Viewing posts from: 苏州夜生活

NRL round 20: Sydney Roosters beat Newcastle Knights 28-4 at Allianz Stadium

By admin|苏州夜生活

WELL DONE: Sione Mata’utia congratulates Shaun Kenny-Dowall after scoring a try on debut for Newcastle. Picture: AAPThe Knights suffered their23rdconsecutive loss away from home when they were beaten 28-4 by Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

Newcastle’s horrendous run on the road extends back to the final round of 2015, when a 30-12 thrashing at Penrith consigned them to the wooden spoon.

They lost all 12 away games last year and have gone down in 10 out of 10 this season.

The Roosters led 12-0 after tries by winger Blake Ferguson and five-eighth Luke Keary, but Newcastle reduced the deficit to 12-4 at half-time when new signing Shaun Kenny-Dowall scored on debut against his former club.

A 61st-minute try by Roosters winger Anthony Tupou gave the home side a 12-point buffer, then lock Isaac Liu strolled over four minutes later to leave the visitors facing an unassailable advantage.

Roosters fullback Connor Watson, who is reportedly joining Newcastle next season, darted over next to the posts in the 73rdminute after a Ferguson offload.

Knights bench forward Luke Yates was tackled inches short of his first NRL try twice in the second half.

There was a horrendous incident in the 57th minute when Ferguson, at full speed on a kick return, appeared to collect Newcastle winger Chanel Mata’utia on the jaw with a forearm.

Mata’utia lay motionless on theturf for several minutes before he was eventually taken by medicab for treatment.

The win lifted the Roosters to equal first with Melbourne, who have a game in hand against Canberra on Saturday.

The Knights remain last, two wins adrift of Wests Tigers, their nearest rivals.

Basketball: Hunters primed to end Crusader’s finals bid

By admin|苏州夜生活

HIGH HOPES: Newcastle Hunters coach Darren Nichols.

NEWCASTLE Hunters hope they have at least one more upset in them before the end of their Waratah Basketball League men’s championship campaign.

Fresh from their shock 85-79 victory over Maitland Mustangs at Maitland last Saturday, which ensured the Kibble Mallon Cup stayed in Newcastle, the Hunters will again take a nothing-to-lose attitude into their game against southern neighbours Central Coast Crusaders at Terrigal at 6pm on Saturday.

There will be no trophy at stake against eighth-placed Central Coast (9-9) but Newcastle (3-15) will do their best to keep the Crusaders out of the play-offs.

Central Coast must win their last two games against Newcastle and fourth-placed Hornsby (11-7) but also need either fifth-placed Maitland (10-8) or sixth-placed Manly (10-8) to not win another game.

Maitland (Saturday) and Manly (Sunday) both play last-placed Sutherland (2-15) this weekend then play each other at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre next Saturday.

As well as breaking an 11-game losing streak, Newcastle’s victory over Maitland last Saturday meant they edged past Sutherland to climb out of the basement.

“Beating Maitland and keeping the Kibble Mallon Cup was a great reward for our sustained effort during a tough run of results in the past couple of months,” coach Darren Nichols said.

“It also got us off the bottom of the ladder and we don’t want to drop back to last and undo all the good work and improvement we’ve shown during the season.

“Crusaders are a tough side and they’re still in the hunt for the top six. We know what’s waiting for us at Gosford so we’ve got to bring our hard hats and muscle up.”

Central Coast, led by Mitchell Rueter, Callum Jenkins and James Trustum, over-powered Newcastle 84-66 at Broadmeadow on April 29. The Crusaders have won their past two games, including a 92-63 demolition of second-placed Bankstown (13-6) at Terrigal last Sunday.

Newcastle will be without captain Ben Hawkesley and n Goannas representative Lachlan Jackson but guard Jacob Foy, who sustained a cut above his eye from a stray Tyler Monroe elbow at Maitland last Saturday, is a certain starter.

The Hunters women, who cannot make the play-offs to defend their title, have a bye this weekend before winding up on the road against Norths next Saturday.

Newcastle rugby: Desperate Maitland out to end slide

By admin|苏州夜生活

KEY MAN: Maitland breakaway Sapati Peniata is primed for a big performance against his former club The Waratahs at Marcellin Park. Picture: Marina NeilMAITLAND coach Mick Hickling simply wants the Blacks to win againstThe Waratahs at Marcellin Park on Saturday.

Hickling is not fussedby how many or how they do it.

The Blacks, after a commanding start to the season, have lost five games on the bounce to slip to fifth.

“I have been waiting for us to tumble out of the five,” Hickling said. “We have been quite lucky.The way the draw has worked, everyone below us has been losing as well. Most of the losses have been tight. We have managed to pickup 12 bonus points which is equivalent to three wins. Now we just need a win.”

The Blacks’ past three losses to Merewether (19-14), Hamilton (29-27) and Wanderers (23-20) have been by less than a converted try.

“We played quite well against Hamilton and Wanderers,” Hickling said. “We have changed the structure in the forwards a little bit. There is a real focus on maintaining possession and getting to fifth and sixth phase.Last week, we wouldget to third phaseand make a mistake. If you turn the ball over against Waratah, they have some big, fast boys out wide. If you give someone like Carl Manu open territory, you are in strife. We want to make sure we build phases.”

The Tahs beat Maitland 39-33 in round four and have been somewhat of a bogey team. They won at Marcellin Park in the final round last season to steal fifth place.

“They towelled us up a couple of times last year,” Hickling said. “In the first game this season,we were chasing our tail.We know if we are in the game at half-time we are a good chance. We have to make sure we go with them early.”

Prop James Robinson (shoulder) and hooker Rhys Watson (shoulder) return from injury. Sapati Peniata shifts from hooker to breakaway and is “primed for a big one” against his old club.

“There was a fair bit of chat last game,” Hickling said.

The Tahs are coming off a 54-24 loss to Lake Macquarie and will againbe without work horse Dylan Heins.Another defeat and they could drop to ninth.

Elsewhere, Lake Macquarie welcome back hooker Barcelona Lupematasila from suspension for the grudge match against Southern Beaches at Walters Park. The Roos are chasing a sixth straight win in the battle for third.Jay Strachan has been named at fullback for the Greens road trip to Singleton, leaders Hamilton are away to Nelson Bay and Wanderers meet University at Bernie Curran Oval.

Scrutiny for Airbnb, Stayz in the Hunter

By admin|苏州夜生活

OPTIONS: Angie Hillcoat prefers letting her Merewether house on Airbnb to renting it out because the new format lets her ‘filter’ the people staying there more effectively. Ms Hillcoat lives next door. Picture: Jonathan CarrollHUNTER property owners who useStayz and Airbnb could face limits on how often they let their properties and be forced to paystratafeesunder a plan before the NSW government.

Hosts could also have to reimburseneighbours fordisruptiveguests,andhave to beregisteredto let under thecrackdown on short-term holiday letting.

The release of an options paper with the proposalson Friday followedhundreds of properties being listed across the Hunter, and criticism ofhow theindustry is regulated differentlyacrosscouncils.

Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper told NSW Parliament of his concerns with short-term holiday letting as it stands, citing ahomeowner at Coal Point with anAirbnb house either side of him.

“My constituent tells me he would not care so much if the home’s owner was on site when paying visitors were staying,” Mr Piper said.

“His other permanent neighbours say, ‘it just doesn’t feel like our neighbourhood anymore’.”

In February, Lake Macquarie council considered but held off changing itslocal planning guidelines topermitshort-term rental accommodation, subject to certain provisions.

Among the latest solutions raisedis a strata ruleallowing owners’ corporations to lobby the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to charge “increased contributions” from short-term letters.

In response, Stayz said the government hasfailed to properly distinguish between holiday homes and city short-term rentals.

“In the Hunter, short-term rental accommodation generated over $130.1 million in economic uplift and supported up to 836 jobs,” corporate director Jordan Condo said.

Airbnb said it welcomed more regulation, but not“heavy-handed” measures.

“While some of the options are fair and sensible, others would hurt not only our host community, but also millions of travellers and the small businesses who depend on Airbnb,”head of public policy and New Zealand Brent Thomas said.

Angie Hillcoat, who lets a house in Merewether through Airbnb, said limitinghow often hosts canlet their properties could have the effectof makingthem less fussy about their guests in order to protect their income.

“I make it clear if I get a booking that looks like they’re going to be big party people that I live next door. Then the booking drops off,” Ms Hillcoat said.

“You can filter people really well this way. We’re protecting our investment by doing this; we’ve had a bit of damage to our homes prior to Airbnb.”

The government will make the options paper available to the public for three months while it decides how to regulate the $31 billion industry.

A Merewether woman’s death laid a family’s history bare

By admin|苏州夜生活

IN 2015 the University of NSW Law Journal carried an article titled “Estate Contestation in : An Empirical Study of a Year of Case Law”.

It looked at the high costs when families slug it out over the wills of loved ones. Or not so loved ones, as thecase can often be.

The article noted what most people already know –that when these battles ended up in court, the costs can be eye-watering. It is not unheard-of for the legal bills to be greater than the percentage of an estate left for the claimants.

The other costs can be even greater than money.

An unintended consequence of fighting over wills in court is that our courts are open.

“Engagement withlegal processes also shifts private life into the public domain, requiring families to air their ‘dirty laundry’,” the article said.

“This loss of privacy can cause not only embarrassment and reputational damage, it can also be a source of further family conflict with the family member who has brought such matters to public view.”.

An example is the case this week of a Merewether family and what happened after Beryl Hughes died in August, 2015.

The family’s history is laid out in thousands of words on a public access site administered by the NSW Government’s Justice Department.

We know that Beryl was 87 when she died after living a fairly ordinary life, until her son David flew to Thailand in 1984, and at the age of 25 was charged with heroin offences and sentenced to 25 years in a Bangkok jail.

She was a casual employee at a local Coles store. Her husband John was a Newcastle dock worker. They bought their Merewether house in 1971 and it cost them $14,600.

We know that in her will Beryl expressed some sadness. She left the vast majority of her estate to her granddaughter Erin, David’s only daughter, because she was the only family member who cared for her after John died in 2010.

There is no doubt that Beryl would have had no idea that not long after her death, her decision to leave her only surviving son just $25 would become public knowledge.

Because the financial and personal circumstances of claimants is a key element in how contested wills are disbursed, those details of people’s lives are laid bare in courts and judgments as a permanent and public record. Worth remembering.

Issue: 38,551.

Wests’ letter to 120,000 members on Knights deal:

By admin|苏州夜生活

The Wests Group and the National Rugby League (NRL) believe a successful future for the Knights Rugby League Pty Limited (KRL) and its junior pathways can only be guaranteed under the stewardship of the The Wests Group. The NRL has put the future of the game in our region at the forefront of all its discussions with The Wests Group.

To ensure both the future of KRL in our region and the development of rugby league in our region, the board of The Wests Group recommends to members that they support the following resolution.

“That The Wests Group acquires 100% of the share capital of the Knights Rugby League Pty Ltd on the basis that there is no licence fee payable nor any outstanding debt owing to the National Ruby League.”

Information for Members* In order to develop and promote the game of rugby league at all levels and provide a sporting heart for the region within the stadium precinct, The Wests Group is committing to the development of a sporting centre of excellence that will become the home of the Knights. The Wests Group is committing to matching finding from the State Government up to a maximum of $10 million. The ownership of the Centre of Excellence will sit within the KRL as a wholly owned subsidiary of The Wests Group, if members support the above resolution.

– The Wests Group will acquire 100% of the KRL on November 1, 2017, on the basis of no licence fee and no outstanding debts to the National Rugby League.A transition strategy will be put in place from the date of members’ approval until November 1, 2017,to assure both continuity of operations and the best chance of success for 2018.

– The NRL grant to clubs over the next five years, commencing in 2018, will average $13 million per annum. The previously grant averaged $7.6 million per annum. This represents an increase of more than $5 million per annum over the five years. This provides an opportunity for the operation of the Knights to break even over this period.

– The Wests Group will continue to foster and promote rugby league in the region, in accordance with its constitution, ensuring the development and retention of local juniors as well as grass roots participation. This commitment will be to a minimum of $500,000 per annum for five years.The Knights will be in the best position in its history to develop local juniors and to compete for talent across the code. This will result in improved on-field performance.

– The development of the Centre of Excellence will not only give the Knights a state of the art home, it will also be a catalyst for future development for the stadium precinct becoming the sporting heart of the community, with multi-sport and community applications.

– The acquisition of the KRL will not impact on the current overall level of support The Wests Group provides to the community by way of donations or sponsorship.

FLYING THE FLAG: The board of The Wests Group has recommended members support a resolution to acquire 100% of the Knights Rugby League Pty Ltd, from November 1.

– In conclusion, before acquiring KRL, the finalisation of the transaction is subject to legal due diligence to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place regarding any contingent liabilities.

The Board is seeking your support to secure the future of rugby league in Newcastle and the Hunter region.

To support this resolution, the members need to attend any of The Wests Group clubs from July 31 to August 6 and vote Yes to support this recommendation.

By order of the board, Philip GardnerCompany secretary (and Wests CEO)

Dr Sarah Pearson’s new role as University of Newcastle’s Pro Vice Chancellor Industry Engagement and Innovation

By admin|苏州夜生活

Global leader: Dr Sarah Pearson relocated from Canberra in March to take up her new role. She will help to translate world-class research into real-world solutions.

You graduated with a doctorate in particle physics, what led you to innovation?

Sarah Pearson

It wasn’t until after my PhD working for management consulting firm McKinsey with high tech companies that I got the bug for innovation and commercialisation. From there I kept finding new opportunities, ranging from developing and patenting cancer diagnostic tools, to heading up open innovation in a manufacturing multinational, and then building an innovation ecosystem.

What did your role as inaugural open innovation champion at Cadbury involve?

My role at Cadbury was to accelerate the company’s ability to innovate and bring new products to market fast. We collaborated with anyone with great ideas, inside and outside of Cadbury, anywhere in the world. It allowed me to connect with marketing teams, manufacturing, new product development and research and development. It led to many patents, including applying defence technology into confectionery (ballistic confectionery).

What lessons have you brought from your previous role as CEO of the CBR Innovation Network to your current role?

Collaboration across the entire innovation ecosystem is at the heart of CBRIN’s success. For ideas inside the university to be applied, we need to collaborate with industry, the start-up scene, government and the not for profit sector. Building a common vision that people can engage with is key, setting up an open inclusive culture, celebrating everyone’s success, leveraging everything you can, focusing on the ‘customer’, and creating win-win outcomes.

Part of your brief is to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship through innovation hubs. What outcomes do you hope to see?

The hubs are an amazing opportunity for the university to connect with industry, government and the start-up scene. It’s here we ‘collide’ with industry to discover what they need to accelerate their growth, leading to collaborative projects with UONs research base, students, and technology. They provide a pathway for students to build start-ups based on their ideas, and support university spin-outs. A great example is a start-up called Elite Robotics, building a robotic lawn mower.

What ingredients make a city – and an individual – a good breeding ground for, or champion of, innovation?

At the core of a city’s success is research excellence – a university. But really it’s the people: experienced entrepreneurs willing to give back by mentoring, connecting and funding start-ups; entrepreneurs willing to take risks, based on customer needs; an engaged and connected innovation community; innovative and collaborative companies; engaged universities; support programs and funding; and a supportive government.

Why is it important a university and students are part of this conversation?

The research base is a core component of any successful innovation ecosystem – the ideas factory. Universities provide the intellectual horsepower to drive innovation, and the talent pipeline to grow business and new industries. 65 per centof future high growth jobs don’t exist yet – we need our students to drive these new jobs.

How can industry and the university each benefit from joining forces?

Industry gains a willing partner to grow the talent pipeline for growth; and a broad and deep knowledge resource to help develop new products, services and markets. University sees its students gaining industry experience and successful employment after graduation; and has a measurable impact through innovation with industry, an alternate revenue stream, and fruitful relationships with alumni.

What is the risk if Newcastle doesn’t innovate?

If Newcastle does not innovate our economy will go backwards, current businesses will be overcome by competition, and jobs will be lost. Other cities will attract all of our talent and all of our creatives, and we will have missed the opportunity to be a thriving, creative, well-resourced city.

What is the potential of innovation to transform the city’s identity?

Newcastle has a great identity and history of manufacturing – innovation will enhance this reputation. The transformation will occur as Newcastle becomes proud of, and well known as a growing global reaching innovative city/region. The spill over will be that the creative sector will re-engage making us a thriving, creative city.

Where can Newcastle researchers shine?

UON has many areas of expertise that can be translated to commercial and social impact. The major areas of focus are health/medical, resources and energy, water and agtech, engineering, digital creative industries, security anddefence.

What is your goal for the next five years?

For UON to be globally known as an engine of innovation; attracting industry to collaborate and co-locate in the Hunter, and students to study and innovate. A large portion of researchers will be running collaborative research and development with industry partners, new industry sectors growing in the Hunter, and staff and students setting up more than 50 start-ups a year, with support from theinnovation ecosystem.

Kalgoorlie on edge after verdict for driver who killed Elijah Doughty revealed

By admin|苏州夜生活

Demonstrations are being held in Kalgoorlie after the verdict. Photo: ABC Goldfields-EsperanceThe people of Kalgoorlie are “gutted” and”quite raw” about the decision to find the man who hit and killed teenager Elijah Doughty guilty of dangerous driving causing death, rather than the more serious charge of manslaughter.

That’s according to Aboriginal elder Trevor Donaldson, who said the system had”failed us again”.

On Friday the Perth Supreme Courtsentenced the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to three years in prison. He will be eligible for parole in February.

Those waiting outside the Perth and Kalgoorlie courts to hear the verdict were angered and saddened by the news.

But Mr Donaldsoncalled for calm, saying Aboriginal Goldfields Landand Sea rangers wereamongthe crowd in Kalgoorlie tohelp keep the peace.

Elijah Doughty died after being hit by a ute. Photo: Facebook/@Elijah Doughty

“They’vegot a right to demonstrate, but we’re certainly not condoning any violence and people should keep their heads,” he said.

“Because we live here, we have to wear it, no matter what. And people are venting, they’re got that right, but we wore the wrath last time.

“And as a blackfella I’m going to be hit with it no matter what. Thesystem’s let us down – justice, education, health, you name it. We’re saddened and disappointed, the system’s failed us again. But we’re survivors.”

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor John Bowler said justice must be allowed to take its course.

“There’s anger on bothsides, and that’s understandable, but we must respect justice and the process and find ways to move ahead as a community,” he said.

“There was a lot of harmony in Kalgoorlie before all of this, and we’re working to bring that back, and we’ll continue on that path. It’s clearly something as a city that we want to learn from and we will do that, engage with local youth, not just Aboriginal youth but all of them, and get back on track as a community.”

Residents in Kalgoorlie saidthe townwason edge on Friday.

WAtodaycontacted a number of people in Kalgoorlie, who said the city was eerily quiet, and had a larger than usual police presence.

“I got pulled over twice on my way to work, and I only live a few minutes away,” said one woman, who worksat a pub.

“I went up to the bank this morning to get change just in case there was any trouble and they had to close. There’s police everywhere, no trouble here so far but last time they were not prepared at all.”

WAtodaycontacted WA Police about any increase in officer numbers.

“WA Police does not discuss specific resources deployed in operational activity,” WA Policesaid.

“Resource deployment is frequently re-assessed to maintain law and order and community safety.”

Chester Bennington’s death shows depression’s pretty damn real

By admin|苏州夜生活

The tragic death of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington sparked an immediate outpouring of grief on Friday,with fans and pundits quick to pay tribute to the man who helped propel the rap-metal movement into the mainstream. Much like the deaths of Soundgarden lead singerChris Cornell in Maythis year and comedian Robin Williams in 2014, Bennington’s apparent suicide led a large number of mostly-well-meaning people to ask the question “why?”.

Why would this 41-year-old rock star, who had achieved more success than mostcould ever dream of, make such a decision? Why would a man with six beautiful children and a loving partner choose to go out this way?

On social media, a typical, thoughdisheartening, number of people slammed Bennington for his “selfishness” in posts that only got less charitable from there.

But as with so many things in life, the reasons why anyone takes their own life are not so black and white; they are inherently complex. Fans of Bennington and Linkin Park – which has sold more than 70 million records since its 2000 breakout hit One Step Closer–will attest that the band regularly explored themes of frustration, rejection and anger. Bennington had also been open about the fact that childhood abuse was a major factor in his personal battle with drugs and alcohol. Bennington was also a close friend of Cornell – performing Leonard Cohen’s Hallejuah at his recent memorial service –and died on what would have been Cornell’s 53rdbirthday.

As someone who as a young manidentified with Linkin Park’s angst-driven music and who experienced bouts of depression, I also ask why.

Why do we as a society mourn suicide, particularly when it claims the life of a famous person, and yet so often deny the depression that lies behind it?

In , organisations such as ReachOut and beyondblue and events like the annual RUOK Day have done so much in recent years to remove the stigma surrounding depression and mental illness.

But the fact remains that in too many places, acknowledging that you are battling some demons is seen as expressing weakness. A disturbing number of people continue to talk about depression as though it is not as serious as other health issues, uttering phrases like “why don’t you just get over it” or “you just need to tell yourself to be happy” – phrases that are far less helpful than intended.

The truth is that, according to beyondblue, 45 per cent of ns will experience a mental health condition at some time in their life.

Last year, Fairfax Media reported that in the decade from 2004-14 we lost 19,995 n men to suicide. The n Bureau of Statistics also reported that suicide rates reached a 10-year high, with a revised death toll of 2864 in 2014 – of which 2160 were male.

Enough is enough. We must use tragedies like the deathof Bennington to roundly reject any notion that seeking out therapyor taking prescribed medication is something to be ashamed of. We must empower people to believe and understand that if they needhelp, they will be listened to.

As rocker George Shrouder tweeted after learning of Bennington’s death: “Depression is hard to understand. But if it can kill Robin Williams, Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington, I’d say it’s pretty damn real.”

Matt Crossman is a Fairfax Media journalist. If you need help,phone:

Lifeline 131 144 beyondblue 1300 22 4636.

Dangers of text appeal

By admin|苏州夜生活

I didn’t count the number of texting drivers we saw on a recent drive back from Melbourne and it would be an unreliable indication anyway.

That’s because the only drivers we saw texting were those we were passing, and I’d imagine that if they’re mad enough to text at 100kmh most wouldn’t bother slowing from 110kmh.

We weren’t far out of Melbourne on our two-day drive to Newcastle when we began to recognise the swerve. The car in front would wander from one side of the lane to the other, back again and at some point there’d be a correcting swerve.

And as we passed in the overtaking lane there, sure enough, was a texting driver. Head down, and only one or two bothered to look up at me as we passed until I gave ’em a pip of the horn in irritation (and as a warning, since that is the legal use of a horn). Cyclists, me among them, are particularly vulnerable to the wandering texter and there have been some tragic instances to illustrate that.

Because we were in my wife’s Landcruiser we had a better view of proceedings than anyone in a sedan. Some had the phone on their lap with the left hand on the wheel and some had the phone in a hand held against the steering wheel while the free hand jabbed. And I suppose knees helped with the steering.

At night, as I have seen in and around Newcastle, the face is lit by a blue light.

On this trip back from Melbourne they weren’t all young! In fact, most were not young. The most common offenders were men between young and elderly, men driving utes or what may have been company cars.

They didn’t look like people who would happily put others at risk, they weren’t hoons, and the only person I know who has been booked for texting while driving, a woman in her 40s, is one of the last people who would want to put anyone at risk.

She was pulled over for texting, given a lecture and a caution and drove off gratefully brimful of repentance only to be pulled over minutes later by the very same copper for texting! She’d probably been sending an SMS about how lucky she was to be let off with a warning.

Texting drivers are everywhere. Last week I read in the Herald that a one-day risky driving blitz by NSW Police booked more drivers for texting in the northern NSW police region, which includes the Hunter, than in any other region.

Across the state on that day police issued more than twice as many fines for texting than for not wearing a seatbelt.

Ahh, you’ll be thinking,Corbettprotests too much!

Yes, in texting’s early days I’ve tapped out ok or back soon, mostly while waiting at the lights, but I have not for a long time.

The first reason is that it’s not worth the fumbling, that it’s much easier to pull over, and I read that there are dedicated texting bays in WA. The second reason is that texting is as blatant as a sore thumb and I don’t want to pay the $325 fine.

The other reason is that Landcruisers don’t swerve so well.

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THISis shaping up as the year of the inappropriate relationship. You’ve seen it, CEOs and lesser managers grovelling with remorse as they depart the company or announce their own pay cut as punishment for an inappropriate relationship. Most include an apology to their wife.

We’re not talking of the Clinton-Monica relationship here. An imbalance even a fraction of that between a US president and a trainee in his office never seems to be the issue, nor is coercion or inducement or other pork barrelling.

The inappropriateness is not explained, not that I’ve seen, and we are left to assume that the relationship is inappropriate because one or the other was married. Or, as it may turn out later, simply in another relationship.

Inappropriate is a word that has been hurled as a condemnation by the very same people who use judgemental as a condemnation. Both are favoured words for female schoolteachers and others of that shrill ilk, and they’ll never see a conflict between the two so long as it’s them ajudging what’s inappropriate.

It seems that having a relationship while married or in another relationship is the sticking point, rather than a manager having a relationship with someone in the work environment – not all the cases this year have involved two employees. But what does anyone’s relationships have to do with these righteous denouncers? And I wonder if a relationship between a woman CEO or manager and a male employee or between people of the same sex would attract the same denunciation and require the same grovelling public spectacle.

Just as our society moves its condemning eye out of people’s relationships, these morally flawless warbirds are moving theirs back in.