Letter of the week: Inspiring story
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The two-parter Catalyst program on ABC1 (May 24, 31), about the disabled boy Riley, using eye-pointing technology for environmental control, was fascinating. Riley's delight in "driving a car" was a joy to watch, too. Doctor Jordan Nguyen and his research team are obviously very dedicated and enthusiastic in their work to develop this type of technology. The big question, though, is whether it will be readily available to the disabled people who could benefit from it. Technology to assist people with severe disabilities is made for a small, select market, and so will be very expensive – beyond the financial means of many disabled people. Still, Dr Nguyen's work with Riley has shown that the technology can actually work – a great achievement.
Kaye Gooch, Prahan
Chewing the fat
The research in Michael Mosley's Trust Me, I'm a Doctor series (SBS) provides some really useful advice for achieving better health, through diet/exercise etc. But his preamble claim (that the series cuts through the contradictions/confusions) can't really apply to issues where knowledge is still a work-in-progress. For example, regarding the significance of dietary fats, where two "experts" interviewed drew diametrically opposite conclusions.
John O'Hara, Mount Waverley
The rebooted Top Gear has failed to draw in big audiences.
Wrong gear
The "new" Top Gear (BBC First) features a hyperactive man with the presentation ability of a teenager and an American actor who can do little more than badly try to take the piss out of the British. Same old set, same old format, but without the entertainment of presenters who have no pretence to hype up otherwise poor cars in a manner than shows their faults and shortfalls. It's not really worth loading the series link, and I cannot wait for the real one to come back.
David Arelette, Yarrambat
Hair supply
The ABC's new serial Cleverman was unbelievable silly. A pinch of nudity, some international actors for credibility and a plot seemingly developed by teenagers. The last time I saw a lost finger regenerated was in the 1960s movie Carry on Screaming. Come to think of it, several of the monsters in that seemed to have morphed into "Hairys". Did they use Mad as Hell's make-up artist? Surely the ABC can do better than this.
Frank Conlon, Greensborough
Rapturous Rake
It doesn't happen very often but when season 4 of a TV comedy-drama is as good as, if not better than the previous seasons, you know there is something very special about the production. Rake (ABC) is just such a show. The first three seasons were excellent, but if the episodes aired so far of season four are anything to go by, this is brilliant Australian TV. A case in point, episode three aired June 2. The opening scene – baroque music playing in the background, two bikie gangsters getting ready to torture and murder Cleaver discussing the merits or otherwise of reality TV shows, Cleaver restrained with electrodes attached to his sensitive bits trying to strike up some morsel of rapport with his captors. Surreal, funniest scene I've seen in yonks and absolutely laugh out loud. The regular cast headed by Richard Roxburgh are unbelievably good as is the exceptional quality of the writing in every episode. Literally must-watch, compelling viewing. Bravo ABC.
Mary Edwards, Kilsyth
Bare cabinet
Peter Waterhouse, (GG 02/06) it is often said that insults usually reveal more about the insult-er than the insult-ee. Jacqui Lambie's assessment of Cory Bernardi is a perfect example of the non "on-message" gems Annabel Crabb frequently unearths. Far from criticising Kitchen Cabinet's producers, I say, bring it on! They're providing Australian voters a valuable service in this election season ('tis a pity that most will be watching the "other" cooking shows). Oh, and until there is true gender equality in our parliament, your suggested "role reversal" is merely a false dichotomy.
Leon Burgher, Stony Creek
Midsomer's end
So Midsomer Murders is drawing to a close. In spite of my sarcastic comments about the series, I shall miss the village green, the decadent class-ism, the nosy neighbours, the spooky woods, the buckets of red herrings and the dumb luck of John Barnaby as he ambles through another case; his mangy dog Sykes and above all the sinister sound of the theremin, foreshadowing more murders.
Pamela Pilgrim, Highett
I say ...
Mad as Hell (ABC 19/5) took Mr Shorten to task for waffling but didn't pick him up for saying "… for Chloe and I". Could every household, office, classroom and broadcasting studio have a swear jar for every time "I" is used instead of "me"?
Elisabeth Middleton, Clematis
Outlook for teachers
I watched Revolution School (ABC) with trepidation. Being a retired teacher, such reality can strike close to home. I found it true enough, however I have to comment on the statement that reducing class sizes has little effect on student performance. This may be true, but the consequences make a difference to teachers work load and stress. With individual learning plans, constant assessment and little regard to class sizes, the future looks daunting for teachers.
Cathy Price, Warrandyte
ABC's 7.30 presenter Leigh Sales.
Election preferences
It is interesting to watch Leigh Sales of the ABC 7.30 report show her preference when interviewing politicians during this election campaign. Liberal politicians are allowed to finish sentences, expand on their policies and get off track without reprimand. Labor politicians are continually interrupted, challenged on every issue and spoken to in an entirely different voice. So much for un-biased interviewing.
Pauline Duncan, Maffra
Bare necessities
Thank you to ABC for having the boldness to report, with pictures, the Spencer Tunick mass nudity event in Colombia. The sky did not fall in. More of the same please.
Geoffrey Blakemore, Berwick
Feline bad
I walked past an abandoned warehouse yesterday, in which two feral cats were fighting over the carcass of a dead pigeon. The sound produced by that feline battle was still preferable to the sound of Brian Taylor's awful, awful commentary
Rick Gunn, Footscray
Mourning Mooney
I'm disappointed the ABC isn't renewing Lawrence Mooney's Dirty Laundry Live. His acerbic take on current events was refreshing in a world that adores celebrity. There was nothing else like it.
Kim Cofield, Mildura
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