University just gets better and better. We spent an hour in a lecture today debating whether or not Santa Claus exists. The answer is that he does. And he doesn't.

John Hinde Dies

One of the ABC's first foreign correspondents and well-known TV presenter, John Hinde, has died.

Mr Hinde began his career at the ABC in the news department and was a correspondent in the Pacific during World War II.

He later furthered his passion in film, presenting a weekly review on Radio National and presenting films on TV.

Mr Hinde died at a nursing home in Sydney aged 92.

Tributes are being paid to veteran Mr Hinde.

Margaret Pomeranz of ABC TV's At the Movies program says he was a legend who inspired her passion for film.

"It's really upset me, I've only just found out about it now," she said.

"For us growing up his radio program on ABC at 7.15pm on Monday night was like a religious quarter-of-an-hour because it was about the only film commentary we had.

"It was like meeting a legend when I finally did go to screenings where John was and it was such a pleasure meeting him."

David Stratton, also of At the Movies, says Mr Hinde was a lovely man who was a pleasure to talk to.

He says he had a roguish look on TV and always presented with wit, perception and style.

"It was something to do with his innate good humour and wit I think, and he would always focus on very often on small details, on whimsical little things that appealed to him, and convey them so beautifully to the listener or the viewer in his television introductions," he said.

From ABC News Online

Oddly enough, I was wondering just recently if fabulous old John was still kicking; at uni most mornings I walk past the John Hines building, so I'm sure you can see what prompted the thought.

This news article doesn't do him nearly enough justice. It's been some years since he graced our screens with his lilting voice and wicked humour, but he was always a firm favorite of mine. I was saddened to hear of his death, but then again, at 92 I guess you've got to expect these things.

The Horizontality

No posts for a while for good reason: I've wrenched a few ligaments in my back. If I were more adept at typing while lying down this wouldn't be a problem--in fact, I would have been at work this past week--but for the timebeing it's a quickly dulling diet of DVDs and reading, with the odd merciful dash of World Cup spice.

I've reread Riders To The Midnight Sun during my horizontality. The travel story is fast becoming an overdone genre, but a good one is still hard to beat. This one follows a 30-ish couple who ride cheap, crappy bicycles from the Black Sea to Murmansk in the former Soviet Union. For me, it has it all: the former Eastern Bloc; cycling; ill-advised trips; the angst of "growing up" (ie turning 30); an emerging writer; the creepy, compulsive draw of nuclear power stations; strange food; and vodka. He writes well, so it's worth a look for his crafting alone.

The DVD list is a little hazier. Many of them passed by in a pain-and-codeine fog, but I do remember:

• Stepford Wives (thin and unsatisfying, although mildly amusing in parts),
• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (despite a cast of favorites, never really got going for me),
• Around the World in 80 Days (not even Jackie Chan could save this one),
• Withnail and I (the world is just so much better with Richard E Grant aboard, don't you think?)
• Cassanova (nice costumes)
• The Brothers Grimm (nice costumes)

All in all, a mostly poor selection. I think there were around 16 more, but my usually-agreeable brain just won't cooperate. I'm sure you'll cope.

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But in news far more exciting, to me at least, is that university results for semester 1 are released tomorrow. Will she make High Distinction? Or will Distinction have to suffice? Will she get enough to land a few of those juicy merit-based scholarships for next year? Or will she have to keep hacking away at her unloved day job?

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You'd think that having leisure to loll about would be an opportunity for some quality writing, but sadly, no. Pain is distracting. How bloody annoying.

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Edited to add: High Distinction for Writing, but only Credit for French. Bugger! If I'd studied harder I'd know how to say that with a Gallic shrug.