MANY issues are discussed and dissected on the sports desk at work.
Some, nay, virtually all are not fit for repeating on this blog, largely as I definitely could not afford the legal fees the associated lawsuits would inevitably bring...
But one thing that did get a brief mention today was a movie that those distributing the Academy Awards in the spring of 1965 decided should be given the coveted title of Best Picture.
Alongside this film in the nominations for that category almost half a century ago now was the melodrama set on a liner on its way from Mexico to Nazi Germany in 1933, Ship Of Fools starring amongst others Vivien Leigh and Lee Marvin; the movie version of a play about a comedian, A Thousand Clowns, which earned Martin Balsam the Best Supporting Actor Oscar; Darling, a relationships drama in which Julie Christie received the celebrated golden statuette for Best Actress; and the epic Doctor Zhivago which brought together Omar Sharif and the incredibly-talented Christie in David Lean's critically-acclaimed version of Boris Pasternak's famous romantic tale set in Russia before, during and after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.
All, according to those voting in the Academy, were equally worthy of winning the Best Picture Oscar for that year.
Except they didn't.
The movie that won the honour that evening in 1965 remains for me one of the most uplifting pictures I have ever seen.
It's been shown countless times on television and I daresay the majority of you reading this blog will have seen it.
I also know a fair number of you will swiftly dismiss it as simply three hours of sentimental rubbish laced with huge dollops of saccharine from first reel to last.
But for me, the unforgettable mix of nuns and Nazis plus some of the most memorable songs ever written by two of the last century's finest musical collaborators - Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II - makes The Sound Of Music one of my all-time favourite movies.
The cinematography is just outstanding, starting with a magical opening sequence in which the focus is on the truly breathtaking majesty of the Austrian Alps.
I'm sure most of you are all-too aware of the movie so we won't head down the plot-explaining route.
What I do recall as a child was sitting through a film that lasted a lot longer than the usual one-and-a-half to two hours - and not becoming restless.
I was completely taken in by the story - which is loosely based on an incredible true tale - and thoroughly enjoyed what was being played out in front of me.
The performances in the movie are terrific, led, of course, by the Oscar-nominated Julie Andrews as Maria.
Andrews was right up there as one of the leading theatre and cinematic draws of the mid-1960s. Twelve months before she had won the Academy Award as Best Actress playing the title role in Disney's much-loved musical Mary Poppins. And as in that "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" movie, she's on top form throughout.
For all he despised The Sound Of Music - and he did from a number of accounts - Christopher Plummer plays the role of the former German naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp marvellously. The scene towards the end of the picture where he tries to sing Edelweiss before being helped by Maria is one of many highlights. Yes, Plummer's singing voice was dubbed for the film, but it's nevertheless a standout moment for me.
The final ten minutes of the picture where the dark side of the story is re-enacted as the family are being hunted by the Nazis remains absolutely riveting while the conclusion is so uplifting it can go a long way in helping to counter any miserable feelings you may be experiencing in your life.
Oh, and why was The Sound Of Music being discussed on the sports desk? Well, a colleague of mine admitted he had never seen it.
That was some confession.
But definitely not as open as this one...
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