I was not quite 10 in early 1979 when the Shah of Iran flew into exile, preempting the takeover of that country by the mullahs, led by the odious fanatic the Ayatollah Khomeini. That was not the only thing going on around that time. The USSR rolled tanks into Afghanistan a few months later, and …
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It Is 40 Years Since 1986 And I Am Still Discovering Things That I Missed Then – Thoughts About The Outfield
I had a lot more on my mind in 1986 than the usual teenage angst, and realising that it is now 40 years since that fateful year started comes with a bit of a shock, given that I am now on the upper edge of 56 rather than 16, with my 57th birthday less than …
Obviously It Is All About The Oil
At the start of that surreal period of history which was the Covid Pandemic, we did have a run on toilet paper. I, like most other people, went out of my way to acquire as much toilet paper as I could, not knowing how long the crisis and the shortage would last. But I was …
The Misuse Of ‘Fortunate Son’
I was watching Die Hard 4.0 yesterday, the one where Detective John McLane takes on cyber terrorists. He does not start getting really violent until after his first phone conversation with the chief villain. In that conversation, he is informed that his 401K account (ie his superannuation fund) has just been wiped out. Immediately after …
The Problem With American Eagle
For some reason, I am never really relaxed unless I am wearing blue jeans. I own a couple of pairs of black jeans sure, but I don’t feel as relaxed in them – I tend to wear those with a business shirt and blazer on occasions where I need to dress smart casual. My main …
Has 20-20 Ruined Test Cricket?
Let me preface this by saying that my interest in cricket is pretty limited. I occasionally used to watch it on the TV (when I had a TV, which is now a long time past), particularly if the tail was wagging on an otherwise lost innings, and every few years I go to a day …
A Revival Of The Melbourne Pub Scene?
One of my minor regrets is that I have never set foot in a lot of the now long gone pubs which used to occupy the Melbourne CBD and surrounds, particularly those which were still around when I first came of drinking age, or that if I have, it was a singular visit and I …
Some Early Reflections On Nuisance Calls
At the end of June this year, several weeks after I had added my mobile phone number to the Do Not Call Register maintained by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), I started a spreadsheet where I record all the nuisance calls I now receive. Ultimately, at the end of this coming June, I …
A Quick Look Through Footscray Shopping Centre
My mother wanted her hair cut last week, so I accompanied her on the bus to Footscray, to attend the Vietnamese hairdresser in the Footscray Market. Footscray has changed a lot since I was a kid, so I did a bit of reminiscing whilst I waited for her. Describing Footscray to outsiders might help make …
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Posh Spice Officially Becomes A Lady
It’s now almost 30 years since the Spice Girls burst onto the pop scene with Wannabe, their debut single. They did not go by their nicknames Ginger, Baby, Scary, Sporty, and of course, Posh at that time. The media quickly gave them those monikers. At the end of Wannabe, they introduce themselves by their Christian …
Lost For Words! 