Weird is how I like it best

This came with the Phở gà đặc biệt (Special chicken noodle soup -> lots of weird chicken parts) at Pho An Bankstown today, a chicken consomme with a perfectly intact soft boiled egg yolk? I need to learn how to make this!

Distinction, but the exclusiveness of the Journalism industry strikes again!

The Manly Daily doesn't accept articles by students, which probably also means they don't let their work experience kiddos do anything either. If I ever become an editor-in-chief, I'm gonna give everyone a chance... well, eventually (:

It's not me who sufferers though, it's those with bladder conditions, I'll try my hardest to get something published for you guys one day! :)

Story 2a

15^th May, 2011

By Simon Pham

Manly visitors are surrendering to nature’s call more than ever.

There are nearly four public urination charges recorded every week according to the Manly Police.

In a recent weekly message on the Council website, Mayor Jean Hay said: “Irresponsibility is more the likely cause for such anti-social behaviour as urinating in public than a lack of available amenities.”

There are 33 public toilets in the 16 square kilometre Manly area. However, few of these are open after midnight.

Most cases of public urination occur during the late hours on Friday or the weekend. At a recent council meeting, Mayor Hay and the majority of the council rejected a proposal to extend public toilet hours due to the possibility of encouraging “anti social behaviour” as stated in the Council meeting’s minutes. The Council also said that more signage will be made to inform people where these few 24 hour toilets are located.

However, for those with urinary and bladder conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), late night toilet access issues are claimed to be solved by the ‘Can’t Wait’ card. The card is an initiative of Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA), and given to CCA members to outline their condition, and need for urgent access to a toilet to others.

When asked about the authority of the ‘Can’t Wait’ Card, Doctor Scott Smid, an IBD expert from the University of Adelaide, said:

“It’s up to the discretion a shop proprietor or small business etc to allow a member of public to use their facilities.

“They may be under the incorrect perception that they may soil or otherwise contaminate and infect the loo.

“More community awareness is needed.”

Demand for toilets has forced some people to even come to licensed venues with toilets. With a 255.4 per cent increase in offensive conduct incidents in the North Sydney area according to the recently released NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research 2010 report however, shop owners may be hesitant in offering their toilet facilities.

Watervue Restaurant at the Corso employee, Riy Felice, said: “The restaurant’s toilets are only for customers.

“People at the beach and visiting Manly should really have their own toilets.”

However, according to a CCA survey, more than half the IBD respondents were denied access to a toilet after explaining their illness and even after showing their card.

The CCA survey also said that the worst offenders were petrol stations, cafes and retail shopping strips.

An employee from a private cleaning company for Manly Council, who did not wish to be named, said: “The conditions of the public toilets I clean can be pretty appalling, so I don’t blame shop owners for keeping out randoms and troublemakers.”

According to Doctor Smid, “IBD sufferers have to go to the toilet just like the rest of us, but they may not have adequate control at moments related to episodes of urgency, diarrhea, etc, so they may have to go more often or at unexpected or unpredictable times.”

IBD affects more than 61,000 Australians, and is expected to rise by 23 per cent in 2020 according to the CCA.

May is National Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness month.