Daily Archives: October 12, 2015

When Tony Abbott last sat on the backbench, Paul Keating was prime minister, the Sydney Bulldogs were Australian Rugby League premiers, and Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise was number one on the ARIA charts.

The year was 1995, and this week Mr Abbott is expected to return to a seat on the backbench after he was toppled as prime minister.

Malcolm Turnbull won the Liberal leadership ballot 54 votes to 44 four weeks ago today.

Mr Abbott gave a farewell speech, tendered his resignation to the Governor-General (reportedly by fax), and was not seen in the House of Representatives for the rest of the week.

The Member for Warringah has since moved out of Kirribilli House, returned to his local New South Wales Rural Fire Service brigade, visited a primary school in his electorate, and conducted two lengthy interviews on commercial radio.
Parliament today returns after a three-week break and Mr Abbott is expected to sit on the backbench for the first time since November 1995.

Mr Abbott became a parliamentary secretary after the Howard Government’s election in March 1996 and remained in the ministry (or shadow ministry) until he replaced Malcolm Turnbull as opposition leader in 2009.

He will sit next to Andrew Laming in the House of Representatives — a Queensland Liberal MP who called on him to resign before February’s failed spill motion.

His Parliamentary office already has his name plaque on the wall at the front (A. Abbott) and is next to the office of former speaker, B. Bishop.

Ridicule over Bronwyn Bishop’s $5,000 Melbourne to Geelong helicopter ride — and Mr Abbott’s refusal to act against her — undermined his leadership and caused colleagues to again question his judgement.

Mrs Bishop then reportedly voted against Mr Abbott in favour of Malcolm Turnbull last month.

Last night, Mr Turnbull held drinks for Government MPs and Senators, ahead of his ministry’s first Question Time this afternoon.

Mr Abbott did not attend the gathering.

source:abc.net.au

ROOKIE coach Scott Miller was always confident his unheralded Jets squad would deliver – even if they had to do it the hard way.

Newcastle held on for a 2-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix after being reduced to 10 men in a tense season opener at Westpac Stadium on Sunday.

Reborn winger David Carney and returning keeper Mark Birighitti were the heroes.

Carney scored a goal and set one up for new striker Milos Trifunovic, who was cleared to play only on Thursday.

Birighitti made a fine save to deny Roy Krishna from the penalty spot early in the second half when the score was 1-all, and made two more top-shelf stops as Newcastle clung to their lead after captain Nigel Boogaard was sent off in the 77th minute.

It was a triumphant start for Miller in the A-League.

Recommended by Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, the 34-year-old former Fulham assistant is the youngest coach in the A-League.

Postecoglou and England manager Roy Hodgson, a former boss at Fulham, were among a number of high-profile well-wishers to contact Miller in the lead-up to the game.

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They would no doubt have taken satisfaction from his first-up win – as would the club’s potential new owner, Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson, who watched the match on television.

Miller’s predecessor, Phil Stubbins, did not win his first game until round 11 last season and finished a disastrous campaign with just three victories and the wooden spoon.

‘‘I knew they could deliver, and they did it,’’ a delighted Miller said.

‘‘We have come to Wellington, probably the most challenging place in regards to travel. We have dealt with it, and we have won. Irrespective of last year, that is a big step for any club coming over here.

‘‘Wellington are a solid team. They play nice football and are very dangerous in the final third.

‘‘To break them down and actually come out with the result, considering the circumstances, I thought it was magnificent.

‘‘It underpins what we have been working on: organisation, commitment, passion and never giving up.’’

The Jets played the final 13 minutes a man down after skipper Boogaard was given a red card for a second bookable offence when he held back Krishna.

Boogaard received his first in the 52nd minute after Cameron Watson had fouled Phoenix fullback Louis Fenton.

The official match report indicated that both his cards were for holding.

‘‘I was slightly frustrated with a few of the decisions overall,’’ Miller said.

‘‘Nigel’s is one of those.

‘‘But it was his second yellow, and Nigel knows better.’’

The send-off did little to detract overly from the coach’s satisfaction.

‘‘We had a dance in the shed and sang, ‘This is how we do it,’’’ Miller said. ‘‘JP and I led that one. We got laughed out of the room.

‘‘That is what we are about.

‘‘We are here to enjoy life as well as our football.’’

Left back Lee Ki-je, Enver Alivodic and Daniel Mullen were the only survivors from the final game last season to start against the Phoenix.

After a nervous start, which included Cameron Watson clearing a Ben Sigmund header off the line, Lee help put the visitors ahead in 29th minute.

The nifty Korean produced some fancy footwork near the byline and whipped in a cross for Carney to glance into the net.

Phoenix dominated possession and hit back in first-half stoppage time when Roly Bonevacia made a late run into the box to meet a cutback from Michael McGlinchey.

His first-time shot deflected off the heel of Lee and snuck inside the right post.

In the end the visitors had Birighitti to thank for all three points.

Back from a loan stint in Italy, he dived to his right to deny Krishna from the penalty spot in the 47th minute, and then produced another diving effort in the 89th minute to parry away a Vince Lia drive.

‘‘Birighitti’s save was a turning point,’’ Miller said. ‘‘To save a penalty at any time gives you that confidence and momentum to move forward. I thought he was outstanding … with the whole performance, I thought to a man they were superb, even the substitutes.

‘‘The whole trip has been fantastic in terms of logistics. The entire staff deserve a rap. They have been outstanding all pre-season.’’

Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick was frustrated rather than disappointed.

‘‘We dominated possession, we passed the ball around well through the midfield and our defence were rock solid,’’ he said. ‘‘But it’s all about scoring goals.’’

source:theherald.com.au

A proud-to-be-Greek label taking over the international accessory fashion scene with its unique designs.

Costume designer Peni (Persephoni) Giannaki and her husband, Greek Australian fashion photographer Bill Georgoussis, have combined their love for architecture and fashion to constitute the world of Athens-based label Persephoni.

Peni studied set and costume design but she has always been in love with fashion. She always thought it was a matter of time before she started transforming all the theatrical costumes and props she was making into wearable, everyday, fashion accessories.

“I studied set and costume design at the National School of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and completed my masters in art at Wimbledon College of Arts, London,” she says.

“When I returned to Greece I worked as a set and costume designer for a while, until I met my husband and we set up the brand together.”

Melbourne-born Bill Georgoussis left Down Under after completing his Bachelor of Arts degree to chase a career in fashion photography, starting with Spain, Milan, Paris and New York and ending up in London, his home for ten years.

Georgoussis became Sophia Kokosalaki’s artistic director, putting together her fashion shows and radical editorials for nearly a decade, before meeting his wife and moving to Athens.

Persephoni is characterised by its own innovative and geometrical treatment of volume and texture, combining stainless steel with leather and other soft materials to create minimal yet astounding accessories.

“The concept of Persephoni is rooted in a clear juxtaposition of contrasts,” Peni Giannaki tells Neos Kosmos.

“The hardness of steel against the softness of the leather, past vintage influences against present sharpness of style, cold solid reflection of metal versus warm leather or fur touches.”

The duo uses its love for geometry to generate clear forms and structure. Proportion and shape are always well-thought out and transmitted via a unique visual language into a three-dimensional design presence.

“Our designs are simple and elegant, with a twist that surprise the eye,” Peni says.

“The Persephoni brand manages a timeless use and unique authenticity that can be adjustable to many styles.”

Their new collection, ‘Embossed’, is all about textures and clean cuts. The sharpness of stainless steel meets the relief of crocodile effect and the smooth touch of cow hide. The shapes of the bags vary from round, hemispheric and semicircular to square and rectangular. Colour-wise, the palette of the collection includes shades of olive oil, burgundy, charcoal and the all-time favourite, black.

Persephoni manages to turn visual and conceptual connections between diverse objects and forms into state-of-the-art designer accessories, adored by glossy magazines and fashionistas all over the world.

Shirley Manson, Emma Miller and Sussie Lau have all donned her bags, along with celebrity models Lara Stone, Arizona Muse, Coco Rocha and Catherine McNeil.

The literalism of the shapes does not affect their wearability or utilitarian value.

Some of the bags embrace the principles of mechanics and motion, bringing together influences of the Bauhaus, De Stijl and Art Deco movements in a Modernist, sometimes Japanese and Swedish ablative sense.

The Persephoni brand, however, does not have a national identity. “There is definitely a movement that is coming out of Greece, but it does not have a cohesive style,” Peni explains.

“We proudly produce everything in Greece; all the materials are Greek and are hand-welded and hand-finished by Greek manufacturers.”

At the moment Peni and Bill are preparing their next Fall-Winter collection, which will come a bit earlier this season just in time to explore the Australian market.

“We are planning to visit Grandma Voula and Auntie Gina in Melbourne,” the designer enthuses.

“Our little daughter Ioanna is counting the days for this trip. So are we!”

All images courtesy of Bill Georgoussis. For more information head to http://www.persephoni.com

Selling points: Browns London, Opening Ceremony Japan, Number4 Kuwait, H.Lorenzo Los Angeles, Antonioli Milan, Assembly New York, Luisaviaroma.

source:Neos Kosmos

Πρώτη η Μεγάλη Βρετανία

«Το να είμαι ο πλουσιότερος άνθρωπος στο νεκροταφείο δεν με ενδιαφέρει», είχε πει κάποτε ο Στιβ Τζομπς θέλοντας να τονίσει το μεγαλείο μίας δημιουργικής μέρας. Μία πλούσια χώρα ωστόσο, έχει πολύ περισσότερες δυνατότητες να προσφέρει μία ποιότητα ζωής στις τελευταίες στιγμές του ανθρώπου. Αυτό προκύπτει για μία ακόμη χρονιά από τη λίστα του Economist Intelligence Unit, βάσει της οποίας Βρετανία, Αυστραλία και Νέα Ζηλανδία αναδεικνύονται οι καλύτερες χώρες για να πεθάνει κανείς. Η Ελλάδα της κρίσης πάλι αποδεικνύεται μάλλον ανεπαρκής και στο θάνατο, καταλαμβάνοντας την 56η θέση ανάμεσα σε 80 χώρες.

Οι πολυάριθμες μονάδες ανακούφισης πόνου και παρηγορητικής αγωγής οι οποίες έχουν ενσωματωθεί στο σύστημα υγείας (NHS), η δυναμική πρωτοβουλία για δημιουργία ξενώνων, χρηματοδοτούμενη από φιλανθρωπίες, και το ειδικά εκπαιδευμένο προσωπικό είναι από τους κυριότερους λόγους που φέρνουν τη Βρετανία στην κορυφή της συγκεκριμένης λίστας.

Για τους ίδιους ακριβώς λόγους, όπως επίσης την ποιότητα του περιβάλλοντος στα νοσοκομεία, τον αριθμό του προσωπικού που τα στελεχώνουν και τα προσόντα του, καθώς επίσης το κόστος και την ποιότητα της παρηγορητικής φροντίδας, Ιρλανδία, Βέλγιο, Ταϊβάν, Γερμανία, Ολλανδία, ΗΠΑ και Γαλλία συμπληρώνουν την πρώτη δεκάδα με τις καλύτερες χώρες για να ολοκληρώσει κανείς τον κύκλο της ζωής.

Στον αντίποδα, η χειρότερη χώρα για να πεθάνει κανείς αναδεικνύεται η Κίνα, με την Μποτσουάνα, το Ιράν και τη Γουατεμάλα να την ακολουθούν στις πολύ κακές επιδόσεις. Στην ίδια κατηγορία, βρίσκονται, επίσης, χώρες όπως η Μιανμάρ, η Νιγηρία, οι Φιλιππίνες, το Μπανγκλαντές και το Ιράκ.

Για την ακρίβεια, μόλις 34 από τις συνολικά 80 χώρες που συμμετείχαν στην έρευνα αποδείχθηκε ότι πληρούν όλες τις προϋποθέσεις ώστε να παράσχουν ποιότητα και στο θάνατο.

Το αισιόδοξο ωστόσο στη φετινή λίστα είναι η ευχάριστη έκπληξη ορισμένων από τις πιο φτωχές χώρες του κόσμου, όπως η Μογγολία και ο Παναμάς, οι οποίες κατέλαβαν μία αξιοπρεπή θέση (28η και 31η αντίστοιχα), παρά τις όποιες αδυναμίες των συστημάτων υγείας. Στην περίπτωση της Μογγολίας συγκεκριμένα, αναφέρει η «Guardian», σπουδαίο ρόλο έπαιξε η συνδρομή ενός μόνο ιδιώτη γιατρού, ο οποίος έδωσε ώθηση στην ανακουφιστική και παρηγορητική αγωγή.

Η Ελλάδα, δυστυχώς, δεν αποτέλεσε καμία έκπληξη. Απεναντίας, μαζί με την τελευταία Κίνα και την 41η Ουγγαρία περιλαμβάνεται στις χώρες όπου εκτιμάται ότι θα αυξηθεί ραγδαία η ανάγκη για παρηγορητική αγωγή τα επόμενα χρόνια, οπότε οι επενδύσεις στον τομέα της υγείας θα είναι μονόδρομος προκειμένου να μπορέσουν να ανταποκριθούν στις αυξανόμενες ανάγκες.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος