fishers, surfers and casters

I’m getting about fifteen spam comments to my posts daily. I’ve blacklisted comments that contain certain words, all names of drugs, which have been appearing on the site, but that hasn’t completely resolved theproblem.

So now when you comment will you find a line that asks you to do a simple mathematical equation. I hope this will keep out the spam. I’m sorry if you’re like me and doing simple sums involve resurrecting a part of your brain that has long died.

Finally I get to see a film in Melbourne. Usually I’m either in front of the computer all day and evening, or with only just enough funds to get food for three days. Last night I had both time and money, and saw I Know I’m Not Alone.

I agree with Bolton that it was indulgent. There are many scenes showing people’s reactions to Franti’s presence, and there are scenes which are Pied-Piper-like in the portrayal of people’s responses to his music. It is almost as if the film’s task to show the Arab world through a musicians eyes has been turned to show the musician through the eyes of Arabs.

But I will forgive him for this. I am not disappointed by this movie as Bolton is. I felt a presence of joy amidst the struggle, pain and fear that lies on the streets, and I wanted to connect with, reach out to, those in the film who searched humbly and bravely for peace. I cheered silently for the peacemakers that were praised in the film.

Definitely recommended viewing for those tired of the war report.

The film that I raved about without having even seen, because I’m a willing participant of the cult of Michael Franti’s celebrity, got a bad review on Sunday Night Safran‘s show on 23 April. Kylie Bolton, Safran’s guest documentary reviewer, calls this film “frustrating, arrogant, and indulgent”.

I’m in Melbourne today, and planning to see it tonight, so I’ll finally get the chance to tell you myself. Living in Shepparton is a bugger sometimes. We haven’t even had Brokeback Mountain yet, though they were chomping at the bit to get Ice Age 2 as soon as it was released in the capital cities.