Aunty and friends endure the agony of an awards night without a welcome to country
Ban cops and robbers! Bruce McDougall et al, The Daily Telegraph, July 5:
Childcare centres are banning children from playing games such as “cops and robbers” with toy guns and plastic fake knives because of fears they promote violent “warlike” behaviour. Mock pirate swords, bows and arrows and even Lego weapons have also been outlawed by childcare operators in a bid to curb “aggressive” play. Australian Childcare Alliance NSW president Lyn Connolly said if a child was to make a Lego gun, for example, educators should discuss with the child “why it’s not good to have guns and how they can hurt people”.
Ban cops? Police.nsw.gov.au:
Police … work with the community to reduce violence, crime and fear … by preventing, detecting and investigating crime (and) maintaining social order.
Ban guns? Police Weapons, Australia, loc.gov:
Federal and state police officers in Australia carry pistols … pepper spray, batons (and) have access to Tasers … Specialist units (responding) to counter-terrorism and … complex armed-offender situations have … high-powered rifles … state and territory police forces comprised … 51,778 sworn officers … 3552 sworn AFP members and 718 Protection Service Officers …
Ban war? Defence.gov.au:
The Department of Defence employs more than 20,000 … employees … in an array of critical positions … enabling our … navy, army and air force to do their job.
Iran blames Trump! Anjil Raval, Financial Times, yesterday:
Donald Trump is to blame for rising oil prices … Iran’s OPEC governor (said).
Missouri blames Trump! Melinda Henneberger, The Kansas City Star, July 5:
Does this Missouri town blame Trump for job-killing tariff? Hint: You know the answer.
Twits blame Trump! Caroline Marcus, The Daily Telegraph, July 3:
Before the bodies of five people gunned down in a Maryland, US newsroom were even cold … social media lit up … He must be a Trump supporter, motivated by the president’s dangerous Fake News rhetoric.
Slob in agony blames Trump? Brigid Delaney, The Guardian, July 5:
(In November 2016,) the only person I knew who believed Trump would win the US election was the owner of my gym … after Trump claimed victory … (I stopped going to the gym and I drank) Diet Coke and ate more McDonald’s … Trump was going to be in power for another 1000 years … Could I really avoid the gym for the entirety of his presidency? … I returned to the gym … I was weak … I did a split squat on a box and fell over … I got vertigo doing calf lifts … I had to sort of fall on to chairs … typing this is agony — my arms hurt. There’s no strength in my wrists.
No welcome to country? ABC News online, July 2:
Bert Newton is facing a social media backlash … Having referred to himself using a gay slur, Newton joked that his former co-star Graham Kennedy enjoyed “mentoring” young talent behind closed doors. (Explaining the disaster, Fairfax) journalist Giles Hardie said, “… (the Logies) is a show that doesn’t have a welcome to country”.
And the award for humourlessness goes to? Ben Pobjie, comedian, ABC online, July 3:
(Bert Newton) gagged about Graham Kennedy and Don Lane “mentoring” young talent in their dressing rooms … (he) raised … hackles by describing himself as a “poof” … He hit the trifecta … with a supremely dodgy reference to Waleed Aly’s wife … converting to Islam for him … What can you expect from an awards ceremony that once gave its highest honour to Norman Gunston?