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Had to post my final Movember look… it’s an eerily effective moustache I suppose, and I did raise over $100, which I’m proud of. And I did get two weeks of free burgers from Grill’d as well, which is nice

So here’s the final Movember do:

I’m always extra rough and ready in these shots, since I usually take them approaching midnight, right before the shave off And it was getting really irritating this year, so I got rid of it straight after the shot!

I had a cheap movie voucher that ran out at the end of the weekend, so decided to check this out with Will, who had expressed some interest. But I wasn’t so sure… it looked fun, but I wasn’t sure about it.

And while it wasn’t Pixar, it was pretty entertaining, really cute, with a great message at its centre. It ended up being a true “nerd movie”, as two awkward nerdy types with their own obsessions end up falling for each other while some decidedly odd things happen.

This was another 3D movie, but we opted against seeing it in 3D — don’t think Will would have gone for that. There’s some great voice actors including Bill Hader, the adorable Anna Faris (as adorable in this as Reece Witherspoon in Monsters v Aliens), Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, James Caan and Mr T. The visuals are entertainingly crazy and the story is a cute little adventure about following your own obsessions and achieving what you want in life… even if it’s creating a machine that makes it rain food from the sky!

Both Flint Lockwood the scientist and Sam Sparks the weather girl are self admitted nerds, and the movie celebrates that, something not always seen. Science wins over idiots, nerds win over mobs, and there’s even a little environmental message in there. Fun stuff. Three and a half stars.

• Home – The Wheeler Centre: Books, Writing, Ideas
  New Writing Centre/event place/culture icon location thing that sounds really major and the web component is big too. In Melbourne naturally, but worth knowing about and following online.
  (tags: writing design news australia)

• BBC News – Games 'permit' virtual war crimes
  Interesting look at a study of actions possible in war computer games vs real life equivalent actions. Makes more sense as a study of reality in games that a look at games causing violence.
  (tags: war games writing news politics)

Got some freebies from work to see previews of the re-released Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D, so naturally I had to take Will We both know the two movies inside out, but he’s never seen either on the big screen, and I last saw Toy Story at the movies nearly 15 years ago, so we were going in for something new.

And it was 3D… which would be something new. It seems like all the animation being released these days is available in 3D, but we don’t usually go for it (either cause of cost or interest). Which was probably right again, since Will really hasn’t been into the 3D thing, and he wasn’t really into the 3D today. Even though the glasses are a whole new thing: clear, easy to wear, Will really didn’t like it, but he doesn’t keep anything on his face really!

But I thought it was pretty cool. It’s unobtrusive, fitting well into the story, and giving the scenes real depth and variety. It’s especially interesting to see how the 3D was added to an already existing movie.

Memorable characters, memorable music, groundbreaking animation, just the all round package. The 3D was an appealing touch, and it makes seeing a movie you already know so well a new experience in itself. And both movies together — even better! Definitely one not to be missed. Four and a half stars.

• Local Bookstores, Social Hubs, and Mutualization « Clay Shirky
  A big Clay Shirky piece on the future of bookstores and books in the web age… interesting for all kinds of reasons.
  (tags: business media future web2.0 article blog toread activism)

• TuneUp | Digital Music Management and Music Discovery for iTunes
  Your music collection is a mess. TuneUp fixes it. Organize your iTunes: fix MP3 & ID3 tags, add album art, get concert alerts and more.
  (tags: music software tools ipod tool windows web2.0)

• Blake Friedmann – Literary, TV and Film Agency Ltd
  A UK agent that reps a broad spectrum of work, though they're still paper subs only.
  (tags: writing agent)
• Literary Agents – Russell & Volkening, Inc.
  Agency that seems very high end and lit, but do have a specialist YA agent, so something there at least.
  (tags: writing agent)

A special night tonight… it’s Sallie’s birthday and we arranged things so the kids could be looked after for a few hours. For the first time in months we have an evening to ourselves. Couldn’t exactly be too extravagent, so we went up to the Westpoint entertainment level for dinner and a movie.

We had some seriously appealing sushi from the “Sushi Train” place, picking up a whole variety of dishes, while Sallie played the “is it fish?” game. It was easier than most places and we had a great meal for a good price. It’s funny how little plates can fill you up very quickly…

Naturally, I even snapped a pic of my favourite sushi roll… not even sure what was in it… think it was fish, and it had a really nice sauce and some kind of caviar thing… nice…

We went to see Couples Retreat, the latest Vince Vaughan movie, which I’m happy to say was definitely one of his better ones… it’s an entertaining, extremely well cast fun little movie… that the two of us fell perfectly into the demographics for.

I admit it, Couples Retreat is a movie specifically made for early to mid 30s couples with young children and it worked great on us. Take four couples in various situations, put them together in a pretty place they really didn’t want to be, then watch them work through their marriages with great amusement. Add some hot ladies, a gratuitous Guitar Hero duel, and some very funnny supporting actors, and you have some good fun and a movie worth getting out to… especially if you’re that perfectly aimed demographic that doesn’t get out much

Great cast… Vince Vaughn can be good when he tries, and especially when he’s with John Favreau, who is great too. Jason Bateman is getting lots of good roles now… but it’s the ladies that rule for me

Malin Ackerman is gorgeous, and shows some great comic timing in a role very different from her recent turn in Watchman. Kristin Davis was by far my favourite Sex and the City star and even before that, and she’s fun in this. Of course, my true favourite is Kristin “Veronica Mars” Bell, who stands out in this as a somewhat troubled younger wife who isn’t sure her marriage will last not having kids.

So, it’s definitely a good bit of fun, and best enjoyed with your nearest loved one. Three and a half stars.

• SuperSeeker
  SuperSeeker is a tool that will look for your lost superannuation in real time and instantly provide you with possible matches.
  (tags: australia money business)
• The Bugle
  Comedy podcasts done by John Oliver and friend, should be funny if it's anything like Oliver's Daily Show stuff.
  (tags: politics news comedy funny blog)
• The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts
  Some seriously cool concerts with amazing acts went down for this event, hopefully they're online or on DVD at some point!
  (tags: nyc music media)
• My First Interview as a Science Fiction Author « Whatever
  Nice look at Scalzi's earliest interview as a fiction writer. Good to see how he started, though he was already a pro.
  (tags: writing news ideas media)
• Brewer's Choice – Using a Hydrometer
  Good detailed page on using the hydrometer in beer making, especially the readings and numbers needed.
  (tags: beer maker list ideas)
• Australian Dyspraxia Association Inc.
  SIte for Aus Dyspraxia group, might have some useful tips and tools for us.
  (tags: dyspraxia william family learning ideas help)
• Home Education Association Inc. (Australia) – supporting homeschooling parents in Australia
  Group for Australian home schooling… useful info if we ever go that way.
  (tags: education australia home william)
• How to Build a High-Traffic Blog Without Killing Yourself
  Obviously good tips for blogging, really need to watch this — should watch it at work, since it's for work!
  (tags: blog productivity wordpress video business entrepreneurship tutorial toread)
• Background Briefing – 14 June 2009 – The great disruption
  Lengthy text from a noted business guy on why the economic system we live with is broken. Deep stuff.
  (tags: business writing news money ideas)
• Telework Australia
  Australian organisation dedicated to teleworking and related work.
  (tags: writing business entrepreneurship online work)
• Home Page of IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd)
  Some kind of half small press half vanity press outfit that has competitions as well as publishing programs. Worth noting at least, I guess.
  (tags: writing agent fiction business)
• HOW TO: Write a Novel Using the Web
  Useful summary of various online tools you can use in novel writing.
  (tags: writing tools web online internet fiction)
• A Comprehensive Guide to Starting Your Freelance Career – FreelanceSwitch
  Really good and lengthy guide to freelance careers and everything you need to know.
  (tags: freelance business entrepreneurship work design writing toread)
• Miyamoto: New Mario Tests Your Hard-Core Gaming Chops | GameLife | Wired.com
  Indepth interview with Nintendo genius on the newest Mario game and his general way of doing things at the company.
  (tags: games wii article toread)
• Half-Life Visuals Supercharge Sci-Fi Short Escape From City-17 | Underwire | Wired.com
  A look at quality indie filmmakers that use the Half Life game engine as an effects tool to produce some good looking stuff.
  (tags: film movie video games)
• The Answer Factory: Demand Media and the Fast, Disposable, and Profitable as Hell Media Model | Magazine
  Article on Demand Media — definitely a serious freelance op, as they have a lot of work, but it's kind of low paying.
  (tags: media video content business work writing)