The art of acting consists in keeping people from coughing.

Here you can see Henry doing Anthony Hopkins doing Hannibal Lector doing Henry, trying to eat Ezra's face. Don't panic though, it was only a game, and Ezra emerged unscathed.

Far too long ago now, I asked a question of everyone about which actor they would like to play them in a film. As I said at the time, others – cruelly and maliciously, I might add – suggested one of Robert Downey Jr, Hugh Grant and (most unkindly) Ben Affleck to play the part of yours truly.

Of course, I vociferously and aggressively rebuked such nonsense, and suggested indie-favourite early-1990s floppy haired Martin Donovan. I think that he would have the height and gravitas to successfully translate me onto the big screen.

Oddly, other people seemed reluctant to engage with this question – unlike the others that were asked that week – I put it down to the unhealthy tendency to subdue our egos that society often forces upon us. Naturally, this is I am happy to disregard at will. I am of the Shirley Strachan school of thought in this regard.

There were some takers though, and I am happy for you to continue to contribute if you wish, and some very interesting suggestions.

I very much liked Hallam’s suggestion of Eric Stoltz (as Rocky Dennis), in what surely would be Oscar bait of any year. USelaine went through a bevy of beauties to arrive at Kathy Bates. I liked that Sue was open to Whoopi Goldberg, who would be required to pull out an extraordinary performance rivalling C. Thomas Howell’s star turn in the quite unconvincing Soul Man.

Juliet Binoche was a favourite, and Blackie keen on the idea, but dipping in to the deep pool of talent that underwrote Canadian classic Degrassi for a suggestion that might be closer to the mark.

Miles audaciously suggested Kelly Ripa in drag, it would be interesting at least, and Saretta nominated figure of much McCracken-household hate Nicole Kidman. [No offence Saretta, but I just don’t get Nicole Kidman, she just can’t act. And what happened to the ginger, freckly, frizzy haired girl that Australia first got to know? When BMX Bandits is the best you’ve done in thirty years, time to give it away love...]

Jackie was thinking Oscar too when she nominated Emma Thompson, and ‘Me’ of Launceston is thinking a young Alan Rickman. I wonder if he means Alan Rickman Alan Rickman, or Stella Street Alan Rickman? I love Stella Street Alan Rickman.

For the record, I would like to nominate Dame Judi Dench for Henry, George Clooney for Ezra. Jennifer was noticeably absent in commenting on this question, and I would implore her to have a crack at it and not keep the world in suspenders.

Hold me now, oh hold me now, until this hour has gone around. And I'm gone on the rising tide, to face Van Dieman's Land

Theme Thursday again, and this one is rather easy. I am Tasmanian, you see, and aside from being all around general geniuses - as I have amply described previously - we are also very familiar with the concept of WATER. Tasmania is the ONLY island state of an ISLAND continent. That means, we're surrounded by WATER. That should help explain why I take so many photographs of water . Tasmania was for a long time the place where the British (an island race terrified of water) sent their poor people most vile and horrid criminals. The sort of folk who would face the stark choice of a death sentence , or transportation to the other end of the world. Their catalogue of crimes is horrifying : stealing bread assault stealing gentlemen's handkerchiefs drunken assault being poor affray ladies being overly friendly with gentlemen for money hitting people having a drink and a laugh public drunkenness being Irish Fenian terrorist activities being Catholic religious subversion. ...

Something unpleasant is coming when men are anxious to tell the truth.

This is the moon. Have I mentioned how much I adore the zoom on my camera? It's Theme Thursday you see, and after last week's limp effort, I have been thinking about how I might redeem myself. Then I clicked on the topic and discover that it was BUTTON. We've been hearing a lot about the moon in the past couple of weeks. Apparently some fellas went up there and played golf and what-not forty-odd years ago. The desire to get to the moon, however, was not simply about enhancing opportunities for Meg and Mog titles and skirting local planning by-laws in the construction of new and innovative golf courses. No, all of your Sputniks , "One small steps" and freeze dried ice cream was about one thing , and one thing only : MAD Now, I don't mean mad in terms of "bloke breaks record for number of scorpions he can get up his bum", no I mean MAD as in Mutual assured destruction . When I was a young man you see, there was a lot of talk about the type of m...

Ah, Joe, you never knew the whole of it...

I still have the robot on the job. Here you can see the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery . And here is a poem: Soliloquy for One Dead Bruce Dawe Ah, no, Joe, you never knew the whole of it, the whistling which is only the wind in the chimney's smoking belly, the footsteps on the muddy path that are always somebody else's. I think of your limbs down there, softly becoming mineral, the life of grasses, and the old love of you thrusts the tears up into my eyes, with the family aware and looking everywhere else. Sometimes when summer is over the land, when the heat quickens the deaf timbers, and birds are thick in the plumbs again, my heart sickens, Joe, calling for the water of your voice and the gone agony of your nearness. I try hard to forget, saying: If God wills, it must be so, because of His goodness, because- but the grasshopper memory leaps in the long thicket, knowing no ease. Ah, Joe, you never knew the whole of it... I like Bruce Dawe. He just my be my favourite Austral...

This will hurt me...

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