danielbowen

drahardja, 4 months ago to random

The Y2K bug is a great illustration that a well-handled potential disaster looks like “nothing happened” in retrospect. The fact that Y2K seemed to be a non-event is a testament to how seriously people took this emergency, and how everyone buckled down and averted a worldwide infrastructure disaster.

I started working at Honeywell Aerospace (AlliedSignal back then) in 1998, and by that time people were already working on Y2K issues. We were in the GPS navigation business, and there were real issues that would have caused aircraft navigation to go awry unless they were fixed.

People buckled down, found the bugs, ran simulations, got FAA sign-offs, and deployed the fixes to all affected aircraft well before Y2K. Thanks to the effort, “nothing happened”. But I assure you (bad) things would have happened if we did nothing. https://infosec.exchange/@tychotithonus/111670219441506220

danielbowen, 14 days ago to random

In comparing the costs of cars vs public transport, they excluded most of the costs of cars. Huh?!

'Though car ownership usually involves additional costs such as maintenance, registration and insurance, which can increase the total cost of ownership, for this story we only considered petrol and toll costs'

(And PT still came out cheaper)
https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/is-it-cheaper-to-drive-or-catch-public-transport-heres-the-truth-in-2024/

danielbowen, 4 months ago to random

Jordan Thompson seems to have confirmed it: 'woke' now means anything someone doesn't like.

Mock Ladybird children's book: Everything I don't like is WOKE. A book for basic dickheads

danielbowen, 4 months ago to random

Australia Day - a tradition every 26th January since 1994.

danielbowen, 3 months ago to random

Blog: Tay Tay at the 'G - transport lessons for the every day
https://danielbowen.com/2024/02/24/tay-tay-at-the-g/

danielbowen, 10 days ago to random

Silicon Valley reinvents the bus (again)

“Customers can reserve a seat up to seven days in advance for the new service on a local shuttle that holds between 14 to 55 people, with other riders heading to the same place”
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/uber-unveils-new-shuttle-service-save-money-concerts/story?id=110297036

danielbowen, 2 months ago to random

From a tweet of mine from 2011, but evergreen:

I DEMAND TO KNOW WHY YOUR GROUP OF OVERWORKED VOLUNTEERS, WHICH I AM NOT A MEMBER OF, IS NOT PURSUING MY PERSONAL GRIEVANCE.

danielbowen, 4 months ago to random

Spotted yesterday in the window of the Yackandandah newsagent: the Ultimate Train Journeys book by @timrichards

danielbowen, 2 months ago to random

“Tradies have to drive”

danielbowen, 1 month ago to melbourne

The asbestos problem is awful, and needs to be fixed asap - and other parks checked. But I also wonder if anybody thought about air quality (engine fumes and tyre particulates) given the park is next to one of #Melbourne’s busiest freeways.

Google Maps showing location of Don Maclean reserve

danielbowen, 2 months ago to random

I'm no longer surprised by his antics. But I am surprised (and a bit disappointed) by the people on Twitter who see this happening and decide to stay. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/mar/19/elon-musk-replies-x-twitter-martin-sellner-far-right-identitarian-movement-christchurch-terrorist-attack

danielbowen, 2 days ago to queensland

Queensland to slash public transport fares to 50 cents for six months from August. A brave experiment, Premier.

Prediction: It's never as simple as they claim. We'll probably see heavy use/crowding on the services with useful, usable timetables. Little difference on the services and in the suburbs and towns where PT is slow and infrequent - in those areas almost everyone will keep driving.
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100402 #Queensland #PublicTransport

danielbowen, 1 month ago to melbourne

Ten years ago this month the new (now current) rail map draft was released into the wild. It took a few revisions, but eventually it replaced the old (horrible) one.
https://danielbowen.com/2014/04/16/new-train-map-coming/ #Melbourne #PublicTransport

danielbowen, 22 days ago to random

I wrote this in March - I'm glad I did, because it helped my thinking around the issue of transport and the cost of living crisis.

If governments really want to provide relief to household budgets, more station car parks or discounted public transport fares make little difference.
To make a big impact they need to provide options that make PT/walking/cycling good enough that a household can run fewer cars.

(Vic Budget day is tomorrow)
https://danielbowen.com/2024/03/16/transport-in-a-cost-of-living-crisis/

danielbowen, 18 days ago to random

For anybody who uses #Sonos, you may want to disable auto updates for the app (if it's not too late) - the new revamped S2 app breaks some important features including accessibility, search of local music libraries, alarms... and so far there's no official way to revert to the old version. https://www.stuff.tv/news/why-the-tale-of-sonos-revamped-app-is-a-cautionary-one/

danielbowen, 19 days ago to Canberra

The ACT government has announced MyWay+, which will enable bank card fare payments, will be implemented by November. https://canberradaily.com.au/myway-coming-to-act-public-transport-by-end-of-year/ #Canberra #PublicTransport

danielbowen, 1 month ago to melbourne

ok yeah I can see why some of the locals nickname Highpoint as Knifepoint.
(Hope the people involved are doing okay.) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-26/second-stabbing-at-highpoint/103771114 #Melbourne

danielbowen, 1 month ago to melbourne

Great for transport nerds, or anybody who loves cities (#Melbourne specifically) - a quick review of Julian O'Shea's #ComedyFestival Show. In short: very funny; go see it!
https://danielbowen.com/2024/04/04/julian-oshea-comedy-festival/

danielbowen, 2 months ago to random

This is good. It’s time to stop imposing the cost of parking on those who don’t want it or need it. The market can figure out where it’s actually warranted.
Of course councils need to properly manage street parking, and governments need to keep improving walking, cycling and public transport options. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/no-park-no-problem-car-space-rules-could-be-ditched-in-areas-with-good-public-transport-20240312-p5fbua.html - ping @PaulBarter

danielbowen, 28 days ago to random

Blog: Old photos from ten years ago, April 2014, including this pic of a press release from 1997 found during a clean-up, announcing the very first official public transport web site for Victoria, "VicTrip".
https://danielbowen.com/2024/04/30/old-photos-from-april-2014/

danielbowen, 2 days ago to random

I started writing this well before this morning's Queensland announcement...

Blog: Free fares: two charts
https://danielbowen.com/2024/05/26/free-fares-two-charts/ #PublicTransport

danielbowen, 6 days ago to Trains

This doesn’t seem optimal.
Near Huntingdale. #trains #track #mud

Train passing over rail line with a lot of mud under and around the sleepers.

danielbowen, 2 months ago to random

More lanes won't fix it, bro

danielbowen, 12 days ago to melbourne

Blog: Four examples of misinformation - just on one line.
https://danielbowen.com/2024/05/16/misinformation-x-4/ #PublicTransport #MetroTrains #Melbourne

danielbowen, 3 months ago to melbourne

Metro: "we also reached huge milestones on Saturday and Sunday, recording our highest passenger numbers since 2018!"
#Melbourne #PublicTransport #TaylorSwift