NetGalley provided me with the uncorrected proof of Lisa Z. Lindahl’s Unleash the Girls The Untold Story of the Invention of the Sports Bra and How It Changed the World (And Me) in exchange for an honest review.
Lisa Z. Lindahl Unleash the Girls The Untold Story of the Invention of the Sports Bra and How It Changed the World (And Me) BooksGoSocial, 2019.
Lisa Z. Lindahl’s story is inspiring. Not only because of the success of the business she founded from her invention of the Jogbra but for two other powerful reasons. Lindahl has combined her business story with enlightening personal reflections on her epilepsy which influenced her view of herself, and the way in which others saw her. At the same time, we are drawn into a thoroughly engaging debate about the way in which women may take characteristics traditionally considered female successfully – and at times, unfortunately, unsuccessfully – into business. This debate permeates the relationships Lindahl has with her partner, Hindi Schreiber, and her long-term friend, Polly Smith, as well as colouring her attitudes to developments in the business, and the business world. In part the immediacy of these internal and external debates about the ideals associated with women’s relationships, personal and in business in this instance, reflect the period in which Lindahl began her business. Books: Reviews for complete review.
Articles and commentary after the Canberra Covid Report: Cindy Lou celebrates birthdays at Canberra restaurants; Bob McMullan – Green Preferences could decide the results for Independents; Jocelynne Scutt and Women’s Parliament, Cambridge IWD event; Heather Cox Richardson – a short and snappy round up of American political events to March 4.
Covid in Canberra since lockdown
There were 690 new cases reported on 3 March and 39 people in hospital with Covid with two in ICU, but none ventilated. On 4 March the numbers increased slightly to 794, but fewer people are in hospital (35) and two in ICU.
The figures improved for the next two days, with 696 new cases recorded on 5 March; 39 people in hospital and two in ICU. One person was on ventilation. On March 6th, 562 new cases were recorded, with 36 people in hospital, two in ICU, and one ventilated. On 8 March 658 new cases were recorded; 43 people were in hospital with 2 in ICU and ventilated.
Figures rose on 9 March, with 838 new cases recorded. Thirty seven people are in hospital and one is ventilated. Vaccinations are proceeding, with two doses having been given to 5.0% of five to eleven year olds; two doses to those over five – 93.2%; and three doses for those 16+ years, 69.7%.
Cindy Lou celebrates birthdays at Canberra restaurants
We spent a rainy evening in the outside terrace at The Italian Place. Although there is protection, and plenty of attention to ensuring that it works as well as possible, we were a little rain spattered. This could have been avoided if there had not been four of us. Despite the rain, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Bread and oil is on the table as one arrives, and the offer of water was made as soon as we were seated. After that prompt treatment, the service suffered a little, and as we were ordering coffees we were warned about the two hour limit. I was left feeling that staff need to work more efficiently with customers to ensure that the limit can be met without any problems.
Our meals were delicious. The prawns make a wonderful entrée, and the eggplant parmigiana always looks delicious. Unfortunately my plan to have that and the prawns was thwarted by the mouth watering description of the fish. With its crisp skin, succulent flesh, and flavoursome accompaniments, this was a wonderful dish. Tomatoes that tasted home grown made a gorgeous salad beautifully presented with a smooth cheese and basil. The pastas were good, a thick pork neck and fennel ragout, and a seafood with squid linguine pleased my friends.
Eighty Six
86 has been one of my favourite restaurants for the past few years. A very welcome recommendation from my daughter has more than surpassed expectations. The staff are friendly, well informed and efficient. They know their menu, and I am always grateful that requests for my Orange Blossom, no longer on the drinks menu, are always met pleasantly. I always get my favourite drink.
The menu is particularly good for my tastes at the moment. I can always find four share dishes to enjoy, but choices were abundant on this occasion. Fortunately we were seated at a table that gives one a view from the restaurant to the outside, and effectively hid my joy in eating the delicious charred corn with its togarashi sour cream sauce (fingers, dripping sauce, oh dear!). New plates, cutlery and table napkins were brought after this. The fried chicken with two different sauces is new and delicious. Then we enjoyed the freshness of the figs, peaches and prosciutto dish, followed by an old favourite, the pumpkin tortellini with sage and burnt butter sauce. Desserts looked lovely, but good coffees made a nice ending to a great meal.
I returned with a larger group and added the broccolini and kale dish, and the curry cauliflower to the meal. Both were delicious, although the broccolini and kale dish is not consistently appealing. No mint tea was available, which is a real pity, but affogatos (not on the menu) were served on request.
This was another great night at 86, and we appreciated the fair warning (20 minutes) in a pleasant manner about the next sitting at 8.15. If you want a quiet meal, it is probably better to sit outside, although most of the time were could hear each others conversation.
The Boat House
A wonderful end to the birthday celebrations was enjoyed at The Boat House. I recently ate lunch there, and for years this has been a restaurant I have enjoyed, from a celebration of Bob Hawke’s Prime Ministership, to a birthday party where the Rugby Choir sang lustily. The Boat House deserves to host such a range of functions, and four of us were pleased to have ours here as well.
The set menu offers an excellent range of choices, the dishes were delicious and generous, and the service was friendly, informative and efficient. Dietary requirements were treated with respect, and marvellous alternatives offered where necessary.
Chef’s choice to start – beetroot puffs (for want of a better name, sorry, Chef) smoked butter and warm bread.
Examples from the first and second courses were a beetroot terrine (looked at with envy by those who did not order it), crown of chicken (delicious, but I should have chosen something lighter as the courses are generous), the set choice, a fish dish which was an excellent start to the meal (but we looked at the alternative vegetarian greens which was a magnificent meal), and lovely succulent fish finished in picturesque manner with radish rounds).
Salmon with a crisp skin, a luxuriant sauce, pumpkin and greens; the vegetarian mushroom and sweet potato wellington; beautifully presented and delicious beef; the wellington resplendent with its greens. Wonderful choices all round. The honey carrots and labneh side served as an excellent accompaniment to each meal. And then to dessert…
Each was delicious. However, the white chocolate yoghurt was my choice, and very appropriate for a very generous three earlier courses. It was light, tasted wonderful, and looked beautiful.
The Boat House has lovely views, day or night; well spaced tables that are nicely set; fresh cutlery for each course; and comfortable seating.
Bob McMullan
Green Preferences could decide the results for Independents
Analysis of the last federal election results in seats with strong independent candidates and the recent NSW by-elections suggest Green preferences could decide whether Independent candidates can win key seats.
It is dangerous to read too much into any by-election. When they are for state seats while the forthcoming election will be federal it makes detailed assessment even more risky.
The recent NSW by-elections produced a wide range of different results which give only a weak sign of the standing of the NSW government and even less insight into the Morrison government’s standing in NSW.
The only serious indication of potential federal implications was the big swing to an Independent candidate in Willoughby.
While there is a lot of water to flow under the bridge before the federal election, particularly while the drums of war are beating around Ukraine, the Willoughby result does appear to be an indicator of an important trend.
The result in Bega must be encouraging for Labor in Gilmore, but the impact of Andrew Constance as the Liberal candidate is an unknown there. The result in Strathfield will probably encourage the Liberals to feel they have a chance of holding on in Reid but local factors may have been in play here. The result in Monaro is ambiguous and really provides no insight into a likely federal result in Eden-Monaro, if and when the Liberals finally choose
a candidate.
Therefore, the potentially important trend to examine is the upsurge in votes for Independent candidates in otherwise safe coalition seats. This is not a new phenomenon but it has taken on new strength with a conjunction of
circumstances generating support for a growing number of “Voices of” candidates with real chances of success in the next federal election.
While some of the seats of most interest are in other states, such as Curtin in WA and Goldstein in Victoria, the Willoughby result can only be taken as an indication of possible trends in urban NSW.
In Willoughby, the Liberal vote was down by 18%, the same independent candidate as last election lifted her vote by 20%, the Greens were up slightly and Labor, which won 14% last time chose not to contest the by-election.
Even after discounting for the fact that there is always potential for a protest vote in by- elections and recognising that Gladys Berejiklian was the premier at the general election this is a result that should worry Scott Morrison.
Applying a rough formula which tries to take into account the discounting factors from Willoughby and the results in 2019 the seats which appear most at risk to Independents in Sydney are Mackellar and North Sydney with more distant possibilities in Berowra and Bradfield.
The impact on Wentworth is more difficult to assess as the Kerryn Phelps vote was so strong last election. However, it will obviously be a hard-fought election between Dave Sharma and Allegra Spender.
The other two wild-card seats are Bennelong and Hughes. The ALP put in a big effort in Bennelong last time and if they do as well again (34%) no Independent will have a chance. However, if a strong Independent emerged it could prove interesting. The other seat to look at in Sydney is Hughes. The current member, Craig Kelly, is now running for the UAP. The Liberals are unable to agree upon a candidate and may even drop in a North Shore
candidate over the wishes of the locals. There are two Independents running strongly here but it is impossible to predict what will happen. At the last election Kelly received 53% of the primary vote and Labor got 30%.
A key factor in all these seats may be what the Greens do with their preferences. Relevant results from 2019 suggest that they may well come 4 th on the primary vote. In 2019 the Greens primary vote was down by7% in Wentworth and 6% in Warringah compared to 2016. This is a rational voter response for those concerned with issues like climate change. If this happens in the key seats again in 2022 the Greens will come 4th . Should their
preferences flow to the Independents this raises the prospect of the Independent getting ahead of Labor. This would then mean that Labor’s preferences would flow to the independent and generate a serious chance of upsetting the sitting Liberal.
Given the slim majority the coalition holds in this parliament and the slightly negative impact on their chances of the redistribution of boundaries, as soon as the Morrison government loses a single seat, they are in minority territory. This makes seats such as North Sydney and Wentworth very important at this election and potentially for years to come.
Current trends in Queensland and Western Australia do not suggest that Australia is heading for a hung parliament, but the possibility exists. Whether this happens or not the fate of independents in safe coalition seats will be an important medium-term influence on policies
like climate change and corruption. This may lead to more attention being paid to issues of concern to affluent suburbs in the cities. It may even lead to a break with the Nationals until they can rid themselves of the extreme climate denialists and pork barrellers who seem to dominate the Nationals at the moment.
Jocelynne Scutt Convened Women’s Parliament in the Guildhall Council Chamber in Cambridge for IWD
This is the follow up to last week’s information about the meeting. The following comments were made by speakers and observers at the Women’s Parliament.
“In light of International Women’s Day, I’m pleased to have been able to deliver a speech about women in education at the Women’s Parliament held at the Guildhall Council Chamber in Cambridge this morning.
The event consisted of 28 female speakers bringing light to women’s issues in support of the motion of a Women’s Bill of Rights.”
“#IWD spent with 28 brilliant women speaking in support of a Woman’s Bill of Rights to fully implement #CEDAW in UK domestic legislation @ today’s Women’s Parliament, convened by Jocelynne Scutt in Cambridge Guildhall & by YouTube livestream. Here’s to a future that is #accessible, #intersectional, and leaves no woman behind.”
Courage calls to courage, and its voice cannot be denied.”
“I was honoured to speak at this Women’s Parliament in the Cambridge Guildhall council chamber for International Women’s Day. #IWD2022
Nearly 30 incredibly inspiring, passionate and talented women speaking on different women’s issues including Eleanor Redshaw (see pic) who wore her grandmother Nelly’s suffragette outfit – it’s over 100 years old! 
Nelly took part in women’s suffrage, she was manhandled by police and spent 4 months in prison, taking part in the thirst and hunger strikes, so women like me could have a voice.
The CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) motion was passed unanimously in support of The Women’s Bill of Rights 
Thanks to – Jocelynne Scutt for an amazing event, Selina Norgrove who came to support and all women (and men) who stand in solidarity with women and girls.
Happy International Women’s Day 
“
The proceedings are on YouTube on Justice4Women.
Heather Cox Richardson
March 4, 2022 (Friday)
Just a few quick markers tonight because I need some sleep.
Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. Fourteen wide-bodied aircraft from the U.S. and the European Union delivered anti-tank missiles, rocket launchers, guns, and ammunition to Ukraine today to help it hold on against Russia. The extra aid was approved less than a week ago, and the munitions began flowing two days later.
Russia’s economy continues to nosedive. The Russian stock market has been closed all week, and yesterday, a Russian stock market analyst took out a bottle and drank to the death of the stock market on live television. According to CNN’s global affairs analyst Bianna Golodryga, the Moscow Stock Exchange will remain closed through next Wednesday, and possibly beyond. Russians are fleeing their country into Finland.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, who is bound to be strictly neutral on political matters, withdrew invitations for a diplomatic reception issued to Russian and Belarusian diplomats to show her disapproval of the attack on Ukraine. She also gave from her private funds a “generous donation” to Ukraine humanitarian aid.
The U.S. has swung against Russia after years in which members of the Republican Party in particular have spoken admiringly of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s strength and commitment to so-called conservative values. Former vice president Mike Pence was expected to try to open up some space between Putin and the Republicans, telling a gathering of Republican donors tonight, “There is no room in this party for apologists for Putin. There is only room for champions of freedom.”
Former president Trump, who still commands loyalty from party members, has spoken admiringly of Putin’s attack on Ukraine. Pence’s statement appears to be an attempt to recenter the party away from Trump.
And, speaking of Trump, a legal filing by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday said that advisors repeatedly told the former president that he had lost the 2020 election and that he nonetheless insisted on pursuing the lie that he had won. In Salon, Amanda Marcotte pointed out that Trump apparently felt comfortable pursuing the lie because he did not believe there would be any consequences for his illegal behavior.
That conviction that the former president and his cronies were above the law clearly influenced Trump advisor Roger Stone, who permitted a Danish film crew to follow him around for more than two years, including during the days before January 6, 2021.
A stunning exposé in the Washington Post today by Dalton Bennett and Jon Swaine shows that Stone helped to coordinate the “Stop the Steal” protests and met before the January 6 riot with a member of the far-right Oath Keepers group who has since pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy. Stone refused to let the filmmakers see him for about 90 minutes during the height of the violence on January 6—an aide said he was napping—but when the extent of the crisis became clear, he slipped out of Washington on a private plane, claiming he was afraid incoming attorney general Merrick Garland would prosecute him.
Stone then lobbied hard for a presidential pardon for himself and a number of Trump supporters in Congress for trying to overturn the election. When White House counsel Pat Cipollone opposed the requests, Stone texted a friend, “See you in prison.”
Stone has categorically denied all the conclusions drawn from the film footage.
On this date in 1789, the first U.S. Congress met for the first time, operating under the U.S. Constitution and cementing it into existence.
Pretty cool we’ve kept it going for 234 years.
Robin's Room 