what i am reading

While at the library I ran across the Andrew Morton biography of Tom Cruise, and decided to read it. While not a massive fan, but not a naysayer, I thought it would be interesting to read. It was not viewed with favour when I brought it home, and when my mom visited a few days later she was oddly fascinated. Mr Morton does a good job of busting a few of the myths of TC's childhood, and showing his rapid rise to fame. I really hadn't realised how young he was when he go his first breaks. He really didn't have any time at all wen he was a starving actor.
The story gets a little boring when it starts to go into the various romances- primarily because he seems to conduct them in a very odd way.
The Scientology bits are odd, to say the least. They really went after him to join and have put a lot of effort into catering to his wishes.
Given the level of control that TC generally has, and the aggressive methods used it is very interesting to find a book that outlines so many details of his life. That said he does break a few of the more persistent myths down (TC is gay and the 'tom wanted to be a monk').
Not my usual reading material, but a nice break.

just because

The americanisation of australian english (or english english or NZ etc etc etc). Every so often some newspaper or tv show gets on their high horse about the amount of american tv/movie/ radio content. The latest issue is the request to allow parallel importation of books into Australia. Quite honestly, I see no problem with this- cheap books! yay! but people have protested because shock horror we might get books that use americanisms and that just can't happen. So the complaining about how we are being invaded by american pronunciations and slang and losing the australian phrases.

Firstly- Australia has plenty of interesting slang phrases and words- more than enough to withstand the paler american versions. People use "rapt"in every day conversation- how good is that?
Secondly- the stuff that people are complaining about it isn't a US accent but a southern california one. The rest of the country uses different words, phrases and expressions
Thirdly- languages change, evolve and move on. this is normal. Trying to freeze a language in time is so very French (and isn't all that successful)

Anyway, as a token american in australia, it is frustrating to hear about how terrible my accent and expressions are- as if it is all my fault.