'Estatic' about 'Backed' egg tarts

I have frequently espoused the value of life-long learning, so here are some thoughts on a few little treasures gleaned over the past weekend.

 Let’s start with the Canberra Times:

I’ve discovered that Gina Rinehart is the biggest victim in the current law case being waged with her children. To quote: she had been so selfless that she could not retire or pour her billions into philanthropy. Oh that I was such a victim!

The Danish royals have had a bit of coverage as well and Saturday’s edition  cited: In a recent survey Danish people emerged as the happiest in the world. What is their secret? ‘a secure life’, said the princess,’ and a well developed social system: not many people fall through the net.

A bit of thought and learning there for the Tea party and its associated mad hatters I think

When anyone next suggests I am overweight I will endeavour to confuse them by saying it is my embonpoint. Perhaps they will think I have some dreaded disease and slink away to eat another lettuce leaf. I on the other hand will know it is my Rubanesque physique that is in question thanks to the weekend article on The rise of the brassiere.

In my attempt to find a synonym for some obscure cryptic crossword clue I can across phubbing- the habit of snubbing someone in favour of a mobile phone. The interesting bit of that was that I discovered the word had been coined on behalf of Macquarie Dictionary of Australia to promote a new edition and had been circulated through social media to see how long it took to be used in general.

My granddaughter is learning to drive And I’m learning a lot of stuff about roads and road use that I had either forgotten or never knew – like a blue reflector on the road indicates a fire-hydrant  nearby. All I now have to remember is to carry my fire hose with me whenever I am out and about and I will be ready for action. 

And there are some things you learn that just continue to cause despair:

•  I know that locally we have a version of Chinese cooking that could hardly be called authentic, but Backed egg tarts – really? Get it right Canberra Times.
• When did Guarantee become guaranty?  Answer: on the banner behind a well known pots and pans brand’s stall at Floriade. Spare me please.
• I’m wondering if estacy is some form of diluted euphoria. If I believe the real insurance lady I will be estatic about what their life cover can deliver for me. Did no-one actually listen to the actor delivering the lines and pick up what she was saying?

Don’t get me started on nuclear.

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Art Work of the week

You can see this hanging at the Tuggeranong Art Gallery at the Capital Chemist 2013 Art Awards.

Vapour Trails. Acrylic on canvas

 

Secret Squirrel

Radio National is running a competition asking people to tell stories about their secrets.

 I’ve found out a lot of secret stuff lately.

1. There must be a secret book held by judges that tells them it’s OK to sentence a man who  streaks at  the football match to a jail sentence because he breached his bond to be of good behaviour for doing the same thing last year; but it’s OK to put a pedophile on a good behaviour bond even when he has pleaded guilty to four representative counts of aggravated sexual assault and one of aggravated indecent assault over five years with his own child.

2. Tony Abbott believes in secrets: If he doesn’t tell us about refugee boat arrivals, then we won’t be able to ask questions about it. Obviously his election campaigning held secret words:

 We will Stop (telling you about) the Boats

3. The ACT has secret rules for getting a learner’s permit. A near 16 year old cannot prove their residency unless accompanied to the application line with a parent or legal guardian who can swear they live where they say they live.  Ask them where that is written in the instructions/ on the website and all they can produce is an internal memo to staff that makes a vague and ambiguous reference to Statutory Declarations. Regardless of having a passport, a birth certificate and numerous bits of other identification and verification, you cannot beat the secret rules of the system. So make sure you take a day off work when your teenager needs to get their permit.

4. There are secret rules for being the best candidate for the job: that accounts for why our only female minister is Barbie Bishop.

5. Norfolk Island is a well kept secret. I had a week there recuperating from the election results. It was bliss.

6. http://www.postsecret.com/ is a site that invites people to anonymously post in their secrets on a post card. This is my favourite:

                                        

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, since 1970 the US and Australia have eavesdropped on the rest of the world from Pine Gap. 

OMG - does that mean my Blog audience is way bigger than I thought?