Fan Royal

On the morning of May 5th, I found out Adam Yauch, MCA from the Beastie Boys had finally succumbed to the cancer that had plagued him for the past 3 years. He was 47, and a musician, rapper, director, husband, father, Buddhist and vegan.

“…and then the big brown shark came….”

Started thinking about comedy shows because I read an article on Eddie Murphy’s recent 51^st birthday (that’s right, Beverly Hills Cop was a looooong time ago). And a website posed the question – which was better, Raw or Delirious? So that started my journey back into stand-up. (By the way, I think Raw is the smarter comedy, but Delirious is iconic as hell; and when he passes, he should be buried in that red leather suit).

iSad

As you’ve no doubt heard (and if you’re on Twitter, you have been bombarded since this morning) Steve Jobs has passed away, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Let me preface this by saying I am not a techie person (hell, I write – I could probably make do with a blackboard and chalk). I own a single Apple product, so am hardly a fanboi (fangirl?). However, I felt a bizarre sense of loss this morning. In fact, I feel it still. Steve Jobs has changed our lives and the way we live. His impact on the world and the cultural zeitgeist is immense.

My time at Splendour in the Grass 2011

Splendour in the Grass. The seminal Australian music festival had been on my bucket list for a while now, and with this year’s lineup being Britpop-heavy, I acquiesced. (Unlike many others – this year didn’t sell out in record time, as has been the case in the past. Whether this is due to the apparently underwhelming list of acts or the hefty price tag of ~$500 is anyone’s guess).

Max Brenner | Sexual Chocolate

Chocolate by the Bald Man. Hell of a description. The latest haven for coffee lovers of Brisbane, or should I say chocolate lovers. Cos that’s what’s on the menu – advocates of diabetes are probably up in their sanctimonious arms, whilst the dentists and personal trainers are squealing with delight. This place is the biz.  I have been here at least 10 times, and 9 times it has been extremely busy. It must be a testament to the tastes and sugary palette of the citizens of our fair city that this place is doing very, very well.

A review on book reviews | What do you read my Lord? Words, words, words

First up, a little about myself. I basically do not watch TV. Aside from the odd cooking show and a rerun of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, let’s assume that I think of my 42 inch TV as a big paperweight. I don’t know who Barney Stinson is, except that it looks like Doogie grew up and is pretending to be into chicks now. So what do I do in my spare time? I read. Voraciously. Actually I wouldn’t say that I read so much that I devour books. I usually have a few on the go – at the moment its Kafka’s The Trial, Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen, seminal Australian ode Cloudstreet and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (shut up). I’ve also recently joined a Classical Books Club, where our first selections are The Great Gatsby and Jude the Obscure.