Month: August 2022

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Business

Investing, tax, super, property: Money mistakes 40-somethings make

Investing, tax, super, property: Money mistakes 40-somethings make

Your 40s is an exciting time when it comes to wealth building, as this is the time most people reach the tipping point on their journey to financial independence.

But you have to get it right. If you don’t, you’ll be playing catch-up in future years and likely will need to make sacrifices.

In this piece, I cover the key money areas you should be focused on in your 40s to drive success.

Automate your saving success

Your 40s will be close to your peak earning years, and will likely be your peak borrowing years, so being on top of your savings and cashflow is important.

From a savings perspective, when you’re earning bigger dollars the difference between doing OK and doing great is huge. If you don’t already have a good savings system in place, now is the time to make it happen.

You should be looking to automate your money management, have all your bills and commitments provided for and paid without you having to think about them, and to have your savings building automatically.

Having a good savings system is important so you’re crystal clear on how much money you have available to direct wealth building strategies. Particularly given your 40s are likely to be your peak potential borrowing years, having total clarity on your “free cash” number will give you the confidence to take full advantage of your ability to grow wealth through borrowing.

investment

By the time you get to your 40s, you should already have some good experience with investing and have a foundation of quality investments in place. If not, this should be your first priority.

There are a lot of different opinions (and ways to be right) on the best way to invest, but the statistics show us that passive index funds perform best 95 per cent of the time. My view is that passive investments are an extremely effective way to build wealth while minimizing risk.

If you’re really drawn to interesting investments (read: crypto, start-ups, etc), with higher potential returns and higher risk, it’s important in your 40s you have clear boundaries for how much of your portfolio you want to hold in these sort of riskier investments.

My view is that you probably don’t want to hold more than 10 per cent of your investments in this bucket, and skipping them altogether to focus on the more boring but highly effective investments like index funds will serve you well.

Property

Your 40s are going to be your peak borrowing years, with higher incomes and a long time until retirement age (as defined by the banks and lenders).

Risk management is critical, but in my opinion leverage is a highly effective way to build wealth relatively quickly – and something you should look to go “all in” on in your 40s.

I’m not saying you need to rush out and buy 20 properties, but having a good quality investment property, or properties, behind you in your 40s will do some magic in future years.

It’s important when you’re borrowing at higher levels that your plan around this is rock solid – you don’t want to be caught out by higher interest rates, rental vacancies, or unexpected expenses that can throw a spanner in the works.

If you’re going down this path, take the time to map out your game plan and consider investing in some good quality financial advice so you know all your bases are covered and that you can execute and drive the results you want with confidence.

tax

In your 40s tax planning can mean the difference between success and mediocrity. Your income (and marginal tax rate) will be higher, and you’ll have more investments behind you generating taxable income that needs to be dealt with.

Having a smart tax strategy will pay big dividends.

You’ll want to look at where and how you’re holding your investments, if you’re part of a couple, who should own which investments, how to leverage the concessional tax rates in super, and whether you’ll benefit from using tax structures like trusts and investment companies.

You should also be looking at tax strategies like debt recycling, super contributions, and harnessing the power of franked dividends to cut your tax bill and boost your after-tax investing return.

Every dollar of tax you save is an extra dollar you can direct back to your wealth building, ultimately helping you get ahead faster and easier.

Super

The effort you put into super in your 40s will be a big driver of your success in future years.

With a higher income and (relatively) limited time to retirement, you should be looking to maximize the tax deductible “concessional” contributions to super every year. The current limit for these contributions is $27,500 including money contributed by your employer.

If you haven’t been maximizing your super contributions in previous years, you can also “catch up” on up to five years worth of contributions, generating some serious tax deductions and getting a heap of money into the low tax super environment.

Maximizing your super contributions through your 40s will ensure you go into your 50s with a solid amount of investments behind you that can grow well over the decades to come.

Insurance

In your 40s your income and financial commitments will likely be at their highest levels, and because you still have some time to reach the typical retirement age, it’s likely you’re still heavily reliant on your income to get you to where you want to be .

I get that most people don’t like and often don’t trust insurance, but in my opinion this is something everyone should have until they’ve reached complete financial security.

Income replacement insurance premiums are tax deductible, and having this cover in place will give you peace of mind that the unexpected isn’t going to sabotage your money success.

Be aware that not all insurance is made the same, and cheapest is definitely not best when it comes to protecting your wealth. Insurance is incredibly complicated and can be confusing, so if you’re considering putting insurance cover into place you’ll benefit from getting some good advice.

The wrap

Your financial potential is still yet to be unleashed in your 40s, and the work you put in here will dictate how far you can go in future years. But it won’t just happen on its own – you need to be firmly in the driver’s seat here.

You should go into your 40s with a solid plan, revisit it regularly, and keep your focus as you move forward achieving your money milestones.

Ben Nash is a finance expert commentator, podcaster, financial adviser and founder of Pivot Wealth www.pivotwealth.com.au, and Author of the Amazon best-selling book ‘Get Unstuck: Your guide to creating a life not limited by money’.

Ben has just launched a series of free online money education events to help you get on the front financial foot. You can check out all the details and book your place here.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your

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Categories
Technology

Apple Remains Silent About Plans to Detect Known CSAM Stored in iCloud Photos

Apple Remains Silent About Plans to Detect Known CSAM Stored in iCloud Photos

It has now been over a year since Apple announced plans for three new child safety features, including a system to detect known Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) images stored in iCloud Photos, an option to blur sexually explicit photos in the Messages app, and child exploitation resources for Siri. The latter two features are now available, but Apple remains silent about its plans for the CSAM detection feature.

iCloud General Feature
Apple initially said CSAM detection would be implemented in an update to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 by the end of 2021, but the company ultimately postponed the feature based on “feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers, and others.”

In September 2021, Apple posted the following update to its Child Safety page:

Previously we announced plans for features intended to help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them and to help limit the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Based on feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers, and others, we have decided to take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements before releasing these critically important child safety features.

In December 2021, Apple removed the above update and all references to its CSAM detection plans from its Child Safety page, but an Apple spokesperson informed The Verge that Apple’s plans for the feature had not changed. To the best of our knowledge, however, Apple has not publicly commented on the plans since that time.

We’ve reached out to Apple to ask if the feature is still planned. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple did move forward with implementing its child safety features for the Messages app and Siri with the release of iOS 15.2 and other software updates in December 2021, and it expanded the Messages app feature to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK with iOS 15.5 and other software releases in May 2022.

Apple said its CSAM detection system was “designed with user privacy in mind.” The system would perform “on-device matching using a database of known CSAM image hashes” from child safety organizations, which Apple would transform into an “unreadable set of hashes that is securely stored on users’ devices.”

Apple planned to report iCloud accounts with known CSAM images to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a non-profit organization that works in collaboration with US law enforcement agencies. Apple said there would be a “threshold” that would ensure “less than a one in one trillion chance per year” of an account being incorrectly flagged by the system, plus a manual review of flagged accounts by a human.

Apple’s plans were criticized by a wide range of individuals and organizations, including security researchers, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), politicians, policy groups, university researchers, and even some Apple employees.

Some critics argued that Apple’s child safety features could create a “backdoor” into devices, which governments or law enforcement agencies could use to survey users. Another concern was false positives, including the possibility of someone intentionally adding CSAM imagery to another person’s iCloud account to get their account flagged.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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Categories
Entertainment

Elsa Pataky reveals she’s set to star in the Interceptor sequel

Elsa Pataky announces she's set to star in the Interceptor sequel - despite fans slamming the Matthew Reilly Netflix thriller. Pictured: Elsa on the red carpet for Thor: Love And Thunder premiere in Sydney, in June

Elsa Pataky reveals she’s set to star in the Interceptor sequel – despite fans slamming the Netflix thriller

By A. James For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Elsa Pataky’s Netflix thriller Interceptor underwhelmed fans when it debuted in June.

But that’s not enough to stop the star from signing on once more in a proposed sequel.

The 46-year-old beauty is even trying to influence the storyline for the next film.

Elsa Pataky announces she's set to star in the Interceptor sequel - despite fans slamming the Matthew Reilly Netflix thriller. Pictured: Elsa on the red carpet for Thor: Love And Thunder premiere in Sydney, in June

Elsa Pataky announces she’s set to star in the Interceptor sequel – despite fans slamming the Matthew Reilly Netflix thriller. Pictured: Elsa on the red carpet for Thor: Love And Thunder premiere in Sydney, in June

According to The Daily Telegraph, Elsa, who is a horse lover, has urged Interceptor creator Matthew Reilly to write in ‘riding scenes’ for the sequel.

The Spanish actress, 45, is the wife of Chris Hemsworth and played the part of an Army officer in Interceptor.

In the highly physical role, her character fought off a group of terrorists who attempted to over-run a facility designed to shoot down missiles in the event of a nuclear strike.

Elsa, who lives in Byron Bay and shares three children with the Thor star, said the Interceptor sequel needs ‘scenes with horses’.

The Spanish actress, 45, is the wife of Chris Hemsworth and played the part of an Army officer in Interceptor. According to The Daily Telegraph, Elsa, who is a horse lover, has urged Interceptor creator Matthew Reilly to write in 'riding scenes' for the sequel

The Spanish actress, 45, is the wife of Chris Hemsworth and played the part of an Army officer in Interceptor. According to The Daily Telegraph, Elsa, who is a horse lover, has urged Interceptor creator Matthew Reilly to write in ‘riding scenes’ for the sequel

‘We have to do that,’ she told the publication, ‘It will be amazing.’

Elsa is getting plenty of opportunity to indulge her love of horse riding.

The star is currently filming in secret a movie involving horses, which Elsa describes as ‘amazing’.

In the highly physical lead role in Interceptor, Elsa's character fought off a group of terrorists who attempt to over-run a facility designed to shoot down missiles in the event of a nuclear strike (pictured)

In the highly physical lead role in Interceptor, Elsa’s character fought off a group of terrorists who attempt to over-run a facility designed to shoot down missiles in the event of a nuclear strike (pictured)

In January, she will act as a show jumping ambassador at the Magic Millions race day and carnival on the Gold Coast.

Despite the hammering from arm-chair critics, Interceptor was a huge hit for Netflix.

According to the streamer, the film, directed by best-selling author Matthew Reilly clocked up over 35 million viewing hours across dozens of countries, only days after it was released.

But many viewers were left unimpressed, with one fan tweeting, ‘If you haven’t watched it yet. No. That’s the review.’

Elsa and husband Chris Hemsworth

Elsa and husband Chris Hemsworth

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Sports

Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks, result, Brent Naden no try, video, Brett Kimmorley, press conference

Brett Kimmorley wasn't happy about Brent Naden's try being disallowed.

Interim Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley did not miss when criticizing the decision to disallow Brent Naden’s try in Saturday’s 36-12 loss to the Sharks.

The Tigers had a chance to make the scoreline a little less grim when Sharks forward Teig Wilton was sin-binned for a late shot on Daine Laurie.

It looked as though they had capitalized off the penalty and one-man advantage when Naden ran through several Sharks players to score under the posts with just over 10 minutes to go.

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However on-field referee Ben Cummins sent it up to the bunker to check for an obstruction.

Bunker official Gerard Sutton ruled that Tigers prop Zane Musgrove had obstructed Cronulla’s Royce Hunt.

“The Tigers player is in front of the ball, Royce Hunt has to then push around him to try to defend. The Tigers player is not entitled to be in front of the ball and in the line,” Sutton said.

Dykes lands SENSATIONAL first NRL try | 00:28

Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane wasn’t too pleased, saying “oh goodness,” while Steve Roach added: “they had a free grab on him.”

Kimmorley acknowledged in his post-game press conference that the Sharks simply wanted the win more and their ruck speed “was the difference” in the game.

However he also took aim at the obstruction call, without being prompted, saying he was a “bit curious” to know what Musgrove was meant to do given he had ran through the line as part of a shape the Tigers were running.

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“I’m not too sure where a front-rower is meant to go when we run some shape and he goes through the line and then gets back because the ball is behind him to get ready for the next play-the-ball,” Kimmorley said.

“Bit curious to know how he’s got to disappear from a game of football when he’s actually gone through and not ran into a defender as the first phase of the play… and then we go out the back and the ball goes backwards.

“We ask these players to get in shape for the next play-the-ball, which means he’s got to run backwards and all of a sudden you have to disappear.

“So I don’t know how that decision is awarded or adjudicated but I’d love to know how a player can disappear when he’s trying to get back on side to be a part of the next play-the-ball.

“Because if they’re not in shape I’m going to be criticizing them over why they’re not in shape.”

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Categories
Business

From next year, Johnson & Johnson baby powder sold in Australia will no longer contain talc — what’s the new ingredient?

A hand holding a white bottle of johnson and johnson baby powder

Johnson & Johnson has announced it will stop selling talc-based baby powder in Australia in 2023, as it transitions its popular, but controversial, global product to a cornstarch base.

In a statement to the ABC, a company spokesperson said while its talc-based range would be discontinued globally, cornstarch-based powder was already being sold in Australia.

“As part of a worldwide portfolio assessment, we have made the commercial decision to transition to an all corn starch-based baby powder portfolio,” it said.

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Categories
Technology

Classic Mazda MX-5 gets Nintendo Wii steering wheel

Classic Mazda MX-5 gets Nintendo Wii steering wheel

While some modern cars can play video games on their entertainment systems, one TikTok user has taken the idea to a new extreme by fitting his MX-5 with accessories from a Nintendo Wii.

Jordan Mulach
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A TikTok gamer in the UK has converted a first-generation Mazda MX-5 into a tribute for Nintendo’s Wii console.

Initially spotted by gaming website VG247British gamer Tyler Atkin (aka @ttptng) has been gradually swapping his first-generation MX-5’s standard Mazda interior parts for accessories from the Nintendo Wii.

Dubbed the “Wiiata” – a play on the ‘Miata’ name used for the Mazda MX-5 in North America – Atkin replaced the original steering wheel for the steering controller accessory used for racing games on the Nintendo Wii.

While the toy plastic steering wheel is likely no match for the sturdiness and feel of the original leather-wrapped, from what we can gather it may not be illegal for road use given the original MX-5 wasn’t fitted with an airbag.

Atkin also decided to swap the MX-5’s gear knob for the Nintendo Wii’s ‘nunchuck’ controller as well as replacing the car’s stock hand brake cover for the Wii’s ‘baseball bat’ accessory – both of which required minor modifications before installation.

To cap off the build, the car’s standard radio was removed and replaced by a Nintendo Wii console.

Atkin later mounted a small screen on the dash, making the Wii totally playable in all conditions – but illegal to do so while driving.

As the finishing touch, the original Mazda MX-5 floor mats were removed in favor of Nintendo Wii yoga mats, trimmed to fit with the contours of the car’s footwells.

It’s not yet known if Atkin will repaint the exterior of his quirky Mazda MX-5, however gamers believe it would be remiss of him not to adopt a Mario Kart-themed paint job.

Jordan Mulach

Jordan Mulach is Canberra/Ngunnawal born, currently residing in Brisbane/Turrbal. Joining the Drive team in 2022, Jordan has previously worked for Auto Action, MotorsportM8, The Supercars Collective and TouringCarTimes, WhichCar, Wheels, Motor and Street Machine. Jordan is a self-described iRacing addict and can be found on weekends either behind the wheel of his Octavia RS or swearing at his ZH Fairlane.

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Entertainment

R. Kelly accuser to give key testimony on trial-fixing charge

R.Kelly‘s federal trial in Chicago that starts on Monday is in many ways a do-over of his 2008 state child pornography trial, at which jurors acquired the singer on charges that he produced a video of himself when he was around 30 having sex with a girl not older than 14.

There’s one big difference: This time, prosecutors say, she will testify.

Kelly goes into Chicago federal court already sentenced by a New York federal judge to a 30-year prison term for a 2021 conviction on charges he parlayed his fame to sexually abuse other young fans.

READMORE: A timeline of the case against R. Kelly

R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Court building in Chicago on June 6, 2019. (AP)

Among the most serious charges the Grammy Award winner faces at his federal trial is conspiracy to obstruct justice by rigging the 2008 trial, including by paying off and threatening the girl to ensure she did not testify.

Testimony by the woman, now in her 30s and referred to in filings only as “Minor 1”, will be pivotal. The charges against Kelly also include four counts of the enticement of minors for sex — one count each for four other accusers. All are also slated to testify.

Even just one or two convictions in Chicago could add decades to Kelly’s New York sentence, which he is appealing. With the New York sentence alone, Kelly will be around 80 before qualifying for early release.

Prosecutors at the federal trial plan to play the same VHS tape that was “Exhibit No. 1” at the 2008 trial. While it was the only video in evidence 14 years ago, at least three other videos will be entered into evidence at the federal trial.

Prosecutors say Kelly shot the video of Minor 1 in a log cabin-themed room at his North Side Chicago home between 1998 and 2000 when she was as young as 13. In it, the girl is heard calling the man “daddy.” Federal prosecutors say that she and Kelly had sex hundreds of times over the years in his homes, recording studios and tour buses.

Before the 2008 trial, Kelly carried a duffle bag full of sex tapes everywhere he went for years, but some tapes later went missing, according to court filings. In the 2000s, bootleg copies of some videos appeared on street corners across the US.

READMORE: Khloe Kardashian’s ex breaks silence after welcoming baby number two

R. Kelly performs at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 30, 2013. (Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP)

Kelly, who rose from poverty on Chicago’s South Side to become a star singer, songwriter and producer, knew a conviction in 2008 would effectively end his life as he knew it.

On June 13, 2008, Kelly shut his eyes tight and bowed his head as jurors returned from deliberations. As a court official read the jury’s decision and it became clear Kelly would be acquitted on all counts, tears streamed down his cheeks from him and he said over and over, “Thank you, Jesus.”

Two Kelly associates, Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown, are co-defendants in Chicago. McDavid is accused of helping Kelly fix the 2008 trial, while Brown is charged with receiving child pornography. Like Kelly, they have also denied any wrongdoing.

Double jeopardy rules bar the prosecution of someone for the same crimes they were acquired of earlier. But that shouldn’t apply to the Chicago federal trial because prosecutors are alleging different crimes related to Minor 1, including obstruction of justice for fixing the 2008 trial.

Minor 1 first met Kelly in the late 1990s when she was in junior high school. She had tagged along to Kelly’s Chicago recording studio with her aunt, a professional singer working with Kelly’s music. Soon after that meeting, Minor 1 told her parents of her Kelly was going to be her godfather of her.

READMORE: Hilary Duff reveals her daughter was diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease

A file photo of R. Kelly during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court in Chicago in 2019. (AP)

In the early 2000s, the aunt showed the parents a copy of a video she said depicted their daughter having sex with Kelly. When they confronted Kelly, he told them, “You’re with me or against me,” a government filing says.

The parents took it as a threat.

“Minor 1’s mother did not want to go up against Kelly’s power, money, and influence by not following what he said,” the filing adds.

Kelly told the parents and Minor 1 they had to leave Chicago, paying for them to travel to the Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico. When they returned, prosecutors say Kelly sought to isolate Minor 1, moving her around to different hotels.

When called before a state grand jury looking into the video, Minor 1, her father and mother denied it was her in it. Prosecutors say an attorney for Kelly sat in on their testimony and reported back to Kelly what they said.

Prosecutors from the Cook County state’s attorney’s office chose to push ahead with charges and to take the case to trial in 2008 despite what they knew was a major hurdle: their inability to call the girl in the video to testify.

Any confidence Kelly may have had of beating similar charges a second time were likely dashed when he learned Minor 1 was now cooperating the government. With more resources, federal prosecutors also boast conviction rates of more than 90 per cent compared to around 65 per cent for their state counterparts.

In 2008, his lawyers argued the man in the VHS video who appeared very much to be Kelly was not Kelly. They showed jurors that Kelly has a large mole on his back of him, then played excerpts of the video in which no mole was visible on the man.

A file photograph of R. Kelly arriving at the Cook County Criminal Court Building, in Chicago in 2008. (AP)

One of Kelly’s attorneys, Sam Adam Jr., told jurors during closings that no mole on the man’s back meant one thing: “It ain’t him. And if it ain’t him, you can’t convict.”

Some 2008 jurors told reporters after the trial that they weren’t convinced the female in the video was who state prosecutors said she was.

That shouldn’t be an issue at the Chicago federal trial. Prosecutors say both the girl and her parents of her will testify.

What defense Kelly’s legal team will present this time isn’t clear.

The defense is likely to say Kelly’s accusers are misrepresenting the facts. Kelly was more blunt in a 2019 interview with Gayle King of CBS This Morningsaying about the women: “All of them are lying.”

Categories
Entertainment

Brad Pitt’s transformation ushers in new phase

Brad Pitt's transformation ushers in new phase

It was either the Dalai Lama or Shania Twain who once said, “OK, so you’re Brad Pitt? That don’t impress me much”.

But Brad Pitt is not the kind of guy who cares about impressing the Dalai Lama and Shania Twain. He knows he impresses everyone else. That’s why he’s now taking confident strides into the next era of his life from him and embarking on a style revolution.

The 58-year-old has been hitting the red carpets over recent weeks for the premiere of his new movie Bullet Train while rocking a distinct new lewk.

The key fashion elements? Cakes and skorts.

Classic. Timeless. Sophisticated. I wore the same thing to my formal school.

Brad has entered a new phase. Throughout his career, he has transitioned smoothly from Hollywood heart-throb to bona fide movie star. Now he’s keen to explore the territory of eccentric artist.

And, look: We’ll accept Brad Pitt any way we can get him. He has reached a point where he can do whatever he wants and we’ll continue to take him seriously.

In the past, the actor has been accused by memes of stealing his girlfriends’ styles. He cut his hair like Gwyneth Paltrow when the pair dated in the ’90s. I borrowed Jen Aniston’s sea salt spray in the 2000s. And when he started dating Angelina, it seemed the pair made frequent trips to the blow bar together.

But his latest style revolution is truly one to behold. Is he simply being an eccentric artist? Or has he suddenly slipped into competing with the TikTok kids?

Whoever thought we’d see the day where Brad Pitt is trying to keep up with the internet’s boyfriends Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles — with their flamboyant fashion choices of crushed velvet and bold statement patterns.

In Berlin I rocked a pink shirt, combat boots, and kilt. Then he brought a burst of color to LA with a green suit and yellow sneakers. Other appearances have seen him donning zip-up tops, relaxed jacket-shirts and baggy drawstring pants in a variety of pastel hues.

Asked about the skirt and his latest sartorial explorations, the actor simply replied: “I don’t know! We’re all going to die, so let’s mess it up”.

He makes it sound like there’s not much thought going into it at all – that he’s just taking life as it comes. But coordinated pastels don’t just happen. Co-ordinated pastels are achieved through many meetings with stylists who strategize with Pinterest boards.

For us regular people, you get to a certain age where it’s just too late for a style revolution.

When you’re younger, you can experiment with looks and people. But by the time you reach your 30s, you’ve pretty much settled into who you are. Your style is as predictable and expected as Bart Simpson’s blue shorts and orange shirt combo.

A style revolution doesn’t just affect your own life. It rocks the worlds of everyone around you. Like, imagine if your dad just started wearing accessories.

Or if your mum became one of those annoying people who really overcommits to 1950s rockabilly fashion.

Even a colleague. If your middle-aged boss waltzed into the office tomorrow morning wearing a bowler hat, it would throw the workplace off its axis. No deadlines would be met that day. The pings would be going insane.

It takes a certain kind of confidence to wake up one morning and decide on a whim that you’ll now become Bowler Hat Guy. And it’s foolish to think that the rest of the world will accept it without comment.

Remember when Karl Stefanovic shook up his personal life a few years ago and went through his own style revolution by trying to be Matthew McConaughey with a fedora and braided leather bracelets? We all had a field day.

A style revolution is only for the brave. Like those women who decide they’re going to exclusively wear purple until the end of time. They dedicate their entire lives to purple like it’s a religion. Suddenly, their entire wardrobes are a patchwork of magenta and violet. Amethyst. Lilac, plum and mauve.

They usually also get a purple streak in their hair. Then paint the front door of their home a glossy shellacked purple. If you spot one of these women in the wild, follow them to the car park and you’ll find she probably drives a purple Honda Jazz.

It goes without saying Brad’s new style revolution would be tipping his ex Angelina Jolie over the edge. Her mates of her will have been texting her relentlessly after every red carpet appearance of her: “Did ya see the skort?”

Seeing an ex move on with their life is annoying enough. But seeing an ex go through a style revolution? Enraging. Who the hell do they think they are?

In Australia, a style revolution of Brad Pitt’s scale just wouldn’t fly. Russell Crowe? The country couldn’t handle it. We as a nation will only ever allow Rusty to wear that one black Best & Less tracksuit.

TwitterFacebook: @hellojamesweir

Read related topics:James Weir Recaps

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Categories
Australia

Blockade Australia shut down Sydney with climate change protests. Now they’re fighting arrests in court

A woman with bight blue and orange glasses a loosely tied grey hair poses with a determined look

In a white-walled room inside a community center in Sydney’s inner west, about 20 people are sitting in a circle.

One of them, a young man in a beanie, starts reading from a pamphlet:

“Corporate and institutional power is driving the climate crisis and blocking climate action.”

He’s a member of Blockade Australia, the protest group which shut down parts of Sydney in late June.

Today — June 26 — is the day before that happened.

“The very system we’re in is one of domination, so to resist that we have to be able to organize in a different way — organizing non-hierarchically and co-existing non-hierarchically.”

Sitting on a floor of rough gray carpet tiles, the small audience is nodding in agreement as the young man in a beanie continues.

“Blockade Australia is a coordinated response that aims to develop a culture of effective resistance through strategic direct action.”

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Categories
Sports

Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Results & Match Report

Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Results & Match Report

The Roosters have delivered a commanding performance against Payten’s high-flying Cowboys, winning 32-18.

It was a night to forget for the North Queensland side, who made their first appearance at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground — while Trent Robinson’s side continued their five-game winning streak heading into finals football.

Roosters enforcer Victor Radley took over in the first 16 minutes, recording two try assists.

MATCH CENTER: Roosters vs Cowboys teams, SuperCoach scores, videos, updates

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The first came from a floated rainbow pass to find young gun winger Joseph Suaalii, and then moments later the No.13 hit Matt Lodge with a short pass to cross untouched.

“No one was expecting that, the defense weren’t ready for it and didn’t read it,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said.

In the process, Lodge broke a 43-game try-scoring drought before the Cowboys struck back.

Luciano Leilua cleverly tipped the ball on to find winger Murray Taulagi, but the Roosters wouldn’t sit down.

Tricolours center Paul Momirovski found space on the left side of the field, hitting winger Daniel Tupou to score with a diving effort.

To kick-off the second half, hooker Sam Verrills threw a huge dummy, opening a clear passage off the back of a scrum to score.

Payten’s men then scored their second and final try of the afternoon, courtesy of a Griffin Neame offload to Reece Robson.

It looked like the men from Townsville would mount a late comeback, but once again the Roosters were able to shut them down with a pair of tries.

Enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves charged over with a “big run” before Verrills scored his second of the night, surprising himself in the process.

The Cowboys scored a late Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow four-pointer after a Tom Dearden effort but it was a consolation try in the overall picture of the contest.

Read below for the three key takeaways from this afternoon’s clash!

ROOSTERS FRONT ROW MASTERCLASS

The Roosters starting front row pairing of Matt Lodge and Jared Warea-Hargreaves stunned the Cowboys early and laid the platform for their side to take a 10-0 lead after only 17 minutes.

In the first 24 minutes of the contest, Warea-Hargreaves hit 100 running meters, while his partner tallied 86 in a brutal showing.

The former Warriors big man even came away with a four-pointer and broke a 43-game try scoring drought in the process, earning praise from Fox League’s Greg Alexander.

“The two front rowers have been outstanding to start the game, both Lodge and Warea-Hargreaves, they know they enjoy the bulk of the possession,” Alexander said.

“17 minutes into the game and now they combine to get the Roosters their second try, it has gone from a fast start to a red-hot start.”

Then in the 65th minute, Waerea-Hargreaves grabbed a try of his own to complete the pair’s stellar night.

“Warea Hargreaves, he really is a warrior here,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said.

“Both of them have been outstanding today, the opening 20 minutes from both has set up what the Roosters has done throughout the game,” Alexander said.

“Big moment, front rowers scoring, rare thing that they both grab one.”

As a duo, Lodge and Waerea-Hargreaves finished with 320 running meters, two tries, six tackle breaks and two line breaks.

Their 320 run meters were more than the entire Cowboys starting pack while it was the first time since 1982 that the entire Roosters starting front row scored a try.

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RADLEY’S IMPRESSIVE SHOWING

English rugby league fans got a good glimpse of what they could be seeing in this year’s World Cup after a stellar showing from Roosters enforcer Victor Radley.

It took only 16 minutes for the 24-year-old to rack up two try assists, finding Joseph Suaalii with a floated rainbow pass before executing a short ball to Matt Lodge to cross untouched.

“Victor Radley in a World Cup year, England pretty impressed with what they have just seen,” Voss said.

“Radley has manufactured a pass… body jammed up, had to throw it awkwardly but found the mark,” Alexander said.

“Victor Radley having a great time out here on the SCG, he has already got two try assists in this all-important matchup,” Fox League’s Lara Pitt said.

“Of course we know now he will feature in the World Cup wearing England colours.”

Radley was dubbed “the best player on the field” in the opening 40 minutes by Fox League’s Corey Parker, finishing the night with impressive statistics.

Radley recorded 97 running meters, two tackle breaks, two line break assists, two try assists and 33 tackles in a game-defining display.

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SUAALII’S EXCITING DISPLAY

Joseph Suaalii has again shown why he is one of the competition’s most exciting players with a strong display against the Cowboys.

The 19-year-old scored for the first try of the night, and though all four wingers crossed in the contest, Fox league’s Cooper Cronk labeled him the best of the bunch.

“Good day for the wingers… Suaalii has been the pick of the wingers so far,”

“Suaalii has got a really good ability of being really physical and doing the hard work, but the try as well and the line breaks.

“He is a very good player this young man.”

The young gun came up with a number of big tackles in the first half, highlighted by a brutal hit on Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater.

Suaalii is fast becoming one of the competition’s most exciting defenders and that factor is what “excites” Fox League’s Corey Parker the most.

“The thing that excites me most about Suaalii is his ability and want to go after the contact,” Parker said.

“Off the kick-off or play two he is ripping straight into the teeth of the middle defenders and he has done it all season.”

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