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One fed up gir offers her commentaries on current news.
Government to Curb Executive Pay
With a global recession looming or in progress depending on who you talk to executive
payouts are creating cries of outrage. In Australia the payout to outgoing Pacific Brands
CEO Paul Moore of AU$3.5 million and the 270% increase in salary of his replacement
Sue Morphet to AU$1.86 million is incomprehensible as the company moves jobs overseas to
save money - we see another place where they could have saved some cash! These golden
handshakes seem to be more than excessive, they're outrageous. Another example that leaps
to mind is Sol Trujillo and Telstra AU$20 million for doing what doesn't seem like much
good for the company except to build brand image (admittedly he did this very well) while
poxing up a whole bunch of other stuff.
The government has to tread very carefully with this voter pleasing move. Already
executives in Australia are paid less then overseas counterparts and some of the country's
best minds leave for greener pastures. While something does need to be done to limit
the size of golden handshakes - the best way to do this would appear to require
shareholder approval - the real thing we're complaining about is that it doesn't look
like executives are earning their pay because of the current way salaries and bonuses are
calculated... maybe Allan (Fels) can get to the bottom of it?
Pay inquiry and easy call - The Age - Malcolm Maiden - March 18, 2009
Sol Trujillos golden handshake an outrage - Dynamic Business - Jessica Stanic - March 2, 2009
Sol Trujillo leaves Telstra with a cool $20m - The Herald Sun - Gerard McManus - February 27, 2009
Swan to curb 'obscene' salaries - The Age - Chris Zappone - March 18, 2009
$50,000 for Bushfire Victims
How some of the money from that impressive fundraising effort for victims of Victoria's
bushfires will be doled out has finally been announced. $35,000 to people who lost their
homes in the fires and $15,000 for people to replace possessions (this is for homeowners
and renters) - this equates to $50,000 for people who lost their home. We're all well
aware that you can't get a whole lot for that much money but it's definitely a start. And
then some woman has to spoil the whole thing by saying "I think they could give us more"
or something to that effect... from the coverage I've seen (and read) the remainder of
the money is being kept to allocate to families with special needs who will need extra
help. So if your property was insured (which it should have been! I don't get people who
don't insure!) you should be doing pretty well right now and if it wasn't, $50,000 is way
better than nothing. Be thankful.
Bushfire-affected people to get $50,000 if home destroyed - The Herald Sun - Stephen McMahon - March 12, 2009
Fund gives bushfire victims $50,000 to rebuild - ABC News - March 12, 2009
Final Harry Potter Films
Having gotten their calculators out (no doubt) Warner Bros has announced that the
Deathly Hallows: Part II will be released July 15, 2011 following Deathly Hallows: Part I
to be released November 19, 2010. These are a long way off in the future so we can
probably expect those dates to move, the 2011 one expecially, although as an exception
the Harry Potter movies have usually been released when they told us they would be...
81st Academy Awards
Well the attempt to spice the Oscars up and breath some new life into the dilapidated old
monster half worked. Hugh Jackman strutting his stuff and making his triple threat status
well and truly known certainly added some much need oomph and then once he was done it
was back to the same old monotony... and while many might say that this isn't really news
every television station seems to be reporting it as such so why can't I? First there's
stories about the lead-up to the awards, then there's stories speculating about who will
win, there's coverage of first the red carpet and then the awards themselves, then
there's stories about who actually won and who *should* have won and how well the night
went and the after parties and... oh my god! However, Kate Winslet rocks for telling it like it is when she said "Winning's a whole
lot better, much better" referring to her previously fruitless nominations.
But my favourite part of the whole thing is The Age's Oscars Party Game (original article here).
The Oscars Party Game
theage.com.au / Entertainment / February 22, 2009
Break out the popcorn, boot up the magic box and settle in to play our Oscars party game, as devised by Melinda Houston.
It's back: our Oscars party game, adjusted for new political and economic times and fresh talent. Once again, participation requires no actual knowledge of film. Simply an eagle eye and, ideally, a very large television screen.
While the roster of presenters remains a secret, we do know who'll be hosting the shebang: our Hugh. We're awfully proud of him, and he did win that Emmy for hosting the Tonys. But we all know this is the toughest gig in town. So, every Hugh Jackman joke that generates polite tittering or silence earns one point.
As the awards begin, we're going to see a lot of one film in particular. Every time a clip from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button features Brad looking really wrinkly: one point.
Every shot of a nominee smiling tightly and looking steely eyed when Angelina Jolie is mentioned (she thinks she's so much better than the rest of us): one point.
Every shot of a fellow nominee smiling tightly and looking steely eyed when Anne Hathaway is mentioned (why can't she stick with airhead chick flicks?): one point.
Every shot of an audience member looking bemused (but pretending not to) when either Frozen River or Melissa Leo (who the?) is mentioned: one point.
Everybody knows about Slumdog Millionaire, this year's sentimental favourite. So for every star dressed in the Bollywood style: one point.
Every time someone mispronounces one of those Indian names: one point.
Every time someone says how amazing India is/its people are: one point. And if they use the word "awesome": five points.
And speaking of sentimental favourites, our Heath is guaranteed to get the whole auditorium emoting. So, every time a presenter mentions his name with a slight catch in their throat: one point.
Every shot of an audience member biting their lip and looking tearful when his name is mentioned: one point.
Every shot of Sharon Stone wiping a tear when Heath is mentioned: two points.
Every shot of her wiping a tear when Mickey Rourke is mentioned: five points.
If Mickey Rourke thanks his chihuahuas again: five points.
If he brings his chihuahuas on stage: five points.
Of course, Hollywood prides itself on keeping it real, and the Academy Awards are the opportunity for a bit of topical speechifying. Two major events dominated life in the US this past year and both are likely to get a good chewing over.
Every time someone presenting or accepting an award uses the phrase "Yes, we can": one point.
Every time someone presenting or accepting an award uses the phrase "(insert noun) we can believe in": one point.
Every time one of the wealthiest people on the planet makes a patronising reference to the economic suffering of the ordinary person, in faux-solidarity: one point.
Every person wearing a pink ribbon (breast cancer): one point.
Every person wearing a white ribbon (anti-war): one point.
Every person wearing a red ribbon (AIDS): one point.
Every person wearing a periwinkle-blue ribbon (eating disorders): 20 points.
We'd also like to respect those great Academy Award traditions, so - in this game, as with the last - several enduring Oscars moments will continue to be celebrated.
First, perhaps the greatest Oscars tradition of all: every time the camera turns to Jack Nicholson, for no apparent reason: one point.
And there are no more important Oscars moments than the extraordinary self-mutilation of some of Hollywood's hottest stars. So keep your eyes peeled for:
Every star/let with so much collagen in their lips they can't close their mouth: one point.
Every star/let so paralysed by Botox they look like a well-dressed stroke victim - or perhaps someone prepared by a highly skilled mortician: one point.
Every star/let showing solidarity with the starving Africans by keeping their body weight just above the point at which they require tube-feeding: one point.
Now, call the boss and explain you're not feeling well, warm up the plasma, and let the game begin.
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Austraian Open 2009 (Tennis)
Arguably this year the Australian Open was filled with some awesome matches. I know this
firstly because I actually understand this sport and secondly because I find an excellent
measure to be whether the matches go too long for me to stay up and watch the night
sessions. And this was the case. Several times I gave up on matches thinking one of the
players surely could not mount a comeback - but they did. And even more times I stayed up
much later than planned expecting to be able to see the whole match only to have to bail
at the commencement of the fifth set!
Worthy of a note were Roger Federer's tears. I know several people whose only reaction
was the desire to give him a hug (he totally deserved one!). But even more moving was
just how torn his girlfriend/partner/whatever (who knows what the current term is?), the
way she just seemed to want to reach out and comfort him... great stuff.
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