Congratulations to Glenn McGarth on his Australian ODI debut against New Zealand last night.

See photo from Reuters of McGarth celebrating a wicket.

Lord of the Rings. Are you shocked?

The ABC will tonight be announcing the results of a nationwide poll conducted over the last few months to find "Australia's Favourite Book". The announcement will come as part of a 90-minute special beginning at 7.30pm. I'm going to make a dull prediction and say that "The Bible" will get up.

I missed out on voting in the poll, so to make up, here is my personal choice of my five favourite books of all time, counting down in reverse order. There are four fantasy fiction works and one non-fiction.

South Australia have been bowled out for 29 by New South Wales today at the SCG. Nathan Bracken took 7/4. I haven't looked it up yet, but I suspect it is South Australia's lowest Shield score ever.

Dateline, the SBS weekly international current affairs program, concluded its 2004 season last Wednesday, having celebrated its 20th anniversary in October. Dateline has proven time and again that it is the outstanding current affairs show on Australian television these days, with a focus on events (especially in the Asia-Pacific region) and perspective that commercial television can't come within cooee of.

fallujahinpictures.com - a photo blog of disturbing images from Fallujah of the victims, military and civilian, of the appalling and unnecessary battle for that Iraqi city during this month.

The images aren't pretty. How could they be?

The Guardian reported yesterday that Vieux Boulogne is the world's smelliest cheese. It then proceeded to give a list of the fifteen smelliest (authentic Somerset cheddar coming in 14th).

The conclusion was reached following a series of scientific tests at Cranfield University.

All I will say is go to eBay and enter "cheese virgin mary" as your search keywords.

Interesting email arrived on the ImpeachBlair mailing list on Wednesday, and I quote:

Dear Supporter,

We apologise if you have experienced difficulties visiting the www.ImpeachBlair.org website. It was removed yesterday without warning by the hosting company.

It means absolutely zippo to us here in Australia, unless we watch the NFL double-header on Fox Sports on Friday morning. Thanksgiving does, however, have parallels with our own Australia Day - the celebration of a hostile, and ultimately successful, invasion by foreign forces.