Death Sentence – The Decay of Public Language by Don Watson

I have a colleague who cannot express a thought without using the words ‘stakeholder’, ‘road map’ or ‘deliverables’. Don Watson, author and former speech writer to Paul Keating, wouldn’t have much time for him.

The Chaser’s Age of Terror Variety Hour

I’ve been a fan of The Chaser ever since their excellent CNNN in 2002. Their popularity (infamy?) has been steadily growing over the past few years but the APEC stunt really clinched it. In fact, I am surprised they still manage to find people who are genuinely bewildered by the Citizens’ Infringement Officer or the Surprise Spruiker.

Made of Honor (2008)

Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) have been best friends for 10 years. Hannah unexpectedly meets Colin (Kevin McKidd), decides he’s the man of her dreams and calls a shotgun wedding asking Tom to be her Maid of Honour. Problem is, Tom has chosen exactly that moment to realise that he’s in love with Hannah and sets out to sabotage the wedding. Ding dong, ding dong! Does that ring some bells? It should, because it’s the plot of My Best Friend’s Wedding only with the genders reversed! Also, My Best Friend’s Wedding was a great movie while Made of Honor revels in its triteness.

Nim’s Island (2008)

Nim (Abigail Breslin) is an 11 year old girl living on an island paradise with her marine biologist dad (Gerard Butler). Beach is her playground, seals and albatrosses are her pets and her favourite fictional hero is Alex Rover (Gerard Butler again), the brave adventurer whose books she devours. (She also has full internet access despite the fact that the island is supposedly not on any maps, wonder who her ISP is?)