Friday, December 30, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Where are they now? Part One.
Gary Coleman had it all: fame; power; bitches and money. As the cute little black kid on Different Strokes, he was recognised around the world, but where is he now? Whilst thumbing through the industry publication “Has-beens Monthly”, I discovered a shocking secret – Gary Coleman has been working in the sex industry, renting himself out to depraved perverts who get their sexual kicks from having poor little Gary dance upon them whilst singing a medley of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits.
I rang the number quoted in the ad, and was put through to Gary, where he asked me a number of questions, including what footwear I would like him to wear (I opted for the golfing shoes with extra spikes) and what Michael Jackson songs I would like him to sing (Thriller, the complete works) whilst he danced upon my naked body.
In the interests of journalism, I met Gary at a seedy hotel, where he danced upon me for just over 45 minutes. During the session, as his little golfing shoes tore holes in my back, he sang his heart out, hitting almost every note perfectly. If you shut your eyes, you’d think that Michael was in the room. Gary said that for an extra fifty bucks he could make it so. And for an extra five dollars Gary will finish the gig by shouting “What you talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?” in your face until you ‘arrive’. Ahem.
Overall, I found Gary to be excellent value for money, and his showmanship second to none. This reporter found the whole concert/deviant session to be totally enthralling. I was so hypnotised by his work that I actually forgot that I was an undercover journalist; such was the power of Mr Coleman’s performance.
When I confronted Gary in the parking lot of the hotel, he was unperturbed by my accusations. Indeed, he positively denied having any knowledge of the sex session that had just taken place between us, and as he made his speedy getaway, I could still hear his voice as he protested “What you talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?” I tried to point out to Mr Coleman that my name was not Willis, but by then he had disappeared down the road in a chariot pulled by several small cats.
I think I’m in love with Mr Coleman and his tiny shoes. Why doesn’t he call? Why? The pain is unbearable…but that might just be the wounds in my back….
Call me, Gary, call me….
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Dandelion Vineyards Wonderland of the Eden Valley Reisling 2010
It's good as far as reisling goes (I'm not a massive fan) and it's most delicious and refreshing. This could be the one that turns me from a reisling liker to a reisling lover...it's especially good with oysters with lime & vodka granita apparently...
Forester Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Langmeil De Kegelbahn Red Pin Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2009
Ninth Island Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Violence in Schools?
Violence in Queensland high schools may be on the increase – despite denials by Education Queensland and the Queensland Teachers Union. Figures from the Queensland Police Service suggest a drop in assaults in Queensland High Schools; 393 in 2009 compared to 329 in 2010 – however, Professor Paul Mazerolle, Pro Vice Chancellor, Arts, Education & Law, Griffith University questions the validity of the data.
He said “We know [the data] is an undercount because official data is typically undercounted by about fifty percent so most times if there’s an assault, it doesn’t always come to the attention of the authorities but that’s pretty stock standard around the world.”
Unfortunately the lack of sound data is a problem; Professor Mazerolle said: “When we look at media reports and some of the official data we’ve got every reason to believe it’s increasing, but where we’re lacking is good self reported survey data from young people. We don’t have that in Australia; we don’t have consistent surveys of high schools so we can look at changes over time so we’re kind of speculating that it’s increasing.”
Professor Mazerolle noted that high school teachers, as well as other sectors employees such as health workers, were finding it increasing difficult to work with the increasing levels of violence.
He said “Again, we’re operating in the absence of good survey information but for some of the official reports and the reports that go to Education Queensland there are issues of aggression towards teachers; it’s an issue that they’re (teachers) concerned about. I’m hedging in terms of a clear statement because there’s an absence of good information but it’s probably increasing.”
Speaking about the 2010 drop in assaults, he added: “There’s a lot of awareness now about what’s inappropriate conduct. One reason we’re seeing more kids excluded from mainstream schools is because of their behaviour, and there’s a lot less tolerance now – the’ one strike you’re out’ kind of policy and if you cross this line, you’re suspended for a month.”
“There’s a lot more of a move towards a zero tolerance approach with inappropriate conduct in schools and so that will, of necessity, lead to more school exclusions. I think there’s been a strong commitment by the leadership in schools and departments that teachers don’t have to put up with that.”
However, it appears that neither Education Queensland or the Queensland Police Service is collecting the kind of data required to correctly identify if there is an increase, or decrease, in violent assaults within Queensland High Schools.
Speaking about assaults by pupils on high school teachers, Julie Brown, Vice President of the Queensland Teachers Union said “I can’t remember the last time it was brought up at a branch meeting or in school. Education Queensland’s pretty good at getting on top of it”.
However, she also added that she believes that a small number of pupils engaging in violent behaviour which is pushing the number of recorded incidents upwards, thereby skewing the statistics.
“You get outbreaks of it because one secondary student might move from one school to another and cause trouble at the first school and then cause trouble at the second school. If you have a look at those stats [EQ statistics] from a school behaviour summary…you think ‘God, that’s a lot of incidents’ but when you break it down to who actually committed those incidents , or which kids did it, it’s very few” she said.
Professor Bruce Burton specialises in applied theatre and drama education to assist schools with issues of violence and bullying; he believes “EQ and schools in general are very bad at keeping detailed accurate data about childrens’ behaviour”
Professor Burton believes violence in high schools can be tackled with additional resources but the problem is getting the extra funding and manpower; running programs to reduce violent behaviour requires ongoing funding because the programs educate students across the whole school – the problem is that schools are struggling to teach existing curriculum and are therefore resistant to taking on more work.
Speaking of the violence and bullying occurring in Queensland High Schools, Professor Burton said “It’s an education issue; bullying and violence and other anti-social behaviours are behavioural problems but the solution is education. We need that education to understand what it is, and secondly, we need to learn how to deal with it.”
Brett O’Connor, Acting Executive Director Student Services, Department of Education and Training said “There is no place for violence in any form in any Queensland state school. Education Queensland does not condone any behaviour that places the safety and wellbeing of students or staff at risk. The Department takes a strong stance against violence against staff or students in state schools and will continue to work with staff, students and the wider community to respond appropriately to this kind of behaviour.”
Bill (not his real name) is a senior coordinator in one of the lower socio-economic high schools in Ipswich; he believes that much of the hype surrounding violence in high schools is a media beat up.
He said “The media sensationlise it and do the whole ‘the world’s falling apart because of the kids these days; generation Y, this that and the other’…but they’ve been doing that since the 1950’s with the Blackboard Jungle and Rock Around the Clock and things like that”
He believes that isolated incidents are blown out of proportion by the media, which leads to a distortion in the public’s perception.
For Bill, the solution is education and support for schools and their surrounding communities.
Mary (not her real name) is an art teacher in the same school; she agrees with Bill.
She says “We [teachers] don’t wake up every morning and fear for our lives. The media make a big thing out of very rare incidents and then everyone thinks that our high schools are violent places – and they’re not.”
So is violence on the increase in Queensland’s high schools? Until proper data is available it would seem that it’s all speculation. The current opinion seems to be that the government needs to work with schools to produce more meaningful data to give parents a better understanding of what’s happening in high schools.
And the media needs to stop the beat up.
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE INTERVIEW
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Human Furnace INterview (Ringworm vocalist)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Mental health organisations split over new funding
Mental health organisations have welcomed the government’s additional $430 million funding but are split on how effective the extra funding will be in terms of service delivery.
Psychologist Vanessa Rendalls said “I think it will be a lot harder to access; you need to meet certain criteria to be eligible and they [Medicare] will be giving fewer sessions.”
“The theory is more people will be able to use it because you’re providing less sessions but the degree of mental health has to be greater,” she said.
SANE Australia’s Executive Director, Barbara Hocking said “We are now at first base, and well positioned to make a real difference to the lives of people with mental illness and their families, but we still have a long way to go.”
According to SANE Australia, some of the challenges include getting states and territories on board, refining the proposed models of integrated community care and ensuring that there are enough trained mental health and other workers to deliver these programs.
Ms Rendalls, a member of the Australian Psychologists Society (APS), said that previously people were able to get 12 sessions with a psychologist but under new funding rules this has been halved.
She also believes it may become more difficult to access the funding.
“You have to get what’s called a mental health care plan [from a G.P]… and now doctors have been told to be more frugal about who they send so it’s really hard for people to get a referral – unless you know the right thing to say, it’s really hard.” she said.
Executive director of the APS, Professor Lyn Littlefield said that government plans to reduce the number of sessions will impact upon the effectiveness for the people who need it most.
“…reducing the number of sessions available for treatment will decrease the quality of overall service provision. It is a decision that needs to be reviewed.” she said.
Murriwatch - Helping the community
Murriwatch Chief Executive Officer Ken Georgetown said the staff of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support centre are doing a great job supporting clients across a wide range of programs including a homeless assistance program and cell visitors program.
“We’ve got a number of programs including the diversion from custody program, which is like a sobering up centre where we look after clients who have been diverted from police custody for public intoxication,” he said.
“We take them from there [the watch house] and look after them while they’re sobering up. It’s a 24/7 set up; we bring them into a better environment where we can give them a meal and a bit of support, and a referral straight after that.”
The unit operates in Brisbane, Townsville, Palm Island and Mackay.
Mr Georgetown said “We really just go out there and do the business and try and educate people. Part of my role is to go out and inform about what we do.”
Speaking of the Cell Visitors Services, he said “Our cell visitors are authorised to go into watch-houses. Once a person identifies that they are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, then we encourage them to ring us and we can assist that person. They can get pretty agitated and we try and break that down and talk to the client.”
Murriwatch also assist indigenous and non indigenous homeless persons.
He said “Our outreach team will go out into the public spaces and look for our lot and try and refer them back to the hostel and then we can stabilise them with our case management team; within three to twelve months we can stabilise their situation; get them back into paying rent; get them some food because we have a cook at the hostel who also cooks for the clients. We don’t just deal with our mob – we deal with non-indigenous people too.”
Further Flood Funding
Local not-for-profit small business support groups are being urged to take advantage of additional flood recovery funding from the Federal government.
Bernie Ripoll, Federal Member for Oxley said groups who provide services to local small businesses should apply for grants of up to $100,000 under the Australian Government’s Small Business Advisory Services (SBAS) program.
“I know they’ve been working extraordinary hours to help our small businesses recover from the floods and this funding boost is a practical way of giving them that extra support they deserve – and need – to provide additional services to help disaster affected businesses get back on their feet.” he said.
Mr Ripoll said that groups providing services such as business mentoring, financial accounting and marketing plans are eligible to apply.
“Any small business support organization; groups that do work for small business are being given funding so they can go and assist small business.”
“The government departments and people who are providing the grants, they’re out there actively speaking with small businesses to make sure they know that there are funds available.”
The aim of the SBAS program is to maximise small business growth and success by better access to information and advice and improve the business skills of small businesses.
Proposals funded by the program include business planning advice, advice on loans and banking products, and mentoring for businesses.
Graham Grundy, President of the Mens Section of the Jindalee Bowls Club said that“Selected grantees can expand and strengthen their capacity to provide additional low cost business advisory services.” Mr Grundy also said that while the club did not use small business services, they had accessed several other grants offered by the government.
Mr Ripoll said the response to SBAS grants has so far been “overwhelming” and that he was “pretty happy with the results.”
