Don't Press Your Luck...

THE headlines should have, at the very least, piqued an interest.
Most Australian news websites lead with the story of how five teenagers had been killed and at least seven injured in a car accident in Victoria.
That's sad. Who won the footy?
It wasn't until later on when my Mum called, almost in tears, and asked if my cousins had been among those affected in the accident that it dawned on me: the accident was near Mildura, a place with some significance for my family as it's kind of where Dad's family lives (to explain fully would take too long).
Thankfully none of my relatives were there when the accident occurred, but that doesn't mean they didn't know those killed.
Bit close for comfort.
In the aftermath of the accident - in which Shane Hirst (16), Abby Hirst (17), Stevie-Lee Weight (15), Cassandra Manner (16) and Cory Dowling (16) died instantly and Josephine Calvi (16) in Royal Adelaide Hospital the next day - many in Mildura and the surrounding towns are trying to come to terms with losing so many young people that, in normal circumstances, would be enjoying their youth.
From the reports that have come out, it seems as though the accident happened when a car lost control, crashing into the group walking along the side of the road. A man has been charged and is in custody.
What the whole thing does rather painfully show is that a vehicle can be a lethal weapon. Most will have stories about a how a driver thought he'd (and it is generally a he) test his limits on a corner and "came that close to losing it man".
Occasionally the person will push their luck a little bit too far. Sometimes they can walk away; sometimes their families are left wondering why.
But what happens when someone pushes their luck near a group of people?
Have a look at the photo published on The Age website in one of their stories about the accident and the aftermath. It shows Stevie-Lee, Cassandra and Josephine smiling for the camera, just hours before someone pushed their luck a little bit too far.
Bad move.

Cheer Up Sleepy Jean...

WE DID some bad karaoke the other night.
Actually, I'm beginning to wonder whether or not there is any other kind of karaoke to begin with. Sure, there are people who can actually sing and sing well, but for reason the fun goes out of it then. I mean, who wants to sing just after Celine Dion's got up and belted out a few classics (or even be in the room after she's finished)?
The night compared favourably to Sunday night, where Australian Torah Bright not only failed to win a snowboarding gold in Turin, but the pub that has a big sign up advertising Sunday karaoke was closed for the night.
Bastards.
In the end it was a bit like a spotty teenager about to swap seminal fluids for the first time: we talked about how great it was going to be, what we were going to try, who'd be the best etc.
End result? One giant fizzle.
It's always interesting watching people sing karaoke, or even deliberate whether they're going to sing in the first place.
Such a person always begins the night by saying flat out there's no way known they're getting up and singing, they're really really bad at it and everyone will leave if they do sing.
A few drinks later, singing goes from being a definite no to a maybe so; many more drinks later confirms that our intrepid hero really is, in fact, a crap singer. But they get up and have a go.
This is a hell of a lot better than one friend who actually did a runner just before we got up to sing. One minute he's there, next minute he's disappeared faster than Harold Holt swimming in Portsea.
Me? I never have much trouble getting up and singing (Frank Sinatra's New York, New York, Elton John's Crocodile Rock and The Monkees Daydream Believer for those playing at home). Reports vary as to the quality, from the Cagey "you're shit" to the "yeah, you're not too bad" (anyone wishing to compare should listen to when I sing with a brother).
All in all though it's generally a fun night out (especially while drunk) - except when people keep singing Britney Spears!