Chris Masters’ long-awaited unauthorised biography of infamous Sydney squawkmeister Belford Parrott has been shelved. The book, tentatively titled “Jonestown”, was intended as a follow-up to Masters’ Four Corners report on Mr Parrott in 2002.

The ABC issued a press release this afternoon, possibly the first press release I can ever recall announcing the non-publication of a book. The decision, according to ABC Enterprises director Robyn Watts, was made for “purely commercial reasons”.

Ms Watts went on to say:

“ABC Enterprises has a clear responsibility to deliver a commercial return to the ABC. To proceed with publication will almost certainly result in a commercial loss which would be irresponsible.”

While I get back to reading “Simply Stuffed” by HG Nelson, feel free to take a browse through the ABC Shop’s book section at all those titles responsibly published by ABC Enterprises to deliver a commercial return.

Not much for me to say except let the great minds speak for themselves:

The Nationals support efforts to reduce Australia’s greenhouse emissions but do not support international rules which disadvantage Australian industry and interests.

- from the National Party of Australia’s environment and conservation policy

On the other side of the house:

“It’s crazy to suggest we need nuclear plants in a state that has some of the most plentiful coal supplies in the world”

- Peter Beattie, ALP Premier of Queensland, 7.6.06 (source: ABC)

And from the man of wisdom himself:

“The principal reason why Australia will not sign the Kyoto protocol is that it is not in Australia’s interest to do so. We take decisions not based on ideology or prejudice; we take decisions that are based overwhelmingly on a consideration of the national interest.”

- one of many similar statements on the Kyoto Protocol from John Winston Howard. This one in reply to a Dorothy Dixer in Federal Parliament, 16.2.05 (Source: Hansard)

I haven’t been this excited about a game of soccer since… well, no, I haven’t.

Australia 2 Croatia 2. What a nailbiter. We’re in the final sixteen.

Italy? Doddle.

It’s been about eighteen years of waiting for a decent opportunity, but at long last I have made it this year to the Sydney Film Festival.

So far I have seen nine films, ranging from the earnestly good to the bloody brilliant, and I’m booked in for two more before the Festival closes next Sunday.

Here are some brief reviews of the first three films that I saw, with more to follow in future posts:

A Hero’s Welcome - Documentary about, and narrated by, Timor-Leste president Xanana Gusmao, shot before the current problems flared up. The film is something of a hagiography of Xanana, but by all reports he’s that kinda guy. Directed by Grace Phan, the former CNBC Asia presenter who answered questions following the screening (which was in fact the world premiere). The aerial photography of the Timorese countryside is quite beautiful.

An Inconvenient Truth - The best motion picture adaptation of a Powerpoint presentation I have ever seen (and hopefully the only one). Al Gore’s lecture on the impact of global warming is quite powerful and very persuasive - and if you live on the coast, any coast, start worrying now. Question though: which special effects unit was responsible for making Gore appear human? I’ve seen this film debunked on the basis of Gore’s politics and the wonky environmental track record of the Clinton administration. Don’t shoot the messenger. This is one film that should be seen by everyone. (And no, he gives no opinion on the future of nuclear power.)

Cinemas, Aspirin and Vultures - It’s a road movie. Yes, I find the genre boring too, but at least this was an offbeat story in an unusual location - rural Brazil during World War II. A German flees to Brazil to escape the War and becomes a travelling salesman spruiking the new wonder drug, aspirin, and showing commercials to people who get no other movie entertainment. He befriends a bloke who apparently is based on director Marcelo Gomes’ father, and they travel around together until Brazil declares its entry to WWII. At which point all German nationals are ordered to either return home or enter an internment camp in Sao Paolo… The Brazilian swing music of the 20s and 30s makes for an interesting soundtrack, including a young pre-Hollywood Carmen Miranda.