Childless Hag Mocks Virile Man

I'm sick of hearing about Tony Abbott. I know, it's going to be rather difficult to ignore him considering he's the Leader of the Opposition and we're headed to an election. Generally though, I can ignore the little things - the odd picture of him in speedos, a few strategically placed 'swear words' to show what an average Joe he is, even an interview in the Australian Women's Weekly ... oh, hang on.

An unguarded response to a question about sex before marriage in an AWW interview has seen a mixed response from the Australian public this week. When asked what advice he would give his three daughters about pre-marital sex Abbott responded;

I think I would say to my daughters, if they were to ask me this question ... it is the greatest gift that you can give someone, the ultimate gift of giving, and don't give it to someone lightly.

Some commentators have suggested that Abbott has lost some female voters with his response - but let's be serious, no woman who has any sense of self-worth that is not related to being a wife or mother (or who has any idea about women's rights) was on Tony's team in the first place. The women that support him are the God-bothering, right-wingers who's idea of success is procreating - to whom his response to the question might as well have come straight from the Pope himself. It's not shocking - we knew Tony had Christian Values, and these are what he is expressing.

Obvious, right? I would have thought so. The thing that has bothered me enough to write this is that when Julia Gillard responded to his comments the 'little lady' was immediately put back in her place by Senior Liberal George Brandis.

He's playing the old "childless" card - suggesting she doesn't know what she's talking about because she doesn't have children. Really? Julia Gillard is one thing he isn't - a woman. She had a "precious gift" once that she had to "protect" - so I'd say she is more qualified than both Abbott and Brandis to comment on young women's virginity. Oh wait a minute - a MAN is of course more knowledgeable in these matters - please forgive my silly, estrogen-affected brain.

And another thing, Abbott's comments have been defended due to the fact that any man, when discussing these issues with their daughter, would respond in a similar manner, so in context, the comments were appropriate. Let's think about that; he has told his daughters that their virginity is the "greatest gift that you can give someone" - not their intellect, their sense of humour, their compassion, their talent - the GREATEST GIFT - the BEST THING THEY HAVE TO OFFER to a man is SEX. Because after all, as a woman, the best thing you can do in society is have babies.

No, I'm not suggesting that parents should tell their daughters to sleep with any man that looks at them twice - but instilling in them the idea that sex is a commodity might just result in that. After all, if a man they are interested in isn't paying them attention, what do they have to offer him? Oh yes, that's right, the greatest gift.

As usual, Abbott has shown both his ignorance and hypocrisy - but once again, the public are applauding him for being 'real'.

Biggest Loser Last Minute Edit

One of the contestants in this years Australia's Biggest Loser program on channel 10 has been charged by Queensland Police after material was  allegedly found in his home relating to child pornography. 26 year old Deryck James Ward was partnered on Loser with his 29 year old sister. The pair were the second to be eliminated from the show which premieres on Sunday night.

The show this year has been surrounded by much hype due to the new host, former Olympic swimmer Hayley Lewis and several changes to the format including more detailed dietary information.

The majority of the show's episodes have already been recorded and have had to be painstakingly edited to remove Ward and his sister from the show. A channel Ten spokeswoman said;

Given the seriousness of these charges and that this matter is to be resolved in the courts, the network decided it will not broadcast any episode in which Mr Ward would have appeared.

The show will therefore feature nine couples instead of the original ten that has been promoted ad nauseum in a lengthy promo over the last few weeks on channel 10. Not surprisingly, the videos on the official website aren't playing the previews right now.

Whilst it's a terrible blow to the station, Tony Martin said it best on Twitter last night;

!!BREAKING NEWS!!

This was a very serious breaking news item today on news.com.au. How it wasn't the lead story on tonight's news I do not know;

Media Working Together

We've seen two occurrences of Australian media stations making one-off alliances today, and they couldn't be more different.

Let's begin with the images that have been flooding news-reels since yesterday when a baby girl was pulled from the rubble of the Haitian earthquake by ... well ... which channel's news team depended on which station you were watching.

As The Australian reported, it was Walkley award winning channel 9 cameraman Richard Moran who supposedly dug through the rubble with his bare hands to free the child. Yet it was channel 7 reporter Mike Amor who conveniently positioned himself to take the scared child into his arms for the money shot.

This was the footage that was played over and over on channel 7;

Not only does he seem to show no regard for the child's physical health (was the water insensitively poured over her head intended to scare the hell out of her or pretty her up for the camera?) but Amor's repetitive "here baby", "here baby" attempts to coax the child to suckle from a seemingly empty bottle was simply bizarre. Once the all-important footage was caught he was happy to hand the child over to a man who could barely recall her name.

Here was channel 9's story;

Unsurprisingly no Mike-Amor-as-Saviour shots here. Both channels hail Deiby Celestino as the hero though. Channel 7 claim him as a member of their security team. Channel 9 describe him as their interpreter.

This looked less like an actual rescue story and more like two rival networks fighting for the best shot, the best quote, the most heartbreaking/heartwarming soundbite. Mike Amor's earnest involvement seemed less than sincere and all the while the scared little girl is passed from hand to hand in a state of shock.

Contrast this with another media collaboration happening today.

Melbournians are tonight saying farewell to one of our iconic music venues, The Tote in Collingwood. Current owner Bruce Milne is unable to pay new liquor-licensing fees and has been forced to close the venue. Crikey today has reported a potential rising from the ashes for the venue but for tonight, there is no tomorrow for The Tote.

In a fitting farewell a long list of bands, most of them regulars at the venue, are playing a final super-gig tonight which is being simulcast live on community radio stations Triple R, PBS and 3CR. Not only is this an unprecedented occurrence for the three stations but the hard work and organisation that would have had to take place to get the operation underway at such short notice proves the immense collaborative abilities of all those involved.

Triple R announcer Richard Watts asking patrons and workers at The Tote what the venue meant to them was powerful stuff. As breakfast host Fee B Squared tweeted;

Looking at these two situations, one a begrudging lending of a hand (involving a child's life no less), and the other a peaceful coming together of like-minded people with equal intent - you can't help but feel the warm-and-fuzzies for community media.

Commercial stations have the equipment to give you, the viewer, a story that is polished to within an inch of its life, digital, wide-screen, dramatically re-enacted, botox injected, special effected.

- But what community stations can give you is simple; the real story - Never Mind the Bollocks.

Hawko the "Everywoman" my Fat Ass

Jennifer Hawkins nude on the cover of Marie Claire - it's not exactly shocking is it? I mean, she's a lingerie model which means she's pretty much naked most of the time she's in the spotlight. The cover doesn't show her with her legs wide open or even her nipples exposed - yet it has created as much heated discussion it might as well have.

The issue is this; Hawkins is being applauded for appearing "untouched" on the cover. There has supposedly been no photo-shopping or digital manipulation of the image. Well, well, well; golf-claps all round. How very daring for a woman who, besides having a fabulous figure and being only 26 years old makes a career out of strutting the cat-walk in barely-there lingerie.

Here's a news-flash; she is PAID to keep her figure in brilliant condition. It is her JOB to look amazing and to have a trim and terrific body. So HOW exactly does she represent the "average woman"? If I didn't have to work 50 hours a week and was paid squillions of dollars to be glamorous I might go to the gym more than once a year and look as awesome as her too*.

How exactly is this image supposed to promote good body-image in "normal" women? It makes me want to stick my fingers down my throat and buy a bottle of peroxide.

Good on Marie Claire for getting all this free publicity for a shot that might as well have been photo-shopped; as if anyone would have noticed had it not been pointed out. Oh, dimples on her thigh you say? Uneven skin-tone?! Call the nip/tuck team stat!

On channel 9's Today show this morning radio host Bianca Dye spoke about baring all for Madison magazine in November. She pointed out the glaringly obvious that Hawkins is hardly a "normal" girl. The irony is that the ninemsn.com.au article had a link to a Zoo Weekly story about photo-shopping that referred to un photo-shopped pics of celebs as causing "vomit at the back of your throat". Way to prove a point that "real" women is the way of the future ... classy as usual.

The Madison issue actually had average sized women in the buff and was actually trying to make a point about body image. But it didn't have Jeniffer Hawkins nude on its cover - so actually went unnoticed.

The editor of Marie Claire, Jackie Frank, has blamed Australian women's negative body-image on the government. Well of course! Damn those attractive back-benchers and their enviable lighting and make-up at parliament question time! It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the unrealistic images that are thrust upon us at every supermarket check-out line and on every billboard on every corner. 

Who would have thought a magazine like Marie Claire, dependent on advertising and profit, would be so devious in its sales tactics? *insert sarcasm here*.

* I say "might" because going to the gym probably won't make me 6 foot tall or white.

BRAN NUE YEAR

The trailer for new Australian film Bran Nue Dae looks so fun and joyous. Starring Ernie Dingo and Rocky McKenzie it's a road trip film following the two men on their return to their hometown of Broome. Jessica Mauboy looks simply stunning and the film boasts a supporting cast of well-known Aussie faces, including Geoffrey Rush, Magda Szubanski and Missy Higgins.

Here's the trailer;


And the official site is here.


Bran Nue Dae will be in cinemas January 14.