FOLLOW US, WE'RE FAT!

I’ve been wondering for a while just how long it would take for Obesity to move from being a medical issue to a social one, it seems we are right now on that cusp. Obesity has had so much bad publicity - deservingly so – over the past 5 years that the obese are striking back, no longer satisfied with the social stigma, and  often unable to lose the weight, the obese are becoming a large majority.

Fat activist Jackie Wykes recently posted a volatile question via theconversation.edu.au, asking How Anti Obesity Campaigns Re-inforce Stigma. Ms Wykes says “By focusing on weight as the problem and weight loss as the solution, social and economic inequalities are made invisible.” I’d reckon that in this country at least – and the world generally –  supermarkets would disagree entirely, never have groceries – fresh included – ever been so inexpensive, there is literally NO excuse today for BAD EATING HABITS!

According to Ms Wykes, health disparities between groups are blamed on individuals for not making healthy choices, ignoring the ways that the choices available to comfortably middle-class white Australians are often very different to those available to people on low incomes, to recent immigrants, or to Indigenous Australians.

This rhetoric clearly scirts the issue – yes obese people have rights, more rights than drug addicts, less than breast cancer patients, and about the same as rights as smokers –  in my mind the formula is pretty simple, EAT LESS! If you wish to make the argument complicated - it’s still diet based for the majority of obesity – then EAT CAREFULLY! :: Read the full article »»»»

FOLLOW US, WE'RE FAT!

I’ve been wondering for a while just how long it would take for Obesity to move from being a medical issue to a social one, it seems we are right now on that cusp. Obesity has had so much bad publicity - deservingly so – over the past 5 years that the obese are striking back, no longer satisfied with the social stigma, and  often unable to lose the weight, the obese are becoming a large majority.

Fat activist Jackie Wykes recently posted a volatile question via theconversation.edu.au, asking How Anti Obesity Campaigns Re-inforce Stigma. Ms Wykes says “By focusing on weight as the problem and weight loss as the solution, social and economic inequalities are made invisible.” I’d reckon that in this country at least – and the world generally –  supermarkets would disagree entirely, never have groceries – fresh included – ever been so inexpensive, there is literally NO excuse today for BAD EATING HABITS!

According to Ms Wykes, health disparities between groups are blamed on individuals for not making healthy choices, ignoring the ways that the choices available to comfortably middle-class white Australians are often very different to those available to people on low incomes, to recent immigrants, or to Indigenous Australians.

This rhetoric clearly scirts the issue – yes obese people have rights, more rights than drug addicts, less than breast cancer patients, and about the same as rights as smokers –  in my mind the formula is pretty simple, EAT LESS! If you wish to make the argument complicated - it’s still diet based for the majority of obesity – then EAT CAREFULLY! :: Read the full article »»»»

MELBOURNE: Shed Cinema

First it was gardens, then rooftops, now it’s the shed. Melbourne can’t enough enough of DIY cinemas. And neither can we. Staring at the white walls in his backyard, owning a not-so-often-used projector and being a perpetual movie enthusiast, George Clipp had a light bulb go off on a few year ago. He thought: short movies, group of friends and their friends, open air, barbie, bevies. He connected the dots: Shed Cinema!

The first Shed Cinema showcased co-founder Matt Cleaves’ shorts for the ‘grand opening’. Equally talented moviemakers, George and Matt were so happy with their first session that they decided to keep the ball rolling. Their short film appreciation happens four times a year and it’s open to everyone. There’s no fixed theme so it’s an eclectic mix of genres (just like the eclectic audience).

It’s a free flowing event with no certain patterns. Guests are invited from 7.30pm, though the screening doesn’t kick off until it’s dark. The time in between is what creates the difference with the other outdoor cinema events.

South Melbourne Street Eats

Our favorite Melbourne online newsletter has an ubercool rundown on South Melbourne Street Eats: South Melbourne has some smokin’ locals – Deadman Espresso, St Ali, Freestyle Espresso and Chez Dre all do a cracking lunch trade, but when you spend 50+ hours in the suburb (like myself) it’s not hard to crave the luxury of variety our city slicking compadres have.

Lucky for us south-siders the Cecil Street strip of South Melbourne Market has had a recent resurgence, with renovations and new tenancies greatly improving the dining calibre on the strip.

Hamilton Island! Googles Top Australian Holiday Destination

Our favorite – as if there were another – internet search behemoth Google last week released results for most searched holiday spots on the planet. Hamilton Island unsurprisingly, was the most popular travel destination searched on its Australian website this year. Google says the Whitsunday region featured prominently in the top 10 travel searches, with Hayman Island sixth and the Great Barrier Reef seventh. Hamilton Island is perfectly situated on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, sat in the midst of Queensland’s 74 Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other, glorious weather, azure waters, brilliant beaches, awe-inspiring coral reefs, fascinating flora and fauna, fine food and wines, and activities almost too numerous to mention, oh and a superlative new Golf Course for those with the addiction. V★P READ MORE

GCHQ Spy Recruitment Code Cracked Within Hours

The UK’s Government Communications Headquarters - GCHQ - the intelligence agency responsible for recruiting spy’s, launched an online code-breaking game in an attempt to attract the country’s brightest minds via an online code-cracking website. According to GCHQ, the code was cracked within hours of it’s release. The agency, which works with MI5 and MI6, has invited applicants to demonstrate their code-cracking ability by deciphering a series of letters and numbers. The initiative is part of a drive to help shore up the country against potential cyber attacks in the future. Successful code-crackers will not only win the internet game – though there isn’t a prize –  but they could also land a job. The game was launched last month and carries on until December 12. Breaking the code, however, does not guarantee a job. A successful code-breaker will be put through to the GCHQ website and invited to apply for a post. So far more than 50 people have successfully cracked the code, a spokesman said, 80 per cent of whom have made an application through the agency’s website. M★S  READ MORE