The Best of the
Northern Territory
18 January 2000
Upholding the Sabbath
'He blew .184 on Sunday: jail' is the main headline on page 1 of the NT News today.
The nuts and bolts of the story was that a man had his ninth drink driving conviction and copped a 6 month jail term.� Not before time.
However, the real journalistic art in the headline is the addition of a hint of moral outrage at committing such a heinous act on a Sunday.� If the crime had been committed on a Saturday night would the punishment or the outrage have been any less severe?
Yet another tropical hazard
Yesterday in the midst of flying spud panic, it was easy to become oblivious to another threat to paradise.� Yes we are in cyclone season and so far Darwin has been spared.� But now we have a weak low off to the west which has the potential to develop into a cyclone and at least three successive front page news stories.� Yippee.
Potential new industry for the Territory
According to an article in the NT News, canned insects have become Thailand's latest innovation in processed foods.� For just $1 a can such delicacies such as crickets and locusts can be purchased.� Yummo.� I'm sure that some NT entrepreneurs will be licking their lips with the prospect of a cricket led recovery.� I can just see the advertisement now.� In the middle of the football season Steve Waugh comes on after Richmond has kicked yet another goal and says..
'Missing your cricket?� Can't wait for summer...........'
Spot the Difference
The first three items on the ABC news tonight were:
1. Border clash between Australian troops and the militia in East Timor
2. Violence between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia has spread to Lombok
3. In West Timor - East Timorese refugees - the ordeal remains grim with disease spreading.
The first three items on the Channel 8 news tonight were:
1. Aussie troops fired on in East Timor
2. Customs officers rescue 29 immigrants and crew men near Ashmore Reef
3. Rorke's Drift manager assault charges dismissed.