And Melbourne's answer to Sydney's Olympics is over.

They had a flying girl, we had a flying tram, boy and a duck.

They had the history of Australia and we had AFL footballers walking on water.

They had John Farnham and we had, er, John Farnham.

Oh, never mind.

In the Guardian, UK artist, Banksy rages against the obliteration of Melbourne's graffiti.

Melbourne and London are genuine epicentres of the skewed human touch that can bring a little sparkle into the drudgery of public space. A feat that is of immense value, despite its apparent worthlessness. And a feat that is not so easily achieved by trying to run around a track in under four minutes.

Which is why, of course, we now have the 2006 Graffiti Games.

Surfs up in Southbank - all part of the madness that is the Commonwealth Games...

The Beach at the Arts Centre is... part of Festival Melbourne 2006.
The Arts Centre will create an iconic Aussie beach on the lawns between the Theatres Building and Hamer Hall, with free entertainment everyday of the Games from 15 to 26 March from noon until late.

Yes, The Beach will be hitting the city complete with bathing boxes, heroic lifeguards, giant seagulls and lots and lots of sand...

...watch out for the incredibly rude giant seagulls who’ll be on a chip-stealing mission; the moustachioed lifesavers on stilts who’ll be on beach patrol making it safe (and fun!) for all; the synchronised waterskiers with their wading pool stunt spectacular; and eccentric jugglers who will delight with their unbelievable sideshow tricks. And don’t miss Sink or Swimburne, a series of surreal performance vignettes and parades from the students of Swinburne’s Department of Arts.

...catch all the big moments of the Games on the big screen, as well as classic beach movies including Gidget, Storm Boy and Morning of the Earth.
So grab your towel, thongs and sunscreen, kick back on the sand or dance between the flags for Factor 30+ entertainment. And hurry, The Beach only lasts for the Games!

What an exciting press release! Here's more gumpf on "the event".

Plasma & LCD screen manufacturers must love the latest trend of incorporating large touch screens into public signage. Naturally, Federation Square has got into the act.

Note that touching the individual building shapes on the screen triggers nothing.

Someone's been busy in the sand pit.

An exhibition of photographs of stencils & graffiti from a book shown on lightboxes by the Citylights crew in Hosier Lane, one extremely graffitied & stencilled alley...

Permutations.

No surprise here, Braimfood has closed.

When it was good, it was damn fine.