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APEC “security theatre” a joke, literally

Photograph of The Chaser team being arrested

Now here’s a surprise. Not. The massive security operation surrounding APEC brings us yet another example of security theatre — pointless activity that’s all for show but which does nothing to actually enhance security.

The police busy themselves by (mostly politely) hassling tourists and photographers, deleting images of The Fence because “protesters might be doing reconnaissance for weak spots.” Uhuh. But The Chaser crew get within metres of George W’s hotel by playing dress-ups and driving big black cars.

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Sweet, sweet sarcasm

Photograph of Sea Patrol cast

I love this review of Sea Patrol in the Sydney Morning Herald “The Guide” this week. Giving the episode a big thumbs down, it says:

This is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. Who would have thought a straight-faced spoof on the high seas drama — a sort of Secret Seven Sail the Ocean Blue — could be quite this funny? I especially love the way Lisa McCune had her smiling muscles removed to bring faux-gravitas to her role.

Dialogue from the Ark, needless background music and all the tension of Anna Nicole Smith’s knicker elastic. This will run and run.

Thank you, Keith Austin. I’ve never watched the show — and now I feel even less urge.

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Perfectly normal poo

I’m pleased to report that despite the scary “one of our cats might have a tapeworm” news last week, the pathologist reports that my stool sample was perfectly normal.

Just think. Someone’s job is to spend all day working through a rack of little plastic jars full of people’s poo, pulling it apart and looking at it carefully under a microscope. Now what sort of perspective on life would that give you?

My cholesterol’s up a bit though. There go the chocolate biscuits…

I have chosen not to illustrate this post with a photo.