Scheherazade vs. Charizard

Dreamt I had to disguise myself as a vampire in order to persuade Dita Von Teese to let me interview her for "People" magazine. Negotiations were progressing well until she walked in on a costuming session, saw my fangs being fitted and the ruse was revealed. Not sure what this says about anything, except maybe that I'm effed in the aitch.

Whisky makes ya frisky

But rum makes ya glum. Or it seemed when I spotted porn star Ron Jeremy promoting his signature brand of the spirit at a liquor shop on Oxford Street. With zero fans visible as I passed by, "The Hedgehog" looked bored, tired and just generally over it as he sat down on a bench out front and fiddled with his keys or whatever. (To be fair, though, a guy I know met him at a different in-store appearance a day or two later that sounds like it was a big success.)

In other news, I went to a local MMA show with MR. Staged at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, it was the culmination of The Fight Project, which saw journo Adam Thompson give himself three months to shed 22kg and learn all of the skills necessary for a professional cage fight. While he ate too many knees and fell to a sub by rear naked choke in round 2, the dude showed plenty of ticker and the profits from the event went to a children's cancer ward.

The word of a spy is worth nothing

Have come good. Still intermittently barking like a seal, but me internal thermostat is no longer on the blink. Did some productive study for The History Of History: A Historical Perspective and S.O.C.I.O.L.O.G.Y. (not an acronym), and even cooked a passable meat'n'four veg for din-dins.


Obligatory link (arrow keys, space, "Z" to fire) - greatgatsbygame.com

320–500 lux

The frog blocking my throat has turned out to be Toad of Toad Hall :-( Rang the medical centre and they couldn't give me an appointment but said to drop in around 2.30pm. Unfortunately, that happened to be just when (a) I was breaking into a random sweat, and (b) it was worryingly windy outside. Too late now. I'll try my luck in the morning.

Was supposed to go with the M. brothers to see the Soderberg sisters, i.e. the band First Aid Kit, at The Standard yestereve. CM was kind enough to give me a partial refund, unasked, because he's a top bloke. More luck - the Opera House generously reimbursed my tix for the play "This Is Our Youth" and the Dirty Three gig. They were under no legal obligation to do so, but the fella I spoke to was sympathetic and an absolute champ. Now my week is free for healing.

Incidentals... If you missed the many reports elsewhere in the past 24 hours, "FHM" is folding RSN, leaving "Maxim" as the lone laddish monthly on the Aussie market. And, in no way connected to that - travelling in to the office on Tuesday, I amused myself by monitoring the names of all of the wi-fi networks. Kooky titles I recall: NerdNest, The Royal Axis, Starchild and DONTEVENTRYFUCKER.


Clever little vocaloids - http://bit.ly/tnYc6g

Only Voltaire can judge me

Ed Logg's GDC 12 talk on "Gauntlet", which reveals new details about this immortal game and places it within the economic framework of the arcade industry at the time.

http://bit.ly/xwxZxb

Moist pantaloons

Just had to buzz the police into my building. Trouble downstairs again, no doubt. And they'd been so quiet after one of them was carted off, screaming and hitting the walls, in a paddy wagon a while back...

I'm home sick with a blasted cold that's currently relocating from my head to my chest. Wasn't up to seeing Wild Flag at the Manning Bar last night, but I found a worthy recipient for my ticket and he dug 'em.

So what's been happening? We sent an issue to the printer, which was a relief. My jury duty got cancelled, which was a relief. And one of my sponsor kids got married and left the program, which was...weird.

Lately, my thrill-a-minute life has also included a higher than normal intake of vegetarian curries and buying/selling reality shows. "Storage Wars" and the like. Everybody loves an auction followed by a surprise.


Ripping bio (of Edgar Rice Burroughs) - http://bit.ly/zb5U5r
Most wanted ("Jiro Dreams Of Sushi") - http://bit.ly/s1kk4k

No, YOU shut up!

Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain @ Opera House

Haven't smiled so much at a concert in years, as this octet constantly surprised with their arrangements of a wide variety of popular songs. As well as with their talents as players, singers, whistlers(!) and tellers of corny jokes. And they gave us almost half an hour more than advertised. A taste - http://bit.ly/zveI69

CM/Bosko & Honey/Benny Chong @ The Vanguard

There were acquaintances in abundance at this gig organised and co-starring CM. The main attraction was legendary Hawaiian jazz uke-ist Benny, who was accompanied, on double bass, by the head of jazz from the Conservatorium Of Music. It was a real privilege watching these two masters riff off each other.

Future Music Festival @ Randwick Racecourse, with MB

Surrounded by so many young'uns at this dance music fest, I was made to feel old, not to mention overdressed. Then M. and I got stuck into the cans and forgot our hang-ups. Caught a bit of Jessie J, Skrillex and New Order throughout the day (couldn't get near Die Antwoord), but mainly danced like idjits in the Paul Van Dyk tent. We were in the front row for the German DJ himself, waving our glow sticks like madmen. We also got deliberately soaked in suds jumping around in the foam pool, standing directly in the firing line of the foam "cannons". No, I don't believe it, either. I'm paying the price now, but it was an experience.

Nuttier than squirrel shit

I grow weary of the format...

ONSDAG

Turisas/Paradise Lost/Cathedral @ Factory Theatre. Two thumbs up!

TORSDAG

Kvelertak/Gojira/Mastodon @ The Hi-Fi. Two thumbs down!

LORDAG

UFC Sydney: Alves vs. Kampmann @ Allphones Arena. Two thumbs back up again!

Peaks and troughs, eh?

This web comic is weird, filthy and moreish - http://oglaf.com/brackenwife/1/

A Mercedes-Benz and a Volkswagen travelling in opposite directions

Did I tell you I've been selected for jury duty in a case expected to last three weeks? I was going to write a letter to try to get out of it, on the grounds that it will interfere with school and work (which it will), but I've been advised not to do so. A friend who's been through the whole process reckons I should take the punt on this one, where there's always a chance I'll be rejected as a suitable juror on the first morning, rather than risk getting stuck with a lengthier assignment further down the track. His was six weeks.

Rex Murphy, macaw

I'm no expert on laksa, but the combination wonton laksa at the recently opened Laksa Laksa in Pitt St is some very agreeable laksa. Possibly not "the best laksa in Sydney", as they boldly claim, but certainly a laksa I would have again. Laksa.