Aussie Life
Aussie life
According to a Tokyo University study of dogs, we can disregard the usual male-female stereotypes, as their research shows boy…
Language
Recently on Mammamia.com Emily Vernem and Holly Wainwright complained about the rise of what they call ‘dawn culture’. They complain…
Aussie life
Did the Prime Minister drag his heels on new firearms legislation because he feared it might impact his cabinet? Until…
Language
As Australia continues to suffer from the evil of antisemitism a phrase (or three phrases if you count the different…
Language
In a column in the Daily Telegraph Andrew Bolt used the word ‘pretendian’. I conducted a careful search, and so…
Aussie life
Most dads will settle for their kids growing up happy, healthy and (reaches for nearest wooden surface) tattoo-free. It’s a…
Language
When something is partly good and partly bad, we used to say it was ‘a curate’s egg’. Odd expression. Why…
Aussie life
I’ve been an actor and satirist for forty years, and suddenly I’m told my words might be violent, requiring institutional…
Language
Antisemitism is a word I have written about more than once, but clearly, it’s a word we need to look…
Aussie life
Less than two months after its imposition, the world’s first children’s social media ban is already exceeding targets, with a…
Language
Let’s begin the year by summarising the ‘Words of the Year’ chosen by the world’s great dictionaries to represent last…
Aussie life
Driving up Noosa North Shore a few weeks ago we joined three other vehicles bogged in the soft sand. All…
Language
I heard ‘begging the question’ being misused (again!) on talkback radio. But let’s not blame the poor old broadcasters –…
Aussie life
Like mansplaining and body hair, the ability to hold and express conflicting opinions is probably something most people would hesitate…
Language
In the NSW parliament Premier Minns referred to another member as ‘mate’. Then an opposition member got up and took…
Aussie life
Lock up your babies, Brisbane; the Queensland government is considering lifting its ban on keeping dingos as pets. I had…
Language
There is an expression that is now quite common in America, although I don’t think I’ve heard it used in…
Aussie life
The Victorian government’s ‘treaty’ with the one per cent of its citizens who purport to be Aboriginal is unjust and…
Language
It is probably time to unpack the word ‘communism’. Zohran Mamdani has been elected Mayor of New York, and he…
Aussie life
‘Celebrate Spring in Nature’, is the call to action on the Parks Victoria website, which urges us to visit the…
Language
Over the past few weeks I have been collecting media clichés – those empty, meaningless, padding words that have turned…
Aussie life
As this great metropolis falls apart, I’m hearing Australians are getting too cynical. But that’s not it at all. As…
Language
I’m sure I can’t be the only person irritated by the word ‘wellness’. It is the most fashionable of all…
Aussie life
My local post office is one of four on Sydney’s lower north shore scheduled for closure before Christmas, and everybody…
Language
John writes to ask about the word ‘noisome’? Does it (he asks) have anything to do with noise? The answer…
