Someone asked me about playing guitar today. Somehow the conversation came around to how I like playing. I said something like:

It's like the difference between playing a game of footy, and playing kick to kick. I like playing to kick to kick...

I like playing guitar. I like making up riffs.

The rest requires effort.

And time.

Neither of which are much fun.

Writing lyrics requires passion I have no interest in faking. Writing melody is something I'm not very good at. I could care less which riff follows the other, as long as I get to play the riff.

The quicker I admit all of this the better.

Via acb, the Astor is up for sale. The Astor are at pains to claim this isn't the end of the Astor, but you could have fooled me...

Florence, 42, is annoyed at talk of the Astor's demise, pointing out that he has just signed a new 10-year lease. But he admits that attendance figures have dived by about 10 to 20 per cent since 2001-02 and last financial year the business recorded its first loss. Its average annual turnover is about $1.2 million. The industry downturn — box-office takings plunged by 14 per cent in the first half of this year — is thought to reflect the growth in DVDs, the downloading of films from the internet and the poor quality of recent Hollywood releases.

Dad is very happy.

First Grand Final win EVER for Sydney.

If you're one of those Victorians desperate for a link to an in-state team, it's the first win for South Melbourne for over 70 years.

Although the Sydney Swans are no more South Melbourne than Australia is England.

I barely ever watch AFL (last game I watched was the last Grand Final). This game was better than last year. At least this year we had an exciting last five minutes. I like close games. I'd prefer games when the team actually scored every now and then...