hardtack

As someone who lives in Sydney, I couldn't even give you the name of a single Cronulla player that was suspended. I'm sure that the NRL "fanatics" will know who they are and will have opinions on what happened, but I get teh feeling that the general public here couldn't give a "fat rat's clacker" I would think - it certainly wasn't the water cooler talk in my office at the time it all went down. You have to understand that Sydneysider's aren't as fanatical about their NRL as their southern and western state counterparts are about their AFL - you just have to look at game attendances to see that. Additionally, I get the feeling that NRL has had a much more controversy associated with it over the years, possibly to the point where your average punter (pun not intended) doesn't really care to much. So essentially, I think that the Essendon players, if found guilty and suspended, will have a far tougher time of it.

Collingwood Football Club's new home ground with state of the art retractable roof! - courtesy of Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson.

Sounds more like Rundle Mall... the following footage comes from a CC Camera located on the awning of a building on the corner of Francis Street...

Suggest you go and checkout the salad bar at the local Sizzlers.

I rely solely on training reports for my info and so I hate doing this sort of prediction stuff... but I can't not do it, despite the fact that I know I am going to be so far off the mark that it's not funny. The first thing that struck me was the fact that I am having to leave out players that I really don't want to leave out; I guess that's a good sign? Jetta Dunn Frost Pedo McDonald LaLaLaLamumba Cross Jones, Vince Howe Watts Salem Gawn Hogan Garlett Jamar, Tyson, Viney Ic/ Grimes, Kent, JKH sub. M.Jones

maybe he has it tattooed there as an incentive to all of those behind him in the time trials and runs to keep up with the Jones. His pride in his family is very evident in that his most prominent tattoo on his right arm, is of his grandfather. I think loyalty is something that Nathan has in spades... both to his own family and to his football family (the MFC).

No problem... I'll be down in Melbourne at Easter with my youngest son for the game against GC... so hopefully there will be an opportunity to catch up with yourself and other D'landers at that time. Enjoy the show!

Yeah, that should be a great concert NB. Shame they couldn't get the Oils to reform just for the occasion... even if only to perform Wedding Cake Island if Garrett was reticent. How long are you in Sydney for? I'm planning on heading over to Carriageworks in Redfern to check out an installation that is a part of the Sydney Festival, called Inside There Falls. I decided I need to drag my camera out again and get snapping. Let me know if you've got teh time and the inclination to meet up... even if just for a midday coffee.

That'd be Kelly Slater

Funny, he doesn't look a cm over 28 metres tall.

Well, I picked up my copy of What We Do In the Shadows last week and if anything it is better the second time around. In the words of the inimitable Molly Meldrum, do yourselves a favour and get a hold of this... it's dollars well spent:

That Watts pass to Riley in the goals was a thing of beauty!

Time to revive the music thread... and not because I have something worthy to nominate. Quite the opposite actually... this video shows just how lame the country pop industry has become. This demonstrates a formula that any Nobel prize winning scientist would be proud to claim as his own...

Actually, taking this even further of track for a moment, the Voldemort connection runs possibly deeper than we all thought. Voldemort's prior name was Tom Riddle and it has now passed over to one Tom Scully. It could be more than just the desire not to mention his name that landed Scully with this label. A riddle can be something that challenges belief... according to the urban dictionary a scully is an expression of disbelief or something/someone that cannot be believed. That's either quite spooky, or I have finally tumbled over the edge.

Is it possible that the media have an inkling of what is coming and are preparing for a media storm of unparallelled proportions in the sports arena. These days journalism is roughly 10% news and 90% marketing after all, and it's the best strategy that sells the most copy.

Bukowski had such a revival that he's almost considered mainstream these days :-) The film "Barfly" gives a pretty good account of his life (Mickey Rourke as Bukowski, Faye Dunaway and Sylvester's brother Frank Stallone as the barman).

I think that this post is a little unfair - in fact, the beer swiller's equivalent of cultural cringe. What you say about Australian beers may have been true in the past (and may still be true in regard to mainstream beers), but there are many beers brewed locally that adhere to brewing methods adopted from the Europeans. For example, the Sharers Little Brewery based at the Picton Hotel outside of Sydney has been brewing using German methods since the '80's and make a very palatable drop indeed (served at the Australian Heritage Hotel in Sydney's Rocks area). The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel (also in the Rocks area) has been brewing naturally (with only malt, hops, yeast and water and with no added sugars, preservatives or additives) since the 80's as well. I cite these particular beers as I am a resident of Sydney, but I'm sure there are similar stories in Melbourne as well. I think you would find there are plenty of local beers worthy of bearing the name of a Melbourne great. I do recall during a late 80's visit to Hobart, a pub/restaurant/brewery that adjoined a park at the top of a hill (close to what was then the Hobart Repatriation Hospital) that brewed a fine drop that, if I recall correctly, was called Tiger Ale. Any Tasmanians reading this may be able to offer up more info.

HS Puff 'n Stuff

He's on a roll.

Can't say I do... I was assuming that that was what you were alluding to.

I thought it was pretty obvious that I was referring to what you called facts: "I love a warm fuzzy story but I also like facts. Do you understand Rachel Jacobs made it up?" And if you are trying to label me as a part of the "far left", then you really are barking up the wrong tree. But on that subject, I would love you to point out to me where any far left group has sided with the islamic extremists. The only thing that I can think of is that Monis somehow managed to con Amnesty International into believing he had a genuine case as an asylum seeker. But I'm sure that you can provide me with links to evidence that the far left in the west have sided with islamic extremists. And in case you are wondering, I am no fan of any religion, but who am I to say that people cannot practice their chosen religion? In the case of terror groups, I believe it runs much deeper than just religion... religion is simply the excuse. Anyway, I do apologise if I incorrectly labelled you anti-islamic.

I think it was around the 15 minute mark.

Hang on a second, you went from rhetorical questions: "And what if the original idea was a fraud? What if it was made up just to distract from the real problem?" to the above "stated facts" in the blink of an eye? Methinks you stood in front of a wrecking ball facing the wrong way. You are obviously anti-islam to the point where you create your own facts to somehow justify your intolerance. Sadly, I tend to think that 45HG might be on the money with his last comment immediately above.

If that's how you interpret it, then I would think the odds are pretty good that you are the one with the problem.

You'll be watching it whether you're signed up or not... my youngest son and I are both signed up and traveling down to Melbourne from Sydney to watch the opening round (my son's birthday present). The club needs members in order to survive when it is going through rough times, so fair-weather supporters just don't cut it in my book; you're either in for the whole journey or you may as well find another club to follow.