It's days like these that I almost wish I had something like a religion to fall back on.

Yes, a very sad for Thomas here: funeral. Very close person. Very sad passing. I only wish I can be as good a person as this person was. I feel like absolute shit, and expect I will for a few more days.

Anyway, just thought that seeings this is a blog, my blog, and everyone I know (the whole five or so of you) who seem to empathise with me (to an extent) read this, just know all this.

Thomas.

Perhaps I didn't make myself absolutely clear in my last post. I do not consider the author known as Ninglun a supporter of the Sheikh whose comments (and his remarks on such) caused a rift (of sorts) between us as of late. I make this point for two reasons:

- It was implied that I didn't know/understand/comprehend this in this post. I appreciate the fact that he does not support the statements made;
- I think it needed further clarification, if the person my comments were concerned about couldn't see that I mean this.

The main aim of my post was to explain that the author appeared to defend the right of ultimate freedom of speech in quoting an example a different scenario, Christian no less. In doing so, in my mind, without actually supporting what the Sheikh said, he was supporting that he could say such a thing. That, in my mind, is wrong (though not nearly as wrong as what was actually said, and I commend Ninglun on making clear that not only does he totally disagree with what was said, but that he is, in a sense, encouraging debate about such an issue).

While also reading that post, I saw that Ninglun had also quoted an author by the blog of The Kashmiri Nomad, who, while also denouncing the views of the Sheikh, also felt the need to quote (not surprisingly, as I expected to see this issue re-surface in the actual thought-inducing, free speech blog-world) the point that I used in support of my argument, Pope Benedict XVI's speech which included the (real) quote of:

Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.

I don't presume to assume with this person, however, it is my belief that one cannot (without being intrinsically incorrect of misinformed) contrast these two events, in these circumstances, in any way that will justify one or the other (or a third scenario). Anyway, here is the paragraph, in entirety (with due note), and hopefully, people will come to realise that the Pope was not saying Islam was spread by the sword, but that there is no room for compulsion in religion. A big difference in the scheme of things (and the 'quotability' of that line):

In the seventh conversation edited by Professor Khoury, the emperor touches on the theme of the holy war. The emperor must have known that sura 2, 256 reads: "There is no compulsion in religion". According to the experts, this is one of the suras of the early period, when Mohammed was still powerless and under threat. But naturally the emperor also knew the instructions, developed later and recorded in the Qur'an, concerning holy war. Without descending to details, such as the difference in treatment accorded to those who have the "Book" and the "infidels", he addresses his interlocutor with a startling brusqueness on the central question about the relationship between religion and violence in general, saying: "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached". The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. "God", he says, "is not pleased by blood — and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats… To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death…

All this talk about Gods and media and what not has caused me to think I will write a religion-centred post now ...

Thomas.

It is with unpleasant feelings (though with no regret) that I inform readers that I have had to unlink one of the blogs that was previously found to the right: New Lines From A Floating Life. This has happened for one main reason: in writing on the topic of the recent "speeches"/disgusting, revolting and abhorred rhetoric made by the crackpot Sheikh over here in Australia, far from agreeing with his ridiculous claims, the author went so far as to (in my, as a simple reader's, opinion) defend his right to say such things.

No body has that right. No body has, nor should they ever have, the right to say such things as he did. Whether he was "quoting" someone else, repeating the words or reiterating them, there is no place in this country, nay, any civilised country to make such absurd claims as he did, and then, feign illness (come no, we all know he was), only to return to the public spotlight and say he will not rest until, what was it, the world is cleaned of the White House? (I assume it is obvious, for those knowing what this whack-job said, why I choose not to quote his initial remarks)

Lovely. Absolutely lovely. This is exactly why the world is such a great place to live in and why we all live in harmony and peace here in the "lucky country".

Give me a break.

I'm prepared to receive the reminder that this isn't the views of all Muslims, that they all dislike him yadda yadda yadda. Frankly, here's how I see it: some representatives are speaking out against this guy. Good on them. Where are the protests in the streets, ala when The Prophet cartoons were published in Denmark across the world? Where are the burning effigies of the Sheikh, ala Bush, Howard, Blair? It's the fact that the mass body of Muslims arn't standing up , literally, and all saying something and being heard, that makes it quite obvious that there are some who actually agree with what he was saying!!!

I have a contact in a Muslim setting surrounded by people of the faith, predominantly, the next generation. He told me, and I trust this man, that they, boys and girls, male and female teenagers, were supporting and actively arguing that the Sheikh and his comments. Now if the future of the Muslim faith believe this, and the "hardcore followers", as one credible source said (enough to constitute and assembly) believe him, then who's to say that two generations from now, as the children of today become parents (the same children who believe his shit now), majority of the Muslim community, in Australia, will then believe the comments made as well?

I know my comments may rub against the grain of some, but honestly, I don't care. Why should I? If it's because I'm towing some culturalist/racist (though I don't see how Muslim, the faith, constitutes a race) line, so be it. If it's because I'm saying something people don't want to hear, here's a suggestion: protest what Sheikh Jackass said before you criticise me. Actually say something that can be heard to denounce his ideas before you try and lay a literary finger on Thomas. To get back to the point I started this post out with, supposedly people in Australia have the right to say absolute B.S., and mine is very far from being that anyway. I mean, this guy can say the shit he did, why should anyone stop people from saying homophobic things? Then out-right racist remarks? Then something like Nazism? I deplore each of the last three categories, but if you are prepared to defend a person's right to say whatever they want, then you must allow all people to saying anything they want. You can't have these double standards. Hard to police? Yes. Is it something common sense would prevail over? Absolutely.

So, yes, my links list is one link shorter, and it may take a small miracle to get back on. That's not to say I do not recommend reading the site. I expect I will return as-per-usual. However, I feel that by 'advertising' the page here, I am advocating (somewhat) the things the author says. And with people being allowed to say whatever they want, whenever they want these days (and have people defend that right), I can't say I honestly want to take the chance on someone who has political, social and moral convictions of such a high degree, caliber and capacity as Ninglun.

Thomas.

I review: a packet of Snakata crisps.

Upon opening the pack, one is aroused by the scent of corn, while not overpowering, one's attention is brought to the contents of this bag. The bag, white and purple, is neither painful or soft on the eyes, merely the chest to the treasure inside. As with all crisps' bags, it is stiff, yet malleable to the touch. Bearing images of the contents, black-and-white photographs of beach-goers and what would appear to be a pinata (on a backing of florals) on the front, the back of the package is lavished with nutritional information, ingredients, warnings, recommendations and advice. The all-important "Best Before" date appears to have been printed in a new font to that of the 1990's style, heralding the new, competitive nature of the crisps industry.

When one reaches into the bag, one does not have to reach deep for this plentiful and rich crisp, as there is a massive 30 grams (net, and for the experienced corn/rice crisp consumer, they will understand how many a crisp this is), and, upon producing one of the contents, (if care has been taken in packaging and shipping) one will find a triangular-shaped crisp, light in weight, but heavy in flavour. The packaging informs me that these are purported to taste of "Sweet Chilli" and "Sour Cream", not forgetting, of course the corn and rice that goes into the foundation of such a crisp. Upon extensively taking in the full aroma that accompanies the crisp, one, with the delicate palate can sense the whiffs of, indeed, sour cream, but, to the more advanced connoisseur, perhaps herbs and chives, with such a taste certainly present. For this package, the cream may have been slightly milk-heavy.

The taste? What can one say? Certainly the acclaimed flavours are present, and with authority. The chilli is an alarming sensation to the tongue and senses, and immediately causes the consumer to wonder if there will be a drink at the end of the packet, at the most. For the beginner and 'new' connoisseur, a drink may be required at hand after four to five crisps. As the chilli's impact subsides though, one immediately notices that which was the aroma: sour cream, with the additional herbs and chives. As the dull sting from the chilli resonates in one's mouth, the sour cream is a wonderful taste to accompany this, so much so that one is enticed for the next crisp almost immediately.

Upon finishing the packet, this consumer found only one abnormal crisp: a one-third base. For the budget connoisseur, this could be a worrying, somewhat disappointing, find in the package, however, for those that languish away in their money, this will be of no concern. If, like the reviewer, you don't actually pay for your snacks, it will not even be an issue.

As a whole, these crisps delight the senses and fill the stomach, making this (along with its said health benefits: lacking in artificial flavour and gluten, oven baked and "guilt free" (though I would like to examine the scientific data on this finding before I jump to any conclusion on whether I will experience guilt prior, during or after consumption)) quite the well-founded crisp in this reviewer's opinion. The delicate, but sustained, balance of aroma and taste, of texture and edibility, of sweet chilli and sour cream, only makes this even more of a "must stock" for any household.

9/10.

Thomas.

Famous! I am upgraded to celebrity status!

I'd like to thank Samuel for the interview. If anyone requires contact with me from now on, you'll have to go through my manager.

Samuel's Persiflage - Guest: Clayton Northcutt.

Thomas.

Watch this. Applicable, even if not American. There's not much I can say about how great this commentary is.

Thomas.

Long over due, and somewhat talked about (and soon to be promised) here follows the latest (and unfortunatly last, for the time being) Thomas vs. Scammer correspondence. It first started a long, long time ago (August to be precise, and that's where you'll find the first email), and it finished quite a while ago, however, in order to benefit from the soon-to-be buzz, I feel posting it now is far more appropriate:

Dear Thomas,

Thanks for your response, as stated in my earlier email, I represent Mr. Mikhail khordokovsky, the former C.E.O of Yukos in Russia. I am sure you know of his predicaments presently and this is why we need your help

I am sure you are up to date with M.K.and Mr. P**** affair.

Mr. P**** is intent in destroying M.K. and his business empire, We are working to get a break from the courts and we will need all the cash call we can muster to hold our head above waters in the coming days.

The Channel Island portfolio is one of our arms yet to be infected by the Moscow led federal tax offensive designed to bring us down and we need you to help us keep it so. We need funds from this portfolio and we can not get the funds on our own without arousing Moscow. To avoid this we need to completely reprofile the funds from Channel Island portfolio in your name so as to turn away Moscow and their ally from us.

The complete amount available for you for reprofiling is presently over $450m and the 4% still stands. The new beneficiaries of the portfolio will need to offset the back taxes to the authorities in Channel Island and move the funds online over the internet through a dedicated confidential bank access that I will obtain from M.K. in Moscow through existing channel of communications.

Once I get your name or company name, address, for identity to replace that of M.K. and reprofile the portfolio accordingly, then I will get the bank access across to you to access the portfolio, pay the back taxes to the authorities and move the funds to another account we will provide you in Monte Carlo and you keep the 4% as agreed.

I will also suggest you visit these news sites on the internet to be better informed about this project.

I sent our current conversational status to Moscow and have received the authority to proceed with you, and get some clarifications both ways.

Before I am able to give out the information that will enable you access confidential data-pages of Mikhail, I would need some information as follows:

(1) What is your net worth?
(2) If you have problems, do they affect your activities you undertake with us as an individual rather than a corporate entity?
(3) Have you handled large funds, and successfully?
(4) Can you travel to jersey in Channel Island within short notice of say three days?

All the answers will be kept very confidential. I must explain why we are asking these questions: If you do have existing profile problems, we may end up inheriting your backlog thus creating a problem where none exist.

We intend to liquidate a large investment, and take the capital appreciation derivative to provide a new investment fund, under your management, for future investments, thus negating any requirements for taxation or declaration of process for income generation.

However, if you do have issues prior to this, it puts anything you do in the light, and thus puts us in uncomfortable situation. As you can see, our assets are frozen in Switzerland, and while we have excess of USD5b lying there, we are unable to liquidate them, or use them as guarantee for payment of the USD3.5b back taxes inflicted on us by the government. If the situation does not improve, we shall be bankrupt before the end of forth quarter this year.

The funds being liquidated arise from independent investments of the group, outside the Russian soil, so we can legitimately do so, only if this is done quietly. If the authorities hear about this, we shall have to tender it for hearing in international judicial systems, and that will kill us.

Hence answer the questions in honesty, and let us know we are comfortable with you. We are trying to ensure that you do not put us in any trouble, and likewise, we shall provide you with an input as an entity with no history to the investment, only as a management consultant.

Everybody must be safe now and in the future, hence the questions.

I await your response.

Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Mrs Larisa Sosnitskaya

I didn't quite know where the Channel Islands were, so I didn't think twice about having to travel there on short notice. I'd even prepared my Hawaiian shirts, shades, sandles, the whole deal. Anyway, I replied:

Mrs. Larisa Sosnitskaya

After reading your very informative and compelling, though somewhat confusing (alas I am no expert in business or things of involved with money, which is testament to why my wife balances my books, at home, and is my company accountant) email, I believe I may be of some use to you and your noble, even if under attack, company.

You asked for my net worth. Roughly, I believe it to be approximately $15, 630, 500 Iraqi Dinar cash, and approximately $16, 746, 500 Iraqi Dinar in investment abroad. Unfortunately, this does not take into account my stocks, bonds and loans, as I would be required more time to obtain this information. My investments are generally in the slave labour market; funding (so-called) “raids” along the African coast, the transportation of “captured” individuals aboard my boats (whether or not the National Boating Society wish to regard them as such), and the like.

As far as handling this venture, I do not have a problem handling this on a personal level. In fact, I would prefer not to involve my company if at all possible. Any sort of physical contact, though, would be difficult, at least at my headquarters, as the group of protesters who have picketed my building for three and a half years straight has significantly grown. I suspect that those dirty Green politicos have something to do with it. Therefore, I believe any correspondence should occur through email, as I regularly check for such business opportunities. It also ensures an extra amount of confidentiality in the matter.

As far as the ability to travel, as I have already stated I travel quite extensively. I do not trust commercial airline travel, and fly exclusively on my corporate jet. Being able to travel on short notice should not be a problem so long as I don't have any conflicting business travel. I travel to Paris and London frequently, and could possibly schedule a trip to Jersey, Channel Islands around such a trip. Once I know a proposed schedule I would better be able to let you know.

I am very busy, and do not have much time to waste on this matter. If you are indeed serious about this venture, then I welcome the opportunity to provide assistance. I am not yet fully comfortable with this venture at this point, but as you say, maybe through correspondence and getting to know each other better, we can proceed with trust and confidence.

Possibly yours in business,

Thomas.

For the above, I actually put the Iraqi Dinar in superscript, so, while actually telling them that I wasn't worth anything over $30, 000 AUD, I certainly did not try and over-inflate my own worth. Anyway, here was the the timely response:

Dear Thomas,

Thank you for your prompt response and i understand your decision to undertake the business on the personal level instead of company,it removes the hindrances occassioned by company bureaucracies and encumberances such as taxes and liabilities.

WE HAVE A DEAL BUT BEFORE WE PROCEED WE MUST HAVE ASSURANCE FROM BOTH SIDES:

Find attached a copy of my valid identification for your record.i implore you to send your asap and send me a private telephone number to call you on so that we can have the assurances on both sides.

On receipt of the I.D., i will pass information to the bank to reprofile the portfolio in your name and give you the bank to access access the portfolio and pay the back taxes to the authorities and move the funds to another account we will provide you in Monte Carlo and you keep the % as agreed.

I await your response.

regards

Larisa.

There were files attached to the email, but I felt that my precious bandwidth (the limit of which I struggle to achieve) wasn't worth wasting on what was going to, obviously, be a reliable picture. I couldn't wait to respond:

Dear Larisa,

Thank you for your quick response!

Sorry for the delay in response on my end. I had to attend one of my investments in Iraq. I recently funded the building of a new synagog in Baghdad, but after completion, it disappeared. There were reports that sections of it could be found in a five mile radius, however, I was unable to find any significant pieces to reuse in my fourth attempt.

I expect I will be able to forward a copy of my passport soon. I ran into a snag on that front as I couldn't find my actual passport. Doesn't that always happen? You can find any one of your “unofficial” ones, but when you need the real thing, it goes missing. Anyway, I have located it, and it is on it's way to me.

Yours in business,

Thomas.

Heres the last few emails:

Dear Thomas,

Thank you for your response.

PLEASE KNOW THAT WE MUST HAVE YOUR INFORMATION BEFORE WE CAN PROCEED. PLEASE ASAP SEND ME A PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER SO THAT I CAN CALL YOU ON SO WE CAN HAVE THE ARRURANCES ON BOTH SIDES AND ALSO YOUR VALID IDENTIFICATION.

We need this information so as to pass to the bank to reprofile the portfolio in your name..
In regards to contacts here for Dams, I can not help you out in this regards.

Please ensure you send the needed contact information in a fast manner.
I await your response.
regards
Larisa

Well, I felt it was about time to get serious with this business venture and send along a copy of my passport. First stop: Google. Finally, the "copy" (I recommend clicking there) found its way to Larisa via Photoshop. Alas it was the last email that would be exchanged, which made me twig she was a scammer and now can run rampart with a copy of Thomas' passport!

Larisa,

Good news! I've attached a copy of my passport for your use. Hopefully you find it of use. I remember getting that photo, I had just got the state-of-the-art haircut and busted out the good clothes.

Regards,
Thomas.

Thomas.

In news out today, Natasha Stott Despoja has made the decision to end her political career at the end of her current term of service. This will leave quite a hole in the Australian Democrats' ranks, really, because she is the only known face of the party to those who can't be bothered in keeping up with the muck down there in Canberra. So, in an effort to bring the Democrats back from this blow, I've compiled them a list of possible replacements:

- Former Republican Senator Mark Foley - Now, because the Democrats are, in electoral efforts (in a word), lagging, perhaps a man that appeals to the younger demographics would be well suited.
- Shoaib Akhtar - Why not? I mean, sure, he is a drug cheat, but that's ok, because all I'm hearing is that if he receives any sort of punishment, it would be a 'drag' on the popularity of cricket, because he is a 'character'. So why not draw on his appeal to the bogans and derelicts who would rather watch flashy, crap cricket against those who would rather watch good?
- Kate Ellis - The only thing that could make the Australian Democrats party appealing, even if it isn't for their policies.
- Satan - It doesn't really matter who the Democrats get into their folds they are never going to be a serious party. So why not bring in a guy who's liable to bring them the spotlight of publicity? Sure, he stands for death and destruction and all those 'horrible' things, and is the bane of humanity, but those policies don't come around that often, do they?
- John Howard - See: Satan.
- A rope with a yellow smiley face stuck on it - After all, the Democrats are only there as a game of tug-of-war for Labour and Liberal to give them the majority votes. And the yellow smiley face? Well it appeals to everyone!

Thomas.

With an absolute lapse in activity on my part (though not so much with the tinkering of the template of the page I'll have the less-astute know) I feel I need to explain myself to the handful of readers (and the dozens of scoffers) who actually feel the need to visit my little homage to banality.

You see, between last Friday and 10:15 this evening, I came to the realisation that my life is, in fact, dull. Well, dull isn't really the right word for my existence. Perhaps the old adage of 'watching paint dry' is far more applicable, because for most days, that is honestly what I feel like I am doing: watching the paint dry. Whether its sitting (or standing have you) on a CityRail Death Carriage, working, studying, attending lectures, walking from here to there, driving from place-to-place, I am watching the paints of my life effectively dry.

Now I know this post is taking the tones of some sort of depressive on a somber path to Emo Land, but I am coming to a point.

Now, take my humble, meager blog and compare it to the likes of SamuelGordonStewart.com or New Lines From A Floating Life, two blogs that I link to (and unfortunately the only two blogs that I find I am eager to check up on), and I am nothing. Am am but a grain of sand that is the long, white beach of NLFAFL and the crashing waves of SGS.com. Now why is this?

I thought I had the answer earlier in the week in between contrasting Piaget's theories with that of Lev Vygotsky's and trying to (with very little success) pick out my subjects for next year. I thought that I had nothing to blog about because nothing interesting has been happening in my garden of activity. Then I realised that, well, things have, in fact, been happening, but I am just too damn lazy to get up and do anything!

I am a lazy do-hickey.

That's all I am. I could have blogged about how it was my birthday a few days ago, the events that happened then yadda yadda yadda. I could have finished one of the many, many, posts that all I have to do is write a couple of paragraphs and it's postable. I could have written about how my sister is going through all the same shit I was going through this time two years ago at HSC time, and what I did, and how I coped (albeit this could be, shock, awe and gasp, very personal, tedious and ultimately boring). I could have written about how, after reading a mere single book from the twelve in the collection, I am consumed by my new favourite text: Paradise Lost. I could have written about the developments that have occurred already at YouTube after the Google buyout. But I didn't. All the ideas are there (Australia's cricket performance and future chances, movies I've recently seen, movies I intend to make, my new camera, functional grammar (in the efforts of annoying The Viper, who unfortunately loathes one of the greatest English subjects I have ever done), the scammer that I have been sitting on for about a month now (and have been alluding to for quite some time now), Internet behaviour and etiquette and my thoughts on that (which is likely to actually incite discussion among the Internet active users, not the passive users (both of which are defined in the post))). But, again, I ask did I act on any of these ideas? No, of course not.

I'm lazy after all.

I begin to wonder if it's the fact that I am lazy or I am complacent in that a post will come to me and write itself with no effort (see many of my earlier posts). I reside in the fact that it is both, and probably more, which, if I discuss here, will mean this blog goes from being an extension of me to a part of me, and there is way too much crapola in there to be writing about, trust you me.

So I tried to figure out a solution, drawing on all the brainpower (about the same amount of wattage to power, well, static) I could muster and I came up with a few emo reasoning's, a couple of sensible answers, but nothing to cure my disease of laziness. Disease is the wrong word, because it implies there is treatment. With laziness, there is no treatment. If you are like me, lazy, complacent, the definition of a bludger, you are stuck like that. I can remember (hazily though) in a drunken stupor telling a girl who, being in my sister's year, about to begin the HSC not to waste the opportunity to hit the sky with your marks, as I did. Did I choose to waste the opportunity that I had worked to come HSC exams? Yes. How did I make that choice: through shear laziness. Nothing else. I could have studied. I could have done that extra month's work. I didn't do either, and I think about it and kick myself about it each day: that I didn't (oh! behold the words of many a teacher here) apply myself.

As a side note, advising a female about not wasting academics opportunity, while drunk, is not a successful method of trying to get them to call/email/talk to you again. I'll remember that.

So where has this mournful rambling led us to? To the realisation that I am one lazy S.O.B., that I really am nothing in the scheme of things, and that I am probably one f'd up jack up in the head. Well, that last one is a guarantee, I promise you that.

The saddest part about this post is I'm not even drunk while writing it. I am running on a mere two hours sleep between 9 a.m. Friday and 11:40 p.m. Saturday (35 hours, or there abouts, if my lack-of-maths in the HSC serves me correct). Never-mind, I expect (though don't hold out as I may have let myself down on what I am thinking about at the moment) I may be cheered up by mid next week. I mean, sure, uni finishes up for the semester, I'll have picked my subjects and, thus, major, and ultimately decided my future (as best I can), won back The 18 Cup, enjoyed my last train ride for (bar my exam days) six months, and begun the countdown for my 'big trip', but these are minor, trivial aspects of my life next week ...

Thomas.

Everyone remembers 9/11/01 and what happened.

Well, a plane crashed into another building two days ago in America. What was that date?

10/11/06

Now, because the year is really year 6, write it like:

10/11/6

Turn it upside down:

9/11/01

FREAKY!

Thomas.

Steve Fielding really must be moving up on Barnaby Joyce's 'Most Hated' list . First Joyce opposes V.S.U. (for some odd reason). Fielding saved the day, though, and voted the V.S.U. through the Senate. I even remember toasting to 'our friend' Steve at Macarthur Chilli's, the speech lead by Mr. Pseudonym.

Then comes along the new media laws that Howard & Co. were hoping to get through the Senate without qualms. Well, Joyce sticks up his head and demand change for his pawn vote. So, they succumb, still hoping to get the bill passed. Joyce, however, holds out. But who swoops in to save the day once more? That's right! Super Steve. In he dashes to get that 'great' bill through*. He is quickly becoming Howard's favourite me guesses.

I suspect that when Johnny tries to push through his 'Perpetual Prime Minsterial Role', Fielding (after getting the clause that the P.M. is responsible to God and that he will ban homosexuality and pornography) will give him that crucial vote so that, even after death, Howard will still be running the country.

Hell, he'll probably get more votes than Beazley in that sort of race.

Thomas.

*Do note, dear reader, that my perceived enthusiasm for Howard's reforms is quite different to what I actually believe.

For those who check comments posted on the blog by others (though, lets face it, you probably don't in fears you may have to read more of my diatribe in the form of a reply), your wait is over. For everyone else waiting for something else (and not actually what I'm about to talk about) here's the news:

A while ago, the 24th of September to be precise, Chuck A. Spear (of Samuel Gordon-Stewart's blog fame, and, of recent times, seen at Deus Lo Vult), who is a writer for the website BrownNoiseUnit.com, asked if I were interested in writing for that site as well. After some back-and-forth emails, we came to an agreement.

Then a fortnight passed, and Thomas had written nothing. Not a word. It wasn't that I couldn't think of anything (though I couldn't think of much as the posting activity on my blog was rather sparse at the time as well), but I couldn't think of anything that would make an appropriate debut post.

Then, last night, I emailed Mr. Spear with a copy of my YouTube concern post (the second below here) and hoped (to the heavens above) that it would be, in fact, something that would at least be returned to me saying "It's good, but not good enough" rather than the dread, two-page long HAHAHA~ email I could have received.

However, to my dismay, it was actually published. Right here, complete with appropriate title and all.

Now I sit and hope, now, that it doesn't get ridiculed ... well, I don't really care if it does, because I liked it, and apparently so did a few others. Anyway, wish the readers luck in finding the cognitive plane* that I exist in ...

Or wish it to me. Either way.

Thomas.

*Not necessarily higher. In fact, likely to not be higher.

You know something big has happened when Thomas and Samuel Gordon-Stewart (well, really, only Mr. Gordon-Stewart) blog about the same topic. My thoughts on the Google purchase of YouTube can be found below, my second latest post. Samuel's can be found here. We both, apparently, have different takes on the whole issue: Thomas the pessimistic, fearful one and Samuel the happy, excited other. Upon writing my post, and then reading Samuel's later in the day, I felt that, in the efforts of promoting the diversity and free speech that I so dearly hope YouTube's sale doesn't destroy within its community, I attempted to engage in some healthy debate with young Samuel by leaving a comment to his afore-mentioned post:

Quite happy? Is this really a good thing Samuel? It is in my opinion that the world and society need function beyond 1’s and 0’s, especially in this day and age of disconnectedness between persons. YouTube managed to enable it, and it’s could be under threat now. For my full and detailed opinion of this news, visit my blog, by clicking on my name above.

Thomas.

I thought it reflected some of my views and opinions, but merely served as a taster, so that anyone who enjoyed their whiff of Northcutt writings could simply head on over to here and read up on my full opinion. Do note, also, that this could be conceived as my first ever piece of advertising for my cherished blog.

Anyway, Samuel replied, and with gusto:

I can understand where you’re coming from here Thomas, but allow me to draw a comparison between Google buying YouTube and Google buying Writely. The latter has remained virtually unchanged since the acquisition some months ago, Google have continued to fix the beta bugs, and have moved Writely over to the Google Accounts system…other than that, not much, if anything, has changed.

When Google bought Writely, there were a few mumblings on the Internet, but not much publicity in the real world, certainly not enough to prompt talkback radio hosts who had never heard of the acquired website to interview IT journalists about it.

YouTube on the other hand is big news, both in the technology field and the financial field, and therefore Google are going to be under much more pressure to live up to expectations and not destroy the community which has grown on YouTube.

To be perfectly honest, I think YouTube is the better site, and I think Google agree, and I also think that the talks took as long as they did simply because the owners of YouTube were concerned that if Google bought it, they might destroy it. I think everyone involved wants to make YouTube the best video and related content website that it possible can be, that may involve some pay-per-view programming, but I have no doubt that the vast majority of videos (and pretty much everything contributed by users) will remain free.

At the very least, Google have the funds to handle YouTube making a loss for a while, and I’m sure they have plans for the future which will ensure the profitability of YouTube, and the continued excellent relationship YouTube has with its users.

Perhaps I’m just optimistic, but I really don’t think YouTube’s owners would have sold the website to Google unless they thought it would be “safe”.

And based on a video message posted by the former-owners of YouTube, it looks like they are staying on in executive roles, more focussed on developing the site, and not so worry about the business stuff which is now Google’s problem.

Samuel would then close his comment by linking back to the video in which the owners of YouTube announce the sale through video posted on YouTube (quite appropriate really).

I felt that, perhaps, the ambiguity of my overt advertising post didn't quite convey what I was hoping to say, and perhaps (if the all-to-busy Samuel couldn't find the time to really read and engage with the post below this, I can totally understand and cope with) by not really reading my post, I should make my reply comment a little more detailed (albeit longer than my original post ((seriously)):

Ah, yes, the video that send waves round the Internet pond. I saw that earlier today, and, for a moment, felt (somewhat) reassured. However, let us ask yet more questions, and consider the answers, if only to amuse me.

Negotiations took a long time because the YouTube owners wanted to ensure that their product stays in tact - that I can accept. Yet, for how long after the Google takeover are they going to be in the picture? How much say are they going to ultimately have? Are they moving from co-founders to Google employees?

These answers will have significant bearings on the future of the YouTube community, and it’s these answers that worry me. And then how much do the owners care about the culture that has been formed around and in YouTube? Do they consider it some offshoot that isn’t something they should concern themselves with? They hardly regulate ‘the community’ (only the videos, and even then primarily if they have a corporate/institutional request), and one only needs look at many of the comments left on videos. So, my concern in this regard is that they feel that their primary loyalty is to the customer in terms of the 1’s and 0’s that they provide to the world.

And I bring up the diversity on the Internet once more; Google can (though I question if they will) dictate what we can and can’t see on YouTube now. This is dangerous, not only to the freedom of speech that everyone on the Internet exercises daily, but to the freedom of the Internet. I doubt that Google has any form of agenda, but if they were to sellout to the corporate world that they are a part of, pressures exist on other companies and institutes that may then be reflected back upon YouTube as a sort of ripple effect. Everyone acknowledges that YouTube takes a ridiculous amount of bandwidth to run. Google has signed onto that responsibility. Furthermore, no company, in the capitalist world, aims at running at a loss. It’s not good business. Therefore, either Google will have to continue running YouTube out of their profits made elsewhere, or, and what I suspect may very well happen, they will have to make YouTube profitable, or at the very least, self-sustaining.

What is the easiest way for this to happen? All companies and firms to get in on the action. How long, I ask, until, as with WWE (which, I do note, is disgusting in its terms of user loyalty and satisfaction), you have to watch an advertisement before every video? What about ads clogging up and slowing down the page (as has happened with MANY sights that everyone knows of)? And then, to get more customers in to support the increase in video uploads daily, how long until it turns into some sort of farce where you user account page is some sort of personal hub, where the sight is lag-tastic because of all the ‘decoration’ and ‘features’ that are an attempt to draw in every teenager under the son looking to expand their social network (MySpace familiar to anyone, and the joke that it now is)?

Now I hold faith in Google. They are a good company, and have always shown their intentions from the onset, in everything they’ve done. And these intentions are generally, if not always, good. But this isn’t some foray into the world of emails, like Gmail, or personal web-pages, like Google Pages, or Net-based software, like Google Spreadsheet. This is a pre-established, overwhelmingly popular, website and community. The two things have consumed many an hour of people’s man power to really become a home within the home for some people.

As you can probably tell, it’s the community that I’m most worried about. It’s because it wasn’t made by a company, it wasn’t made by the owners, it wasn’t even made with the dollar. It was made by people like me, like you Samuel. By people who wanted a voice and wanted to make something out of nothing. It’s serves as a testament to what the e-culture, the technologically capable, the nerds of the world, the social outcasts and withdrawn, can actually do. The Internet is quickly becoming a better place than reality! And it’s because of the average person sitting at their average computer living their average life, all chipping together to make something extraordinary. This is the community that I’ve chosen to become part of, that I’ve chosen to help build, and I hope (do note that I can’t choose this option) that the corporate sellout of YouTube doesn’t happen at all.

To get back to the point I had originally intended with my previous paragraph, the community focused around YouTube and existing within, it wasn’t created by a company. How could a company cater for it? How can a company ensure it’s success without ridiculous change? How can a company even possibly understand it? Even a member of the community has times when they say “Wow, how strange” or “That’s a surprise”. This is why I worry about YouTube changing hands. The community was built and existed while YouTube sat in the hands of one person. Now, not only is it going to sit in a new set of hands, different hands altogether, but it’s going to have to travel there. There is no guarantee that can be made with 100% commitment that nothing will change and the community will survive. None. People can say “We will try” or “We will look out for you” but it could be something so small as ads on the page that change everything. Who knows, the YouTube community is so unique in its structure and make-up that, in reality, it serves as a one-time experiment. So how can anyone say, can the YouTube owners, creators and workers, Google, even you and I Samuel, how can anyone say what is going to happen. You and I have done the only thing that anyone can in this situation: hope and talk. We hope nothing changes, as do many, many, people put there. We express our convictions, beliefs, our hopes and (possible) prayers for YouTube and it’s community. And that’s all, really, anyone can do.

I hope you don’t feel I’m attacking you Samuel. It’s only that the community of YouTube that I have spoken so much of is important to me. The website has transcended being a place to watch videos, to being a place to watch people. I live in the world of Vlogs over there, and so it’s no wonder that I feel so ‘emotionally involved’ with this scenario, as I have become ‘emotionally involved’ with many of the people who are going a step further than our mere blogs, and personalising the who get-up with visual and sound. Now you can see and hear and experience a person, really, writing a blog, instead of reading dots on a screen (but (and anyone in the YouTube know will understand this), as we leaned with LonelyGirl15, isn’t it all just dots on a screen anyway?).

Anyway, that’s just what I think, and of course, I encourage debate on this. Perhaps I will be viewed as some socially-deprived looney by some people. But who cares? I still have YouTube to turn to.

But for how long …

Thomas.

And thus I wait, with head dreary, and trying to rip-off The Raven, in the hopes that Samuel will see where I am coming from. Perhaps Sociology 1001 and 1002 (which, in my feedback note, wrote: "Though I thoroughly enjoyed the course I can see no future use for it as a job or in general" (Oh how wrong I was)) wasn't so much of a waste of time. But this is a serious concern for me, and no doubt will be trivialised by person I know, made into a joke and the like, but it is a concern for me, for my friends that use YouTube and engage in the community on the same levels as I do. And I simply wanted to voice my concern, is all.

Hmmm, this has taken a rather personal and emotional undertone. Rather worrying really ...

Thomas.

So Google has officially brought YouTube. Not at all a surprise, and I think anyone who has used YouTube extensively would realise the overwhelming potential benefits that it holds, especially for a commercial/money-orientated company. Of course, everyone will be well aware of the liability it will be (as stated by "authorities" across the Internet), which may cause some people to think it a foolish $2.2 billion dollar investment.

But who are the people commentating?

Are they the people that actively use it? That put videos up on there to share? That have watched some of the YouTube community people (icons like judsonlaipply and friendster88) actually already come to some form of corporate sellout? That have watched the quasi-famous to the ridiculously famous (ParisHilton) infiltrate what began and survives (somewhat) as a place, a haven, for a subculture looking to escape the real world, and thus corrupt it's true meaning?

Sure, Google has brought YouTube, and sure, it's definitely going to go through changes, but there is only one distinct difference between what was happening 'naturally' and what has happened with the buyout:

It's going to happen faster.

Any user of YouTube, whether a fan or not, would know the situation with WWE videos: the company simply said no to any videos of their being hosted. Post one and it will be down faster than it would take to watch the video through. Then there are the companies like CBS, NBC, The Comedy Channel who don't discourage their videos being posted and, in fact, have their own user accounts to post things of their own!

Now even I realised that, eventually, ads would find their way in, that some sort of pay-per-view for the copyrighted materials that companies and persons wanted to post (but not for free viewing) would begin their own system, but I could only see it as a mere speck on the horizon. In, what, a year and a bit of using The Tube, I haven't seen any drastic changes, certainly nothing resembling a corporate sellout by YouTube. And mentions of money on the sight haven't even popped up.

And I'm certainly not saying that they have yet.

Lets get something straight though. I love Google. I think they are going great things for the Internet, for the home user, for the business user and for the industry. And I acknowledge that they have to make money in this capitalist world. And I further acknowledge that they have to make it in a way that, firstly, conforms to their approach to the market (client-friendly ahead of ledger-friendly), but secondly, is effective. But take a look at a hell of a lot of sites and you see the ads sponsored by Google, you see "Search the web" options preferenced in sites, which ends up searching Google, when all you want to do is search the site. Small, but sometimes annoying, things like that.

Now, I'm not here to say that it's a bad purchase, that YouTube is headed down the WaterTube, that the world is coming to an end. Far from it. It seems like a great business investment: there is so much potential in YouTube it's insane. YouTube isn't headed for the Tube (yet), and I don't see it going there if things are managed correctly. And the world isn't coming to an end primarily because I still exist.

But the opportunity, the chance, to kill off everything that users like Renetto, like FilthyWhore, like boh3m3, like Brookers have built with theirs and every user's efforts, exists. If Google don't manage things right, as in, they don't keep YouTube at a level that it is now (in terms of administrative interference, exposure, corporate involvement etc.) then things can, and will, go wrong.

To sum YouTube up, it's like the world's biggest cinema, and thousands of people are in it. At the moment, you can walk from one theatre to another, watch the movie, comment about it, talk to other viewers and the creators about the movie you just watched, and then freely walk on into another theatre to watch another movie. Within this giant cinema, it's a community, and, honestly, though there are no set requirements to fit in (i.e. age, race, gender, religion, knowledge etc.) not everyone will and can fit in. That's really a post on it's own, but suffice to say, to be part of the e-culture, to really fit in and be a part, you need a different mental persona than what you generally would put on in public due to the annonminity factor (unless, of course, you are naturally an asshole, in which case you will fit in perfectly).

So, if YouTube is this giant cinema, one thing you should note about it now: they aren't charging for tickets. It's free to go in, it's free to leave, it's free to watch as many movies as you want, and it's free to talk and say what you want (regrettably in some instances). But witha corporate buyout, should we start counting down the months until some sort of fee is going to exist to post a movie? Or to watch a movie? Or to leave a comment?

If you have noted a sense of fear in my writings here, now, you would be quite astute. I am quite afraid that a website, some inanimate object, that, really, does not exist, I have come to enjoy and that has, really, become quite an important part of my existence on the Internet, perhaps in life, is under threat. With due note I will say that Google isn't the biggest threat that YouTube has faced. Net Neutrality was bigger than this, and it still hasn't even been resolved yet. But I am more worried about the fact that one company has brought another out.

Everyone gives Microsoft a very hard time for monopolising the 'computer' world. I do, and I will forever. But is, perhaps, Google about to become the monopoly of the Internet? Will it buy everything it can (as I see it, in an attempt to become more integral to the Internet and to keep Microsoft from doing the same)? But a lot of the criticism for Microsoft also comes in that they kill "diversity" amount the 'computer' world (apart from the fact that they create flawed programs intentionally and have, really, no customer loyalty). Is that going to be the same thing as Google acquires more and more? If Google decide that they are going to only temporarily host videos for a period of a month instead of full-time, if Google decides that something is politically/culturally/morally/socially offensive, if Google decides popular videos will get featured or advertised and preferential treatment, if Google decides to launch an advertising campaign that draws in anyone, including persons who ruin the community and are not (and do not want to be) part of the e-culture ...

All these "if" questions need to be considered by people who live the Internet, who live YouTube, who want, dare I say, need these things. Consider these questions, and the many, many, more that I didn't bother to list, and then, perhaps, the sort of fear that I have for my beloved YouTube may resonate within your fine selves, and, as a result, nothing will happen, and it will all be for nothing. That's what I hope for ...

Thomas.

When the tough gets going, CityRail bites you in the ass. The tough, in this case, was an obvious lack of quality and length of blog posts on my part (not to take away from Mr. Annon, of course, who appears to have revitalised my blog of sorts). And, yes, CityRail strikes again. Why is it that whenever I cannot think of a topic, subject or theme to blog about, CityRail steps from the shadows of the alley and offers me a line of coke?

Or rhetoric I guess in this case.

Either way, here are some words of advice that everyone should abide by in their life:

Just as you can count on the sun rising after setting, you can have as much faith in NOT relying on CityRail.

Now where am I coming from? Well, anyone who disembarked from the train that pulled into East Hills, oh, fifteen minutes ago or so, would fully well know my problem. You see, CityRail purports to have (and run by?) a timetable, which I suspect that they suspect a customer can rely on for consistency (that word is probably CityRail's arch-nemises). Not that any customer does rely on it, as we just rock up to a station at some general time and hope that a train manages to stop long enough to get on and is going in the same direction as our want.

However, damnation be to the timetable this afternoon! CityRail (I suspect out of decision, though I could accept out of need) caused my regular train of Central to Campbelltown to be fifteen minutes late on its arrival, and changed it to express. What does express mean? It means they tell the driver to stop at less stations, but drive slower as well.

Now, the all stations train to East Hills, while inviting (well, not really) gets in fifteen minutes (roughly) after the Campbelltown one that I usually traverse. Thus, I forgo it. I did, once again today, and then, to my grand amazement, arrival times change, stations stopped changed, and I ended up waiting fifteen minutes (probably more) for the Express.

Now the change to Express didn't bother me that much; the fact that it was late did. However, CityRail should spare a thought for the senile, the elderly, the incapacitated and anyone over the age of 30, because these people had a serious comprehension problem with this change. As a regular 'getter' of this train, I see other regulars who, with due note, get off before I (lucky them). Now, I wouldn't put it past CityRail to not make adequate announcements about changes to stopping patterns, but I also wouldn't put it past person older than me to not have a firm grip on reality. Therefore, upon arriving at Sydenham, I was surprised that a group, who always get off at Kingsgrove, got on the train that would crawl between Sydenham and East Hills without stop.

With a narcissistic smile, I continued to dine on my lavish meal for the day of Smith's Cheese and Onion crisps and Sprite. My smile widened when we flew past Kingsgrove and said people were left standing their, looking for want after their station, then, with perplexed looks, at one another. The poor people would have to endure the hellish ride, with your's truly, all the way to the lush, green valleys of East Hills. Eventually, when we arrived, we all got off, and, once again, being uninformed and mental-aged, they couldn't quite work out where to go, what to do, to get the train sitting on the other station to get home. They really had no idea, and they showed it to. That was their problem. See, if I am ever lost, or in a situation like this, I pretend I'm not. I walk around like I live in the place. Granted, it makes things a lot worse, but at least I don't look senile.

So, yeah, long story short, and the Cliff's Notes of things:
- NEVER rely on CityRail
- DON'T get old
- If you are lost, get LOSTER

And your life will be a breeze!

Thomas.

The following is a submission (I am taken a-back that someone wants to have their name associated with this blog too) from a Mr. Annon. (Well, I guess no name is going to be associated after all). Apparently it's a mock Supporting Statement for a Teacher Application, and a very funny one at that. Enjoy:

APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A TEACHER: SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Name: Mr Joe Bloggs
Teaching area: K-12, All subject areas, anything really!! If I don’t know it I’ll have the School Holidays to learn.
University: Bogan University

This supporting statement is to be submitted at the time of your personal suitability interview. This information will be considered by your interviewing panel in assessing your potential as a teacher in NSW public schools. Your supporting statement must not exceed the space provided. You must sign the declaration at the end of this document.

PART 1 EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE

1.Within your teaching subject/area how would you ensure that you maximise learning experiences and outcomes for all your students?
Firstly I would ensure equality of outcomes for all my students by not caring what circumstances they come from or their so called, bleeding hearts, special needs, I will be fair to all students and treat them all equally. If they can’t cope with the course, tough luck! This will maximise the chances that those who are not total dickheads finish top of the course. That is if they don’t flee to a neighbouring private school before the end of the semester.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

2. How would you go about planning a unit of work, and how would you know if your teaching of the unit was effective?
I would photocopy the first textbook on the topic I found lying around the photocopy room, hand it to an office lady with the appropriate copying instructions and hope that she doesn’t fuck up even this simple task. The best determination of if the unit was effectively planned is if the class can read the text independently and complete the questions for each topic without constantly asking for help. That can really disturb your train of though, reading of the newspaper, perusal of the TAB guide etc.

3. What strategies would you implement to develop effective communication skills in your students?
You need to establish clear guidelines to gain students respect. If they sit down, shut up and at least stay the hell out of my way if they are too incapable of completing the work I believe my communication has been effective in setting my class expectations.

4. What strategies have you implemented to manage student behaviour?
Unfortunately the nansy pansies in government at the moment wont allow be to belt the little shits with a the cane anymore, so I have invented a new method of behaviour management. All students will be hooked up to an electronic charge according to a seating plan. This will allow for students to be given a shock if they talk, move, fall asleep or do anything that could make me look like a dodgy teacher were an executive to walk past.

PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT

5. How will you apply the principles of lifelong learning to your professional development as a teacher?

I intend to demonstrate of learning from the past to build future achievements. In keeping with that theme I intend to draw on Past School Exams as the basis for all future ones. This is to ensure consistency of assessment and a hell of a lot less work for me. Once I change the year on the title its’ off to the print room and the challenges addressing in Question 2.

6.How do you see your role as a member of a professional team?
I will approach my role in the faculty like a survivor challenge. By pissing everyone off and making them leave by any means possible I will eventually become the most senior teacher, move on to the head teachers job and form there the executive lounge. This is essentially the merge and from there on I will work on the executive staff in the same way and work to claim the principal’s office for my own along with the title of the sole survivor.

7. How would you assist parents to engage in their children’s education?
By telling them to get off their arse and ask their little runts if they had a good day at school and find out all the pathetic details from their kids or the newsletter rather than wasting my time. I can’t remember all those names, let alone be expected to actually know each child I teach. What a hide these people have!!!

PART 2 PERSONAL INFORMATION


1. Please outline your reasons for becoming a teacher.
Basically I like the holidays. I know that many teachers work during their holidays, evening and weekends. But lets face it by the time I’ve dealt with those bloody office ladies and managed to stay under the executives’ radar I think I deserve a break! Especially when you consider the effort it takes to get shirk all responsibility when your faculty of on staffroom duty.

2. Please indicate any co curricular areas in which you have qualifications, experience or abilities that would assist you in your role as a teacher. Examples could include sport coaching, performance skills (in drama, music or dance), outdoor education, first aid, information technology skills, youth leadership skills or other interests and hobbies.
I am an expert in origami and a fully licensed boxing trainer. This will allow me to connect with the youth culture of the dim witted nerd as well as the loud mouthed bully. With my carefully crafted clam I can help frustrated students deal with their problems by mastering the ancient origami art of making the longest continuous chain out of a Folded Mintie Wrapper and simultaneously sort out peer conflict by showing them the finer points of how to duke it out in the park after school.

3. Give a personal example of an activity that demonstrates your application of any one of the following skills:
initiative
leadership
organisation.
Last year I organised a fully sick bucks night for my mate Wazza. Words can’t justify the success of the night save to say that he ended up tied to a telegraph pole. I’ll bring the pictures to the interview.

Outline what you did, and what were the results of your involvement.

We didn’t run out of beer. Enough said.


I declare this statement to be my original work, prepared and written by myself.

Annon.

Signature of applicant: Date: / / 2006


God-damn give that writer an award!

Thomas.

Last week I checked my email, and what should I find? A reply from my initial reply to the Russian scam letter to be found here (Find: Mrs Larisa Sosnitskaya). It's been had been a long time coming, and, in all honesty, couldn't be better timed. I only just sent off an email to our favourite young Samuel Gordon-Stewart with a few ideas, as he requested, on what we could talk about.

Now last week I also replied to the reply. And then Czar Scammer, thinking they've got someone hooked once more, managed a reply to my reply of the reply to the reply before that. It's quite interesting, and holds much potential for comedy and length of string, that string to be used to string them along.

But I think I'll hold them off for either a lengthy single post, sort of like a short story, or until about the time (if I should be granted such a privilege) my voice appears on Persiflage.

Thomas.

I've just got word from a credible source (Heinz Tomato actually) that because cricket season is yet to start, the NRL has finished, as has the AFL, because there's no Olympics/Seasonal Olympics/Para-lympics/swimming competition, and because still no one cares about Australian soccer, channels 10, 9 and 7 are in a fierce auction for the 2006 Pabst Blue Ribbon Keystone State Rock Paper Scissors Championship to be held in everyone's favourite city of Philadelphia (made famous by Tom Hanks playing a person with AIDS and ... well, really only that) on October 14.

To show your support for this world renowned sport, you can by this great and horrific t-shirt!

Without a doubt everyone should go along to watch the championships of the most competed in sport (not that 'wannabe' most competed sport soccer/football (they can't even get their name right!)). The competitors are all vying for the massive $1200, a trophy and a title (it sounds awfully like The 18 Cup, only, the "benefactors" aren't so stingey).

Expect to see this filling your prime-time screens soon, especially withe play-offs to the grand final. Of course, it will be prime-time because 10, 9 and 7 all bury their good shows in the deep of night.

Clayton Northcutt.

Returned from the world of seriousness after facing my mortal enemy - University Assignments (and it shall not be the final time we do battle), I thought it high time I blogged, or wrote, or thought about something that concerns us all:

Fluoridation.

"A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works."

Anyone who calls themselves a movie connoisseur, a fan of the satiric film or someone who likes to say that they are intelligent would be able to tell you what movie that is from. It's gone down in history as a classic and a must-see, though not for the traditional reasons. Normally, a classic is such because of the great acting (see: anything with Marlon Brandon). This film is a classic because it is a rip-tear into the Cold War society and the spectacle that is called politics.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

This should be in the Top 10 of every movie list. It's black and white, it's part comedy, it's got an actor called Slim Pickens. What else could you possibly want? A reflection on the absurd paranoia of Cold War society about the communists? Check. A parody of the technology gap (that was so often talked about by Americans and the West concerning the technology gap between the West and Russia) within the mineshaft gap? Check. A man riding (literally) a nuclear bomb? Check. Acknowledgment that the Americans brought out all the Nazi scientists after the war? Check. The list goes on.

This is a great film, not only because of the previous reason, but because it's quite relevant today, and I hope that someone does, in the future (not too distant future ideally) does the same sort of thing with today's fear society and terrorism. The writers wouldn't need to work too hard at throwing in the comedy every now and then: just include a few transcripts of Bush's speeches.

Clayton Northcutt.