Yikes! I just saw that the spam filter had caught 111 spam comments, all but one of them on the same post, all in the last couple of weeks. Applause to Typepad for successfully filtering them all. I wonder what brought that on...

I can't believe I'm halfway through the course now. It's organised in two parts: art classes and the 'foundation' element. Through the year, we attend 6 art classes for 12 weeks each, 2 per term. The foundation bit involves weekend workshops, independent study projects and tutorials that bring everything together.

I won't go into all the boring bits about credits, but they come in part from our classes and in part from other foundation work. This week was a real turning point. My mid-year assessment signed off several mandatory units and more optional units than I expected. We have no more essays, just our regular classwork, a portfolio workshop and our final project for the end of year show. I'll be taking photos over the next few weeks, so I'll share some of my work then, as well as the frustrating time I had with my last project.

Things that always bring a tear to my eye:

• the end of "Lost in Translation"

• lifetime achievement awards

• people meeting their heros

• someone holding back tears themselves

• Neil Young singing "Don't Let It Bring You Down"

• the theme tune to "The Littlest Hobo"

What are some of yours?