Write a blog. Or don't.

How To: Dissuade Yourself from Becoming a Blogger
It’s been three months since I began my blog and I still don’t know what it’s for. A brilliant article from a brilliant database of how-to procedures.

How to: Write on the Web
If you do decide to become a Blogger, this article might help you. I’ve felt the urge to write of late, so stay tuned for… ‘5 things to do when you can’t think of what to write’, or something. Actually, how about…


Five Disappointing Television Programmes
There may be nothing I hate more than reaching a small percentage of the way through a movie or TV show to realise that the remaining time of such would be better spent locked in the laundry tasting a range of detergents.

American Dad
Much-hyped successor/side project to Family Guy. My anticipation was high after seeing creator Seth McFarlane’s original, crudely-animated Family Guy concept. What resulted was a German-speaking goldfish and a camp alien. The only worthy reason to watch the show is the way McFarlane’s voice roles sound like his actual accent when they’re outraged. This was apparent in Family Guy, too, and often makes a dubious joke into water-cooler material.

Chappelle's Show
I could have sworn this was funny when I first watched it a couple of years ago. Laughs can be found, but often work best when the sketch doesn't run for twice as long as it should. Each episode feels like it’s about 90 seconds long thanks to the fifteen commercial breaks they cram in between twenty minutes of material.

League of Gentlemen
Not the similarly-titled Sean Connery movie (which I haven’t seen), rather the British sketch show. Repeating sketches with the same characters every week is risky business, and while Little Britain scrapes through with some clever writing and witty narration, League of Gentlemen falls on its face. While everyone’s pondered the comic merit of a disabled man and his spineless companion, less identifiable are the keepers of the General Store in Royston Vasey. They have produced a feature film based on the programme, though like someone visiting Tubbs in her shop, I’ve not yet summoned the courage to take a look.

The Office (American)
Feels like the cast is trying too hard to act like the UK lot, though in actual fact they’re probably doing a fairly good job. My Steve Carell Support-o-Meter was boosted after realising he was the hilariously un-PC mentally disabled character from Anchorman. Nothing can save it from the fact that it suffers from a stale taste despite fresh ingredients. It feels like a bad cover of a good song. (Update: OK, some fresh storylines make this a pretty good show - just let the characters grow on you)

Whose Line is it Anyway? (American)
Soulless, forced and largely relying on Ryan Stiles. And that’s just the presenter, Drew Carey, so denoted because he merely presents the talent rather than hosting the show. Watching the original UK version with legend Clive Anderson in charge, your first reaction was to put your hand up, wait for Mr Anderson to pick you, then ask if you could be excused to pursue less frivolous attempts to fill your time with entertaining viewing. (Update: Wayne Brady is the surprise hit of this show, redeeming it with some brilliant improvised songwriting)

Swift on the road near Wiseman's Ferry. 

A tunnel. 

Anzac Bridge, Sydney. 

Rialto Tower, Melbourne. 

The Swift and a burned-out Commodore. Royal National Park, Sydney. 

The Swift gets a wash. I get a free coffee. Everybody wins.