Cheers, Planted. She was looking forward to skating in Central Park, now she'll be lucky if she can ski there!? She'll be there for a week, then flies home after six months at Disney World via LA.

My daughter made it safely to New York today. She flew in from Orlando Florida.

I've seen American Sniper, Birdman and The Imitation Game so far and about to watch Unbroken. Bradley Cooper was good and Eastwood knows how to direct gung ho movies. Sad story indeed and thought provoking too. Best Picture? Stranger things have won in the past. While Keaton's performance was very good, how did Norton and Stone get nominations for awards for the little time they spent on screen? The movie itself was for me, a disappointment. Maybe I was expecting more, whatever that may have been? The Imitation Game was a much better film and performances all round. The tension build up was as good as any thriller I have ever seen, the race against time to crack the code and the interpersonal issues and prejudices he had to deal with along the way added to a very good and well paced story. I always ignore the critics and judge a film, music or whatever on it's own merits, mostly because I trust my judgement more than theirs and unlike critics I don't have any hidden agendas. Something that was more than hinted at in the plot of Birdman.

Marc Bolan played lead guitar on this track.

Two lowlife arseholes (male and female) attempted to mug and then assaulted my daughter on the train between St Marys and Doonside yesterday. Karma is a bitch that'll bite you on the arse and you'll get yours one day. She spent most of today in hospital but apart from some bumps and bruises she's ok. Tough as teak!

Happy 69th Birthday, John Paul Jones!

There were a few loose ends in The Battle of the Five Armies that will likely be tied up when the extended version is released on DVD. Looking forward to seeing The Imitation Game and The Water Diviner with Russell Crowe.

Bondi Beach, Sydney tonight.

The view from my balcony Summer storm front gathering over the mountains in the west Thunderclaps and a lightning flash illuminate the sky To the east the sun is shining Cumulus rolling out to sea Wind blowing a gale hail crashing down on tin rooves Echoing the din from the rain Calm overhead an eerie sense the worst is yet to come Grey, black, blue and white make up the skyscape's palate Leaves from falling trees add a tinge of brownish green, a peaceful scene Until thunder cracks and windows shake as if struck by Thor's great mallet Locked inside in darkness helpless without power Now it's moving eastward again has it only been an hour? The aftermath when skies have cleared brings floods and tears of sorrow It's been a week already it's going to be the same tomorrow

My son won some airline tickets a couple of months ago after entering an online competition to visit a loved one and arrived in the US yesterday on a surprise visit to his sister at Disney World in Florida.

This is from the Forge of Empires online game.

I did tell you when it was on. LedZeppfan77, on 01 Nov 2014 - 03:13, said: The race is on at 3.00pm AEDST Tuesday 4th November, 12.00am 4th/11 New York time (15 hours behind).

The race is on at 3.00pm AEDST Tuesday 4th November, 12.00am 4th/11 New York time (15 hours behind).

The Melbourne Cup is on next Tuesday 4th November. Still a couple of qualifying races to go until the field of up to 24 runners is finalised. It's a good value race as the favourite usually pays between $4 - $7, sometimes more. No clear favourite as yet. We only have win/place (each way where the win is paid and the place is paid on first, second and third, no show betting), quinella, trifecta, quadrella, superfecta, daily and feature doubles, parlays and all up etc. There is an online betting agency here in Oz called Tom Waterhouse Betting offering $25 million for a $10 wager if you can pick the first ten finishers in order. Tom is the son and grandson of Robbie and Bill Waterhouse, bookmakers who were warned off racecourses in the 1980's for the Fine Cotton switch. His mother Gai trained her first Melbourne Cup winner in 2013, is the daughter of Tommy Smith trained two Melbourne Cup winners.

No, anyone who advocates drug manufacturing / use via toys is contributing to the problem. Figurines are one thing but adding meth as an "accessory" is just insane and downright dangerous.

Toys"R"Us has been embroiled in controversy after a US woman complained about the kids' store selling dolls of fictional drug dealer Walter White and other characters from hit TV show Breaking Bad. Plastic figurines include Walter White holding a handgun and White's accomplice, Jesse Pinkman, wearing a protective suit used in the manufacture of crystallised methamphetamine. Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/afp/2014/10/22/05/02/breaking-bad-drug-dolls-cook-up-toys-r-us-controversy#UyH6815XDof6qXmt.99 Dickheads.

Nine Inch Nails do a cover of Immigrant Song on the soundtrack of The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo.

This time last year 200 homes were destroyed in the same area by bushfires.

Massive electrical storms with lightning strikes, thunder, high winds, heavy rain with flash flooding and a cold snap with 20cms (8") snow about 100kms (60ms) from here on the Blue Mountains. Happy Days!!!! http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/snow-winds-and-floods-chaos-from-city-to-mountains/story-fni0cx12-1227090697709

Happy Birthday, to our Southern Belle, Deborah J! IMHO the nicest person on this forum I know it's not the 5th over in Georgia but it is here! Have a great day!

It's been 34 years. R.I.P. John Bonham.

Free download of a new song Who's Gonna Stand Up, three versions available now. http://www.neilyoung.com/

The latest news on proceedings. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-09/led-zeppelin-taps-nsync-expertise-in-stairway-to-heaven-case

Back at ya, Panther! The cake looks awesome.

Cheers, planted. It's very possible their paths will cross at training sessions etc. If your daughter is anything like her mother, she'll do just fine, as will you.