Togatus Edition #2 2016

ADDITION TWO, 2016 @togatus_ Selfie-Inflicted Wounds | 10 Travelling Europe for the Money Conscious Student | 13 The Preatures: World Domination on the Cards | 29

this pulp is free

Published by the State Council on behalf of the Tasmania University Union Inc. (hf. “the publishers�)

The opinions expressed herein are not those of Togatus staff or the publishers. The copyright in each piece of work remains with the contributor; however, the publishers reserve the right to reproduce material on the Togatus website togatus.com.au.

Togatus staff:

Editor-in-chief: Jess Flint

Print Editor: Meghan Scolyer Digital Editor: Nikita Riseley

Assistant Editors: Courtney Gould & Daisy Baker Design: Luke Visentin, Jonty Dalton

Administration Assistant: Mateesha Howard Contributors: Andrew Grey, Angela Koh, April Cuison,

April McLennan, Kendall Boyd, Louise Hedger, Maddie Burrows, Mark Glidden, Marvin Thrailkill, Sophie Dalwood, Toby Koerbin

Togatus welcomes all your contributions.

Please email your work or ideas to contact@togatus.com.au

It is understood that any contributions sent to Togatus may be used for publication in either the magazine or the website, and that the final decision on whether to publish resides with the editors. The editor reserves the right to make changes to submitted material as required.

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Post: PO Box 5055, UTas LPO, Sandy Bay 7005 Email: contact@togatus.com.au

Advertising: advertising@togatus.com.au Togatus is printed by Monotone Art Printers. We support the locals.

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Togatus + You Add to Togatus Togatus simply wouldn’t exist without the additions made by you: our fellow students. Whether it be an issue you care about, a creative piece or anything else you want to put out there, Togatus is the ideal place for your contribution.

If you are a writer, artist or photographer (or all three!) we would love to hear from you. Contributing to Togatus is a surefire way to gain valuable experience in the world of communication.

Ask yourself: what addition can you make to Togatus?

Email us: contact@togatus.com.au Phone: 0447 764 821

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You are here

Additorial

Where on Earth is James McAuley?

Travelling Europe for the Money Conscious Student

Why Do People Object To Feminism?

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Selfie-Inflicted Wounds

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Voluntourism Political Misconduct: Is Resignation the Answer?

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Are Tasmania’s Controversial Protest Laws Unconstitutional?

PANAMA Photo Gallery

Eric William Glidden

Maddie in Mona: The Gilbert and George Exhibition

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Scalp the Scalpers?

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Painted in Spit by the Whore from the Hearse Between His Thighs

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The Preatures: World Domination on the Cards

How to… Unleash your Green Thumb in a Rental Pardon my English

Liberation Mus Musculus

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Contributors

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Andrew Grey

Angela Koh

April Cuison

April McLennan

Kendall Boyd

Louise Hedger

Maddie Burrows

Mark Glidden

Marvin Thrailkill

Sophie Dalwood

Toby Koerbin

Additors

Jess Flint Additor-in-Chief

Meghan Scolyer Print Additor

Nikita Riseley Digital Additor

Mateesha Howard Addministration Officer

Courtney Gould Assistant Additor

Daisy Baker Assistant Additor

Jonty Dalton Designer

Luke Visentin Designer

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Additorial Jess Flint Editor-in-Chief

I don’t know if our readers realise how long it takes to get this magazine from the “paddock” to the “plate.”

To give you an idea: as I write this, Daylight Savings has just come to an end, Batman vs Superman is still fresh in the cinemas, and Togatus is in trouble (yet again) for our April Fools Day joke.

In other words, all is well.

By the time this reaches your grimy little fingers, the TUU by-election will be wrapped up, with the results potentially already announced. So who knows what manner of trouble we might have found ourselves in?

But I digress, this is my letter to you and I do have some things I’d like to say: Firstly, Where are all the ‘Letters to the Editor’ this year?

Personally, I can’t tell if I’m doing something very right, or something very wrong, to be deserving of such radio silence from our readers. Not only that, but if I don’t have any letters to use, I have to fill up a page in our ‘addition’ some other way. Who wants to look jealously at pictures of Europe, when they could be reading your rantings?

Secondly, How dare you all read so much Togatus? Don’t you know we have a limited printing budget? We have

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no more ‘addition one’s’ left! Do you know how sad it is to RUN OUT? Knowing that somewhere out there, a student has missed the opportunity to get their hands on our pulp?

Finally, If you want to get involved with Togatus, you know where to find us! It’s been great getting to know our new contributors, whose work appears in this ‘addition,’ but we are always looking for fresh insight, challenging opinions, and new voices.

So here’s where I come to the ‘thank you’ part of my letter. Thank you to our contributors because without all of you, we wouldn’t have this ‘addition.’ Thank you to our designers for turning our writing into a work of art. Thank you to Meghan for creating this baby from thin air. Finally, thank you to our readers - because those empty boxes are actually pretty inspiring. We welcome your banter.

But seriously, what are you doing with Togatus? Tweet us a picture of how you use your ‘additions’! Are they used to stabilize tables? As rabbit bedding? Wrapping paper?

Instagram or Tweet us @togatus_ or #togatus Until next time, Peace! x

Togatus + Launnie Add to Togatus Hey Launceston! We are seeking a diverse range of contributors for our magazine, and we’d love to see some of your northern talent in our next edition! If you are a writer, artist or photographer (or all three) we would love to hear from you. Contributing to Togatus is a surefire way to gain valuable experience in the world of communication.

Ask yourself: what addition can you make to Togatus?

Email us: daisy@togatus.com.au

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Selfie-Inflicted Wounds Mateesha Howard #feature

Late last year, The Mercury newspaper published an article about the dangers of taking selfies in precarious situations, and how this may put you at a higher risk of dying than being killed by a shark. … what?

According to the article, many selfie-takers have fallen victim to their phone cameras by attempting to perform high-risk feats and consequently tumbling down stairs, falling off bridges and cliffs, even crashing their cars all in the pursuit of taking the perfect picture.

But is it really the act of holding out your iPhone and snapping a selfie with that perfect pout that is killing us? Is it our lack of spatial awareness while we alternate between our left and right sides? Or is our generation too preoccupied with vanity and social media fame to evaluate whether jumping on the tracks and playing chicken with a train, while we frantically click that ‘capture’ button, is a good idea or not?

In Romania, an 18-year-old woman was fatally electrocuted by a live wire after climbing atop a train in order to take a selfie.

An Indian man died whilst attempting to take a ‘daredevil’ selfie in front of an oncoming train.

But this isn’t a new thing. Trends and challenges that have gone viral on social media platforms have increasingly become the cause of tragic deaths across the world.

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“...tumbling down stairs, falling off bridges and cliffs, even crashing their cars all in the pursuit of taking the perfect picture.”

Remember the planking craze of 2011? The idea involved photographing yourself lying flat on your stomach in difficult and often dangerous situations. In May 2011, an Australian man plunged to his death from the balcony of his unit home after attempting to plank on the thin railing whilst intoxicated.

The more viral these trends become and more viewers they receive, the more tragedy will strike as people try and constantly one-up each other in a competition of who has the most Instagram likes or Twitter followers.

The death-by-selfie epidemic has reached such an incredible tipping point that the Russian government has released a poster warning of the dangers of taking selfies, including while holding a gun.

Yes, that’s right, people have been killed by attempting to take selfies with firearms and accidentally shooting themselves.

The most recent social media challenge, the ‘duct tape challenge’, has left Washington teenager Skylar Fish hospitalised. The challenge involves taping the participant to a chair with, you guessed it, duct-tape, and then filming their attempt at escape.

For 14 year old Skylar, this challenge left him with serious head injuries, a brain aneurysm, and a shattered eye socket after he tripped and fell on a window frame.

Perhaps we should all take a moment or two to ensure our lives are not being endangered before opening that front-facing camera, and evaluate whether social media fame is worth the price of our lives.

Mateesha currently has 272 Instagram followers, 325 tumblr followers, and 329 Facebook friends. Her greatest social media achievement was a retweet by Ellen DeGeneres in 2010.

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Where on Earth is James McAuley?

Mark Glidden #feature

More pertinently perhaps is the question ‘Who Is James McAuley?’

I’m willing to bet that not many students, and perhaps not many lecturers, could answer this question.

It is a great shame and a detriment to the University of Tasmania that knowledge of this great man is so scarce when it should be otherwise.

James McAuley (1917 – 1976) was a man who wore many hats. A political iconoclast, an academic, and above all, a poet.

In fact, in the estimation of many (including my own), he was one of the finest poets this country can lay claim to - and honestly we haven’t got many since Clive James and Peter Porter defected to Britain. He is certainly one of perhaps five or six really first rate Australian poets to have been born in the 20th century.

Poetry isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but perhaps you’ve read the literary magazine Quadrant? James McAuley, along with Richard Krygier, established the magazine in 1956 and continued editing it until 1963.

Many fine academics and politicians from around the world, even some former Australian Prime Ministers, have contributed to Quadrant in its sixty year history.

If you’re not a reader of Quadrant, then maybe you’ve heard of the ‘Ern Malley’ hoax? In 1943, McAuley and co-conspirator Harold Stewart wrote deliberately awful Modernist poems (as though there were any other

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type of Modernist poem) under the pseudonym ‘Ern Malley.’ Ern Malley became the cause célèbre of Australia’s Modernist literary scene and its flagship magazine Angry Penguins published the poems in 1944 to great fanfare. When the hoax was revealed, it made national news for weeks.

But if you’ve not heard of either Quadrant or ‘Ern Malley,’ then you should know that James McAuley was also Professor of English at the University of Tasmania for 15 years, from 1961 until his death in 1976.

There are three prizes in his name (I had to look this up to even be aware of their existence) and his portrait hangs in the stairwell between the first and second floors of the library, AKA the stairwell very few students will ever use.

Other than that there is no indication of James McAuley’s career at the University, and this is shameful So, I return to my original question: Where on Earth is James McAuley?

McAuley is certainly underappreciated today, very much overshadowed by his involvement in conservative political activism and the ‘Ern Malley’ hoax, but surely given his popularity during his life coupled with the fact that he taught at the University ought to entitle him to some sort of prominent monument on campus?

I mean, we have a large statue of Confucius, who, don’t get me wrong,

has some amazingly profound writings, but isn’t really relevant to the university, outside of maybe a brief nod in a few Asian Philosophy units.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the dwindling importance and prestige of the Humanities, or at least English, in 21st century academia that one of Australia’s greatest poets is neglected by the institution he was a part of for 15 years.

Travelling Europe for the Money Conscious Student Kendall Boyd #travel

When first gazing at a map of Europe, it can be awe-inspiring looking at the puzzle of nations that create it. Old world cities, seas and mountains jump from the page, inviting you to come and explore this special corner of the world.

There are many ways to travel Europe, and regardless of where you choose to visit or how you travel, you cannot leave without being blown away by the history, architecture, sights, sounds and tastes that surround you from every direction.

There is just no way of exploring Europe without being mesmerized.

For everyone at university our wonderful summer holiday is a great time to go travelling - we have the time off university and an entire year’s worth of savings to spend.

Something to remember is that our summer is Europe’s winter, so be prepared for lots of amazing snow, and minus degree weather (which in itself is a new adventure).

As someone who has travelled to overseas multiple times while studying, the most frequently asked question I get is, how do I afford it? It is something many students wish to do every year, but never quite make it. Well, contrary to common belief you do not need to have thousands upon thousands to visit, see and experience the glory of Europe. The answer is actually pretty obvious and practical - I create a budget and I set goals to obtain it.

People hear the word budget and shy away from it, but creating a bud-

get is what everyone does whether they know it or not. People create budgets in their heads to make sure they have enough money for rent, bills, food and enjoying life so why not create one for a trip of a lifetime? The feeling of taking flight to a new holiday and adventure is intoxicating and addictive - once the travel bug gets you, it is there to stay. Before finishing my last holiday I was already planning my next.

As long as you plan with plenty of time, book in advance, and budget smartly with the help of some great travel guides such as Lonely Planet’s Europe on a Shoestring, then you can see Europe at its best without breaking the bank.

Some tips to help you out: Tip 1. Book well in advance So many people ask how it is possible to afford flights to Europe. My advice is to do your research well in advance - at least one year - and go and talk to as many travel agents as you can. I always say go in and meet a travel agent face to face build a connection, that way they will work harder to find you the best flights.

See multiple agents as they all have different arrangements with airlines, which ensures you will get the best deal. Flying in off season, and midweek will lower the price too. Try and avoid weekends, public holidays and popular seasons, as the prices of flights go up.

Tip 2. Get away from the tourism

hubs The saying is true: ‘go where the locals go’ - the food will be better, and you will discover more authentic culture, not the over the top show put on for tourists. In Rome, pasta and pizza will cost you almost double around the popular historical monuments, but if you follow the back streets and find the locals in the family run restaurants, the food will be a hundred times better and cheaper.

Tip 3. Take your student card with you You may not be an EU Student but over there so many places do not care or check. You can get discounts on many things from bus passes, entry tickets to museum attractions, shows, accommodation, food and even retail. If you are not a student, but you are under 26, in many locations you count as a student as long as you have I.D. to prove your age.

Tip 4. Don’t live in the ‘if only’ or ‘one day,’ live in the now and I will You will never know if you don’t go. Life is short and to put it bluntly why waste your life never living or experiencing what life can bring you. There is nothing better than experiencing this beautiful world we live in, discovering the different cultures and seeing the best scenery in the world first hand and not just on a television. One thing I hold truly close to me is the people and friends I have created all over the world. Start planning!

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Must do and see Europe holds something for everyone, from incredible beaches, wine and food that will mesmerise your taste buds, wonderful people and so much history - you could spend an entire holiday just gazing at the amazing architecture that surrounds you.

Here is a small list of some of my favourite things to do to start you off.

Paris: Paris is the city of lights, love, wine and food, and when you are there it is hard to avoid the magic of what is Paris. It is one of my favourite cities in the world with its amazing history, outstanding examples of architecture throughout the city and the beautiful kind people (yes I said kind, not arrogant). Paris is impossible to see in one visit I have now been twice and still have not seen everything I want to see, there is just too much - it will keep you coming back for more.

Amsterdam: The city of bikes. Everyone knows Amsterdam is famous for its many coffee shops (where you can smoke marijuana) and the red light district. However there is so much more to this city, with its cobblestone and brick streets weaving around picturesque canals. Everyone rides bicycles; during the day the town square is covered in them.

A must do when visiting Amsterdam is escape to a small fishing town they are so beautiful and you can try some amazing local food. For those who love art and music, you really cannot go past Amsterdam with its thriving music and art scene.

London: The home of Harry Potter!

I am a huge Harry Potter fan, so a

must do in my book is the making of Harry Potter at Warner Brother Studios - you can book a tour and get a lift out on the bus. But there is much more to London than Harry Potter, including some of the world’s best museums, castles in abundance, and amazing food. You can see the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace, and if travelling within the next 2 years make sure you take a ride on the London eye and see London from above.

Prague: Prague is probably one of the most picturesque cities I have visited, you can easily lose yourself wandering down the city’s beautiful streets. For students Prague is a great place to visit as it is a cheap destination and when the weekends hit, it is flooded with tourists and locals all out to enjoy the nightlife with cheap beers and delicious food.

Krakow: When exploring the city of Krakow it can easily feel as if one has stepped back into the middle ages with its looming castle above the city, stone buildings and streets at every turn. The centre of education, Krakow offers vibrancy with its markets, local food, and nightlife. Whilst you are there, you must try a local dish of perigio which is a delicious type of dumpling.

Note: Auschwitz concentration camp is only a short bus ride away and a must see, but be prepared for an extremely sobering experience.

Lastly, this travel advice is relevant to any destination - just enjoy life, grab hold of that travel bug and never stop exploring and enjoying the beauty that this amazing world holds.

Photos by Kendall Boyd.

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Why Do People Object To Feminism?

Toby Koerbin #opinion

“…safe spaces…”

In 2014, actress Emma Watson gave an impassioned speech at a United Nations event in New York on the topic of feminism. She also used this platform to launch the equality campaign #heforshe.

During her speech, Watson raised important questions around why feminism had become synonymous with man hating and how the movement of feminism has developed negative connotations. Rather than exploring why this is the case, Watson instead called for an end to the negative associations.

Many people in modern western countries generally fit the dictionary definition of a feminist - that is someone who believes in gender equality. So why are people adopting labels such as humanist or egalitarian as alternatives, in order to distance themselves from feminism?

One source of a negative attitude towards feminism may come from the voices of feminist proponents in media. The radical brand of feminist beliefs have led to instances of feminists failing to approach issues with critical thought. This further leads to some being willing to believe any information that would fit a feminist narrative, even where there is an absence of factual support.

Last year, self-proclaimed feminist Chloe Angyal of feministing.com, placed her blind faith in a news article alleging a rape on the Uni-

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versity of Virginia’s campus. Angyal used this as evidence to support the feminist notion of rape culture. The rape later turned out to not have not occurred, though it was poorly reported as fact.

Professor Janice Fiamengo of the University of Ottawa has launched the YouTube series, The Fiamengo File, which provides insight into problems with feminist actions. The series addresses a specific feminist topic each episode, with a focus on feminist influence in universities which have led to the construction of ‘safe spaces’ and academic courses that are dominated by a feminist perspective.

An objectionable aspect of feminist ideology is the tendency to exaggerate and sometimes even lie about particular issues. Possibly the most persistent example is the notion of pay inequality - that women across the world are paid less than men for the same work.

David Morrison made mention of this in his first speech as Australian of the year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a 17.3 per cent disparity as of 2015.

However the only variable included in these types of statistics are the sex of workers - they more highlight an earnings gap as opposed to a gender pay gap. Dr Warren Farrell’s research into the subject lead him to conclude there are an extra 25 variables that differ between the sexes like, career choices and hours worked. These should be consid-

ered before commenting on the degree of discrimination as a factor.

When other variables are factored, there exists a very small disparity.

This may be caused by discrimination, but it should also be considered that pay discrimination is illegal. Prof Christina Hoff Sommers also mentions that it makes little business sense, in a society based on capitalist principles, that men would be hired often, if money could be saved by paying women less.

The most central concept to feminism as evident in its dictionary definition is that men and women are currently unequally treated, with a focus primarily on women’s issues. One idea is that men receive privilege over women and it is often said they are unaware of this. This mindset has led to pushes to elevate women into specific male dominated fields with high pay and comfortable surroundings.

Conversely, areas of gender imbalance that don’t have negative consequences for women, like men dominating the most dangerous jobs and homelessness, are not commonly addressed. While it is not a bad thing to have a specific focus on women’s issues, there are instances of feminists attempting to shut down conversation and activism regarding male issues.

These include a protest against Warren Farrell’s talk on male issues that required police intervention, as well as the National Organisation for

Women opposing default shared parental custody of children after divorce to the advantage of women.

Perhaps the most extreme example of feminists reacting negatively to assisting men is the case of Erin Pizzey. Pizzey played a significant role in assisting women who had experienced domestic violence. When she attempted to provide similar services for men, she was violently threatened by feminists, eventually leading to her dog being shot and her fleeing the UK. I realise there are feminists who do not fit this description - the previously mentioned Warren Farrell and Christina Hoff Sommers both have a history with the feminist movement.

My concern is that the feminists I am referring to have a loud voice in institutions and media, and I hope for these areas of society to maintain intellectually diverse. It is true that by definition feminism is about advocating for gender equality, but as movement is has also acquired a baggage of associated theories and ideology, that one can have reasonable objections to.

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Voluntourism Louise Hedger #feature

Disclosure: this article does not aim to deter people from volunteering overseas. It does, however, set out to bring to light some of the detrimental outcomes that some travellers unwittingly perpetuate when they participate in volunteering experiences, orphanage tourism in particular. It is vital to research a volunteer experience, to use intuition and a moral compass to determine whether your visit is beneficial for the locals.

Cambodia, a country renowned for its friendly culture and incredible temples, has seen a major tourism increase over the last few years.

Travellers are enticed by an array of experiences including the country’s rich culture of tradition and history and when that gets too much, there is the cheap beer and food and parties that go all night. For a lot of travellers, Cambodia offers what we, as ‘the privileged white’ are told we should experience as a rite of passage. But, behind the glossy façade of cultural performances, temple tours, outdoor bars and market tours is a growing industry where children’s lives are put on display and orphanages – children’s homes – are visited like human zoos.

Volunteering is marketed as a selfless experience, one that it is said to be ‘making a difference,’ and contributing to ‘fixing’ the global issue of children living in poverty. ‘Voluntourism’ mostly involves payment by tourists to participate in projects in developing countries. Whilst voluntourism undoubtedly has positive

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aspects - intercultural exchange, keeping legitimate organisations afloat, the input of skilled labour, and a once in a lifetime experience – the negatives of orphanage tourism far outweigh the benefits.

According to UNICEF Cambodia, the amount of recorded institutions in Cambodia rose by 92% from 2014 - 2016. It is not without coincidence that this rise is matched with the extreme growth of foreign tourists in the country, and children living in orphanages are key tourist attractions. ‘Orphanage tours’ are often money-spinners for those organising them and are run off foreign volunteers and dollars.

The report With the Best Intentions researched by UNICEF and The Royal Cambodian Government found that most children in Cambodian orphanages were not orphans, and that most orphanages were inadequate in providing care or protection to the children. The rate of orphanage growth is alarming when paired with the statistics of children with one or both living parents: only 28 per cent have lost both parents.

Volunteers are told they can save the world and make a difference, skills or experience optional. A lot of voluntourists are gap-year students who put on the ‘volunteer hat’ and are not skilled in the role they are there to do. Voluntourism experiences may be as short as one week and often the voluntourist is the primary caretaker of children during this time. This is extremely damag-

ing, as children living outside the family unit typically have complex needs and require specialist staff.

For the sake of a child learning to form normal attachments and bonding, the continuity of a caregiver is extremely important.

The Childsafe Network, a global organisation to protect children against abuse, states that, “where possible, a constant caregiver should be appointed to attend the child’s daily needs which will promote consistency and secure attachments to caregivers. Orphanages that rely on foreign volunteers as their key staff undermine children’s needs for developing long term and meaningful relationships.”

Voluntourists also displace local workers who could be employed in their position. UTas student Annie completed a volunteer placement in a Cambodian orphanage and paid $4000 for the experience.

On her return, Annie said she was “unsure whether they had displaced a teacher in the orphanage in order to render her position available.”

Many orphanages have not implemented child-protection policies.

Without these policies and if tourists are not supervised whilst visiting, there is the very real potential of abuse. It is simple to enter many orphanages – all one has to do is pay a fee to visit or volunteer with the children. Shockingly, many allow children to go out on day trips with paying tourists. Without a child-protection policy there is no vetting system in place to ensure the children

are safe. Those who run corrupt orphanages keep the buildings in disrepair and the children bedraggled to invoke a feeling of pity from volunteer tourists. Jake Stalkerr, founder of One Step, One Life, an Australian organisation employing Cambodian teaching staff to educate children in Siem Reap province, says, “there is a threat of children appearing too rich.” This false portrait of living conditions keeps sympathies buoyant from volunteers and the cash flowing which in turn keeps their fraudulent business afloat. Despite money pouring in from sympathetic and gullible tourists, none of the funds advance the people that the money is donated to go towards: the children.

is not just an issue in Cambodia; it spans widely throughout developing countries and contributes to larger societal issues. The issues range from the prominence of beggars staying on streets because of tourists donating money, unsustainable projects staying afloat only until the volunteer leaves, and on a wider scale, whole communities expecting handouts because that’s all they know. The alternative to this is community’s themselves determining whether they want volunteers ‘helping’ them or being supported in mobilising their own assets to create the changes they want and need.

The orphanage industry in Cambodia is complex. Families are pressured into giving up their children with the promise of a better future for them. UNICEF states that a child should always stay with a member of the family unit, as this allows children to remain connected to their cultural and family roots. All too often, children are separated from their families, which aside from being extremely distressing, has the potential to cause severe long-term issues. Many children from broken families or slum communities already have psychological issues, and forming attachments to volunteers who leave after a short stint is not in the child’s interest.

It is glaringly obvious how much developing countries are othered

by Western culture. The endless array of marketing, advertising and discussion around ‘making a difference’ promotes and reinforces the idea of ‘otherness’: the idea that developing societies have not reached the level of maturity they need to be on the same level as Western society. Humanitarian Douchery, a website dedicated to revealing the ‘darker side’ of voluntourism, sums this up quite well by describing this profit-driven industry as turning aid and social change into a commodity, “social justice and equality are not things that can simply be bought, and it is crucial that volunteers understand this before they commit to a trip.”

As well as being a catalyst for issues for children, voluntourism poses the risk of dependency and disrupting the local economy. If locals witness aid, assistance and funds being consistently provided, it promotes a reliance on outsiders to deliver their needs, preventing communities from becoming self-sufficient. This

Tourists wouldn’t embark on a day trip to visit an orphanage in their own country, so it is quite perplexing as to why they would do it in the developing world. An orphanage is meant to be a child’s home where they grow, learn, and play. Children are not animals and their home should not be treated as a human

zoo. They should not be treated as props for Facebook pictures or used as performers to generate money for those running the network of corrupt organisations.

The rise of voluntourism in Cambodian orphanages is something that urgently needs to be addressed and awareness raised, on an international scale. If voluntourists research an organisation, its legitimacy and the potential impact of their visit, there is less potential for the perpetuation of these negative issues. Children need to live stable lives with continued and unrestricted access to education, care, and safety. They should be able to live their childhoods without being forced to sing, dance, act, or beg for any of their fundamental needs. Every day a child spends in an orphanage is one day too many. It denies him or her a life in a family and the opportunity to grow up to be a healthy and happy individual.

If you want to volunteer in Cambodia or donate much needed funds to legitimate, sustainable projects which are beneficial to the local community, visit www.thislifecambodia.org www.1step1life.org To find out about how you can volunteer responsibly: thinkchildsafe.org endhumanitariandouchery.co.nf/ the-7-sins-of-humanitarian-douchery

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Political Misconduct: Is Resignation the Answer?

Angela Koh #opinion

“Sexism is not acceptable.

Neither is accessing child pornography, nor accepting bribes, nor being anything less than a decent human being.”

While the call for resignation is often taken seriously across most professions, it is ironic that the case appears otherwise in the solemn world of politics.

Politicians who face inquiries at work following misconduct are misguided in their belief that resignation resolves issues, as their resignation is often insufficient in deterring their successors from behaving in similarly ill conduct.

In the past year alone there have been a number of political misconduct scandals that sparked public outrage. Politicians have reportedly abused taxpayer-funded political entitlements, accessed child pornography and even exhibited sexist behaviour.

In August 2015, Australian Speaker Bronwyn Bishop resigned following a furore over her misuse of taxpayer-funded political entitlements.

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Among other accusations, she reportedly spent $5,227 for a chartered helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong for a political fundraiser.

Rather, it merely gives the impression that politicians are fleeing the ruckus they caused through the backdoor.

In November of the same year, South Australian MP Bernard Finnigan resigned after he was found guilty of accessing child pornography, and in December 2015, Jamie Briggs resigned over a late-night bar scandal where he allegedly exhibited sexist behaviour towards a female diplomat in Hong Kong.

According to employment lawyers, Briggs further aggravated this situation by sending out the diplomat’s photos following his resignation.

Instead, political parties should work towards enforcing stronger deterrents to the misconduct of their political ministers.

Australia may gradually become the butt of the joke if it were to continue letting misbehaving politicians get away with a mere resignation.

Political parties should consider setting higher moral criteria when it comes to hiring individuals to fill the roles that influence Australia’s policy-making decisions.

The fact that politicians think resignation is the natural answer to their misconduct is worrying. Resignation neither serves as a deterrence for ministers to abide by proper codes of conduct nor resolves issues.

Sexism is not acceptable. Neither is accessing child pornography, nor accepting bribes, nor being anything less than a decent human being.

On top of the notion that anyone can be a politician as long as he or she has a good portfolio and debate skills, moral criteria is just as crucial when it comes to selecting individuals to represent Australia.

Politicians are meant to represent the nation by keeping up an exemplary image - not just because their actions are open to public scrutiny, but also because they should be leaders for the nation.

Are Tasmania’s Controversial Protest Laws Unconstitutional?

Sophie Dalwood #opinion

In January this year, ex-politician and well known activist Bob Brown was arrested under Tasmania’s controversial ‘anti-protest laws.’ Now, Brown is taking the issue to the High Court of Australia, claiming that the Tasmanian law should be ruled invalid.

So why is this important for us?

Many Tasmanians will be involved in a protest of some kind throughout their lives. If laws like this continue to spring up around the country, it places huge restrictions on our freedom of political expression.

The Worker (Protection from Protestors) Bill 2014 prohibits acts on or preventing access to any business premises for reasons which are “in furtherance of, or for the purposes of promoting awareness of or support for an opinion, or belief, in respect of a political, environmental, social, cultural or economic issue” The legislation provides sanctions including on-the-spot fines of around $300, with a maximum of $10,000 for repeat offences. The legislation applies to the areas of forestry, mining, agriculture, construction and manufacturing. Now, Bob Brown is challenging these laws on the basis that they are unconstitutional.

sion and possibly conflicting with human rights obligations.

Australia does not have an official bill of rights. Under the Constitution, Australians only have implied freedoms and rights. The High Court has affirmed the right to freedom of political expression before, but has placed certain limits on it as well.

This case highlights the challenges for people wishing to express their political views and protest. In Tasmania, you could face heavy fines and possibly jail time for being involved in protests in a business area. You could be arrested if it’s determined that the protest was interrupting business activity, even if the protest is peaceful.

It is difficult to tell at this stage, how the Court will rule on the anti-protest laws. This case will be known as a ‘test case’, meaning it is the first time the legislation has been tested in court. The State Government remain confident that their laws will survive the challenge.

The legislation is quite recent, but it has already received criticism locally and even internationally. The UN criticised the legislation for being too harsh on freedoms of expres-

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PANAMA Photo Gallery Rachel & Jess Flint

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Scalp the Scalpers?

April McLennan #opinion

Scalping. In the past it was defined as the act of removing an enemy’s scalp as a type of torture or punishment. However in our modern society it is most commonly known as the reselling of tickets at a considerably higher price in order to gain a profit. So should the scalpers be scalped for this selfish act, or should they be celebrated for finding a quick and easy way to make some extra cash?

“It is fans who are paying the price.”

Scalping can be extremely frustrating and costly for the dedicated fan.

Many are unable to purchase event tickets before they are sold out, as a vast majority of tickets have been bought by scalpers for the sole purpose of reselling them at an inflated price.

A similar concept to scalping is the buying and selling of goods on eBay or Gumtree. Numerous people buy an object privately, for example a car, then resell it at a higher price in order to financially gain.

Well known Brisbane band, Violent Soho, were heavily targeted by scalpers when the tickets for their WACO tour went on sale. The original ticket price was $56 with scalpers eventually attempting to sell tickets to the event for over $200. Violent Soho were outraged by this, airing their grievances through a statement on their Facebook page saying, “we as a band always try to keep our ticket prices as cheap as possible…so when these selfish pricks go online at 9am and buy tickets just to resell them later at an inflated price…it’s not only extremely offensive to us, it devalues everything we as a band are trying to do.”

From an opposing perspective, it can be seen as a way to produce a quick and easy profit. Scalpers are

technically not forcing individuals to buy their tickets, so are they really doing anything wrong?

The venues selling the tickets aren’t technically losing out on any money either, as the tickets are still being sold. It is fans who are paying the price.

This resale initiative is rarely seen in the same light as ticket scalping.

This is possibly due to the fact that a vast majority of people resell such objects regularly - they are onesided in favour of their own agenda.

Ticket scalping, on the other hand, is perceived as being morally wrong. This is possibly because fewer people participate in scalping, and because the real, hard core fans miss out on cheap tickets.

invalidate tickets if that happens.

“We run through Oztix and if you sell it for more than the price it was bought for, it is technically invalid if it’s found out,” Highlighting how effortless it is to scalp tickets, Harbeck says, “if you get up early and you’ve got money and you buy 10 tickets for $20 and sell them all for $30 it’s just easy.”

Fans need to take a stand and stop buying scalped tickets regardless of how desperately they want to attend an event. Fans need to wake up earlier, obtain high-speed Internet connection and buy their ticket to shows before they are sold out. If consumers stop purchasing resale tickets, scalpers will fail to maintain a motive to continue their unethical behaviour.

Although Ticket scalping is a major issue on the Mainland and overseas, Launceston’s Club 54 booking agent Brad Harbeck doesn’t consider it to be a crucial issue here in Tasmania. Although admitting it doesn’t happen on a regular basis, Harbeck does confess that he has seen it attempted before.“We had a girl that was trying to sell a ticket at a ridiculously inflated price…we can

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Maddie in Mona: The Gilbert and George Exhibition Maddie Burrows #review

When we look at art, we typically often wonder the ‘what’ - what is it?

How was it made? What is its purpose? What does it do?

Rarely do we wonder the why - why was it made, why does it make us feel this way? Extraordinary artists Gilbert and George prompt us to ponder these ‘why’ questions in their recent and magnificent MONA exhibition, ‘Gilbert & George - The Art Exhibition’. In the past, many have been offended by their work, and others simply don’t understand it – but there is a reason why the duo are so successful. An artist’s work is, arguably, a representation of themselves. In their MONA exhibition, Gilbert and George push boundaries as they shock, confuse, offend, and delight their audiences by providing a glimpse inside their genius minds.

Italian artist Gilbert Prousch and British artist George Passmore are the dynamic duo known as Gilbert & George. You’ve probably noticed the posters around Hobart in the past few months, typically ‘Monaish’ in appearance and design. The pair are known for their conservative persona, manner and attire. In advertising publications, the two are often pictured with little expression, and dressed in their traditional tweed suits. After witnessing a photo of Gilbert and George for the first time, first impressions might be that they are old fashioned, boring, or annoyingly sophisticated. But these impressions couldn’t be more wrong. Little is conservative when

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it comes to the exhibition of artists Gilbert and George.

Gilbert & George – The Art Exhibition is a perfect representation of the artist’s purpose beyond their persona. As well as their distinctive formal appearance, Gilbert and George are known for their gigantic, vibrantly coloured, collage style artworks presented in a grid format. From the end of November 2015 through to the end of March this year, Gilbert and George showcased their first Australian retrospective of ninety-seven works, dating between 1970 and 2014 at our very own MONA. The colossal exhibition occupied the entire lower level of the museum, and was split into several sections separated by large display walls. Upon entering the first section of the exhibition, my initial reactions were shock, fear, confusion and confrontment. However, by the time I had reached the final room I found it nearly impossible to stop laughing and smiling.

The unique compositions of the works provides viewers a confronting, evocative, and often disconcerting view of the contemporary world.

Gilbert explained during an interview with MONA staff that the exhibition focusses on “the great universals: death, hope, life, fear, sex, money, race and religion”. All works in the exhibition are predominantly photographic, utilizing a combination of text, sections of bold colour, and an orderly grid display style.

Each work is a reflection of the inner soul of these two men, and bluntly expresses their reactions to social, cultural, political, biological and cultural affairs.

Each work of Gilbert and George’s exhibition is a unique self portrait of the artists. Gilbert and George challenge the traditions of portraiture by incorporating unconventional poses and collage in their work.

Their statuesque poses emphasize their seemingly uptight, and formal character. However, the artists utilize editing techniques to distort, colour, collage, and tear apart their bodies, and then display them on a large scale. The works are gigantic in size, some more than 10 meters long and many several meters high.

The artists appear in almost all of the works, and as their name suggests, Gilbert and George are never depicted as individuals. They create each work entirely together working hand in hand. They are the photographers, the designers, the models, the painters and the curators.

The overall subjects of the exhibition are terrorism, the city of London, confronting news headlines, bodily functions, Christianity and homosexuality. I was particularly confronted by the first works of the exhibition, which made reference to ongoing political and religious violence. The works utilised black and white photography to depict Muslim people dressed in Burqas. Cut out images of Gilbert and George also featured in these works, but were contrastingly depicted in colour,

outlined in red and pictured in a cut-out format. I found these works rather confronting, but I couldn’t pinpoint why. I believe this is the intent of all of Gilbert and George’s works: to shock and confuse.

Gilbert and George’s early 1970’s works also caught my attention at the exhibition. These works were smaller, and more simplistic in design. Before the commencement of the digital age, Gilbert and George worked entirely with traditional black and white film photography. The photographs at the exhibition depicted Gilbert and George in domestic and natural environments. They coloured selected areas of these photos by hand, before arranging them in a grid format, giving their works the recognisable Gilbert & George flare. These works were my favourite within the exhibition, because they were an emotional and mental relief from the confronting style of the duos later work.

As I wandered through the exhibition, I began to feel a strong connection to these two men. They quite literally present their most vulnerable selves to a global audience, in mammoth size and proportion.

Alongside the exhibition, the audience could enter small installation rooms where a documentary about the artists was shown. One could also choose to use the O-device to listen to commentary and interviews with Gilbert and George. According to these sources, over time the subject of their work hasn’t changed, all

their works are about themselves.

Personally, I found watching even just snippets of this film incredibly useful to understand the artists and their work.

I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this exhibition. From rumours I’d heard, I was prepared to be utterly confused and disinterested. But I soon realised after I walked into the exhibition that no matter your interests, gender, country, religious beliefs or political view, the Gilbert & George exhibition manages to evoke emotion in everybody. Whether you love it, loath it, are offended or made curious by it, the works of Gilbert and George never fail to confront and confuse viewers. Perhaps the most important aspect of their work is to remember, these artists work as one. They share themselves with the world in their own artistic style, and aren’t afraid to offend others to depict their ideas.

They speak as if they are two minds of the same brain, and their inseparability is strongly reflected in their artworks.

Photos overleaf by Maddie Burrows.

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The Preatures: World Domination on the Cards Jess Flint #music

It’s been four years since Take a Card grabbed our attention, and the Preatures haven’t slowed down since. International tours, recording, and the release of their debut album has kept them busy since Togatus last spoke with them.

I met Jack (Guitarist) and Izzy (Lead Singer) in February, backstage at Party in the Paddock. They led me into a demountable, where we sat on the floor, legs crossed. While I was a little nervous, and just a bit starstruck, Izzy shared one of her most memorable experiences that she had at a gig: “There was a show in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club, where my leather jacket caught on fire…

There were girls at the front going ‘You’re on fire’ and I’m like ‘I know.’

And they’re all like ‘No, you’re actually on fire.’”

For Jack and Izzy, the best gigs are the ones where they get to be themselves. Izzy says, “There are some shows where you’re like ‘I’ve gotta go out that there and and be super serious and super sexy.’ It just feels wrong, there’s something super contrived about that; it’s nice when you’re all just up and irreverent and just not really giving a fuck.”

And that’s the show that we were treated to later that night; no fucks were given. Water was thrown from the stage, the Preatures interacted with each other constantly; making the performance feel alive. They were having fun.

“There was a show in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club, where my leather jacket caught on fire… There were girls at the front going ‘You’re on fire’ and I’m like ‘I know.’ And they’re all like ‘No, you’re actually on fire.’”

Izzy describes the band’s live presence as “tough, but gorgeous,” but she doesn’t believe their records reflect that sound yet: “I want the [recorded] sound to be tougher, and rawer... I’d like to see the songs be more personal.”

So how do they know when they’ve found the sound they are looking for? According to Jack, “I remember thinking that [Is This How You Feel?] was really different to anything else that we had worked on in that time. … Sometimes [the songs] take a lot of work before they get to be really identifiable and other times they’re just kind of staring you in the face.”

Izzy also confided the struggles of being a band with a female singer: “It’s not so much a problem, it’s more of an issue…

our vein.”

But does the issue only stem from having a female lead singer? “...Part of the issue with that, ‘oh, you sound like Stevie Nicks’ is that there are so many female artists and people just don’t know them. A lot of music journalists these days don’t have that catalogue of knowledge to draw on.

“They would never say ‘you sound like Emmylou Harris crossed with Karen Carpenter, with maybe a little like Dusty Springfield in there.’

I think that my voice sounds a little bit like Belinda Carlisle sometimes. ...It kinda pisses me off that people don’t have more of a knowledge to draw on.”

So what can we expect from the Preatures in 2016 and beyond?

A new sound is on the cards; Izzy revealed “we’re gonna have a new record hopefully, if all goes well.

We’re working on it now, [but] can’t make any promises.” She also promised “lots of touring. World domination.” “It’s on the top of the list,” Jack adds.

Photo by Jess Flint.

“...The sound on Is This How You Feel? did get compared to Fleetwood Mac in some ways, probably because of that late 70’s classic sound... there was a lot of stuff that went into that record. I guess we got pissed off about being compared to Fleetwood Mac because that wasn’t

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How to… Unleash your Green Thumb in a Rental Daisy Baker #howtoadult

If you are a tenant in a rental property, you will probably know that you are not allowed to change or alter the landscape of that property without the landlord’s permission.

Unfortunately, this does include gardening, however there are ways to unleash your inner green thumb without breaking your lease. Here are three timesaving, cost-effective and highly transportable ideas.

1. Succulents in old cups or mugs Succulents are a great starting point for new gardeners as they are low maintenance, low cost plants that are also pretty forgiving. When it comes to week twelve, when all your major assessments are rolling in and you are doing your best just to maintain acceptable hygiene standards, your succulent will survive a week or two without a drink. It will be thirsty but it will be alive. Succulents are also a nice decoration for your coffee table, study or balcony and can be planted in old mugs (or teacups if you want to be a bit fancy). You can pick up succulents from your local nursery and then replant them into a cup, placing a little bit of potting mix in the base first (around 1 cm, but this will vary depending on the size of your succulent and cup).

2. Herbs on your windowsill or balcony Herbs are another great starting point for beginning gardeners and are a cost-effective alternative to buying supermarket herbs. Most herbs require at least six hours of sunlight a day so choose a room

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in your house or a position on your balcony that is exposed to sun for most of the day. If planting your own herbs, get a pot (or another container if you’re feeling creative) which has good drainage and fill this around three quarters full with potting mix. Use the end of a pencil to make a shallow well in the mix.

Drop your seeds in (there will be directions on the packet as to how many) and cover back over with potting mix. Water until the potting mix is moist. In subsequent days keep an eye on the potting mix - generally when it starts to look dry or pale, it is time to water again. However, be mindful that most herbs do not like to be too moist. It pays to check the watering requirements on the back of the seed packet along with the particular environment required.

To ensure the roots of your plant do not start to rot, use a container that has good drainage and if it’s inside, place something underneath such as a plate to catch excess water.

Good herbs to try include basil, parsley and mint.

3. A vertical garden This is a great option if you have an outdoor space but need an installation that you can remove when your lease runs out. There are many variations of the vertical garden, ranging from ready-made ones you can buy at a garden centre, through to DIY ones you can make on a lazy weekend out of recycled pallets and black plastic. Regardless of which option you choose, all vertical gardens need to be watered more reg-

ularly than plants in garden beds.

It is important to remember when watering to water the roots not the leaves. Nutrients are also important for a successful vertical garden, and can be found in composted fruit and veggie scraps or green garden waste. If your vertical garden is in full shade try growing mint, watercress or violet. If you have an outdoor area with partial sun, lettuce, rocket and silverbeet will be good plants to try. If you are lucky enough to have a sunny patch then cherry tomatoes, rocket and sage will work well.

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Pardon my English Jess Flint #opinion

Woman: wom⋅an. n. pl. wom⋅en: 1.

An adult female human

ers to have a word that differentiates between the two.

“Woman” is a common word used to describe females without sounding patronising, or medical. Or at least I thought it was. What appears to be a harmless word, is apparently fraught with oppression.

And here we are, ~700 years on.

Apparently the biggest challenge to the current feminist movement is to decide what women, sorry, wom*n, should call themselves.

Modern extreme feminists would have us believe that “woman” is a dirty word. Favoring terms such as womyn, wimmin, wombman (as if that’s not objectifying), and more recently, wom*n.

As you can see, they are all attempts to remove “man” from the equation.

The word wom*n is particularly prolific in university circles, but I would forgive you if you’ve never seen it before. It hasn’t made much of an impact at UTas... yet.

Let’s break that one down: “wo” “m*n.” Where “m*n” now resembles “sh*t,” or “f*ck,”… Like “man” has become a swear word, a dirty word.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s first ponder the origin of the term “woman.”

“Woman” was first derived in middle Old English - centuries after the term “man” was in use, describing humans of both genders. “Woman” derives from the literal translation “Wife-man,” so perhaps feminists are onto something when they say that “woman” was coined to be inferior to “man.” Or, maybe it was just easier for those early English speak-

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Who cares about sexual violence, equal education, forced marriages and universal suffrage, not while those dirty, dirty men have infiltrated our very identity. Obviously our first priority is to determine what we let men call us. Then the rest will take care of itself.

Perhaps using wom*n is really just doing more harm than good. To a young woman who doesn’t get the point that’s being made, it’s confusing. To a feminist who cares about more important issues, it’s mildly insulting. To a man it must look downright stupid.

As I mentioned earlier, using “wom*n” turns “man” into a dirty word. It ignores the ideal of true equality of all sexes, and becomes offensive to any woman who doesn’t have a problem using the word “woman.” Are we to be considered lesser feminists because of that?

I hope you pardon my English as I continue to use the word “woman” unashamedly. And if you really have a problem speaking a language that ‘oppresses’ women in such a way; Parlez-vous français?

Eric William Glidden Mark Glidden #creative

It was cold the morning you died I sat breathing puffs of smoky air My coat’s warmth, the cold denied The frost made icicles of my hair.

The stinging tears skipped down my face Flowing, sparkling, tiny, wet diamonds.

Grief snatched me out from time and space Mental fog shrouded all horizons.

I live on in your final hour An inward voice beckons me to stand, And plucking a frozen flower Feeling it’s cold brings life to my hand.

Sensation rings back like a chime Clarity sweeps back into my head And I confront for the first time That I’m cursed to live, whilst you lie dead.

Knowing that life will remain cold Now without you living by my side Faced with the prospect to grow old Without the strength you did provide.

I see you in your silent sleep, For sleeping breathlessly you seem, And knowing whilst we left here weep, You rest in an eternal dream.

I’ll leave you now to rest alone There’s nothing left for me to say.

For the time being, you have gone But I’ll see you again, one day.

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Painted in Spit by the Whore from the Hearse Between His Thighs Andrew Grey #creative

The street is dark, no lights to illuminate the pathway, no light at the end to walk through. There’s rain, it’s as if the weather knew I was one snapping thread away from jumping off the nearest cliff. It’s like a movie or book, where the protagonist is sad walking through the rain until they find a silver lining when the world starts to fall back into alignment.

I don’t want alignment. I want it to stop raining. I didn’t bring an umbrella because it wasn’t raining when I left, although that could be because I was happy. Fuck the weather. I don’t understand why it has to rain so much. Turning the corner, I find a street full of light, cars, the deafening sound of silence. I walk in and out of the streetlights, looking like a serial killer toying with the eyes of people who may peep out of their windows, wondering if they saw the killer or if their mind was playing a trick.

Now there’s lightning, flashing my silhouette across my door, a simple horror movie moment. My key rapes the lock, thrusting in, jamming, turning violently, an attempt to open the fucking door. After a few

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minutes, and a kick of the door, my housemate lets me in. The sound of some indie pop music mutilates my hearing. She tries to speak, but I walk past her, the sound of dripping water echoing through the hall, drowning out everything but the silence.

Standing in the dark hovel of my bedroom, the only light coming from a small lamp in the corner, I change from my wet clothing to simple black silk pyjamas covered in white skulls, finished with a red and black plaid dressing gown. Walking to the kitchen, I hear the sound of dishes being put away. I head straight to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine and drink it straight from the bottle.

“I thought you weren’t home tonight?” Rosemary, my housemate asks.

“No, yet here I am,” I say, lying against the white tiled wall.

“Is everything okay?”

“Just perfect,” I reply. “When are you heading out?”

“In a minute, I thought I’d put the dishes away first. One of us has to do it,” I nod, push myself off the wall and head back to my room, slamming the door behind me. I hear Rosemary leave, so I put a record on, Marilyn Manson’s The Pale Emperor, and dig some cocaine out of the draw where it is safely tucked away.

A line, a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and then some wine. Slithering around my room, I find a packet of cigarettes and light one, inhaling deeply.

There comes a knock at the door.

I ignore it and do another line.

Another knock. I wait, hoping they will stop and go away. But there is another. I lower my music, and walk to the hall and see a figure dressed in black through the glass. “Open the door,” I hear, muffled, but I don’t step forward. I don’t want to. The body dressed in black bashes the door.

“Fucking Hell, let me in will you,” the body says, louder. I walk forward and turn the door handle.

“I can’t feel my face,” I whisper into the body’s ear.

it, I need it, no, it’s more than that, I desire it, flowing through my veins.

“Oh my god, are you high?”

“I don’t know what to say Jimmy, it was an accident, I never expected it to happen,” he says, his voice pleading for forgiveness. I laugh.

I stroke the body’s cheek, smile, and give a little chuckle. “Yes, Phillip dear, just a tad,” I turn away from Phillip and walk back to the dungeon I call a room.

He follows, and walks in as I do another line. I can hear him say “Goddamn it, Jimmy,” but I just fall into my bed and laugh. I try to speak, but the words get trapped behind my tongue to make way for the laughter. I see his lips move, but I don’t pay attention, I just take in the music.

“Finally finished with your whore?” finally rolls off my tongue.

“Jimmy…”

“Shh…” He stood there, playing with his perfect blonde hair, looking at me with sorrowful eyes, and thinking of what to say. I went to have a sip of wine, but the bottle is empty, and Phillip is between the cocaine and I. I want

“So his dick just fell into your arse? A complete accident,” “Well, no, obviously…”

“Was it like a key that just opened you up as soon as it slid in, like a the right key in the right lock, the perfect fit?”

out with music until he gives up and leaves. I do more cocaine, until the whole bag is gone. I dance, my body bleeding into the music. Existence becomes unnecessary, my soul moving beyond this mortal coil. My heart begins to beat faster and faster, my body seizures, and in those final moments before the blackness, I see fire come out of the walls, and walking from the flames is Persephone, holding a silver plate with a single pomegranate seed, calling on me to join her.

“Jimmy, look…”

I throw the bottle, missing Phillip and hitting the wall behind him. I slither up to him, my lips close to his right ear. “Did he cum inside you?”

“Enough!” Phillip screams, pushing me away as I laugh.

“Someone is angry,” “I’m sorry, okay,” “I bet. Bye bye birdie, bye bye,” He tries to speak, but I drown him

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Liberation April Cuison #creative

“Your father died.”

The voice in his head enunciated each word with no emotion. For days on end the voice would drone on, as if he needed more reminding that his old man had recently passed away.

“Oh, shut up.” Taking a few steps forward, he looked down at the lake’s surface. A scowling, dishevelled man stared back at him. For a moment he thought he saw a silhouette of his father standing behind him, placing his hands on his son’s shoulders with a smile before vanishing into thin air.

Teardrops landed on the lake, morphing the man on the lake’s surface.

He wasn’t sure what kind of tears he was shedding. Was it due to sadness? No, it could not be. Ever since that moment, all he felt for his father was betrayal and anger. But why did he feel pain? Why did he feel like the world had just touched his heart and ripped it apart?

After he allowed a few more tears to flow down his cheeks, he turned from the lake and sat by the lone

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statue on its banks. “Where are you?” he whispered to himself with a sense of longing.

She was merely a stranger, a stranger that played the sole role as a listening ear during these troubled times. It had only been three days since they met. In that short time, she had become his confidant, the only person he could truly trust.

Seconds passed, then he heard the sound that heralded her arrival. For the first time in days, he felt relief.

For a moment, grief escaped him.

For a moment, he was liberated.

A chuckle escaped his lips. “That was quick.” He shifted to his right; the space he’d chosen to sit wasn’t exactly suitable for two. With grace she moved to his side. Nothing changed since they last met. Her blonde hair was still bright, and the unusual glow that emanated from here was still there.

“Call me, and I’ll be here,” she said.

No hint of emotion escaped from her features. Her lips were pursed together, and beyond her blue eyes, there was nothingness. And yet, her

voice was warm. “You wish to talk?”

He nodded. “He… he just died.” His voice cracked.

“Ah, death. The thing many of us fear, though many of us know it is inevitable.” After a pause, she said, “You were not very fond of him.”

Her words sounded like a melancholic song. He itched to ask her if anything was wrong, but he knew he would receive no response. She wasn’t much of a storyteller.

A series of images flashed in his mind. The first was of a New Year’s celebration. The night sky was lit up with a plethora of colours. He saw himself sitting on his father’s shoulders. He felt triumphant, untouchable. With a beaming smile he looked at her mother. She smiled back. The happy memory was then overrun by an image of their old home. A note was on the dining table. The words “I’m sorry” were written by a familiar hand. For weeks she’d worked tenfold. One had their limits however, and when she had reached hers, he was left to pick up the fragments of what was once her soul.

“I watched my mother fall apart because of him,” he said with a sigh.

“I used to think he was the best father in this world. After he left, I felt no love. I hated him.” His eyes turned downwards, blinking away his tears. “But he was still my father.”

away their faults. You always find good in other people.” Her voice was full of finality. She might as well have pulled the words right out of his mouth. “And you did. You’ve forgiven him, and you made peace with your past.”

“It is truly ironic, the way humans think. Often times, it’s only when it’s gone that we realise what we truly had.” From the corner of his eye, he could see her smile. “When he fell apart, you were there to support him. Despite your past, you were there for him. It’s no surprise his death brings you sadness.” Her expression was solemn, and her voice continued to sound increasingly sad. “And once you’ve rekindled what was lost, he had become the father you once saw.” She turned to him, blue eyes widening. “I am so sorry. It was not my place to speak like that.”

He laughed in an attempt to lighten the mood. This didn’t seem to faze her at all, and his smile immediately turned to a frown. “You might as well have read my mind.”

“Please, don’t apologise. You’re right, he is, was, a wonderful man.

But I’ve always put him under a negative light. When he contacted me, I tried to push him away, but— ” “You are selfless. You try to push

Her laugh sent birds flying. It had a soft sound, but its echo bounced against the trees. One could easily mistake it as wind chimes. After a few seconds she stopped to compose herself. She stood up facing him, a hand outstretched. Without a second thought he took her pallid hand and clasped it between his.

again lacked any emotion. But her expression changed. For the first time, her lips curled to a smile. A mirror of the smile his mother had in his memory.

“Please don’t leave,” he murmured.

He would do anything to stop her from leaving. Now that everyone who mattered to him had disappeared, she was the last person he could count on.

She replied with a soft chuckle. “Call me, and I’ll be here.” And with that, she vanished into thin air too.

“You’re right,” she said, her eyes fixated in the distance. Slowly she turned her face until those azure eyes were staring into his brown ones. “I did read your mind.”

She closed her eyes and chanted.

“Your father died. Your father died.

Your father died.” Her voice once

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Mus Musculus Marvin Thrailkill #creative

For months that motorbike had been overdue for a serious maintenance session. Air and oil filters were close to the top priority competing with new brake pads. Max had consistently cancelled the job with the arrival of more cold weather and freezing rain or just plain old apathitis.

An early rise, a break in the weather and fresh motivation bolstered by a second cup of strong coffee saw him enthusiastically attack the oil change. His attempts to purchase the correct oil filter removal tool had been futile. This job would require a bit of lateral thinking. A long handled flathead screwdriver and two hours later the oil filter from hell sat on the bench looking as if an M-80 had been detonated from its innards.

“Cheap piece of generic crap” he muttered.

A touch of oil onto the rubber seal and the new oil filter was hand tightened into place.

“Pirsig was right, do it yourself and ensure quality.”

By twelve o’clock new spark plugs and the front light bulb were

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securely in place.

towels,” she commanded.

“Still haven’t done the brake pads n’ that air filter is just too fiddly.”

With a light click of the tongue as his only acknowledgement, he moved to the sink and grabbed a fresh bar of soap. Applying the enthusiasm of a surgeon preparing for theatre he scoured his hands ensuring every crevice was aseptically clean. Not a spot of grease remained. Having dried his hands with equal consideration he presented them for inspection. Irene’s lack of reply was taken as a positive. He stepped in closer to her work space.

Here was a perfect reason for tightening every visible bolt and feeding a bit of spider matting into all those rattly crevices.

Max jogged up the stairs, quietly opening the door as if expecting a missile to come hurtling towards him. He heard movement coming from the kitchen. This was a good sign. He entered, delicately closing the door as the savoury smell of good healthy food caught his senses. Irene stood at the kitchen counter slicing carrots Julienne. She used a chef’s knife that dwarfed her small hand and seemed more like a military styled machete. He stood silently following her movements.

She glanced his way. As their eyes met he felt like a young boy, lost in an naïve attempt to gain a young lady’s approval. Her eyes smiled first. Her whole face seemed to follow with a warm accepting acknowledgement of his presence. He edged closer. The blade of the knife quickly found its way to a position an inch from his face.

“Wash your hands and use paper

“Anything I can do to help?” he asked in a tone almost begging appeasement. She glanced around and then, with the efficiency of Escoffier, proclaimed; “You can whip up some cream for the éclairs.”

“Sure thing,” he replied.

He reached into the fridge and withdrew an almost full container of cream; instinctively he checked the use by date and had a quick sniff of the contents to ensure the quality. The steady rhythm of the whisk in the steel bowl had a mantra like effect on the atmosphere within the kitchen. As he whisked, she sprin-

kled castor sugar into the thickening cream, smiled his way and then reached for a bottle of pure vanilla extract. She added a splash of the amber liquid with the skill of a cocktail barman preparing drinks.

“That should do it. We don’t want butter now, do we?” she noted, as if monitoring the progress of a small child.

She switched off the oven, leaned over and propped open the oven door to reveal a vegetarian lasagne, one of her traditional dishes. The top layer was that cheesy baked golden brown that enticed one to explore further. The Béchamel sauce with its four types of cheese could have been consumed as a meal on its own. The whole experience would satisfy and leave you totally satiated.

As she moved about the small apartment kitchen dressed in that kimono like robe, he admired her on different levels. She had a skill for completing any task she set her mind to. When they had first met she was driving a motorcycle across North America. On occasions he had ridden as a pillion passenger and they had joked, “Isn’t that nice, he’s teaching her to ride the bike.”

His mind returned to the robe she wore, a black silky affair with pink flowers in vine like arrangements. A favourite, for both of them, it fit her so snugly. Standing behind her he moved in close, wrapping his arms around her. She reciprocated by leaning in close to him. He nuzzled at her neck as she rested her hands on top of his. As his hands began to find the folds of the robe his eyes seemed to instinctively glance to the small kitchen window.

“Ahggg, for the love of” he said scowling, dropping his hands with his mind registering the presence of an elderly neighbour inconveniently using the communal deep sink outside their kitchen window.

“Why does she always have to be out there whenever we’re… here, I mean she couldn’t possibly have that many clothes,” he growled.

His expression had become one of complete frustration, his face turning red, his fist clenched. Irene had not moved, as if to indicate no emotion either way. To her this was not an issue. She only saw the elderly neighbour, Mrs. Beasley, as someone doing their washing. The powder keg that was Max, with his volatile disposition, was another matter.

As they stood in their kitchen Mrs. Beasley looked up at them through the grimy window. She smiled and presented her well used, soaked, dish towel for their perusal. The article’s wetness only highlighted its lack of utility. Irene smiled back, encouragingly nudging Max to be nice. He also smiled and, through gritting teeth said, “Fossilised old cow”. Irene elbowed him in the left kidney.

He groaned, muttering, “Thanks dear”.

She responded with a plea, “Can’t you just try to be nice”.

“You got it Ms Croft,” he said.

This is part one of a three part series.

Check out the next edition of Togatus for part two.

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