Getting to the bottom of Mahmoud

Inspired by this post at the blog site of a respected international newspaper, MM has run another one up the flagpole. Let's see if anyone salutes.

Australia's Jacko

One of Australia's cultural luminaries turns 49 on August 30. Mark "Jacko" Jackson is a former Aussie Rules player who went on to become one of our most revered popular singers, later going to the heights of saying "Oi!" in Energizer battery commercials screened in the US. He later made the mistake of stepping into the boxing ring with rugby league player, Mal Meninga.

Celebrate good times

To balloon drop or not? That is the question currently hanging over the Kenyan Democratic Convention, where jubilant crowds have been celebrating the nomination of Barack Obama. His success is being celebrated with a special fervour by his closest relatives.

A fight ruck-up

The Rev William Spooner is the Oxford Don who is remembered for his supposed tendency to accidentally switch consonants or vowels, thus, "Let us glaze our asses to the queer old dean."

Dying on August 29, 1930, he once admonished a crowd, "You haven't come for my lecture, you just want to hear one of those...things.".

Jimmy Reed

Dying August 29, 1976 was Mississippi bluesman Jimmy Reed. Amongst others, Reed was a key influence on the Rolling Stones.

Walkers may use feet: Rudd

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the National Press Club today: "If some walk with their feet, that’s exactly what the system is designed to do."

DPRK sweeps international competition

The so-called west stands broken and defeated at the hands of North Korea once again.

When will the west learn that it is no match for the ingenuity and resolve of the great Democratic People's Republic of Korea? Good job, comrades.

Victorious participants welcomed home to a rapturous reception here.

What I've been thinking: with Cate Blanchett

The ShadowLands hasn't heard much lately from our environment correspondent and leading celebrity, Cate Blanchett, but this is about to be rectified. Take it away Cate.

It is a great honour, once again in my capacity as leading celebrity, Cate Blanchett to tell you how to think. Some of you may recall my last column at the ShadowLands, where I gave you some practical tips about how to behave on World Biodiversity Day.

Well, since that great day, I have been keeping a close eye on the environment by reading a lot of newspapers - and guess what - things are very, very bad. As we all know, warming will kill us all. But the environment is a place full of surprises, so the question is, how will it kill us?

All of the evidence seems to be that as our knowledge expands, if anything, nature is becoming more diverse, not less. New weird animals are being found all over the place. A new dolphin species here. A worm snake there.

Now we hear that gorillas are forming in large groups in Africa. Now rubber suits of Big Foots are showing up as some kind of diversionary tactic.

What I'm saying here folks is that mother Gaia is being warmed. Mother Gaia is not happy. In fact, mother Gaia is getting very, very pissed off about the warmness, and soon she shall have her revenge. We are about to be attacked and eaten by weird animals. See if I am wrong. Thank you.

Convention kicks off in Kenya

Denver Schmenver. What about the Obama Convention currently going on in Kenya? Crowds of relatives and friends of Barack are swelling with anticipation. Will the balloon drop happen? Will there be at least three colours in each meal?