Tuesday, July 12, 2005



In Anton Chekhov's story The Kiss, a low-ranking officer accidentally finds himself at a party in the dark with a beautiful woman. The woman has organised a rendezvous with her lover, but in the dark she mistakes the shy soldier who has accidentally taken a wrong turn for her intended, and she kisses him instead. The mistake is quickly discovered, but the soldier counts himself incredibly lucky. It is his first kiss, and it is so exquisite that he spends all the next day going over it in his mind. Above all, he can't wait to tell his fellow officers. The incident builds in his mind, taking on the proportions of an epic ("he imagined it would take until morning") The bottomless freedom of disappointment Masters of disguise Digging into our earliest disguised childhood memories Cracking Open Your Wallet,

Art of Living & Literature Across Frontiers: The Darville made me do it
A famous literary hoax has changed the way critics and publishers separate fact from fiction

Exactly 10 years since its author was unmasked as a daughter of English, rather than Ukrainian, immigrants, The Hand that Signed the Paper remains a central document of recent Australian literature. Its effects are still felt in how publishers conduct their business and in the lives of those affected by the scandal. Its merits are as hotly debated now as in 1995. And its own secret history, due to its author's evasions, continues to spark intrigue.


Fiona Kovalenko [Gleebooks takes on another goliath ; The story of the 'The War of the Worlds' that exploded onto movie screens last month was first published in England, in 1898 Presurfer Compiles an Amazing feast!; This is a blog to show just how much I love Katie, and just how much we both love living life together, and being awesome, and believing in Scientology! I'm Tom Cruise, And I'm In Love of Irony!!! ; Sydney has been named the world's best city by wealthy American globetrotters Sydney scores rich praise as travel destination ]
• · This combination photo shows two photographs taken less than one minute apart of the Australian tourist attraction known as the Twelve Apostles Eleven Apostles; Wall of Chinese Water ; Is the Game Industry Really Bigger than the Film Industry?
• · · Viewing Israel's response to Munich through the eyes of the men who were sent to avenge that tragedy adds a human dimension to a horrific episode that we usually think about only in political or military terms Bana, Rush in Spielberg's Munich Olympics film ; Hollywood's box office has hit the skids, and the entertainment media are in overdrive trying to explain why Box office blues stem from blue-state bigotry
• · · · Radio National presenter Sandy McCutcheon uncovers his family secrets. Missing link ; Lord What Women Bloggers Want ; What Does Every Author Want: His Own Trailer & Shed
• · · · · Short film makers take note: a bubble has been chosen as the signature item for the 2006 Sony Tropfest short film festival. Ideas set to bubble over ; Moscow goes to Hollywood