COLUMN 8
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday August 22, 2009
We have all been appalled at the punishments dealt out by "old school" teachers of old schools all week, but then again, a touch of 1920s-style attention deficit therapy might be called for in this case. Jan Carroll, of Avalon, reports a sign on Bilgola Bends road that reads: "Good luck on your Inglish xam".You might wish to sample such firm treatment at the Powerhouse Museum on Wednesday. We are advised by Derek Williamson, of that fine organisation, about an adults-only event, Dark Science €“ Flesh and Psyche: "Experiment on yourself, your friends and total strangers. Flesh will use suspension artists, tattooing, performers and scientists to lead you on a discussion about the human body. Pain and burns researchers, perception psychologists and skin specialists will reveal the mysteries of scars, burns, pain and perception. How can a hook through a piece of fragile skin carry a person's weight? A live suspension will be followed with an opportunity for volunteers to have a hook inserted €“ or a steel skewer pushed through their cheek." Roll up to the Powerhouse at 7pm, with $10.Here's a more romantic tale from school days of old, from Ross Murdoch, of Sippy Downs, Queensland. "Perhaps the lady, who wrote from Hazelbrook on Monday about Katoomba High School in the 1940s will recall that on the train the girls were put in the first carriage behind the engine, while the boys were put in the last carriage. Undeterred, the girls used to write love letters to the boys on toilet paper, then unroll them while the train chugged up the mountains. Ah, the age of steam!""Since you do not shy away from difficult questions," writes Peter Nelson, of Pyrmont, "can anyone advise on what is the status of refugees who come to Australia with multiple wives, legal in their own country but not in Australia?" Er, well, um ... Is a man allowed to immigrate with more than one wife? We haven't the faintest idea. Someone will, though."On the topic of interesting labels,"writes Pat Cameron, of Chermside, Queensland (Column 8, Wednesday), "I was amused whilereading the one on my showercurtain. Along with such instructions as 'Do not iron' and 'Do not bleach' is the instruction 'Do not drip dry'. This leaves me befuddled as to how I'm meant to stop it drip drying each time I leave the shower. Oh, and I'm also not allowed to wring or spin dry the curtain."Column8@smh.com.au(no attachments please).Phone 9282 2207 fax 9282 2772. (include name, suburb, daytime phone)
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald