Mid-June Madness

After two crazy weeks of too much work, too much booze and too much sickness (strangely the last too were found to be unrelated) my time spent whining about the ways of the world has been limited. Thus, here is a round-up of the best of the rest:


Utes vs. Prostitutes - While Australian politicians from both sides of the table have been embrolied in the called "Utegate" affair, Italy's old seedy Silvio has been at it at again. And I totally agree with Leo Shanahan's article Our scandals suck, just ask Silvio Berlusconi. Somehow seedy Silvio's ability to run the country is not questioned, even though his moral standards are decidedly lapse.

Stars and Strife - I don't have a tattoo (I think I'd get bored of it too quickly) but from what the cool kids tell me, they sting a tiny bit too much to ever fall asleep during their application. Was anyone really surprised when she admitted she was lying?



Make and Model - British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman sent a letter to some of the world's biggest fashion designers, blasting their creation of teeny tiny doll clothes that are somehow supposed to be purchased and worn by fully-grown adults. She argues that the women required to model the clothes are now so incredibly skinny, Vogue regularly retouch images to make their models seem less creepy-thin. Good on her I say. There's skinny models and then there's just gross and unwell.

Baby in da House - Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young decided to take her toddler to work for the day. To Parliment House. During a vote, two-year-old Kora had to be removed from the house, obviously distressing both mother and child. Of course it sounds a bit mean by the powers that be to do such a thing but, when you think about it, could you take your kids to work? Check-out chick? No. Lawyer? Probably not. As Tory Maguire wrote, the senator had a multitude of other options available to her, apparently including a child care centre complete with marble sand pit.