Growing up as the son of a Baptist minister in a family heavily involved in the church, the world was presented as a starkly illuminated contrast of black and white, a demarcation between Christian morality which was, naturally enough, presented as good, and worldly values which were quite obviously and Continue Reading
Bill Murray returns to Groundhog Day in playful new car ad
SNAPSHOTIt’s “Groundhog Day” all over again as Jeep brand debuts a Big Game spot starring Bill Murray (in his first-ever national television commercial). But this time reliving the same day over and over again is always a new adventure when you’re driving the 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Jeep. There’s only one. Continue Reading
Movie review: Little Women
So ubiquitous is Little Women, the classic novel published by Louisa May Alcott originally published in two parts in 1868 and 1869, that it is all too easy to forget how revolutionary it was in its time. The novel, which focuses on lives of the four March sisters – Meg Continue Reading
Book review: When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
We all want a simple life. One in which goodies are goodies and baddies are baddies and there is no massive murky grey zone spreading out between the black and white which are never close enough or as well defined as many of us would like. But that’s life – Continue Reading
Ragnarok review: “New Boy” and “541 Meters” (E1 & E2)
It’s reasonable assumption that if you are a nervous nerdy high schooler, newly-arrived in town, and the wife of the old man you stop to help across the street touches your forehead and your eyes flash with lightning, that you might more than “new kid” syndrome to deal with. Throughout Continue Reading
Book review: Inland by Téa Obreht
In our rush to make some sort of liveable accommodation with the vagaries and contradictions of life, we often fall into the trap of lionising it without paying sufficiently heed to its drawbacks, losses and complications. It’s understandable – while the business of living might feel like a short and Continue Reading
Weekend pop art: Be My pop culture Valentine says PJ McQuade
Cole Porter knew that everyone was into love, declaring in his iconic song, “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)” … Birds do it, bees do itEven educated fleas do itLet’s do it, let’s fall in love. Someone else who knows about the universality of love and romance is PJ Continue Reading
Book review: Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
It’s a rare thing indeed for great life changes to arrive without any trauma. In fact, many times, the sense of disruption and loss can be profound and while we usually emerge out the other side, we are changed, making a return to business as usual, which no longer exists Continue Reading
Movie review: A Guide to Second Date Sex
Ryan (George MacKay) and Laura (Alexandra Roach) like each other. They really, REALLY like each other. Having only a met a week earlier in a noisy nightclub when they standing awkwardly side-by-side and, ignored by the bartender, had no real choice but to try and talk to each other. What Continue Reading
Australia Decides for #Eurovision 2020: Which of 10 songs will be the country’s official entry? + Eurovision update
Australia is, once again, going to Eurovision! To make sure we make quite a splash and make the most of our time in the Eurovision musical sun – we are in the contest until 2023 at this stage – Australia Decides has been created to select the artist who will Continue Reading