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Stosur! Come on!
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Latest Opinons on The Punch
Sometimes it takes a disaster to shake the complacency out of us. To rethink the attitude of ‘she’ll be right’ when clearly things are not right.
So isn’t it time to develop a national masterplan to help guide future planning and development in this country to try and stop the increasing loss of life and damage that the natural forces around Australia unleash?
If you look at the past decade there have many natural disasters, both fire and flood, which have destroyed so many homes. We have seen the fires in Victoria which swept through the hill communities of Flowerdale, Kinglake and Marysville in 2009 destroying over 2,000 homes and taking 173 lives. Back in 1983 Ash Wednesday fires in South Australia destroyed 2,400 homes.
Continue reading "We need a masterplan to deal with worsening disasters" »
The Property Council of Australia - in one of those surveys aimed at getting their name on every news service - has named Adelaide Australia’s most liveable city.
‘Liveable’ is such a beige term. Talk about damned with faint praise.
They used a bunch of different characteristics such as traffic congestion and housing affordability to judge each capital city.
The fact that Canberra came in second goes to show that having a rockin’ good time wasn’t a criterion. (Oh come on, the Holy Grail doesn’t count).
Latest 2 of 31 comments
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Kathy says:
I have always thought of Adelaide as the boutique city. We have small amounts of quality stuff - theatre, festivals, botanic gardens, major sporting events, music events etc. Add to this we are sandwiched between 2 of the best wine areas in the world - the Barossa & McLaren Vale,… Read more »
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David of the Grand Academy of Adelagado. says:
You can’t even compare Adelaide with Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. With only about 1 million people its not even in the same league. We were left behind about 35 years ago. Read more »
It’s not entirely clear what Julia Gillard is softening us up for following the Queensland flood disaster.
But if a Prime Minister is given the chance to deny the fact they are considering to introduce a new tax and doesn’t take that opportunity, well, you can safely assume that the revenue raising exercise being considered is not a talent extravaganza hosted by Sophie Monk.
Gillard seems to prefer the words “levy” to the more politically suicidal “tax”, but the Government appears to be committed to keeping its promise the budget in surplus by 2012-13 even if it means we pay more in tax at the next budget.
Latest 2 of 262 comments
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Frat says:
Seems that not many people are not going to give the government any leeway on this. Whatever you call it - tax or levy - it is going to help people get back on their feet. Seems that all many people are interested in is whether the government is going… Read more »
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marley says:
@Ex Aussie and Cayce - I’m of two minds about tax funding going to individuals - but I’m not sure how you’re going to rebuild roads and other infrastructure without using pretty substantial amounts of tax money. And if the experts decide that dams or levees are going to be… Read more »
It’s not hard to become a serial offender. It’s much harder to avoid becoming one. It’s hardest of all when your offence – serial, nearly serial, or otherwise – is Movie Rage.
This is a seriously under-studied syndrome suffered by usually polite and self-effacing people who go to the movies to see a film.
Not to have lunch, morning or afternoon tea. To see a film.
Continue reading "Confession: Movie rage made me ‘assault’ a stranger" »
Latest 2 of 34 comments
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john tracey says:
from 1991 to 1997,I watched hundreds and hundreds of movies,but I got sick of the same set of polts over and over and over again. I got movie rage Read more »
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Sir Sam Chowder says:
I thought one went to the cinema if one couldn’t afford air conditioning at home. Read more »
This week, we have seen two incredible women on television who have both made us feel proud to be Australian.
One is Anna Bligh, with her outpouring of emotion, reminding Queenslanders and the rest of the nation that people from the sunshine state are “the people they breed tough, north of the border.” The other is Oprah.Yes, Oprah.
In Sydney, we are struggling to harness a sense of pride.
Latest 2 of 28 comments
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John Tracey says:
Kristina Kenneally is more Australian than Oprah Winfrey and she makes me proud to be an American. Latest Galaxy Poll Nsw State Election 23 Jan 2011 Liberals 51% Labor 20% and Greens 15% Doers that make me proud to be an Australian?? Read more »
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Mayday says:
McCoud @2.59 You are right to bring to attention the cost of World Youth day, that was the trade of to canonize our Saint Mary McKillop and considering the large percentage of atheists in this city I for one was aghast at both “events.” Read more »
Australian tennis is suffering a bad dose of the doldrums. After Lleyton Hewitt crashed out of the Australian Open on Tuesday night, it appeared the Aussies would fall over like flies.
But as we despaired over our poor form in recent Grand Slams, Bernard Tomic and Sam Stosur gave Australian tennis an almighty shot in the arm and boosted the Melbourne Park crowd. It now has something decent to cheer about.
Tomic, who snuck into the Australian Open draw with a lucky wildcard, will turn heads when he takes on world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the third round.
Latest 2 of 10 comments
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john tracey says:
sam stosur is out of the australian open. Read more »
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Thommo says:
As a True Blue Aussie I don’t support any non-team sports. I’m not going to inflate some individuals ego for them just because they think they are too good to play a real mans team sport like AFl , Rugby or Cricket. (obviously soccer is not included in that list).… Read more »
It doesn’t matter if it’s making babies as a commercial surrogate or a10-year-old kid stitching together basketball shoes in Vietnam, exploitation in any commercial transaction is wrong and should be punished.
But you don’t ban basketball shoes. And I don’t understand why Australians have been banned from using commercial surrogates overseas.
Last year NSW passed its Surrogacy Act which, when it comes into effect, will make pursuing commercial surrogacy overseas a criminal act.
Continue reading "Are we creating a generation of “cash in hand” mums?" »
Latest 2 of 54 comments
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Eric says:
What is the difference, Mike? Apart from the fact that it’s a lot easier to gestate for nine months and become wealthy in third world terms, than to work for a lifetime and still be poor. If anything, surrogacy is a dream come true for poor women. Read more »
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mike says:
There is a difference between the “10-year-old kid stitching together basketball shoes in Vietnam”, and her hiring her uterus to me so I can have a family like a “normal person”. That is why this law has been put in place. Read more »
Anonymous says:
“I was at Town Hall station once and this woman didn’t have a ticket. She was about 22-24 - so young and a bit stupid to run from transit cops who look like Fascist’s anyway. One of the four transit cops (yes four) who chased her grabbed her bag and the contents spilled everywhere and her phone broke. I was just through the turnstile and stopped. Two more transit cops came over and stood over her so there were 6. She was crying and shaking when she stood up and they issued her a ticket.
Should I have gone back in and helped her pick up her stuff and been with her just so she wasn’t alone? I feel I should have. But I had to get to work.”
Continue reading "Friday’s dilemma: should I have helped this stranger?" »
Latest 2 of 130 comments
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Steve Putnam says:
Interesting story this. Some years ago I took a train back from somewhere to the city. An argument started between two gangs of youths with the two leaders squaring up to each other, much shouting and swearing: the usual ballywho, enough noise to wake the dead. Redfern arrives so up… Read more »
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Sheridan says:
I’m wondering if she thought she could buy the ticket on the train?? Also if she was running really late for something important e.g. a medical appointment?? They GRABBED the bag?? The police can’t do that, they request that you give it to them to look through.. Someone stopped and… Read more »
Once upon a time there was a writer who lived in a cottage nestled among the hills. The cottage was near the river Internet, over which was a sturdy bridge, The Punch.
It seemed idyllic - and indeed it was, dear reader, until one day it became clear that the gurgling he could hear from his bedroom window at night was not the sound of water, but rather, deep under the bridge, in the comments section, the grumblings of a troll.
Continue reading "A journey into the dark heart of troll country" »
Latest 2 of 169 comments
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Reg says:
Hahahaha who cares what you think TimB, this is a thread on trolls and it seems my little bit of trolling has you hanging desperately off poor disparaged MarK’s coat-tail. Mission accomplished. Poor victim “john,” is still staggering around wondering how he got involved. Delicious, and even MarK lost his… Read more »
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Seano says:
Glad I got you to stick to one handle freesnag or whatever…. “Tip to dealing with TimB - Make a joke that requires cultural literacy of anyone born before 1995. “ True but then he finds any joke that doesn’t start “Knock, knock” a challenge… Read more »
I am not a vegetarian. But I’m trying to be one because the killing of animals bothers me.
As a city-bred child the first time I saw an animal being slaughtered was while seeing the film Apocalypse Now, and I had trouble coping with watching something die. “At what exact point did its life end?”, I remember thinking.
It was the final scene in the Cambodian jungle, the setting for insanity and hell, when the poor cow was hacked gradually to death by a slight man with a machete. The initial impact was a mere tap. The cow wobbles a little, its legs faltering. The second and third strikes open up the back of its neck revealing the spine and a translucent red, and the legs give way to the huge dying mass above them.
Continue reading "WARNING: This could turn you vegetarian" »
Latest 2 of 311 comments
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HeatherG says:
@ April, further up: “@ Grumpy;- “If we weren’t meant to eat them or designed to eat them we would get sick from eating it.” So we are meant to eat each other then? Because there have been cannabals eating humans for centuries and they never got sick from eating… Read more »
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LC says:
@SteveO “GO VEGO! SHOW SOME RESPECT.” And then: “I don’t see the need to justify my being vego, I know I’m doing the right thing, so f*** anyone that wants to give me grief about it.” “Who am I kidding. You’ll all keep your snouts in the trough, sucking up… Read more »
- Moon Unit! Tell Apple to leave Peaches alone! 292
- Life. Organised. 36
- $10 billion in bonds to kill two birds with one stone 28
- Open thread: readers’ soapbox 63
- One thing Kelli Underwood lacks as a footy commentator 226
- Bullying myths: Who are the real victims? 164
- Competitive childbirth - it’s ‘mum-upmanship’ 146
- When was rape not rape? In 1963? 151
- Christians under attack in the Middle East and Australia 70
- Space: The forgotten frontier 51
Ten rounds
All the news that's fit to click
- Swan Hill town levee should hold [ABC]
- Wealth tests to restrict payouts to most needy, says Queensland government [News.com.au]
- Remains found in Queensland flash flood area [HErald Sun]
- Finely chop powder, alternate nostrils says tax-payer funded guide to drugs [NEws.com.au]
- Hopoate in clear over death [The Daily Telegraph]
- Clinton presses Tunisia on democratic reforms [AFP]
- Claim of orgy at Berlusconi mansion [The age]
- Oprah creates buzz not bookings [news.com.au]
- Strine teasing too much of a strain [SMH]
- Socceroos semi-final bound after fighting win with Iraq [The Age]
Opinion from everywhere
- Floods expose Prime Minister [Jennifer Hewett, The Australian]
- Right to die surely a bigger deal than gay marriage [Paul Malone, National Times]
- Designer baby desire will cheapen the value of life [Christopher PEarson, The Australian]
- Beware the dam busters [Miranda Devine, The Sunday telegraph]
- Forget the climate change theory, let's get on with the job [Eddie McGuire, Sunday Herald sun]
- Kidman and Urban: an act of kindness not greed [Claire Harvey, Sunday Telegraph]
- Language reflects the darker side of surrogacy [Michelle Higgins, National Times]
- The most useful grammar post ever [Sarah Wilson, Sarah Wilson]
- How to make your shopping cart suck less [The Oatmeal (humour)]
- Top dinner party cheats [Mia Freedman, MammaMia]
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The talk of the town
- Flood victims ripped off by greedy insurers 501
- Woah, man! Sweeping gender generalisations 318
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- Moon Unit! Tell Apple to leave Peaches alone! 292
- Who needs Pauline when you've got Bob Brown? 266
- Should we pay a flood tax? 262
- One thing Kelli Underwood lacks as a footy commentator 226
- A journey into the dark heart of troll country 169
- Oh, Ricky, you're so fine! 165
- Bullying myths: Who are the real victims? 164
Gentle jabs to the ribs
Story of the floods through the Brisbane Flood sculpture
In the tonnes of coverage on the Brisbane floods, nobody seems to have filmed or photographed this rather… Read more
The story behind the picture
Lleyton Hewitt’s agony: finally out in the open
It was the nail-biter of all nail-biters but no one could have imagined Aussie lionheart Lleyton would… Read more
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