail, while all other items were read out by the newsreader and lasted no longer than 30 seconds.
National Nine News Melbourne, July 13 2006
1. Melbourne solicitor murder case
2. Israel bombs Lebanon
3. Mumbai mourning
4. Prime Minister Howard gets tick of approval from State Premiers
5. Unemployment figures
6. Pioneering kidney transplant in Melbourne
7. Council angry at smelly pet pig
– AD BREAK –
8. Earth Tremor in country Victoria
9. Man falls from two-story home building site
10. Crime Stoppers on the internet
11. Fires in California
12. South Korea trade riot
13. Man gets bionic arm
14. New media laws
15. Story about a horse that has won a lot of races
– AD BREAK –
16. Australian football team the Kangaroos to play several games on Gold Coast
17. General AFL news
18. Zidane says sorry but has no regrets from World Cup headbutt/new Melbourne Victory player
19. Australian basketball team beats New Zealand
20. General Tour de France news
21. Lotto results
– AD BREAK –
22. Story about a yacht
23. Weather
7 News Melbourne, July 13 2006
1. Israel bombs Lebanon
2. Melbourne solicitor murder case
3. “Mum in car boot” case car on sale at eBay
4. John Howard leadership woes
5. Geelong bypass anger
6. New media laws
7. Pioneering kidney transplant in Melbourne
– AD BREAK –
8. Special Report: In the sky with Melbourne’s air police
9. Mumbai mourning
10. Fires in California
11. Finance report
12. Council angry at smelly pet pig
– AD BREAK –
13. Australian football team the Kangaroos to play several games on Gold Coast
14. Zidane says sorry but has no regrets from World Cup headbutt
15. Australian basketball team beats New Zealand
16. Special report: football masseur with healing hands
17. Lotto
– AD BREAK –
18. Weather
19. Snow report
ABC News Victoria, July 13 2006
1. Israel bombs Lebanon
2. Mumbai mourning
3. North and South Korea end nuclear discussions
4. Melbourne solicitor murder case
5. Country Victoria woman in hospital after attack
6. New media laws
7. Fears new media laws will decrease media diversity
8. John Howard leadership woes
9. Pioneering kidney transplant in Melbourne
10. Unemployment figures/interest rates
11. Finance report
12. Head of Sydney Dance Company to leave
13. Australian football team the Kangaroos to play several games on Gold Coast
14. VFL Tasmania coach quits
15. Zidane says sorry but has no regrets from World Cup headbutt
16. General Tour de France news
17. Weather
18. Rain in West Queensland after years of drought
SBS World News Australia, July 13 2006
1. Israel bombs Lebanon
2. Israel slaughters Palestinians
3. Interview with Mark Regev, Israeli Government Spokesman
4. World reaction to Israel’s bombing of Lebanon
5. Australian Government closes embassy in Beirut/warms Australians not to travel to Lebanon
6. New Iraq atrocity: 24 dead
7. North and South Korea end nuclear discussions
8. EU to refer Iran to UN Security Council
9. Mumbai mourning
10. Delay in sentencing in Australian terrorism case
11. John Howard leadership woes
12. New media laws
13. Zidane says sorry but has no regrets from World Cup headbutt
14. Unemployment figures/interest rates
15. Finance report
16. Margaret Olley donates some of her paintings to NSW gallery
17. Weather
Friday Night Nature Blogging July 14, 2006
Posted by dave128 in Melbourne, Nature, Photography.add a comment
I snapped this possum on our back fence. We’ve always heard the possums in our area scampering across our roof at night, but we’ve been actually been seeing them recently. I think it probably has something to do with the mass tree cutting that went on a few months ago.
A lovely day in Melbourne June 15, 2006
Posted by dave128 in Melbourne, Nature, Photography.1 comment so far
We had a delightful sunrise this morning. I had to take a photo.
After that the sky became rather overcast and we had a little light rain. Then it cleared to a beautiful blue sky and a rather warm morning (though there was a slight chill in the air).
Towards the late afternoon the sky filled with heavy, dark clouds. I love how the orange and deep red light of the sunset colours the trees, a beautiful sight accentuated by the gloomy sky behind.
Now at 7:30pm we are getting steady rain.
All in all a beautiful winter day in Melbourne.
