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"Do better": Baggage handlers captured recklessly throwing wheelchairs

<p>American Airlines has been forced to apologise after two baggage handlers were captured recklessly throwing around wheelchairs. </p> <p>The video of the staffers was captured and posted to TikTok, showing two men in hi-vis at Miami Airport throwing a wheelchair down a slide. </p> <p>The chair hits the bottom with such force that it is catapulted off the chute.</p> <p>In the caption of the video, the poster revealed it was not the first mobility device to suffer such a fate, as she wrote, "Dang, after I saw them do this and laugh with the first two wheelchairs I had to get it on film."</p> <p>She added that it wasn't what she would call "handling with care" for a mobility device.</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7303306999909960990&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40haez93%2Fvideo%2F7303306999909960990%3Flang%3Den&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast8-p-0068-tx2%2FoIRPINBLSaBIEAVIxqpEaik1LBxVjiEZAq5m5%3Fx-expires%3D1700863200%26x-signature%3DumASXIu6Qa1eNNxX0Jshk1pfrJQ%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>The video has racked up over 2 million viewers, with many flocking to the comments to share their thoughts.</p> <p>"This makes me rage. That is literally someone's lifeline," one person wrote. </p> <p>"Knowing our healthcare system that basic wheelchair was soooooo f-ing expensive," another added. </p> <p>A commenter clarified, "these chairs cost upwards of $3k plus. They aren't easily replaceable and insurance only covers new chairs every 5 years".</p> <p>Another person wrote, "From a wheelchair user, thank you for posting this and raising awareness," while another angry viewer simply wrote, "Do better American Airlines". </p> <p>After the video quickly went viral on social media, the airline issued a statement on the incident, as American Airlines spokesperson Amy Lawrence told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2023/11/20/american-airlines-wheelchair-miami-mishandling-video/71655649007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>USA Today</em></a> in a statement: "We recognise how important it is to support the independence of customers with disabilities by ensuring the proper care of mobility devices throughout their journey with us."</p> <p>"This visual is deeply concerning and we are gathering more details so that we can address them with our team. We will continue to work hard to improve our handling of assistive devices across our network."</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Streets of purple haze: how the South American jacaranda became a symbol of Australian spring

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-k-martin-107846">Susan K Martin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a></em></p> <p>Jacaranda season is beginning across Australia as an explosion of vivid blue spreads in a wave from north to south. We think of jacarandas as a signature tree of various Australian cities. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth all feature avenues of them.</p> <p>Grafton in New South Wales hosts an annual <a href="https://www.jacarandafestival.com/">jacaranda festival</a>. Herberton in Queensland is noted for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jacarandafestivalherberton/">its seasonal show</a>.</p> <p>There are significant plantings in many botanic, public and university gardens across Australia. <em>Jacaranda mimosifolia</em> (the most common species in Australia) doesn’t generally flower in Darwin, and Hobart is a little cold for it.</p> <p>So showy and ubiquitous, jacarandas can be mistaken for natives, but they originate in South America. The imperial plant-exchange networks of the 19th century introduced them to Australia.</p> <p>But how did these purple trees find their stronghold in our suburbs?</p> <h2>Propagating the trees</h2> <p>Botanist Alan Cunningham sent the first jacaranda specimens from <a href="https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/dream-tree-jacaranda-sydney-icon/">Rio to Britain’s Kew gardens</a> around 1818.</p> <p>Possibly, jacaranda trees arrived from Kew in colonial Australia. Alternately, Cunningham may have disseminated the tree in his later postings in Australia or through plant and seed exchanges.</p> <p>Jacarandas are a widespread imperial introduction and are now a feature of many temperate former colonies. The jacaranda was exported by the British from Kew, by other colonial powers (Portugal for example) and directly from South America to various colonies.</p> <p>Jacarandas grow from seed quite readily, but the often preferred mode of plant propagation in the 19th century was through cuttings because of sometimes <a href="https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/dream-tree-jacaranda-sydney-icon/">unreliable seed</a> and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/histres/article/93/262/715/5938031?login=true">volume of results</a>.</p> <p>Cuttings are less feasible for the jacaranda, so the tree was admired but rare in Australia until either nurseryman Michael Guilfoyle or gardener George Mortimer succeeded in propagating the tree in 1868.</p> <p>Once the trees could be easily propagated, <a href="https://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/library/local_history/woollahra_plaque_scheme/plaques/michael_guilfoyle">jacarandas became more widely available</a> and they began their spread through Australian suburbs.</p> <h2>A colonial import</h2> <p>Brisbane claims the earliest jacaranda tree in Australia, <a href="https://blog.qagoma.qld.gov.au/godfrey-rivers-under-the-jacaranda-a-quintessential-image-of-brisbane-queensland/">planted in 1864</a>, but the Sydney Botanic Garden jacaranda is dated at “around” 1850, and jacarandas were listed for sale in <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13055858?searchTerm=Jacaranda%20OR%20Jakaranda">Sydney in 1861</a>.</p> <p>These early park and garden plantings were eye-catching – but the real impact and popularity of jacarandas is a result of later street plantings.</p> <p>Jacaranda avenues, in Australia and around the world, usually indicate wealthier suburbs like Dunkeld in <a href="https://www.wisemove.co.za/post/top-10-richest-suburbs-in-johannesburg">Johannesberg</a> and Kilimani in <a href="https://gay.medium.com/hashtag-jacaranda-propaganda-2f20ac6958b9">Nairobi</a>.</p> <p>In Australia, these extravagant displays appear in older, genteel suburbs like Subiaco and Applecross in Perth; Kirribilli, Paddington and Lavender Bay in Sydney; Parkville and the Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy in Melbourne; Mitcham, Frewville and Westbourne Park in Adelaide; and St Lucia in Brisbane.</p> <p>The trend toward urban street avenue plantings expanded internationally in the <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.2307/3983816?journalCode=foreconshist">mid 19th century</a>. It was particularly popular in growing colonial towns and cities. It followed trends in imperial centres, but new colonial cities offered scope for <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/whp/eh/2009/00000015/00000003/art00004">concerted planning of avenues in new streets</a>.</p> <p>Early Australian streets were often host to a mix of native plants and exotic imported trees. Joseph Maiden, director of the Sydney Botanic Gardens from 1896, drove the move from mixed street plantings towards avenues of single-species trees in the early 20th century.</p> <p>Maiden selected trees suitable to their proposed area, but he was also driven by contemporary aesthetic ideas of <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/whp/eh/2009/00000015/00000003/art00004">uniformity and display</a>.</p> <p>By the end of the 19th century, deciduous trees were becoming more popular as tree plantings for their variety and, in southern areas, for the openness to winter sunshine.</p> <p>It takes around ten years for jacaranda trees to become established. Newly planted jacarandas take between two and 14 years to produce their first flowers, so there was foresight in planning to achieve the streets we have today.</p> <p>In Melbourne, jacarandas were popular in post-first world war plantings. They were displaced by a move to native trees after the second world war. Despite localised popularity in certain suburbs, the jacaranda does not make the list of top 50 tree plantings for <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/220356756/714CC7FF6134038PQ/6?accountid=12001">Melbourne</a>.</p> <p>In Queensland, 19th-century street tree planting was particularly ad hoc – the <a href="https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=602440">Eagle Street fig trees</a> are an example – and offset by enthusiastic forest clearance. It wasn’t until the early 20th century street beautification became more organised and jacaranda avenues were planted in areas like New Farm in Brisbane.</p> <p>The popular plantings on the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland occurred later, in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/queensland-review/article/abs/for-shade-colour-and-in-memory-of-sacrifice-amenity-and-memorial-tree-planting-in-queenslands-towns-and-cities-191555/459CD1E02E7FD581B4B89ADD7073D705">1930s</a>.</p> <h2>A flower for luck</h2> <p>In Australia, as elsewhere, there can be too much of a good thing. Jacarandas are an invasive species <a href="https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/jacaranda">in parts of Australia</a> (they seed readily in the warm dry climates to which they have been introduced).</p> <p>Parts of South Africa have limited or banned the planting of jacarandas because of their water demands and <a href="http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0006-82412017000200020">invasive tendencies</a>. Ironically, eucalypts have a similar status in South Africa.</p> <p>Writer <a href="https://gay.medium.com/hashtag-jacaranda-propaganda-2f20ac6958b9">Carey Baraka argues</a> that, however beloved and iconic now, significant plantings of jacarandas in Kenya indicate areas of past and present white population and colonial domination.</p> <p>Despite these drawbacks, spectacular jacaranda plantings remain popular where they have been introduced. There are even myths about them that cross international boundaries.</p> <p>In the southern hemisphere – in Pretoria or Sydney – they bloom on university campuses during examination time: the first blooms mark the time to study; the fall of blooms suggests it is <a href="https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/dream-tree-jacaranda-sydney-icon/">too late</a>; and the fall of a blossom on a student bestows <a href="https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/34">good luck</a>.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/214075/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-k-martin-107846"><em>Susan K Martin</em></a><em>, Emeritus Professor in English, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/streets-of-purple-haze-how-the-south-american-jacaranda-became-a-symbol-of-australian-spring-214075">original article</a>.</em></p>

Home & Garden

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“The greatest American novelist” Cormac McCarthy passes away at 89

<p dir="ltr">American novelist Cormac McCarthy, the mind behind the classic works <em>The Road</em>, <em>No Country for Old Men</em>, and <em>All the Pretty Horses</em>, has passed away at the age of 89. </p> <p dir="ltr">The news was broken by McCarthy’s publisher, Alfred A Knopf, with a post to social media announcing that the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer had “died today of natural causes at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.”</p> <p dir="ltr">McCarthy enjoyed a near 60-year career, penning 12 novels, five screenplays, three short stories, and two plays. And while some may not have soared to commercial heights, many achieved critical acclaim, with late literary critic Howard Bloom even dubbing him the “true heir” of the likes of Herman Melville and William Faulkner. </p> <p dir="ltr">And in 2007, his novel 2006<em> The Road</em> won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, also for Fiction. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Road </em>was arguably McCarthy’s best known work, and followed the journey of a father and his son in a post-apocalyptic world. It was adapted into a film in 2009, like McCarthy’s other two critically acclaimed books, <em>All the Pretty Horses</em> and<em> No Country for Old Men</em>. The latter saw great success in the 2008 Academy Awards, claiming the coveted title of Best Picture.</p> <p dir="ltr">And despite his literary accomplishments, McCarthy opted to remain in relative obscurity for the majority of his career. In 1992, the<em> New York Times Book Review </em>suggested that he might be “the best unknown novelist in America”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The media painted McCarthy as a reclusive figure, and it was well-known that the author preferred not to discuss his books, though Oprah Winfrey managed to get him in for his first - and only - TV interview after <em>The Road </em>featured in her book club.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You always have this hope that ‘today I'm going to do something better than I've ever done’," he told her. "I like what I do."</p> <p dir="ltr">“Some writers have said in print that they hated writing, it was just a chore and a burden. I certainly don't feel that way about it,” McCarthy went on to explain. “Sometimes it's difficult but you always have this image of the perfect thing which you can never achieve but which you never stop trying to achieve."</p> <p dir="ltr">Friends, writers, and fans took to social media in the wake of the news, with tributes to share their love for McCarthy and his works, as well as their agreement that he had achieved something very special throughout his life and literature. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Cormac McCarthy, maybe the greatest American novelist of my time, has passed away at 89,” author Stephen King wrote. “He was full of years and created a fine body of work, but I still mourn his passing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“When a great artist dies, there is the moment when the world understands it will never again have a new creation from that mind, that heart, that vast soul. It is a loss beyond measure, but what that soul has left us is a gift beyond time,” writer Joseph Fasano shared. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I love every book McCarthy wrote,” one fan declared. “From a film point of view, his writing was so good that the Coen Brothers hardly changed a word of dialogue when they adapted <em>No Country For Old Men</em>. Why would they? You can't improve on perfection.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And as another said, “Cormac McCarthy’s writing was mean, and despairing, with a pretty withering view of humankind, and the cruel engines that drive it. but he had that faint flicker of belief that it could be different. ‘He can know his heart, but he don’t want to.’ gotta tend that flame folks. RIP.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

News

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American influencer shocked to discover speed cameras are real

<p dir="ltr">An American influencer currently living in Sydney has learned an expensive lesson in obeying the rules of the road, particularly while in full view of speed cameras.</p> <p dir="ltr">TikToker Sophia Kim was caught racing through Sydney’s Cross City Tunnel at 21 km/h over the speed limit - 101 km/h in an 80 km/h zone - and took to social media to share her surprise at receiving a ticket for her actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a video posted to her TikTok account, Sophia broke the news to her followers, running through what had transpired - her ‘reasons’ for speeding, and sharing images of her car between lanes in the tunnel, along with the caption “this is BS and I was only going 60 mph”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I got a speeding fine because I was going 100km in the Cross City Tunnel when it was 80km,” she explained in the now-viral post, “and apparently there are cameras in the tunnel.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As an American, I got a licence here without taking any test, without learning about the Australian [driving] laws here, and I didn’t realise that you guys have cameras for speeding in the tunnels.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And apparently there are signs everywhere.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sophia went on to describe how she’d been “so focussed on driving” and “stressed out” trying to navigate while “driving for the first time in a different country on the other side of the road”.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the TikToker, at home in America there might be cameras involved when it came to running red lights, but that speeding offences fell to police officers and their scanners. At this stage, Sophia was talking over an image of her car with an 80 km/h sign clear on the ceiling of the tunnel.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The fine is $295,” she announced, before revealing that she’d been having a great day, on her way to Fashion Week events, and “was rushing to get there.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought I was saving money by driving and not Ubering but no, it’s actually more when you get a fine.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It turns out that Sophia had borrowed the car from a friend, who informed her that he couldn’t afford “to lose 3 points over this”, and had to transfer the fine into her name.</p> <p dir="ltr">And despite claiming that she would pay the fine and have the points deducted from her licence, she then asked her followers if she “should fight this”.</p> <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7237487133483814187&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40sophiainsydney%2Fvideo%2F7237487133483814187&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Ff969d5dac251496aa62d08dfdb8a417f_1685108800%3Fx-expires%3D1685433600%26x-signature%3D%252FwZf1iguRsEhBEcz37LOvMtuELI%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p dir="ltr">Her post attracted more than 9,000 comments, and while some took Sophia’s side, most were of the opinion that fighting the fine would be a waste of time, and had many thoughts to share about the whole situation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There’s no fighting this one,” one told her, “if there’s a speed sign that says 80 right in front of you they’re not gonna be forgivable”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That's a fair bit over the limit. Maybe just don't speed hey!” one suggested.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If only there were large LED displays hung above the road every 1 km to tell you the maximum speed you can do,” another mused.</p> <p dir="ltr">And as a like-minded soul put it, “[it’s] almost like speed signs exist for a reason and not decoration”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Because the signs with the speed limit and the fact they tell you every 100m there’s a speed camera don’t help,” someone else added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, one was of the opinion that it could have been worse, sharing that “in QLD that would be a $646 fine for 21km over the limit. NSW is cheap”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Lesson learned I guess,” one more supposed, before noting that at least “now you know."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Legal

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American zoo apologises to disgruntled New Zealanders

<p>An American zoo has issued an apology after admitting it made a “huge mistake” that outraged an entire country.</p> <p>Footage of Miami Zoo’s paid encounters with Paora the kiwi went viral online, showing the bird being handled and passed around for pictures in broad daylights and under bright lights despite being a shy, nocturnal animal.</p> <p>The handling of their national icon had New Zealanders fired up, with a petition to save the “mistreated” animal being launched amid the video, which received more than 10,000 signatures.</p> <p>“He has been tamed and is subjected to bright fluorescent lighting four days a week, being handled by dozens of strangers, petted on his sensitive whiskers, laughed at, and shown off like a toy,” the petition read.</p> <p>“Kiwi are nocturnal animals, who should be kept in suitable dark enclosures, and minimally handled.</p> <p>“The best practice manual for kiwi states that they shouldn’t be handled often or taken out of their burrow to be held by the public. He is kept awake during the day, with only a small box in a brightly lit enclosure to mimic his natural underground habitat.”</p> <p>The zoo’s communications director Ron Magill has confirmed the attraction has been cancelled and has issued his own apology in an interview with the <em>New Zealand Herald</em>.</p> <p>“We regret the unintentional stress caused by a video on social media depicting the handling of Paora, the kiwi bird currently housed within Zoo Miami,” Magill said.</p> <p>He also told RNZ he had informed the zoo’s director that “we have offended a nation”.</p> <p>“When I saw the video myself I said we have made a huge mistake here,” he said.</p> <p>“I am so sorry. I am so remorseful. Someone asked how would you feel if we did that to your bald eagle, and you’re 100 per cent right.</p> <p>“I never want to come across as making excuses, I am here to apologise … to everyone. I feel profoundly terrible about this.”</p> <p>However, Magill noted Paora was healthy and well despite the uproar.</p> <p>“He eats like he’s on a spa day every day and he’s doing well. It doesn’t excuse what he was subjected to. But I promise it will never happen again,” he said.</p> <p>After the video went viral, the zoo was bombarded with complaints, with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation confirming it would be “discussing the situation with the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums to address some of the housing and handling concerns raised”.</p> <p>New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins also weighed in, claiming the ordeal “shows a lot of Kiwis take pride in our national bird when they’re overseas”.</p> <p>“The New Zealanders who witnessed what was happening there caught it pretty quickly,” he said, adding that the zoo had “made public statements of regret on what’s happened, and I acknowledge that and thank them for taking it seriously”.</p> <p>The kiwi is considered to be a Taonga species - native birds, plants and animals of special cultural significance and importance to native New Zealanders.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Lionel Richie spills the one thing “no one knows” about King Charles

<p dir="ltr">Lionel Richie has spilled the tea on his interactions with King Charles over coronation weekend.</p> <p dir="ltr">The American singer, who attended the coronation and headlined the concert at Windsor Castle on May 7, shared some of the highlights in an interview with <em>Extra</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Richie praised King Charles’ “amazing” sense of humour, and shared how he convinced the Royal Couple to make a guest appearance on <em>American Idol </em>last Sunday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think the highlight for me was that I actually walked up to the King the day after the coronation and said, ‘Would you like to be on “American Idol?” he told <em>Extra.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Surprisingly, King Charles replied: “Yeah” and asked if it was alright to “bring the queen?”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I've known the King for quite a long time. He does have this amazing sense of humour that no one knows about.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He's a secret comedian, I'll put that out there,” Richie added.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For him to actually take the step and go out of the comfort zone — that was actually his comfort zone, he was hamming it up… It’s so good for the world to know.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Thanks to Richie’s little quip, the surprise cameo made headlines and gave viewers insight into the Royal couple’s playful rapport.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cameo, which was streamed live in the palace’s Throne Room, occurred shortly after Richie performed at the coronation concert.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just wanted to check, how much, how long will you be using this room for?” King Charles quipped, suggesting that he wanted Richie out of the throne room as soon as possible.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have to give the room up right away,” Richie replied.</p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles and Richie’s friendship came after the latter was appointed the First Global Ambassador and First Chairman of the Global Ambassador Group for The Prince’s Trust in 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: ABC American Idol/ YouTube</em></p>

Music

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00-No: US traveller puts border security to the test with a golden gun

<p>A 28-year-old traveller from the United States has been arrested after Australian Border Force officers allegedly discovered a firearm in her luggage. </p> <p>According to a report on the ABF website, the weapon - a 24-carat gold-plated handgun - was unregistered, and the passenger was not in possession of “a permit to import or possess the firearm in Australia.”</p> <p>If convicted, she will face up to 10 years of imprisonment. And while she was arrested and charged, she was released on bail at Downing Centre Local Court, and is expected to face court again in a month’s time. She remains subject to visa cancellation, and faces the likelihood of being removed from Australia. </p> <p>As ABF Enforcement and Detained Goods East Commander Justin Bathurst explained, the discovery was made with a combination of ABC officer skills and detection technology, one that served to prevent a dangerous weapon from entering the Australian community. </p> <p>“Time and time again, we have seen just how good ABF officers are at targeting and stopping illegal, and highly dangerous, goods from crossing Australia's border," he said.</p> <p>“The ABF is Australia's first and most important line of defence. ABF officers are committed to protecting our community by working with law enforcement partners to prevent items like unregistered firearms getting through at the border."</p> <p>Photos distributed by the ABF present the image of the gun in its case, as well as a scan of the passenger’s luggage, with the gun clearly visible among the rest of her possessions. </p> <p>While travellers on domestic flights within the United States are able to carry firearms in their checked luggage - granted they are unloaded and securely locked away, and the proper authorities have been informed - Australia has much stricter laws surrounding firearms. </p> <p>In the wake of a 1996 Tasmanian tragedy, in which 35 people lost their lives to a gunman, all automatic and semi-automatic weapons were outlawed in the country. Meanwhile, in the United States, a frightening sum of 6,301 were confiscated at checkpoints as of December 2022, according to the Transportation Security Administration.</p> <p>For many, the news was broken on social media, with comments sections reflecting the shock - and disapproval - of the masses, with the occasional 007 reference thrown in. </p> <p>“Smuggling firearms into Australia is a serious offence,” wrote one on Twitter, “and should be met with the full force of the law as it endangers citizen safety.”</p> <p>“That’s a fantastic bit of security work by our airport staff,” someone commended. </p> <p>Another had one very important question, asking “how did she get it out of the US to begin with...??? TSA should have caught that at the airport before she even left. Even if it was in a checked bag, it still had to be declared.”</p> <p><em>Images: Australian Border Force</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Airline responds to "fat-shaming" onboard comments

<p dir="ltr">Dr Sydney Watson – a US-based Australian journalist and political commentator – took to Twitter on October 11 to complain about being sat between two obese people on an American Airlines flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her mid-flight comments caused an immediate furore as she posted that “I am currently - literally - WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight,” along with a photo of her personal space being invaded.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is absolutely NOT acceptable or okay. If fat people want to be fat, fine. But it is something else entirely when I'm stuck between you, with your arm rolls on my body, for 3 hours.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don't care if this is mean. My entire body is currently being touched against my wishes. I can't even put the arm rests down on either side because there's no f***ing room.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm sick of acting like fatness to this extent is normal. Let me assure you, it is not.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you need a seat belt extender, you are TOO FAT TO BE ON A PLANE.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Buy two seats or don't fly.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am currently - literally - WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight.</p> <p>This is absolutely NOT acceptable or okay. If fat people want to be fat, fine. But it is something else entirely when I'm stuck between you, with your arm rolls on my body, for 3 hours. <a href="https://t.co/9uIqcpJO8I">pic.twitter.com/9uIqcpJO8I</a></p> <p>— Dr. Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyLWatson/status/1579609743244800006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Dr Watson said she asked the passenger on her right if he wanted to move to sit next to his sister to which he declined.</p> <p dir="ltr">She continued the rest of her flight sitting uncomfortably with no air hostess offering to switch her seat.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her complaint went viral with the official American Airlines Twitter account responding to Dr Watson saying: “Our passengers come in all different sizes and shapes. We're sorry you were uncomfortable on your flight.”</p> <p dir="ltr">This however was not enough for Dr Watson who eventually found out that “what happened to me went against American Airlines own policies regarding overweight passengers.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A few days later after her initial flight, an American Airlines worker got in contact with Dr Watson apologising for the inconvenience and offered her a $150 Trip Credit.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I'd rather take the $150 American Airlines offered me as a refund and give it to someone who needs a PT or a gym membership,” she tweeted in response.</p> <p dir="ltr">Still furious at what occurred on the flight, Dr Watson said she has no regrets over being in the news for fat shaming.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm not sorry. I meant everything I said. Justifying obesity is NOT OKAY,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And, rock on to anyone trying to lose weight and change their lives. I believe in you.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter/Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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American Idol runner up dies at age 23

<p><em>American Idol</em> runner-up Willie Spence has tragically died from injuries sustained in a car accident at age 23. </p> <p>The talented musician was in Tennessee at the time of the accident according to local news outlet Douglas Now. </p> <p>Upon hearing of his death, <em>American Idol</em> shared an emotional statement. </p> <p>“We are devastated about the passing of our beloved <em>American Idol</em> family member, Willie Spence,” the show said in a statement on Twitter.</p> <p>“He was a true talent who lit up every room he entered and will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to his loved ones.”</p> <p>Katharine McPhee, who performed a duet with Spence during his appearance on Season 19, posted videos mourning him on her Instagram Story.</p> <p>“I received very tragic news tonight,” she wrote above a video of her and Spence meeting. “Sweet @williespenceofficial passed away in a car accident. Only 23 years old. Life is so unfair and nothing is ever promised."</p> <p>“God rest your soul Willie. It was a pleasure to sing with you and to know you.”</p> <p>McPhee, 38, added a series of broken-heart emojis and also reposted the last video Spence shared, which shows him belting out a Christian song in a car, right before the accident.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjlR1TyguSc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjlR1TyguSc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by StarInTheMaking💥✨🎙🙏🏽 (@williespenceofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“He posted this right before the accident,” she added.</p> <p>Fans and followers flooded Spence’s post with comments about the tragic accident.</p> <p>“Fly and sing with the angels and dance among the stars friend! RIH️,” commented one.</p> <p>“OMG I am so at a loss for words. Not you Willie! Wow … ️ Rest in Paradise, king,” commented another.</p> <p>Film producer Randall Emmett also paid tribute to his “friend” on his Instagram Story.</p> <p>“My heart is broken and my prayers go out to his family,” he wrote over a photo of Spence. “I was lucky to have him sing for me live at my home and other events, I will miss you my friend. I know you touched so many of us. I’m heart broken.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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What does American basketballer Shaquille O’Neal have to do with the Indigenous Voice to Parliament?

<p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with former NBA star and current TV personality Shaquille O’Neal in Sydney to enlist the sport star’s support for constitutional recognition for an Indigenous voice. O’Neal <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/from-insulting-to-welcome-shaquille-oneals-support-for-indigenous-reform-draws-mixed-reactions/0jlz2g5wo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voiced his support</a> for changes to the Australian Constitution, but is his voice the right one?</p> <p>The prime minister claimed O'Neal reached out to him because “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-27/shaquille-o-neal-anthony-albanese-voice-to-parliament/101379246" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he wanted to inform himself</a> about what this debate was about”.</p> <p>Now O'Neal will be a part of the government’s campaign to change the constitution, recording a 15-second advertisement for free. He is meant to be the first of many stars, including unnamed players in the AFL, NRL basketball and netball organisations, to offer their public support for an Indigenous Voice to parliament.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">What are your thoughts? 💬<a href="https://twitter.com/SHAQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SHAQ</a> visited Parliament over the weekend to meet with PM <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlboMP</a> and Minister for Indigenous Australians <a href="https://twitter.com/LindaBurneyMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LindaBurneyMP</a> in a show of support for the Government's proposed Indigenous voice to Parliament campaign.⁠<br />⁠<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VoiceToParliament?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VoiceToParliament</a> <a href="https://t.co/9SCIfBk7xM">pic.twitter.com/9SCIfBk7xM</a></p> <p>— NITV (@NITV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NITV/status/1564078033727791104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <h2>Whose voice should be heard on the issue?</h2> <p>For many, the selection of “Shaq” as a spokesperson for the Indigenous Voice to parliament is a strange one. O’Neal is well-known for his viral and sometimes problematic performances on and off the court.</p> <p>During his NBA career, O'Neal built a reputation as an overpowering post presence and a savvy media jokester. In his current job as a sports analyst on the popular television show Inside the NBA, he hosts a popular segment known as “<a href="https://www.nba.com/watch/list/collection/shaqtin-a-fool" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shaq’tin A Fool</a>,” which features bloopers from recent games.</p> <p>He has made some foolish decisions himself over the years: his feud with Kobe Bryant filled the tabloids for years, the film Kazaam was a ratings failure, and he has made and apologised for a range of <a href="https://www.sportscasting.com/shaquille-oneal-apologized-yao-ming-called-out-dad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">racist</a> or possibly <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120606230641/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2002-11-05/sports/0211050282_1_sacramento-kings-christie-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">homophobic</a> comments.</p> <p>Most Americans see O'Neal as a charismatic, even playful, person rather than as an engaged athlete activist. The prime minister claimed O'Neal had done great work in the US around “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-27/shaquille-o-neal-anthony-albanese-voice-to-parliament/101379246" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social justice and lifting people up who are marginalised</a>” but has not followed up those comments with any specifics.</p> <h2>Raising awareness</h2> <p>Averill Gordon, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at Auckland University of Technology, believes the choice of O'Neal will garner widespread domestic and international awareness and support for the Voice to Parliament.</p> <p>“Athletes are a great way to internationalise an issue as sport and music are key themes used to drive most global PR campaigns.”</p> <p>“The biggest challenge in a PR campaign is to move the people who are unaware of an issue to become aware,” she said. “Shaquille’s involvement and subsequent communication means people will become aware of this issue and may even become active. It also creates global traction that will feed back to Australia and circulate the message further, adding global interest that will ironically increase Australian awareness.”</p> <p>She notes the Australian government is addressing a global issue that “affects Australia’s country branding.”</p> <p>“The (Albanese) government is garnering popular international support to drive a national issue. By using a US opinion leader, it moves this national issue to be recognised as a common global issue.”</p> <h2>Support for conservative causes</h2> <p>The inclusion of O'Neal in the Voice campaign undoubtedly brings attention to the government’s position, but the choice is still considered an odd one by many. Albanese’s problem is not people’s unfamiliarity with the debate over the Indigenous voice, but rather that <a href="https://theconversation.com/creating-a-constitutional-voice-the-words-that-could-change-australia-187972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">few people yet know the proposed language</a> of any constitutional change.</p> <p>It’s important to also note that O'Neal is not an avatar of the sort of progressive politics that encompasses issues like the Voice. In the increasingly political NBA, players such as Lebron James and general managers like Daryl Morey have <a href="https://theconversation.com/china-has-form-as-a-sports-bully-but-its-full-court-press-on-the-nba-may-backfire-125141" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opened political firestorms</a> with their critiques of Donald Trump and the Chinese government.</p> <p>O'Neal has previously been tied to more conservative causes. He is a strong supporter of police and sheriff’s departments across the United States, including in Los Angeles, Miami and, controversially, Maricopa Country, Arizona. Maricopa County’s former sheriff, Joe Arpaio, faced criticism for racial profiling, poor conditions for undocumented immigrants, and eventually <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/348061-trump-pardons-arpaio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received a pardon</a> from Trump following his conviction for criminal contempt of court.</p> <p>O’Neal’s strong support for law enforcement, despite the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, might make activists working in the <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/04/14/australia-act-indigenous-deaths-custody" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stop First Nations Deaths in Custody</a> uncomfortable, as it has <a href="https://www.theroot.com/shaquille-o-neals-politics-have-always-been-confusing-1823768959" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for many African Americans too</a>.</p> <p>If O'Neal has become a progressive, the change happened recently, since he admitted in 2020 that he had never voted. In subsequent political commentary, he argued athletes should keep quiet in the press and social media. He <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/12/why-shaquille-oneal-voted-for-the-first-time.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Sports Illustrated</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>My thought is that if you are not an expert on it, or if you haven’t been doing it, don’t do it.</p> </blockquote> <p>So when did he become an expert on constitutional issues in Australia?</p> <h2>Indigenous voices divided?</h2> <p>The government must also take care that any Voice spokespeople, including O'Neal, do not replace the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander people. There is a vigorous debate among Indigenous people about the shape of any Voice to parliament.</p> <p>Minister for Indigenous Australians and Wiradjuri woman Linda Burney was with Albanese and O'Neal on Saturday. She lauded O'Neal’s efforts, presenting the American with a boomerang made by Indigenous artist Josh Evans and a South Sydney Rabbitohs Indigenous round jersey.</p> <p>Indigenous politicians from across the political spectrum have illustrated the complexity of this issue in Australia and the unsuitability of O'Neal as a commentator on it. On the political right, Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, a Warlpiri woman, said “I’ve no doubt Shaq’s a top bloke but it’s <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-29/analysis-shaq-loves-indigenous-voice-but-will-it-score/101381066" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a bit insulting</a> to call on a black American to help with black Australians as if this is all about the colour of one’s skin.” She followed up by calling Albanese’s move a desperate measure.</p> <p>Green Party’s Senator Lidia Thorpe, of DjabWurrung, Gunnai, and Gunditjmara descent, also took aim at O’Neal. She wrote on Twitter:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thought a Black man coming to our Country would be more respectful to First Nations people than interfering in what is a controversial topic, dividing our people. Ill advised, hope you take the time to set it right <a href="https://twitter.com/SHAQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SHAQ</a>. We don’t come to your country&amp; interfere in your business.</p> <p>— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorThorpe/status/1563719706418479104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <h2>‘Nothing about us without us’</h2> <p>In fact, there is reason to worry the selection of O'Neal as a spokesperson might overshadow the work Indigenous Australians have done in the sports space already.</p> <p>In the past, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes in a range of disciplines including athletics, AFL and Rugby League have used their sporting prestige to bring attention to Indigenous issues. Albanese could conceivably call on a range of beloved current and retired indigenous sports stars, such as Cathy Freeman, Adam Goodes or Ash Barty, to address this complicated issue.</p> <p>Many Australian sporting institutions, including the <a href="https://www.anocolympic.org/noc-highlights/australian-olympic-committee-approves-permanent-indigenous-voice-on-the-aoc-athletes-commission/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Olympic Committee</a>, already have committees devoted to including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. But that would require Albanese to wade into the complexities of Indigenous politics in Australia rather than take advantage of a celebrity from America.</p> <div> <p>Polling shows many Australians <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-04/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-vote-compass/101031774" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are already supportive </a>of an Indigenous Voice to parliament. Many in the public, as well as in Canberra, are wary of any decision made without appropriate consultation with Indigenous people and without clear language dictating the relationship between the Indigenous Voice and parliament.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-does-american-basketballer-shaquille-oneal-have-to-do-with-the-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-189533" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Twitter</em></p> </div>

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Bluey was edited for American viewers – but global audiences deserve to see all of us

<p>Beloved children’s program Bluey has received some backlash.</p> <p>Not due to the program, but to Disney’s decision to make edits to various episodes for the US market.</p> <p>Dubbed “<a href="https://mouthsofmums.com.au/7-things-disney-apparently-censored-in-bluey-season-3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">censorship</a>” by some publications, the changes to the third season, released in America on Disney+ this month, include Bandit not being hit in a sensitive area, a conversation about getting a vasectomy replaced with “getting dog teeth removed”, the horse Buttermilk no longer stands next to poo on screen and Aunt Trix is no longer seen on the toilet during a video call.</p> <p>One episode, Family Meeting, where Bluey accuses dad Bandit of farting in her face, was removed entirely – although due to the backlash it appears this decision has been <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/streaming/bluey-episode-banned-on-disney-in-the-us-for-bizarre-reason/news-story/b5877d7134a6b217234398eb7892d4da" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rescinded</a>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Parents who watch Bluey on Disney… there’s an extra episode via CBBC which Disney doesn’t allow to be on their platforms! It’s called Dad Baby!!! <a href="https://t.co/JMeCMYvtz4">pic.twitter.com/JMeCMYvtz4</a></p> <p>— Kirstie 🤍 (@kirstieandco) <a href="https://twitter.com/kirstieandco/status/1560526183741243392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Episodes in previous seasons have also been <a href="https://twitter.com/blueymoments/status/1261872704237551618" target="_blank" rel="noopener">edited</a> or <a href="https://blueypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Dad_Baby" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unavailable</a> to stream on Disney+.</p> <p>This decision by Disney comes at a time when there has been a fundamental shift, both in the way audiences consume content and how content is distributed. Through global streaming services, content previously produced for a local market now has a greater opportunity to reach a global audience.</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/arts/television/bluey-cartoon-dog-australia.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a> has said Bluey “could rival The Wiggles as Australia’s most popular children’s cultural export”.</p> <p>But can screen content truly be considered a cultural export if it is re-edited to reflect cultural aspects of the market it is being distributed in?</p> <h2>Content for global audience</h2> <p>Australian media content being changed for the US market is not a new phenomena.</p> <p>More than 40 years ago, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079501/alternateversions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mad Max</a> was dubbed with American accents for the US market.</p> <p>More recently, Australian television shows like <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2011/06/watch_the_original_australian.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wilfred</a> (2011), <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-30/american-version-kath-and-kim-tv-remakes/100689218" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kath &amp; Kim</a> (2009) and <a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-slap/the-slap-australia-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Slap</a> (2015) have been reproduced for a US market.</p> <p>Since these Americanised series premiered, there has been a shift in the commissioning of media. Content distributors no longer solely rely on local broadcasters: they now are able to go direct to a global audience through streaming services.</p> <p>Since the start of 2022, Netflix has commissioned content <a href="https://www.ampereanalysis.com/press/release/dl/netflix-looks-to-international-commissions-for-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 44 territories</a>, Warner Bros commissioned work across 27 territories for HBO Max and Discovery+, Disney 23 and Amazon 21.</p> <p>These streaming platforms aren’t looking for local hits: they’re looking for global hits, from anywhere. It’s not just about making the next Stranger Things, it’s <a href="https://www.screendaily.com/news/netflix-commissions-originals-from-a-record-28-international-markets/5173422.article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about making</a> the next Money Heist – the Netflix hit from Spain – or the next South Korean juggernaut Squid Game.</p> <h2>A question of quotas</h2> <p>In 2021, the federal government removed the quota requiring local children’s programming on Australian commercial television. This has resulted in a significant <a href="https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/08/2021-content-quotas-soaps-deliver-but-kids-tv-in-freefall.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decline</a> in the broadcast of children’s content.</p> <p>We have seen <a href="https://www.acma.gov.au/spending-subscription-video-demand-providers-2020-21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased investment</a> of Australian content by streaming services. Together, Amazon Prime, Disney, Netflix and Stan spent A$178.9 million in the 2020–21 financial year, including children’s television. This is up more than $25 million in the <a href="https://www.acma.gov.au/spending-subscription-video-demand-providers-2019-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous year</a>.</p> <p>Earlier this year, <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-has-a-new-development-funding-initiative-with-the-australian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Netflix launched</a> a partnership with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation to fund the development of original Australian children’s series. Disney has <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/disney-releases-first-wave-of-local-content-commissions-with-9-australian-originals-737567" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also announced</a> its planned investment in local Australian children’s content.</p> <p>This increase by streaming service is yet to fill the shortfall by commercial television.</p> <h2>But is it Australian?</h2> <p>In June, the <a href="https://makeitaustralian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make It Australian</a> campaign was launched at the Sydney Film Festival. The campaign calls for Australian stories to be “told on Australian screens by us, to us, about us”.</p> <p>At the campaign launch, arts minister Tony Burke said international and commercial success for Australian films is “wonderful, but that is a bonus.”</p> <p>The “first objective” for Australian films, he said:</p> <blockquote> <p>is to make sure our stories are told so that we know better ourselves; we know better each other and the world has a better way of knowing us.</p> </blockquote> <p>It is the last point that Tony Burke makes, about the world “knowing us”, that is less considered in the ongoing local screen content debate. Indeed, Australian content is being <a href="https://www.acma.gov.au/spending-subscription-video-demand-providers-2020-21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shown to a global audience</a>.</p> <p>But what happens when Australian content is edited with these international audiences in mind? Edits like those Disney made to Bluey not only impact the humour and the narrative, but also impact the cultural representation within the program.</p> <p>Increased investment by streaming services will provide opportunities for Australian local content to be successful locally and globally. But for Australian television and films to be true cultural exports, the world should be seeing the version of ourselves we are seeing, too.</p> <p>The success of this relies on not only focusing on content production and local distribution, but including strategies that allow Australian content to remain free from localised edits, so it can truly reflect an Australian cultural export.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/bluey-was-edited-for-american-viewers-but-global-audiences-deserve-to-see-all-of-us-188982" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

TV

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Woman kicked off flight for “offensive” pants

<p dir="ltr">A DJ who was kicked off a flight for her “inappropriate” and “offensive” pants has claimed she was “humiliated” in front of everyone. </p> <p dir="ltr">South Korean DJ Hwang So-hee, also known as DJ Soda, was on a flight from JFK to LAX with American Airlines on April 25 when she was kicked off. </p> <p dir="ltr">She was left fuming over her treatment and took to Twitter to document the ordeal to her 127,000 followers.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I GOT KICKED OFF FROM  @AmericanAir flight and they harassed me to take off my sponsored @RIPNDIP 'F**K YOU' sweatpants in front of people to board again,” she began. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Yesterday coming back from JFK to LAX with American Airlines, I was harassed and humiliated. I was forced out of the plane and was harassed to take off my pants in front of the flight crews at the gate.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have never had an issue with wearing this pair of pants before in my many months of touring in North America and they did not have any problem with me wearing it at the time of check-in nor when I sat down at my seat.”</p> <p dir="ltr">DJ Soda claims she was approached by a staff member who told her to pack up her things and that she would not be boarding the flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">They then made comments about her pants calling them “inappropriate” and “offensive” and that she would have the next flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">She explained that she could not afford to miss the flight due to a very important meeting.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I GOT KICKED OFF FROM <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmericanAir</a> flight and they harassed me to take off my sponsored <a href="https://twitter.com/RIPNDIP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RIPNDIP</a> 'F**K YOU' sweatpants in front of people to board again. <a href="https://t.co/YU0TrhZjry">pic.twitter.com/YU0TrhZjry</a></p> <p>— djsoda (@dj_soda_) <a href="https://twitter.com/dj_soda_/status/1518850282490187776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I pleaded to stay on the flight but was ignored by the staff and the flight attendants. I even offered to get changed but the request was denied. What happened next was horrendous,” DJ Soda continued. </p> <p dir="ltr">“With my broken fingers, I hardly ended up taking off my pants in front of the whole crew and standing half-naked while they still refused to board me on the flight. They even sarcastically commented that I could have taken off my pants earlier.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When they finally let me enter, I put my pants inside out and finally sat down after an hour of delay causing inconvenience to the members of the flights on board.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was mortified and trembling in fear for the next 6 hours on my flight back to LA. In my 8 years of touring, I have never experienced or been treated unfairly, especially in a country that is known for its freedom of speech and individuality.</p> <p dir="ltr">“From now on, I will be boycotting @AmericanAir and hope this NEVER happens to anyone ever again.”</p> <p dir="ltr">DJ Soda was called out by fans who said she was in the wrong, especially since it’s common knowledge to dress appropriately on flights.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Maybe other airlines didn't previously notice; but it is common knowledge that most major airlines have dress policies that prohibit profanity and vulgarity on their flights. They have every right to protect their customers' values. Sorry. No sympathy here.” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That's what you get for dressing inappropriately on an airliner, you're on their plane, their rules. You can fly with Delta, United, Southwest or even pulling TWA back from the grave and they would still kick you out,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As well you SHOULD!  It's rude, offensive, and children can READ TOO!! But some of us adults don't want to see or hear it either! America might be the land of the free, but it doesn't mean we don't have some rules. Abide by them or leave!” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Wahlburgers opens first Aussie restaurant

<p dir="ltr">Burger lovers rejoice! Cult US chain Wahlburgers has finally opened its doors in Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr">The burger restaurant, founded by actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg with the help of their chef brother Paul, has launched in Circular Quay, Sydney, as the first of several planned Australian Wahlburgers outlets.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wahlburgers Australia CEO Sam Mustaca told Goodfood they plan to open more Wahlburgers restaurants in Warriewood, Surfers Paradise and Byron Bay.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the menu includes typical US burger fare, they’ve also included an Aussie Schnitty Burger along with some other local delicacies.</p> <p dir="ltr">While Wahlburgers celebrates its official opening this Thursday, some burger fanatics have been able to get in early to sample the menu.</p> <p dir="ltr">Food blogger @issac_eatsalot shared his review, saying the menu was “much broader than your average burger place – think of it more as a diner with a stacked burger menu”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Fries and fried pickles were solid sides to share. HEAPS of taps of local craft beers and they’ve got locally sourced coffee beans on machine as well … I’ll be back ASAP to try more!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Issac’s post sparked plenty of food envy in burger lovers, many of whom commented that they “need to get here ASAP” as the meals “look epic”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wahlburgers opened its first restaurant in the famous family’s hometown of Boston back in 2011. Interest was so high in the celebrity-run restaurant that they even got their own reality series Wahlburgers, which ran for 10 seasons from 2014 to 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">They opened their first franchise location in Toronto, Canada, in 2014. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

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From fairytale to gothic ghost story: how 40 years of biopics showed Princess Diana on screen

<p>Since the earliest Princess Diana biopics appeared soon after the royal wedding in 1981, there have been repeated attempts to bring to the screen the story of Diana’s journey from blue-blooded ingenue through to tragic princess trapped within – and then expelled from – the royal system.</p> <p>A long string of actresses, with replicas of the outfits she wore and a blond wig (sometimes precariously) in place, have walked through episodic storylines, charting the “greatest hits” of what is known of Diana’s royal life.</p> <p>Biopics about the princess tend to be shaped according to the dominant mythic narratives in circulation in any given phase of Diana’s life. The first biopics were stories of fairytales and romance. From the 1990s, the marriage of Charles and Diana took on the shape of soap opera and melodrama.</p> <p>Now, with the Crown (2016–) and Spencer (2021), Diana has become a doomed gothic heroine. She is a woman suffocated by a royal system that cannot, will not, acknowledge her special place in the royal pantheon.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WllZh9aekDg?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <h2>Fairytales and soap operas</h2> <p>The first Dianas appeared on American television networks within months of the July 1981 wedding of Charles and Diana.</p> <p>Both Charles and Diana: A Royal Love Story (starring Caroline Bliss) and The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana (starring Catherine Oxenberg) invested wholesale in a fairytale lens.</p> <p>They told of the young and virginal beauty who had captured the attention of the dashing prince, whisked off to a life of happily ever after.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/54QRwogBUQI?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The Diana biopics fell quiet for the first years of the marriage (fairytales don’t tend to interest themselves in pregnancies and apparent marital harmony), and then reemerged after the publication of Andrew Morton’s exposé, Diana: Her True Story (1992).</p> <p>Morton’s biography was written from taped interviews with the princess and inspired the next generation of Diana biopics, ones that I call the “post-Morton” biopics, which borrow from Diana’s own scripting of her life.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R7OnHYcTqLk?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>A series of actors were enlisted to play Diana in these made-for-television productions.</p> <p>Oxenberg turns up again in Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After (1992). In Diana: Her True Story (1993), Serena Scott-Thomas (who, incidentally, turns up in the 2011 television biopic William and Kate as Catherine Middleton’s mother Carole) does her best with a terrible script and series of wigs.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tUFUuGpHHPg?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Others gave it their best shot. We had Julie Cox in Princess in Love (1996), Amy Seacombe in Diana: A Tribute to the People’s Princess (1998), Genevieve O'Reilly in Diana: Last Days of a Princess (2007) and, briefly, Michelle Duncan in Charles and Camilla: Whatever Love Means (2005).</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eNTR0nZZXn4?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>But even large budget films (such as 2013’s cinema-release Diana, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and starring Naomi Watts) had critics and audiences letting out <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diana_2013">a collective yawn</a>.</p> <p>In film after film we were offered yet another uninspired, soap opera-style representation of the princess’s life.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ca2GGofxzX4?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <h2>A gothic tale</h2> <p>Critics’ voices were quelled somewhat with the appearance of Emma Corrin’s Diana in season four of The Crown.</p> <p>With Netflix’s high budget and quality production values, many — <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-crown-season-4-review-a-triumphant-portrait-of-the-1980s-with-a-perfectly-wide-eyed-diana-149633">including myself</a> — felt Peter Morgan’s deliberate combination of accuracy and imaginative interpretation of Diana’s royal life offered something approximating a closer rendition of the “real” princess than we’d been presented with before.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tedqw0gMuCI?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>And then we come to the most recent portrayal of Diana on screen, Pablo Larraín’s Spencer (2021), starring Kristen Stewart as Diana. What, royal biopic watchers wondered, could it possibly do to top The Crown’s Diana?</p> <p>Spencer’s statement in the film’s opening offers a clue: it promises to be a “fable from a true tragedy”.</p> <p>This is a film where genre imperatives and creative imaginings are placed at the forefront of its representation of the princess.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-FBHQAGLnY?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Taking its cue from the gothic themes and tropes Diana can be heard invoking on the Morton tapes, Spencer’s heroine is trapped in a frozen Sandringham setting, gasping for air to the point where her voice rarely lifts above a soft, almost suffocated, whisper.</p> <p>She tears at the pearls encircling her throat. She rips open the curtains sewn shut by staff. She self-harms with wire cutters. She runs like an animal hunted down manor house corridors and across frosty Norfolk fields.</p> <p>She is haunted by the ghost of Anne Boleyn, another royal wife rejected by her husband, prompting <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a38164090/princess-diana-spencer-horror-movie/">one reviewer to ask</a>: “is Spencer the ultimate horror movie?”</p> <p>Larraín and Stewart’s Diana has her precursor in the spectral, gothic Diana who appears in the 2017 future-history television film King Charles III, based on Mike Bartlett’s 2014 play. The anguished howl of this Diana (played by Katie Brayben) echoes throughout the palace in the same way Spencer’s Diana is framed as the royal who will haunt the Windsors for decades to come.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nyckuIRtag0?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The lamentable Diana: The Musical (2021) on Netflix (a filmed version of the Broadway production starring Jeanna de Waal) – with its cliched storyline, two-dimensional characterisation, awkward costuming and early 1980s Andrew Lloyd Webber-style aesthetic – offers some evidence that, even in 2021, the creators of Diana stories haven’t altogether abandoned their investment in the Diana of 1981.</p> <p>But with Spencer, we have a Diana shaped by both the princess’s own version of her story, and the screen Dianas that came before her. Spencer suggests new directions and potential for the telling of royal lives.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/173648/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UlebsnuEI1Y?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/giselle-bastin-391174">Giselle Bastin</a>, Associate Professor of English, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-fairytale-to-gothic-ghost-story-how-40-years-of-biopics-showed-princess-diana-on-screen-173648">original article</a>.</p> <p><span class="attribution"><span class="source"><em>Image: Pablo Larraín/Roadshow</em></span></span></p>

Movies

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Video of mum and toddler kicked off flight over masks goes viral

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An American woman and her toddler were kicked off a flight after her two-year-old was unable to keep a mask on.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amanda Pendarvis was on board an American Airlines flight to Colorado, and claimed on Instagram that her son wasn’t wearing a mask due to suffering from an asthma attack.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Pendarvis said she, her son, and her mother were all removed from the flight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was not refusing to wear a mask, nor did I even say I wouldn’t try to keep a mask on my son,” she </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/american-airlines-removes-mother-toddler-refusing-wear-mask-onboard/0e144844-75b3-40a3-8ad7-92e3416c425d" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">wrote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the caption of the photo she shared on Instagram.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We were escorted off the plane as I was holding a mask over his little face. I don’t even have words.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Pendarvis claimed that the pilot apologised to the rest of the passengers for the flight’s delay over the intercom and said: “We are dealing with a non-compliant traveller.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a short video that was re-shared to Twitter, Ms Pendarvis can be seen attempting to keep a mask on her son while he screams and cries.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">ASTHMATIC two-year-old struggling to breathe during an asthma attack, wasn’t physically capable of wearing a mask on an American Airlines flight.<br /><br />The plane was turned around and mother and baby forced to get off. <a href="https://t.co/p0z63OBmPg">pic.twitter.com/p0z63OBmPg</a></p> — OKIE PATRIOT 76 (@okiepatriot_76) <a href="https://twitter.com/okiepatriot_76/status/1438502182236479492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The clip then cuts to a moment after Ms Pendarvis and her son were outside the plane, waiting on the jet bridge with authorities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a statement to </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fox News</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, American Airlines said the party had refused to “comply with crew member instructions to remain seated while on an active taxiway and to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“After observing a minor in the party laying in the aisle and moving between seats on taxi out, our flight crew made multiple attempts to reinforce safety requirements,” an American Airlines spokesman </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/american-airlines-responds-to-viral-video-appearing-to-show-a-toddler-kicked-off-a-flight-for-not-wearing-a-mask-11631808473" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While addressing the party, our crew also reminded the individuals in the party that federal directives require customers to wear a face covering at all times while on board unless actively eating or drinking,” he continued.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“At no time was it made known to our crew members that a member of the party was experiencing an asthma attack or trouble breathing.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Pendarvis said she was letting her son walk across the aisle to his grandmother, and that she told flight attendants about her son’s asthma.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After she was removed from the plane, the airline said Ms Pendarvis was rebooked on the next flight to Colorado after agreeing to “adhere to policies instituted for the safety of our customers and crew”.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Instagram</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

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African-American Google employee mistakenly escorted off premises

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Angel Onuoha was innocently riding his bicycle around the Mountain View, California, Google office where he worked as an associate product manager.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He was shocked and confused when he was stopped by security and asked to provide proof of identification, after being reported by someone who thought he was trespassing on company grounds. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Riding my bike around Google’s campus and somebody called security on me because they didn’t believe I was an employee,” his recently shared viral tweet read. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Had to get escorted by two security guards to verify my ID badge.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">A lot of people keep DM’ing me asking for the full story…<br /><br />They ended up taking my ID badge away from me later that day and I was told to call security if I had a problem with it. And that was after holding me up for 30 minutes causing me to miss my bus ride home <a href="https://t.co/UBzHDC1ugG">https://t.co/UBzHDC1ugG</a></p> — Angel Onuoha (@angelonuoha7) <a href="https://twitter.com/angelonuoha7/status/1440727156896661511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Angel’s ID badge was taken off him, as he was instructed to take up the matter with the campus security. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And that was after holding me up for 30 minutes causing me to miss my bus ride home,” he wrote. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Almost 2,000 people responded to his original tweet as they expressed outrage at how such an incident, largely presumed to be racially motivated, had played out in 2021.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One response was from a black man who said he previously worked in security at another Google campus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Dawg I worked as security at Google and got security called on me,” he wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Angel was inundated with messages from individuals who had faced similar acts of discrimination in the workplace. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A spokesperson for Google told </span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johanmoreno/2021/09/23/black-google-associate-product-manager-detained-by-security-because-they-didnt-believe-he-was-an-employee/?sh=1ee730742349"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Forbes</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">the company was taking Mr Onuoha’s “concerns very seriously”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We take this employee’s concerns very seriously, are in touch with him and are looking into this. We learned that the employee was having issues with his badge due to an administrative error and contacted the reception team for help,” the spokesperson said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“After they were unable to resolve the issue, the security team was called to look into and help resolve the issue.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The incident comes after Google’s public support for the Black Lives Matter movement, as they vowed to double its black workforce by 2025.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since its pledge however, black employees have increased by just one per cent, while white employees have declined 1.3 per cent.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Twitter @angelonuha7 / Shutterstock</span></em></p>

Technology

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“It broke my heart”: Native Americans outbid to buy back their own sacred site

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over 290 prehistoric Native American </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">glyphs that depict people, animals, and mythological figures adorn the walls of Picture Cave in eastern Missouri. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cave has been deemed an “ultimate sacred site” by the Osage Nation, who were pushed out of the land as a consequence of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since the 1950s, the land has been owned by the extremely wealthy Busch family, who mostly used it as a hunting ground. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the Busch family announced last year that they would be selling the cave, and the 43 acres of land surrounding it, the Osage Nation began a campaign to procure their land back. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They teamed up with the Conservation Fund, as well as Fish and Wildlife Services, on the account of endangered bats living in the cave. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite their mammoth efforts, the Osage Nation could not gather enough money to buy their sacred land back. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[Picture Cave] is our ultimate sacred site,” says Andrea Hunter, a member of the Osage Nation and director of its Historic Preservation Office.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was our land to begin with and we then had to resort to trying to buy it back. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And we’ve got landowners who don’t understand the history of the place they live in and whose significance doesn’t amount to more than monetary value [for them].”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Busch family sold the land to an anonymous buyer for $2,200,000USD, just $200,000 more than the Osage Nation offered. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Watching it get to $2 million stopped my heart,” said Hunter. “It broke my heart.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hunter and her team are currently trying to contact the anonymous bidder from Nashville to explain the historical and cultural significance of the land. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So far, they have not been successful in their communications. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Youtube - Selkirk Auctioneers &amp; Appraisers</span></em></p>

Art

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Expert slams Americans by comparing photographs of Australia: “Only Australia crushed COVID-19”

<p>Australian life is slowly returning to normal as Bondi beach reopens and restrictions continue to loosen amid the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>The way the country has handled the severity of COVID-19 and its citizens has become a rarity throughout the world, as Australians look toward a less bleak future.</p> <p>Unfortunately, developed nations including the United States are not able to tell the same story as death told soared past 50,000 within the last week.</p> <p>The death toll from the virus in Australia sits at 84 and new infections have completely slowed down as NSW reported five new cases in one day on Monday.</p> <p>Harvard Professor David Sinclair took to Twitter to blast the state of California and all its citizens by sharing a side-by-side comparison that show both Australia and the U.S at completely odd ends.</p> <p>In the caption above two images of an empty Bondi Beach and an overcrowded Newport Beach in California, he wrote: “California &amp; Australia have similar populations but only Australia crushed #COVID-19. New cases = 1000 vs 9 per day. While the pundits argue about the cause, see if you notice a difference between Newport &amp; Bondi. It’s a clue.”</p> <p>“I miss the days when we were the role model for how to get things done,” he wrote on Twitter.</p> <p>Professor Sinclair also went on to show a timeline of how Australia has combated the virus, closed borders along with the country’s testing measures and strict social distancing rules.</p> <p>California Governor Gavin Newsom criticised locals for flocking to the beach as soon as the warm weather hit over the weekend.</p> <p>He warned their behaviour could mean reverse progress.</p> <p>“We can’t see images like we saw, particularly on Saturday, in Newport Beach and elsewhere,” Mr Newsom said.</p> <p>“The virus doesn’t take the weekend off because it’s a beautiful sunny day around our coasts,” he added.</p> <p>Australian states NSW and Queensland could begin slowly easing back open as soon as next week.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">California &amp; Australia have similar populations but only Australia crushed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>. New cases = 1000 vs 9 per day. While the pundits argue about the cause, see if you notice a difference between Newport &amp; Bondi. It's a clue. <a href="https://t.co/TNHbFpiqJu">pic.twitter.com/TNHbFpiqJu</a></p> — David Sinclair, PhD (@davidasinclair) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidasinclair/status/1254834144204521472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>However, QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned “If we do see mass gatherings, I will not hesitate to clamp back down.”</p> <p>Victoria however is not so ready to ease restrictions and Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Tuesday he wants to see at least 100,000 people get tested for coronavirus within the next two weeks before a decision is made on whether they will ease state restrictions.</p> <p>“This is the biggest public health testing program that our state has ever seen and it will give us the data that will underpin the options that we will have in just a couple of weeks’ time,” he said on Monday.</p>

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American Dirt fiasco exposes the shortcomings of publishing industry

<p>In an early chapter of <em><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/American_Dirt_Oprah_s_Book_Club/FkiSDwAAQBAJ?hl=en">American Dirt</a></em>, the much-hyped novel now at the center of a racial controversy, the protagonist, Lydia, fills her Acapulco, Mexico, bookstore with her favorite literary classics. Because these don’t sell very well, she also stocks all “the splashy bestsellers that made her shop profitable.”</p> <p>Ironically, it’s this lopsided business model that has, in part, fueled the backlash to the book.</p> <p>In the book, Lydia’s favorite customer, a would-be poet turned ruthless drug lord, orders the massacre of Lydia’s entire family after her journalist husband writes a scathing expose. Lydia and her 8-year-old son must flee for their lives, joining the wave of migrants seeking safety in the U.S.</p> <p>With the border crisis as its backdrop, the book was anointed by the publishing industry as one of those rare blockbusters that Lydia might have stocked in her fictional bookstore. Its publisher called it “<a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250209764">one of the most important books of our time</a>,” while <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-01-27/oprah-winfrey-american-dirt-book-club">Oprah</a> chose it for her book club.</p> <p>But the author, Jeanine Cummins, is neither Mexican nor a migrant, and critics <a href="https://tropicsofmeta.com/2019/12/12/pendeja-you-aint-steinbeck-my-bronca-with-fake-ass-social-justice-literature/">savaged the book</a> for its cultural inaccuracies and damaging stereotypes. At least one library at the border <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/opinion/american-dirt-book.html">refused to take part in Oprah’s promotion</a>, 138 published authors wrote an <a href="https://lithub.com/dear-oprah-winfrey-82-writers-ask-you-to-reconsider-american-dirt">open letter to Oprah</a> asking her to rescind her endorsement, and the publisher canceled Cummins’ book tour, claiming <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/01/30/american-dirt-tour/">her safety was at risk</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.colorado.edu/cmci/people/journalism/christine-larson">As someone who studies the publishing business</a>, I see this ordeal as a symptom of an industry that relies far too heavily on a handful of predetermined “big books,” and whose gatekeepers remain predominantly white.</p> <p>Sadly, this model has become only more powerful in the digital era.</p> <p><strong>A high-stakes poker game</strong></p> <p>Today’s publishing industry is driven by three truths.</p> <p>First, people don’t buy many books. The typical American <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/25/one-in-five-americans-now-listen-to-audiobooks/">read four last year</a>.</p> <p>Second, it’s <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/suwcharmananderson/2013/03/28/book-discovery-give-me-blind-dates-with-books/#1d6618f23192">hard to decide which books to buy</a>, so most people look for bestsellers or books by authors they already like.</p> <p>Third, nobody – not even big publishers – can predict hits.</p> <p>As a result, the business can sometimes seem like one big, high-stakes poker game. Like any savvy gambler, editors know that most bets are losers: People don’t buy nearly enough books to make every title profitable. In fact, only about <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/books/review/Meyer-t.html">70% of books</a> even earn back their advances.</p> <p>Luckily for publishers, a single hit, like Michelle Obama’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38746485-becoming?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=bwZd6RTzVB&amp;rank=1"><em>Becoming</em></a>, can subsidize the vast majority of titles that don’t make money.</p> <p>So when publishers think they have a winning hand, they’ll bet the house. To them, “American Dirt” seemed to have all the cards, and the book sold at auction for <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/76994-book-deals-week-of-may-28-2018.html">seven figures</a>.</p> <p>With that much money on the table, publishers will do everything they can to ensure a payoff, channeling massive marketing resources into those select titles, often at the expense of their others.</p> <p><strong>Who’s holding the purse strings?</strong></p> <p>It wasn’t always like this. Back in the 1960s, publishing was a sleepy industry, filled with <a href="https://www.pw.org/content/publishing_in_the_twentyfirst_century_an_interview_with_john_b_thompson">many moderately sized firms making moderate returns</a>. Today, just <a href="https://www.bookbusinessmag.com/post/big-5-financial-reports-reveal-state-traditional-book-publishing/">five conglomerates</a> dominate global publishing.</p> <p>Big firms seek big profits, and, as Harvard Business School professor <a href="https://www.npr.org/2013/10/24/239795165/blockbusters-go-big-or-go-home-says-harvard-professor">Anita Elberse</a> has pointed out, it’s cheaper and easier to launch one enormous promotional effort for a single “big book” than to spread resources across those smaller bets.</p> <p>With each publishing house releasing just one or two big books a season, few authors can hope to produce one of those splashy bestsellers.</p> <p>That’s even more true for marginalized authors, because every step in the publishing and publicity process depends on <a href="https://blog.leeandlow.com/2020/01/28/2019diversitybaselinesurvey/">gatekeepers who are largely white</a> – to the tune of 85% of editors, 80% of agents, 78% of publishing executives and 75% of marketing and publicity staff.</p> <p>Nevertheless, the book world does occasionally publish blockbusters by authors of color, whether it’s <em>Becoming</em> or Tayari Jones’ <em><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/books/review/american-marriage-tayari-jones.html">An American Marriage</a></em>. As black author Zora Neale Hurston <a href="https://pages.ucsd.edu/%7Ebgoldfarb/cogn150s12/reading/Hurston-What-White-Publishers-Wont-Print.pdf">wrote in 1950</a>, editors “will publish anything they believe will sell” – regardless of the author’s race.</p> <p>But those editor beliefs about what would sell, she noted, were extremely limited when it came to authors of color. Stories about racial struggle, discrimination, oppression and hardship – those would sell. But books about marginalized people living everyday lives, raising kids or falling in love? Publishers had no interest in those stories.</p> <p>Of course, well-told stories of struggle are important. But when they’re the only stories that the industry aggressively promotes, then readers suffer from what novelist Chimamanda Adichie calls “<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en">the danger of a single story</a>.” When a single story gets told repeatedly about a culture that readers haven’t experienced themselves, stereotypes become more and more deeply engraved in popular culture. In a self-perpetuating cycle, publishers become even more committed to promoting that one story.</p> <p>Much of the criticisms around <em>American Dirt</em> centered on Cummins’ lack of first-hand experience – the book, for instance, was peppered with <a href="https://medium.com/@davidbowles/non-mexican-crap-ff3b48a873b5">inaccurate Spanish expressions</a> and off-key notes about the middle-class heroine’s actions and choices.</p> <p>While a vast network of publishing insiders would have likely looked at <em>American Dirt</em> before it was published, they all missed elements that were glaringly evident to informed readers. For the mostly white publishing world, Cummins’ book simply fit the narrative of the “single story” and aligned with pop culture stereotypes.</p> <p>Its failings easily slipped past the blind spots of the gatekeepers.</p> <p><strong>The internet’s unfulfilled promise</strong></p> <p>The internet was supposed to have upended this system. Just 10 years ago, pundits and scholars heralded <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/22/society1/">the end of gatekeepers</a> – a world where anyone could be a successful author. And indeed, with the digital self-publishing revolution in the late 2000s, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/they-own-the-system-amazon-rewrites-book-industry-by-turning-into-a-publisher-11547655267">hundreds of thousands of authors</a>, previously excluded from the marketplace, were able to release their books online.</p> <p>Some even made money: <a href="https://christinelarson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Christine-Larson-Open-networks-open-books-gender-precarity-and-solidarity-in-digital-publishing-1.pdf">My research</a> has found that romance writers doubled their median income from 2009 to 2014, largely due to self-publishing. Romance authors of color, in particular, found new outlets for books excluded by white publishers. Back in 2009, before self-publishing took off, the Book Industry Study Group identified just six categories of romance novels; by 2015, it tracked 33 categories, largely driven by self-publishing. New categories <a href="https://bisg.org/page/Fiction">included African American, multicultural, interracial and LGBT</a>.</p> <p>By 2018, at least <a href="https://www.actualitte.com/PDF/autopublication%20etats%20unis%20chiffres%20bowker.pdf">1.6 million books across all genres had been self-published</a>. Nonetheless, though choice is expanding, readership has stayed <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/25/one-in-five-americans-now-listen-to-audiobooks">flat since 2011</a>. With more books but no more readers, it’s harder than ever to get the attention of potential buyers.</p> <p>Meanwhile, many grassroots outlets that could push a midlist book – industry jargon for one not heavily promoted by publishers – to moderate levels of success have receded. Local media outlets that could create buzz for a local author are hollowed out or <a href="https://www.usnewsdeserts.com/">have vanished altogether</a>. In 1991, there were some <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=wruuBgAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT43&amp;lpg=PT43&amp;dq=john+b+thompson+decline+of+independent+bookstores&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=5l9nKK1Tbi&amp;sig=ACfU3U01GFevWyDLEGvuDwSwDvaE7Uovzw&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjatPqaiLbnAhXFXc0KHU-LCNQQ6AEwAHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&amp;q=john%20b%20thompson%20decline%20of%20independent%20bookstores&amp;f=false">5,100 indie booksellers</a>; now there are <a href="https://www.npr.org/2018/03/29/598053563/why-the-number-of-independent-bookstores-increased-during-the-retail-apocalypse">half that many</a>.</p> <p>The onus is now on authors to promote their own work. They’re spending a full day a week doing so, according to a forthcoming paper I wrote for the Authors’ Guild. In that same paper, I find that authors of color earn less from their books than white authors; in addition to other serious problems, this indicates they may have fewer resources to promote themselves.</p> <p>It’s clear the internet has not delivered the democratization it promised.</p> <p>But it has helped authors in at least one important way. Social media has offered a powerful outlet for marginalized voices to hold the publishing industry accountable. We’ve seen this twice already this year – with <em>American Dirt</em> and with the <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-the-romance-writers-of-america-can-implode-over-racism-no-group-is-safe-130034">Romance Writers of America</a>, which lost sponsors after it penalized an author of color for condemning racial stereotypes.</p> <p>Such outcries are an important start. But real progress will require structural change from within – beginning with a more diverse set of editors.</p> <p>On Feb. 3, executives from Macmillan, the publisher of <em>American Dirt</em>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/feb/03/macmillan-latinx-american-dirt-dignidad-literaria">met with Hispanic authors and promised to diversify its staff</a>.</p> <p>It’s an example that the rest of the publishing industry should follow.<!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christine-larson-426866"><em>Christine Larson</em></a><em>, Assistant Professor of Journalism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-colorado-boulder-733">University of Colorado Boulder</a></em></span></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/american-dirt-fiasco-exposes-publishing-industry-thats-too-consolidated-too-white-and-too-selective-130755">original article</a>.</em></p>

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US flight returns to airport after passenger “fakes illness to get better seat”

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A woman was taken off the plane and directly into custody after she faked an illness in an attempt to get a better seat. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Within an hour of take-off, a woman was complaining and asking for a bigger seat.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, when airline employees said that they could not offer her a bigger seat, the woman became ill.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pilot rerouted the plane due to the claims of illness, but after landing, employees quickly realised that the woman was faking.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once the woman refused to deplane, police were called.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The woman agreed to get off the plane after conversations with police and the flight captain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The woman was taken to a mental health facility after her comments to officials due to the Baker Act. This is a law in Florida that allows officials to detain people who might be impaired due to mental illness.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pensacola Police Department Public Information Officer Mike Wood told </span><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/woman-fakes-illness-flight-police-say/index.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CNN</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">:</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The woman, who is not being named by police because she was taken into custody under the Baker Act, has not yet been charged but criminal charges could be filed.</span></p>

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