November sees the DVD release of Spider-Man, Star Wars - Episode 2, Lord Of The Rings (Extended Edition), Futurama Season 1, Buffy Season 5, The X Files Season 5, Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge), Red Dwarf Season 1, The Simpsons Season 3...

And technically I'd like to get my hands on Simpsons Season 2, Amelie and maybe even Ring but I've held back...

Back To The Future DVD boxset is fantastic. Back To The Future survived the trip from memory to actuality but Back To The Future 2 was quite a bit lamer than I remember, basically a massive set up for BTTF 3 with pretty lights... although I did like learning that the part of Marty's daughter was played by Michael J Fox. I had to look at a still for a good five minutes to get it. Damn Michael...

Had some crazy pedestrians deliberately stand in the way of the car on Friday night blocking the traffic. I leant on the horn and eventually they moved, but how did they know I wasn't some crazy nutball with a gun? And that time someone jumped out of the car and hit my friend because he yelled at them? How did they know my friend wasn't buzzed off his head on something and could have killed them for that punch? How do they know? A mad died yesterday because he decided to yell at a driver for doing something stupid. The driver stabbed him as he leant through the window. I think my policy of avoiding conflict is something I'll stick with... (The Age)

Why is there only one cable connecting all of country town Mildura to the telephone network? And how is it possible to cut that cable from Melbourne? I'd have thought these connections would spread out and branch, not all spread out from one point like spider legs. Ah well, only 30% of Mildurans use the net so I'm sure they survived. (The Age)

Thomson Multimedia, 0wnez of the MP3 format patent, are claiming that software decoders do not have to pay the royalty, as it always has been. Only hardware decoders must pay for the right to use the MP3 technology. (via The Register)

A Thomson spokesman told NewsForge's Robin Miller that it was a ruse by Ogg Vorbis advocates to get publicity.

"WALKEN" played probably their best gig so far at the 9th Ward in the city on Friday. Excellent crowd response (the place was packed), calls for encore, the whole deal. We were full of energy and played a fairly flawless set. Very happy. Last gig for a month or so on Thursday at The Tote. Then on to the CD launch at the Armadale in October. By then I'll be living 5 minutes drive from there. Excellent (rubs hands together)...