Taren Capel

BS flies in tomorrow, RS on Wednesday, and PB on Thursday. MB is coming over on NYD. Not sure how much blogging I'll be doing betwixt now and January 2-3, but I can fill in a few gaps...

Dec. 23

Train to Newie. Began super sequel "The Magician King" (2011) by Lev Grossman. Met my new niece for the first time (her twin brother was asleep). Enjoyed pepper steak, Platinum Blonde and Chris Gayle's T20 century. World Poker Tour Venice sapped the rest of my energy. Across the road from my parents' place, the competing lightshows of next-door neighbours winked on through the night.

Dec. 24

Met my new nephew. Removed thousands of leaves from the pool, patio and gutter. The third job left me with sunburnt forearms that are currently itching like bastards. Quaffed official AC/DC Highway To Hell 2008 Cab Sav. "Best Of Aussie Boxing 2011" didn't disappoint. Can't say the same for "Alaskan Monster Hunt".

Dec. 25

Took it lemon-squeezy in the heat, reading and dreaming beneath a gently circulating fan. Continued to appreciate family and food. Tried Rekorderlig Strawberry Lime Cider. Trifle made its annual appearance. Dad wanted a break from crime novels, which he devours in notimeflat, so I put him onto Gaiman's "American Gods". Period fillum "Easy Virtue" (2008) got the thumbs up from four of us.

Dec. 26

Boxing Day Test. Train to Sydney. Closed the cover on "T/M/K". Parked my butt in front of the telly, then mysteriously lost several hours - abducted by aliens?

Neo-Geocaching

Still haven't left (blame Colts vs. Texans), so I was here to open a letter from the real estate agency informing me that, as of March, my rent is being raised by $40(!) per week. Typical rudeness. Not just the size of the increase - I reckon they'd have served the notice, tied with a bow, on December 25 if they could have. Will likely move once I find out if/where I'm gonna be attending uni. Their greed = my incentive to broaden my horizons.

19-16, baby!!!

Respect your Eldar

Hurriedly, as I had a much-needed sleep-in and there's lots to do afore I can leave for Newcastle...

Tuesday: Went to a catered preview of "Sherlock Holmes: Game Of Shadows" at Bondi Junction with AM2 and MC. The movie was dumb fun. Stephen Fry stole scenes, Noomi Rapace* stole hearts (well, my two, anyway), there was an outstanding slo-mo sequence and that's about it, really. No secrets during/after the credits, FYI.

Wednesday: International Rush Day - 21/12 - as pointed out to me by PG. Received a South African Chrissie hamper from the M. clan and tucked into it straightaway. Delicious drywors (dried sausage), Tomato Fritos (weird but tasty corn chips), TV Bar (like a Crunch...or maybe a chocolate crackle) and a sixpack of Castle Lager. Burp!

Thursday: Having sent the February issue to the printers, we headed to Chinatown's East Ocean for our final Tsingtao-fuelled yum cha of the year. Later, "Data Extract #214" blew me away with a bunch of "Who" news - none bigger than the recovery of "Galaxy 4" episode 3 and "The Underwater Menace" ep. 2. (Already knew Amy and Rory were departing next season, thanks to an email from PB earlier in the week.)

Friday: Housework, packing, etc. Must make sure I take the brown paper bag with the custom car mags for Dad and not the identical one containing an assortment of complimentary filth for the guests arriving at the end of this month...


*Whose character, Madam Simza Heron, looked like she was en route to see The Mission circa 1987. Which naturally got me reminiscing about said hippie-goths and trawling old clips on YouTube.

Banga sanga

Transferred nearly 10 grand to the tax orifice this morning, which felt a bit like a kick to the cods. Had to be done, though, and now we're quitsville until next financial year.

On the plus side, I have purchased a nifty ice-blue Nintendo Wii. It came in a pack with "Donkey Kong Country Returns", "MadWorld" and [cough] "Michael Jackson: The Experience".

Splendid, splendid, recommended

"Stephen Gallagher wrote a delightful scene [in 'Warrior's Gate'] in which Adric puts on The Doctor's hat and scarf. He then spends half an episode wearing this outfit. Matthew loved these scenes and was looking forward to rehearsing them.

"The costume designer, June Hudson, was at the rehearsal room getting measurements, and she came to Matthew carrying the scarf and hat. She told him to put them on so she could see how he looked. [Director] Paul Joyce stood nearby. It was agreed that Matthew looked marvellous. These scenes are going to be lovely, said Paul. At that moment, Tom [Baker] returned from lunch. He swayed to the window ledge. He looked across at Matthew. Matthew had never before seen the expression on a human face so like that of a cat, jealous to see the attention another cat is receiving.

"Shortly after, the first of these scenes was to be rehearsed. In it, The Doctor had to leave the TARDIS for a while. Baker looked up from the script.

"'I think,' he said, 'it would be much better if I *took my hat and scarf with me*.'

"'Oh, *yes*!' said Paul, waving his lower arm with a dismissive gesture. 'Yes! Much better!

"Matthew didn't know whether to be annoyed, impressed or amazed. Annoyed at the loss of some nice moments, impressed at the shamelessness of Tom's gall, amazed at how easily Paul let him get away with it"

- "Blue Box Boy: A Memoir Of 'Doctor Who' In Four Seasons" (2010) by Matthew Waterhouse. Order it from http://bit.ly/qrIuQF. You'll quickly get used to the third-person voice :-)

Winged horse kick

Sponsored this Kickstarter project for a hungee - http://kck.st/rq0Akb

If they reach their goal, that nets me images (meh), access to the beta, a digital copy of the soundtrack, an art book, and - the clincher - the privilege of designing an NPC and a quest to feature in the game!

(FYI, Kickstarter payments are made through your Amazon account. If the target isn't met, you aren't charged.)

Kiwa hirsuta

"The whole multi-Doctor thing, it's the poisoned chalice... Everyone wants it, everyone thinks it's fantastic - I agree with those sentiments. But, for many people, [those] stories in some way always massively disappoint, and don't quite deliver. I mean, no-one thinks that 'The Three Doctors' is a great story. We all kind of love it, but it never comes in anyone's Top 10 list. Same with 'The Five Doctors'. And, frankly, same with my dear old story 'The Sirens Of Time'... Then, of course, there was 'Zagreus', which was a completely non-traditional multi-Doctor story. Gary must have felt - c'mon, let's do something different, let's not just have them all get together in a room and solve a puzzle and have an argument with each other. [But even] that, although in its own way massively popular, it's not up there with the great stories"
- Big Finish's Nicholas Briggs.

Remember Kenner's Jabba The Hutt Action Playset?

Matt Cara from x-entertainment.com does, regarding the "Star Wars" toy he discovered stashed in his parents' room on December 24, 1983 as perhaps his greatest Xmas present ever:

"Jabba and I already had some history. By then, I'd endured two absolutely horrifying movie-theater experiences, owing exclusively to my fear of this giant slug and his depraved hobbies. Somehow, Jabba seemed far less scary as a nine-inch action figure. He was immediately promoted to one of the elite 'bosses' of all of my toys – a position he would relish for many years ... Oh Jabba, you sicko. We had such times together, making slaves out of everybody with small necks. And throwing all of the skinny figures into your ass jail. And smoking alien pot. You deserved every hour of the attention I gave you, and I'm so sorry for breaking your head off in a fit of kids-do-stuff-like-that."

Bad apples

The post-office was fuller than a bull's bum. Most of us kept our cool as we slowly filed towards the front, but I was disgusted by the number of partially completed mailers discarded by cretins who'd either changed their minds mid-addressing or abandoned the whole exercise. I'm not talking about an envelope or small postpak "burnt" here and there - I'm talking about things like an international priority satchel written across in pen, then left crumpled on a shelf, unuseable. I had to put a large padded bag back because some selfish jerk had sealed it, ripped it open again and ruined the glue. Who does that?

The Ancient One

As I type this, there are people on Facebook busily organising a 25-year reunion for my form from (Catholic) junior high. Memory: On graduation day, we were handed our certificates *as we walked out of the side gate*, so there'd be no celebratory vandalising of school property. Re-enter the grounds to make mischief and you could technically be busted for trespassing.

Email intuition

I quite enjoyed the inaugural Big Bash game between the Sydney Sixers and the Brisbane Heat. The teams were a good mix of oldies, imports, established players still in the hunt, up-and-comers and, er, Wendell Sailor on the bench. At the SCG after which he's named, the now silver-haired and slightly tubby Stuart Charles Glyndwr MacGill bowled like a champ, taking 2/21. One of the commentators joked that Australia had found its new young spinner. It was a top batting effort by Brad Haddin to crack 76 off 59 and steer the Sixers to victory. Brendon McCullum showed admirable ticker to get smashed in the nose by a delivery from perennial trier Brett Lee, retire hurt with claret pouring from the wound, have it stitched and return to the crease a wicket later. And Steven Smith gave a solid all-round performance, with figures of 1/25, two catches, and finishing not out on 11 off 7. He's one of those dudes who just has a "great cricket brain". I'll definitely be tuning in for this evening's clash, when the Melbourne Stars face the Sydney Thunder, with Shane Warne taking the field for the former (and Liz Hurley supposedly tossing the coin).

Other fishfingers to fry

Three cut'n'pastes away from you:

Computer gear repurposed as musical instruments - http://bit.ly/w1JnVD (ta, LA)

Awesomely lame panels from "Spider-Man" comics - http://bit.ly/tpJcjT (cheers, PG)

"The Brady Bunch" meets the origins of the UFC - http://bit.ly/u1b6sN (dank u, JCVD)

All filler, no killer

I’m scraping the bottom of the wardrobe today, with a crinkled white business shirt that shows up the print on the anime tee underneath – and the (only losers take the) bus ticket in my pocket :-)

Madder than "Herculoids"

Was a touch feverish on Sunday night. Ate two ice-creams, went to bed for 10 hours and normalcy was restored. Monday eve, it was food poisoning (source undetermined). No dinner and nine hours' kip did the trick. Slept fitfully on Tuesday. Woke overheated from the recurring nightmare about the machete fight. No fixing that.

Connect the goddamn dots

Memorable moment #1: Having passed every die roll in the session with ease, attempting to catch the "Necronomicon", which had been thrown from a short distance away. Rolling "100" and dropping it in a pool of sacrificial blood mid-ritual.

Memorable moment #2: Using hand gestures to explain to an alien humanoid that we were the survivors of a starship crash and required urgent assistance in exiting his planet. Learning post-game how horribly we'd interpreted his reply.

Who's your second-fave "Enterprise" character?

Mine's Porthos.

Adorably wrong

Cappie: "All right. Are you ready, champ?"
Casey: "She's Ashleigh, not Chuck Liddell. He's a boxer, right?"
- "Greek" (S04E07).

(For those playing in the comfort of their lounges, "The Iceman" was an amateur wrestler, an amateur kickboxer and an internationally famous professional mixed martial artist.)

Caramel popcorn

Don't think I can argue with the bookmakers' predictions for the UFC 140 main card, viz. Jon Jones, Frank Mir, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Brian Ebersole and Mark Hominick. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Chan Sung Jung appear the best bets for an upset (versus Mir and Hominick, respectively). Unless Tito Ortiz shocks us by overwhelming "Little Nog" the way he did Ryan Bader - or, more likely, controlling Antonio Rogerio a la Phil Davis. Bah, enough speculation. Though I may throw a few bucks on "The People's Champ" at 3:1, the lone result that honestly concerns me is that "Bad Boy/TWAS" wins. War Ebersole!

Picking mama

While redeeming a Kmart voucher GK had been meaning to send me since June and recently remembered to pass on, I decided to buy a gift with my own money to put under that branch's charity Christmas tree. Went for a LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set (transformable between truck and helicopter; different truck and car; or 4WD, trailer and boat), for them to give to a lad of 9-10. Fusspot that I am, I specified "creative type". Would hate it to be wasted on a hyperactive terror without the patience to join two blocks.

Hang onto that tray

Grabbed tickets to the Sydney Thunder vs. Melbourne Renegades T20 game for myself, BS, RS and someone else (probably either PB or CM). With David Warner and Chris Gayle in the local side and Andrew McDonald and Shahid Afridi set to turn out for the visitors, it has the potential to be an explosive contest. (Let's hope none of the aforementioned blokes are injured when the night comes.)

Himillsy Dodd

The double album "Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" has me falling in love with Rush all over again. Even "Time Stand Still", a song for which I never much cared (Aimee Mann backing vocal notwithstanding), is amazing now. Tough to pick a favourite track at this stage.

Thou shalt not suffer an insect to live

"I neither need nor have room for these, but I want them just the same," I confessed, handing over a biography and a cultural history.

"Happens to me all the time," sympathised the saleswoman, before chiding something at her feet that was worrying at a cardboard box.

I peered over the counter and a black puppy gazed back at me with a fangy grin.

"What sort is he?" I asked.

"A pug crossed with a bichon frise."

"I like his face. There's something about it..."

"He's got the cutest little underbite in Sydney. Haven't you, [name of underage dog withheld]?"

And he did. He also reminded me of Rexley, the sadistic scruffbag from Dog Judo, but I didn't mention that.

"Leave me out of your list of things to do today"

From an article on smh.com.au by Lucy Meyer headed "Sydney's Quirkiest Bars":

5) The Hero Of Waterloo.
All is not what it seems at this 168-year-old landmark. From the outside, it looks like any other old pub in The Rocks. But once you step inside, you can glimpse the entrance to a secret passage known as a "Shanghai tunnel", which was used for smuggling in convict times. In those days, sailors often didn't want to return to their ships – leaving shipowners without enough hands on deck. According to local legend, enterprising shipowners paid the barmen here to get their sailors back on board. Barmen would slip the seamen a mickey and carry them through the Shanghai tunnel towards Sydney Harbour. The poor guys would wake up at sea with no idea how they got there (which sounds like a great set-up for "The Hangover 3"). You can get a free tour of the tunnel when you in come for a drink.

Cheery

"Don't wish for anything, because it's never what you think. Actually, think of the thing you least want to do and chances are you'll be happier with it. That's what I've learnt"
- Karl Pilkington, "An Idiot Abroad" (S02E03).

A king and a count

Today, the M. family and I are seeing "Richard III" at the Lyric Theatre. Directed by Sam Mendes and starring Kevin Spacey in the lead, it has been garnering plenty of praise for the acting and the modernisation. We're contemplating cocktails beforehand, although that's risky with a play of this length.

Afterwards, I'll be hastening home for my recording of the live finale of "The Ultimate Fighter 14". I've been predicting all series that Michael "The Count" Bisping should beat Jason "Mayhem" Miller (whom have I nothing against, btw), but the events of yesterday's weigh-in suggest MB had a difficult cut.

Modern life is rubbish

Miles: "Oh, listen, I don't know anything about computers."
Computer clerk: "Nobody does. But don't you want one for when you do find out?"
- "Electric Dreams" (1984)

Worth rewatching for three things: the title song; a radiant Virginia Madsen; and the scene of the store stocked with dedicated handhelds like "Cave Man", Imagic cartridges and classic machines such as the Commodore Vic-20.

Remain the same

"I saw the creature fall
Into the swamp from which he spawned
I heard them laugh and say
They never liked him anyway"
- "Creature Lives" by Mastodon (from 2011's "The Hunter")

Here's hoping that, wherever he is, BP is blasting this from his stereo while reading a genre novel.

Professor Nigel Zircon

Just booked TC and myself in for back-to-back sessions at MacquarieCon next weekend. We'll be engaging in Holmesian sleuthing in "Stiff Upper Lip" (Cthulhu) and exploring an uncharted region of space in "Lost Contact" (Radiance). I get the feeling the latter may be as serious as the former is light-hearted - but I'm prepared to be surprised.

Control + open Apple + reset

As a youngster, I went through a phase where, when asked the time, I'd declare, "Half past a monkey's arse and a quarter to his balls!" Dunno where the hell I got it from, but it earnt me regular rebukes - which is no doubt what I secretly desired.

Supplemental

When I told my boss I was holding out for a more established university, he made a very good point... That's fair enough if you're planning on using the qualification to get a job. But if you're just doing it for personal interest/satisfaction, it doesn't really matter where you go, so long as you like the course.