Signal?

* Don't stroll blindly past "Big Things Series, 2007" by Julian Wrigley in the window gallery of the Sydney Books Kinokuniya. You'll miss cute composite photos in which a nuclear family of plastic (Fisher-Price?) figurines and their dog visit various Aussie roadside attractions, eg. The Big Pineapple.

* Unclever marketing: The allegedly humorous new fictional diary emblazoned with the line "If Adrian Mole had a sister..." He does - Rosie Germaine Mole. Idjits.

* Yesterday, there was a federal election. I live in the electorate of Kingsford Smith. The seat was retained by former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett, whose party - Labor - find themselves in control of the Lucky Country for the first time in 11 years. I had dinner and monitored the telly tally at my sis and bro'-in-law's place and it was difficult getting a cab home due to the number of election shindigs in their area.

* Reading: "Fables 3: Storybook Love" (2003) by Willingham, Buckingham and Leialoha (at the risk of sounding absurd...I can't believe Snow White's up the duff to the Big Bad Wolf!); "Confessions Of A Part-Time Sorceress: A Girl's Guide To The Dungeons & Dragons Game" (2007) by Shelly Mazzanoble (So that's what chicks think about the greatest diversion ever devised :-) RPG heroes like Ed Greenwood and RA Salvatore have raved, so here's my two gold pieces' worth: More fun than a Deck Of Many Things! Surprisingly substantial and insightful. Many memorable lines, eg. describing characters of a lawful good alignment - "If they had their way, grocery stores would tar and feather anyone who snuck sixteen items into the fifteen-items-or-less lane").

* Playing: "Scrabble 2007 Edition" [Nintendo DS]. (Currently on "World Tournament" level and it's H for hard! I've opened with an 82-point bingo ("jellied") and still lost! The time limit is the real killer.)

* Listening: "The Divine Conspiracy" - Epica. (I like symphonic metal, but this Dutch outfit just aren't lighting my black candle...)