Most people commenting here don't have kids. Private schools are so prolofic because the majority of public schools are so defunded and sad looking that there is a native demand for schools with... non-below average facilities which families are willing to pay for.

This country doesn't spend enough on education and instead is letting its citizens fund the education sector out of their own pockets. It's kinda criminal.

So instead of blanket banning private schools we should be funding public ones to the level that makes most private schools redundant.

Saddam takes Kuwait oil = AIRSTRIKES!!!

Genocide in Rwanda = no airstrikes

Genocide in Darfur = no airstrikes

Gadaffi threatens to renationalise oil = AIRSTRIKES!!!

Genocide in Burma = no airstrikes

Islamic State takes control of oil assets throughout Middle East = AIRSTRIKES!!! AIRSTRIKES!!! AIRSTRIKES!!!

Russia basically annexes Georgian territory = no airstrikes

China's cultural genocide of Uighurs = no airstrikes

Russia invades Ukraine = no airstrikes

Some rebels threaten the global economy = AIRSTRIKES!!!

I've always liked a Sara Lee cheesecake but Sara Lee faces stiff competition at the budget end of the frozen dessert market and the much expanded availability of higher quality offerings. Australia's dessert tastes are also changing. I expect Sara Lee will follow the likes of Arnotts and other such formerly beloved supermarket snack brands.

Was excited to introduce kids to Passiona. They didn't like it at all. I had a sip myself and I don't blame them it tastes weird. Tastes like they have subbed in an artificial sweetener. Did they change the formula or is my recollection just hazy after not really drinking this for a decade?

Whether you like Dan or not the original decision to sweep in like a hero and host the games was a reckless political play that's cost us dearly.

Well with the quintessential aussie "side hustle" of having an investment property now out of reach more than ever its no surprise Gen Z are turning elsewhere.

A valid opinion but I have a different take on her story. Given her Chinese background and immigrant status it is perfectly reasonable for her to end up working in China. You have to understand a few points.

• She really wanted to be a Journalist/News Anchor but was convinced to go into Finance by her father because in all honesty her prospects of becoming a news anchor in Australia were near zero at the time. SBS would be her only prospect but the token east-asian slot was already filled by Lee Lin Chin
• Relations between China and Australia at the turn of the century (early 2000s) were very different than they were now. China's meteoric growth meant that loads of Australians and westerners in general, not just Chinese Australians were moving to China to find their fortunes. It is not unusual at all for her to have a career based in China
• She wanted to pursue her media dreams. Given the pan-asian if not globalistic economic culture that was emerging at the time it is not unusual that she was hired as a correspondent by CNBC and then ultimately achieving status as a news anchor for CCTV. Even today in 2023 I'd say her prospects of becoming a news anchor in Australia are below 1% no matter how hard or qualified she is.

Tldr; she wanted to be a news lady, not a speck of a chance that would happen in Australia, used her Chinese background and the prevailing economic winds at the time to nail that dream in China.

Yeah there were plenty of warning signs and opportunities to leave but when you've built an outstanding career over 20 years it is hard to leave. It'd be like finally getting to be footy captain and then calling it quits. Also when you have lived and worked in China (or anywhere) for that long everything gets normalised. The bribes, corruption, harsh penalties and censorship of the state become part of everyday life, things that are objectively wrong don't feel wrong anymore. Just like how we in Australia have become accustomed to paying ridiculous fines, levys, fees and insurances. Also uh... COVID kinda made it hard to escape. Australia wouldn't have let you in and China wouldn't have let you return to your job. Many at that time were hoping to ride out the storm.

She is indeed, to a degree, a victim of her own ambition but given thr above I can't really say it's a "leopards ate my face" situation. Perhaps in some warped way she thought that being a state media shill would offer her some insurance against detainment but in reality it only made her an even more attractive target for the increasingly heavy handed Chinese State authorities.

She is 100% being used as a political weapon against Australia as every day she is being detained erodes the value of Australian Citizenship. There will be plenty who will argue "weelll she's not really one of us is she?" but that only serves to tear apart our multicultural values which benefits the geopolitical power of the Chinese State. One of China's problems continues to be the massive flight of human capital (and in turn $$$) from their shores. Power plays like this demonstrate to that nobody in China is untouchable and furthermore a foreign citizenship is worthless even if you obtain one. A truly twisted way to enforce loyalty among your own populace.

Finally she gets to write one letter home per month. Wouldn't believe most of what's written as you can guarantee that shit is heavily curated to hit us in the feels.

Yep and the results are stark. All of the public schools near me look like sad run down places. With funding proportional to enrolments, theres a snowball effect where public schools get defunded as more and more parents opt to go private or indeed move out of a neighbourhood completely because they want a passable standard of facilities for their kids

It's a symptom of the ride height war. When everyones giant arse car is blocking your view of oncoming traffic you either follow suit or literally risk death every time you pull out of your kids daycare.

Both Happy and Sad for DR. He gets a drive but I think the Haas would have been the better car for him to shine in. The AT could very well be the nail in the coffin of his F1 career.

More akin to "supermassive black hole calling Carlton Banks black" bullshit

If by endless you mean the repeating 12 or so on the wrapper reel?