Not even particularly coherent stuff, really. Just a collection of thoughts, really, mostly to give me an excuse to poke about and see what's changed to merit a Deepest Sender (it's an anagram) update.
[[Seems like they fixed previewing for <lj-cut> tags]]
When those speeches range from talk of big heads through to the complex relationship between Scottish sheep and the Maid of Orleans, you have to wonder where the word 'debate' really comes in. This isn't to say there aren't amusing moments, but that they're just moments. I'd almost have been more entertained watching students debate 'That the Ban on Dwarf-Tossing Should be Lifted'.
More engagement on points would, IMO, lead to more funny. At least it's a bit more entertaining than tomorrow's TV event, namely...
Last year, the underlying cash surplus was $1.8billion below the headline surplus. This year, what we should see is a fairly heavy surplus to try to compensate for continued demand growth while supply growth has dropped off for a bit.
Still, we'll see Costcutto reading through treasury's shiny new long-term forecasts as he tries to score political points, pretend Labor reforms haven't gotten the Liberals this far, and try to take credit for the Reserve Bank's excellent control of monetary policy keeping things from exploding in the face of undisciplined fiscal policy.
This time, we might even see Costcutto trying to quietly steal more attention from John W. Howard. And since he looks like a particularly bewildered little alien, it reminds me of...
Plus, everyone knows how it ends, and after the first time it kills the surprise.
"The chance of me watching films staring Tom Cruise is a million to one," I say.
And that's virtually all that springs to mind to unleash on LJ-land at the moment. Hoo-ray.
[[Seems like they fixed previewing for <lj-cut> tags]]
Comedy Debate
I have to say, comedy debates leave me a bit unsatisfied. Or maybe a lot unsatisfied, since they tend to lack the kind of engagement that makes 'real' debates interesting. Throw in a lack of cohesion in team cases, and you just get six people trying to make funny speeches on the same topic.When those speeches range from talk of big heads through to the complex relationship between Scottish sheep and the Maid of Orleans, you have to wonder where the word 'debate' really comes in. This isn't to say there aren't amusing moments, but that they're just moments. I'd almost have been more entertained watching students debate 'That the Ban on Dwarf-Tossing Should be Lifted'.
More engagement on points would, IMO, lead to more funny. At least it's a bit more entertaining than tomorrow's TV event, namely...
The 2005 Federal Budget
Not the most thrilling TV experience, but an important example of what happens when you let lawyers pretend to be accountants. In fact, the most interesting bit of tomorrow night's budget will be Ross Gittins' column on Wednesday morning, in which the accounting tricks are stripped out and the numbers look very, very different.Last year, the underlying cash surplus was $1.8billion below the headline surplus. This year, what we should see is a fairly heavy surplus to try to compensate for continued demand growth while supply growth has dropped off for a bit.
Still, we'll see Costcutto reading through treasury's shiny new long-term forecasts as he tries to score political points, pretend Labor reforms haven't gotten the Liberals this far, and try to take credit for the Reserve Bank's excellent control of monetary policy keeping things from exploding in the face of undisciplined fiscal policy.
This time, we might even see Costcutto trying to quietly steal more attention from John W. Howard. And since he looks like a particularly bewildered little alien, it reminds me of...
The War of the Worlds
Wow. An H.G Wells remake. Anyone who loved to gripe about the Hitchhiker's Guide being so 'Hollywood' should probably be watching out for this one, since it actually is a Hollywood production. This looks like it's going to fall into the same basket as Minority Report - that is, an adaptation of an inventive SF novel, with a fairly talented director. Unfortunately, it contains Tom Cruise, who I thoroughly despise. I'd rather see Mrs Cardboard Cutout (of Flying Circus fame) take on the role.Plus, everyone knows how it ends, and after the first time it kills the surprise.
"The chance of me watching films staring Tom Cruise is a million to one," I say.
And that's virtually all that springs to mind to unleash on LJ-land at the moment. Hoo-ray.
