Objectifying women

Objectifying women has been seen through all of human history. (Feminist porn star oxymoron) That we are still willing to make excuses for this is appalling. As always it is the women who sell themselves that are charged with an offence. Not the people (mostly men) buying the violent and abusive 'product'. Thanks to Susie O'Brien for her fine analysis.

So why tune in?

Like so many others I looked on in despair as Charlotte Dawson surcombed to depression. A form of self hatred. The haters are alive and well on social media. So why tune in? Social media can be an addiction. Without which there is a void. It is tragic that Charlotte had that missing something, that meant she could not widen her vision away from her phone. Thanks to Nikki for that insightful Julie Burchill quote about what makes a star. Rest in peace, Charlotte.

Director of pet relations

Sending on my congratulations to Marc, director of Pet Relations @ the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in the Canadian Rockies. It was great to read the A Plus travel feature on this inspiring initiative. (Page 14) It has made my day. Animals are important to our hearts, minds and well being. I salute the Canadians for being at the forefront of pet relations.

Animals are valued family members.

Domestic animals try very hard to stay within our rules. Instinctive behaviours like being territorial and trying to kill things run deep. I don't see how you can keep an animal inside 24 hours a day, dog or cat. It seems cruel, not what nature intended. Animals are valued family members. At least your neighbour could offer some sympathy?

Living until the end

Betty Churcher struggles with the physical limitations that age has been cruel enough to dish out. The human body wears out by design. To lose the glory of vision seems a particularly savage blow. As I sat today in church hearing of the blind man from birth being healed, there was a reflection on healing and age. A sage lay preacher commented that old age wasn't all bad. There was the 'getting of wisdom', the coming of experience. The sharing of love for all generations. We can't live forever, but as my own hearing, sight and numerous other faculties decline. I look on this path of ageing in life as being not all bad. But will we know when it is time to go? I concur with Betty Churcher and the life and dying of Margaret Olley. To have that creative living spark until the end is all we can hope for.

Breaking the cycle

Parenting is fraught with experts who have all the answers. But most of us muddle through regardless. Bullying is far from a new phenomenon. Parenting styles of yelling and abuse can be entrenched in a families psyche. I recall having piano lessons at a my teachers house. She was unmercifully angry and abusive to her four children. They in turn payed little attention to her. It was a nightmare atmosphere. Forty years on and I see this atmosphere in many other families, which carries on down the line. Dr Shefali has the right mentality to tackle communication styles. (March 2014) But just how do you break the cycle of relentless anger and poor communication? What legacy was my piano teacher leaving, apart from my lapsed lessons?!

I want to die with my boots on.

This is a knock out film. The main actors are brilliant to watch. The characters in this film shouldn’t be together, but they find each other. I am always astounded by how brash some American’s can be..................... This is the story of a straight man diagnosed with Aids who goes on a mission to get better treatment for himself and those affected. The fact that he is working every system to get medications, quite openly inventing the Dallas Buyers Club. It is such a rich vein of recent history. The prejudices and hypocrisies broken wide open here. Who would have picked Mc Conaughey as an Oscar winner a few years ago? On only a few screens in Adelaide, which is a terrible shame. The cinema in Mitcham was nearly full.