Deep and meaningful

Posted to The Age (10/5/2013) on 17/5/2013 at 1:08 PM
Commenting on "Deep and meaningful"
http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/deep-and-meaningful-20130510-2jcd9.html

Using the heat energy from high temperature rocks to generate power is no difference from burning coal, releasing the stored energy. The cool water is heated to form steam, which either enters the atmosphere or back to the ocean, and subsequently raising the global temperature. Moisture is in fact considered as a greenhouse gas, and whatever benefits gained from geothermal energy will be negated.

Like coal or oil, the energy from this high temperature rocks is not renewable. One possible way to have completely clean, cheap and renewal energy is to build mobile / rotatable structures out in the sea (not dissimilar to oil platforms). These structures are built with a combination of wind turbines, solar energy collection dishes and wave turbines.

Premier rules out short-term ticket U-turn

Posted to The Age (17/5/2013) on 17/5/2013 at 11:55 AM
Comment on "Premier rules out short-term ticket U-turn"
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/premier-rules-out-shortterm-ticket-uturn-20130516-2jpgs.html

Train fares of several cities in the world are charged by station-to-station, just like Melbourne's good old days. However, this can be more expensive than the current zone system, similar to London's. There is always a price to pay for less population, because economy of scale is thrown out of the window.

Transport users keep complaining about Melbourne's inefficient public transport systems, but look at the following statistics and they will realise Melbourne Metropolitan very low population density is to be blamed for this. I have used trains, buses and trams (in Hong Kong only) in all the cities below. They are no worse than ours during peak time, and I can assure you, it is also a nightmare trying understand their ticketing systems.

Very often, trains and buses outside the CBD are virtually empty after the peak times. It is in fact cheaper to subsidise public transport users with concession taxi vouchers.

The following statistics are extracted from various official sites:
Melbourne Metropolitan – 9,990.5 km2, 4.1 million(p) (2011), 410/km2
London – 1,570 km2, 8.1 million(p) (2012), 5,159/km2
Tokyo Metro – 2,188 km2, 13million (p) (2011), 6,026/km2
Hong Kong – 1,104 km2, 7.1 million(p) (2011), 6,431/km2
Singapore – 710 km2, 5.3 million(p) (2012), 7,464/km2

I was a frequent public transport user but I do not work full time now. When I use the public transport now, I choose to travel prior to or just immediately after the rush hours. I have not encountered serious equipment breakdown that jeopardise my trips.

Do not just whinge, write to Myki and give them your feedback. If they do not know the precise problems, they cannot fix them.