NICHE

The Avondale University

2021 .

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Writer s Zine

ed Lynnette Lounsbury

Jipnyeom (How to Watch Foreign TV And Like It!) Am I weird? Probably.

Am I crazy? Definitely.

But am I alone in my madness? No. 27.7% of the world’s population regularly joins me on the ‘dark side’ of Netflix, where few Australians dare tread. The international section.

Here you discover the vibrant and colourful world of Bollywood, the strange humour of British TV, Chinese epics, and my personal favourite, Korean Kdramas. I don’t hesitate to switch on my latest Kdrama each morning, toast and watermelon in hand. To me, the world of foreign TV is a celebration of art, culture, and language, that just might change the world.

Others, like Besiela Cram, a fellow viewer, agree with me. “I like it because it gives me insight into another culture, I get to immerse myself in it to learn the language much faster. Korean dramas are mostly associated with feelings of love, which binds us all”.

If many people are in love with the gritty, humorous, startling, and actionpacked universe of Korean TV, then what problems do others see in the international genre?

Language and inconvenience. My father always questions me on my viewing choices, ‘How do you enjoy something you don’t understand?

Subtitles are so annoying!’ Yes, at first, I did have to get used to watching the translated type, but after three episodes I eased into the experience. To me, the sound of Korean speech is as normal as Aussie drawl. Don’t be put off by subtitles, soon you won’t notice them.

The reason Kdramas are so important to many, is their creativity. Gone are the cliches of westernised TV, where the boy meets girl, breaks up, sorts it out, and lives happily ever after. How about a tiny woman with the strength of the Hulk, who fights a serial kidnapper and saves the men? What about a Cinderella tale where the maiden isn’t a useless cry-baby waiting for her prince? She may not be the beauty, but this girl is a go-getter, and gets four potential ‘princes’ for her troubles. I used to surf western Netflix for anything I could bare to sit through for more than an episode. Now I’ve got decades worth of foreign TV (with actual plot!) to fill my free time.

We love their quirky humour, amazing fashion sense, love triangles, deathdefying stunts, and heart-wrenching one-liners. As Brenna Voyles so perfectly describes, “There comes as least one moment in every Korean drama when a character utters words that make our hearts melt and tears come to our eyes”.

So, I urge any who may feel like dipping their toes into international waters, don’t be put off by what you don’t understand. You get the hang of it quickly, and you’ll be surprised how many closet-fans you meet in your own backyard.

If you don’t know where to start, here’s my top 5 picks: 1. ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’: A girl as strong as the Hulk, who catches serial kidnappers and gets the man at the same time? Yes please.

2. ‘Hwarang’: The richest and most handsome men in ancient Joseon train to protect a king no one has ever seen. But could the king be within their midst?

3. ‘She Was Pretty’: A pretty girl turns ‘ugly’ in her teen years, whilst her childhood friend gets a glow-up.

A case of mistaken identity will snowball in this fashion-themed drama, leading us to question whether the beauty outside, or the beauty within, is the most important.

4. ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’: A rich CEO can’t live without his capable secretary, so when she hands in her notice, what will he have to do to make her stay?

5. ‘Empress Ki’: How does an orphan girl become an outlaw, a soldier, a servant, a concubine, and an empress in ancient Goryeo? You’re about to find out.

How do you watch foreign TV and like it? You take on small step and see how fast you fall down the rabbithole.

COAT OF THE DAY COAT OF THE DAY

Author Zoe Cochrane Zoe Cochrane is the mastermind behind the blog, Jipnyeom, which in Korean, means ‘obsession’. And she is, indeed, obsessed. In her spare time, Zoe loves to listen to Kpop music, with a particular focus on BTS, and can often be spotted singing in her car. She also loves foreign TV of all kinds!

d e s s e s b O t l u d A n l a a c s i s a u e f i M L l o o h c S h g i H h wit Remember being 10 years old, sitting with your High School Musical pillow, oh and your friends, me too. Actually, I catch myself still doing that…

Saying that I know every word in every song in the 3 movies is an understatement, I know all the dances too! Nothing gets me more hyped than hearing the song ‘what time is it.’ I don’t know about you, but now it’s stuck in my head. “What time is it?

Summertime, it’s our vacation.”

I hope I’m not the only one who has considered changing their name to Vanessa, now that Zac Efron has dated two girls with that name. While most people have their phone lock screen as Chris Hemsworth, I may happen to somehow have a photo of Zac Efron instead…although I did have to get a photo from a couple years ago since he has a beard now, for a reason I don’t understand.

A holiday season doesn’t go by where I don’t watch all 3 High School Musical (HSM) movies. I have made each one of my friends sit down with me and watch it. My brother walks past and strongly expresses how he feels as though the movie is cliché and cringy, but he doesn’t appreciate the beauty of it. I dance around my house imagining I am Gabriella in the song ‘can I have this dance’ and I make my sister be Troy. Although we struggle a bit with the lift up dance move. I see my mum walk past us watching High School Musical and stand there and secretly hide her love for it. I think everyone needs to give HSM a second chance, even if you’re an adult watching it for the first time, it is worth LOVING! Most people only cry in the second movie when Gabriella leaves Troy. Without exposing myself, I may have tears down my face at some point in each film. The time I cried the most was when I was graduating High School myself and watched the 3rd film, I highly recommend this to anyone graduating, it just hits like nothing else.

I’m sure some of you do the same but, when I am in a bad mood, the go to is listening to High School Musical songs - it lifts my mood instantly. I can honestly say, being obsessed with High School musical, is a healthy obsession. Even as an adult, I am proud of my love for it and not embarrassed whatsoever. Anyone who doesn’t love High School Musical are missing out.

While HSM’s audience is typically ages 8 to 14, the love I had for it as a kid as has only progressed and amplified the older I’ve gotten. I can see myself being a 60-year-old lady, on her couch knitting, while watching High School Musical and fantasising about a life as Gabriella. Just as Troy can be a jock and still love to sing and dance, I can be an adult and love High School Musical.

If anyone wants to go to the High School where they filmed the movie, let me know because I am already packed to go. Fortunately, Zac Efron is currently in Australia, unfortunately he’s dating a girl named Vanessa…AGAIN. If I were to run into Zac Efron, it would truly be the best moment of my ENTIRE life.

High School Musical won me over with their wholesome exuberance, catchy production, and “We’re all in this together” manifesto. Zac Efron being Troy is an added bonus. If Zac was to marry anyone other than myself, I would be okay with Vanessa Hudgens. I wish they never broke up; they are perfect for each other!

I feel sorry for anyone who has to date all of us who love Zac, our partners will always be second in line. Zac’s singing voice definitely improved over the films and I’m sure we all would like to thank whoever coached him because now he can SANG! I wish he would release some music of his own, but until than I am more than happy to listen to ‘scream’ and ‘bet on it,’ from the film.

If you’re an adult High School Musical lover like myself, don’t hide it, EMBRACE it! There’s more of us than we realise. High Musical is MONUMENTAL and our love for it must be carried on through ALL generations.

I vote for the cinemas to have a High School Musical sing along that we can all jam to, who’s with me?

AUTHOR TAMSYN QUICK TAMSYN IS A COLLEGE STUDENT STUDYING TO BE A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER, SHE THOROUGHLY ENJOYS PLAYING SPORT AND WRITING MUSIC, IN HER SPARE TIME SHE WATCHES HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, 1, 2 AND 3.

Pole Dancing for Beginners: Fun, fitness and for yourself Have you ever come across those Youtube or TikTok videos of a pole dancer and thought, "Wow, I couldn't do that! That's insane!?"- But you can! (Eventually) Are you that person that pays for a gym membership, goes a couple of times and had thoughts like "yep, I'm going great, I'm so motivated, blah blah…" then had a break because life got in the way (and who, by the way, really uses the gym for its 24hour capabilities and goes at 3 am..)? Once you initiate that break it becomes a constant battle with yourself with thoughts of "yeah… I'll make it up tomorrow and do twice as much" which then just turns into another expense that you continue to pay for but have no real intention to go back anytime soon. Coupled with guilty feelings for not going, it's just a reoccurring loop that you find yourself stuck in every couple of years because somehow you talk yourself back into going. Common story. I was this person. I am also sure that the majority of you reading this are also nodding along, thinking "I can relate".

I was sitting in the car with my husband 5 hours into a 13-hour drive from Port Douglas to Bundaberg in QLD when I randomly blurted "I want to try pole dancing". Plunging into the black hole of google asking things like what to wear, does the pole spin and will learning pole dancing class me as a stripper… You get the idea. Responses to those questions were quite vague, so I decided to give it a go and find out for myself.

5 months in and I am in love! In this time, I have learnt the answers to the common questions that I had asked those months ago. So here we go: What do I wear? Usually shorts, a sports bra and a shirt/singlet. Just dress comfortably, and the more you do pole, the more your confidence grows and the less you care about what others think. The other pressing issue is those heels! You don't HAVE to wear them, but they do look incredible on, and makes your legs look longer which then makes you feel more elegant and sexier and ahhh why wouldn't you want to! You work your way up to wearing them though, you are not expected to jump straight into wearing 10-inch heels (I'm currently up to 7 inches)!

Do I have to be strong or 'in shape'? No, although it doesn't hurt to have some strength or flexibility to assist you. Pole trains your body and muscles in different ways and the more you practice and aim to nail the move you envy, the stronger you will become. Sometimes you're not even aware of the strength you've built until one day it finally clicks. I realised this recently at a physio session when my therapist had me do a couple of chin-ups, something previously I couldn't do, but I nailed it which was pleasantly surprising. Pole dancing is not always sexy, what we let you see usually is, but behind the scenes is comprised of instant bruising and consistent grunts and groans. We put on a brave face and mutter the mantra "smiling on the outside, screaming internally" to ourselves constantly.

Does the pole spin? Trick question. Usually yes, however, there are poles that you can lock into place, 'static', which creates a whole new skill level, because it can be harder to achieve moves on a pole that doesn't move with you. Most of the time it's a lot easier to let the momentum carry you, hence the preference for spinning poles. I don't mind using either spin or static as it trains different muscles, and you can achieve different moves on one setting compared to the other.

Does doing pole dancing make you a stripper? Okay, so let us just get one thing straight- pole dancing and exotic dancing are two different things! Pole dancing is starting to become a very popular sport, just like dancing and cheerleading. Gone are the days when dancing on a pole is purely sexualized or a means to supplement income. It's a sport, a very enjoyable sport. Just like any other sport, you get a sense of achievement when you accomplish a goal that you're working towards.

For example, a netballer or basketball player might struggle to shoot goals, but after persistent training and coaching, they get there. Same with pole dancing, when seen as a sport, you are constantly and consistently working towards a goal.

These are just a few common thoughts and misconceptions that most people have about this sport, but at the end of the dayyou do you boo. What you will find is that the pole community is filled with like-minded people who come from different stages and walks of life. This community is very supportive as they have all been there at the beginning- the uncertainty, lack of selfconfidence; but will always cheer you on when you finally nail that awesome move you have been straining your body trying to get.

So… what are you waiting for!? If you are keen to give it a go, all it takes is to go onto google and book yourself into an introduction course (most studios have them). I can guarantee that if you do fall in love with pole, you will start to love yourself and your own body more as well.

Author Kath Wennerbom Kath Wennerbom is a social person and will always find time to catch up with friends and to play with her Australian Cattle DogPluto. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at Avondale University College and is happiest when she goes on adventures with her husband to see new places and try new things. Outside of study and work, Kath enjoys the sport of Pole dancing and the freedom it gives to be herself.

WHY BRASS BANDS ARE AWESOME

Brass bands have always been a part of my life in some way. My dad began learning the euphonium when he was a teenager, and he has continued playing it well into adulthood. Ever since he first started learning the euphonium, he has been involved in brass bands. I have memories of visiting churches with my family to watch my dad play in the band. I always got so excited watching my dad play in the band and listening to the music. I remember feeling the music through the floor and the pews. Even at home, if my dad took out his euphonium to practice, my brothers and I always wanted to have a blow. Since I was a child, the euphonium seemed like this massive and exciting instrument, and I was always fascinated by it. My dad is a big part of why I love brass bands and why I have such a passion and excitement for them. Much of the reason why I love brass bands is that it’s an activity I enjoy doing with my dad.

I have always really enjoyed music, and if I’m given a chance, I will have a go at every instrument I get my hands on. When I reached the end of year 5, my family and I moved from South Australia to Victoria. This was when my dad decided to join a band in Melbourne. At this point, I was learning the piano, and it wasn’t until mid-way through year 7 I decided to try my hand at the baritone horn. I began learning through Melbourne bands junior band program (JABB or Junior Advent Brass Band). JABB had practice every Thursday night a couple of hours before the Melbourne band. I often stayed back during Melbourne band practice with my dad. I always loved sitting in and listening to them practice. It wasn’t long before I was invited to sit in and practice with them and then eventually perform with them at churches and other performances. Around this time, I found my passion for brass instruments, bands, and their music.

Despite popular belief, brass bands aren’t full of elderly men dressed up in colourful and ornate uniforms, playing marches and hymns. While this can be true in some cases, it’s not always the case. The brass community is filled with many young people, like me, with a passion for brass bands. So, I would like to share three reasons why I love brass bands and why I think it is beneficial to join one if you are interested.

1.One of the reasons I love brass bands is the variety of music they can play and the awesome sound they can produce. If you look at my Spotify, you will notice it is full of brass songs. One of my playlists has over 1,000 songs that are pure brass! The songs range from hymns, brass songs and classical pieces to movie soundtracks and pop songs. Often, you will find me vibing to my brass playlists while I’m studying. I love such a wide variety of music genres, and my brass playlists can cater to many of the genres I love. Plus, I absolutely love the kind of sounds they can make. They can range from sounding soft and mellow to loud and epic. They can play such a wide variety of music, and that’s part of the reason I love brass music.

2.Secondly, I don’t just love listening to brass bands. I also love playing in them and being involved in creating beautiful music. I’ve enjoyed playing in all the bands I have been involved in. Even though they are all very different, they are full of awesome people. They have such an awesome community surrounding them. I feel so blessed that I was able to learn through the JABB program. All the music teachers I had were so skilled and supportive and really pushed me to challenge myself. If I hadn’t joined JABB or Melbourne band, I have no doubt that my skills would be significantly lower. Being able to practice and perform in a brass band allowed me to put my skills to practice and improve my playing ability. I really value my experiences, memories and time playing in every band I’m a part of. Being a part of a band is such a rewarding experience, where you can do what you love and improve your skills.

3.Lastly, brass bands are an awesome hobby for all ages. It’s an activity for people of all ages and skill levels! This is particularly evident in the Melbourne band and JABB. Players of all skill levels are involved with the JABB – young people just beginning their journey to those who have been playing for a few years. Junior/youth bands allow those still learning an instrument to improve their skills and put them to practice in a group setting. It teaches young players the value of playing in a group, allowing them to learn the skills needed when playing in a band, while also improving their individual playing. Melbourne band is a testament to this. It is a large band with players of all ages. Players range from mid primary school to being in their 70’s or perhaps older. The JABB program is a big factor that contributes to the age range in the Melbourne band. Many of the younger players in the Melbourne band also play in JABB and are still receiving lessons.

As you can probably tell, brass bands are such an important part of my life. I have had many memories and experiences with the amazing band communities that I’m a part of. I truly believe that if I hadn’t grown up around brass bands or started learning the baritone, I wouldn’t have found my passion for brass music. I also believe that if I hadn’t been a part of the Melbourne band and JABB program, I wouldn’t be as skilled as I am now. The Melbourne band provided a challenge and helped to improve my skill. Band practice is something I continue to look forward to every week and is always a highlight for me. I hope you understand why I love brass bands so much and have discovered an interest in them yourself. Brass bands are such an incredible experience that I highly recommend being a part of, plus they come with the bonus of improving your skills as a brass musician!

Author Zoe Watson My name is Zoe! I am in my first year studying early childhood and primary teaching. I am also a fan of all things brass and play the baritone horn in two amazing bands.

Mad Cow Disease

“All the good ideas I have ever had came to me while milking a cow” – Grant Wood His name was Super-rooster an oddball of a cow but one I fell completely in love with. When Mark told me he was sick, I took it upon myself to look after him, making a warm milk mix and bringing it to him in the early hours before the sun had risen. I lay with that cow throughout the day and kissed his furry head goodnight. But had I known that sweet Superrooster was going to pass that night, I would have stayed with him until the moon hung its head in mourning and the sun peeked from behind the mountains.As a 12-year-old girl, his death rocked my world and all that was left behind was an intense adoration for cows. After all, I owe it to Super-rooster.

As underrated animal’s cows are udderly amazing and continue to surprise me even as a devoted cow-lover.

Recently, I discovered that cows are well, very much like us in their emotional behaviours. That must be why they are moody right? Cows, like us, have very close friendships with a tight-knit group preferring the company of around about two to four cows. Just like mean girls, they too have their very own burn book, holding grudges and dislikes against certain individuals. Regina Georgie, Moo? But believe it or not even their sleeping arrangements are determined by hierarchy.

This makes North Shore High School look like a walk in the park, doesn’t it?

However, don’t let that fool you? Despite having beef with each other, they are big softies! Mother cows show immense devotion to their calves and will walk long distances to find their calves if they are lost. Just like in Frozen when Anna goes on a quest to find her sister Elsa, the bond between cows is immense. Cows have also been known to cry when loved ones have passed indicating that they are empathetic, and family orientated. Disney really should get on this! I sense the next Moofasa on the horizon.

On a serious note, I love cows and believe them to be a superior animal, but one question that remains. Do I eat meat? To put it plainly, yes, I do. My body requires meat to function optimally, after playing around with different diets the inclusion of meat is important for my body system. For yours, this might not be the case but commenting on other people’s bodies and what they put in it, is none of our business. So, let’s stop normalising it.

However, when making decisions about the meat I consume I follow a simple philosophy: 1.Is it raised ethically on pasture, in small herd or flocks?

2.Does it have a limited impact on the environment using organic, sustainable, farm practices?

3.Has the cow been cared for, loved, and respected throughout all stages of life?

4.Is it locally scoured, or has it been imported?

If a product does not pass this test, then I choose to not consume it. If it does, I choose to eat it ensuring that I harbour a heart of gratitude to the farmers who cared for its life and the cow for providing me with nutrients that my body requires. Next time you consider what you put your money towards remember would the cows be thanking moo or to put it plainly, would they not be amoosed with you?

Author Lauren Hassall Lauren Hassall is a Central Coast born and bred creative who lives in the small town of Horsfield Bay. Here she spends her time arranging flowers, painting/drawing and busying herself with as many imaginative projects as possible. Her home, which overlooks the ocean helps her gain inspiration from the environment which, surrounds her. This paired with her intense love for novels allows her to form a world that is uniquely her own.

How to Not Kill Plants Struggling to take care of your plant? Looking for advice on how to grow your plants properly? Unsure if you should even start buying plants?

You’ve come to the right place. In this blog, I’m going to teach you all the necessary skills you need to keep your plant alive and show you why you too need plants in your life.

As someone who started off my plant mum journey as a certified plant killer (RIP to the six cacti dead and buried), I know how it feels to feel like you’ll never be one of those plant parents with gorgeous, thriving, leafy green plants placed around your home. In fact, for a long time I gave up even dreaming about being one of those people who so effortlessly kept their plants alive.

Despite starting off with what I was told were the easiest plants to take care of, cactuses, I ended up with six dead, brown and rotten carcases.

But you see, I didn’t have anyone to mentor me, I never had an ultimate source of wisdom that could help me take my plant skills to the next level. It was very much a case of trial-and-error for me, which unfortunately resulted in a lot of dead plants. Yet through my own personal failures, you, my friends, now have yourself your very own plant encyclopedia and a personal guide on how to take care of existing plants. And for all the newbies, I hope I can convince you on why becoming a plant parent is the best decision you’ll ever make in your life.

Now before we get into the nitty gritty of actually taking care of plants, we need to understand why plants are so important. Everyone knows that plants give off oxygen, but did you know that plants are specifically designed to make you happier? Inside our body is what we call our limbic system, which is responsible for our emotions. The colour green has proven to influence our limbic system and improve our mood as our body associates scenes of natural environments such as plants or greenery, with positivity. As so many of us live in suburbs or cities nowadays, you can see why it’s so crucial to surround ourselves with bright, colourful parts of nature, as it boosts our mood and can even improve motivation.

So now that you know a little bit about why it’s so important for you to put plants in your home, here are my three top tips and tricks for actually keeping them alive and letting them grow to their full potential.

1.DO NOT (and I cannot stress this enough) OVERWATER YOUR PLANTS. The biggest reason people kill their plants, and I speak from personal experience, is that they continue to water them despite the plants not actually needing it. Plants need oxygen too, so if you keep drowning them in water, it’ll block off the oxygen and they will die. Let the soil completely dry before again.

1.DO NOTwatering (and I cannot stress this enough) OVERWATER YOUR PLANTS. The biggest

reason people kill their plants, and I speak from personal experience, is that they continue 2.Make sure your plants are sitting in a pot with drainage holes at the to water them despite the plants not actually needing it. Plants need oxygen too, so if you bottom. Without these holes, the water will just sit at the bottom which keep drowning them in water, it’ll block off the oxygen and they will die. Let the soil leads to root rot as the plant is not getting the nutrients it needs from the completely dry before watering again. oxygen and your plant will be left root-less. And if you’re like me and love those cute Kmart pots which sadly have no holes, keep your plant in the 2.Make sure your plants aresimply sitting in a pot with drainageinside holes the at the bottom. container it came in and place that container trendy pot Without these thevoila, wateryour will just sitwill at the bottom which leads to root rot as the plant is not youholes, like and plant thrive.

getting the nutrients it needs from the oxygen and your plant will be left root-less. And if 3.Keep yourwhich plant sadly as that hasno vital infokeep you your plant you’re likethe metag andfrom love when those you cutebought Kmart pots have holes, to knowitabout plant.

All place plantsthat have different watering needs,pot you like in need the container cameyour in and simply container inside the trendy sunlight needs, and needs and it’s important that you know and voila, your plant willtemperature thrive. what your various plants need.

3.Keep the tag from when you bought your plant as that has vital info you need to know It’s also important to know if your plant is low or high maintenance. Low about your plant. All plants have different watering needs, sunlight needs, and maintenance plants like cacti or succulents will only need watering every few weeks temperature needs and it’s important that you know what your various plants need. and will generally not need much attention. High maintenance plants like orchids, however, need lots of direct sunlight but not too much heat, and need watering once It’saalso important to know if your plant is low or high maintenance. Low maintenance week.

plants like cacti or succulents will only need watering every few weeks and will generally notAsneed much attention.

Highand maintenance like orchids, need I mentioned earlier, plants greenery canplants physically make youhowever, feel happier duelots of direct sunlight but not the too colour much green heat, and need a week. to the chemical effect has on the watering brain. Butonce not only that, plants can contribute to your mental wellbeing and can even be used as a learning tool for kids! something in your home that you have to take care ofmake gives you you afeel sense of AsHaving I mentioned earlier, plants and greenery can physically happier due to and purpose, which canhas be extremely beneficial for only thosethat, struggling theresponsibility chemical effect the colour green on the brain.

But not plants can with mental healthmental issues. wellbeing In addition,and for can those parents who are to teach contribute to your even be used as alooking learning tool for kids! their kids responsibility but don’t want to invest in a full-time thing like a pet; plants Having something in your home that you have to take care of gives you a sense of are the perfect option! There is a plant for every single person out there, and once responsibility and purpose, which can be extremely beneficial for those struggling with you find it, I guarantee you’ll feel all the better for it.

mental health issues. In addition, for those parents who are looking to teach their kids responsibility but don’t want to invest in a full-time thing like a pet; plants are the perfect option!

There is a Anthony plant for every single person out there, and once you find it, I guarantee Author Racquel you’ll feel all better it. to provide content for her plant blog. In her spare time, Racquel is athe writer whofor loves she enjoys cooking, hiking, scrapbooking and spending time with her dog, Koko.

Racquel has a variety of plants around her house that inspired her to start this blog and continues to write as a hobby.

Author Racquel Anthony

Racquel is a writer who loves to provide content for her plant blog. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, scrapbooking and spending time with her dog, Koko. Racquel has a variety of plants around her house that inspired her to start this blog and continues to write as a hobby.

DEFI - THE FUTURE OF CRYPTO Cryptocurrencies have been the talk of the world for the better part of 2021. In fact, no matter how much you do not care about it, you are bound to continue hearing about it on the news or from your cousin who invested his whole life savings. While this is not the first crypto boom we have seen, it is undoubtedly the strongest, hitting all-time highs and more and more coins conjured up to score a quick buck. If you are not sure what all the hype is over, or if you are wondering what all this could mean for your future, keep reading and let’s explore what’s up with crypto.

Cryptocurrency describes a digital currency in which transactions are verified and recorded through a decentralised system. All this means is crypto is currency stored online, not controlled by one individual or institution. The most notable, of course, is Bitcoin, set up by someone going under the name of Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009. Bitcoin was initially designed to act as a way to pay and transfer funds outside of banking institutions. It does this by using thousands of different computers (nodes) to process transactions as banks do. Think of it like a large Google document that nodes can update remotely, ensuring that the most up to date and correct data is stored; this is how Bitcoin keeps track of its transactions. The most significant difference is how Bitcoin’s transactions look, something more like this Kiedmowkfjheo248fasdkfjKfwff0 sends $100 to Ah72hdHAjdh28JHdajd82dd82 than Paul Smith sends $100 to Peter White.

This level of anonymity is what first put Bitcoin in the spotlight as people realised it was a great way to process transactions without any paper trail. As we progress into a more online-based era with Covid-19 encouraging more of the world to go digital, there has been a surge of activity in the crypto world, which we see in 2021.

Bitcoin, the OG coin, was soon joined by thousands of alternative coins (altcoins), the vast majority of which are just a shiny new name, most of which run off similar technology to Bitcoin. Because altcoins are reliant on Bitcoin, any price movements (up or down) have a ripple effect throughout the market.

Cryptocurrency has received a lot of criticism for its price volatility and risk of investment. In this last year, we have observed remarkably high levels of volatility within the market. So why should we use crypto if its value is not stable? Well, crypto is new, like brand new.

technology has only been around for 12 years compared to other currencies like the USD, which has been around for over 220 years. Crypto has not yet proved itself as a stable measure of value. Bitcoin isn’t regulated by a body like the USD and has a set limit of coins in circulation (21,000,000 Bitcoin), unlike the USD, which is constantly under adjustment by the Federal Reserve. This lack of regulation may worry some investors but is a fundamental part of an exciting new technology that will stabilise and revolutionise our financial world.

Decentralised finance (DeFi) is a concept that will radically change how we interact with the modern financial world. DeFi is the concept that finance and its services will be decentralised and not controlled by traditional financial institutions. The aim is to take power away from big money and allow average individuals better opportunities to manage their money fully. Some of the most significant changes we could see are as follows: Lending and borrowing of capital: One of the cornerstones of the financial industry is the ability of individuals and institutions to loan or borrow money. This service is usually provided by banking institutions that take charge of approving and supplying the capital. DeFi is already offering a loaning service where individuals can choose to be either the borrower or the loaner. Individuals can invest their crypto into pools of money that algorithms can use to set automatically set interest rates depending on factors such as the amount and term of the loan. The ability to perform peer to peer loans globally with no humans applying bias and faster than traditional loans is genuinely ground-breaking.

Faster and cheaper transactions: Due to the removal of all middlemen, transactions processed anywhere globally are multitudes faster than traditional methods. The atomisation makes speeds faster and drastically lowers the fee of the transfer as no intermediary bodies need to be paid.

A more open and transparent finance system: Since DeFi is run off nodes worldwide, each with a copy of every transaction in the history of DeFi, it is entirely possible for individuals to hold everyone accountable, and dodgy movement of money cannot be swept under the rug.

Cryptocurrency is not going anywhere and, realistically, will only become a more significant part of our lives. Technologies such as DeFi will revolutionise how we interact with the financial industry. I am ready for such radical changes as I believe current economic systems are not in place to protect consumers and instead benefit big money.

We can see this change already taking place, and it is only a matter of time until the world embraces decentralised finance as its core financial system.

Author Brodie Hughes Brodie Hughes does most of his writing on his phone while walking through nature. He spends his free time researching and sharing stock fundamentals with anyone who will give him their time.

ARKHAM ASYLUM: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION What kind of mother-murdering psychologist would think: "Yes, turning my family home, previously known as the 'Gotham House of Madness and Ill Humours' into an asylum would be not at all an ill omen?

Amadeus Arkham – that's who.

But let's ignore the fact that the previous owner, an occult expert and an exorcist, is called Jason Blood and that there is an age-old curse on the building from Barbatos, a henchman of Darkseid.

Named after his mother, The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane first appeared in Batman #258 October 1974. Inspired by the works of HP Lovecraft, Arkham Asylum was created as a symbol of all the mad, bad and horrible in Gotham.

Over the decades, it has become the joke of Gotham, unable to either rehabilitate or keep its patients within their gates and has ultimately become DC Comic's most prominent plot device since the shooting of Bruce Wayne's parents.

Yet aside from abysmally failing at fulfilling its only purpose, the most criminal aspect of the Asylum is the building and industry itself.

The pure violation of human rights would create more criminal charges than the Joker has in all his incarnations. The UN decrees that "housing must provide… adequate privacy, space, lighting, and ventilation." Images from video games such as the Batman: Arkham series, Lego DC Super-Villains, and comic panels show Arkham's 'housing' to consist of a rectangular cell (sizes vary- but most cramped and small), with one bed and a toilet, all visible from the barred front wall. There is a singular light in each cell, and in most versions, this light seems to be dim, flickering, or straight-up broken.

With this cruel and inhumane space, it’s no wonder inmates are considered insane.

Furthermore, a lack of privacy is also a breach of human rights. The notion of constantly being watched through a whole wall – while you're sleeping, toileting, and more - is something on a Big Brother scale. If I was ever put in there, I too would be escaping first chance I get.

However, what about the building itself?

The Asylum stands as it did in the 1900s, meaning there would be enough asbestos and fire hazards to give a seasoned 9Life house-flipper a heart attack. The building would not, in layman's terms, pass OH&S standards at all. Arkham is a ‘prison’ which has the highest tech in Gotham – more so than Blackgate Prison or Belle Reve, meaning that all that high tech needs to be powered by incredibly high fire-hazardous electricity.

There is also the question of the sewage system, water system, and ventilation system, but I'm sure you're just as optimistic as me about them based on what we’ve seen so far As a side note, the fact that the Asylum was abandoned for ten years also ensures that there would be plenty of decay and overgrown plant life, as well as an infestation of insects and animals. In fact, in many of the previously mentioned media, the cells are often cracked and crumbling, mouldy and stained with water damage and probably bodily fluids.

We are told not to play in the dump for a reason, and the Asylum is basically a semifunctioning health hazard.

As a wise person on Reddit once said, "if you're comparing a medical facility to something similar to IT's (the clown) sewer lair, don't. You're probably violating several thousand health codes, if not the constitution."

But it's not just the audience outside the fourth wall that can see this comparison.

Labelled a "hellish place of weeping and wailing" by Jean Loring, the wife of the superhero Atom turned patient at Arkham and a "tottering… obscene" place (even after the rebuild), by Black Orchid, even the characters understand that this place is the pits. Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon also questions the Asylum's ability to do its function, calling it a "revolving door" for criminals.

Ironically, Arkham Asylum has also bred some villains itself.

There is the most well-known victim, Harley Quinn, once Harleen Quinzel, who fell in love with the Joker during her internship at the Asylum. Surely, I don’t have to explain why it’s bad an intern was allowed one-on-one time with him?

Dr Jonathon Crane (Scarecrow), Hugo Strange and the lesser-known Dr Ant Carley have all experienced their turn to villainy via human experimentation. Also, the Joker tortured Jason Todd (Red Hood) in a sealed-off section of the Asylum.

Honestly, I'm surprised no one has sued the Asylum, whether it be the patients, their families, or even the staff themselves. There have been multiple staff deaths, such as Dr. Penelope Young (brutally murdered by the Joker), and numerous staff injuries, such as Aaron Cash, who lost his hand to Killer Croc.

There's definitely enough criminal activity within the Asylum itself to give a lawyer a wet dream, so it goes without saying that Arkham would never ever be able to run in the real world, even for a moment.

AUTHOR TAYLOR KELLY

Why did the chicken cross the country?

Moving is exhausting, regardless of whether you're moving around the corner or just moving furniture around your house. But what about moving interstate with over forty chooks, a cat, a dog, and six people?

Well, that's what my family did. Yes, you heard me right. In 2019 my family travelled from Melbourne to Perth, with a heap of animals in tow.

It's not every day you see a family with this many chooks, but they're my Dad's passion, and it's grown on me. Although it seems weird, it's my weird, and I'm okay with that.

At this point, you're probably wondering how my family was able to get that many chooks across two borders safely. Well, my Dad and I spent weeks building a wooden structure that would sit on top of a trailer throughout the trip and give us room underneath to pack our random junk; wait, no, I mean tools and equipment that didn't make it onto the moving trucks. I must admit that my job was primarily emotional support. However, I did spend many hours in the hot sun removing nails from old wooden pallets. The structure had six compartments for the chooks and opened at the top. We called this contraption "Loren's Ark 3.0," as this was technically the third time he had moved his chooks interstate like this. Yes, I know, the obsession with chooks in our family is real.

Taking care of chickens when travelling isn't easy. Our typical three day trip west quickly turned into six days of travel, with dramas starting before we had left our driveway. (Our petrified cat Matilda decided she didn't want to leave her home and instead turned herself into a flying kite! But that's a story for another time.) Once we had the chooks loaded and all the temporary collapsible cages put onto the second trailer, we were en route for Western Australia. Sometimes I think Dad and I got the lower end of the bargain during this trip. We had all the animals, the dodgy air conditioning, and the job of sleeping under the stars next to the arc while the rest of the family had a warm bed and showers the following day. Funnily enough, caravan sites don't appreciate eight roosters crowing at 3 am. So instead, we would park our car and trailer out of town and camp. However, it was exciting and something that I could be convinced to do again.

The biggest problem we faced was the last day of travelling when we hit hot weather. We didn't realize that because it was 46 degrees outside, we probably needed to stop and give the chooks water more often. So here we were, stopped at Balladonia, practically in the middle of no where, buying all the cold water we could. Not for us, but for the chooks!

We also had a water spray contraption that my brother got for Christmas that we sprayed through the ark and moved things in the car so that the sick and dehydrated chooks could sit under the air con! Gee, did they get the special treatment that day. The extreme heat meant that our stops every 3 hours turned into every 45 minutes, and we bought multiple roadside stores out of cold water.

On top of this, Mum's car was stopped by the police. We quickly learned that in Western Australia, all trailers need to be registered, even though the rules may be different in Victoria. Also, there's a limit to how many chook cages you can stack on one trailer. Who knew!

All issues aside, we eventually made it to my Uncle and Aunts farm, where the chooks stayed for a year before moving to our home in Gidgegannup. We now have over 200 chickens in our backyard ranging in many different breeds from Japanese Bantams to Silkies, Isa Browns, and Light Sussex. Our two incubators are constantly running, and there's even a room attached to our shed that is permanently called "The Hatchery,' where all the newborn chicks live.

One question I get asked regularly is why I like chooks so much. While it probably wouldn't have been my first choice for a hobby, they're entertaining to be around. I have many fond memories of Dad teaching me how to catch chickens that have escaped from their cages and us cleaning all the pens out. But most of all, I think I love it so much because it's something that Dad and I do together. To be truthfully honest, I've kind of become his partner in crime. While Mum does spend quite a lot more time with the chooks these days than I do, I know that he's taught me well, and I can't wait for the day when I'll have my own chooks in my future backyard.

Author Talissa Pratt

THE SOON TO FALL EMPIRE OF US The world as we know it is coming to an end, eventually, at least statistically speaking. Each empire that rose before us has fallen, and there is nothing to suggest that we are somehow the exception. What will those that come after call us? The Great West of the Commercial age? Perhaps something less flattering. I suppose it doesn’t matter, but it is interesting to think about.

So, if you enjoy the fruitless exploration of hypothetical eventualities, accompany me here, as we consider a world at its end. It seems doomsday preppers are always expecting some event of the extreme: meteor, nuclear war, zombie apocalypse, or epidemic (admittedly the last one is appearing increasingly plausible). But I believe our downfall will be something much less cinematic; economics, combined with globalisation, urbanisation, and humanity.

In 1929 for far from the first time in human history, economic structures failed across the globe in what is known as the Great Depression. Unemployment skyrocketed, poverty became near universal, and the second industrial revolution petered to its end. The cause of this catastrophe is still up for debate but its impact on the lives of individuals is undeniable; those with something, now had nothing.Hungary, Zimbabwe, Germany, and Greece: over the last hundred years many nations have fallen to economic decay, often as a result of hyperinflation.

Even recently, in 2019, the Venezuelan currency inflated by and estimated ten million percent, essentially devolving their market into a bartering system, and providing a petri dish for the expansion of existing corruption and violence.The Venezuelan inflation crisis is a disaster of historic proportion, resulting in the migration of almost 30% of the nations population, but it is a disaster of localised detriment. If a similar collapse were to occur in a developed ‘Western’ nation within the context of modern globalisation, the impact would be far more widespread.

If the economic structures within the European Union were to collapse, twenty-eight nations together consisting of nearly half a billion people would be eliminated from the global market. If the United States alone fell into depression, as they nearly did during the 2007 Great Recession, the ‘Western’ world would lose its centre of culture and media, and well as its most significant military insurance.Though it’s true, this collapse of current economic structures may not be as dire as I expect, it is inevitable. Capitalist and Socialist-Capitalist economies require constant inflation for viability; ever increasing job availability, population, consumer spending, and exportation.

Eventually the ceiling will be reached, and when it is, the over 50 percent of the global population who now live in urbanised environments, without direct access to agricultural resource, may face a dilemma. When I walk through the streets of crowded Sydney, I see a population of over five million completely dependant on external resource for survival, and I wonder what would happen if that resource disappeared, if the contents of every person’s wallet became irrelevant and the grocery stores were emptied. if the service stations ran dry overnight, how long would society remain in its mould?

LACHLAN B AUTHOR LACHLAN BI ILSON IS A LSON T E CHNOLOGIE TEACHING S S AND ENG T U DENT AT A COLLEGE. LISH VONDALE HE IS AN A U NIVERSITY AUSSIE AD DAMANT A VE DV AN OPPOR NTURE EXPERIENCE OCATE OF THE MEET SOM TUNITY TO TOUR THE , NEVER MISSING EO GR SOME OF H NE, OR EXPERIENCE EAT OUTDOORS, IS S FOLK MUSI OTHER PASSIONS INC OMETHING NEW. C, AND HIS L SEARCH FO UDE HIS FAMILY, R THE HUN BEST BURG TER'S ER SHOP.

IS THE JOKER IN ‘SUICIDE SQUAD’ REALLY THE JOKER?!

Joker, the clown prince of crime needs no introductions.. and literally when I say he needs no introductions.. he seriously doesn’t need any introductions. There are just some things that don’t need to be reexplained.

You see, back before ‘Suicide Squad’ hit theatres, HECK, even before ‘Batman V Superman’ hit theatres, online theorists were guessing that the Joker wasn’t really who he claimed to be. That he wasn’t just some off-thestreet criminal mastermind like he’s been in every other cinematic manifestation, but that he instead was Batman’s favourite boy wonder, Robin, who has somehow been rebuilt into a psychotic madman.

Now, as far as I know, this fan theory started piling up evidence with a Reddit post from Jason-G169 back in 2015, who started analysing all the messages around holes in these movies, and legitimately there are A LOT of weird coincidences here: -The bird tattoo on Joker’s arm, -The way Joker holds his cane in the ‘Suicide Squad’ poster being similar to how Robin’s suit is positioned holding his lance in ‘Batman V Superman’, -The bullet holes in the Robin suit hanging in the Batcave matching strange dots on Jared Leto’s shoulders and promo shots for ‘Suicide Squad’, -And the fact in the video game Arkham Knight, one of Batman’s former Robins has a scar of a “J” on his face left there by the Joker, a scar that just so happens to be in the same placement as the tattoo the Joker has in ‘Suicide Squad’.

See, when you look at all the evidence invested, there is an upright dosage to go off on, but then David Ayer, (director of ‘Suicide Squad’), pitched up into position and killed the theory DEAD. When asked what the most preposterous thing he’d heard about the movie was, he came back with this: “That the Joker is Jason Todd” (Interviewer) “Really?”

“That ain’t the case” Now, if you’re NOT a Batman super fan, let me fill you in. Jason Todd, in the comics, is one of the three main characters to have personified the role of Robin over the years. And I say “one of” because there have been many other Robin’s, just like there’ve been many Jokers. You have the original Dick Grayson, who finally passes on from being Batman’s sidekick, and turns into the hero Nightwing. Jason Todd is the next Robin, at least until the Joker abducts him, strikes him with a crowbar and blows him up in a warehouse. And then there is Tim Drake, who tries to reduce Batman’s depression about Jason Todd’s death by becoming the new Robin. It’s also worth marking that all three of them, at one stage in the comics have turned into the Joker. So, the idea of one of these characters turning into a Juggalo isn’t as ridiculous as it might seem. In the comic, ‘Dark Knight Strikes Again’, Dick Grayson is fired from being Robin and evolves into the Joker. Jason Todd, after getting killed in a death in the family by the Joker, gets resurrected via the Lazarus pit.

Upon his return, he takes on the role of the villain RED HOOD, which just so happens to be the Joker’s original criminal identity.

And then, there is Tim Drake, who in the 2000 movie, ‘Batman Beyond Return of The Joker’, got himself abducted and brainwashed by the original Joker, who then implants a microchip into his neck that transforms his DNA to make him into a Joker clone.

Look, I’m not saying that all of this makes a lot of sense and I know what you’re thinking - WHY AM I STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS! We already heard David Ayer shoot this theory down but have a closer look at what he says again: “That the Joker is Jason Todd.. That ain’t the case.. He’s not.”

Notice how David Ayer didn’t say that the Joker wasn’t Robin? He just said that the Joker wasn’t Jason Todd. As we discussed before there are at least three different Robins and when you actually look at all the evidence put together across the DCEU, the much more likely scenario is that this version of the Joker is actually Tim Drake, Robin number three.

Of course, for all this to work, we need a scenario in which Jared Leto’s version of the Joker has lost utter touch with his true Tim Drake identity before he transforms into the Joker, and wouldn’t you know it, but ‘Suicide Squad’ gives us that exact same scenario. One of the Joker’s first scenes in ‘Suicide Squad’ is when he’s got Harley buckled to the gurney and is about to electrocute Earth skull. Let’s see what he has to say in this moment: “You helped me by erasing my mind…what few faded memories I had.. No, you left me in a black hole of rage and confusion”.

So, the Joker doesn’t remember his past at all. I don’t know about you, but that is hell darn suspicious. Let’s pull in some science here.

You see what the Joker’s dealing with here is known as ‘Electroconvulsive Therapy’, a treatment with the unfortunate side effect of causing trouble recalling events that occurred during the weeks leading up to the treatment or even the weeks after treatment. In more extreme cases, participants can’t remember huge pieces from their pasts.

Now we know from what few lines we have collected from the movie, that the Joker in ‘Suicide Squad’ does indeed suffer memory loss as a result of his ECT treatments, and we know that Harley Quinn is the one to blame for it. But why? If Harley loves her ‘puddin’ as much as she said she does, why should she put him through a treatment that would erase all his memories?

The clear explanation would be that she’s trying to make him forget something specific about his past, something like say, the fact that he’s not really the Joker. If anyone could pull off that trick it would be Harley. I mean, don’t forget she is a trained psychiatrist. So, she would know what she’s doing with the electroconvulsive therapy, and if you pause the opening scene of ‘Suicide Squad’ just at the right time, you can actually read her criminal record to learn that she has a history of using false stories to manipulate the men in her life.

So, the murder of Robin could just be Harley reprograming Robin with electroshock to persuade him that he’s the Joker.

So, looking at all this evidence the question becomes more potent: IS THE JOKER IN ‘SUICIDE SQUAD’ REALLY THE JOKER?!

HAYLEY DITTON IS AN 18-YEAR-OLD UNIVERSITY STUDENT AT AVONDALE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WHO IS STUDYING BACHELOR OF ARTS/BACHELOR OF TEACHING (SECONDARY) IN ENGLISH AND VISUAL ARTS. HAYLEY BELIEVES THAT BEING ABLE TO GUIDE AND HELP TEENAGERS IN HIGH SCHOOL WILL BENEFIT THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL GOALS, TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND TO BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN STUDENTS’ LIVES. SHE LOVES WRITING ESSAYS AND ANALYSING MOVIES, FILMS AND BOOKS AND FINDING THE TECHNIQUES HIDDEN BETWEEN THE LINES OF COMPOSERS WORKS.

My Life in Seoul, South Korea

How many of you guys know Seoul? It is the capital city of South Korea and is filled with exciting things to do. It is a place well-known for its infrastructure, entertainment industry and food. I want to share my personal experience in this city as I have lived here for about a decade and have fallen in love with its uniqueness and cultural aspects that have taught and educated me immensely. a) Food - Korean food is known to be pretty spicy, if you ask me. I have struggled many times while trying to eat certain foods like (tteokbokki), Korean fried chicken or spicy (jjajjangmyeon). I personally love sashimi, anything with tofu and fried chicken, which are my favourite foods to eat in Seoul. b) Culture - One of my favourite things about Korea is the culture and how common it is to see cultural objects, festivals and entertainment around Seoul. I enjoy walking around (Gyeongbokgung) or other traditional royal palaces in my (hanbok), which is a traditional Korean dress that people used to wear back in the ancient days.

떡볶이 짜장면

경복궁

한복

There is so much history in Seoul and the development that has happened over the past few decades is remarkable to say the least. The history of Seoul and South Korea is so interesting to me, because I am of Korean descent and learning about my ancestors and what they went through with Korea splitting into half in the 1950s and going through the Korean war is tragic, but yet fascinating to hear. d) Entertainment - What can I say about the entertainment industry in Korea? I am sure that many of you are familiar with the rise of k-pop and k-dramas. I am proud to say that I was born in and currently live in the country of k-pop! Seoul produces amazing music artists such as BTS, Blackpink and Red Velvet who are famous worldwide and keeps producing new ones every single year.

I

e) Things to do Seoul is FILLED with exciting things to do! Some of my favourites are riding scooters, going to karaoke, room cafes and going to a Han river park to have a picnic with my friends on a nice, sunny day. Honestly, the options are endless and everybody can find something they like here. I can honestly say that Seoul is one of the greatest cities in the world, and it means a lot coming from me who has lived in the United States and several countries in Europe as well as the Philippines growing up.

-Ride scooters -Karaoke -Han river park -Room café -Board game café -Cute photo booths everywhere

Hong e l l e h c i M r Autho e on m f o e r u t c i Here is a p ga n i d l o h y a d h my 20th birt utiful a e b a t a e k lemon ca am, n g n a G n i é outdoor caf known l l e w t s o m one of the ung o y r o f l u o e towns in S nt and e m n i a t r e t n people, e good food.

e b n a c i n a y Bir d n a y h t l a e h s u o i t i nutr Biryani is a dish that has an emotional place in my life. I have grown up with Biryani as the must-have dish for an occasion. This dish is believed to have its origin in Persia from the word ‘biryan,’ which means fried or grilled. My children also love every version of the biryani I make for them. The regular version is high in calories, but it has various health benefits because of its exotic ingredients.

Since there are multiple versions of biryani, famous worldwide, we love eating it, but it’s hard to find a lowcalorie, healthy version. I looked at ways to make lowercalorie foods with maximum taste, nutrition, and flavours at a low cost.

The calorie count in biryani depends on the meat, rice, and oil we use to make it. To get the required calorie count and enjoy the delectable, tasty biryani, we can make some subtle changes to it as we prepare.

I’m happy to share the various health benefits of eating biryani and the changes I’ve made to create a low-calorie biryani with all the nutrients you need. Firstly, I will discuss the various health benefits of biryani before discussing the twist and changes we can make to get the healthy version of the biryani.

Health benefits and costing of Biryani: -Packed with nutrients- Biryani has meat, rice, oil/ghee, spices which cover proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

-Anti-aging - The chicken we add in the biryani is full of selenium which reduces free radical damage. It has Niacin or Vitamin B3, which helps in supplying energy and guards the body.

-Detoxifier-The spices and herbs improve digestion as cumin, turmeric, and ginger-garlic speed up the digestive enzyme production, which helps break down the fats. Cumin alone has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties. All of the above spices and herbs make it an excellent detoxifier.

If you ask me how to make biryani low calorie, more nutritious, and low cost, I have this suggestion for you: -Use the correct meat- The meat we use adds up to the maximum calories and cost in the biryani. We should use the right meat and the cut. Skinless chicken breast has the least calories and is cost-efficient for biryani, making it a better choice than beef or lamb meat.

-Choice of rice- The white basmati rice has more calories, so replace it with whole grain brown basmati rice to fill in with the fibre content of the nutritional requirements.

-Add seasonal vegetables- To increase the nutrients like vitamins and minerals, you can add veggies of your choice. Adding seasonal veggies contributes to the fibre content and the low cost of the biryani.

-Use ghee, not oil- Replace the use of oil with ghee. Ghee contains an omega-6 fatty acid called conjugated linolenic acid (CLA), which helps modify the body's composition and reduce body fat levels. It further helps in losing weight. Ghee consists of essential amino acids that promote fat cell shrinkage. Ghee is costlier than the oil but can be used in smaller amounts to give flavour.

-Get the smoky flavour- Use the burnt hot coal to give the smoky flavour to the meat and veggies used in the biryani.

Biryani can occasionally be included in the diet, even if you want to lose weight and satisfy the cravings, but portion control should always be your mantra.

This is not the end of my search for the perfect biryani. I wish to design a cheaper and nutritious biryani and easily prepared by the everyday worker working 9 to 5 or a student with a limited time budget.

For this, I have a solution to design packets of semi-cooked biryani ingredients ready to be put together and cooked in few minutes in a microwave: a fresh meal, not a re-heated frozen one.

This sounds like a great business idea, fingers are crossed, and hopefully, you will be able to taste my biryani soon!

N E E V R A P A D I N R O H AUT

Writing Letters ‘with love’…

I don’t think any of us write letters anymore.

With all this technology, it’s only a few taps to send our thoughts on their way. We are sharing our lives with a larger audience these days, constantly posting on our social media feeds and stories. I am not saying this is a bad thing, there are lots of positives, including the fast exchange of information and keeping in contact with family and friends. However, amongst technological growth, re-discovering the connection and benefits of writing letters has upturned my life.

I was reintroduced to the world of letter writing a few months ago when I received a surprise letter from my dear friend Jake; with whom I have been connected via social media for over 3 years. Jake is from Florida in the United States, so we message each other and FaceTime occasionally. However, when I received his letter, it was just transcendent. I can’t craft a coherent sentence that can describe the feeling, but I was so overwhelmed. I stood in my bedroom, staring at the envelope in my hands. It’s just so strange to think that I could be holding something that he also held. Although we have had a long-term online friendship, Jake had always just been a virtual presence, not quite real. But this letter was real.

Inside the envelope a carefully written letter, a one-dollar banknote, and the scent of cologne that he had lightly sprayed upon the page. I can remember almost everything he wrote in the letter from ‘Hi Nik,’ to his farewell, ‘From Florida, with love, Jake”. The distinctive personal voice, the small precise handwriting, the earthy smell of cologne, all shaped a very real person within my mind. A person that I had not been able to know through text on a screen.

When I say I was ‘reintroduced’ to letter writing…I did use to write letters, but only to my grandmother, and not very often. They were just undeveloped thoughts of an 8-yearold, scribbled down onto a piece of paper. Jake’s letter made me realise that there are more elements to letter writing. So, in my return letter, I lightly sprayed the page with a cologne I wear, included a couple of photographs I had taken, and a Spotify scan-code of a song that I enjoy.

You see, writing letters doesn’t just have to be about writing letters…it’s about creating an experience for the receiver; because digital communication just doesn’t possess the same authenticity and personality that handwritten letters radiate. It reminds me of a sentence Jake penned in his first letter, “I love to say I hate the internet and technology…”, (which he does), “…but the problem is the opposite; I think I enjoy the internet a little too much.” It’s true, we use technology to communicate so often, it may feel bizarre writing a letter; I know I felt that way when I wrote Jake back. I guess my point is that there’s just something surreal about sitting down and writing out your thoughts with a pencil, rather than communicating through technology, which I feel is so impersonal and detached with screen taps and keyboard clicks.

I understand that many see writing letters as a waste of time and energy. But I find myself experiencing many benefits since I have started writing letters again. There’s a sort of self-reflection required when crafting a letter, you tend to look back on your experiences and emotions. I often write about what has gone well for me recently, and what has also gone terribly. Writing these experiences in letters allows me to process my feelings, allowing me to regulate my emotions. I include dates and events that I am looking forward to in the future.

Reflecting on good experiences and having something to look forward to allows me to stay positive. Having something to look forward to is a huge aspect of life for me.

I have countdowns on my phone for music releases, concerts, birthdays, and a range of other assorted events.

Now, while it may appear to be a downside that letters seem to take anywhere between 10-30 days to reach the United States; and the same back to Australia, this is what builds anticipation. All month I can’t wait to receive a letter from Jake, and I also cannot wait for mine to reach the US. Looking forward to something that makes day-to-day life just that little bit brighter. In short, I have found that writing letters have had a significantly positive impact on my well-being.

So how can you start writing letters?

If you don’t have a relative or friend from overseas, there are so many online services where you can find a pen-pal to begin your letter-writing experience. I would recommend penpalworld and globalpenfriends. It’s easier to write freely without feeling criticised since they are a stranger. Take advantage of being able to write your thoughts and have an outlet for your emotions…at $3.30 for an international postage stamp, it’s the cheapest therapy around. Trust me when I say handwritten letters are cherished. My letters from Jake are kept in a special box within my room, while my emails stew in my inbox. So, get writing, and don’t forget…make it an experience.

‘With love’, Nik

NIK BAUMANIS INTJ. I LOVE LONG WALKS TO THE FRIDGE… BUT CANNOT REACH THE TOP SHELF. PASSIONATE WRITER, VIDEOGRAPHER, AND PASTA EATER. ASHAMED HOUSE-PLANT KILLER. “DREAMING DOESN’T COME CHEAPLY”.

AUTHOR SERENA KNOPPER

THE ADVANTAGES OF WATCHING MEN’S SOCCER AS A FEMALE Soccer. Oh, how I love it!! Here we are going to talk about the experiences that people have and what skills players may lack when going from indoor to outdoor soccer. My experience with soccer started with playing rebound indoors, but once I came to college, I started playing outdoor soccer and it was great. I was on a team called the Watagan Wolves which was a mixed team consisting of five boys and two or three girls, depending on whether we found enough girls that wanted to play as subtitutes (subs). As we played each game, we learned to play as a team, which you need in any sport if you want to win. It was coming to the end of the comp; we were in fourth place and wanted to win.

First, we took out the third team, then second, and then we were versing the team who were in first place. The final game was a close one. First, they would score then we would score. When the final whistle blew, it was a draw and we had to go for a penalty shootout. This is where each keeper would have to save goals from five of the other team's players. It was tense but the final score was 4-2 making us the champions of the competition.

From my experiences with outdoor soccer, I realised that I was lacking fitness and knowledge regarding the differences from indoor to outdoor soccer. The space was bigger which meant more running and for someone with asthma, it was harder than normal. But then again it was a chance to build my stamina.

When I was playing indoors, I learned a lot of skills from my brothers whom I looked up to as skilled players. But now it was time to move on and learn from those with more experience as outdoor soccer players.

You may think when watching local women’s and men’s soccer that it is the same. Yes, men may have more stamina, but women work well as a team to win. From what I have seen, men do not usually work together to get the ball up to the goal. They either hog the ball, or lose it, or just kick the ball up the field giving it to the other team. Women use their teammates to get the ball up passing it to a girl that is open and not getting marked, or they do quick short passes.

That is playing on the field, but what about when training?

When training with men you do a lot of fitness training, working on possession and practicing shooting. This gives them the stamina they need to run the full field, which has a standard length of 90-120 metres and a standard width of 45-90 mts. It also teaches them to be able to control the ball when it has been passed to them. How is women’s training any different? They are not much different. Women also do possession training, shooting training, and fitness training just the same as men’s training. What I find to be different is that women focus on rhythm with the ball and their team, giving more direct passes allowing them to work better as a team. When they are rhythm training, they practice just touching the ball and doing this in circles but not moving it. This is to strengthen their control of the ball.

Another way to control the ball is coordination training. This is moving the ball from one foot to the other, either in the one spot or by dribbling the ball up the field. Controlling the ball, I would say is one of the most important techniques to do. Being able to run with the ball without losing it is essential.

From women watching men’s soccer games and training they can learn that teamwork is essential to win and that having that bond between each player makes them flow like a team. Some other things that women can take from men’s training is that being cocky is not everything. When the men have a small game within the team for training you will see that each player will hog the ball or take a shot on goals when there are other teammates in a better position to take the shot.

Women can critique the techniques and lack of teamwork of men’s training and adjust their own training to increase their skills and control of the ball. I believe that female players work as hard as male players to get better and more coordinated on the field. Men and women's soccer at an unprofessional level is very similar, but women work harder to challenge themselves to be better, thereby making women a bit more aggressive on the field than men. Yet they all have fun, and I think to have a good game you must enjoy yourself and have fun playing.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

TEEN WOLF Developed by the same mastermind who created Criminal Minds, Jeff Davis has created the TV show Teen Wolf. Loosely based on the 1985 film with the same name, the show follows the story of Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), a no-name high school student who was bitten by a werewolf and has his life changed forever. He tries to keep his identity a secret, however his best friend Stiles Stilinski (Dylan O’Brien) stays by Scott’s side, helping him through the changes of his life and body.

In this blog post, I’ll be going through all the seasons, debriefing them, and giving my opinion on everything within in the show. I’ll also be ranking each season of the show, with Omega being the lowest, Beta being in-between and Alpha being my top and favourite seasons.

Starting off with Season 1, the season where it all started. The first season was very decent, compared to a lot of first seasons with other shows. It follows the life of Scott McCall, after he was bitten by a werewolf in the woods. He lives his life alongside his best friend Stiles, who helps him through all these changes, while also being there for him when he falls in love with Allison Argent (Crystal Reed). The enjoyable moment of this season is the mysterious journey of finding out who the big bad alpha werewolf is that bit Scott at the beginning. It turns out the alpha is Peter Hale (Ian Bohen), who’s nephew, Derek, (Tyler Hoechlin), stalks Scott for a while, making sure he keeps his identity hidden. This first season is always a comfort season of mine, hence why I’m going to give it a Beta rating.

Season 2 is also a top-notch season. This time, we’re introduced to a weird lizard creature, called a Kanima, which we find out to be Jackson Whittemore (Colton Haynes). This season is also a fight against the werewolves and werewolf hunters, which is led by Chris Argent (J.R Bourne), Allison’s father, and Gerard Argent (Michael Hogan), Allison’s grandfather. Scott gains more control of his abilities as he tracks down the kanima, but also must compete with Derek’s new pack, consisting of Isaac Lahey (Daniel Sharman), Erica Reyes (Gage Golightly) and Vernon Boyd (Sinqua Walls). Lydia Martin (Holland Roden) also becomes a key character, with her experiencing some interesting scenarios after she was bitten by Peter last season; however, she didn’t turn into a werewolf. This season is messy in a way, but I love it. I’m also giving it a Beta rating.

Season 3 is the best season of Teen Wolf. It’s the first of the show to be split into two. Season 3A follows the story of an Alpha Pack, led by the demon wolf, Deucalion (Gideon Emery). Him and his pack try several different ways to get Derek into his pack, but also try to lure Scott in. In 3A, the supernatural creatures of Beacon Hills are also up against an evil druid, known as the Darach, who turns out to be the innocent English Teacher, Jennifer Blake (Hayley Webb). After the events of season 3A, we move into 3B where it really picks up. Due to incidents where Allison, Scott and Stiles almost died to find out information on their parents, they start to hallucinate, sleepwalk and the inability to read.

Stiles ends up being possessed by an evil nogitsune, and this season is focused on Scott and his pack trying to help the real Stiles, while having to fight Void Stiles. It sounds intense and a bit whack but trust me, if you want to see an evil looking Dylan O’Brien with Japanese ninjas, this season is for you. If I could rate is higher than Omega, I would because it deserves that high of a rating.

Season 4. Another of my favourite seasons. However, it is messy. We go from the character that is The Benefactor, (which, after several times of rewatching, I still don’t understand the plotline of this part), to the return of Kate Argent (Jill Wagner) as a were jaguar, to the evolution of Derek who can now transform into a real wolf, to Scott being taken away to Mexico. It’s a mess. But I love it. The new kid at Beacon Hills, Liam Dunbar (Dylan Sprayberry), is caught in a situation where he is almost killed, until Scott rescues him but bites him in the process, turning Liam into a werewolf. As an angry teenager, becoming a werewolf was most definitely not the best thing for him, but I love him as a character, and his best friend Mason (Khylin Rambo) too. Though it’s messy and confusing to me, I love it all the same. An Alpha rating from me.

Season 5 and 6 of the show I don’t really remember. I was too caught up in the fact that the show was ending, but also, I did not enjoy the plot for these seasons. Season 5 involves chimeras and Dread Doctors, which are creating these chimeras and reeking chaos in Beacon Hills. Theo Raeken (Cody Christian) tries his best to get into Scott’s pack, but he seems incredibly suspicious, and Stiles doesn’t trust him.

That is all I can remember from Season 5, and it has 20 episodes. That’s saying a lot, surely. Season 6, I have no clue of what happens. I think there’s something along the lines of a Ghost Hunt, where Peter Hale and Stiles get taken. As well as some creature that if you look at them, you turn to dust.

I’ve watched season 5 and 6 probably 3-4 times now, and I still cannot recall what’s going on. This is the downfall of Teen Wolf, and I must rank them an Omega. Both. Do better Jeff Davis.

Though Teen Wolf had its many ups and downs, it’s my favourite show of all time. The acting can be a bit crappy, as can the CGI and editing, but I love it, nonetheless. No matter how much I get criticised for watching this show, no matter how many times I watch it, I’ll never get bored of it. So, if you’re looking for a show that’s funny, sad, keeps you intrigued, makes you question some things, and love the supernatural genre or werewolves, this show is for you. Give it a crack, and if you don’t like it, try again a few months later because you’re bound to love it eventually. I know I did.

AUTHOR STACIE WHITAKK I’m Stacie Whittaker, I’m 20-years-old, and I’m a first-year student, studying Secondary Teaching at Avondale University College. Some activities and hobbies that I enjoy is being around animals, playing video games, singing, serving in Church and am an avid lover of puzzles. I also love bingeing TV shows, and my favourite genres include the supernatural and fantasy kind, as well as crime shows.

MY AUSSIE FARMER DREAM When my husband and I moved to Australia 13 years ago, we could not help ourselves wander around the little block we dwelt in every day and gazed at the beautiful gardens and all the fantastic plants from every household. The sky felt so close to us, and the smell of the flowers and the soil is so fragrant. All these revived me and reminded me of my childhood memories, and I can not wait to explore more about beautiful Aussie nature.

Guess what my subsequent favourite Aussie activities are? You are quite right there - to visit all different kinds of Aussie farms! Cherry-picking is the top one on the list. Who can resist the freshly picked sweet and sour crunchy cherries right from the tree? We had toured around Melbourne and tried different varieties of cherries from many farms. We also learned that cherry is not an easy tree to grow and look after, and many cherry farms are massive investments. Apart from cherry, many fruit farms offer a wide range of different fruit picking options, including strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, and apples.

Chestnut picking was another fun activity. I didn't realise that the chocolate-like chestnuts were all wrapped in spiky husks called burr, and we all had to wear handyman mitten to pick the spiny husks and then open and get the nut out of the shell. Although, you do need to be more patient with chestnut picking because you will not be able to eat the nuts straight away, but rather, wait until you get home, and roast the nuts with the oven, and spend a beautiful night cracking and enjoying the soft and starchy texture. This beautiful natural produce and the fun at the farm have stimulated my love of growing food.

I have finally waited until the day that we had two veggie patches in our new place. From a very economical starter grower point of view, I chose to grow vegetables that are either easy to maintain or expensive to buy. So here we go; our first batch of veggies is spring onion because I can chop the root with a small amount of stem and then put the root into the dirt. Then just water now and then, and the root will yield another spring onion in only 1-2 weeks. Since spring onion is the vegetable that we often use for cooking, that saves a lot of time that I can easily pick from the veggie patch when we ran out.

Our next vegetable to grow are Chinese chives. It looks like grass, but they are great for making dumplings with a unique fragrance. It is rare to see Chinese chives from any major supermarket chains, and only occasionally from Asian grocery shops can I get them to make yummy dumplings. Therefore, I searched for the seedlings online and then eventually be able to grow them at home.

We have soon discovered a community veggie garden within walking distance from our home. One of our neighbours showed us her veggie patch and even shared some of her harvest with us. We had a visit to her patch, and for us, that is a massive size! It is about 50-60 square metre. We were unsure whether we have enough time to attend such a big piece of land, but regardless, we put our name down to the committee. We almost forgot about it until a notice came through during the second lockdown in Victoria. What a blessing after three years' waiting period! However, it is not as easy as we thought! Our first enemy was the thick and fast-grown weeds. We spent a good two months getting rid of the weeds. Some of the patch owners welcomed us and shared their experiences to clear the bulbs underneath the weeds, which solves the problem.

Our strategy was to subdivide the patch into five pieces and work on it one by one.

Immediately after we cleared the first block, I bought wombok seedling from bunnings and grew the seedlings on the soil. It looks like that we are on the winning side in this race with weeds. So I started to try something different for the second block, and then I bought some winter seedlings, including some veggies that I do not get to see much from the supermarket — _these including purple carrot, purple pak choi, rainbow kales, etc.

My journey to becoming an Aussie farmer is still a long way away, watch this space, and I look forward to sharing with you more.

Author TingTing (Tiana) Song

Growing up I’ve always been the one out of all my sisters to be the most girly, I’ve always been the one who everyone is waiting on to get ready, I’ve always been the one who put the most amount of attention and effort into getting ready. With all that time and effort, you would hope that I’d at least find something to make the whole process a lot easier or maybe even faster, whilst I quite haven’t gotten to the whole faster thing, I have developed some handy and useful tips that will definitely be helpful to the getting ready routine. I have developed a curling routine so great that you don’t even need hairspray. *disclaimer the more texture your hair has the better the results* You’ll need 4 things: · Hairbrush · Curling wand · a clip or hair tie · hair oil

THE PERFECT CURL AUTHOR AKANESI FOLAU

Method: 1. Freshly washed hair is ok but for the best results always use day two hair 2. If you have naturally straight hair after you wash your hair plat it and then brush it out the next day 3. Start off first by sectioning off your hair, based on the look you are going for is what will determine the size of the section. So, for more beachy waves the thicker the sections the nicer it will turn out but for tighter curls the smaller the section the nicer it would look.

4. For this step from your section grab a piece of hair and curl it away from the face, some people prefer to curl towards the face, however it’s just my personal preference so do you.

5. After each section place a 20c sized amount of oil in your hands and gently run your hands through the curls. This just helps to make the curls look a bit more natural and a lot more difficult to fall out 6. Repeat step 5 throughout the whole head, it’s tedious but it works.

7. Once all the hair has been curled and you have finished step 5, flip your hair up and down 3 times just to break up any static curls that could still be in place 8. Grab your oil and do one final run through and then watch how well the curls stay.

I have been using these tricks for 3 years and it has not let me down once. Try it out - I’d love to see how it works for you.

Your Country Road to Happiness Your environment effects your happiness. The sounds you hear, the things you see and the food you eat.

Now imagine spending your entire life in the big smoke, sin city, the concrete jungle! (None of these alias' sound attractive at all, I know).

Imagine the sounds you would hear daily: "Honk", "Beep", "F#cking cyclists!". The things you would see: thousands of people on a 2 metre wide footpath, smoke covering the sky, cyclists being abused. The food that would be regularly available: hotdogs, pies, food eaten by cyclists.

But seriously, that scenario to me is about as delightful as the scene in The Lion King when Mufasa dies.

Now I know everybody is different and everybody has feelings these days, but I am here to tell you that for me, the best place to be is a good ole country town!

Picture the blue skies, actual natural clouds, the green grass and although your neighbours would be the down to earth, humble as pie country folk, even they will be stationed miles away from you across the paddocks and the dams....ah what a life.

Now I am not saying that the country life is for everyone, so I am challenging you to give it a try. Book an overnight cottage to test it out! If you still want to be close to the city, there are plenty of country-esque towns not too far away.

Just take the risk, breathe in the fresh clean air and watch your happiness rise!

Because there's no better place than the country.

Author Kye Maurirere

Frugal Fashion and Fantastic Fabrics WHY YOU SHOULD START WEARING NATURAL FABRICS Let me be upfront. You are currently reading a fashion blog post written by a selfproclaimed unfashionable person. When it comes to clothes, I care far more about comfort and cost than I do about aesthetics. But natural fabrics excel in all of these areas. So if you’re looking to save money, keep reading! And if you’re here for style advice, you might be pleasantly surprised.

A year ago, I walked into a very stylish friend’s bedroom. She is an avid wearer of natural fibres. I asked her to guide me through her wardrobe. She showed me each piece of clothing she owned and told me a little about the items.

I was impressed with the quality of her apparel, but I had never spent that much money on clothing! She was paying anywhere from $40 to $200 for simple pieces.

While I had been scouring Kmart for the cheapest clothes, she had been treating every purchase like an investment – and it had paid off! But don’t stop reading. This is not one of those blogs where I tell you that it’s reasonable to pay $50 for a nice Tshirt.

You might be thinking, ‘What’s all the fuss about these natural fabrics?’ Well, my friend, you’ve come to the right place. Natural fabrics are any materials that come from natural sources such as animals and plants. They’re comfortable, good value for money, and they happen to look great!

Reason 1: Comfort Some of my favourite natural fabrics include: Linen Breathable and lightweight, linen has been used for thousands of years for a reason! It doesn’t just endure history; each piece will endure your life. Throwing out thinning clothes is not a way to live. Buy an item made from linen, and it will last for years!

Wool Finding a good coat or jumper is a struggle. Some clothes look like they’re warm but really aren’t. To compensate, we layer and end up in a cold sweat. Are you worried about winter fashion? Never fear, wool is here! Fleece is warm and breathable so that you won’t sweat or freeze!

Silk Ready to get fancy? Meet my favourite fabric: silk. Lightweight and warm, durable and breathable, and oh-so-soft. (One might even say silky.) You might think that your rayon satin dress is smooth; compare it to a genuine silk garment and think again. This hypoallergenic fabric drapes beautifully to create ridiculously luxurious items.

Reason 2: Saving Money I can hear you say: ‘That’s great Alley, but where did frugal fashion go?” Well, there are two things you should know: Tip 1: It’s an investment.

When you start treating clothes like an investment, things become suddenly cheaper. Two years ago, I bought a stack of $3 synthetic T-shirts from Kmart. Now, the t-shirt’s are thin, stretched, and stained by the sun. I don’t wear them anymore.

But a silk top like this one will last for years. Disposable fashion does not sustain your wallet, so choose quality over quantity.

and linen ) p o p e D m o fr 5 ($ p to Silk xx) shorts ($20 from TK Ma

Merino wool k nit ($5 from Vin nies) and Linen skir t ($9 from Salv os)

Tip 2: Look for a lower price.

Buy second hand or wait for a reasonable price. These fabrics are in high demand, so they can be expensive.

Avoid buying clothes brand new! Op shops are a great place to pick up quality items. I found an effortless merino wool top for $5 and an elegant linen skirt for $9 at op shops. What a catch!

If the op-shops around you are a bit pathetic, try op-shopping online! Depop and Facebook Marketplace are great platforms to buy and sell clothes. I snapped up this linen cami from Depop for $15 and this silk skirt from Marketplace for $30. You can dress these classic items up or down.

m Depop) and o fr 0 1 ($ le o is m ca n e in L etplace) silk skirt ($30 from mark Linen shirt ($20 from TK Maxx) and Linen blend pants ($1 5 from Ally Fash ion) If you prefer brand new, things are a little trickier, but there is hope. TK Maxx is my goto shop, but other stores also stock natural fabrics. I bought this white blouse from TK Maxx for $20 and these neutral linen pants from Ally Fashion on sale for $15. This makes for a comfortable yet professional work outfit.

This post set out to be a money-saving life hack, not a style guide. But hopefully, you can see the versatility and style that come with natural fabrics. Buy clothes made from natural fibres. Remember, it’s an investment in your wardrobe and your bank account.

Happy Shopping!

Author Alley Tiller

Why you should love analogue photography Film is not dead. In fact, it is alive and doing very well. Before you think I am talking about movies, I am not, I am rather talking about my favourite form of photography: Film Photography. The original medium of photography which captures images on a range of 35mm or 120mm film negative strips. It was once a ‘dying’ community, but in recent years it has begun to flourish again, and that couldn’t make me happier.

Now you may have seen every millennial and Gen Z person ever these days holding a camera and posting photos to their social media accounts with the hashtag ‘#35mm’. This does not mean what you might think it means. It is not the focal length of the lens they took the image on – although that is a very reasonable guess -, it is the format of the film they have used in their camera. The look of film images is vastly sought after by many creatives. The colours, grain and exposure that are captured in film photos are widely copied by photographers and creatives in their editing styles and by photography apps offering presets and filters so that people can give their images that vintage look. While these are great for making you achieve that film look, an image taken on your iPhone with a preset slapped on it does not compare to real thing. Your relatives may have their old cameras lying around the house, and I hope by the end of this you are snatching those cameras up, buying a roll of film and giving it a go yourself.

Why film? It is a slower and more conscious form of photography.

The range of exposures per film roll vary from 10-36 frames, making you limited in your shooting. It slows you down as a photographer, makes you think about what you are shooting and how you are going to shoot it. It is a habit that is lost in the world of digital photography. Generally, most photographers will take multiple shots of a subject and narrow it down one or two images in post (editing). From my experience as a photographer, this does come in handy when shooting a wedding, for example, when you need to make sure that you have a certain number of images.

But since I started using and shooting on film my creativity and ‘eye’ as a photographer has drastically changed because you need to be careful with what you shoot due to the cost of buying and developing film, and the limited number of exposures. I find myself stopping and observing a scene and finding what would create a good image instead of just taking a million photos of one thing. In the long run, it saves you a lot of time in post and makes you more conscious of what you are taking photos of. This makes you a better photographer.

Using an analogue camera involves you in every process of taking an image, particularly if you are using an SLR camera that is manual. Film rolls are set to a specific ISO, so after loading it into the camera you will need to set your camera settings to match the film speed. Your shutter speed and your aperture will also need to be set to capture a well exposed image. Those three settings are integral in photography.

I became a better photographer once I started shooting film. I understood how a camera actually worked and was able to capture better images on my digital camera.

Whilst film photography is niche and costs a lot, it is so incredibly rewarding. Once the roll is finished you then send it to a lab where they develop it. This is my favourite part. Walking into your local camera shop and picking up your photos, an act that is utterly lost in today’s digital era. Looking over your images after waiting to see them from anywhere up to a week – depending on the developing and processing at your lab – is so rewarding. To physically hold and look at the images you took and see your mistakes and what you did correctly helps you grow as a photographer.

Film is unpredictable, but that is the beautiful thing about it. You never know what shots you have gotten and what they look like until you get your film developed. Sometimes there are shots you do not remember taking that come out perfectly. Occasionally, there are light leaks, which, “yes dad I know they ruin the photo!”, but they are reminiscent of times where things were not perfect, and we did not have total control over everything. That is why I love shooting 35mm film, for the uncertainty, for the slowness, for the creativity. Nothing compares to it. If you ever find an old camera lying around your parent’s house or at the local thrift shop, take it, buy it! Go buy some film and head out and shoot. Give film a go. You might just find your new love of photography, or it might rekindle your old love of it.

AUTHOR BAILEE MCLEOD BAILEE IS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT MAJORING IN ENGLISH AND VISUAL ARTS, WHO IS ‘NO, NOT DOING TEACHING!’(AND YES, SHE’S CONSIDERED IT). IF SHE IS NOT DOING YOGA OR DRINKING COFFEE, SHE WILL BE AT THE BEACH WITH A GOOD BOOK OR LISTENING TO THE LUMINEERS ON HER WAY TO THE SHOPS.

Compost Crazy

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO COMPOSTING As an environmentally conscious individual and avid gardener, composting has become both a hobby and a unique passion of mine.

Composting food scraps at home is both simple and highly beneficial to the garden, nourishing both its soil and the environment in which our plants grow (Fredrico, 2020). Providing nourishment to the soil almost guarantees healthier plants and more delicious produce for the dinner table.

As a composting beginner, you may be wondering what composting is, were to start, and what you’ll need to make your venture a success - read on!

Firstly, what is composting?

Composting is the process of recycling organic waste such as leftover food scraps and plant matter, providing an ideal location for them to decompose (NRDC, 2020). The decomposed matter often ends up looking quite similar to regular soil, and is rich in nutrients which are highly beneficial to plants. This ‘garden soil’ type matter is then placed into the garden bed as a mulch, or liquid fertiliser, and is absorbed by plants.

This leads on to the how, how do you compost?

To begin creating your own composting system you will need: A composting container – these may be purchased from stores such as Bunnings Warehouse, or alternatively, you may opt to use a plastic bin.

Appropriate site – place your compost bin in a shady area outside. This will prevent your compost from drying out, and ventilation from the somewhat distinct smell of decomposing foods.

Layering – Begin with a layer of thick materials such as mulch or small sticks. These operate as a drainage point for any liquids. Next, place garden clippings and kitchen scraps into the compost container. This should be followed by dry leaves and wet paper. It is important that each layer be kept moist – as such a watering can may be used to wet each layer as it is completed. This process can be repeated until the compost container is filled. Once filled, sprinkle a thick coating of soil over the top of your compost heap. This is extremely useful in reducing odours produced by decomposing matter.

What to Compost: Composting is a fabulous way to minimise waste, giving new purpose to fridge and pantry items that have gone too far past their use by date. Keeping a container in your kitchen to collect scraps to add to your compost bin provides a useful reminder. These items can be added to your compost as they build up. Collect the following food-scrap and yard materials to start your compost off right: · Fruit and Vegetable scraps · Egg shells (may take some time to break down) · Coffee grounds · Dead flowers · Used vegetable cooking oil · Newspaper · Sawdust · Leaves · Grass clippings · Straw What NOT to compost: The following items are to be avoided as they may cause more harm than good both in your compost bin and garden. From upsetting eco systems to attracting animals and pests, the following items wreak havoc and should be avoided: · Dog and cat faeces · Weeds that go to seed – these will thrive in your compost! · Dairy products · Meats · Oil · Fats · Grease · Metals, glass, and plastics · Charcoal

Now that you are ‘in the know’ about compost container creation and the benefits they can produce for your garden, it is important to address the ongoing maintenance of your ‘miracle making’ decomposition bin.

Maintaining your compost: It is vital that you keep your compost well aerated and ventilated. This will prevent unpleasant odours and the production of methane (Better Homes and Gardens, 2020). You may wish to shuffle your compost heap weekly, using a fork, or to place garden stakes through the container to allow an appropriate flow of air and to aid in the ‘break down’ process (LEDUC, 2021). When adding in new layers, be sure to mix them with the lower layers as they will then begin the process of breaking down much faster!

Your compost heap will take anywhere from a six week to six month period to become a rich soil, and may then be applied to your garden! Finished compost will be crumbly, dark and have a somewhat earthy smell.

I hope you’ve been inspired to take on my passion for reducing waste and nourishing soil and would encourage you once again to embark on your own composting journey.

Happy composting!

AUTHOR CARLIE KERR

EVERYTHING IS A WAVE I really enjoy synthesizers.Yes, to the nonmusician this might seem like quite a nerdy thing, and to you I say yes, it is, and I am a nerd so deal with it. I just find it so fascinating how majority of the sounds you’ll hear in today’s music will, at least at a basic level, comprise of four waveforms: sine, triangle, sawtooth, and square wave. Yes, the last time you heard or read the word ‘sine’ was in high school maths, so I’ll put it in simple terms; smooth squiggle, pointy squiggle, slantedpointy squiggle, and blocky squiggle, which on a screen, will have the appearance of a house antenna.

Now synthesizers can be found in a variety of different instruments. Though this is mostly a keyboard, they can also be modular or software.What the heck is modular?

Well, it’s exactly what you might think, basically a bunch of electronic boxes with plugs, and you plug those into other boxes, then repeat that several times until you eventually plug into a speaker and viola, you have made a sound.Obviously, there is more to it than that, which I will go through as simply as possible.

Modular Synthesizers, and general explanations of how synthesizers work So first of all, there needs to be a source for the sound, this can either be played from a keyboard or generated from a wave generator module. It is from these that you can choose either wave as mentioned previously, and it is from here that things can get complicated and confusing.

These waveforms are formally known as ‘oscillators’, and you can use one or many.

Most synthesizers from keyboards or software will usually allow one, two or three, but with modular synths, you can use as many as your bank account allows. Once you have your sound with as many or little oscillators as your ears desire, it’s time to add some effects, and a great deal of confusion to the non-synth nerd.

Giant modular Synth

One common effect is a ‘detuner’, which changes the pitch of the oscillator through cents (a cent being a 100th of a semitone). This can be set to an absolute value, or you can apply another oscillator to the value.Now the time has come for me to explain what I mean by “Everything is a wave” to the non-synth nerd. Every effect, every slider, every knob can either have an absolute value, or an oscillator applied to that value. For example, one could plug a sinewave oscillator to the detuner’s amount, and its value will increase and decrease with the sinewave’s rise and fall, then you could plug another oscillator into that oscillator’s rate, and then the speed of the detune will match the newly added oscillator’s rise and fall… You could repeat this process with as many oscillators as you own, and apply them to all other effects, which is why this can get confusing and why most images of modular synths are usually bombarded with colourful cables all over the place. Keep in mind that this is just for one effect, where you could have many more.

Though modular synths are probably the most fun to play with, they unfortunately aren’t used that much in music production and can cost as much as a new car.

Therefore, most musicians will likely only ever use keyboards or software synths.

Simple modular synthesizer with visible modules Hardware and Software Modular synths are hardware, it’s true, however I am referring to the more widely used hardware synthesizers.What I mean by hardware are keyboard synths like the Moog subsequent or Arturia Polybrute, which are compatible with modular synths, but are limited on their own. I started with modular synths as these best visually explain the inner workings of a synth and offer a greater deal of freedom. This is largely because you can pick and choose what effects you want and where to route them, where with other hardware or software synths there are limitations. The biggest limitations of hardware synths are the cost: they can cost anywhere from $2k to $25k and beyond (keep in mind this price is just for the base synth; you can still add on other modules or even software synths, further increasing the price). For example, the Moog Subsequent 25 is a ~$1500 synth with many features and knobs; however, what you see is what you get, as opposed to software which provides more options. A benefit of using a hardware synth is that the various brands have their own unique sounds, largely due to the way they’re manufactured. This of course means that there are incredibly rare and incredibly pricey hardware synthesizers out there, and this is because of their unique sounds which cannot be perfectly replicated.

Moog Subsequent 37

Arturia Polybrute

Software synths are a cheaper option, though these too have limitations. The biggest pro of software synths are their cost, and yes, this is also considering the computing power needed. One of the top software synths is Omnisphere, which is a sound library with many options regarding sound design. This program costs $500, and comes with thousands of sound pre-sets, something a hardware synth cannot compare with in terms of price to features.Yes, to run Omnisphere effectively, you will need a powerful CPU (also necessary to run programs such as Ableton), though you can pick up laptops or desktops with good intel or AMD CPUs between $2k and $4k, and considering the vast alternate uses of a computer, it is well worth the price.

A major negative of software synths is that they are virtual. Who knew? Seriously though, it is much more enjoyable to physically turn knobs and move sliders than to do all that with a mouse, at least in my humble opinion.Although they are cheaper and more portable, computers can be unreliable at times, especially laptops, and if the CPU can’t handle the load, it will severely distort the sound.

Omnisphere

Ableton

Regardless of this, I personally prefer to use software synths, though this migh have something to do with being a broke uni student who cannot afford a wall keyboards…

So…This has been my explanation of synthesizers, how they work, and what the pricing looks like. They are a lot of fun, but like most hobbies, can get very expensive very quickly, which is why I encourage everyone to do their research before buying and understand exactly what it is you’re getting into.Also for tho who are curious, I use Ableton live with an Arturia Keylab 88 Mk II and an Artur Keylab Essentials 49 midi controller, so I may be biased towards software synths little..

My Arturia Keylab 88 MkII and Essentials 49 with laptop running Ableton

Author Joshua Ibbott

CS

C I H E L H

A mini Tour OF A BEAUTIFUL MINIATURE ANIMAL KINGDOM

There isn’t much not to love about Schleich toys, with their extensive range of unique, quality and hand-painted animal figurines that I have collected since I was a child. They have stretched far across the world, exciting both children and adults alike. Now how on earth does one say the word “Schleich”? It is a made-up German word which is pronounced “Sh-like”, their slogan is “I like Schleich” for this reason. However, because my mum always said it as “Schlek” I am still in the habit of pronouncing it this way. Schleich started in 1935 in Germany and was producing toys in 1946, it has grown drastically since then.

Schleich stands out in the crowd because they pay so much attention to creating safe products for children to play with and the detail put into each figurine is truly awe-inspiring, it’s what has held my fascination for the company for so long. They separate their figurines into 7 different categories, there’s Wildlife, Farm World, Horse Club, Bayala (fantasy fairy world), Dinosaurs, Eldrador Creatures (mythology creatures) and The Smurfs. My collection consists mainly of Wildlife, Farm World and Dinosaurs with the exception of a unicorn (classified as part of the Bayala category) that I received from a relative. My obsession with Schleich has lasted my whole life, resulting in a now quite staggering collection of the products they sell. I have accumulated a total of 224 figurines, which now line the shelves of my room.

This little rascal here is often the culprit for knocking over my meticulously placed figurines.

I even have tags I wrote out for each animal displaying their name, category, year made and what number they were in the collection. Upon calculating roughly how much my collection was worth once, I found that it was as much as $2,700 in total, while their product is not overly cheap, they are very high quality and take a lot of bashing for them to break or chip paint. Little Ashlee was not always kind to her animals, however.

I would spend countless Saturday afternoons playing with them, organising them and ticking off which ones I had in the Schleich catalogues and finding which ones I needed to complete animal families. I often took them outside with me and spent hours making up prey and predator wars and the like, it was a great escape for me. I would wait in great anticipation for new figurines to be released each year, especially the more unique creatures that would be limited edition. Older figurines time out quickly so getting in fast before they are ‘retired’ was the best way to go about staying on top of collecting them.

This toy really made my childhood special as I was a nerd for animals and these figurines are likely what sparked this passion. I could spend hours talking about the unique stories I have for how I got each animal and how some came from as far as Germany back with my Dad. A new tradition for my family is to get me a new Schleich animal each time I am away from home for an extended period of time and then hide it in my collection until I realise there is a new one amongst them. I can only hope that this time I come back from College there will be a new little figurine waiting for me to find! You can find your favourite animals and start your own unique collection at https://www.schleichs.com/en/US/new.html .

A

EURGU

R O U H T

H S A S

BOURKE LOVE AND

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WHY

GOING YOU

I

THERE,

DON

’T.

At 13 years old, my uncle invited me to this far off mystery land where there is absolutely nothing but red dirt and weird, creepy creatures. I was hesitant at first, thinking about how if I hated it there, I would be trapped with no way home. Luckily, I took the risk and ever since this decision, my life was changed forever.

Bourke. To me, it is a place of freedom and fun. But this holiday isn’t for everyone. This 150-acre farm is a long 10-hour drive away. The isolation is what makes this place so special. It’s far from others; and very far from normal life. Dust is a huge part of this landscape; it gets in and all over everything. It is not easy to keep clean. The shower water comes straight from the river and this means that its often dirty, especially when the river is running as the dirt is stirred up through all the water. I have often gone there and showered in this murky water inside the old outdoor bathroom filled with many spiders. Due to this, wipes are necessary before we go to bed and as a girl with long hair, brushes are almost useless, and you may as well keep your hair in a bun the whole time. It is not uncommon for all the girls to cut their hair before we leave, so it is easier to maintain.

The toilets are very limited, and you have to go without one when you leave the campsite. This means finding the perfect hidden tree with the toilet paper that gets packed into our day packs. If forgotten, you best believe that you will be finding a cleanish leaf to use. Despite the availability of a toilet at the campsite, there is only one, so do not wait till you are busting as you may not make it if there’s a line. The toilet also presents the fear of frogs jumping up and landing on your ‘you know what’. Everyone treats it like a game, checking inside the bowl every five seconds and going as fast as you possibly can. Fun!

At Bourke, we do not spend time inside except for when we sleep, often because most of us don’t actually have an ‘inside’. When I go, I sleep in a small one-person swag. It’s the perfect size! The way we cook is also very different. A large amount of friends and family come to this wonderful place, and therefore to feed everyone, many people have to help out, meaning that to make dinner one night, 10 people could be cooking. The food is also cooked mainly over a large fire outside, and this can be quite difficult making stove-like coal piles and carrying heavy pots filled boiling hot food around.

The washing up part is definitely the best though; having to clean the dishes of 35 hungry people.

The weather can also get extreme. During the day it gets extremely hot and drops to freezing at night. Additionally, snakes are common. One time I even watched a snake charge at someone and chase them. These animals can be extremely dangerous, and you must be always on the lookout. A hot tip for the curious kids, don’t put your hand in a hole!

One of my favourite things about this holiday is the fact that you cannot use technology. Social media is completely out of the question, all I use my phone for is music and to take photography. Without the distraction of phones, we all talk to each other and have fun outside. You can forget about schoolwork for a while, forget about the problems that are shared over the internet, you are away from the negativity and you lose your addiction to your phone for the two weeks. I find it amusing that the only way that I’m able to contact my parents when I’m out there is to walk 200 metres away from the campsite to the nearest telephone pole and try ringing a couple of time till it goes through. Once you are on the phone call, you cannot move, so there’s no walking around and doing random things while you talk on the phone like everyone seems to do.

Maybe all these factors are a nightmare for you, and sound absolutely dreadful, but for me it is the best holiday ever.

Even the drive is great for me because I get to be excited for 10 hours straight!

At Bourke, I get to say goodbye to the outside world and all the stresses I am going through at the time. It is a break that actually makes me healthier and enhances my wellbeing. I am happier because I’m surround by nature, positivity and people that love me, free from technology, and I am able to do whatever I would like.

We all have our own motorbikes, and these are extremely fun. Not only that, but us kids even have a car that we use. Bourke is where I actually learnt how to drive a car at 13 years old. This place has even provided me with opportunities that many other people would have never gotten.

Overall, the part of Bourke that I will never get tired of is the feeling of freedom. I will never forget the first time going to the dam to watch the sunset. Everyone would drive and park their cars on the wall of the massive dried out dam. We’d stand up on this tall wall of dirt, play music and eat cheese, chips and crackers. Everyone would dance and run around where the water should be, taking photos and being amazed by the sunset view. After the sun went down, me, my sisters and my uncle stood in the back of the ute all the way home. I remember going so fast, closing my eyes and feeling the wind on my face and through my hair. The happy music mixed with being under the extra bright stars made me feel so happy and free. This night made me appreciate life and the amazing things you can do with it.

Bourke may sound like the worst place you could possibly go, and I hope it does. Stay away! That leaves more of the fun for my family and I. I love that many people would never think of coming here. It makes it more special, and we wouldn’t want our 150 acres to get crowded after all.

AUTHOR

EMILY

KIRBY

The author of this blog, Emily Kirby, was born on the 2nd of July 2002 in North Gosford Hospital, and was raised on the Central Coast. She is currently attending Avondale University College studying to become a secondary English teacher. Emily has always been a bit out of the ordinary and this shows through her work. She is obsessed with movies, touch football and music, and also finds writing in 3rd person like this is quite awkward.