create ways to explain your tardiness

Train late? Now the grass is to blame

Clay Lucas

A NATIVE grass is to blame for late trains on the Ballarat line last month.

The regional train operator V/Line is consulting with the Department of Sustainability and Environment about how to control the spread of the grass, which it said made 144 Ballarat trains late last month.

V/Line general manager Geoff Arthur said heavy rain in March had contributed to the outbreak of ''rigid panic'', a grass growing on properties neighbouring train tracks in Parwan, near Melton.

The grass, Mr Arthur said, had blown onto the tracks, affecting signalling systems. Last month 40 per cent of services on the line ran late.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/train-late-now-the-grass-is-to-blame-20100826-13u5y.html

10 goes plus 1 and launches 11

Ten launches channel Eleven

Michael Idato

The Ten Network has confirmed the worst kept secret in the television industry - that it will launch a new digital channel targeting the "distinctly youthful" market.

Industry observers have expected Ten to make the move for some time, given the extent to which Nine's digital channel Go! has eaten into the youth television market.

Ten will call the channel Eleven, and has formed a joint venture with the US studio CBS Studios International to deliver content to the channel.

Programs to feature on the channel will include Futurama, The Cleveland Show, Supernatural, Stargate, Dexter, Smallville, The Office, Nurse Jackie and the remake of 90210.

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/ten-launches-channel-eleven-20100826-13spf.html

Gap to enter Australia, first store in Melbourne

The first Australian Gap store has opened in Melbourne today

Patrick Stafford

American retailer Gap has signed an agreement to bring its brand to Australian shores following years of speculation, in the latest sign US companies are flocking to the local market attracted by the strength of the franchising sector.

But while there should be enough demand for the company's product, one retail expert wonders whether it will struggle to compete against Australia's fashion-conscious market.

It comes as a number of other American retailers, including the NexCen brand of food and beverage chains, are in the process of location-scouting and finding potential franchisees.

Gap confirmed its plans overnight with the company signing a franchising agreement with Brand Republic, a subsidiary of Busby Holdings Australia. Stefan Laban, vice president of strategic alliances for Gap, said in a statement the first location will be in Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre and will open in August..

http://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/20100326-gap-to-enter-australia-first-store-in-melbourne-by-end-of-june.html

The 10 greatest episodes of Doctor Who ever

by http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

This story pre 2009 how does it stack up now?

With the final episode of series four approaching, the Daily Telegraph's in-house team of Doctor Who buffs (including, we might add, Gavin Fuller, who won Mastermind in 1993 with Doctor Who as his specialist subject) has compiled a countdown of the sci-fi spectacular's finest ever episodes. They've been selected from both the original era (1963-89) and the new (from 2005); in some cases, multi-part storylines have been counted as single episodes.
Disagree with our choices? Think we’ve left out a classic episode? Then post your comments, and your own below. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3674193/The-10-greatest-episodes-of-Doctor-Who-ever.html

Metro payments go up as services go down

Metro payments go up as services go down

By Clay Lucas

METRO earned $53 million more from taxpayers over a three-month period this year than Connex did over the same period last year, a state government report quietly released on the eve of the federal election shows. The jump in payments came despite a fall in the rail system's performance. The government report shows Metro received payments of $206 million between January and March this year.

Full story @ the Melbourne Age http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/metro-payments-go-up-as-services-go-down-20100823-13il6.html