Latest Opinons on The Punch
Lost jobs, failing economies, broken marriages. Now you can add a massive upsurge in the level of sexism in ads as one of the GFC’s effects.
The way people are portrayed in advertising has never been what you could call enlightened. But now advertisers are pitching lower than ever before.
Look at these images from Dutch Fashion Label suitsupply’s “Shameless” fashion campaign. The images caused a huge outcry when displayed in a Westfield shopping centre in London. The picture of a man looking disinterestedly up a woman’s dress while she leans back over a stairwell and writhes in ecstasy makes you wonder what urge exactly advertisers are trying to appeal to.
Continue reading "No power in the boardroom? Try the bedroom instead" »
Elections are an expensive business. The last federal poll cost $170 million. That’s a lot of school books and hospital supplies. But if the cost of elections troubles you, despair not as relief is at hand.
Who needs elections anyway when you’ve got the Australian Workers Union?
For the second time in six months this union is kindly offering to step in on behalf of the voters – or more accurately, instead of the voters – to take over the hiring and firing a democratically elected government leader.
Continue reading "Who needs elections when you’ve got the AWU?" »
Latest 2 of 10 comments
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Me and My Chevy says:
Oh Eric, damn it you got there before me again. Luckily, Howes doesn’t read The Punch, nor Hanson for that matter. We use words that are too big for them to understand. But as a little aside, they have thought that a long time. But they aren’t completely correct (I… Read more »
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Tom says:
Unions have destroyed NSW. Read more »
Australians are often proud of our relaxed, easy-going, “she’ll be right” ethos.
In fact nothing could be farther from the truth.
Most of the time she will not be right and on the rare occasions that she is right it’s only because someone more industrious – say a Scandanavian for example – has gotten off their arse and done something.
Continue reading "On second thoughts, she probably won’t be alright" »
Latest 2 of 4 comments
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Bernadette says:
Whoa! Was this written by Joe Hildebrand or Arthur Dent? It sure sounds more like Douglas Adams’ character. Obviously, the Aussie she’ll be right attitude doesn’t work in Fiji. They don’t know she’ll be right hence she’s not. Second, the keys thing- why would you rely on someone else to… Read more »
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Jeem says:
Ever since moving from the US to Australia, I’ve had this debate numerous times. Do we act first in preperation for what may eventuate, or do we wait until we see what’s gone wrong, and respond? As the article mentions, history has given a LOT of examples where “wait and… Read more »
Opening this week is a small, yet powerful, documentary on the ill-effects of using the controversial “fracking” technique to extract natural gas.
Now, I’m not a scientist, or a geologist, but I am a film reviewer, and watching Gasland was illuminating enough to allow the mere mention of natural gas to prompt a range of pretty terrifying images.
So when a story broke over the weekend that suggests natural gas mining may soon become a reality for inner Sydney, it’s clear that the timing for the release of this powerful documentary film could not be more apt.
Continue reading "Clover, before you mine Sydney, watch Gasland" »
Latest 2 of 9 comments
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Dan says:
Basing major decisions on the word of those who have the most to gain - what could go wrong? Read more »
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Macca says:
Its not terribly difficult to make a link between this and An Inconvenient Truth, is it..? Read more »
From the beginning of 2010 onwards, the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has committed himself to “overturning Queensland’s Wild Rivers laws” as a key personal objective.
Immediately post-election, he nominated this issue as his number one legislative priority.
Last week he introduced a private member’s bill into Parliament to deliver on his pledge, with the hope of winning support from the lower house independents.
Latest 2 of 8 comments
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Macca says:
I am Gen-Y, as are most of my friends, and the environment is not the most important policy area at the moment. But I suppose it’s easy to put young people in a box, as I have done with my Open Thread contribution today: http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/open-thread-readers-soapbox/ Shameless self promotion, you bet. Read more »
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Joan says:
Are the Traditional Owners who support Wild Rivers self-sufficient or do they rely on the taxpayer funding for survival? Noel Pearson`s goal as I have understood it is advancement of aborginals to stage where they are off the Taxpayer teat. I go with Noel Pearson on this.. Read more »
Today’s open thread is brought to you by Punch regular, “Macca”:
With the Victorian State Election looming tomorrow, it’s probably a good time to examine one of John Brumby’s more interesting policies. The Premier has announced a $208 million education program where school children from the city will spend up to two weeks in the country, and school children from the country will spend a similar amount of time in the city. This comes not long after Top Gear host James May claimed that Modern Men are “useless”.
And I’ve got to say that I agree with Captain Slow on this one.
I am prepared to admit that I have almost zero practical skills; I have only once ever changed the tyre on my car, I cannot unblock a sink and, to May’s disgust, I have no interest in shelving.
Brumby’s program is one of the more inspired in recent domestic politics, however, it does not go far enough. Teaching city-slickers how to pitch a tent and lasso a Kangaroo are admirable pursuits, as are teaching country bumpkins the horror of bus lanes. But let’s teach real-life skills. Teenagers should be able to change the oil in a car before they drive one, remove a burnt-out light globe and cementing their neighbour’s driveway before completing year ten.
So, do we like John Brumby’s concept? Does it go far enough? What other skills would you like teenagers to learn? And should it be the responsibility of high-school teachers, or do we have a generation of lazy parents?
Latest 2 of 6 comments
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persephone says:
Bec if you can do all that, buy a sewing machine. I have at least three left thumbs (all badly damaged at last count) but even I can whip up a dress. Read more »
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TChong says:
Bec, are yoy saying that 1 stitch in time would have saved you 9.? Read more »
6PM update. England all out for 260. Six for Siddle and the last two scalps for a deserving Doherty. More cricket tomorrow on The Punch (plus lots of other goodies). I’ve got a feeling 260 may not be such a bad tally at a swinging Gabba…
4.50PM update. Peter Siddle has just taken a fantastic hat-trick. I’m excited. All off great balls too. Share your excitement below!!!
You can follow news updates of the match here.
In recent Ashes clashes, the first over, and sometimes even the very first ball, has set the tone for the entire series.
Who’ll forget Harmy’s shocking wide at Brisbane last time?
Or Justin Langer being de-helmeted in 2005?
Continue reading "Six for Siddle, two for Doherty, England all out." »
Latest 2 of 31 comments
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Confused says:
Thanks Gregg, so its a colorful celebration of times gone by when village folk had time to stand around for 5 days as some sort of military service instead of collecting potatoes and carrots. I’m even more confused as to why this activity appears in the sports news. Read more »
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Gregg says:
A flick Johno for a fl for I reckon Johnson ought to show some form with ball and bat or it could be his demise for Dougie having a look on his home ground. Then it’ll be another flogging for the Poms, their SA tanned flesh english rose of hue… Read more »
It’s the last Question Time of the year. Join us here from 2pm for live coverage.
Latest 2 of 9 comments
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acotrel says:
It was quite hilarious a while back when the speeds of the proposed broadband was being discussed. The pollies were mixing up ‘bits’ and ‘bytes’ during their crapping on to the media. They obviously didn’t know the difference between the two terms, and their ignorance was betrayed to all of… Read more »
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acotrel says:
Wayne Fehlhaber, the reason the LIbs oppose the NBN, is that Abbott can’t use a computer! The dumb sh*t is largely uneducated. He’s a technological dodo! Read more »
Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be among the more nervous onlookers at Saturday night’s Victorian election count.
While not in the frame herself, the poll is another test for a tarnished Labor brand and the first since her own underwhelming result in August.
She will take comfort from the facts Federal Labor did quite well in Victoria and the State Government of Premier John Brumby is widely seen as competent.
Continue reading "Gillard’s got a lot riding on Saturday’s Victorian election" »
Latest 2 of 33 comments
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iansand says:
It’s OK, Mark. If it’s a winner Abbott will change his tune pretty quickly. As you know, this little round of nonsense has nothing to do with principle. It is driven solely by politics. Read more »
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acotrel says:
Although I’m a labor supporter, I’ve never liked John Brumby. I’ve always believed that school teachers lack industrial experience, and are thus incompetent. That said, I will be voting for him next Saturday. The state of Victoria is well run and prosperous, so he’s got the runs on the board Read more »
It’s easy to attack politicians.
No better evidence perhaps than the bitchy list we compiled yesterday of MPs we think disappointed or just disappeared. But we’re not just a bunch of naysayers here at The Punch. Indeed we appreciate politics and politicians are great deal, otherwise we wouldn’t bother writing about it.
So here’s a list, in no particular order, of MPs who have tried and triumphed in 2010.
Well it’s been one hell of an effort by Tony Abbott:
Continue reading "10 of the best performing MPs of the year" »
Latest 2 of 82 comments
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Simone says:
I am astonished that Julie Bishop - the woman who used classified information provided to her in National Security briefings in a media interview and couldn’t remember her own party’s policies on irrelevant foreign policy matters, like China - could be described as anything other than incompetent. I have no… Read more »
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X Adelaidian says:
My hero is Nick Xenaphon - may there be more politicians like him in the future. Read more »
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All the news that's fit to click
- ACC spent $10 million pursuing Hogan [News.com.au]
- Australian businessman arrested in China [The Australian]
- The "dream" job that took youngest miner's life [Daily Telegraph]
- Private school fury over MySchool website [The Australian]
- Suicide twins belongings show troubled minds [news.com.au]
- Pilot sacked for questioning safety [Daily Telegraph]
- Under 30s to be banned from solariums in NSW [Daily Telegraph]
- Watch Siddle's hat-trick [[Video] FoxSports]
- The best Ashes coverage [Daily Telegraph]
- Adrift for 50 days with just a seagull to eat [Stuff.co.nz]
Opinion from everywhere
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- Dismal science in pursuit of happiness [Jessica Irvine, National Times]
- How Airservices Australia nearly killed 443 people [Ben Sandilands, Crikey]
- Keating's ghost stalking Gillard [Glenn Milne, The Drum]
- Why pick-up lines don't work [Rosemarie Lentini, Daily Telegraph]
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- Palin's plan - brilliant or insane [Meghan McCain, Daily Beast]
- Minor differences that aren't so minor [the oatmeal (humour)]
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Priceless ABC blooper
This comes courtesy of Alison Piotrowski on Twitter. The gold is at 40 second mark when Virginia Trioli… Read more
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