Random thoughts and observations
The Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (CCAAC) has invited public comment on a review of gift cards in the Australian market.
The issues paper seeks evidence and views about whether consumer detriment is caused by the purchase and use of gift cards by Australian shoppers.
It’s unlikely that capital punishment will ever be reintroduced in Australia, and I don’t have a problem with that. However, my philosophical objections to capital punishment have receded as I get older. In some circumstances I believe it may be appropriate. In February 2009, I wrote an article elsewhere about what should happen to arsonists who ignited the terrible Victorian bushfires. I said the time has come for the community and politicians to seriously consider reintroducing capital punishment.
Browsing through some old files this afternoon I discovered an archive of all the editorial opinion pieces I wrote while editor of The Border Watch. One published on November 19, 2008 related to smoking in public places. The issue was a subject of community debate following the Mount Gambier Christmas Parade. Things have moved on since then, with smoking bans planned or enforced in hospital grounds, children’s playgrounds and Rundle Mall. I would like to go a step further and ban smoking anywhere in public where people gather.
We visited the Old Adelaide Gaol at Thebarton today. The gaol was the first permanent one in South Australia and operated from 1841 until 1988. It is now maintained as a museum and tourist attraction. It was a grey day, which highlighted the bleakness of the stone and brick building. Although a harsh place, the overall pervasive feeling was one of sadness at the broken lives which must have been lived there. The history of punishment was also on display, from floggings and picking oakum through to hanging.
Model Lara Bingle is suing footballer Brendan Fevola over his alleged distribution of a revealing photograph. The snap (right) shows Bingle in the shower, clearly unhappy about having her picture taken. It’s been confirmed the pair shared a brief relationship three years ago when Bingle was 19 and while Fevola was already married. According to [...]
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