Mister Brisbane: Tweet or retreat?
Feral attractions | Sars attack | Super spreaders | 8 is enough
As I post this, I’m on the Gold Coast, trying to wean myself off Twitter — and it’s not easy. I’ve dramatically cut back my “engagement time” on social media — down to one or two tweets a day, some likes and a handful of retweets — because I realised that I was losing more than I gained from it. Especially when I engaged in differences of opinion. While I don’t agree with the glib assessment that Twitter is a “sewer” — there are some brilliant and good people there, with lots of interesting, challenging and funny things to say — I find it hard to handle the negativity, even when it comes from those brilliant and good people. As I tweeted: “I need to concentrate on things that are more important to me. Nobody desperately needs to hear my [political] opinions, and I shouldn’t crave the warm, fuzzy feeling of approval from my peers. I certainly don’t need the opposite.”
This has been coming for a while but one major factor was watching a Ted Talk by Jon Ronson. It’s quite old now, but Ronson points about what we now call “pile-ons” remain valid, probably more so. I’ve been guilty of it, and I’ve been a victim of it. Only in a small way, but enough to know that it can quickly become deeply unpleasant. And despite what some people may tell you, it’s not all coming from the same direction. Social media emboldens even the shy and reasonable to be loud and obnoxious.
I’m not abandoning Twitter altogether — I’m still weighing in on a few of my favourite topics — but I’m cutting back for the sake of my sanity, and to free up some time to do other things. That would-be clever tweet may be better expressed as an item in this newsletter, or as the basis of a feature article, podcast or even a book. And, most important, there are people who are more deserving of my attention than either the conspiracy theorists or the mutual-appreciation society.
The Mister Brisbane radio show with Spencer Howson and Brett Debritz is now on Reading Radio on Tuesdays at 6.30pm, and as a podcast on iTunes here and Google Podcasts here.
BAD SCENES
Data visualisation artist Matt Shirley has made a map of the worst attractions in the United States, with one per state. It’s based on a poll and it includes some very well-known places such as Times Square, the Alamo, Hollywood, Graceland, the Grand Canyon, Bourbon Street and the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame. There are also some oddities such as the Breaking Bad house in Albuquerque, the Idaho Potato Museum and the Rocky statue in Philadelphia. It got me wondering which Queensland attraction doesn’t live up to its promise.
I reckon it’d have to be The Big Pineapple, which has always been a bit of a letdown. Now, before anybody gets defensive, I’m talking about the actual large fibreglass fruit rather than the entire Sunshine Plantation tourist attraction. But I would include among the disappointing attractions the now-gone Nut Mobile, the cheesy conveyance once favoured by royalty. On the positive side, I do remember their tasty banana splits and ice-cream sundaes. And I think the place has changed significantly over the years, because — after a rough patch — it’s still open.
Are there any truly dud attractions out there?
SOFT SELL
Queenslanders really are different. Apparently, we like double sarsaparilla soft drink more than any other Australians while the New South Welsh reckon sars tastes like cough medicine. That’s one of the gems of information to be found in an ABC Landline story about independent soft-drink makers in Pittsworth and Crows Nest on the Darling Downs. The sector is undergoing something of a revival, with four of the nation’s seven remaining small soft-drink factories situated in the Sunshine State.
This story prompted a friend to me asked whether Tristrams is still around. Well, the brand of fizzy drink isn’t — it was sold in the 1970s to Cadbury Schweppes, who closed it down — but the old factory is still standing in West End, converted into a shopping centre. And Mike Tristram, a fifth-generation member of the family now runs Trisco, a company that sells health and wellness products. Meanwhile, I’m all nostalgic for the likes of Kirks, Crystal and Neptune soft drinks, which used to be delivered to our back doorstep when I was a kid. I’m sure there are many other brands that have been swallowed up by the multinationals.
YEAST INVECTIVE
A friend posted a picture on Facebook of his wife’s breakfast — cornflakes and milk with a shelled boiled egg on top of it. This caused great discussion about what is and isn’t appropriate to eat for breakfast, and which combinations of food worked well (or not) together. Inevitably, the great Marmite versus Vegemite debate raised its head, with an Aussie friend saying: “Marmite just doesn’t have the vigour Vegemite does.” A British friend replied: “That exact same reasoning is precisely why I prefer Marmite — because Vegemite isn’t strong enough.” Of course, there was the added confusion that British Marmite isn’t the same as Australian Marmite. And then I threw Promite into the mix just for fun, because there’s no right answer when it comes to personal tastes. Nevertheless, the debate continues. What are you having for breakfast?
My latest column for InQueensland is about Queensland Theatre’s innovative interactive education program that’s inspiring young people.
POETRY CORNER
With the change of season, my Mum reminded me of the poem that begins:
Spring has sprung, the grass has riz
I wonder where the birdies is
Now, of course, I wondered about its origin. Google tells me it’s an example of “New Yorkese” and some believe it was written by the American poet Ogden Nash, but nobody’s sure. How and when it crossed the Pacific so my parents became familiar with it, I don’t know. Anyway, according to one source it’s called The Brooklyn National Anthem and it dates back to 1940 or earlier. And in some versions, it continues:
The boid is on the wing,
But that’s absoid
From what I hoid
The wing is on the boid!
SUPER DEAL
Who remembers Super 8? Before home video cameras became a thing it was the way to preserve precious family memories. It all seems very quaint now, but that was all we had — and many families are pleased that they have moving images from the pre-digital past. Well, if you’ve got the right camera, the good news is that you can still buy Kodak film for it. The bad news is that it costs $62.04 for a 50-foot roll from Amazon. I don’t think that includes processing. If you want film that does includes processing, there’s a version by a company called Pro8mm. Fifty feet — that’s a full 3.5 minutes of silent film in glorious colour — will set you back $126.33.
P.S. On the subject of purchases, I had a grocery delivery from a well-known supermarket chain, but I didn’t get the gift toys that were supposedly part of the deal. I decided against ringing to complain because I didn’t want the hassle. I wonder how many other people just let bad service slide because they couldn’t be bothered to follow it up?
MEANWHILE…
The Brisbane Festival is happening across the River City, including places it’s never been before. The full program is here.
QPAC has begun rolling out its 2021 schedule, and it includes a performance on April 13 by Lisa Simone (above), singing songs from the repertoire of her mother, Nina. Details here.
Also at QPAC, on May 27 next year: lawyer Geoffrey Robertson discusses the big issues of our era in It’s No Longer Hypothetical. Details here.
Opera Australia has confirmed that Wagner’s Ring Cycle will play in Brisbane next year from October 29 to November 20. Details here.
Looking for something a little sooner? The Brisbane Powerhouse is hosting the Miss Burlesque Queensland final on October 24. Details here.
LONDON CALLING
Because Spencer Howson demanded it, I’ve delved deeper into places that have been compared with other places. Kolkota and Tokyo have claims to being the “London of the East”; Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester have been called the “London of the North”; Chicago and Cincinnati are the “London of the West”; Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Wellington, Mexico City, Toulouse — and, yes, Brisbane — are the “London of the South”, while Auckland is the “London of the South Pacific” and Brighton (in the UK, not the Brisbane suburb) is the “London of the South Coast”.
FEEDBACK
Sheena was pleased to read last week’s item about the Brisbane Festival, saying it was “a trip down memory lane — I’d quite forgotten Warana!” And, following my piece about my “significant” birthday, which was also discussed on the podcast, the Sit Down Comedy Club suggested itself as a venue. That’s an idea I’ll be seriously considering.
I also discovered that the ad featuring Carly Rae Jepson’s Call Me Maybe was for Toyota, and it was the subject of an unsuccessful complaint to the Ad Standards Community Panel from somebody who thought the actor wasn’t driving safely.
On the subject of forgettable TV ads, Warren noted: “ ‘Where do you get it?’ I remember the ad. But get WHAT exactly? I’ve totally forgotten.... assuming it even registered in the first place.” Nick nominated “the beer ad with the tongue. No idea what beer. It probably took several goes to remember it was for beer at all. Concept overwhelming the message”. Stephen, who knows about these things, said the car advert had worked on me because I did remember it, and went to the effort of Googling the car brand. He wrote: “Pretty much the TVC’s job is to introduce you to the idea, the emotions to associate with the idea, and cue up your ability to notice the product more frequently when you’re out and about.”
Robert wrote: “Many ads make me NOT want to buy the product. I’m thinking ads that treat the consumer like an idiot, ads that yell at me, and repetitive ads.” Yvonne reckoned that the actor in the Toyota ad was great (and I agree with that) and added: “I think the Bunnings ads are pretty effective.” Ken said: “I don’t really race out and buy the product as such, but every time I hear Frank Sinatra’s My Way, I think of Taubmans Paint. On the rare occasions I buy paint, I just buy the cheapest.”