Remember how Jim Schembri slagged off bloggers and then started a blog? You may also be aware that last week he slagged off jazz and then within a few days became a jazz fan.

Jim yesterday announced that he is taking a “short break” from his “journalism” and blogging duties. Let’s hope he makes it a long break. A really long break.

Jim Schembri wearing his trademark smug, shit-eating grin

Realising that the 21st century is well-and-truly upon us, GrodsCorp has blundered into the brave new old world of podcasting and presents to you the inaugural GrodsCast (see the play on words there?) GrodsCasts will be recorded weekly on a Tuesday night and broadcast either immediately or the next morning depending on the number of beers we drink during the show.

In this episode The Editor, John Surname, Prophet and Craig discuss the following:

* Heath Ledger
* Scientology
* Australia Day
* Telstra
* Don Bradman
* Big Day Out
* Helen Razer
* Jim Schembri
* Chris Johnston

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 GrodsCast 1 [22:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Age’s pretentious blog-hating blogger, Jim Schembri, has written a fawning piece about the Australian-born, Hollywood actress Radha Mitchell. Jim’s hard-hitting and critical journalism skillz have produced an article of such alarming vapidity and so lacking in substance that it’s difficult to cut-and-paste into this post. Normally I wouldn’t even bother reading this kind of article (despite The Age deeming celebrity rubbish worthy of page six) but Radha decides to give us a sanctimonious lecture on politics from a proud position of stunning ignorance.

SHE may be a citizen of the world, but Melbourne-born, Hollywood-bred, LA-based actress Radha Mitchell will have her say come election time. Provided she can work out where to send her vote.

“I’ve asked somebody to help me out with that, just to get the thing to the ballot or whatever,” the hugely talented 34-year old says with a rich Californian accent.

“Hugely talented“! It’s hard to type with one hand under the desk isn’t it, Jim?

…Mitchell spoke frankly of her voting intentions.

“Just get that guy [John Howard] out, you know?” she says, laughing. “Get rid of him. Move on. It’s not just the economy that drives the next evolution of where society should be going.”

Having lived in Los Angeles for almost a decade, Mitchell says she doesn’t read Australian newspapers to keep up with local events, relying instead on more informal sources such as TV and “my mum on the phone. ‘What’s going on? Oh, there’s a drought?”‘ She laughs again.

Hugely talented, yet celebrating the fact that she has absolutely no idea about the world outside Los Angeles.

“I don’t have a very provincial Australian point of view,” she says.

You don’t have any kind of view, Radha.

“I have more of a global point of view. I do feel like the environment is a big issue.

“And obviously we need to pay attention to the sense of impotence about global poverty, which is a little pathetic.”

You’d know all about pathetic wouldn’t you, Mitchell?

Though she is self-conscious about sounding like “I’m standing on a soapbox”, Mitchell is eager to back her words with action.

“It’s almost like we’ve reached a point where we can redesign our concept of culture, like we don’t have to just accept things the way they are.”

To that end, she’d like to set up a local office for Global Green, the environmental organisation founded and chaired by former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev.

“I might help do that, but I’m no politician. I would just help (by being) somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody.”

Please, Radha, don’t stress yourself. You must be flat out.

“It’s an amazing profession and it’s a privilege to be able to act in movies.”

She checks herself. “God, this is so honest. You better be careful how you present me.”

Not a problem. Mitchell no longer reads her own press.

Is that the smell of burning humility? Or is it Schembri’s burning lubricant?

I’m Radha Mitchell and I’m here to help (aren’t I beautiful?)

The Melbourne International Film Festival kicked off last night and my first film of 13 is tonight. As in previous years GrodsCorp will review each film viewed while providing crucial updates on Bicycle Pump Man sightings (I might even see if I can get a photo this year.)

Recent convert to blogging, Jim Schembri, on the other hand, is too lazy to blog about his MIFF experiences so he is asking his reader(s) to do the work:

CineTopia would like to hear your comments about anything you see - and we mean anything. The strength of any film festival such as MIFF is that it allows you to see things you might not see otherwise, or may ever see again.

So while comments on films that will get a commercial release are welcome, CineTopia is particularly interested in those hidden gems residing in the distant corners of the program that most people never get to hear about. Certain films that warrant special attention will get a separate page.

If you wish to submit a review to CineTopia, there are just a few basic grounds rules to observe:

(1) Please put the film’s name in caps;

(2) Keep your pieces to a max of around 200 words;

(3) Don’t be backwards about coming forward - but, please, no blurting. Sentences, punctuation and grammar are still very much in favour, even on the ethernet.

First he trashes blogging, then he starts blogging, then he gets other people to do his blogging for him. Does Schembri have no shame?