Finnish Babies, Cardboard Boxes and the Baby Bonus

June 6, 2013 in Health, Mothers, Parenting, Politics, Pregnancy & Birth

A recent article on the BBC website caught my eye – Why Finnish Babies Sleep in Cardboard Boxes – and upon reading it I was surprised to discover in Finland every expectant mother is given the option of a Baby Box, a kind of maternity starter kit, or a cash bonus. 95% of the women in Finland opt for the box. The article says: Mothers have a choice between taking the box, or a cash grant, currently set at 140 euros, but 95% opt for the box as it’s worth much more. The tradition dates back to 1938. To begin [...]

Racism: Out Of The Mouths of Babes

May 27, 2013 in Celebrity, Children, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Human Rights, Lifestyle, Mental Health, News, Parenting, People, Politics, Religion, Self, Society, Sport

This week, racism in sport was highlighted when a 13 year old girl called AFL player and legend, Adam Goodes, an ‘Ape’ during an indigenous match. He pointed her out to security and she was ejected from the game, but Goodes spoke later of the pain the slur caused him and that it came from such a young source. Goodes was given an opportunity by Victorian police to press charges, but he refused, saying: “It’s not her fault, she’s 13, she’s still so innocent, I don’t put any blame on her. Unfortunately it’s what she hears, in the environment she’s [...]

Tony Abbott, Twitter, Women of Calibre and Click Bait

May 8, 2013 in Current Affairs, Human Rights, News, Politics

So yesterday I was noodling about the house, exhausted and exhilarated after surviving Satan’s own three ring circus of a weekend, when Twitter whooped out the Code Pink Alert. The Twisterhood (Twitter Sisterhood. You like it? I just made it up!) were Outraged! Again! World-Renowned Misogynist, Tony Abbott, announced a Paid Parental Leave scheme that would entitle new mothers earning $150,000 pa or less to six months maternity leave at full pay, plus super entitlements. He said, and I quote: “We do not educate women to higher degree level to deny them a career. If we want women of that [...]

Forget the Digital Divide, The Digital Bulldozer is coming

May 6, 2013 in Celebrity, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Music, News, Politics, Technology

I am worried about radio in the country. Not the WHOLE country, mind you, just the parts of it politicians don’t visit unless something is wet, burnt or wind blown, i.e. “the country”. What worries me is digital radio. In cities digital radio may be a wonderful thing, more choices, better quality, I hear you may even be able to pause a live broadcast. Wonderful things. What I am worried about is the thing that radio was meant to be for – getting across information. A few years ago, a lot of “regional” stations were bought up by radio networks. [...]

NDIS: It Could Happen To You

May 3, 2013 in Current Affairs, Health, Human Rights, News, Politics

The NDIS has come front and centre this week. And so it should. God know it’s hard enough on disabled people and their families, without the additional worry of how they will manage financially. When you see comments like this (responding to this article by Stella Young): Ashley of Darwin Posted at 5:51 PM April 30, 2013 $22,000 for a wheelchair? Really? a basic wheelchair? A brand new car can be bought for less… If you want all the bells and whistles you can stump the cost of it yourself. The government should only assist you getting the minimum you require to be mobile. Or The department store [...]

Australia: The Lucky Country

May 1, 2013 in Current Affairs, Health, News, Politics, Self

The past week or so my wisdom teeth have started growing again. I say again because mine tend to grow for a few days and then stop for months. I mean, growing is a tiring business for your poor teeth isn’t it? The problem is that this time, the wisdom tooth on my bottom right-hand side is being a bit of a tool. It’s hurting and aching and I want to pull it out stat. I decided that after not attending the dentist for a few years (in my defense, I had been to the dentist every fortnight over a [...]

ANZACs: Lest We Forget

April 25, 2013 in Current Affairs, News, People, Politics, Society

Often, ANZAC Day falls on a school day. And every time we have an assembly, I cry. Can’t help it. That minute’s silence and the Last Post get me every time. I actually stop and use that silence to try and comprehend what the diggers thought at Gallipoli. To put myself in their boots, running on fear and adrenalin. It’s something I simply can’t comprehend, and yet generations later, the action they took still ring solid and true. Their bravery is unparalleled. I think of war widows, telegram in hand, confirming their worst nightmare. I think of children who never [...]

Why I Care New Zealand Voted in Favour of Marriage Equality

April 18, 2013 in Dating, Family, Gender, Health, Human Rights, Marriage, Mental Health, News, People, Politics, Relationships, Sexuality

I’m sure you would know by now New Zealand has voted in favour of marriage equality, winning at 77 to 44. If you haven’t already heard about this, you can read all the details here, but I had to share this news with you even if you already know, purely because I am just so excited and so proud of the country my father is from. Well done New Zealand! I can’t explain how much this news has meant to me. Equality is something I am incredibly passionate about, whether it be discrimination based on race, gender, on gender identity, [...]

My Mother, Margaret Thatcher and Me

April 11, 2013 in Celebrity, Current Affairs, Human Rights, News, Politics

My mother has this irritating habit of always seeing the good in people. I suppose it’s an admirable quality too – but sometimes I want to have a rant about some in-justice without having to see it from a different (and empathetic) perspective. There are a two exceptions to this… the ex-boyfriend who cheated on me and Margaret Thatcher. I won’t pretend to understand all the politics of the time. My family enjoyed a relatively comfortable lifestyle; we had overseas holidays, two cars. We didn’t experience financial suffering the way thousands of others in our country did. Perhaps it was my mother’s [...]

Tony Abbott: My Five Stages Of Grief

April 8, 2013 in Current Affairs, Humour, Politics

OK – let’s face it. Barring something unexpected, it’s almost certain that Tony Abbott will become the next Prime Minister of Australia. Some of you might be pleased with this, and I’m happy for you, but I can’t share your joy. I don’t always vote Labor, but I’ve never voted Liberal and nothing about Tony Abbott or the policies of the Coalition makes me want to change this. So, where does that leave me? I’m guessing you’ve all heard of the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Well, I’m feeling that way about Tony Abbott. Denial It will be OK. Gillard [...]