By Alan Kohler

News Ltd splashed on Conroy skiing with Kerry Stokes, part-owner of the Seven Network, in Colorado. (Barrie Cassidy)

The $235 million tax cut for commercial TV networks announced three weeks ago was indeed a bribe, as alleged by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, but not for what he thinks.

It's also a perfect demonstration of why legislators and regulators should never hobnob with those whom they regulate.

Reducing it this year and next and then having another look at whole fee regime was a sensible decision - in fact, in my view it was the only possible decision in the light of the Government's need for the networks' cooperation in the digital switchover and the freeing up spectrum.

The Government desperately needs the networks to drive digital take-up and to help with a number of complex technical issues involved in the digital switchover - due to take place in 2013.

But what should have been a sensible recognition of reality was turned into a "grubby bribe" by Senator Conroy hobnobbing with billionaires on the slopes.

Alan Kohler is Publisher of Business spectator and Eureka Report, as well as finance presenter on ABC News and presenter of Inside Business.

"The Five" are a group of scientists studying abnormals and paranormal researchers; dedicated to expanding their knowledge of the physical world (by the most unconventional means).

The original members came together at Oxford University in the Victorian Era. One of it's members; Helen Magnus, was able to procure a sample of blood from a species named "Sanguine Vampiris" (or in reality a pure, ancient form of vampire). The sample in question dated from before the time when vampires were killed off or sterilized. Magnus derived a serum from the blood and discovered that, if injected, they would gain extraordinary powers. The group's members each chose to "evolve"; and so Magnus insisted on being the first to experiment with it. In time, each of the five injected the serum and each received unique "gifts" as a result.

• Helen Magnus: Longevity
• John Druitt: Teleportation
• Nikola Tesla: Part-Vampire Creature
• Nigel Griffin: Invisibility
• James Watson: Enhanced Intelligence

Each member, however, received forms of longevity that allowed them to live longer than most humans (though Magnus' was permanent; while the other's forms of the ability merely slowed down the ageing process). Each of it's members were connected by this secret; which they would protect for ages to come.

The group effectively reformed to fight The Cabal when it experimented into launching a biological weapon designed to turn all Abnormals against humans.

Its an interesting premise, and not too bad a mix of sci-fi/fantasy for television.

Its a shame though, that Amanda Tapping's English accent is so distracting. But still, its a good watch.

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

• AAP
• September 14, 2009 4:07PM

Aussie favourite ... Mike Leyland has died aged 68 Source: The Daily Telegraph

MIKE Leyland, one of the two legendary brothers whose quirky travel show ran for years on Australian television, has died at the age of 68.

His family announced that Mike died of complications of Parkinson's disease this morning.

Mike and Mal Leyland, explorers and documentary filmmakers, were best known for their television show Ask The Leyland Brothers.

The weekly show, which ran from 1976 to 1984, was watched by more than 2.5 million people at its peak.

It featured the brothers in unusual or far-flung places around Australia which viewers had asked them to visit.

Mike was eight and Mal was five when they migrated with their parents in 1950 from England to Newcastle in NSW, where Mike lived for the rest of his life.

Mike Leyland is survived by his wife Margie, his daughters Kerry, Sandy and Dawn, his stepdaughters Sarah and Alison, and seven grandchildren.

There are some things that become a permanent part of your life. Growing up, one such thing for me, as a typical Aussie kid, was of course, the Leyland Brothers television show.

Its sad when the realisation that those who looked back at us from the television set for all those years are just as human as the rest of us.

Mike Leyland and his brother Mal may not have been everyone's favourite brothers, but they contributed so much to what makes our country what it is today.

RIP Mike.

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

Helen Ganska

September 07, 2009 01:00pm

PERTH doesn't have a beauty, but we do have two WA geeks in Channel 7's new reality show Beauty and the Geek Australia - and we want to know who they are?

“People will love this show because of its warm-hearted centre,” said Curry

“It’s about celebrating differences and Australia will identify with both the geeks and beauties because there’s a little bit of both in all of us.”

Perthnow

I am a confessed voyeur of reality-television. I don't mind some of it. I was there for the start of it all with Sylvannia Waters (back in the 20th Century!!!) and followed it through to Australia's version of Big Brother in a big way.

Beauty and the Geek is another imported concept and will no-doubt bring another onslaught of admiration and humiliation for the contestants and show in general. Its a shame though, that the marketing lines behind these sorts of programs aren't just a little more honest!

"Warm-hearted centre"?? I don't think so. This will be about humiliation. Not quite in the Japanese-extreme-quiz-show-style but certainly about poking fun at "Geeks", nerds, techno-heads and those that will represent all those bullied kids in school who don't quite fit in.

Is it a good thing? Well its just television, what does it matter. I don't want to get into the whole "sensibility and sensitivity debate" that's not what it is about. But wait for it. There is bound to be some form of outrage from our conservative-entertainment-right.

Will the "Aussie" mantra of batting for the battler shine through? Lets see how this one goes!

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor