Category: Opinions
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Political Insults? Been There Heard That!
As a writer who was in a verbally abusive relationship for many years, the current political climate is rather familiar. Funnily enough my main reaction to both is the same. It’s not being offended at being insulted. After the initial six weeks (in a relationship) or fifty years (in politics), I become bored… Socialist Communist…
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Horse and Carriage or Unfinished Symphony
I had to laugh (out loud on the train)! For My Dad, Kevin Whalan’s latest blog,opens with the same words as the following speech, written and delivered in 2001, while I was going through… “Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage “ Well, you don’t see that any more do you?
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I am Andrew and I am an OverResearcher : Writing Out Loud #2
“You over-research too much,” she said to me. I looked up from my desk, covered in academic papers. Then down at the floor, strewn with textbooks, references and more academic papers. “Do I? I suppose I do.” My wife shook her head at me. My name is Andrew and I am an over researcher. My…
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The Space Between Feminism and Neo-Masculinity
An Open Letter To Neo-Masculinists, MRAs, And General Dudebros Everywhere Hardly a call to feminism is it? With a title like “An Open Letter to Neo-Masculinists, MRAs, and General Dudebros Everywhere”, it just has to be click bait. Besides what the heck is a Dude-Bro? I checked the Urban Dictionary and its not me! But…
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Blue Sky Mine : The Wittenoom Tragedy
Every time I hear Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil, about the Wittenoom mining tragedy, I’m taken back in time. To 23 May 1988, to probably the saddest TV interview I have ever seen.
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All The Religion I’ll Ever Need
I’m wasting yet another Monday night Instead of doing the housework or nursing the baby, I’m in a baptism class. If I had my choice, I would be in neither place. I’m not that welcome at home. I already know what’s being taught here. I’m the Catholic in the family, I received the religious education. First at…
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Just Grandma and Me: A Reminiscence
Perhaps I should have bought the game and computer too! It began with Nicole Matejic. She was reminiscing about her old Apple personal computer experiences. In passing she mentioned the children’s game Just Grandma and Me (based on a popular children’s book). And the next thing I remember is my daughter perched on a stool…
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Movie Review : Love and Friendship
Midway through watching this movie, I came to two realisations (and then some more). The first was had the purists been present they would have glared me down to stop me from laughing. For Jane Austen isn’t universally acknowledged as the provider of a wholesome laugh. While I do acknowledge there are many sophisticated, clever…
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Hunt for The Wilder People : Movie Review
It’s 6 o’clock Saturday 11th June 2016. I’ve exited the Event Cinemas in George Street Sydney. I’m sitting on a step scribbling furiously as people pass me by, lights and shadows draping me briefly. I’m too immersed in what I’m doing to notice much else. I’ve just seen Hunt For The Wilder People, the New…
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More Than A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald
As a recent and still temporary resident of Sydney, I wanted to meet other writers. And of course to pick up some writing tips from a real-life author. Naturally, the best place and time to do both is a book launch. So there am I, on a pre-east coast low cold and rainy Wednesday (31st May 2016) at…
