Aussie Wendell

While America still rules when it comes to modern-day pop culture, there was an event here in Australia that captured the attention of this nation, bringing viewers, readers and listeners alike away from one-namer's like Britney & her new pregnancy, Tom's new movie & baby (aren't they one in the same?) and even the whereabouts of Paris...for a (much needed) change!


For 14 days, two miners, Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 37, (now referred to simply as Todd & Brant) were trapped in a steel cage meters below ground when a small earthquake triggered a rock fall in the Tasmanian gold mine where they were working. For the first four days, there was no indication that the two were alive, but miraculously, over a week ago, rescuers made contact; I had just returned from Vietnam and celebrated the miracle with the entire country...but it would be an additional agonizing 9 days before they were able to be rescued, and the rest, as they say, will be Australian History...(remember "Baby Jessica" back in 1987?)

"The nation's reaction to the agonizing plight of Brant Webb and Todd Russell proved there is some soul still there. The identification with their plight across the nation was extraordinary... If ever there was a situation that proved we are still capable of feeling others' pain and distress, this was it..." The Australian

Of course it has set about a media frenzy the likes of which Australia has never seen (we see it every time someone sneezes too hard in the U.S. and sues someone for wearing too much perfume for a gazillion dollars). Enter Eddie Maguire (e.g. Jeff Zucker at NBC in The States) who flew in town to have a drink with the miners..."oh yeah, why don't you sign this piece of paper since you're now my best mates and I'll make you millionaires." The battle between channel 7 and channel 9 are eerily reminiscent of the old Diane Sawyer & Barbara Walters standoff days. Speaking of Diane, supposedly she and Oprah have gotten in on the "securing the story rights" act too!

As they say here in Australia "Good Onya Mates," they deserve every penny of what's coming and believe me, they will never have to go down in that mine again.

On a completely different note, but in keeping with the theme of pop-culture, Pink was in town to promote her new (not so new in The States) album, "I'm Not Dead." Listen, I'm not a huge fan of the new MTV generation (there is only one true MTV Generation, and that's those of us who remember "I WANT MY MTV," Adam Curry and Downtown Julie Brown in the 80's), I don't even have cable here in Australia so my TV is limited to 4 channels (filled with a litany of U.S. programs like CSI and Law & Order...what's up with everyone's fascination with crime and murder anyway?), but Pink's new video (again, new here) is fantastic and has finally brought about the much needed type of dialogue in our society(s) regarding this new breed of celebrity and the fact that our children (no, I didn't come back from Cambodia with a child, but some of you have children) are trying to emulate these "Stupid Girls."

When Oprah asked Pink, "How do you feel as a young woman about where you see women headed in this culture? to which she responded, "Scared, really scared. I personally need more examples of how to be better and how to be stronger and how to go a different way...I need more examples, so I can't even imagine being in school and looking around. And now it's cool to have a sex tape. Are you kidding me?" Good Onya Pink; I hope you/we keep the dialogue going, as it truly is scary to see what kids look up to these days. (Where in the world this came from I have no idea...)

And finally...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Can anyone say Terri Schiavo, 2000 election or Katherine Harris???

"I think Jeb would be a great president. But it's up to Jeb to make a decision to run," George Bush