Browsing with Bromo

Julia's tumble

Could there be omens in pseudo Prime Minister Julia Gillard's tumble today?  Something about pride coming before a fall or, more importantly, what might await when she next puts a foot wrong.

Today's trip was a bum-bruising fall in Melbourne's  Treasury Gardens.  The next might be much bigger and even more public as she seems intent on taking on the building unions in a way Labor voters might not have been expecting when they went to the polls a few weeks back.

And I wonder what the cartoonists will make of it in tomorrow's papers, although sadly  many of the country's best seem to be away on hols.

So much water, so much waste

Welcome Mayor Judy

Good news for the ratepayers of the Yarra Council: long-serving councillor Judy Morton has been elected as the city's mayor.  It's a vote for moderation and reasonableness where often no such things have existed.

Mayor Judy has already voiced criticism about the State Government's dogmatic and autocratic attitude to planning issues and is likely to stand up to the bullyboys (and girls) from the Spring Street asylum.  She presents as a gentle, caring and community-conscious person and is a true inner-city resident in not owning a car, finding her way around quite adequately on public transport.

May the force be with you, Judy - and keep on pumping iron at the gym; you'll need to keep your strength up for the fights ahead.

Bah Humbug 1

Who needs them?

Wandering around Richmond today and stumbled over yet another new eatery. Guess what - it's a chicken and burger bar.  Another one! 

Why? Hasn't Bridge Road been infested enough already with this type of non-food, processed to a formula and offering little in the way of creastivity or originality. Bland, bland, bland. 

It's called Oporto, as if giving it a foreign-type label makes it alluring and tempting.  There's nothing Portuguese about a  slab of beef ior chicken inserted into a bun.

May they soon go the way of so many similar ventures.  Richmond-ites know better and deserve better than this.

WE'RE BACK!

After going into semi-retirement following the re-election of short-term premier Steve Bracks, we have girded up our loins and decided to return under a different guise and with a broader focus.

Be alert (but not alarmed) as we resume posting.