... What would Holt do?

Harold Holt.
Held office as Australia's 17th Prime Minister from January 1966 till December 1967.
Was PM for only 22 months.
Remembered for only 1 thing ... he went for a swim and never came back.

I don't know too much about historical Australian politics, just what was forced upon me in school and that just barely includes the name of our first PM, Sir Edmond Barton and that his term started 1st January, 1901. The only other fact we learnt, ok, the only fact that my memory retained was in regards to Harold Holt and his disappearance.

For some reason I have been thinking about him recently, maybe it's because it just seems so bizarre. It also sounds so very Aussie, he left parliament by going for a very long swim. I guess it sounds better than leaving with his tail between his legs at the loss of an election.

I started to think, what if he came back, albeit 42 years later? What if he came back to take back power as PM? What would he do to help steer our economy back? Which countries would he pursue trade relations with? Would the Liberal party welcome him back with open arms? And would K.Rudd step down without a fight?

I'm sure if he did return there would be lots of book deals brokered, political cartoonists and satirists would be working overtime and the rights to his movie would be sold. Holt would do the whole breakfast tv circuit thing (who wouldn't want to be on Kochie's couch?) He might even be a celebrity judge on Australian Idol or join the Dancing with the Stars troupe.

I'll tell you 1 thing Holt won't do, he won't start a swimming school!


Additional Info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Holt#Popular_culture (23/05/2009)

... Being X-Tall in an Opaque World

Not only are clothes, shoes and underwear sizes all over the place, there is another line of apparel I have discovered! Women's hosiery.

I like to think of myself as an average (maybe even a centremetre below average). So why is it that the 3 sizes (regular, tall and x-tall) in women's hosiery are just so off? I'm not short and stocky nor am I tall and leggy, but I need the X-Tall so I can get into them and not ladder them while pulling them up!

I am sure the stockings/stay-ups/tights industry does really well. Women feel sexier in them and thus like to pay for designer ones with a good sheen. Its trendy to wear them in different patterns and designs, even different colours. However, I can say from experience, many more pairs of these are just thrown out after 1 use because the size was wrong or it laddered just as you put it on.

Speaking of these patterned and colourful tights, with all the marketing and promotion for these, you think I would be used to seeing them on women. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of them but when I actually see a woman wearing blue opaques or black patterned tights, I just think it ruins their outfit.

When I was in Melbourne, I saw so many women looking good in them and I found it more normal. Bring the same concept to Sydney, it's a different story. I guess Melbournian women can get away with this sort of thing, after all it is colder there.





Images:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2B-0WcIGYzCh3j9K9D3A88NF2TcImln0-5KnfFIpg4kDGOkkxsxsAajZ1SlMsmRsHmwXDsLnhZeoXv0t-o71TaKesOcT1R5HEJR5Wdn_lUu7rpyu49Jq0wGXAJEpWumZEVN8yAaQQEjj/s400/black+patterned+tights.jpeg - 19/05/2009

... Discover new things!

People like me, love routine. We crave it and feel headless when we don't. I was reading Saturday's SMH Spectrum (16/5/09) and there was an essay about getting out of your comfort zone. It went on to talk about the effects it has on creativity and a more fulfilled life.

After I came back from living in the Czech Republic, I wanted to make sure I did things differently, that I took up opportunities and met more people. As a work in progress ... I'm pretty happy with what I have been doing, I could do more. However, I have set myself up for a wonderful few weeks to look forward to and thought I would share.

1. Sydney Writers Festival - Seminars and lectures with groups of smart, bookish, political and opinionated people. I'm looking forward to so many of them!
   
2. Sydney Theatre Company - The fact that I can get a discount for being under 30 is sweet! Already saw The Removalists, now I have my "20 for $20" tickets to see Elling.
3. Talk, Eat, Drink - A foodie program put together by Simon Johnson (Mr Purveyor of Quality food). Food 'n' wine and talking with the celebrity chef!
4. Luminous Festival - The Harbour will be coloured with beautiful lights and I have tickets to the Laughing Guru's workshop.

I can't wait! Bring on more good times Sydney!

... Why bother having Earth Hour?

Recently Earth Hour was celebrated (and successfully marketed) around the world.

In that 1 hour, we saved on emitting x amount of green house gasses, we saved x amount of trees.

Why do we do this for 1 measly hour? I find it ridiculous that the whole of Sydney still has all their office lights on late at night. Are people really working hard? Or is it sheer laziness?

If we just switched off the lights as the last person leaves or the cleaners close it after their duties we wont have to waste so much money marketing Earth Hour and we would have saved truck loads from saving energy and electricity! Respect to those offices who have sensor lights!!

... No to Colgate.

When you see a good chunk of a shopping aisle in a red hue, you know the product owners want you to see their product. And why wouldn't you? Red is an attractive, eye-catching colour. However, sometimes red can be associated with things more sinister, communism, control and anger. Well, I'm angry about Colgate's control over teeth.

Colgate essentially have a monopoly operating in the toothpaste aisle. They have essentially cornered the market in visibility and in consumption of toothpaste in Australia. There are 39 listed Colgate products on their Australia website. 39!! Why? Shouldn't Colgate Total do everything? Evidently not.

Now, I wouldn't complain if they sold great products. The thing is, I get absolutely no satisfaction from using their toothpaste. No good taste, you need to use lots to get a foam happening and there is no satisfaction after you finish brushing.

As a toothpaste consumer, I measure toothpaste on the following.

1. It cleans & protects my teeth
   
2. Strong minty fresh taste
   
3. The duration of that minty freshness
4. Its foaming capabilities
   

My no. 1 toothpastes is Macleans Extreme Clean. Really hits the spot every-time. I also happy to say I have converted some people into using Macleans Extreme Clean and realising how un-satisfying Colgate is.

Every time I need to buy a new toothbrush or tube, I will loudly complain, "Whats with all the Colgate? while picking up non-Colgate products.






Stats & Info
http://www.marketresearch.com/product/print/default.asp?g=1&productid=1804765 - 08/05/2009
http://www.posc.co.nz/libraries/images/Custom/colgate-sml.jpg - 08/05/2009
http://www.epharmacy.com.au/images/productimages/50369/150.jpg - 08/05/2009
http://www.colgate.com.au/app/Colgate/AU/OC/Products/Toothpastes/Type.cvsp - 08/05/2009
http://www.gsk.com.au/products_consumer-healthcare-products_product-listing.aspx?view=272 - 08/05/2009

... Twitter = Time Waster

I don't know about you, but with so much going on in the world and so much to learn about everything, I don't understand why there is a demand for Twitter. We are faced with an ever growing information overload! Twitter does make voyeurism more accessible but what are we really doing with this information?

I sometimes find that there is not enough time in the day to capture all the knowledge I want. I am constantly trying to keep up-to-date from reading the days bulging newspapers, reading my 5 novels concurrently, going through my emails, facebook and favourite blogs. Add on top of that work/family time/social time/sleeping/eating/showering.

People are flocking like there is no tomorrow to sign up for Twitter. People are going ga-ga over the SMS like update with 140 characters. There are polls and comparisons, who has more followers, how many times did you Tweet today?

Who cares how many people follow Ashton Kutcher. What has he got to say to make my life more interesting? Do people rate their popularity based on how many people follow them? I don't write on this blog to get people to subscribe, I am happy just knowing that I can write and publish my thoughts.

Sure, companies and celebrities can profit from something like this but if I followed my 400 odd Facebook friends + 10 or so celebrities, I would not have time to scratch myself! On a typical day, what can you really expect from someone to Tweet to all their followers? "OMG I just did the washing and accidentally put something red in with the whites?"

... Respect the Flag

Aussies love their flag and all it symbolises. We have it sewn into our backpacks when we travel. We cover our faces with it on Australia day. Some have it tattooed on, others wear the flag as socks/boxers/bikinis and also ugly grandma made jumpers.


I love seeing the (tasteful) patriotic lengths people go to for the love of their country. Hell, even I have tied a flag around my neck and used it as a cape. What annoys me though is when I see flags flying that are frayed and damaged. When the Australian flag is not flying tied up well or is not hoisted properly and you second guess if its at half mast or not.

So many times I have been out and about in this great city and I have seen sorry displays of our flag. Either show it looking great or don't show it at all! There should be no place for faded or torn flags. We have laws protecting the flag from being burnt or defamed, why are we so lax about the state it is in when we fly it?


I have seen flags faded flapping in the breeze from someones car. I have seen torn and frayed flags flying high on top of buildings. I have seen flags wrapped around flagpoles so tightly and all you see flapping is a little bit of blue. For shame!

From travelling throughout the likes of France and Italy, I can say that these 2 countries fly vibrant, new looking flags. They fly them high and proud and I felt really happy to be in a country where the people are proud who they are and what they represent. We do too, its just that if you are a visitor to our beautiful country you should look elsewhere to see our pride and spirit.



Photo acknowledgements
(http://di1.shopping.com/images/di/55/37/44/4f7a506f62796944736358464357756c454741-100x100-0-0.jpg)
(http://www.bluesurf.com.au/17%20Aussie%20Bikini%20thong%20Front%20and%20Rear.jpg)
(http://www.giftlog.com/images/flag/flag_tatoo.jpg)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/391025722_1f67125d2c.jpg?v=0) All 10/04/09