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Tributes flow for Oscar-winning writer of Chinatown and Mission Impossible

Robert Towne has passed away aged 89. Towne was nominated for four Oscars during his career. He won an Oscar for writing the 1974 crime and corruption thriller Chinatown starring Jack Nicholson as a private detective. He has been remembered as one of Hollywood's greatest screenwriters, with people from the film industry paying tribute to him online. Lee Grant, who won best supporting actress for her role in Shampoo, which Towne co-wrote, paid tribute to him on X. "His life, like the characters he created, was incisive, iconoclastic & entirely originally [sic]," she wrote. "He gave me the gift of Shampoo. He gave all of us the gift of his words & his films. There isn’t another like him. There won’t be again." The American Film Institute also paid tribute to him on X: "From writing masterpieces like Chinatown, Shampoo & countless others, his influence is everlasting." Towne was also regarded for his role as a script doctor - fixing or adding to existing scripts like Bonnie and Clyde and The Godfather. While he didn't get an official credit, The Godfather's writer-director Francis Ford Coppola used his Oscars best adapted screenplay acceptance speech to thank him for writing a pivotal "very beautiful" scene between Al Pacino and Marlon Brando's characters. "That was Bob Towne's scene," he said during the 1973 ceremony. Towne is survived by his second wife Luisa, and daughters Chiara and Katharine. Image: David Bloomer/Paramount Classics/Kobal/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Mission: Impossible Sydney mansion sells for eye-watering price

One of Sydney's most iconic properties, known as the Boomerang in Elizabeth Bay, has sold for $80 million. The mansion is featured in the second instalment in the Mission: Impossible franchise, with the 2000 movie starring Tom Cruise being set and filmed in Sydney. It was the first house to officially sell for above $1 million in 1978, before setting another record in 2002 when it fetched $20.7 million. Now, multiple sources have confirmed it has been snapped up by a purchaser, originally from Asia, for four times what it last sold for. The property has long been rated as one of Sydney’s Top 50 homes, and has been in the name of Katrina Fox, the daughter of Melbourne-based billionaire trucking magnate Lindsay Fox, since 2005. The impressive home was put up for sale by Ray White in 2017 with hopes of selling for $60 million and then again with Brad Pillinger of Pillinger for $80 million in 2021 — the last agent to have it listed. Pillinger couldn’t be contacted ahead of publication, but other sources have confirmed the property has sold for the $80m asking price, while speculation from other sources that the result was $105 million have been dismissed. Boomerang sits on 4233 square metres of waterfront land, and features 25 rooms including a private cinema modelled on the State Theatre. Image credits: realestate.com.au / Paramount Pictures

Real Estate

"Impossibly sad": P-plater jailed over fatal crash

A southwest Sydney community is reeling after Tyrell Edwards was sentenced for causing the deaths of five children in a fiery crash last year. Edwards, 20, was driving recklessly at speeds of 147km/h in the suburb of Buxton when he crashed into two trees and struck five teenagers. Lily Van De Putte, Gabby McLennan, Summer Williams, all aged 14, Tyrese Bechard, 15, and Antonio Desisto, 16, were all killed in the devastating incident. Appearing in Campbelltown District Court on his 20th birthday, Edwards sentenced to 12 years in prison, and will be eligible for parole in seven years, after pleading guilty to five counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death at a speed more than 45km/h over the limit. The judge described the deaths of the five victims as “tragic and impossibly sad”. “The loss of these five young people diminishes us all,” he said. “Their deaths were completely avoidable and responsibility for them lies squarely at the feet of the offender.” Gasps were heard in the courtroom as the sentence was read, with families of the victims sharing their disappointment at the sentencing. Speaking outside court on Friday, family members of three of the teenagers hit out at the “unfair” sentence. Samantha McLennan said her heart “dropped” as she heard the ruling, while Exavan Desisto said he was “speechless”. “I knew the outcome wouldn’t be spectacular but to hear it was a big shock,” he said. “The justice system absolutely stinks.” John Van De Putte said he expected the sentence to be low, but felt it did not match the crime. “There’s five lives lost. Seven years in jail,” he said. “You’d get more if you killed someone with a baseball bat Mr Van De Putte had previously told the court there was “no excuse” for Edwards, a licensed driver, to have driven so recklessly and endangered the lives of his underage passengers. “No matter what you get, it will not bring back the five lives,” he told the 20-year-old. Image credits: Facebook

News

Robert Irwin makes red carpet debut with girlfriend

Robert Irwin looked crazy in love as he made his red carpet debut with his new girlfriend Rorie Buckley. The 19-year-old conservationist and Buckley could not keep their eyes off each other as they posed for the cameras outside Sydney’s International Convention Centre, ahead of the Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning premiere. The couple looked stunning in their colour-coordinated outfits, with Irwin looking dapper in a black suit as he wrapped his arms around Buckley, who is the niece of late Aussie actor Heath Ledger. Buckley, 18, charmed the crowd with her bright smile and looked chic in a black long-sleeve dress with a cutout at the midsection. In a few pictures Irwin could be seen looking proudly at his girlfriend and eliciting a few giggles as they shared private jokes together. The glamorous event also saw the Mission Impossible stars Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and Hayley Atwell rock the red carpet for the franchise’s seventh instalment. This is the first time Irwin and Buckley have walked the red carpet together after first being spotted cuddling on a Queensland beach late last year. The pair are currently dating long distance with Buckley based in Perth and Irwin in Queensland. Images: Getty

Beauty & Style

"I saw that!": Tom Cruise reacts to Shirvo's 100m Olympic sprint

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, known for his association with A-list celebrities – and of course for his energetic, high-speed running in almost every film he's ever made – found himself captivated by Sunrise host Matt Shirvington's Olympic Games history. Appearing on the Channel 7 breakfast show on Monday morning, Cruise was greeted by enthusiastic fans outside the Sydney studio who chanted his name and displayed banners. However, it was a particular video showcasing Shirvo's performance in the 100-metre sprint at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games that truly caught Tom's attention. "Tom, I have to be honest with you, as a kid growing up, I was a sprinter and went to the Olympic Games," began Matt during the segment. "Did you? Wow, what year were you?" an intrigued Tom inquired. Matt went on to reveal that he had competed in the 100-metre sprint at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Tom, clearly impressed, responded, "I saw you run in that Olympics. I saw that!" As Tom gazed at the screen, he witnessed Matt, donning yellow and green attire, sprinting patriotically in the competition, juxtaposed with footage of the actor's own running scenes in his action movies. "Look at that. You're a great runner. I'm a good runner," remarked Tom. He then went on to explain that while he often runs in his films, he doesn't receive much assistance with training. "I've been an athlete my whole life, participating in gymnastics and sprinting. I was like that little kid who would get a new pair of sneakers and then joyfully sprint, splashing through puddles. "I haven't had extensive training, you know, but throughout the years, I've received some coaching and worked with different coaches as I grew up." Tom continued, "You know what I do? I observe people, study them, and then try different things on my own. "I'm the kind of person who watches someone, imitates them, and reads about other people's training. I've trained with different Olympians, constantly studying." At this point, Matt chimed in, saying, "If you ever need a coach, let me know." Amidst giggles, Nat Barr interjected, "We'll arrange a training session for you guys." Tom went on to reveal that earlier that morning, he had engaged in sprints around his hotel room in Sydney, as he always makes an effort to stay fit. "I've trained my whole life. You never take a break," he emphasised. Images: Sunrise

Movies

Screwed over: how Apple and others are making it impossible to get a cheap and easy phone repair

If Apple and other tech companies have their way, it will only become harder to have our phones and other devices repaired by third-party businesses. Smartphones and many other tech devices are increasingly being designed in ways that make it challenging to repair or replace individual components. This might involve soldering the processor and flash memory to the motherboard, gluing components together unnecessarily, or using non-standard <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/14279/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone">pentalobe screws</a> which make replacements problematic. Many submissions to an Australian “right to repair” <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/submissions#initial">inquiry</a> have called on tech manufacturers to provide a fair and competitive market for repairs, and produce products that are easily repairable. The <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/issues/repair-issues.pdf">right to repair</a> refers to consumers’ ability to have their products repaired at a competitive price. This includes being able to choose a repairer, rather than being forced by default to use the device manufacturer’s services. But it seems Apple doesn’t want its customers to fix their <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/evmeya/apple-iphone-right-to-repair-california">iPhones</a>or <a href="https://www.inputmag.com/culture/apples-repair-policies-are-utterly-shameful-and-shouldnt-be-allowed-e-waste-recycling-macbooks-t2">Macbooks</a> themselves. The company has <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/nz85y7/apple-is-lobbying-against-your-right-to-repair-iphones-new-york-state-records-confirm">lobbied against</a> the right to repair in the United States and has <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/936268845/apple-agrees-to-pay-113-million-to-settle-batterygate-case-over-iphone-slowdowns">been accused of deliberately slowing down</a> iPhones with older batteries. <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/10/16/tech-giants-fight-digital-right-to-repair-bills">Opposition</a> against the right to repair from tech companies is to be expected. Cornering consumers into using their service centres increases their revenue and extends their market domination. In its defence, Apple has said <a href="https://time.com/4828099/farmers-and-apple-fight-over-the-toolbox/">third-party repairers</a> could use lower quality parts and also make devices vulnerable to hackers. It also defended its <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/14/apple-defends-iphone-unauthorized-battery-warning-as-a-safety-feature/">battery warning indication</a> as a “safety” feature, wherein it started to alert users if their phone’s replacement battery hadn’t come from a certified Apple repairer. In the US, Apple’s <a href="https://support.apple.com/irp-program">independent repair provider program</a> grants certain providers access to the parts and resources needed to fix its devices. Independent repair shops in <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/07/apple-expands-iphone-repair-services-to-hundreds-of-new-locations-across-the-us/">32 countries</a> can now apply, but the scheme has yet to extend outside the US. <h2>Impact on users</h2> With the iPhone 12 — the latest iPhone offering — Apple has <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/45921/is-this-the-end-of-the-repairable-iphone">made it even harder</a> for third-party repairers to fix the device, thereby increasing users’ reliance on its own services. Apple has hiked its <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/service/screen-replacement">repair charges</a> for iPhone 12 by more than 40%, compared with the iPhone 11. It is <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/service/screen-replacement">charging</a> more than A$359 to fix an iPhone 12 screen outside of warranty and A$109 to replace the battery. Historically, third-party repairers have been a cheaper option. But using a third-party repairer for an iPhone 12 could render some phone features, such as the camera, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/30/21542242/apple-iphone-12-third-party-repairs-ifixit-camera-module-replacement">almost inoperable</a>. According to reports, fixing the iPhone 12’s camera requires <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/30/iphone-12-camera-repair/">Apple’s proprietary</a> system configuration app, available only to the company’s own authorised technicians. It’s not just Apple, either. <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/samsungs-galaxy-s20-ultra-is-unsurprisingly-difficult-to-repair">Samsung’s</a> flagship phones are also quite tricky for third-party repairers to fix. <h2>Impact on environment</h2> When certain parts for repairs aren’t available, manufacturers will produce new phones instead, consuming <a href="https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/environmental-laboratory/7/breaking-news/how-do-smartphones-affect-the-environment/48339">more energy and resources</a>. In fact, manufacturing one smartphone <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/science/article/pii/S095965261733233X">consumes</a> as much energy as using it for ten years. As smartphones become harder to repair, electronic waste will grow. Apple and Samsung both cited environmental benefits when they announced they would no longer ship <a href="https://theconversation.com/apples-iphone-12-comes-without-a-charger-a-smart-waste-reduction-move-or-clever-cash-grab-148189">chargers</a> with their phones. Yet, they’ve turned a blind eye to the environmental damage that would arise from completely cornering the repair market. The average Australian home has <a href="https://thinktv.com.au/facts-and-stats/australian-homes-are-experiencing-a-screen-explosion/">6.7 devices</a>, including televisions, personal computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. With diminishing opportunities for repair, the environmental burden from disposing of these devices will increase. <h2>What is being done?</h2> Phone giants make it tough for third-party repairers to do their job in a variety of ways. This includes constantly changing designs, adding hurdles to the repair process, and restricting access to parts, diagnostic software and repair documentation. Meanwhile, consumers are left with broken phones and huge repair bills — and repairers are left with less business. The fight to remove barriers to repair is gaining momentum outside Australia, too, in countries including <a href="https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/monitor/when-will-canadians-have-right-repair">Canada</a>, the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/right-to-repair-means-spare-parts-for-household-appliances-mr5gmkjxr">United Kingdom</a> and the <a href="https://www.repair.org/legislation">United States</a>. Legislative reforms have been introduced in the <a href="https://repair.eu/news/european-parliament-calls-for-ambitious-right-to-repair/">European Union</a> and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93wy8v/newly-passed-right-to-repair-law-will-fundamentally-change-tesla-repair">Massachusetts</a>. France has introduced a <a href="https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/indice-reparabilite">Repairability Index</a> requiring electrical and electronic equipment companies to inform consumers about their products’ repairability on a scale of one to ten. This takes into account the ease of repairability, availability and price of spare parts and availability of technical repair documents. <h2>The path moving forward</h2> Until the push for right to repair legislative reform gathers pace globally, consumers will have little choice but to pay up to big companies to access their authorised repair services. If they don’t, they may risk losing their warranty, ending up with a non-functional device and even <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e449c8c3ef68d752f3e70dc/t/5ea8a6d93b485d0feb9b5d6b/1588111098207/Report_RightToRepair_HanleyKellowayVaheesan-1.pdf">infringing</a> upon the manufacturers’ software copyrights. Ideally, phone companies (and others) would assist users with the repair process by providing replacement parts, repair documentation and diagnostic tools to third-party repairers. This would also help <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2020/07/apple-commits-to-be-100-percent-carbon-neutral-for-its-supply-chain-and-products-by-2030/">Apple</a> and <a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/sustainability/environment/">Samsung</a> reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their environmental goals. Although the way things are going, it’s unlikely tech companies will be able to escape their self-inflicted repair obligations. In the past, Apple CEO Jeff Williams has <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/08/apple-offers-customers-even-more-options-for-safe-reliable-repairs/">said, "</a>we believe the safest and most reliable repair is one handled by a trained technician using genuine parts that have been properly engineered and rigorously tested." But with only so much workforce available even to Apple, sharing the load with smaller repairers will help. And for consumers’ benefit, the right to repair legislation must be taken seriously, with consistent repairability scores developed across the globe. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/screwed-over-how-apple-and-others-are-making-it-impossible-to-get-a-cheap-and-easy-phone-repair-156871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Technology

Impossible Pork: “You may have a hard time convincing yourself it's not the real thing”

California-based Impossible Foods is launching Impossible™ Pork at a number of iconic local restaurants and cafes across Australia. Impossible Pork is as versatile as pork from pigs and can be served in any minced pork dish like sausage rolls, meatballs, chilli, dumplings and xiao long bao. Because it’s made from plants, it uses 51% less water, 94% less land and generates 85% less greenhouse gasses (GHG) than its animal counterpart in Australia and rivals minced pork from pigs with its mild savoury flavour balanced with umami richness, without being gamey or overpowering. It contains no animal hormones, antibiotics, or added nitrates and it is certified gluten-free. Each 113-gram serving of Impossible Pork delivers 17.7 grams of protein and is a good source of zinc, calcium, and B vitamins (Niacin, B6 and B12). Now is the opportunity for local foodies across the country to enjoy a wide range of classic pork dishes made with Impossible Pork at restaurants including the acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant<a href="https://www.redlantern.com.au/"> Red Lantern</a> in Sydney, the iconic plant-based eatery<a href="https://www.smithanddaughters.com/"> Smith & Daughters</a> in Melbourne, and at any location of the cult dining institution<a href="https://www.buttersydney.com.au/"> Butter</a>. A blind taste test in Hong Kong revealed over half of consumers surveyed prefer Impossible Pork over ground pork from pigs. Impossible Pork scored higher in every category tested, including flavour liking, texture liking, and purchase intent. Tasters in the US have also given Impossible Pork rave reviews, with<a href="https://www.cnet.com/health/impossible-pork-will-finally-be-available-commercially-starting-in-restaurants/"> CNET</a> saying: “Fair warning: You may have a hard time convincing yourself it's not the real thing,” and<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/18/the-evolution-of-an-empire-at-momofuku-ssam-bar/amp"> The New Yorker</a> restaurant critic calling the Spicy Rice Cakes served with Impossible Pork Ragu at David Chang’s Momofuku Ssäm Bar “a rare gastronomic gift that tastes more indulgent than it is.” “Australia is one of the heaviest meat-consuming markets per capita in the world and pork plays a central role in some of the nations’ favourite cuisines, so launching Impossible Pork there felt like the natural next step for our expansion,” said Jordan Sadowsky, Director of International at Impossible Foods. “We’re working with some of the most exciting chefs in Australia to showcase the culinary versatility of this product, and we think people are really going to love it.” Availability For the arrival of Impossible Pork, Impossible Foods has enlisted a number of Aussie chefs and restaurateurs to celebrate the nation’s love for all things local. Each chef has incorporated Impossible Pork in their own iconic food traditions, from dumplings to sausage rolls, giving consumers the chance to try it for brekky, lunch, dinner and smoko. Now available exclusively at: NSW ● <a href="https://www.redlantern.com.au/"> Red Lantern</a>, Darlinghust - serving Lemongrass Impossible™ Pork skewers served on a vermicelli, herb and pickled vegetable salad ● <a href="https://singleo.com.au/surryhills/"> Single O</a>, Surry Hills - serving Impossible™ Pork Breakfast terrine with haloumi, saltbush crusted egg, smoked tomato achiote coulis and sea lettuce salsa verde ● <a href="https://www.tacosmuchachos.com.au/"> Tacos Muchachos</a>, Redfern - serving Vegan Tacos Al Pastor Chorizo with Impossible™ Pork, guacamole salsa, red salsa, onion, cilantro and pineapple ● <a href="https://www.buttersydney.com.au/"> Butter</a>, Chatswood, Surry Hills, Parramatta - serving Burnt Endz Impossible™ Pork Hot Ballz Ramen VIC ● <a href="https://www.smithanddaughters.com/"> Smith & Daughters</a>, Collingwood - serving Classic Smith & Daughters Impossible™ Pork Sausage Roll and Braised Iranian Impossible™ Pork & buckwheat meatballs with pomegranate and farinata ● <a href="https://breadclub.com.au/"> Bread Club</a>, North Melbourne - serving Impossible™ Pork Sausage Roll and Lasagne pie QLD ● <a href="https://www.southside-restaurant.com.au/"> SouthSide</a>, South Brisbane - serving Spicy Impossible™ Pork Mapo Tofu, Impossible Pork Xiao Long Bao. Note: Available from Friday 19 August onwards ● <a href="https://www.donnachang.com.au/"> Donna Chang</a>, Brisbane City - serving Impossible™ Pork Mapo Tofu To find other local restaurants serving Impossible Pork, visit:<a href="https://impossiblefoods.com/au-en/locations"> https://impossiblefoods.com/au-en/locations</a>. Image: Supplied

Food & Wine

Tom Cruise celebrates his 60th!

Tom Cruise has turned 60! In honour of his 60th birthday on July 3, Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie shared a rare photo of Cruise performing a crazy stunt. The actor, known to perform his own insane stunts, could be seen hanging on from an airborne red biplane. Mission: Impossible movie, Dead Reckoning Part One is due to be released in 2023. Cruise however spent his actual birthday watching the F1 Grand Prix in the UK, with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and Lewis Hamilton’s family. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Anthony Hamilton, Antonio Pérez Garibay and Tom Cruise watching the podium celebrations together is everything ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/KvtgU19ssH">pic.twitter.com/KvtgU19ssH</a> — ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNF1/status/1543665585913008128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Hamilton and Tom Cruise showed love after the race 🤝❤️ <a href="https://t.co/TDHCHh8FFh">pic.twitter.com/TDHCHh8FFh</a> — ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNF1/status/1543640030354329601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The one and only Maverick. Happy birthday, <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCruise?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomCruise</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TopGun?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TopGun</a> <a href="https://t.co/OWSUMwVWJY">pic.twitter.com/OWSUMwVWJY</a> — Top Gun (@TopGunMovie) <a href="https://twitter.com/TopGunMovie/status/1543640720216510466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote> Also, an avid Adele fan, Cruise was spotted singing and dancing to Adele at Hyde Park where he was also surprised with a birthday cake backstage. "Tom looked like he had an absolute blast. He was really going for it with his dancing and seemed to know all the words to sing along,” an onlooker said. "After the set finished, staff brought the cake out for him and he couldn't stop saying thank you. He hugged his favourite hostess as they sang Happy Birthday. "Then he gave a speech about how nice it was for everyone to be able to come together for events again after Covid. "And Tom said Adele was phenomenal. He was so upbeat and living his best life." Image: Getty

Movies

Changing the Australian Constitution is not easy. But we need to stop thinking it’s impossible

Supporters of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament have celebrated the commitment of the new Albanese government to put the issue to a referendum. But is government support enough? It’s a start, but the road to referendum success is a hard one, as it was always meant to be. The Constitution was meant to be hard to change When the Constitution was being written in the 1890s, the initial expectation was that it would be enacted by the British and they would control the enactment of any changes to it, just as they did for Canada. But the drafters of the Commonwealth Constitution bucked the system by insisting they wanted the power to change the Constitution themselves. They chose the then quite radical method of a referendum, which they borrowed from the Swiss. While it was radical, because it let the people decide, it was also seen as a <a href="https://adc.library.usyd.edu.au/view?docId=ozlit/xml-main-texts/fed0043.xml&chunk.id=&toc.id=&database=&collection=&brand=default" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conservative mechanism</a>. British constitutional theorist A.V. Dicey described the referendum as “the <a href="https://archive.org/details/nationalreview2318unse/page/64/mode/2up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">people’s veto</a>”, because it allowed the “weight of the nation’s common sense” and inertia to block “the fanaticism of reformers”. The drafters of the Commonwealth Constitution were divided on the issue. Some supported the referendum because it would operate to defeat over-hasty, partisan or ill-considered changes. Others were concerned that change was hard enough already, and voters would have a natural tendency to vote “No” in a referendum because there are always objections and risks that can be raised about any proposal. Fear of the new almost always trumps dissatisfaction with the current system, because people do not want to risk making things worse. In this sense, the referendum is conservative – not in a party-political sense, but because it favours conserving the status quo. Another concern, raised by Sir Samuel Griffith, was that constitutions are complex, and a large proportion of voters would not be sufficiently acquainted with the Australian Constitution to vote for its change in an informed way. He favoured using a United States-style of constitutional convention to make changes. The democrats eventually won and the referendum was chosen. But to satisfy their opponents, they added extra hurdles. To succeed, a referendum has to be <a href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coacac627/s128.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> not only by a majority of voters overall, but also by majorities in a majority of states (currently four out of six states). A Constitution frozen in time The predictions were right. The referendum at the federal level has indeed turned out to be the “people’s veto”. Of 44 referendum questions put to the people, only <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/referendums/referendum_dates_and_results.htm">eight have passed</a>. No successful Commonwealth referendum has been held since 1977. We have not held a Commonwealth referendum at all since 1999. There are many <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/library/pubs/rp/2002-03/03rp11.pdf">suggested reasons</a> for this. Some argue that the people have correctly exercised their veto against reforms that were proposed for party-political advantage or to unbalance the federal system by expanding Commonwealth power. If reforms are put because they are in the interests of the politicians, rather than the people, they will fail. Questions asked in referendums have been poorly formulated and often load too many issues into the one proposed reform. If a voter objects to just one aspect of a proposal, they then vote down the entire reform. Another argument is that, as Griffith anticipated, the people know little about the Constitution and are not willing to approve changes to it if they are unsure. The mantra “<a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/referendums/1999_referendum_reports_statistics/yes_no_pamphlet.pdf">Don’t know – Vote No</a>” was extremely effective during the republic campaign in 1999. Of course, if you don’t know, you should find out. But the failure to provide proper civics education in schools means most people don’t feel they have an adequate grounding to embark on making that assessment. Decades of <a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/better-civic-education-will-help-australians-respond-in-challenging-times/">neglect of civics</a> has left us with a population that is insufficiently equipped to fulfil its constitutional role of updating the Constitution. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>If people have the slightest uncertainty about what they are saying ‘yes’ to, they will inevitably say ‘no’ – something the republic referendum suffered from in 1999. Rob Griffith/AAP</figcaption></figure> Vulnerability to scare campaigns The biggest threat to a successful referendum is the running of a “No” campaign by a major political party, or one or more states, or even a well-funded business or community group. Scare campaigns are effective even if there is little or no truth behind them. It is enough to plant doubt in the minds of voters to get them to vote “No”. Voters are reluctant to entrench changes in the Constitution if they might have unintended consequences or be interpreted differently in the future, because they know how hard it will be to fix any mistake. <figure class="align-right "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1061&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1061&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1061&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>The 1967 referendum was one of the few that were successful. National Gallery of Australia</figcaption></figure> If a referendum campaign ends up focused on technical issues about the future operation or interpretation of particular amendments, then it is likely lost. Campaigns tend to be more successful if they focus on principles or outcomes, such as the 1967 referendum concerning Aboriginal people. That referendum had the advantage of not being opposed in the Commonwealth parliament. The consequence was that there was only a <a href="https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/first-australians/rights-and-freedoms/argument-favour-proposed-constitution-alteration-aboriginals-1967#:%7E:text=In%20the%201967%20referendum%2C%20no,recorded%20in%20a%20federal%20referendum.">“Yes” case</a> distributed to voters, as a “No” case can only be produced by MPs who oppose the referendum bill in parliament. Overcoming the malaise While recognising these difficulties, perhaps the greatest risk is becoming <a href="https://www.auspublaw.org/2018/12/getting-to-yes-why-our-approach-to-winning-referendums-needs-a-rethink/">hostage</a> to the belief the Constitution cannot be changed and referendums will always fail. It will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead, we need to face constitutional reform as being difficult but achievable and worthwhile. The Constitution should always serve the needs of today’s Australians, rather than the people of the 1890s. The key elements for success include a widespread will for change, the drive and persistence of proponents, good leadership, sound well-considered proposals and building a broad cross-party consensus. Not every element is necessary, but all are helpful. As incoming Indigenous Affairs Minister <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/linda-burney:-%E2%80%9Cwe-need-consensus-on-a-referendum/13895144">Linda Burney</a> recently noted, there is still a lot of work to be done in building that consensus in relation to Indigenous constitutional recognition, but the work has commenced.<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/183626/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anne-twomey-6072">Anne Twomey</a>, Professor of Constitutional Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> 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/changing-the-australian-constitution-is-not-easy-but-we-need-to-stop-thinking-its-impossible-183626">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Australia's pork panel officially reveal the best value Christmas ham in Australia

The Christmas ham is the glistening centrepiece of every table come this time of the year. With the big day fast approaching, the question on the minds of many is: Where do I get the “perfect” ham? There is where Australian Pork steps in. To help narrow It down, CEO Margo Andrae has stepped in to let shoppers know what to choose and what to look for when buying their Christmas ham. “We know from our research that over 78% of shoppers will purchase their ham from their local supermarket. With our Supermarket Ham Taste Test, we want to take the work out of choosing a ham for Australians, and provide a cheat sheet for any budget and any celebration size this year,” Ms Andrae says. Ms Andrea, together with celebrity chef Adrian Richardson and award-winning free range pig producer Judy Croagh, blind taste-tested 20 hams from all the major retailers on best taste and value. All making their way through the pork, it was Woolworth’s Double Smoked Half Leg Ham at $12.50/kg that has taken the crown for best pork in 2021. Judges described it as having a sweet and light aroma, clean robust appearance and deliciously delicate taste. The overall Value Ham also came from Woolworths, with the Half Leg Ham available at $8.50/kg. “This ham had a beautiful balance smoky aroma, flavour with a good bite,” said one of the judges. Woolworth’s commercial director Jason McQuaid said they’re thrilled both hams have been recognised with these awards. “With customers starting to plan their Christmas celebrations, we’re expecting more than 1.75 million kilos of our Woolworths Half Leg Ham, a 20% increase from last year, to fly off the shelves in the lead up to Christmas,” Mr McQuiad said. Coles, Costco and IGA’s top hams cost just $8.50 a kilo, with Aldi’s best-selling ham just a few dollars more at $11.99. The judges were blown away by the free-range Berkshire full leg ham on the bone from Costco, awarding it the Premium Buy at $19.99 per kilogram. Ham sales have gone up 20 per cent from 2020, as families prepare for a much-needed celebration after another tough year. GLAZING YOUR HAM This comes down to four steps, as recommended by Australian Pork. <ol> <li>Prepare your favourite glaze recipe</li> <li>Remove rind and use a sharp knife to score ham in a diamond pattern</li> <li>Place ham scored side up in a large baking pan and brush over glaze</li> <li>Place into a preheated oven or hooded barbecue at 180°C for 20 minutes per kg, basting occasionally, until ham is brown and warmed through</li> </ol> STORING YOUR HAM <ol> <li>Soak a Ham Bag, pillowcase or tea towel in 4 cups of water and 2 tbsp vinegar</li> <li>Wring out excess liquid and place or wrap ham inside</li> <li>Store in coolest part of fridge</li> <li>Re-soak bag in solution every few days or when Ham Bag dries out</li> </ol>

Food & Wine

“I’m in shock”: Olympian stuns the world with “impossible” run

Norway’s Karsten Warholm has had an incredible run by smashing his own “impossible” world record, taking the gold in the men's 400m hurdles. Warholm clocked in at a remarkable 45.94 seconds. He beat his previous world best of 46.70sec. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842812/norway-world-record-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4a6da1c59057416f9b46990d2d57993b" /> Image: Supplied He went head to head with American Rai Benjamin, who came under the previous world record mark and won silver. Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos claimed bronze in 46.72. Warholm’s feat is something never-before-seen, as only four runners in history have ever clocked sub-47sec times, let alone sub-46. Seven of the eight runners also recorded their personal best times. The race was one that came down to the final 20m. As Warholm’s world record time flashed on the big screen, he roared and ripped open his shirt. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842813/norway-world-record.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/60445dd9738a4b799bc26111795783a6" /> Image: Getty Aussie icon and commentator Bruce McAvaney, described the win as one of the most iconic performances ever seen at the Olympics. He said it competed with Usain Bolt's 9.63sec 100m run at the London Olympics. "It will go down as the greatest 400m hurdles ever run and arguably the greatest race we have seen at an Olympic Games. What a contest," McAvaney said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Karsten Warholm's 45.95 in the 400-meter hurdles took .75 of a second off of the world record. To take that much off of the WR in an event human beings have been running for 120+ years should not be possible. It should not be possible! — Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) <a href="https://twitter.com/jgault13/status/1422399636698923010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote> Former Aussie athletics star Tamsyn Manou said the shock of the race left her speechless. "I'm in shock. Bruce, I'm in shock. I cannot believe for the men's 400m hurdles there is a 45 second run," she said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Ppl, I don’t think you realize what you just watched. A man just ran Sub 46 in the 400M Hurdles. That’s Beamon’s jump in Mexico City, Bolt’s sub 9.6 in 100 meters. I saw Kevin Young run 46.78 in Barcelona, still can’t believe Warholm ran that fast. Geeeeezzz — shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonSharpe/status/1422400410812252165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote> "We've taken this event to a place where I don't think anybody (expected). "Everybody was talking about a world record, but I don't think anybody would have said it will be won in sub-46 seconds." American sports commentator Tom Harrington said: "That 400 meters hurdles was the greatest in history". Image: Getty

News

5 gripping memoirs by women who overcame the impossible

<h2>1. Wild by Cheryl Strayed</h2> Readers fell in love with Cheryl Strayed’s lovely and lyrical prose in this best-seller about finding healing when you’re out on your own – like really on your own. Strayed’s best-seller recounts her months on a solo hike on the Pacific Northwest Trail from Montana to the Pacific Ocean. She comes to terms with a past filled with the wrong men and other choices she’d rather forget. Most of all, her epic hike allows her the time and space to grieve the loss of her beloved mother who passed way too young. A nature trail provides the path for what becomes an incredible journey. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/book-club/10-best-romance-novels-all-time">You’ll also love these novels featuring strong fictional female characters</a>. <h2>2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou</h2> This is the book that launched Maya Angelou’s astonishing literary career. Her gorgeous memoir debuted in 1969 and captured the experience of growing up as a young Black girl in the South. Angelou’s poetic language expertly portrays details and events that are riveting and powerful. Though the book chronicles pain, it’s also about strength and resilience in the face of trauma. The book is a truly inspirational force about self-love and finding your intrinsic courage. <h2>3. The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya</h2> In this powerful memoir, subtitled “A Story of War and What Comes After,” Wamariya writes about fleeing the Rwandan genocide as a young child, travelling through multiple African countries with her sister as refugees, and eventually ending up in the United States. Her circumstances do a complete 180 as she ends up being taken in by an affluent family and attending Yale. In this New York Times bestseller, she tries to reconcile the vastly different experiences of her life. <h2>4. The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr</h2> Mary Karr’s funny and moving memoir about a tough childhood was hugely successful when it debuted in 1995. Readers connected with Karr’s witty and masterful storytelling about life in a volatile Texas family. She writes about drama and dysfunction with a poignant eye that captures details that will stay with you long after you’ve finished. It’s a story of a child’s resilience in the midst of alcoholism, mental illness, and other assorted chaos. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/uncategorized/25-bestselling-books-of-the-decade">Here are 25 bestselling books everyone should read</a>. <h2>5. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion</h2> Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne were a happily married literary power couple. Then suddenly, within a period of a few days, the famed writer lost her husband to a heart attack while her daughter was gravely ill with a sudden infection. Didion’s beautiful and acclaimed memoir records the year after these events during which her daughter continues a long and difficult recovery. Didion takes us through the heartbreak and shock of loss and love in this meditation on surviving grief. Sadly, Didion’s daughter passed after the book’s completion — the tragedy she chronicles in the companion book, Blue Nights. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/ten-inspirational-quotes-worlds-strongest-women">Here are 10 inspirational quotes from strong women</a>. Written by Molly Pennington. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/book-club/15-gripping-memoirs-by-women-who-overcame-the-impossible">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Books

“You’re f***ing gone”: Furious Tom Cruise lashes out on set of Mission Impossible

Furious Tom Cruise has ripped into workers who broke COVID rules on the set of Mission: Impossible, screaming: “If I see you doing it again, you’re f***ing gone.” The Hollywood superstar has gone the extra mile to make sure tight social-distancing rules were being implemented during the filming, which is taking place in Britain. And after coming across two of the crew members standing within two metres of each other, he quickly flew into a rage. The Sun published the audio recording, which heard Cruise shouting: “If I see you do it again, you’re f***ing gone. And if anyone in this crew does it, that’s it — and you too and you too. And you, don’t you ever f***ing do it again.” 50 staff members at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, Herts, were left shocked by the angry outburst. The 58-year-old was furious that his efforts to keep filming going during a pandemic could be at risk. He went on: “They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us. “We are creating thousands of jobs, you motherf***ers. “That’s it. No apologies. You can tell it to the people that are losing their f***ing homes because our industry is shut down. “ “We are not shutting this f***ing movie down. Is it understood? If I see it again, you’re f***ing gone.” A source said: “Tom has taken it upon himself, along with the health and safety department, to try to force the safety precautions, with a view to keeping the film running. “He does daily rounds to make sure that everything is set up appropriately, that people are behaving and working as safely as they can. He is very proactive when it comes to safety.” They added: “Everyone was wearing masks. It was purely that these people were standing under a metre away from each other. “It isn’t known whether he saw those guys breaking the rules before or whether this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. “People make mistakes and they slip up, but Tom is just on it.” Tom’s rant, in full: “We want the gold standard. They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us! Because they believe in us and what we’re doing! I’m on the phone with every f***ing studio at night, insurance companies, producers, and they’re looking at us and using us to make their movies. We are creating thousands of jobs you motherf***ers. I don’t ever want to see it again, ever! And if you don’t do it you’re fired, if I see you do it again you’re f***ing gone. And if anyone in this crew does it – that’s it, and you too and you too. And you, don’t you ever f***ing do it again. That’s it! No apologies. You can tell it to the people that are losing their f***ing homes because our industry is shut down. It’s not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education. That’s what I sleep with every night. The future of this f***ing industry! So I’m sorry I am beyond your apologies. I have told you and now I want it and if you don’t do it you’re out. We are not shutting this f***ing movie down! Is it understood? If I see it again you’re f***ing gone — and you are — so you’re going to cost him his job, if I see it on the set you’re gone and you’re gone. That’s it. Am I clear? Do you understand what I want? Do you understand the responsibility that you have? Because I will deal with your reason. And if you can’t be reasonable and I can’t deal with your logic, you’re fired. That’s it. That is it. I trust you guys to be here. That’s it. That’s it guys. Have a little think about it …[inaudible]. That’s what I think of Universal and Paramount. Warner Brothers. Movies are going because of us. If we shut down it’s going to cost people f***ing jobs, their home, their family. That’s what’s happening. All the way down the line. And I care about you guys, but if you’re not going to help me you’re gone. OK? Do you see that stick? How many metres is that? When people are standing around a f***ing computer and hanging out around here, what are you doing? And if they don’t comply then send their names to Matt Spooner. That’s it.”

Movies

20 rebus puzzles that are almost impossible to solve

Test your smarts with these rebus puzzles Rebus puzzles, also known as word picture puzzles or picture riddles, use images or words to convey a phrase or message, typically a common idiom or expression. To help you solve them, make sure to look at word placement, size, colour and quantity. Take your time and don’t give up. These can be pretty tricky. To help you get your brain on the right track, take a look at the most frequently used idioms in the English language. Rebus puzzle #1 We’ll start off with a simple rebus puzzle. Can you guess this one? Answer: Green with envy. Rebus puzzle #2 Can you solve this puzzle? Hint: Focus on the word here. Answer: Split pea soup. Try these 21 brain games guaranteed to boost your brain power. Rebus puzzle #3 This is one of the rebus puzzles where you need to focus on the placement – and number – of numbers. Answer: For once in my life. Rebus puzzle #4 Tilt your head to solve this rebus puzzle. Answer: What goes up must come down. See how you fare with these 19 trivia questions only geniuses get right. Rebus puzzle #5 How fast can you solve this tricky rebus puzzle? Make sure to take note of the placement of the words. Answer: Overseas travel. Wrack your brain with these mind-bending logic puzzles. Rebus puzzle #6 You might think this rebus puzzle has something to do with wine, but think again. Answer: Win with ease. Rebus puzzle #7 Hint: Think of different types of house layouts. Answer: Split level. Here are 5 more puzzles sure to get you thinking. Rebus puzzle #8 The answer isn’t “try to stand.” If that’s what you thought, keep guessing. Answer: Try to understand. This puzzle was dubbed the hardest ever by a university professor. Can you solve it? Rebus puzzle #9 Clear your brain and think hard about this rebus puzzle. Can you solve it? Answer: Summer (sum R). Rebus puzzle #10 We’ll give you a hint to solve this rebus puzzle. What words start with “meta”? Answer: Metaphor. Rebus puzzle #11 Hmm, what do those numbers mean? Answer: Safety in numbers. Rebus puzzle #12 First, rearrange the letters to make a real word. Answer: Trail mix. Rebus puzzle #13 We’ll throw in one of the easier rebus puzzles to give your brain a rest. (The colour here matters.) Answer: Greenhouse. Rebus puzzle #14 Can you figure out why the word “cover” appears four times and the word “head” only appears once? Answer: Head for cover. Rebus puzzle #15 This one is tricky. What words do you see? Answer: Go up in smoke. Rebus puzzle #16 This rebus puzzle represents an idiom you might use when you’re happy. Answer: Sitting on top of the world. Rebus puzzle #17 Notice the shape of this rebus puzzle to help you solve it. Answer: Street corner. Rebus puzzle #18 Can you decode this one? Answer: In between jobs. Rebus puzzle #19 Rebus puzzles aren’t easy. If you’ve solved every one so far, that’s super impressive. Answer: Up for grabs. Rebus puzzle #20 How many of these rebus puzzles did you get right? Guess this last one and finish strong. Answer: Forgive and forget. Written by Morgan Cutolo. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/20-rebus-puzzles-that-are-almost-impossible-to-solve?pages=1">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. Written by Morgan Cutolo. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/see-the-last-photos-ever-taken-of-nelson-mandela">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.

Mind

"Best markdown of all time": Coles shopper's epic boast

A Coles shopper has shared her incredible purchase for just 10c that she picked up from her local store. Jumping onto Facebook, the Melbourne customer revealed that she scored two $23 Australian Hot Roast Porks for just 10 cents each. She says she spotted the bargain at a store in West Melbourne. “I was there just before closing and I was waiting in the line to pay for other items as she marked them down,” she wrote on the Markdown Addicts Australia page. “From far [away] I thought they were marked down to $10 and I was like sweet, I’ll grab one. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837667/cen-pork.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c654028e7a604070bb563be0236bfb81" /> “Then bam, they where 10c each so grabbed them both. One of my best scores.” Some remarked that the low price was concerning. However the shopper said there was nothing wrong with the roasts, and offered a very valid reason for the amazing markdown. “They were reduced to that price because in Melbourne our supermarkets close at 7.30 pm at the moment,” she said. Added another shopper: “I wouldn’t be worried at all.” Many bargain hunters agreed it was an awesome buy. “The greatest yet,” said one. “No one can out bargain you, I am so jealous right now,” added another.

Food & Wine

Shopper left in stitches over cheeky message on roast pork

A family has been left in stitches after they got a lot more than they bargained after picking up a slab of pork from Coles. While the meat appeared to be normal looking in most ways, its skin had a cheeky message stamped across it. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837291/coles-slab-pork.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5fb245e715e247d6a5f52d731df64ec6" /> The pattern of black dots under the rope holding the meat together seemed to read “sexy”. The lady took to the supermarket’s Facebook page to share the funny blunder. “Preparing pork for dinner tonight... thanks for the giggle, Coles,” she wrote. Yahoo News reports the woman found the pork at the Mango Hill store, in Queensland’s Moreton Bay region. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837289/coles-slab-pork-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f60c4ff790f742b8ba547f8559c29656" /> Upon closer inspection, others believed it may have in face been an ‘5’ or ‘3’ instead of the letter ‘S’. A Coles spokesperson says the matter is being investigated. “Customers love our 100% Australian pork and our roasts are very popular,” the Coles spokesperson said. “The branding on this roast seems a little cheeky and we’ll be following up with our supplier.”

Food & Wine

Coles customers call out “impossible” meat packaging

Shoppers have called out Coles over their vacuum-sealed meat saying the tight packaging is “almost impossible” to open. One confused customer took to Facebook to share their concerns about how much trouble they’d put themselves through trying to open their scotch fillet steak. “Any tips on opening these new hard plastic vacuum sealed meat packages?” asked the upset shopper, who attached a picture of the tightly-sealed produce they’d had trouble getting open. “I tried with scissors and it’s almost impossible. The plastic is sealed right up the edge of the meat, so can’t just cut around the clear plastic parts, have to go right up to the meat. <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=601545097339876&set=p.601545097339876&type=3&theater" data-width="500" data-show-text="true"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> Hi Coles team. Any tips on opening these new hard plastic vacuum sealed meat packages? I tried with scissors and it’s... Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/freedy.anders.9">Freedy Anders</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=601545097339876&set=p.601545097339876&type=3">Thursday, January 2, 2020</a></blockquote> </div> “The plastic edges become really sharp. Appreciate any tips.” He wasn’t the only customer to come up against the same issue however, as many came to the post on the Coles’ Facebook page to point out the major problems of the seemingly inflexible packaging. “I really like your steaks but unfortunately I can’t get into the packet,” one wrote. Another shopper explained they had worries older people might slip and cut themselves, especially if they suffered from stiffness. “For older folk with arthritic hands it’s near impossible to get into,” another said. Shoppers in another post pointed out that not only was the new packaging difficult to open, it was also more wasteful. One person said while they applauded the store for its bring-your-own shopping bags initiative, extra packaging on meat was “madness”. “A tiny piece of steak on this packing with NO recycling symbol?’ a disgruntled customer asked. “Tiny little steak and massive plastic packaging – c’mon Coles you can do better than that,” said another. Some shoppers even went on to offer the supermarket giant solutions for how they might improve the packaging. “Any chance of an opening pull strip built into the packaging?” one asked. A Coles spokesperson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/furious-shoppers-hit-out-over-coles-meat-packaging/news-story/a8ad1463c78e1ada6ad2245f82fed491" target="_blank">news.com.au</a> the supermarket had been using vacuum-sealed packaging on their meat produce for the past five years, and that it was a process that improves the “tenderness”. “Coles has used vacuum-sealed packaging for our popular Coles Finest and Graze fresh meat ranges for the past five years,” they said. “This packaging increases the tenderness of the beef and lamb, which improves the eating quality. “Coles values customer feedback and we are reviewing how we package the meat to make it easier for customers to open, including easy-peel options and introducing cardboard into the packaging.” The spokesperson for Coles also reportedly told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/furious-shoppers-hit-out-over-coles-meat-packaging/news-story/a8ad1463c78e1ada6ad2245f82fed491" target="_blank">news.com.au</a> that Aldi and Woolies used similar methods to package their meats.

Food & Wine

Delicious pork belly and prawn fresh rice paper rolls

Time to prepare 20 mins | Serves 4-6 A great fresh-tasting starter or snack, and you can even get creative with the ingredients you put inside! “Although I love Vietnamese fried spring rolls, these fresh rice paper rolls are my favourite rolls to eat. They’re light and delicious and hugely popular in Vietnam as well as all around the world,” says chef Adam Liaw. Recipe from <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fadam-liaw-s-asian-cookery-school-adam-liaw%2Fprod9780733634307.html">Asian Cookery School by Adam Liaw</a> (Hachette, RRP $49.99) -. Ingredients: <ul> <li>300g pork belly, skin and bone removed </li> <li>1 tbsp salt </li> <li>100g dried rice vermicelli </li> <li>30 rice paper sheets </li> <li>3 cups shredded iceberg lettuce </li> <li>1 cup loosely packed mint </li> <li>1 cup loosely packed coriander or perilla </li> <li>300g cooked prawns, peeled, deveined and split lengthways </li> <li>1 bunch Chinese chives, halved </li> <li>1 cup Nuoc Cham* (see tip below), to serve</li> </ul> *If you don’t feel like making it yourself or can’t find Nuoc Cham at your local Asian supermarket then try it with sweet chilli sauce or experiment with your favourite Asian dipping sauce. Directions 1. Place the pork belly in a pot just big enough to fit it. Cover with cold water. Add the salt, bring the water to a simmer and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the pork belly is cooked through. Remove from the water and allow to cool. Thinly slice the pork into 5cm wide slices no more than a few millimetres thick. 2. Place the rice vermicelli in a large bowl and pour over plenty of boiling water. Leave for 5 minutes then drain, rinse in cold water, drain again and cut into 5cm lengths. 3. Fill a large bowl with lukewarm water and dip a sheet of rice paper into the water until it slightly softens. (It will continue to soften out of the water.) Transfer the rice paper to a plate and place a pile of pork, lettuce, rice vermicelli and some mint and coriander on the paper in a line just in from the edge closest to you. 4. Place a few prawns at the centre of the paper with the orange backs facing down and roll the paper, folding in the edges halfway along, as shown. Add a few spears of chives just before finishing the roll so the cut ends stick out of the top. Serve with Nuoc Cham. Tips: <ul> <li>Keeping the prawns separate from the other fillings is purely for presentation, so you can see the colourful backs facing outward through a single layer of rice paper.</li> <li>You don’t need to do all the work yourself – you can put the ingredients on platters on the dining table with bowls of warm water to dip the rice papers into and everyone can make their own.</li> <li>The filling of the rolls can be whatever you like. Try leftover <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/lemongrass-beef.aspx">Lemongrass Beef </a>or <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/porchetta-sliders-by-matt-moran.aspx">shredded chicken</a>. </li> </ul> Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/fresh-rice-paper-rolls.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Food & Wine

Sweet and sour pork

Create this classic Chinese takeaway dish easily at home. Using pork neck is great as it has a good meat to fat ratio so stays nice and moist. As a substitute pork fillet can be used for a leaner option. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 brown onion, cut into 3cm chunks </li> <li>1 red capsicum, cut into 3cm chunks </li> <li>200g of fresh pineapple, cut into 3cm chunks </li> <li>2 spring onions cut into 3cm lengths </li> <li>2 garlic cloves, finely chopped </li> <li>2 long red chilli’s, cut into rounds </li> <li>Coriander leaves to garnish</li> <li>Steamed rice to serve</li> </ul> Sweet and sour sauce <ul> <li>3/4 cup chicken stock</li> <li>1/2 cup tomato ketchup</li> <li>1 tbsp caster sugar</li> <li>1 tbsp rice vinegar</li> <li>2 tsp light soy</li> <li>1 tbsp dark soy</li> <li>1 tsp potato flour</li> <li>1 tbsp water</li> </ul> Pork <ul> <li>500g pork neck cut into 3cm cubes</li> <li>1 egg beaten</li> <li>1 tbsp of shaoxing wine or dry sherry</li> <li>1 tbsp of light soy sauce</li> <li>1/2 cup of rice flour </li> <li>1/2 cup potato flour </li> <li>Vegetable oil for deep frying</li> </ul> Method: Pork Marinade <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Begin by marinating the pork. In a medium size mixing bowl combine the shaoxing and soy sauce with the beaten egg and pork, making sure it is coated evenly. Allow to marinate for approximately one hour, covered in the fridge.</li> </ol> Sweet and sour Sauce <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;">In a bowl mix all of the sauce ingredients, except for potato flour and water. Set aside. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">In a separate small bowl, mix the water and potato flour. This will be used to thicken the final sauce.</li> </ol> Crispy pork <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Pre heat vegetable oil in fry pan, or set deep fryer to 180 degrees. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">In a large bowl combine the rice and potato flour. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Remove the pork from the marinade and toss in the bowl of flour, coating evenly.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Shake off any excess flour and deep fry for 2-3 minutes until browned and crisp. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Remove from the hot oil with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towel and set aside.</li> </ol> Finishing the dish <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Heat a wok and add 2 tbsp of vegetable oil. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Add the onion and garlic and stir fry for 30 seconds. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Add the capsicum and pineapple and cook for a further 30 seconds. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Add the sweet and sour sauce mix and bring to the boil. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Add the spring onions and sliced chilli. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Add the rice flour and water mix and stir until sauce has thickened. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, add all the fried pork to the mix and toss until well coated. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with steamed rice.</li> </ol> Recipe by Australian Onions.

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