Retro Half Hour with Kevin Tuyau

This one date only! My own radio show!

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• Date: 1^st June 2011
• Time: 12:30pm to 1:00pm

The Retro Half Hour will take the audience back to the 1980’s. Playing hits from the 80’s plus interviewing people who were there at the time.

Featured Guests:

· Sylvio Hennequin: A former DJ from the Casablanca night club.

· Les Twentyman: A well-known youth worker who started the 20^th Man Foundation.

Follow me:

• Twitter: @kevintuyau
• Website: http://sites.google.com/site/myuniquestartpoint/

Review: Death by Buffet

I read the prologue and first three chapters of the book Lost in Transmission (2004, Jonathan Harley). The book is about the author’s time spent as the foreign correspondent in India for the ABC.

The author writes in a style that comes across to me as either a hint of sarcasm or an attitude. I see this as an attempt at keeping the story light hearted with a sense of irony, which I found the article to be as well.

In the prologue the author talks about how that during the war in Iraq, reports were invited to report from a place called “Coalition Central Command”, referred to as “CENTCOM”. It is supposed to be the place where the war effort is being controlled from and journalists can get updates directly from the military. The journalists are instead shown a room full of TVs showing various news channels while the officials lock themselves in a room. “More like CENTCON” a journalist says to the author. The title of the prologue comes from the author’s observation that the only chance of death at the control center was to eat at the buffet.

The first three chapters of the book go through how the author came to be in India and his first assignment. The author is honest in describing his feelings and takes us through a journey of his emotions. First he is excited at the opportunity of working overseas, even if it means leaving behind his girlfriend. As the reader progresses through the book a sense of cultural shock begins to emerge. He has trouble making friends with the staff. When he buys his driver a sink to wash in, the other staff get jealous and the tension increases. The staff keep being pleasant as required by their custom.

The author begins to resent the constant presence of the staff employed to attend to his needs. After his first assignment starts to goes wrong, an assistant comes into his room to provide assistance. The frustration of the situation causes him to yell abuse at the poor staff member. The author then describes to the reader the immense guilt he felt.

Review: Life in Mama’s House

I read chapter 6 of the book Holding the Key: My Year as a Guard at Sing Sing (2001, Ted Conover, Scribner). The book is about a journalist that went undercover as a prison guard.

The article is written from a first person perspective. The chapter’s title, Life in Mama’s House, comes from the focus on Mama Cradle; she is the Officer in Charge at the prison. The author shows a respect and admiration for her even though she is not liked by all staff. The author is constantly looking for Mama’s approval. Every time he does something he looks to see if Mama is pleased. Mama also has the respect from the prisoners who sometimes refuse to obey instructions if they do not come from Mama.

The events are mostly in chronological order but there are also looks into other people’s backgrounds. Chunks of conversations give a slice of prison life with reader being an observer, rather than just being told.

Racial and gang divisions take a large role in the life of the prisoners. The author also comments on the range of psychological issues that the prisoners have. The tension between prisoners and guards is hidden with banter and sly jokes.

• Further Reading: Guarding Sing Sing

Review: The Right Stuff

I recently read chapter 1 of The Right Stuff (1983, Tom Wolfe, Farrar, Straus & Giroux). The chapter is focused on events has seen by a woman called Jane. Her husband is in the army and she lives in community of army families.

The neighbours are discussing an event that has occurred. The reader is not told what has happened but Jane knows what they are referring to. What Jane wants to know is if the event involves her husband.

The writer keeps the reader in suspense by not revealing what happened until the end. Instead we are first taken back to when Jane and her husband first met and how they built their house with the help of friend. The writer then describes the anguish Jane experiences has she tries to find out more information about what happened. There are clues throughout the chapter that allows the reader to guess what has happened.

While remaining secretive about the event, the writer still manages to be very descriptive about other elements of the story. From the location and style of the house to the physical appearance the charters, the descriptions are very energetic and metaphoric. Examples include “wild grin” and “green screen of pine trees”. The writer is not shy when it comes to describing death. Instead of relying on “burnt beyond recognition”, the writer says “an enormous fowl that has … a greasy blackish brown ... charred hulk with wings and shanks sticking out of it”.

Book Review: Nickel and Dimed

Serving in Florida is the first chapter of a book called Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by in America (2001, Barbara Ehrenreich, Metropolitan Books). It tells the story of how the author decided to see what it would be like to live on a minimum wage. She moved into a mobile home and got a job as a waiter.

The author paints a bleak picture of the minimum wage lifestyle. Their options are limited. They usually have to work where the rich live, meaning that they can’t afford to live near their workplace. They can’t afford the bond for long term rent so have to pay the increased daily fees. They are constantly taking pain killers which they can’t afford.

While the employees are shown to be caring and hardworking people, the management is depicted as being an evil entity. They rule over their workers with little respect. They see the workers as being uneducated druggie thieves. In the job interviews the author attends, employers don’t look at past experience but instead ask questions such as “how much stolen goods did you buy last year?” and make people urinate into cups. Substandard equipment is provided and then management complains that work is not being done properly.

The management’s efficiency has resulted in cutting corners. The lack of staff facilities and a short time to complete tasks means that things are not as clean as they should be. No soap means that people can’t wash their hands properly when handling food. Difficulty operating vacuums means that floors don’t get cleaned.

The author makes many observations of people’s behaviour. She describes the retired cop that covers the hole in his throat to stop the cigarette smoke coming out. She also has gathered information and fellow employees through conversations.

The author appears to go through a type of grieving process. First she felt a shock and demoralisation plus some guilt for the way she used to treat people. She then comes to realise that many of the customers at her job are also workers in the same position. She seems to accept her situation and begins to take pride in pleasing the customers. She also makes friends with the other workers.

The chapter ends with author telling how one night everything goes wrong with computer systems messing up orders and customers getting upset. She blames herself for not being stronger. The next day she resigns. The other workers get on the lives as they always have, this gives a sense that she is disappointed that she was not able to make their lives better.

HAM430 Feature Writing Activity (Open and Closing)

Activity:
Read the provided news stories from The Age. Write the opening and closing sentences for a feature using the information from the articles.

Story One
Opening
The group disembarked the plane, briefly taking in the green landscape and fresh air. Then it was time to keep moving to the awaiting buses. They would be spending a lot of time in the bush in the following days, but first they would need to undergo their training. They had a David and Goliath battle ahead of them. Into the belly of the enemy they would go.

The confrontation was to take place on the banks of the Tamar River about 37km north of Launceston. Here, the protestors would confront Gunns, a company that was going to build a pulp mill in the Tasmanian bushland. They were about to begin clearing the land.

The majority of the protesters would be locals involved the region’s tourism industry, but many had flown in from interstate, taking advantage of new low cost airlines. Most of these people had not done anything this drastic before so training camps were set up across Tasmania. The camps were being arranged by Tasmanians Against a Pulp Mill (TAP). Veteran protester Jack Lomax was presenting.

Closing
With the mill already approved by government, and the techniques lacking any shock factor, time will tell if this new form of activism will make any impact.

Story 2
Opening
The speedboat sped across the ocean. Then the crew of six saw their target. It was big, beautiful and they had to have it. Slowly and quietly the men approached the ship. Gently they put their ladder against the hull. Thump. They weren’t gentle enough, someone heard. Within seconds security were on deck and firing at the speedboat. The men returned fire, damaging windows and a lifeboat. It was another bungled hijacking by Somalia Pirates.

Closing
Stories of pirates will be told for years to come because of their resilience and need to try their luck. Down, but not out, the attackers of Melody found themselves an oil tanker.

Review: NYPD Inaction over a Missing Black Woman

I recently read the feature article NYPD Inaction over a Missing Black Woman Found Dead Sparks a History Racial-Bias Lawsuit (6/5/2008, Sean Gardiner, The Village Voice). The article tells the story of a 21-year-old woman Romona Moore who went missing in 2003.

The article goes into great detail of how the family was impacted by the tragedy. The family was concerned for her well being because she had said she was going out to buy a burger and would be back shortly. She never returned. Despite being a shy woman who was always at home or studying, the police decided that she was a runaway and did not investigate further.

After several days of their own searching, the family finally got in contact with the media who said that they were not interested in the story. The family then went to local politicians who demanded the police reopen the investigation.

A witness contacted the family and told them where to find the body. She had been tortured for several days. The family were suing the police for not doing enough. They claim it was because she was black.

The writer tries to present the story from both the family and the police. He points out how many missing cases the police get each day and that the majority are runaways.

The language used is very direct and to the point. The article is written in a factual way with no embellishment. The main thread of the article is in chronological order, beginning with Ms Moore leaving the house then going through her search and discovery. Quotes from the family and information about the victim are interwoven throughout the article.

The most prominent section is where the lack of police interest is contrasted with the case of a woman who went missing two months earlier. This woman was the wife of a doctor. The police were active on the case immediately working full time and door knocking. There was a press conference and messages on a loud speaker.

The article also contains facts that further convey a sense of injustice. The police used a psychic to find the doctor’s wife. The murderers thought it odd that there was nothing about the abduction on the news. The police had gone to the house where the victim was being held and had noticed items of hers there but did not look further. The most astonishing fact is left to the last sentence, the officer that investigated the disappearance of Ms Moore got a promotion, for his good work on the case.

HAM430: Feature Article Practice

The following is a feature article practice from class.

The Oldest Dog

Side by side, as they have done for nearly three decades, Jerry and Woody Smith take their nightly bush walk.

“He sometimes gets so excited that he jumps up and grabs me on the arm like he did when he was younger” said Mr Smith.

With every step Jerry comes closer to breaking a Guinness record. On Sunday Jerry turns 27-years-old, 189 in dog years, making him the oldest dog in the world.

The 2004 edition of the Guinness Book of Records states currently the oldest dog is 27-year-old Butch in the US, but he died in July.

It is thought that the oldest dog ever was an Australian cattle dog called Bluey. He died in 1939 at 29 years of age.

Jerry lives in the small New South Wales town of Wilcannia, 195km east of Broken Hill. Founded in 1864, the former major Darling River port is now struggling to survive as a service town for outback settlers.

The town may be struggling to survive but Jerry is still going strong. He may provide publicity and hope the community needs.

“Everyone in Wilcannia knows Jerry and loves him. He's a bit of an identity around here” says Mr Smith.

Mr Smith is a respected Aboriginal tribal leader that also works for the council. He and his wife Aileen have three children.

Their 26-year-old daughter Tanya grew up with Jerry and now her children probably will too.

“He could push on to 28” says Dr Nelson. The RSPCA vet recently examined Jerry. “He is a remarkably solid dog for his age and has not got that wasted look that some animals and people get”.

How does Jerry age so well? Mr Smith says Jerry has a high protien diet and a “good bush lifestyle”. Dr Nelson has put it down to genetics and his active lifestyle. “He's a fit, roo hunting dog” she says.

Jerry should not stay complacent. Mr and Mrs Smith have another dog, 20-year-old Kojack, who is Jerry's companion.

Review: Pearls before Breakfast

• Watch the video and hear audio (click here)

The feature article Pearls before Breakfast (8/4/2007, Gene Weingarten, Washington Post) tells of the day that Joshua Bell, a renown violin player, played one of the most expensive violins in the world at a subway station in Washington. The aim was to see if people would notice who he was or would they would think he was just another street performer.

The article came to a lengthy 7300 words, 22 pages when printed out, but the way that it was written kept me reading to the end. Each section of the article unveils a new dimension to the story.

The article begins by building a picture in the reader’s head of the location and what the violinist is wearing. It does not reveal who the violinist is but instead gives a description that could apply to an ordinary busker.

The revelation that this is not an ordinary busker is revealed slowly. The reader is not told directly; instead the reader is moved to a conversation between the writer and the Maestro Leonard Slatkin. The writer asks Slatkin how successful a professional violinist would be at performing on the street. Once Slatkin gives his opinion he is then told the identity of the violinist. Not only has the writer revealed the true identity of the performer to the reader, he has also allowed the reader to join in on the amazement conveyed by Slatkin.

After the life of Joshua Bell and his $3.5 million violin are told, the article then delves into the events of the day. The description of the scene creates a contrast between the music and the passers by. What would keep an audience in silent awe has been totally ignored by people trying to catch trains or buy lottery tickets.

In one example, a man said he liked the music but could not put money in the box because he had spent it on buying lottery tickets. It is later revealed he did not win. Another example shows how a child wanted to listen but the mother dragged him away in a hurry. This was a common occurrence. One person did not hear the music because they were listening to their iPod. Others were busy on the phone. The writer likens this to being in their own world and not letting new experiences in.

The article then deepens through telling the stories of the people who had stopped to listen. One man was listening from around the corner because he was not allowed to leave his coffee stand during his shift. Another man listened around the corner because he did not want to disturb the performer.

At a nearby shoe polishing stand, a customer listened while getting his shoes cleaned. The lady polishing said that it is sad that people ignore others. She the recalls how someone died nearby and people kept walking past because it was not their business.

Only two people noticed that the performer was a professional. One man himself was a violinist but circumstance led him to become a postal worker. A woman had been to his concert a week earlier.

The editors had assumed that many people would come to see the performer and crowd control would be needed. In the end only a couple of people stopped. Joshua Bell had made $32 from 40 minutes of work. Not as grand as what he was use to, but probably more then many of the workers that passed him by.