I had a very interesting conversation with my cousin the other night. He made a very compelling argument against politicians having to live in their electorate.
Unfortunately, at the time of said conversation, I was almost in a food coma and was far far from coherent, but upon reflection, I have to say that I can academically agree with his argument, from an emotional level, I can't support it.
From a purely logical stance, being a politician is simply a job. And like an accountant, lawyer, doctor etc, it shouldn't matter where you live. So long as you are qualified for the job (perhaps by having excellent economic management credentials, or just being a really good listener perhaps? My cousin didn't exactly outline what the minimum credenitials would be), why should it matter that you are driving 40 mins to get to your workplace?
I don't have any fancy arguments against it really, it's more of a gut feeling that being a politician isn't an "ordinary" job. You are the link between the population and the power-wielders, and as such, you carry enormous responsibility as the voice for thousands of constituents who are relying on you to advocate for them and their interests. Anyone can debate for something, but the people who make this happen, they are passionate and engaged and involved in the problems they're trying to solve. Politicians need to be a part of the community, or a least, need to be seen to be a part of the community and that simply can't be done when you live on the other side of the city, or, in more extreme situations, the other side of the State. I guess the crux of the matter is simply that being a politician isn't simply a "job", like an accountant, or a lawyer, or a fireman, and as such, there are higher and additional expectations. And I don't think that it's unreasonable for voters to expect that the person who will speak with their voice in parliament will know more about the suburb than that which can be read of an aid-produced fact sheet, or by staking out shopping centres for a month outside of the election.
Finally, the caveat, and there is always a caveat, I'm not a total purist when it comes to this. Clearly, if someone lives in adjoining areas and is a member of the community in the adjoining electorate (it certainly isn't unusual for kids to be sent to schools in other districts, or be in sporting teams a suburb away), that is fine. But I think that if you are literally, visiting your electorate for the first time during your election campaign, perhaps you need to really reconsider how equipped you are to truly represent and advocate for your electorates.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wordy Wednesday
So I'm still reading the accursed Game of Thrones series so unfortunately, I haven't got another book to review/reflect on (although the uni girls are having a book club for "The Perks of being a Wallflower" which I've been meaning to read for ages, so maybe I'll take a break from GoT).
But what I will do is, in the vein of Leigh Sales posts on The Drum, I will post a few of the internet things that I've read/watched and enjoyed lately.
One Town's War of Gay Teens - Rolling Stone
A friend posted this on Facebook a while ago, and it's absolutely shocking. I can't even fathom how this is still happening in today's society.
The Namby Pamby Blog
I adore this blog. Namby is hilarious, and especially just started working in a vaguely law-related field, I can completely relate to his (maybe hers? I 'm fairly sure it's a his) client-related frustration. He makes me want to to PI law, just so I have have a blog that is as hilarious as his. Almost.
A Place for Paedophiles - A documentary by Louis Theroux
I did an assignment arguing in favour of preventive detention following the UNHCR's Fardon decision in 2010ish, but this documentary really made me reconsider my stance. My idea of preventive (indefinite) detention was really based on an assumption that once rehabilitated, inmates would be released, but alas, that was just a teenager's pipedream. Seeing the number of inmates choosing legal routes, rather than medical options to be released really imprinted on me (a) how little is known about the psychology and treatment of paedophiles and (b) how difficult it is to be in the position of a prison officer knowing when it is safe to release inmates/patients. I can't recommend this documentary highly enough - it was really thought provoking.
Finally, this puppy is adorable. I must have it.
But what I will do is, in the vein of Leigh Sales posts on The Drum, I will post a few of the internet things that I've read/watched and enjoyed lately.
One Town's War of Gay Teens - Rolling Stone
A friend posted this on Facebook a while ago, and it's absolutely shocking. I can't even fathom how this is still happening in today's society.
The Namby Pamby Blog
I adore this blog. Namby is hilarious, and especially just started working in a vaguely law-related field, I can completely relate to his (maybe hers? I 'm fairly sure it's a his) client-related frustration. He makes me want to to PI law, just so I have have a blog that is as hilarious as his. Almost.
A Place for Paedophiles - A documentary by Louis Theroux
I did an assignment arguing in favour of preventive detention following the UNHCR's Fardon decision in 2010ish, but this documentary really made me reconsider my stance. My idea of preventive (indefinite) detention was really based on an assumption that once rehabilitated, inmates would be released, but alas, that was just a teenager's pipedream. Seeing the number of inmates choosing legal routes, rather than medical options to be released really imprinted on me (a) how little is known about the psychology and treatment of paedophiles and (b) how difficult it is to be in the position of a prison officer knowing when it is safe to release inmates/patients. I can't recommend this documentary highly enough - it was really thought provoking.
Finally, this puppy is adorable. I must have it.
Film Friday
This month has actually been really disappointing on the movie front. I had grand plans to finally watch "The Breakfast Club" or "Oranges and Sunshine" or "One Day" or any of the Oscar nominees.
I didn't do that.
I did hire out Love and Other Drugs, and Apollo 18 (on my father's request).
50% of them were ok.
Of the 50%, ... well, it was a bit smeh.
Apollo 18
I just didn't really get this movie. It seemed to be based on this idea that (SPOILER ALERT - POSSIBLY? Can I really "spoil" a terrible movie?) the US govt deliberately sent people to the moon despite knowing that there was some freaky stuff going on up there.
There is no soundtrack, the camerawork is of a "handicam"/surveillance camera kinda style, the characters aren't really developed, and there just... doesn't seem to be a plot. Maybe I'm just not a big enough fan of conspiracy theories.
Love and Other Drugs
I didn't do that.
I did hire out Love and Other Drugs, and Apollo 18 (on my father's request).
50% of them were ok.
Of the 50%, ... well, it was a bit smeh.
Apollo 18
I just didn't really get this movie. It seemed to be based on this idea that (SPOILER ALERT - POSSIBLY? Can I really "spoil" a terrible movie?) the US govt deliberately sent people to the moon despite knowing that there was some freaky stuff going on up there.
There is no soundtrack, the camerawork is of a "handicam"/surveillance camera kinda style, the characters aren't really developed, and there just... doesn't seem to be a plot. Maybe I'm just not a big enough fan of conspiracy theories.
Love and Other Drugs
So far as rom-coms, this was nice-ish. But still, a bit of a nothing movie. Although I am a massive Anne Hathaway fan and did really love the way she portrayed Maggie, the other guy annoyed me *so* much. It just felt like a fast movie that simultaneously tried to do too much and yet, achieved so little in terms of plot and character development. But it was a nice, brainless way to spend a few hours, and it did make me research Parkinson's disease, so it wasn't a complete waste.
But I promise (myself) (again), that I'm actually going to go and watch a good movie next month. Maybe "The Artist" - I'm really intrigued by the idea of a modern silent movie.
Boozy Tuesd'y
Spiked Sorbet/Daiquiris
So I got given an ice cream churner for Christmas and it was only so long before I started using it for evil.
I've only make ice cream a few times, because every recipe I make is far too rich. But what I have been making (almost excessively) is sorbets.
My favourite is so far is a watermelon sorbet. And when I realised that I had a significant amount of watermelon vodka stashed way... well... what was I supposed to do?
Usually when you make sorbet you use 500ml of melon juice + 1 cup of sugar syrup (solution with equal amounts of water and sugar) + juice of 1 lemon. The sugar prevents the sorbet from becoming too icy, and I think that the lemon somehow emboldens the watermelon flavour. But when you're adding alcohol to the mix, you don't need to add anywhere near as much sugar (because the alcohol prevents the sorbet from becoming icy).
I added about 3/4 cup of watermelon vodka and used an increased amount of watermelon juice (protip: blend, then pass the juice through a sieve for a nice, smooth sorbet), churned it for about half an hour, and then put it in the freezer for a few hours.
The result was fantastic - The melon vodka wasn't overpowering at all, and actually nicely enhanced the flavours. I wasn't really after a slushy consistency, and mine wasn't, so I guess if you were making daiquiris (and not sorbet) you could add stacks more vodka.
So I got given an ice cream churner for Christmas and it was only so long before I started using it for evil.
I've only make ice cream a few times, because every recipe I make is far too rich. But what I have been making (almost excessively) is sorbets.
My favourite is so far is a watermelon sorbet. And when I realised that I had a significant amount of watermelon vodka stashed way... well... what was I supposed to do?
Usually when you make sorbet you use 500ml of melon juice + 1 cup of sugar syrup (solution with equal amounts of water and sugar) + juice of 1 lemon. The sugar prevents the sorbet from becoming too icy, and I think that the lemon somehow emboldens the watermelon flavour. But when you're adding alcohol to the mix, you don't need to add anywhere near as much sugar (because the alcohol prevents the sorbet from becoming icy).
I added about 3/4 cup of watermelon vodka and used an increased amount of watermelon juice (protip: blend, then pass the juice through a sieve for a nice, smooth sorbet), churned it for about half an hour, and then put it in the freezer for a few hours.
The result was fantastic - The melon vodka wasn't overpowering at all, and actually nicely enhanced the flavours. I wasn't really after a slushy consistency, and mine wasn't, so I guess if you were making daiquiris (and not sorbet) you could add stacks more vodka.
Mine did not look like this.
Solo Sunday
Challenge: Attending a party where you only know the host.
I actually can’t count the number of times that I’ve chickened out of going to gatherings because I’d only know the host. And, I’m a little ashamed to admit, I have also not invited people to my gatherings on the basis that they’d only know me . Well, ashamed isn’t really it, because I stand by my decision. It just seems like basic party planning etiquette – I’m uncomfortable because I’m not sure if loner-guest is having fun, and loner-guest (unless they’re a natural born mingler) is uncomfortable because they only know one person and get tired of starting every conversation with “So… how do you know Lucy?”.
But with overseas-induced friendlessness fast approaching, I realised that I’m going to have to become that natural-born-mingler so as not to spend 6 months in Copenhagen inside my room on Facebook. So, a friend from work’s going away party beckoned.
Two other girls I knew had mentioned that they weren’t sure they’d be able to attend, and were going to message me to let me know on the day, but alas , with the start time fast approaching and no safety-texts in sight. Pre-Scattergun Lucy would have then messaged the hostess with a lame, but kinda legit excuse and then gone straight back to doing nothing, but today, I buckled up to go to the party.
Long story short – it wasn’t a terrifying ordeal. It was a really casual sit-down and chat kinda thing. So I chatted with the hostess for a bit, and then to one of her friends (who is doing research at the same place as one of my friend’s did an Honors year) for a while, and then moved onto another couple of people and it was perfectly pleasant. And there wasn’t even alcohol involved to make everyone a bit less reserved. Clearly, you’ll always have more fun at parties where you know everyone, but it was definitely reassuring to know that I’m not a total dud at mingling and small talk
Challenge: Conquered.
Something New Saturday
New: Restaurant - Caravanserei, West End.
It is a rare occasion that my entire family is together, so this Friday night we decided to venture out into the night in search of a restaurant to satiate 6 adult appetites. A friend recommended Caravanserei to me 2 years ago during my New Years Resolution (which was to try a different cuisine every month), however unfortunately, I never made it to this gem. I am so glad I have managed to return.
The food was, in a word, spectacular! We got a banquet meal which meant that everyone got to try a little bit of everything (and a *lot* of freshly baked Turkish bread – yum!).
We started out with an entrée of Mezes which included an amazing cheesy-aioli dip, a greenish herby dip, hummus, stuffed olives ,pickled carrots and some kind of dumpling things.
And then the main began. Oh the main. We each got a chicken shish kebab (which was actually heaven on a stick), meatballs with couscus (which was actually my favourite part of the whole night – I have never liked couscous until this moment!), a seafood riceything, a vegetable stack (Which mostly seemed to be haloumi) and a spinach filo pastry. After this, each member of the family was about ready to birth some serious food-infants, however when dessert was served, no one could resist.
Real Turkish delight is the nectar of the gods.
I can't recommend this place highly enough. Service was super-fast and friendly, the food was amazing and while a bit expensive, absolutely worth it. You can check out their menu here.
Munchie Monday
I know... 2nd month in a row and I'm still struggling to get my butt in gear and space out my posts. But my problem isn't actually writing posts - it's publishing. I think I just keep waiting to proof-read/edit my posts, and of course the urge to do that never happens... But I guess that's just another thing to aim for. Hope you enjoy my February adventures!
This month has definitely been a month for cooking, and I’m proud to announce that I am now proudly self-sufficient on the sushi front. Please, please… hold your applause. I am just a woman, just like you (unless you are a man), just superior in that I can make distinctly delicious chicken teriyaki sushi.
I’ve now made it about 3 times, and two thirds of the times have been delicious (first time completely from scratch and was delicious, second time the rice went a little funny and third time, I couldn’t be bothered marinading chicken, so I bought kebabs and took the meat off the skewer instead).
Check out the recipe here! I think it worked out to be about $1.50 for each half roll , a whole $0.50 cheaper than the sushi place near my work! The only problem is trying to (a) scale back the recipe or (b) find a way to freeze/keep the sushi for more than a couple of days.
Protip: If you can't be bothered marinading chicken - buy chicken kebabs and take the skewers out!
In other kitchen adventures, I made a delicious curry from Sally Wise’s Slow Cooker book. I’ve made this recipe three times before too (also with two thirds of the times being delicious – 1st in a slow cooker which was delicious, 2nd also in a slow cooker and it tasted like arse for an unknown reason and 3rd time I made it over the stove top and it was absolutely beautiful). I’m always apprehensive about cooking things with so many ingredients, but we actually had all of the ingredients lying around in the fridge/pantry when I decided to make this on the spur of the moment the other weekend.
*All* of the ingredients
I'm really bad at remembering to take photos of the finished product. But it looked like this... but like this had been cooked for 3hrs.
Finally, I know I said that I wasn’t going to bake, but since the first two things are legit meals, I’ve deserved some floury goodness. I present to you Nutella Cupcakes with Nutella, Almond Butter and Vanilla Cream Cheese icing. I got these from here. I have only made them once and they. Were. Awesome. But the tri-coloured icing swirls did not work at *all*.
I made the cupcakes for the bake-off - Mine are the brown ones on the right-hand side.
And I have a confession to make... I had lots of icing left over, so I've just been eating it out of the piping bags. I like to think of it as pushups for my pancreas....
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