Tara D is finally back from her holiday, which sounds like it was L.A.-tastic. To celebrate she’s doing yet another lyric game. This time, you have to send her a list of all the songs you can think of with “L.A.” or Los Angeles landmarks in them. Go on, you know you’ll kick my ass.

Last night Snookums and I caught the first episode of Australia’s newest reality TV series: The Club. It’s all about an Aussie Rules Football* team that’s being put together specifically for the show. That’s right, it’s a sports team that will actually compete (albeit in Division 2) and the viewers get to make all the important decisions, like who plays, who coaches, and what the team song will be. Seriously. Last night we got to pick the team name (the “Hammerheads”) and watch the four coach candidates narrow down 1500 hopefuls to a mere 50 possible players. (The final team will probably have only fifteen or so.) And get this – three of them are female! One was a sexy black chick, one was a tearful mother-of-three, and the last was a young, tough, athletic girl. Her name was Debbie Lee, and she’s amazing. We watched her drop kick the ball through the uprights from forty yards out while running full-speed. She was better than most of the guys on the field. The show then explained that the AFL league hasn’t decided yet whether women will be allowed to play in the games. They feel it could create a dangerous precedent. Personally, I think it would be the greatest thing for them to do. If Debbie Lee plays, I’ll watch every game I can. Heck, I’ll buy a T-shirt. They’ve got a potential marketing bonanza on their hands, here. And what a fantastic idea for a show! Everybody likes to bitch about how their favorite team is run, and now you can have an actual say in things. It’s got me watching, and I don’t even understand the damn sport.

* Aussie Rules Football, in case you don’t know, is this really insane sport they play down here. It’s kinda like rugby crossed with ultimate frisbee crossed with soccer. You’re not allowed to pass the ball forwards; you have to kick it or bump it off your fist (like a serve in volleyball). And if you’re running with it, you have to tap it on the ground every 10 yards. To score you have to get it through the uprights. The players don’t wear padding, and they smash the hell out of each other. It’s huge in South Australia and Victoria. I don’t really understand it.

A prominent UK film critic has denounced the new Ali G movie as “the most obnoxious British movie ever”. I probably won’t see it. I laughed at the character the first few times I saw him, but nowadays I think his schtick is a bit tired. I’m just not a fan of “mean” humor, that works by making fun of someone who doesn’t get the joke. It makes me uncomfortable. (That said, I still think Jann’s imitation of him is hilarious beyond description.)

Edited 21/03/2025: Original link is dead and not archived, but leaving it up for the discussion.

What does your US zip code say about you? According to this site, people where I live in Indiana are likely to drive pickups, go hunting and fishing, follow auto racing, and purchase vinyl flooring for their homes. We’re talkin’ scarily accurate, folks.

Peter Buck’s “air rage” trial is happening in London. Apparently at one point during the struggle on the plane he was heard to argue, “I am REM and I can make up a story that I was assaulted.” *wince* Oh, Peter. Also, are they suggesting that he peed on the floor of the airplane bathroom?

Harry Knowles says Star Wars: Episode 2 is better than your wildest dreams. Of course, Harry liked Godzilla too. But if the movie is as he describes it… I can feel the excitement building. Only two more months!