CNN wins the award for the tackiest headline - Tsunamis shatter celebrity holidays

[listening to: Bigger than my Body - John Mayer ]
5:07:08 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

I'm joining the millions of Skype users - 46,418,116 downloads and rising. Notice my nice new shiny Skype-Me Button

I've done this to get ready for my interview with those "Wacky Australians" who make G'day World - Cam & Mick

Now I will sit and wait for the call to be "On The Pod".

[listening to: Stop Crying Your Heart Out - Noel Gallagher ]
7:55:52 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Interests

We joined the throng of movie goers and went to see The Incredibles.

There is only one word to describe it - Incredible.

Brice sat still for 2 hours - he outdid himself following his amazing stillness at The Polar Express.

[listening to: Who's There? - Smash Mouth ]
12:56:15 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests

On holidays I let my beard grow and I wear a brighter shirt, as opposed to my everyday look

[listening to: Song for Shelter - Fatboy Slim ]
12:26:25 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • Random

Gotta love those Germans.

I read an article about the new hit song in Germany in The SMH - Kylie upstaged by toddler.

I had to hear the song for myself. So I went, I searched and I found - http://m4yn3t.de/schnappi/

You can download the original or a bunch of different remixes.

"Schni Schna Schnappi, Schnappi Schnappi Schnapp!". I can't get it out of my head now. That'll teach me!

I need to teach Emma to sing this!

[listening to: Schnappi-das kleien Krokodil - Joy Gruttmann ]
7:15:26 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

We took the gang to see The Polar Express at the IMAX in Darling Harbour.

The movie was good, and in 3D it was amazing. This is going to be a christmas classic

It kept Bricey sitting still for the whole movie. I can't remember the last time he sat still for 90 minutes.

I love going to see 3D movies - watching the kids reach out for that "thing that is just in front of their face" is pretty entertaining.

[listening to: 45 - Elvis Costello ]
7:44:29 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests

I took Antony to the movies today. Billy went along with his class yesterday as part of a school activity

We saw "Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events". 

It was a pretty cool movie and I can tell he liked it, as he was sitting up in his seat rather than laying back and not being interested. The movie is based on the first 3 stories of the series.  For me, Jim Carrey really overacted, but the movie was a pretty entertaining ride. The children were all fantastic in the roles - I really liked the baby that played Sunny - look a lot like Luisa.

The other thing I liked about the movie was the look and feel - it had a creepy Addam's Family feel to it. Dark yet interesting.

[listening to: If I Get Home on Christmas Day - Elvis Presley ]
12:54:31 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests

Book's that I am currently reading, as listed on All Consuming

[listening to: His Hand in Mine - Elvis Presley ]
9:02:27 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Interests

It's that time of the year again, it is my sister Rita's birthday today and she turns one year older. I will be nice to her and not say how old she is today.

Here she is with her husband Chris and her friend Rachel, having a good time

[listening to: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Ella Fitzgerald ]
11:42:29 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family

Here were the Top 10 Televisions programs of the year, based on numbers of viewers.
I reckon the folks from 9 must be feeling pretty pissed only 2 programs in the top 10

1. Australian Idol - The Final Verdict [Ch 10]
2. Big Brother - The Winner Announced [Ch 10]
3. Australian Idol - Live from Opera House [Ch 10]
4. AFL: Grand Final [Ch 10]
5. Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup [Ch 7]
6. Olympics: Opening Ceremony [Ch 7]
7. The Block: The Auction [Ch 9]
8. 46th Annual TV Week Logie Awards [Ch 9]
9. Olympics: Day 2 (Primetime) [Ch 7]
10.Big Brother: The Final Eviction [Ch 10]
source: OzTAM

[listening to: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus/Jingle Bells Bossa Nova - Eddie Dunstedter ]
9:57:14 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • TV

I took my 2 big boys to see Ocean's 12 on the weekend at the Fox Studios cinemas.

The boys were fans of Ocean's 11 and were really looking forward to seeing this sequel.

We found ourselves down at Moore Park attending a birthday party for one of Emma's friends, so it was a perfect opportunity to head to the movies while Emma played with her friends. So, off we ran to the cinema. Surprisingly it wasn't that busy for a Saturday at 10am!

So, after the movie I asked the boys if they liked it -- they said "Yes".

I liked it too. The actors seemed like they were all having a lot of fun making the movie.

I won't write up any spoilers - but if you want some I am sure you can find some online.

[listening to: The Journey - Fatboy Slim ]
8:40:38 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests

I always wondered what I would look like as a South Park Character.

** UPDATE ** :  New Link to make your own here

[listening to: The Twelve Days of Christmas - The Seekers ]
8:11:49 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

My Daughter Emma does so many wonderful things. I asked her to draw a picture of me for the MSDN Flash, of which I am the editor. I have been using this picture everywhere - on feedster, technorati, orkut & flickr to name a few.

For the Christmas edition of the newsletter, I asked her to draw me as Santa. Her work of art is below

Thanks Emma - That's a terrific drawing!

She drew it on my tablet pc, using one of the drawing programs already installed - Sketchbook Pro. I may have to fork out some $$ and buy it.

[listening to: Original of the Species - U2 ]
11:12:19 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family

So the People's Choice Awards Nominates "Fahrenheit 9/11" as "Favorite Film of the Year". Cool I would agree with that. They will get my  vote!

From: Michael Moore [mailto:maillist@michaelmoore.com]
Sent: Thursday, 9 December 2004 10:35 AM
To: Frank Arrigo
Subject: People's Choice Awards Nominates "Fahrenheit 9/11" as "Favorite Film of the Year"

December 8, 2004

Dear Friends,

May I take a break from our post-election despair to share with you a little piece of happy/silly/cool news?

"Fahrenheit 9/11" has been nominated by the People's Choice Awards as the American public's "Favorite Film of the Year." The five nominees were chosen from a poll of thousands of Americans in mid-to-late November. The other nominees for best film are "Spiderman 2," "The Incredibles," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (with Jim Carrey), and "Shrek 2." It is the first time ever a documentary has been nominated for best film by the People's Choice Awards.

The People's Choice Awards are considered, among all the awards shows, to be the one which most accurately reflects the "mainstream" public opinion in the United States.

OK, now, here's the best part: YOU get to vote! Online. Now. Just go to http://www.pcavote.com/voting/film/f01.shtml, click on the little circle next to "Fahrenheit 9/11" in the "Favorite Movie" category and press the "vote" button. Voting is going on now and continues only through this coming Monday, December 13, at 3:00pm ET, so send an e-mail to your friends and let them know they can vote, too. Winners will accept their awards live on CBS on January 9.

Now, normally I wouldn't make a very big deal out of something like this. It's nice and I'm honored, but it's not exactly the number one priority on any of our minds these days. In fact, when we found out we were nominated over a week ago, I didn't even think to tell you about it or put it up on our website.

But then a group of top Republicans took out a full page ad in USA Today (and placed a similar one in the Hollywood trade magazine, Variety) proclaiming that "An election is over, but a war of ideas continues." The point of the ad was to say that while they, as right wing conservatives, were proud of getting rid of Kerry, there was still one more nuisance running around loose they had to deal with -- me! They also issued a not-so-subtle threat to the Academy Awards voters that, in essence, said don't even THINK about nominating "Fahrenheit 9/11" for Best Picture. And Bill O'Reilly recently bellowed that if the Oscars recognize my work this year, Middle America will boycott Hollywood.

Oops. I guess he spoke too soon. Because now along comes Middle America's favorite awards show, the People's Choice, and the People's Choice this year, along with a Spiderman superhero and a lovable green ogre, is a film that apparently continues to resonate throughout the country. The truth about Iraq, Bush, terror and fear. The election has not altered or made irrelevant, unfortunately, a single one of these issues. That they (and the film that dealt with these issues) are still at the forefront of the majority of the public's minds should give serious pause to Mr. Bush as he brags about a nonexistent "mandate" and begins to spend his "political capital."

He may have been (barely) the people's choice on November 2 (Ohio recount excluded), but now the people get to vote again, this time for a movie. It's about the best we can do right now, and, trust me, it won't be long before we start the real work we need to do to get our country back.

Again, go to http://www.pcavote.com/voting/film/f01.shtml if you want to vote for our film. I promise, if we win, to give a nice and polite speech.

Yours,

Michael Moore
www.michaelmoore.com
mmflint@aol.com

P.S. Please feel free to post or forward this to your friends...
P.P.S.  Yes, it's true, I'm on the Barbara Walters people of the year special tonight. Did I cry? You'll have to watch to find out! :-)

[listening to: Crumbs from Your Table - U2 ]
10:45:53 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Interests

I saw a story about Giant Microbes and decided I had to get some.

I'm getting one of each. Now I have to decide which to give each of my kids, Maybe I should wait for them to get the illness - next time someone has a Stomach Ache, a cold, a sore throat, or even an ear ache they will get a microbe!

Let's just hope no one gets the Black Death or Ebola, but with our luck, I am sure Bricey may.

[listening to: Accidents Will Happen - Elvis Costello ]
11:01:00 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • Random

The ABC ran a survey of its viewers/listeners to vote for their favourite books – here’s the top 100. How many have you read???

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. The Bible (Various Contributors)
4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
5. Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
6. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (Book 5) by J. K. Rowling
7. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
8. The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
9. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
10. A Fortunate Life by A.B. Facey
11. Dirt Music by Tim Winton
12. 800 Horseman by Col Stringer
13. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
14. Zhaun Falun by Li Hongzhi
15. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (Book 3) by J.K. Rowling
16. Captain Underpants And The Invasion Of The Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies From Outer Space by Dav Pilkey
17. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
18. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
19. The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame
20. The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger
21. The Pillars Of The Earth by Ken Follett
22. Magician by Raymond E. Feist
23. Possession: A Romance by A.S. Byatt
24. Dune (Dune Chronicles) by Frank Herbert
25. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
26. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
27. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
28. One Hundred Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
29. 'Fighting' McKenzie Anzac Chaplain by Col Stringer
30. Deltora Quest Series by Emily Rodda
31. Tomorrow, When The War Began by John Marsden
32. Perfume: The Story Of A Murder by Patrick Suskind
33. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
34. The Ancient Future Trilogy by Traci Harding
35. The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
36. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (Book 4) by J.K. Rowling and The Power Of One by Bryce Courtenay
37. The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres
39. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
40. Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
41. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
42. Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon
43. Persuasion by Jane Austen
44. Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
45. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
46. Life Of Pi by Yann Martel
47. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
48. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
49. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
50. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
51. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
52. Love In The Time Of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
53. Rage by Steve Gerlach
54. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
55. The Mists Of Avalon by Marion Zimmer-Bradley
56. Cafe Scheherazade by Arnold Zable
57. The Bone People by Keri Hulme
58. Jessica by Bryce Courtenay
59. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (Book 2) by J. K. Rowling
60. The Fortunes Of Richard Mahony by Henry Handel Richardson
61. My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
62. War And Peace by Leo Tolstoy
63. Wild Swans by Jung Chang
64. Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
65. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
66. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
67. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
68. Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden
69. The Riders by Tim Winton
70. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
71. Angela's Ashes by Frank Mccourt
72. The Age Of Reason by Thomas Paine
73. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
74. Middlemarch by George Eliot
75. Emma by Jane Austen
76. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
77. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
78. Matilda by Roald Dahl
79. Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
80. On The Road by Jack Kerouac
81. The Bfg by Roald Dahl
82. Animal Farm by George Orwell
83. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
84. A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving
85. Boyz Rule by Phil Kettle
86. Scarecrow by Matthew Reilly
87. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
88. Looking For Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
89. Watership Down by Richard Adams
90. The Thorn Birds by Colleen Mccullough
91. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
92. Winnie The Pooh by A. A. Milne
93. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (Book 1) by J. K. Rowling
94. The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
95. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
96. Heart Of Darkness by Conrad
97. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
98. Goosebumps by R. L Stine
99. The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay
100. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

[listening to: Drunk Again - Reel Big Fish ]
5:10:35 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random • TV

Geoff Appleby is dreaming of doing some shopping at Think Geek.

I bought some stuff from them recently:

• "3 in 1" - Laser Pointer/Stylus/Pen
• Geek Work Shirt
• I'm blogging this. TShirt
• Utili-Key 6-in-1 Tool
• SoundBug

All good geek stuff. 

The Geek Shirt has been a big hit with the folks at work.

I may need to go back to get some more Christmas Goodies for myself...

[listening to: Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf ]
10:40:10 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

Which File Extension are You?

[listening to: Love and Peace or Else - U2 ]
2:09:53 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

Went to see Team America: World Police last night at the local cinema (I was fortunate to see it in Gold Class.) - the movie tagline is "Putting the "F" back in Freedom".

It was rude, crude, and lots of fun! There are some fantastic songs in the movie which someone has taken the time to transcribe.   "America, F--- Yeah!"

Oh, and I saw a local review over at The SMH which is pretty fair to the movie.

[listening to: The Journey - Fatboy Slim ]
2:31:05 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Interests

Saw an interesting aticle in the SMH today - it carries a story that the word Blog is the most looked up word on the internet

A four-letter term that came to symbolise the difference between old and new media during this year's presidential campaign tops US dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster's list of the 10 words of the year.

Merriam-Webster said on Tuesday that blog, defined as "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks", was one of the most looked-up words on its Internet sites this year. "

[listening to: It's a Hard Life - Queen ]
8:27:36 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

We had a visitor from the UK arrive on Tuesday - it is Sara Dean, the youngest daughter of Moira's cousins Anne & Nigel Dean.

She's doing what lots of young English girls do - head down under to Australia and travel around with just a backpack and a copy of Lonely Planet's Australia.

Sarah is in a band with her 2 sisters, and the band has a website. They call themselves 3D (as in the 3 dean sisters - lol). They have a bunch of samples of their music on the site - sounds ok. They also have some latest news:

NEWS:

Heya, thanks for viewing our website! we're in the process of developing
the site so please check back regularly for updates.

We currently have an all-original 5 track EP for sale for the
outstanding value of £5. The CD entitled 'Maybe Someday' was recorded in
september 2004 and features some of the material we have been gigging
recently. Please contact us via email on info@3dgigs.com for further
information.

unfortunately for us (fortunately for her) Sarah is jetting off to Australia
on Sunday for a couple of months to open her eyes to the world and squish
those travelling bugs that have been pestering her for so long!

Sarah has already been introduced to the wonders of drop bears - the Terror of the Australian Bush. What other stories will she be told?

Have a great time in OZ, Sarah - don't swim where there are any crocodiles or aligators. I hope you get to see a bunch of Big Things in your travels.

[listening to: Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads ]
2:52:19 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family