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Whenever the issue of reading comes up among my friends and family, it seems like everyone says they don't have time to read books. Stay-at-home mums complain they are too busy running after their kids to sit down with a book. Those with high-powered jobs say they don't have time to read anything but work reports or briefs.

Stu Spence

This week's photions include an exercise in how not to escape, when family gatherings don't go down the right way, and the reason selfie sticks were invented.

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Prime Minister Turnbull's decision to criticise China on the South China Sea issue, but avoid touching on the human rights issue, can be seen to be in the best interests of Australia. It means he can advocate for peace and stability in the region, without sacrificing the advancement of bilateral economic ties.

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Only a Royal Commission can examine whether existing laws are adequate and whether the regulators have the powers and resources they need to address the systemic problems that are so clearly evident in our financial system, and to suggest steps to restore the public's trust in our financial sector.

Courtney Jones

Since Christmas, I've been to the Philippines, New Zealand, America and Australia. I often get asked how a small-town Canadian gal manages to travel so much. Here's how.

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Women are not born with some magical ability to parent while male DNA is void of it. Parenting is a skill that is learnt and it develops over time with practice. It's just that it's us women who usually get more practice.

The Conversation

What would it take to hide an entire planet? It sounds more like a question posed in an episode of "Star Trek" than in academic discourse, but sometimes the bleeding edge of science blurs with themes found in science fiction.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two years on, and their parents still wake up each morning not knowing whether their daughters are alive or dead, married or single or violated as slaves. They surely deserve more than a forlorn hope. The girls are now a symbol of our apparent weakness to protect young lives.

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Swimming has been my life, my identity, my friendship base, my second family, my joy, my solace, my love. And this week, a career that has spanned 21 years, over two-thirds of my life, is coming to an end.

Clair Marshall

I am so lucky because I have the best mum in the world (I also know that I am biased), and last week, after our 12-week scan showed a happy, healthy baby, I got to tell my mum the good news.

via Fairfax

The LGBT community needs to wake up to these plays. Pinkwashing is never to the benefit of the LGBT community -- even if backtracks don't happen. As the Telstra example shows us, many corporations are only LGBT friendly until they see or feel like it will hurt their bottom line.

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If your answer is zero tolerance, then advocate to do it properly and fairly. Everyone should be tested regularly and if a positive test results, they should be publicly named, arrested, charged and have their future employment and travel opportunities restricted. Is this really the sort of the world you want to live in?

Invision

Just grow up, eh? The sad thing is Stephen, victims of child abuse 'grow up' the second the abuse starts and they never get their childhood back. I was abused at the age of 12, not by an uncle but a former employee at my father's business. I've experienced my fair share of self pity over the years, especially when thinking about my lost childhood. However ugly you think that is, I think I'm entitled to feel that way from time to time. And you know what, it's funny you said no one is going to like me for feeling sorry for myself. That's exactly what I thought when I planned taking my own life a few years ago.

Erica Garner

When it comes to lifelong proof that one's words matches his intentions, it's evident that Bernie Sanders is the best choice to serve as the next president of the United States -- especially for African Americans.

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While all governments must share the responsibility to find more efficient and sustainable ways to fund services into the future, the principle of equity irrespective of location means that our national government cannot vacate the space.

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For me it started when I found out that I was an adopted child soon after birth. I was 21 years old at the time. That discovery of my adoption with not an inkling of it was quite mind-blowing to say the least.

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Unfortunately, in Chinese culture it's okay for family members or elders to be openly judgemental of someone's weight. I've had dinners with my parents' friends, where the friends poked fun at my weight and size.