I love reworking lyrics

I love reworking lyrics:

Sisters are doin' it for themselves.
Standin' on their own two feet.
And ringin' on their own bells.
Sisters are doin' it for themselves.

Wankers… are doin’ it for themselves
Using their own two hands
And tossing their own two balls
Wankers… are doin’ it for themselves.

The IT Crowd

I have just watched this online (www.channel4.com/itcrowd) before it was released on British TV. It's quite amusing, but a bit dull. Could just be the first episode though. I wonder if other show will have an online premiere after this one?

You gotta see this!

http://www.youtube.com/?v=ULsRf3-e-0g

Mozart: pro and con!

Two opposing views of Mozart!

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17948393%255E16947,00.html

year of the dog

"Catterns says the Chinese New Year starts Saturday, marking the beginning of the Year of the Dog. She speaks to Voet, who says the the animal changes every twelve years, but so does the element, making it a sixty year cycle. This is the year of the Fire Dog. The elements are metal, water, wood, fire and earth (12x5 years). He says dogs are friendly and because they are pack-animals, they are interested in kinship and family. That focus will be on everyone's mind in the coming year. Loyalty and friendship are themes. On the international scale, people may be working together. He says Sirius is the Dog Star, making this a lucky year. People will be striving for harmony this year. Voet says the New Year changes every year, depending on the Aquarius New Moon." 

American warships on ACA

Does anyone else find the reasons behind these segments dubious? Am I
paranoid, or does it help make us feel 'fuzzy' about government-backed
killers?

Life Gem

My friend showed me something very weird today. I am not sure how to react. Is it just another American whimsy?
The LifeGem® is a certified, high-quality diamond created from the carbon of your loved one as a memorial to their unique life.
http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/whatisLG2006.aspx

Hewitt—second round LOSER

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/columns/200601/s1551476.htm?tennis

A night at the movies

So we went to the Sydney Hard Rock Café last night. It was a disgrace. The girl at the front, after saying ‘2 minutes, I just have to go set some tables’ and showing other diners to their table, came back and said we could dine there, but it would be ’10 or 15’ mins’ wait while she set up the table. Well naturally we couldn’t be stuffed, so we walked out. We had to be at a screening of John Waters’ A Dirty Shame by 21:00 and it was already 19:50. This is the second time we have tried to go to HRC without much success. Maybe next time?

I really loved the film. It was hilarious. Ho was too tired to watch it with any sort of alertness, but this morning he said it was a good film. It was nice to be in a cinema for a ‘one-off’ screening. Reminded me of my reviewing days. I must do something to get back into that game… I miss it too much!

Grubby politics indeed!!

Hey there everyone. I am after some advice with regard to the scary practices of one individual, Peter Warren Consandine, who yesterday (14 Jan. 06) was on King St, Newtown (NSW) signing up members for his Republican Party of Australia (http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/Who/party_reg/registered/rpa.htm). Now, I have to disclose that as a member of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM / http://www.republic.org.au) I was obviously interested in Mr Consandine's little stall.

We got talking about politics and it all seemed fine. He said membership was only $10, but I only had a $5 note… I was joined up as an ‘honorary member’ at a special price. It was all good. I got to filling out his various petitions but refused to sign the petition that called for the abolition of the state governments (middle tier). That part made me a bit more aware.

Then it was time to sign the actual membership forms. The first one, which he explained was for the federal party, I signed willingly as it was labelled RPA. The second form, the one he left for last and which he was most keen to get signed, was a registration form for the 2007 NSW state election. He needed enough signatures to make sure the party could contest the aforementioned election. However, the RPA was not replaced by “Abolish State Governments (Community Republicans)”.

Well I told him then and there that I would not sign up. He then launched his spiel about how we all want to remove the middle tier of Australian government because “we are over-governed”. I chose to differ with him on this. I said “Can I revoke my membership?” to which he sardonically replied “Well I’ll just tear up your form then?” and he did so. He lost his swish, cheesy-salesman persona and became enraged. He told me to “piss off” and called me “another ARM time-waster”. He gave me my $5 note back and I walked off.

About a minute or two later, I heard my name being yelled out and I turned around to find Mr Consandine, frothingly demanding $5 back because he gave me two $5 notes back by accident. I was shaky and intimidated and thought it easier to cede the note than go through a street argument with a man whose state of mind I was not 100% sure about. I am dead certain he only gave me back one $5 note as I have no money at the moment (I ran out across Christmas/New Year).

Well, I thought his deceptive behaviour on the forms (I thought was signing up to RPA, but it became Abolish State Govts on the form!) was bad enough; but the money incident really topped the cake. I meant, how on earth can such a person, who smiles on second and rages the next get away with this. I want advice on how to approach the Aust Electoral Commission (www.aec.gov.au) and make a formal complaint about the practices. “Abolish State Govts” is not a registered party according to the site: he is using the RPA, which is registered, to register “ASG”. I feel this is wrong. I want someone out there to clarify the issue for me and what can/could be done about it. I don’t think it’s just that he coalesce the two parties without disclosing it.

Some URLs:
http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/S7541.pdf   (read from electronic page 83ff to gauge some of his outlook and language)
Only one of these sites is relatively up to date: guess which one (
ASG: http://www.ozventures.com.au/ASG/
RPA: http://www.republicans.org.au/
This is his day-job: http://executivecommunications.com.au/

Annie Proulx's short story

"Brokeback Mountain" that led to the film of the same name can be read here: http://www.wesjones.com/brokeback.htm