If you could buy anything you wanted “duty free” on a quick round-trip to (say) New Zealand, then what would you buy?
I’ve been told I can buy myself a birthday gift, but (frankly) find I’m in the blessed position of not actually wanting a thing.
However I’d be interested in hearing any creative ideas, just in case one of them hit a nerve.
Here skymija asked:
“How did the concert go?”
Well, I wore my hat - but I don’t think any nooksters spotted me. Even when I waved to everyone pictured here.
Are you in this picture? I think I can find Wally, but I’m not sure about the rest of you.
It was a lovely barmy night - but stinking hot while waiting for proceedings to get underway at dusk.
The one thing I forgot about last year’s season was how many people persist in having a social conversation during the free concert. A trio of giggling gals swapped romance stories through the first act (and then fortunately disappeared off into the shell once they spied some vacent seats). And a couple of uni students debated the merits of studying Arts during the second half. No amounts of “shhh!” or stern lookings would prompt them to disappear to a coffee shop to continue their conversation.
Come on people: I know it is free but it is still worth listening too. For goodness sakes, camp outside the gates if you want to chat endlessly through the show.
That aside, I highly recommend the concert itself. The season continues this Wednesday and Saturday. If you get a chance, wear a hat and go.
Dzlr broke the news here with a post about the roadside delivery of baby Jack to Jon Clarke and Kerry Myers.
As Dzlr revealed, the story was also slated to get a run in the local Leader:
“They are going to be on the front page of the local paper, thats out on
wednesday, so you will all be able to read the whole story
it seems that my post got some attention from the editor…
(thanks guys, I think its a story worth telling)”
For those of you not from the Belgrave area, here is a link to that news item.
What a scorcher! I’m heading out soon to the free concert No.2 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
On this evening’s bill is the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Oleg Caetani as conductor and Emily Burke as soprano, Renae Martin (mezzo - soprano), David Thelander (bariton), David Parkin (bass), and the Melbourne Chorale Symphonic Choir.
An evening of selected works by Verdi, along with others.
How will you spot me? I’ll be wearing a hat (and I suggest you do the same). 
Update: Scott MacDonald doesn’t exist anymore.
As mentioned here, bids were being taken to rename this dud. His new name is Free-A-Store-Us-Rex! (At least until February 2nd, 2008).
And the winning bid? A cool $37,000.01 (US). That’s more $47865.50 in aussie dollars. Wow!
When it comes to fast cash, some people cook up the weirdest ideas. Take Scott MacDonald for example.
He is taking bids (which close February 2) to sell off naming rights on himself. The highest bidder so far has offered almost US $37,000 from a online coffee company for Scott to legally name himself Finest Freshest Fastest. If nobody makes a bigger bid by February 2, that’s going to be Scott’s new name.
It could be worst. Some of the earlier bidding had wanted Scott to adopt names like: FreebeeStore.com, Oprah Winfrey, The Business of Kindness, Mr MyFatRobot.com, Mr Kontraband, and King Taco.
Check out the full story, or outbid the top contender.
In terms of weird wages, do you know anyone who can outdo Scott?
Keep a spot clear in your calendar for the 2007 series return of Fitzroy Shorts.
This celebration of short films screens on the first Wednesday of the month at the Spanish Club in Fitzroy.
- Location: The Spanish Club, 59 - 61 Johnston St, Fitzroy.
- Time: Doors open 7pm and screening starts at 8.30pm.
- URL: http://www.fitzroyshorts.com/
Have you (or your friends) ever been suspended from school?
If so, I bet you never had a mum as “helpful” as this one?
Let’s hope they never get tuckshop duty!
James Worley, a man with portly frame and white beard, was visiting Disney World in Florida wearing a red shirt and hat. Because of his appearance, children approach him to ask if he was Santa. Mr Worley played along by pretending he was the jolly elf; offering Some “ho, ho, hos” to boot.
However, Disney officials quickly put an end to his unauthorized impersonation, saying they wanted to preserve the magic of Santa. Mr Worley was told he could either take off his red shirt and hat, or leave the park. Worley complied, however kiddies continued to ask if he was Santa.
“How do you tell a little kid, ‘No, go away, little kid’,” Mr Worley later told a television crew. “I look this way 24/7, 365 days a year. This is me.” Worley claims he was told by officials that “Santa was considered a Disney character,” and that he had no right to impersonate him.
Have the editorial gurus at Time magazine lost the plot? They have named “you” as Person of the Year for 2006.
That’s anyone who has typed their opinions into a blog to help bolster the growth of user-generated content on the internet.
So before you puff out your chest with pride just remember that the title is frequently mistaken as being an honor. A check on previous holders of this title shows “you” now share the gong with the Ayatollah Khomeini (in 1979), Adolf Hitler (1938), and Joseph Stalin (1939 and 1942).
Groups have also won it in the past. Namely “Hungarian Freedom Fighter” in 1956, U.S. scientists in 1960, “Twenty-Five and Under” in 1966, “The Middle Americans” in 1969, “American Women” in 1975, and “The American Soldier” in 2003.
So let’s take a moment to reflect who “you” might actually include:
So stand up and be counted.
Post here if you have any other “oddball” nominations that should be excluded. Together we can petition Time magazine to refine the award to be “You … excluding him, him, her, them and these other nutbags”.
