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writer, singer, webwrangler, blogger, comedy tragic | about.me/vivsmythe

  • What was that?

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    If I were a less skeptical blogger I would be much more excited about what I saw high in the clouds this morning. I only saw a glimpse, but it was cigar shaped and glowing, and if I were the… Read More ›

  • Friday Hoydens: the Garden Makeover TV Brigade

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    Despite my misgivings about the whole lifestyle TV phenomenon and the renovation cult, as largely being driven by our good friend consumerism rather than any true aesthetic sense, I have to put in a good word for the women who… Read More ›

  • Still scary after all these years

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    Onya Germs! Short summary: Professor Greer was in Melbourne town last weekend to be the keynote speaker at a literary conference on Jane Austen and Comedy. Many Ozbloggers who are fans of Jane Austen and Comedy attended (I would have… Read More ›

  • Daria and other rebels

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    In comments to Lauredhel’s post about the princessification of Dora the Explorer, Helen and I have been discussing other animated girl characters whom we enjoy. We’re both fans of Daria, whom Helen epitomises beautifully as “dry as dust”. Daria is enduring high school until she can get away to further studies outside her conformist suburban community.

  • My recent favourite Flickr shots

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    From other Flickrers. 1. Untitled, 2. IMG_4018, 3. Launch Pad, 4. Untitled, 5. 1130 REFLECTED, 6. Untitled, 7. Rain over Fullerton Cove, 8. Sun Worshipper, 9. As A Day Begins, 10. 157/365: Brrrrrrrrrrrr!, 11. Zion, 12. Here we come… ready… Read More ›

  • Plural term

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    for the H.A.T. commentariat: “hoydenizens”? Any better ideas? And what about a collective noun? A chortle of hoydenizens? A snark? A gimlet?

  • Reproaches and Laments

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    In India, a terrible place to be born a girl: In November, India was ranked 114th out of 128 nations in a gender-gap survey conducted by the World Economic Forum, scoring poorly on equality in education, health and the economy…. Read More ›

  • This time last week: Election Day Grevillea

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    View On Black | View Large On Black So, what does everybody think of Rudd’s first week? Are we up for any big surprises once they’re actually sworn in on Monday, do you think?

  • Friday Hoyden: Colleen McCullough

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    McCullough in 2004 I’ve just spent the last week, in between spring cleaning and the odd gleeful skip over the departure of John Winston Howard from the national scene, reading the latest volume in Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series… Read More ›

  • Friday Funnies: 24 spoof – Jack Bauer saving the day with 1994 technology

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    Found a YouTube version to replace the CollegeHumor direct embedding which broke the blog. (link in case the embedded Flash doesn’t work for you) Oh, the memories: maintaining a dial-up connection uphill both ways in the snow! H/T Pam at… Read More ›