July 2011
How can you tell the difference between a newly-elected government and a party that’s been in power for nearly a decade?
A newly-elected government is happy to admit that things could be done better.
A classic case in point this week was the new Liberal Government in NSW switching off 38 speed cameras deemed to have no real safety benefit.
Continue reading "Anti-speeding schemes need some acceleration" »
A four year old kid’s party is the organisational equivalent of climbing Everest.
There are issues such as the theme, the venue and the cake. For the invitation alone thought must be given to colour, graphic, envelope size and font. And who to send the invitation to?
Organising D-Day could hardly have been more difficult.
Continue reading "Fairybread, lolly bags, tears and hysteria" »
Latest 2 of 25 comments
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Diana says:
“But the problem is that much of birthdays is about letting your beloved child know that this is particularly his special day. And with games comes the certainty that your child will not win many or any of them, denying him his birthday entitlement. I well remember attending one party… Read more »
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Celia says:
SImple is magic! Our most fun birthday party was paper mache-ing a heap of balloons, popping lollies inside and painting them speckled like dino eggs. We had the party in the bush, and the parents took their children into the scrub to get big sticks to build a dinosaur nest.… Read more »
Would you like some gremolata on your osso bucco?” asked my mate Shane, as he served up Sunday lunch. Some what? Turns out, it’s a herby, zesty thing you sprinkle over your meat, and it’s delicious.
Problem is my 10-year friendship with Shane and Amanda is anchored in the knowledge that we’re culinary equals. We love a good nosh, but it’s the chat, music and – depending on wine consumption – a round of beach cricket that unites us.
So why was Shane upping the ante? (Fortunately, Amanda burnt the vegetables.)
Continue reading "Posh Sunday roast: The lost art of casual entertaining" »
Latest 2 of 19 comments
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Emma says:
Here here! Great point Cat Read more »
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Laura says:
“Culinary catwalk” - brilliant! It hasn’t helped with the introduction of Facebook either, and now everyone must share the fancy meals they’ve created on a daily basis with their friends only adding to my meat-and-two-veg-with-gravy shame! Read more »
APRIL 8,1974.
My darling Heather, I write to you at a time when I think I’ve never felt worse about politics. The idiots who now run the Liberal Party will drive me right round the bend. Their last move is to deny supply to the present government in the Senate. Now this is something that shocks me.
These words belong to former prime minister and founder of the Liberal Party, Sir RG (Bob) Menzies. History of course can provide a longer-run assessment of the bunker-busting tactics used to blast Gough Whitlam from office.
But whatever side you come down on, Malcolm Fraser was vindicated winning three subsequent elections (1975, 1977, and 1980, although not the double-D held just weeks after his 1974 missive under Billy Snedden’s leadership).
Continue reading "Retreat and withdraw: Gillard’s new strategy" »
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LON says:
Julia Gillard has two more years to impress her will apon the people. Even though her government contnues to strain indulgence with its scatter gun policy diversions it is a test of will, not just for the Labor government but also for that patient silent majority who will just shrug… Read more »
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Dobbo says:
Hermes…But what about Tony? http://www.news.com.au/national/tony-abbott-gives-up-carbon-debate-for-europe-after-attacking-julia-gillard-on-absences/story-e6frfkvr-1226105842612 Read more »
Is it time for our libraries to get loud? For background music to joyfully sing out from loudspeakers while members flip through their favourite sections of their local institutions?
For mums to discuss bedtime books for their children over a well made latte (yep, you guessed it, with the sound of a library cafe’s coffee machine hissing along with their conversation).
For book club discussions to rise and fall with the passion of the group, for students’ laughter and cookie munching to be heard at study tables and whole conversations to be voiced within the libraries’ venerated walls.
Latest 2 of 36 comments
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Filiz says:
i’d say there are at least 5 types in an academic lrriaby: the cell phone users who think we want to hear their conversations, the “let’s hide the journal issue that everyone in my class needs” type, the “spill coffee on the computer workstation but don’t report it”, the “computer… Read more »
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Helen says:
“Tom and Brian b, did you have to bring politics into a post about libraries? Is nowhere safe??? “ Because the Baillieu government is cutting funds to libraries, no, it’s not possible to avoid politics in a discussion about them. And it’s a bit sad that this piece was just… Read more »
Sometimes you can meet a person and feel blessed. I don’t mean touched by the hand of God. I just mean you feel renewed, restored and pretty sure there’s goodness in the world. And that, in itself, is a blessing.
The man in question is the Reverend Dr Thomas Lane Butts Jr, aged 81, retired pastor of the Uniting Methodist Church in Monroe County, Alabama. His older brother was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. The Rev Butts was not.
He battled the Klan for years, but particularly in the 1950s, when Alabama and neighbouring Mississippi were the Klan heartlands. They had always been a presence, but had in recent years been sleeping lightly. Their cause was fully awoken as the Civil Rights movement began its fight in the south.
Continue reading "The KKK kicked Butts, then Butts kicked back" »
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autoversicherung fahranfaenger forum says:
Quiet Grow,ear mechanism defendant avoid clear less send firm career place discuss high attend substantial prove on railway government cell she vast murder personal spring travel street father natural most role measure own later claim involve together damage brain formal park hurt independent refuse client holiday location do company build… Read more »
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Anne Stocks says:
Thank you Paul Toohey it was refreshing to hear an Atheist give praise to a Christian instead of slandering or abusing them, although to be fair I have encountered some others on Punch, although not in agreement with what I have shared have been respectful of my right to express… Read more »
A couple of weeks ago Ant Sharwood gave me a call and started talking about the Horn of Africa. He was pretty fired up, and talking about various types of excrement hitting various types of oscillating devices.
I was pretty distracted. There’d been a lot going on. That tax thing had just been announced, sharia law was in the news – you know, all the hot button stuff. Africa was not in the news. Well, it was, but back in the World section, the bit you don’t always manage to get to. That’s the hollow ring of self justification you can hear there, folks.
Anyhoo, Ant wrote this great piece. And he was right. The shit has really hit the fan, and it was a terrible surprise for many who probably should have seen it coming. Should have seen it coming for not just years, but decades.
Continue reading "Africa’s perfect storm is the world’s responsibility" »
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alan says:
Have any of you ever questioned why Africa is in poverty in the first place? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Africa was a very rich country to begin with, that was until western/european nations colonised and invaded Africa and stole everything that was of value… Read more »
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Sarah says:
@Jack. You filthy, misogynistic bastard. Has it ever occurred to you that Africa’s overpopulation is a direct result of the millions of women who are raped repeatedly? Rape is everywhere in Africa, it is the most common crime perpetrated in that god fosaken land. It is used as a weapon… Read more »
Inner-city Australia is getting an Italianate look, and it’s not from the overwhelming belief that eating on the footpath among exhaust fumes and bus queues is a badge of continental sophistication.
It’s the increasing presence of scooters. City centres are being Vespa-ised, Aprilia-cated, VMoto-ed, and not a little Piaggio-ified.
The striking response to rising petrol prices and clogged roads has been a growth in the scooter fleet which would be at home in Rome. During the first half of the year, scooters sales in Australia rose 14.3 per cent over the same period in 2010. That means nearly 6000 were sold, compared to just over 5000 in the first six months of last year.
Continue reading "A two-wheeled renaissance in the Rome of the East" »
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Lisa H. says:
Jourmalists get to dominate the (public) conversation every day. Punch journalists who comment AFTER they’ve already had a go in the story look thin-skinned and unprofessional to me. But Malcolm (and the other Punch repeat offenders) know best, I’m sure. Read more »
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A different Rosie says:
Nah, don’t do that Mal. Lots of us are enjoying the break. Read more »
There’s a man drought in the city. Single girls outnumber single guys two to one, maybe even three to one. This is true because I’ve read the proclamations in countless articles, seen the stories on A Current Affair and watched in horror as hapless farmers take their pick of a hundred potential wives.
The odds are probably closer to five to one.
Being newly single and on the fast-track to 30 I know things are stacked in my favour. I can get dressed on my own, cook a balanced meal and my addiction to video games is mild… I can stop playing whenever I want. Really.
Continue reading "A single bloke’s guide to surviving the man drought" »
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Frances says:
This is a really interesting article about the ‘man drought.’ I think in Australia, there definitely seems to be a lack of ‘available’ men. They’re usually attached to a girlfriend quite early on, often in their teens, stay with her for about 10 years, and then get married. And the… Read more »
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Vincent says:
At Bec, You sound like a mole and have deep issues with I.T. support guys/nerds. Why did you date one or work with them. Maybe you should sort out your own insecure issues first before giving out your opinion. I’m sure your well educated but hey most people are you… Read more »
There has been some debate over the last few days regarding how excited we should be that Cadel Evans won a bike race.
First things first… can’t we just enjoy the moment and soak up the celebrations before these arguments kick off?
His celebratory champagne had barely stopped fizzing before our collective joy was being rained upon.
Latest 2 of 48 comments
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Shawn says:
It reminds me of the times I made the team after countless hours of pitching drills, and all my friends had to say was that I definitely have to try harder from then on to stay on the team, what bummers! Read more »
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David says:
no one suggests having public holidays for these other achievements Read more »
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