Bank swag

Yay! Opened a couple of new accounts at a local bank today, and instead of the regular toaster, i got two (2) wallets as gifts! Now i can finally retire and live happily ever after.



I was also supposed to get 500 Australian dollars, in case my cards crap out on me in Melbourne. But the wiener in the bank had misunderstood, and only had American dollars available, so i will have to wait till friday before i get my moolah.

Oh, and i almost got my mothers car stuck in a ditch on the way there.

Amelie

I coincidentaly saw Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain again, and remembered to always choose the least tempting movies.

Kingsgate Hotel, locked and loaded

FINALLY! After many rounds of shooting email back and forth from Melbourne, we have finally found a place to stay the first days, while we search for a permanent solution.
The lucky winner is: Kingsgate Hotel!




The happy, funny place i wrote about earlier didnt reply, so we had to continue our search, and for a small step-up in cost, we get doublerooms instead of staying with other people in a dorm. The hotel is located in the very heart of melbourne, and a few steps from the tram station.

Got wowed by tapdancing penguins

Another sleeper hit for me this week was Happy Feet. Its an animation movie about a tribe/pack of emperor-penguins in the Antarctica. They base their way of life on singing their so called "heartsong", which basically is different kinds of music all the way from the 50's till todays music.
The plot is the built on the standard disney/cartoon-plot, the outcasts struggle and victory in a doubting society. So no surprises there. What makes it good is the way its being told, both from a technological and dramatic aspect. The surroundings are absolutely beautiful and knocks Ice Age on its ass. Robin Williams is also spectacular in the role of the latino-penguin Ramon.



The movie also delivers an extra sting, along with just being a entertaining piece of media. A big part of the story is focused on the environmental problems humans are causing in the world today. It manages to deliver its messages on this subject so that it hits the viewer in the head and heart (at least me), since human actions is directly affecting and hurting characters that you care about in the movie.

The Simpsons, Rome and Prison Break kick-off

After a long holiday pause for The Simpsons and Prison Break, they are now getting back on the air. Simpsons started yesterday, and Prison Break is airing the next episode on the 22. of January.
Rome season 2 is airing next week sometime, but the first episode is already leaked. With a big-ass HBO logo all over the screen.



These 3 shows are the only ones i am following ATM. I was into Lost for awhile, but halfway into season 2, i got turned off by something. Probably was the neverending plot.
I hope they dont do that with Prison Break. A 3rd season maybe, but any more than that, and it will ruin the show.

Rome is probably the best show i have ever seen. Nice, believable setting, good story (true, if im not mistaken), and top-notch special effects. Hope they continue to spit money into that one.
Does anyone know how these shows are aired in Australia? At the same time as in America, or do one have to *ahem* aquire them some other way?

A friendly, happy place

Sent a mail to http://www.friendlygroup.com.au today, and tried to book a room for the 4 of us that are leaving the 23. Seems like a nice place, and the reviews are spotless too.
One thing thats worries me a bit is the name of the place. Friendly Backpacker Group. Could have been a name for one of Hitlers happy-camps. Probably gonna end up being the main course on their "free" BBQ nights!

I also got my insurance papers today, and if i die in Australia, i get 50 000,- norwegian kroner.

Even bad-asses were babies!

Do you recognize this guy? Yup, even Steven Seagal was a kid sometime. These photos showed up during the intro to Above the Law. The movie was old-school Seagal, before his chin multiplied and he got all fat and old. He has kinda turned in to the parody MADtv did on him.

And here i always believed that Steven Seagal was raised in the wilderness by Chuck Norris' fist or something.