wash your hands & eat your greens

The Podfather Returneth (and this time, for free)...

2006-10-28T01:12:42Z

And for those of you who missed the inanity of the podcasts previously....

In other news: OMG NEW SHINZ! The forthcoming Shins album has already been leaked, three months before its actual release date. Gogeddit, kids!

Big Day Out 2007: 1st Announcement

2006-10-03T15:59:18Z

Tool.
Muse.
The Killers.
Jet.
Violent Femmes.
Scribe.
Eskimo Joe.
My Chemical Romance.
Peaches.
Evermore.
Spank Rock.
The Sleepy Jackson.
The Herd.
The Spazzys.

I must admit: I'm definitely less than impressed with that lineup. As much as I would love to experience the might of Tool live, my hard-earned $115 seems better spent elsewhere at the moment. Fingers crossed the quality of bands improves tenfold. Otherwise, that first no-show at the BDO since I started attending in 1999 looks all the more certain.

Some of the things I'll be looking forward to next week!

2006-09-28T13:06:51Z

1) University Graduation ceremony next Thursday night.
2) "Lost": Season 3 commences! (Not to mention the release of Season 2 on DVD)
3) "The World Of Karl Pilkington" released locally in bookstores.
4) 1st announcement of bands for Big Day Out 2007 to be made.
5) Monday = Public Holiday.
6) Friday = Flexible Day Off. The first of 10 days straight away from the workplace. :D

And yes, I'm still alive. Ole!

So, I've just found out...

2006-09-24T06:41:03Z

Little Britain Live is coming to Australia (well, only Sydney at this stage) on February 3rd & 4th next year.

Ticket price: $159.50! Wowsers! Even David Bowie charged less than that for his Perth concert a few years ago.

Reminds me of the fact I still have that $600 Qantas flight credit to use up before the end of the year... but what to do with it? *rhetorical question*

PS - This song = just as hypnotic and atmospheric as the Richard D. James original version. If not more so.

rolls his eyes in amazement

2006-09-23T03:43:17Z

Men Behaving Badly. Coupling. The Office.

The next non-US comedy the Americans have targeted for an unneccesary remake: Kath & Kim?

When will they ever learn? If it's not broken, why fix it? Are there such a limited pool of ideas out there that they find it necessary to glean 'foreign' shows and increase the "over-the-top" factor and decrease the "cleverness" and "witty" factor for their own market, instead of accepting what is already on the table? Scriptwriters, use that cranial capacity of yours to create something new, original and actually funny.

If Black Books is ever made for the American market, I'll slit my wrists.

I feel like a Greeting Card Company, but eating Minties....

2006-09-22T16:52:32Z

1) Happy Birthday, Karl Pilkington. (On the downside, no more podcasts?)

2) Get Well Soon, Richard Hammond.

Is that the real Lennon and McCartney? Not quite.....

2006-09-09T10:48:45Z

This is part of a special series the Guardian (well-known UK newspaper) have created to celebrate the Golden Age of British Comedy, with British comedians replicating famous images or people. As well as Stephen Merchant (tall guy) and Ricky Gervais (not-so-tall guy) featured above; others featured in the series are Simon Pegg/Nick Frost, Sacha Baron Cohen, Matt Lucas/David Walliams, Noel Fielding/Julian Barratt, and Jimmy Carr. Will post more pictures once I'm able to find them.

For mazarian: Lover of Parody....

2006-09-04T15:57:00Z

And anyone else who hasn't seen this opening sequence to this Family Guy episode yet. Love the Doom reference!

Music Festival Treats for the Summer are being unveiled...

2006-09-02T04:52:20Z

Modest Mouse, Jamie Lidell and The Bees: all confirmed for Southbound! :D

*backflips in delight*

The rest of the 1st announcement lineup can be found here. Hopefully, this will make up for missing the same event last year. Woe is me for missing THE SHINS!!! :/

[NINJA EDIT: It's going to be held on a Saturday this year! Definitely happy about that.]

Giraffes. What do they do?

2006-08-27T16:24:21Z

A few weeks ago on British television, Channel 4 broadcast "Some Thoughts by Karl Pilkington", a series of short films exploring the workings of the peculiar mind of The Honourable Sir Karl. Here are the results (most of which being recycled material from the Podcasts and XFM Sessions, but gold nevertheless):

Episode 1 - Life.
Episode 2 - Holidays.
Episode 3 - Health.
Episode 4 - Animals.

Off to bed I head. *slumps from my almost horizontal position on the chair* This song has successfully lulled me to sleep, but in a good way.

Snakes + A Plane = Shameless Enjoyable Fun!

2006-08-27T14:38:11Z

So, I've just seen this mother of a film.

Yes, the plotline's situations were ridiculously absurd and illogical. Yes, the direction is bad, the script is terrible and the acting is cringeworthy (although to be fair, the characters they were playing were merely cardboard cutouts). Yes, it was helped along by the insane amount of Internet buzz surrounding the film's title alone, for what was essentially a straight-to-DVD release made especially for the department store "bargain bin". Yes, there was more than its fare share of swearing, sex, woeful cheesy dialogue, and snakes biting each victim gruesomely in different parts of the body (or, as I like to call it, "equal opportunity" snake deaths).

Yes, this is by far the greatest film which features snakes on a plane ever made. A "so bad it's good" B-movie cult classic? I believe so. So enjoyable in fact, a second viewing has been planned, with hopefully more people occupying the cinema's seats next time (plus I'll remember to purchase some Snakes Alive at the Candy Bar - how on Earth did I not see that connection earlier? *end of rhetorical question*). Anyone interested in accompanying us?

And whilst I'm on this controversial topic, and just in case you haven't seen this amusing video before now: All Your Snakes Are Belong To Us.

Four points from today....

2006-08-16T16:35:39Z

(01). My "Life Surgery" has begun. The plans for improving my existence have been made. Now, all I need to do is stick by them.

(02). The Ben Stiller episode of "Extras" is so much better on a second viewing. Did I detect quite a bit of David Brent in Stiller's role?

(03). Tool are 110% confirmed to headline next year's Big Day Out. Fact.

(04). According to the West Australian, we'll be getting the V Festival too. That's 3 all-day live outdoor music adventures to look forward to this Summer - that includes BDO and Southbound (*fingers crossed for Modest Mouse et Jamie Lidell*)!

That is all.

Happy Birthday...

2006-08-15T16:22:56Z

....to one of my favourite poets and novelists in the history of humanity.

Charles Bukowski. (Wikipedia entry)

Seems somewhat pointless considering he's not with us today. Nevertheless, I will have a drink in his honour tonight, whilst re-reading one of his vivid works.

A Hypothetical...

2006-08-14T11:05:09Z

If you could invite any 6 people to dinner (dead, alive or fictional), who would they be, and (if you feel like elaborating further) why?

Karl is back. Pass It On!

2006-08-10T23:59:29Z

Films in 2k+6....

2006-08-06T16:24:27Z

There are quite a few films I'm looking forward to seeing, hopefully before the year's end. Included in the list are...

An Inconvenient Truth. Potentially the scariest film ever.
The Science Of Sleep. The forthcoming Michel Gondry film, starring Gael Garcia Bernal.
Little Miss Sunshine.
Who Killed The Electric Car?.
For Your Consideration. To self-confess, mainly for the appearance of Ricky Gervais.
The Fountain. After 6 years, a new film from Darren Aronofsky.
The U.S. Versus John Lennon. Not much of a Beatles fan myself, but this documentary looks very interesting.

Should hopefully make-up for a rather dismal year in films so far (a mon avis).

Question for the masses....

2006-08-01T12:37:27Z

A Footlong Spider That Eats Chicken VS A Chicken With Teeth.

Who would win?

I Am Aidan. I Am One of a Kind.

2006-07-30T15:59:15Z

I have the music-making/songwriting bug again. I need to make my mark now on this country town, not later. The boundaries of musicalness need to be changed and altered by myself.

Zombies figure prominently. As do cassette tapes, ponchos, chocolate milkshakes, Pacman and the biggest box of tissues in the sky. Drums and organs shouldn't be a problem, but those darn geetars need a bit of mastering. Hell, I could be the next Jandek.

Let's hope the trend continues.

[/end of ridiculous statements about nothing in particular]

Finally! A program about cars for non-Motorheads like myself...

2006-07-24T15:00:15Z

After months of being told by several people that it's simply the bees knees, I caved and finally caught Top Gear tonight. And loved every second of it.

*races towards Mininova*

So, the results are in.... ominous music....

2006-07-13T14:35:39Z

My final-year GIS Project grade = 78% (Distinction). The long hours, hard work and weeks of stress (plus full-time employment to contend with also) have finally paid dividends.

Gawddamn. With the 600 credits necessary in my possession, I've finally done and dusted my University degree. It's been a long time coming. :) This just proves that if someone as "mentally defective" as myself can obtain that recycled piece of paper, anyone can. Fact.

A celebratory shindig could be thrown, perhaps? Any suggestions, peeps?

The results are also in on my verdict of the second cinematic outing for Captain Jack Sparrow (not to mention Gareth Keenan as a pirate). It's also of the great - better than the original film even.

Over and out.

Gough Whitlam's not the only one turning 90 today....

2006-07-11T13:14:39Z

Happy 90th Birthday, Maxwell Walter Brown (my grandfather).

You have been a constant inspiration in my life, and will undoubtedly continue to be. Enjoy your binded memoirs. :)

PS - This thread has made my day. The Napolean Dynamite mashup = classic.

Another day, another brain cell....

2006-07-09T13:40:22Z

I made a Quiche tonight for my family and myself for dinner. Yes, as in made it from scratch. Considering my lack of culinary prowess, I was surprised at how great it turned out and delicious it was. Next on the list: Shepherd's Pie. :)

Apart from that, nothing really more to report. My tips for the evening's major sporting events though: France (partially bias due to family tree ancestry) and Federer. Even though suffering badly from a cold, my father still manages to keep me smiling: he wants France to lose, but Zidane to win the World Cup finale. Que?

Take Me Out. Tonight. (Most romantic Smiths tune ever?)

2006-07-08T13:18:11Z

And if a Double-Decker Bus
crashes into us;
to die by your side
is such a heavenly way to die.

And if a ten-ton Truck
kills the both of us;
to die by your side,
well, the pleasure... the privilege is mine.

Thank you for the thoughts, Steven Patrick.

Yesterday was a relaxing day off from the hellish surroundings of my current workplace. My mother lay-byed a Nintendo DS for herself - who'd have thought! My mother, my grandfather and myself then sat down to a lovely lunch of pumpkin soup, potato skins and conversation at Sizzler in Beldon. I can't believe they've removed the corn from the Salad Bar - grrrr! Then, a visit to see my Dementia-stricken grandmother at her nursing home up in Kinross (literally the first time I've seen her since Christmas - I will start making the effort to visit her more, now my University studies are finished. We'll find out on Wednesday when my results are finally published!). Along with that, having Ben, the nursing home's golden retriever, loyally follow us around the home. Ben = mouth full of drool, heart full of gold.

A day of busyness, was consequently followed by a night of busyness. mazarian and myself caught Superman Returns - not the worst "blockbuster" seen this year, but hardly up to Bryan Singer's normally high standards. Nice to see Kevin Spacey in films again though, after a prolonged absence. 3/5. The alcohol establishment known as the Paddington Alehouse was calling our names after the film, and we answered its call. Pints of Heineken were had upon our arrival.

Today: sod all was achieved. I did get to read my grandfather's published memoirs though (professionally binded too!). A refresher though, as I did type most of it. We'll be giving him them as part of his 90th birthday celebration next week. Despite a few strokes, he's been fighting fit the whole time. He still regularly plays golf twice a week, goes dancing every Saturday night, and still actively does the gardening and swimming regularly in his pool. I need to change my rather unhealthy lifestyle in order to emulate his time upon this Earth. And quick smart.

PS - I should stop being so damn "cryptic" with my entries. No-one understands this propaganda but me. Plus I'm intoxicated, so you just might get another entry out of me, loyal LJ folk.

PPS - I only first heard about this unspeakable crime yesterday. Yes, I've been living under a newsworthy rock over the past few months; and yes, I'm incredibly saddened, shocked and angry by what happened. :~(

Wowsers! I'm surprised...

2006-06-24T09:55:39Z

You've experienced about 31.43% of perth pubs!
Take the Perth Pub Quiz! by teh_hoz

I'll be adding the Hula Bula Bar to that evergrowing list tonight. Yarr!

Which countries adorn my footprint?

2006-06-17T12:55:09Z

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Fingers crossed my travelling CV expands within the next few years. :)

Purchased my Death Cab To Kalo tixx today, as well as perusing Planet Books for the first time. Catch-up DVD night tonight (as my original plans fell through). Enron: The Smartest Men in the Room and Jarhead have already been seen. Good Night, And Good Luck and Valiant are still to come. Possibly some World Cup action with my insomniac father after that. A quiet celebration to the End of Stress, indeed.