09 Tuesday Apr 2013
Posted in Journalism, Media, Opinion, Politics
It’s taken me exactly 15 months since my initial blog on Margaret Thatcher to watch the film The Iron Lady, and ironically she died the following day.
Don’t worry, I’m not drawing too much from this coincidence, but my reaction to the film was much as I feared.
The whole experience felt like we were watching it through tinted glasses. I guess we were – the glasses of an elderly woman.
19 Thursday Apr 2012
Posted in Journalism, Opinion, Politics
A funny thing happened to me on the way into the city today.
I was waiting for a taxi when two business-dressed men approached looking very keen to get to their next meeting.
“Are you waiting for a cab,” one asked.
I know I was leaning against a lamppost in a notorious area called The Valley – but it clearly said “TAXI” on it.
“I am,” I replied.
“Where are you going, into the city?”
“Yes.”
“Well share one with us.”
Now I’m not one to jump into a cab with complete strangers ordinarily, but what harm could I get into in a taxi?
18 Saturday Feb 2012
Posted in Journalism, Language, Media, Opinion, Politics
I’m all for language evolution, it really fascinates me, but something that concerns me is the increasingly common use of the word ‘aks’ instead of ask.
I heard this very occasionally in the UK and assumed it was dialectal, specific to certain communities, possibly derived from a pidgin or creole language. You commonly hear it now on TV or in films especially among some Americans.
But increasingly I hear it from university students that have no cultural background from where this could have emerged. I would be interested to hear their parents speak – do they say it – and if so, where did they pick it up from?
25 Wednesday Jan 2012
Posted in Journalism, Language, Media, Opinion, Politics
Sorry for the crude headline – but really – authorities should understand what they are saying/publishing.
This yesterday:
24 January 2012
Moreton Bay Regional Council is advising residents in Dale Street and immediate surrounds in Burpengary to self-evacuate this afternoon.
See: Burpengary residents urged to evacuate
It was a common error throughout the 2011 floods in Queensland. Constantly authorities were asking people to self-evacuate.
Think about it – to evacuate oneself – what are they actually asking people to do?
07 Saturday Jan 2012
Posted in Journalism, Opinion, Politics
A friend recently asked me if I would be going to see the film The Iron Lady. “Most likely,” I replied.
The answer was true. I do want to see the film – mostly for the much acclaimed portrayal by actress Meryl Streep of Britain’s first and to-date only female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
My friend who has seen the film went on to say: “I just thought she was brilliant standing up for what she thought was right and up against all those male colleagues – has to be good for women!”
I had to take a deep breath and count to 10.
Former British PM Margaret Thatcher. Credit: HM Government
I grew up in Thatcher’s Britain in the 1980s and I remember the miners’ strike, the poll tax, the riots. I remember a country divided and the poor seemingly just getting poorer. I remember unemployment reaching more than three million.
I also remember one odd moment of unity – sort of – over the Falkland Islands. I remember a moment of pride that our small country stood up for a place apparently that was British but was on the other side of the world and no-one had ever heard of before.