MyProblem

So to follow-up the MySchool website, we now have MyHospital as the Government gives us all the "transparency" I don't remember anyone asking for. It's funny how there's a lot less disclosure about the things people are asking for, especially if it involves their own plans: MyNationalBroadbandNetwork anyone?

While they're at it though, how about a MyPolitician site so I can look up to see how much taxpayer-funded expenditure he/she is running up and how many hours he/she is actually spending in Parliament.

Summertime Blues

Another 4 years, another Ashes series. In years gone by, we'd have taken a long lunch in a pub, taking advantage of the summer timezone difference with Queensland, and watched the entire first session.

In those days, a test series seemed to span the whole summer starting in late November and running through to late January, over the Australia Day weekend in Adelaide. The timing of the tests seemed completely in tune with the rhythm of the season.

Nowadays, all five tests are finished after the New Year test in Sydney. And you don't go drinking at lunchtime anymore.

What are we supposed to talk about for the rest of summer?

Complete Bankers

While checking exchange rates today, I noticed my bank has increased the price of transferring money.

Now it wasn't a large increase. In fact it was only $1.00. But it's not the size of the increase that bothers me; it's the roundness of the figure. In this world of supposedly tight margins and fractional percentages that banks keep telling us they do business in, it seems quite remarkable that one of their fees, after all those detailed calculations should go up by exactly $1.00?

It illustrates perfectly how they structure their fees: think of a number, now think of a bigger number.

Friday Night Wisdom

Drunk man 1: Toy Story 3 is the greatest movie ever made.

Drunk man 2: That's like saying Bugs Bunny is the greatest ever movie character!

Drunk man 1: Correct!

Leonard Still Goin' Cohen

Caught Leonard Cohen last night. What a performer and what a set of musicians he has with him!

Aside from being transfixed by the music, I was also struck by the man's humility,warmth and humour. He tells us: "We've been on this tour for 3 years now. Back then I was 73: just a kid with a crazy dream..."

Close The Openings

I heard today that 4.5 billion people watched the Olympic opening ceremony. That's a lot of people. I wasn't one of them. I just don't get the whole point of having hours of people dancing and singing before a sports event.

Accepting however, that there is clearly a huge audience of people not like me, I don't see why they don't save a lot of money by dropping the sport event altogether and just holding the opening ceremony. You wouldn't have to build new stadiums or an athletes village. You wouldn't need the athletes. You also wouldn't have to wait every four years. Conversely, and most importantly, having had all these cermonies through the year, when we did actually get round to having a sporting event, you then wouldn't need an opening ceremony to accompany it. That way, when the next Olympics comes around, I could just sit down on the first evening and watch some sport!