Sunday 14 October 2012

We've moved

Please don't forget me!

I've moved to alexandriautting.wordpress.com

See you there!

Xx

Sunday 7 October 2012

Winter chill made tomato prices soar

A tomato stall holder at Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Queen Street Mall, before the product became a scarcity.
Source: The Courier Mail
By Alexandria Utting
 
Have we been taking the low price of the humble tomato for granted for too long?

Possibly, if Brisbane greengrocers and consumers discontentment is anything to go by.

Over the past few months, Queensland has seen tomato prices soar and quality drop, leaving many consumers starved for choice when trying to substitute their favorite sauce ingredient.

A year-and-a-half after Cyclone Yasi devastated banana crops in Queensland and sent prices soaring, a less dramatic whether event has pushed the price of tomatoes up.

Queensland’s Bowen Basin, where most tomatoes sold in Brisbane are grown, has had an unusually cold winter.
While it hasn’t been enough to make too many headlines, it has been enough to raise the price of the popular red fruit – often thought to be a vegetable.

Throughout the month of September, tomatoes were selling for just under $9 a kilo in Brisbane’s inner city, although in some places – including Coles in New Farm – they topped $10.

Consumers unsure of reason for price rise

With the price war between the big supermarkets in full swing, many consumers said they were unaware of the reason tomatoes had increased in price.

A keen shopper selects the best of a bad batch.

Thomas Bryce, of Alderly, said he thought the increase in price was due to the large chains trying to make ends meet as consumers turn to independant grocers for their fruit and veg.

“If I had known it [the tomato price rise] was because farmers were in trouble, I wouldn’t have minded so much,” Mr Bryce said.

“But, when I asked at Coles an attendant said ‘we’re just trying to match Woolworths’ and didn't give me much of an explanation.”

“Tomatoes are just one of those products that people have to have.”

Unsurprisingly, it’s not just greengrocers feeling the pinch, cafes are suffering from the price rises too.


Yarra Valley Farms is a supplier of fruit and vegetables that services the commercial and hospitality industry in Queensland.

In Rocklea, the Yarra Valley Farms Queensland Director, Geoff Cook, said he has had no choice but to pass higher prices onto businesses who in turn have to pass them onto their customers.

“Tomatoes are just one of those products that people have to have,” Mr Cook said.
“Cafes can’t serve burgers or a salad without the tomato, it simply isn’t the same,” he said.
Prices to decrease as summer approaches
 
It’s not all bad news though.

As Newton has proved with the apple and Yasi proved with the banana, what goes up must come down.

The Chief Communications Officer of AUSVEG, the national peak industry body for vegetable growers, Hugh Gurney, said prices would fall as the weather begins to warm up.

“The major factor for the price rise is the bad weather,” Mr Gurney said.

“As we start to approach summer we will see prices returning to normal.”

Both Coles and Woolworths media teams declined to comment for this story. 

Tomato Prices around Brisbane

Coles - $8.90

Woolworths -
$9.98

All About Fruit - $7.39

Jan Powers Farmers Market - $6 - 8

Aldi is selling tomato seedlings for - $4.49


Tweet - Where are Brisbane's cheapest tomatoes? Find out here www.thisisthelinktomystory.com
 

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Online Journalism Week One

The debate surrounding swimming's once golden girl Leisel Jones, and her fitness to compete in The Olympics set the Australian media on fire this week.

The photos that sparked the debate depicted the 26-year-old swimmer poolside, in nothing but her green and gold swimsuit.

Soon after these photos emerged, headlines placing doubt on her ability to swim began to circulate.

We had them on every news site and every paper, all newsworthy because of one really unflattering photo that was taken while she was bending over.

Myself, I would like to see someone who would look good from that angle, but anyway.

Is she fit enough? Is she too fat? Can she perform? Are just a few examples of articles I saw floating around online in the days preceding.

All articles contained more photos than text, and more judgement than analysis.

Pretty horrible for poor Leisel, who arguably already had the expectations of the nation on her shoulders; these headlines just perpetuated more doubt for the swimmer in her fourth games.

The problems I saw with the reporting of this saga were twofold.

Firstly, for as long as I can remember, The Olympics is largely based on time trials.

In fact, the swimming is solely based on this.

By that reasoning, Leisel was obviously fit enough to compete, else she never would have made it to the games... FOUR consecutive times.

Secondly, I was utterly appalled at the message the media, mainstream Australian media (we're not taking catwalk models in Vouge) happily sent to Australian women and girls regarding body image.

The subtext under every story produced by every media outlet making comment on Liesel's alleged fat roll, made an example of a woman who is idol to many and labeled her inadequate.

It seemed like most organizations didn't have a care for how this would impact the women who work on their bodies tirelessly just to look even half as good as Leisel does.

Later in the week, the Sydney Morning Herald seemed to try and retract the criticism they had made earlier by providing us with an opinion piece reminding us how image driven any career path is and "if you don't look like you can deliver the goods, you need people around you who can vouch for your commitment, credibility and performance".

Really? Or should people believe in us regardless of what we look like?

Statistics on the Butterfly Foundation website tell us disordered eating is emerging as a norm in Australian society with 90% of 12-17 year old girls and 68% of 12 – 17 year old boys having been on a diet of some type.

Putting these statistics into context with the judgements the media made on our on a sporting elite this week, it presents an ethical dilemma for media professionals and one which was largely overlooked.

That is, it is our responsibility to think about how a story may effect those vulnerable in our society.

As journalists we should ask ourselves whether something is for the greater good, before simply writing a hook to get more hits on juicy photo?

Or is this what online journalism is about?

Getting those readers in with something that nobody else has.

I suppose I'll find out as I go along with this course.

Al Xx

Online Journalism

For those of you who follow my blog (yes, all eight of you), the next ten weeks will see my blog taking a bit of a different turn as I'll be using it as part of my assessment for the subject Online Journalism, which I am studying as part of my Journalism degree at QUT.
The assessment asks us to use a blog to comment on online journalism/news media/reporting. I have to update it at least once a week. This is going to be the challenge for me because, as you know, I'm terrible at keeping this thing up to date.

The only thing I really have to do is refer to specific current examples of the craft and at least three of my blog posts must directly refer to/build on/quote specific issues or thoughts raised the lectures (those that I manage to wake up in time to attend).

I can comparing how different outlets covered a story, comment on really good or really bad examples of online journalism at work, explore or review apps for online journalists, or do whatever else I choose.

The brief is pretty broad, so it's going to be really fun.

I can also use text, video, audio or any combination. 

The most important thing really is to involve myself in online journalism and think about how it will apply to me. So, on that note, I'd better get started.  
Xx Al

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Sometimes you need a bit of a reminder...

That you can do whatever you want to.

I've loved this book since I was a child and I wanted to share Dr Seuss' wonderful words with you.

Oh, The Places You'll Go
By Dr Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on y our way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't
Because, sometimes they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Monday 2 July 2012

Judith Lucy


Above is a very poorly taken screen shot of a little piece I wrote to promote Judith Lucy's show Nothing Fancy when it rolled into Brisbane Town last month.

After seeing her absolutely hilarious sold-out show, I thought it might be fitting to write a little review of what I thought of it. Keep in mind, I don't usually do this, so go easy on me!

As Judith told me on the phone, the show was 'just gags and no dancing'. But never fear, the lack of physical comedy does nothing to lessen the shows appeal. The show itself was appropriately low key. Judith, herself was dressed very casually for the event and entered the stage to a rockin' pop anthem I am probably too young to know the name of - but the entrance was all very exciting.

As I sat watching the show, thankful I was too far away for any form of audience participation,  I was hooked on every word and had a hearty chuckle at most things.

Personally, I am a fan of crude comedy but, if you turn sour at the thought of someone turning a phrase about female ejaculation, I'd say the show probably isn't for you.

Judith told jokes about singledom, housemates and getting older and plenty about her own inadequacies. While I had a full bellied laugh at her expense, I couldn't help but feel slightly melancholy about Judith's constant ability to play herself, her luck with men and her successes down. While I know much of her comedy comes from her own short comings (see her previous tour I Failed), and much of it is likely to be embellished, I still wanted, even if just for a moment, for Judith to acknowledge how well she has done.

The Brisbane audiences reaction to the show was overwhelmingly positive and Judith stole the night, reaffirming she is Australia's queen of comedy and the darling of one night stands. She was witty, funny, and a little bit crass and even if most of the gags were at her own expense, it sure seemed to work in her favor. Nothing Fancy may not have been a show with all the bells and whistles of Judith's previous tours, but it definitely had something for everyone and got a standing ovation from me.

Thursday 7 June 2012

There are no mistakes

I've always wanted things to happen quickly. Ever since the word go. I was born three months early, I guess I just couldn't wait to get out into the world and start getting things done.

Consequently, I constantly take things and run with them. An idea, a relationship, a job anything. Not in an obsessive way, but in a completely idealistic way.

An idea tends to grow in my mind so rapidly that before I know it I've planned my entire life around something I know nothing about. The thing is, I never plan things completely though, they're always in the abstract. And actually, I love doing that. I love imagining the future and what it could be like, rather than what it should be like. Sometimes practicality just kills me -- more recently far more than ever.

As I'm getting older I'm starting to get to know my personality much better than I ever did before. I can predict the way I'll react to a lot of situations in a way I never could only a few years ago. Appropriately, I am learning how to avoid situations that would make me react negatively.

However, the point of this post I guess is to illustrate how I'm feeling about life. I feel like two parts of me are competing at the moment. I'm dying to get my university degree complete (and after almost five years at it, I think I've done a pretty good job sticking to it for someone who wants things to happen quickly) and get a job and just be an adult. On the other side of things, I so desperately want to remain as care free as I feel now, or even more care free (if that's possible). Becoming a gypsy would probably be my ideal 'job' actually.

What's the answer? I'm not sure, maybe I could run away to Rome and eat carbs to my hearts delight. Only, I know that wouldn't be practical. So, I've still got to stick it out at uni, which really, isn't so bad, right?

However, I want to take the time to dedicate this post to my dear friend Renea Williams who, tomorrow, is doing what I could never do. The girl who is following her heart, regardless of any arguments of practicality I have thrown at her. She is my best friend and she is leaving me in Brisbane all alone and I really don't know what I'm going to do without her to listen to my shit on repeat, get drunk with me and eat pies in the street, or criticize women for wearing too little on cold nights. Never mind, she's got bigger fish to fry and better things ahead of her and the world at her feet. So, it is with love I write this as I look forward to seeing what the future holds for her. It couldn't be brighter, girl.

Xx




Monday 28 May 2012

Do you ever obsess over nothing?

Lately, I've been doing that a lot. So, before I go to bed (which I've made a habit of doing past 1am lately), I'm going to take this opportunity to address the interwebs and make a pact to stop doing it.

Done.

I'm interning at The Courier Mail this week. Today was well fun, so I'll make sure I take some good notes down and collate them into a little piece for you at the end of the week.

So for now, look forward to some insight into the life of an intern in the big newsroom world.

Xx