Clarke abandons teammates and fans
Allan Border famously banned wives and girlfriends from travelling with the Australian cricket team on the 1989 Ashes tour of England.
Border insisted that winning had to come first, and that’s what happened.
He still cops flak about the decision from some of the (ex) players’ wives, apparently.
However, it puts into context the decision by current Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke to return home from a tour of New Zealand to support his girlfriend model, Lara Bingle.
Bingle is said to be so distraught over former sexual partner Brendan Fevola distributing a nude photo of her that she’s suing him for an undisclosed amount. (more…)
Child Protection Act and video recording
My youngest daughter Maggie (5) had her dance concert this weekend. She’s been going to ballet lessons most Saturday mornings throughout the year and this was the big finale.
The dance academy is very professional and has an excellent reputation across all year levels.
Some of the students have gone on to be professional stage performers.
The end-of-year-concert is a gala occasion for the studio and the dancers. The preparations are very thorough and intense.
As parents we look forward to it, but we’re also rather relieved when it’s all over. (more…)
Reporting suicide
Reporting suicide is a virtual taboo in the Australian media. Authorities are reluctant to divulge information or comment on suicide cases.
Pressure comes to bear on journalists and editors to not report suicides at all, presumably out of a copycat fear.
The hostility from health agencies toward media reporting of suicides has gone too far in my opinion, beyond even the guidelines recommended by the mindframe project.
These guidelines, which are apparently given to university students, suggest being non-specific about method, which is fair enough.
The Geelong Advertiser came in for some stick recently when it reported the fourth suicide within a year by students at the same local high school. I believe the paper was justified in highlighting the problem. (more…)
Demise of the humble hanky
With southern Australia in the grip of flu season I was shocked to discover this week the humble hanky is no longer socially commonplace.
Writing in The Border Watch forum, Ebony Jackson says “thank goodness the hanky is history”.
Just hold it there a moment. History? Since when?
Challenged by me on that question, Ebony responds: “Some people especially elderly (I think) still use them. Women who are conscious of etiquette traditions and awareness … baby boomer vintage and earlier, have hanky habits embedded in social graces historically.” (more…)
Stingy bag stealers
We went for a walk around the Blue Lake yesterday. It’s about 4km.
It’s popular with dog walkers and the council provides poop scoop bags at several locations.
About two thirds of the way around the lake we noticed a woman helping herself to multiple plastic pooch poop bags.
Not only was it strange to see her taking more than one, she didn’t even have a dog! (more…)
Men’s shaving blades
Why are men’s shaving blades so expensive? I paid $22 for five Gillette blades recently. Maybe I should use an electric razor.
The blades will last me about three months if I stretch things out. That’s $88 a year on blades.
I have sensitive skin and never enjoy shaving. If I could grow a decent beard, I would.
I didn’t shave for two weeks in Queensland and had a face like a 20-something trying to look cool. I felt hot in humid weather as well. (more…)
Australia’s Loudest Shout
Today (November 25) is White Ribbon Day.
White Ribbon Day was created by a handful of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of one man’s massacre of 14 women in Montreal. They began the White Ribbon campaign to urge men to speak out against violence against women.
Australia’s Loudest Shout is an innovative local idea to engage men in acknowledging White Ribbon Day and its importance.
The idea was to get as many men as possible together at the Blue Lake to shout “No” to violence against women. “Break the silence on violence” was the message.
About 100 blokes turned up. I made a short video of the shout, which recorded 115.8 decibels.
