From today's edition of The Guardian:

"The list of the actors who have auditioned for the role of James Bond is almost as long as the complete credits of a 007 production. Now an extra name can be set alongside the likes of David Niven, James Mason and Cary Grant - that of Carry On star Sid James."

Read on... and then check that calendar again.

"Short of a neon sign flashing 'Saddam bribes hidden here' it is hard to imagine what more Mr Downer and DFAT would have needed to comprehensively investigate AWB, long before the Volcker inquiry belled the cat. The most innocent explanation of Mr Downer's behaviour is that he has been at DFAT too long, and, like his senior public servants, did not want to rock AWB's boat.

"In 1939, when Britain declared war on the Nazi tyranny, that same day your Prime Minister announced you were at war too—no ifs, no buts, just solidly with the world. How magnificent and how typical of Australia."
- Tony Blair getting the facts right but their historical perspective woefully wrong, Canberra, 27.3.06

Buried beneath the Commonwealth Games, the start of the football (oops, rugby league and Aussie rules) seasons, and the Test series in South Africa, Victoria and Queensland are playing off at The Gabba for the 2005-06 Pura Cup.

Blurring the line between employees and directors is poor corporate governance and presents a potential conflict of interest: the immediate interest of workers, after all, is not always in line with that of the long-term health of the company or its shareholders.
- Editorial, The Australian, 27.3.06

Spare a thought for the Australia Post philatelic division. Having bitten the bullet in 2000 and deciding to issue a postage stamp featuring every Australian gold medallist at the Sydney Games, they have now stretched their policy to include the Winter Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

Guardian Unlimited Business | | French MPs say song downloads must work on any player

All I can say is: Ogg Vorbis is the answer.

Who was Amal Basry and why do we mourn her passing?

The medal tally after Friday night's episode of the Channel Nine reality show "The 18th Commonwealth Games" reads as follows:

Australia 12 gold, 9 silver, 8 bronze.
Rest of the Commonwealth 17 gold, 19 silver, 21 bronze.

The way Channel Nine are covering these Games you'd think it was really Australia versus the Rest of the Commonwealth. Just think, if it wasn't for the women's weightlifting we'd probably be in front now.

My enjoyment of Melbourne 2006 peaked early. The sheer joy of explaining an opening ceremony to your three year-old daughter is something that cannot adequately be put into words. To her, it all made sense: the flying tram, the absurdly colourful clothes of some of the nations, the big red dragon on the Welsh flag ("I want to see the dragon again, Daddy" was to be heard frequently on Wednesday night), Ron Barassi walking on water, Dame Kiri singing Happy Birthday to the Queen.