Category Archive: LIFE
Dami wuz robbed
Eurovision Song Contest, May 14/15 2016 Dateline Stockholm: in the biggest heist since Brinks or Lufthansa, Dami Im, representing Australia for only the second time in the history of the venerable competition, was pipped for first place by a last minute ‘flurry’ of ‘televotes’ that recall the Illinois fraud of the 1960 US election, or the hanging Floridian chads of 2000. We confess an indulgent attitude to winner Ukraine’s “F.U.” to Putinland with their song, 1944, apparently a lament for Crimean Tartars deported by that great guy, Josef Stalin, but we must honour Dami, who had the best song and act…
Continue Reading →Australia is Tigerland
Glenelg v Central District, Gliderol Stadium, 14 May 2016 From TVC’s forthcoming pamphlet, Kicking for Goal the Jakobsen Way: “For a set shot, remember, it is easy, as long as you adhere to these simple steps and never deviate therefrom. Face the Goal – try to align your shoulders with the goal posts. Get any superstitious gestures out of the way quickly and then forget them. Don’t worry about swinging in a Lance Franklin arc; he is an exception. Walk and then trot straight at the middle of the goal, having ensured you are a comfortable distance from the man…
Continue Reading →The Fine Arts Party
A Fine Arts Party (Pieter de Hooch)
It being Friday 13th, The Varnished Culture will break from its traditional disdain of party-politics and weigh-in to the current imbroglio. There’s a federal election in Australia set for 2 July 2016, when we will have to watch the skies (it being World UFO Day as well). Recently, P suggested, innocently, that only a terrorist could enthusiastically, seriously, cast a vote for the Greens. Whereupon my two very reasonable and intelligent interlocutors informed me that they would be likely to vote for the Greens. (I am certain they are not terrorists). So ended my brief role as a pundit. Be that as it…
Continue Reading →Safety Last
Safety Last...Todd Russell 'clocks off' (checks in his personal safety tag)
9 May 2016 10 years ago today, Todd Russell and Brant Webb left the Beaconsfield mine in northern Tassie, where they had been trapped for two weeks. We honour them and their not-so-lucky comrade, miner Larry Knight, who perished far underground. However, their dramatic story remains ripe for political and commercial exploitation – there’s a TV mini-series in the offing, and a photo-opportunity has already availed itself on the campaign trail. See our updated link to Ace in the Hole for more details.
Continue Reading →Learn to Win
Glenelg v Woodville-West Torrens Eagles, Glenelg Oval, 6 May 2016 After humiliating themselves with three appalling quarters last week, and fighting back grimly in the last to win some respect, the team displayed the right attitude in taking on a solid outfit of opponents and held a slight advantage during much of the game. But a mere 4 day break took its toll and the Bays wilted in the last term, enervated as they were by some umpiring decisions that seemed even more bizarre than usual. Konrad Lorenz ought to have done some studies of the effect of hierarchical status on the…
Continue Reading →