Jennifer Barton, Founder of the ethical lifestyle website Social Change Room is launching her very first markets on the 11th of Decemeber, and we thought what a great time to ask her a few unethical questions on the eve of this event.

If you sign an autograph what do you write? And where do you call home?
No need for autographs in my profession. I do like to write little notes of encouragement and gratitude to my friends when they enter my thoughts. I believe love is felt most when it’s unexpected.
 
Camperdown is home for now. I identify strongly with the culture and unique characters of Sydney’s Inner West. That said, Sydney’s stunning beaches will always beckon me and my bikini on a sunny, Summer Sunday. I still hold a romantic flame for London though… I’ve a beautiful second family over there.

In your own words, what do you do?
I’m the founder of ethical lifestyle website, www.socialchangeroom.com. Myself and other gifted writers extract interesting information about ethical issues from the experts, and then relay it in ways that the everyday Gen X to Y can follow and actually enjoy reading. We put a personal, cheeky and light-hearted spin on our stories to entertain today’s youth and not overwhelmed them with doom and gloom accounts of the state of the planet, which generally causes inaction.

We’re also about to launch our first ethical fashion market in Sydney this December! Social Change Room followers have been invited to sell their unwanted wardrobe, saving it from our ever-growing landfill, and attendees will help raise clothing donations for our charities, Vinnies and WAGEC, a women’s refuge in Surry Hills. We’ve also extended the invitation to up-and-coming ethical fashion designers who would like a chance to sell their lines to a receptive audience.

Childhood Memories:

TV Show –
1. Mork and Mindy
2. Monkey Magic
3. Family Ties

Movies:
1. Never Ending Story
2. The Princess Bride
3. Gremlins
4. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Sports:
I was a sporty little thing at school – Swimming, athetics, soccer, touch football & netball. I’m a Bikram girl now, and a passionate pedestrian.

Cartoons:
1. The Mysterious Cities of Gold
2. Ulysses 31
3. Dungeons & Dragons
4. Voltron (I was the pink princess)

Hobbies –
Music runs in my family and has always been a constant creative outlet for me. Most recently, I was a lead singer for a band in London, and now I continue to compose tunes with friends here in Sydney. For me, a night of belting out tunes with mates is better than any therapy session with Dr. Phil… It instantly cures all that ails me.

Food –
Love Japanese cuisine, home-cooked Italian (I’m not too shabby a cook) and anything spicy! Can’t go a day without my summer fruits and yogurt concoction with RioLife acai berry antioxidant goodness.

Fears –
None.

People –
People are my greatest love. I care for those in my life deeply and they fascinate me to no end! Family, friends and strangers alike, just seem to have the most perfect timing, plonking a jumping castle beneath my feet when it looks like I’m about to fall on my arse.

Defining moment
In the last 18 months it feels like I’ve absorbed about 2 decades worth of learning. I’m being redefined by new moments every week.
Schooling memories, chore or cherished?
Schooling memories… Hmmm… I’ll just say I was shy and a bit of a nerd (oratory and debate team), and that occasionally made my school years a tad challenging.

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?
I’m a senior graphic designer and studio manager for a marketing company that services the music industry.

Where can people see your work?
Billboards, press ads and all over the web… If you’ve bought a ticket to a concert in Australia over the last 12 months, chances are you’ve seen some artwork that I’ve put my hand to.

For love or money?
Financial success would be a great thing for Social Change Room, to become a shinning example that ethical companies can be impressively profitable. Perhaps it would prompt more entrepreneurs to follow in my vintage-heeled footsteps? But like Color Me Badd, I do it All For Love… Besides, money most likely follows people because of that.

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?
We’re currently researching the possibility of setting up an ethical fashion store online, kind of like an ethical ASOS. We’re hoping that Social Change Room can remove the ‘hippy’ stigma from ethical fashion and show women how to purchase clothing conveniently, with a conscience and without compromising style.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Helping to inspire people to achieve exceptional personal successes and motivating others to accomplish great things – A Tony Robbins with tits! (and heels and stylish, ethical dresses).

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?
1. Eckhart Tolle – I’m increasingly curious about the human race and spirituality, ET is one of the most influential spiritual figures in the world. No brainer.
2. Richard Branson – Business advice and a vague hope that he’ll invite me to stay on his lil’ Caribbean island.
3. Tom Waits – Screw coffee and a chat, we’ll share a rich merlot and belt out some tunes.

Coffee or Tea?
AM: Espresso PM: Peppermint Tea

Ten years ago, Sydney asked – what if the city’s public spaces were taken over by artists? In response they came up with their first Art & About program. Ten years later this event is one of the most loved on the Sydney calendar – taking art out of conventional venues and putting it in unexpected locations. Join in all the excitement and come along to one of the many events as part of Art & About Sydney this year from 23 September – 23 October.

www.skippinggirlvinegar.com

Skipping Girl Vinegar – Chase The Sun
TOUR DATES

Fri 14th Oct – Northcote Social Club  - Melbourne
Tickets on sale from skippinggirlvinegar.oztix.com.au and phonecharge 1300 762 545,
www.northcotesocialclub.com
and at the box office 94861677 or in person via Corner Box Office 57 Swan Street, Richmond
With Myles Mayo and The Trouble With Templeton

Fri 21st Oct – The Vanguard – Sydney
Tickets on sale from skippinggirlvinegar.oxtix.com.au and from The Vanguard www.thevanguard.com.au and phone 9550 3666
With Myles Mayo and The Trouble With Templeton

Thu 3rd Nov  - The Basement @ Gold Coast Arts Centre
Tickets on sale at the door
With special guests Jac Stone & Ishtar

Fri 4th Nov – Joe’s Waterhole – Eumundi
Tickets on sale from Joe’s Waterhole (Gaming Lounge),
Backbeat Records (Nambour), Shake It Up Music (Nambour)
and Venue phonecharge 07 5442 8144
With Myles Mayo and The Trouble With Templeton

Sat 5th Nov – Beetle Bar – Brisbane
Tickets on sale from skippinggirlvinegar.oztix.com.au
and phonecharge 1300 762 545 and all Oztix outlets
With Myles Mayo and The Trouble With Templeton

Fri 11th Nov – Fresh – Launceston
Tickets on sale from skippinggirlvinegar.oztix.com.au
and phonecharge 1300 762 545
With Special Guest and The Trouble With Templeton

Sat 12th Nov – Republic Bar – Hobart
Tickets on sale from skippinggirlvinegar.oztix.com.au
or phonecharge 1300 762 545 and from
Moshtix www.moshtix.com.au  or phone 1300 438 849
With Special Guest and The Trouble With Templeton

Screening 100 shorts and 21 features over one huge weekend, the Festival will kick off on 8th September with the Sydney premiere of the eagerly anticipated SUPER from director James Gunn (TROMEO AND JULIET, SLITHER) and starring Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler and Ellen Page.

Festival highlights are also set to include GUILTY OF ROMANCE from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Sion Sono (SUICIDE CLUB), music documentary LAST DAYS HERE from American filmmakers Don Argott and Demian Fenton, WILLIAM S BURROUGHS: A MAN WITHIN by American filmmaker Yony Leyser, the politically charged documentary BETTER THIS WORLD from Kelly Duane de la Vega & Katie Galloway, and Sydney based film X from local filmmaker Jon Hewitt. There are also favourite short film sessions such as ANIMATION FORNICATION, LOVE/SICK and LSD FACTORY and also screening will be short films by Guy Maddin, Jonathan Caouette, Don Hertzfeldt, and Harmony Korine.

Sydney Underground Film Festival director Stefan Popescu said ‘We are delighted to present the program for the 5th annual Sydney Underground Film Festival. Our aim for 2011 was to present a diverse program that was wild, edgy and unconventional and we are certain this year’s line-up will titillate the senses and provide Sydney film-goers with a cinema experience they will never forget!’

DATES: 8th – 11th September 2011
LOCATION: Factory Theatre, Marrickville
TICKETS: www.suff.com.au

Almost every day, lovers of tea and coffee wait for their next caffeine fix to get through the day, and if you are like a certain friend of mine, then you might just have a huge crush on imported Japanese green tea. In fact, it’s more like an infatuation, as they carry their own green tea around with them all the time.

So after watching a Landline episode on green tea that is now grown in Victoria and also shipped back to Japan, I thought what better than to purchase some for them as a gift for their graduation.

One of the companies mentioned on the show was The Alpine Tea Company, which is located on a “family farm in the upper reaches of the picturesque Kiewa Valley” and sells all sorts of Green Teas, from a first harvest to a roasted green tea.

After a quick online search I found their website and it was very easy to make a purchase online. No need to sign up, it will create an account for you at the end, making the whole process painless.

…3 tins of tea later and my friend is a convert, spruiking the quality of the green tea to all and sundry. So now you don’t have to pay $50 for 100 grams of fancy imported green tea, and you can support Australian farmers and have great tea at the same time.

So if you are looking for quality locally (Australian) produced green tea, then check out the Alpine Tea Company Website and keep it local! 

Article by Zag Zaggart

Have you always dream’t of being Britney’s back up dancer, soft shoe shuffling like Fred Astaire or free styling like Usher?  Well here’s an event that will have you tapping your feet in no time.  From September 16-18 Homebush Olympic park will transform into one big dancehall for the 2011 Australian Dance Festival. A dance extravaganza that celebrates the best of the best of dance in one weekend of performances, competitions and dance workshops.

Professional and non professional’s dancers can get involved in classes including Hip Hop, Contemporary, Break Dancing, Jazz Funk, Broadway, Lyrical Jazz, Tap, Free-Style, Musical Theatre,Bollywood, Wacking/Voguing, Latin, Musical Theatre, Krumping and Acrobatic Dance the whole gamut of dance styles all under one roof!  This is an event unlike any other dance event in Australia and brings together best of the best dance teachers and choreographers this country has to offer.

Australian dancers are some of the most talented in the world if you don’t believe me check out this clip from last year’s event! We really can fly!

http://youtu.be/2UFfkw9Xyms

There will also be a Guinness Book of World Record attempt for The World’s Largest Remote Dance Class which involves a group of people coming together to perform a routine they have been taught ‘remotely’ (via the internet).   The song of choice this year will be Lady Gaga’s hit track ‘Born This Way’ in support of the Festival’s signature charity ‘The Butterfly Foundation’*.  All donations from the attempt will go to the charity. A community based charitable organisation that supports eating disorder sufferers and their careers.

You can jump online and join in on the attempt by learning this routine by Patron of the Festival Jason Coleman:

http://youtu.be/i9nMruMOq28

Perth born Shane Osborn, Australia’s first Michelin starred chef, officiated as guest of honour joining Luke Mangan (Awards co-founder, Glass, The Palace, Salt Tokyo) and Head of Electrolux Major Appliances Asia Pacific Gunilla Nordstrom to announce the winners.

The ‘who’s who’ of the culinary world came out to celebrate what is widely recognized as the most prestigious awards in the industry showcasing a hotbed of Australia’s junior talent.  Guests included:   Peter Gilmore (Quay), Jill Dupleix and Terry Durack, Christine Manfield (Universal), Philip Johnson (Ecco), food commentator Lyndey Milan.

The 2011 Electrolux Appetite for Excellence winners across three award categories are:

Electrolux Young Chef
Winner:     Richard Ousby, Quay
Runner Up: Victor Liong, Marque Restaurant

Electrolux Young Waiter
Winner:     James Sexton, Sepia Restaurant & Wine Bar
Runner Up: Anthony Moore, Bentley Restaurant & Bar
Judges Acknowledgement: Glenn Mill, Jacques Reymond

Electrolux Young Restaurateur
Winner:     Clint Hillery, Time to Vino, Sydney
Highly Commended:  Belinda Stapleton, Restaurant Botanica, Hunter Valley.

The selected finalist posters will be exhibited from October 20 at the Gaffa Gallery in Sydney. The AGDA Poster Annual Exhibition is intended to engage the general public and creative industries with the finest works of Australian graphic designers.

Celebrate the art of the poster and its power to motivate and inspire. Be “inspired by music” and create ideological posters as a response to your cultural outlook.

Head over to the Poster Annual section now for full details!

To make the album the group collected over a hundred of the most iconic broadcast speeches of the last 100 years, and after meticulously determining each speaker’s distinctive musical qualities, emotional context, key etc. then set about composing and orchestrating music to accompany each.

Importantly, the speeches have not been altered in any way; they remain at the same pitch and timing as they were delivered. The end result is that “Airwaves” is all the more impressive, the music flowing with the original emotion and timing of the speech. For example Gough Whitlam speaks in B-flat major and in a waltz rhythm; Charles Kingsford-Smith on the other hand speaks in E major.

You can check out some of the speeches at the following links:

Bill Clinton – ‘I did not have sexual relations…’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBzd_RqHSdw
Gough Whitlam – ‘Well may we say’:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ZccNJjrVk
Martin Luther King – ‘I have a dream’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUu1BPMdzu8
Gandhi – ‘Spiritual message as music’:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb5tDpLo9Yw

You can also catch Topology perform the album in its entirety at two select shows: Saturday August 20 – Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank and Sunday 2 October – Brisbane Powerhouse.