Have any readers, in the last five months, purchased a Samsung LCD/Plasma television during their buy-one-get-one free promo? I bought the sleek LA40M81BDX (above) in February from The Good Guys in Maribyrnong and Samsung had promised to deliver the tellies within six to eight weeks. I say that’s hogwash, as we’re now approaching the middle of May, and it’s almost 11 weeks.

Confirmation email aside, I’ve not received any phonecalls, follow up emails or mail whatsoever. I say, how hard is it to send my free 19″ telly to my doorstep?

Granted, it was a good deal. For $1973 inc. gst, I got myself a relatively large LCD television and a free 19″. Now that’s a steal.

But steal or not, it’s still a restless wait for the Samsung contact that’s never gona come. Or is it?

Yoohoo…anyone working in Samsung here? Get your fucking act together already! My bedroom looks empty and rather forlorn looking without a shiny screen looking back at me.

Hey I’m all for publicity, controversy and ratings, but Big Brother 2008 has definitely gone out of its way to make itself ‘different’ this year.

Turn on our tellies and you’d not have missed this friendly-looking grandmother who professed that ‘Religion is the root of all evil’. Click on the Big Brother website and her profile indicates she’s a right wing Pauline Hanson fan. There’s also an accusation of migrant people coming into this country with all their problems. Just, wow. Well done Channel Ten. You can’t top that.

If BB2008 ever needed an ambassador for their show, Terri’s the one. Terri is a warm, friendly and caring person, who has views and opinions just like anyone else. I believe Channel Ten has gotten it right this year, with its eclectic lineup of (boring people notwithstanding) one metre tall belly dancer, a high pitched-sounding bloke, a tattooed UFO believer who looks like a sex maniac and the obligatory Asian. Oh, and don’t forget Mr Corey ‘I don’t give a fuck I was just having fun’ Worthington who is rumoured to be an intruder to the house. I wonder if he’s apologised to his parents for all the embarrassment he’s put them through.

Speaking of Asian, the look on Terri’s face was priceless when Nobbie first walked into the room. And it’s hilarious she voted for Nobbie ‘coz he’s too ‘touchy-feeley’. I guess she’s never really been loved by her husband before.

I’m sad she ended up being the first to be voted out.

Racism, we have no room for that in the society we live in.

And BB2008.

*chuckles*

PS: adrock2xander has never cared for BB. With Terri’s eviction, there’s one less thing for him to talk about.

I’ve always enjoyed a little bit of decadence in my lifestyle, and being a member of Sensual Ball satisfies that little bit of egotism in me. Granted, I don’t partake in any of the sexual cruises or swinging parties that dot their itinerary. But it’s always interesting to find out what the other side of the fence has in stall for the ‘unfortunate’ ones.

Several weeks ago I received an email from Sensual Ball alerting me to the casting of Australia’s version of Temptation Island. I had a good laugh upon looking at the application forms (both singles and couples). I thought they’re really thorough and professional. Well, when you’re messing around with the lives and relationships of people who’re committed to each other, you leave no stone unturned.

Here’re some of the questions:

1) Can you imagine being unfaithful to your partner under any circumstances?

2) Why are members of the opposite sex attracted to you?

3) Why are you a great partner?

Just for chuckles I submitted my application form (for singles). Every reality show needs the obligatory Asian who gets voted out within the first two weeks.

Check it out guys and send in your applications. Who knows you might just end up on TV with me :O

NOTE: Sensual Ball website is not safe for work.

EDIT: Argh I just found out that the deadline for applications falls on the 27th. What a pity.

Following Adrock’s post on Melbourne’s railway overhauls, I caught the the new Connex advertisement on TV one evening and it rocks my socks. Of course, everyone still hates Connex anyway.

It’s a great PR campaign for a network that is constantly failing, though - just blame the city that is growing exponentially.

Imagine if tomorrow you had to move a city,
Take nurses to hospitals, school kids to schools,
Futures analysts to, well… wherever it is futures analysts go.

Imagine getting all these people,
Hundreds and thousands of them to where they needed to be.
That’s what Connex does everyday.

It’s a big job, and as Melbourne grows it’s getting bigger.
Which is why we’re making changes to the network,
Adding more carriages, more staff and more services.
You can see our new plan at connexmelbourne.com.au

Connex - We’re moving more people everyday.

And the score that plays throughout the advertisement reminds me of the theme from Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. Though, when the tractor in the advertisement stopped at the intersection (when everyone turned to stare in awe at the speeding Connex train), I was half-expecting a semi-trailer to come running into it and turn it into an advertisement for safe driving.

See the advertisement on Connex’s site here: http://www.connexmelbourne.com.au/index.php?id=204

I love TV shows such as CSI and ER but they could write anything about Las Vegas or Chicago and I wouldn’t know any better. Then there’s Canal Road, which was shot in and around Melbourne. It was almost a year ago since I saw them filming on my street and the promos are making it look like a pretty cool series. Critics have chalked it up to be a combination of Underbelly (which I thought was great) and The Secret Life of Us.

The show premieres 8:30 tonight but is also available to watch for free on NINE’s website. Strangely enough, NINE’s site says: You can also copy and share each episode or even distribute the files via file-sharing applications, such as Bit Torrent. Please note this series is only available to viewers in Australia and New Zealand.

Ah right, like everyone did with Underbelly. Except because of the DRM, you can’t watch this from overseas.

Links:

NINE: Canal Road

Melbourne Metblogs: Canal Road

I’m possibly the only Victorian who couldn’t give a rat’s ass about Underbelly. I care about it so much, I haven’t even seen it. At my housewarming party several weeks ago, the blokes were sitting around the barbie talking about which mafia leader eating what pasta dish at that Lygon Street joint.

I guess that’s completely relevant ‘coz they grew up in Melbourne and Mr ABC of ABC Drug Cartel used to make headlines and they grew up watching and reading up on them on the media. Perhaps they left out how they spent $10 a week on dope from the local deli just round the corner from here.

The only gangland killers I know are the teenage wannabes from Merrylands High School who surrendered themselves to the coppers the moment they turned up. What idiots. They didn’t even get to damage some public property before they were arrested. Pfft.

But hey, looks like Underbelly will now be shown in other parts of the world. That might just spur me to watch it at your nearest pay-per-view channel in Asia when I visit my relos. Yup, ‘coz that’s so much easier than driving to my mate’s place in NSW for the same reason.

adrock2xander still hasn’t seen Underbelly.

Before the brouhaha that occurred involving the legal injunction against airing Underbelly in Victoria, I was only slightly interested in watching the series. But with all the hype and the absolutely ridiculous decision to ban of the show, I couldn’t resist and downloaded it from channel #BT. Surely people know the difference between fact and fiction, television and real life? Hasn’t there been loads of coverage including news stories, books, and even impersonations on comedy shows of Tony Mokbel?

In any case, download the ep here (via Bittorent).

The Age: Online Viewers defy Underbelly ban

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, Underbelly

What the hell was that?

I’m not even sure you can even call that a soccer (football) game. Surely Channel 10 could have just had Beckham shoot goals by himself for 90 minutes. Never have I heard such crap commentary nor have I heard the word Beckham mentioned so many times in a game. For those who didn’t keep count, his name came up every 45 seconds (I really counted). Doesn’t matter that Sydney scored 5 goals, let’s keep showing Beckham. Let’s interview Juninho about what he thinks about Beckham. Oh and let’s keep the camera aimed at his arse for most of the time.

Words can’t even express how cheesy, moronic, and set up this game was. This is one event that I’m glad Melbourne didn’t host.

Image via AP

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Sydney FC, LA Galaxy, David Beckham, Beckham

Harold Holt was an interesting figure in the Australian political landscape. His accomplishments include the planning and preparation of the decimal currency, breaking down the White Australia Policy, and including indigenous Australians (Aboriginals) in the census. Despite that, he is world famous for his sudden death less then two years into being Prime Minister.

On the morning of December 17, 1967, he went for a swim at Cheviot Beach near Portsea. Despite advice from friends who were with him that day, he went out into the water known for strong currents and dangerous rip tides and never came back. His body was never found which has caused many conspiracy theories to develop in the 40 years since his disappearance.

One such theory is that he spent his lifetime as a spy for the Chinese. ASIO found out about this and was going to make an arrest in a few days. So on the day of his disappearance, he swam out and a Chinese submarine collected him. Sounds likely.

In a TV special premiering Tuesday and hosted by Ray Martin, the mystery around Holt’s disappearance will be further examined. This time the theory of his death is suicide. Unlikely? Yes, but more plausible then a Chinese submarine taking him away.

Who Killed Harold Holt?
9:35PM, CH 9

The Bulletin:Sex, Lies, and Suicide

Wikipedia: Harold Holt

Harold Holt Murder
(Good for a laugh. “Holt was murdered, because he was opposed to American bases such as Pine Gap being built on Australian soil”)

Picture is of the Harold Holt Swim Centre in Glen Iris. Oh, the irony. Taken by fotodudenz.

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, Harold Holt

I don’t know how many follow soccer, but there was a great match a while ago, with Thailand vs. Australia. We whopped them, with a 4-nil score (Socceroos come good to advance). This I guess is better than the 3-1 beating we took against Iraq!

Sadly, the Asian Cup doesn’t seem to be broadcast on free to air TV… Fox Sports 2 has it live though.