Outback

Indigenous Australian art is a powerful form of storytelling, sharing deep connections to land, culture, and history. Without a written language, First Nations artists use symbols to pass down stories of survival, belief, and belonging to country and community. The exact significance of these symbols varies from region to region, but all display a deep respect towards the subjects of their stories. Curious about what these symbols mean? Discover 10 of the most commonly used art symbols below! Aboriginal Art Symbols #1: The People Think about the shape you create when you sit cross-legged on the ground. This mark on the earth, a U shape, has come to represent a human in Aboriginal art. The utensils and tools beside the U shape can determine whether the subject is male or female. In the piece below, Berryl Bell depicts the epic Tjukurrpa story of the Seven Sisters. Seven Sisters – Kungkarangkalpa by Berryl Bell. Aboriginal Art Symbols #2: The Hunter Deviating from the U shape emerges a symbol depicting a hunter. This symbol is formed from the U-shaped body and is usually accompanied by a line. The line is most commonly the hunter’s spear or similar weapon. In the artwork below, Nenkandoli Lakalinyeri of the Coorong artist Craig Buchanan tells the tale of men hunting kangaroos for food. Craig Buchanan’s works are laden with Aboriginal art symbols and show the traditional roles of men and women on the quest to find various types of food. Aboriginal Art Symbols #3: The Waterhole It’s easy to overlook the importance of this symbol in Aboriginal art, but the waterhole plays a critical role in desert survival and is paramount in Indigenous artwork. Not only do they occur in stories because of their physical presence in history’s tales, but they are also seen as sacred places and convey how essential they are in the Aboriginal people’s beliefs. Below, ‘fresh water’ woman’ of Wiradyuri people Maria Watson-Trudgett, depicts her country’s various rivers and waterholes. Rivers & Waterholes (Pink) by Maria Watson-Trudgett. Aboriginal Art Symbols #4: The Flow of Water It’s not uncommon to see tracks in Aboriginal art depicting running water stemming from waterholes. Since so much of Australia’s outback is dry, arid landscape, running water is a treasure in several communities and a valuable part of Indigenous storytelling. The lines in the artwork can involve the elements of a storm that brings the precious water flow to the dry creek beds – as seen in this piece by Ada Andy Napaltjarri. Kapi Tjukurrpa 112-18 by Ada Andy Napaltjarri uses the symbol of flowing water to tell one of the many water dreamtime stories from the Papunya area. Aboriginal Art Symbols #5: The Goanna These ancient reptiles are frequent subjects in Aboriginal art since they are significant in Australia’s Indigenous communities. As a traditional source of bush food, goanna paintings come in traditional and contemporary works, and their weight in the artwork depends on the artist and the region they come from. The water goanna in the piece below inhabits the wetlands of the Western Arnhem land, home of the Kunwinjku people. Residents know these monitor lizards and their eggs as a tasty delicacy! Here, Don Namundja depicts the Burarr, or water goanna, in the signature Kunwinjku’ x-ray’ style. Kunwinjku art is one of the oldest continuous art traditions in the world. Aboriginal Art Symbols #6: The Snake From the symbol of strength to the serpent of creation, the snake is a central character in many Aboriginal art stories. Throughout Australia’s indigenous communities, it is respected as a strong force within the animal kingdom. Aboriginal artist Michelle Kickett reflects aspects of the traditional Noongar landscape and culture through her work; here is an example of how the animals local to a region can inspire its Aboriginal inhabitants, as Michelle uses the tiger snake as the core of the piece Noorn Boodjah – Snake Country. Michelle’ Wilura’ Kickett tells the story of the tiger snake that dwells in southwest Australia as it emerges after hibernation. Aboriginal Art Symbols #7: The Coolamon The coolamon is much like the original Aboriginal backpack – its bowl-like, oval shape is primarily used as a gathering tool or a utensil to hold food. Cut from the bark of trees, deep coolamons are typically used to carry water or to rock babies to sleep. The coolamon is a prominent figure in Aboriginal art and the subject of many stories. After spending years watching her mother and father paint, artist Geraldine Nowee often paints the landscape of the desert region, including the various flowers, seeds, and bush tucker that periodically dominate the dunes throughout the year. Geraldine shows here how coolamons are customarily used to carry seeds in this region. Geraldine has painted Minyurrpa, her mother’s country, where dots represent an abundance of seeds spread across the landscape; alongside the seeds are the coolamons used to carry them and the dunes that ripple across the desert region. Aboriginal Art Symbols #8: The Rockhole Rockholes are another example of a geographical place becoming sacred within Aboriginal storytelling. Rockholes often provide a water source but are also a prime spot for spiritual and cultural ceremonies. In much of the country, Aboriginal communities relate the rockholes of the region with their own local stories. For instance, Pukara Rock Hole in this artwork by Jimmy Donegan is a Mecca for the region’s stories. One can learn the lay of the land and stories of battle and disputes, injury and recovery, seasonal flora, resources, and water – all waiting to be found at Pukara. Based on a prominent Aboriginal art symbol, the stories attached to the Pukara Rock Hole are plentiful. Jimmy Donegan attributes this piece to the rock hole and its renowned stories within his country. Aboriginal Art Symbols #9: The Mimih Spirit Legend states that Mimihs were the original spirit beings and taught Aboriginal people many skills to survive in the bush, along with ceremonies, dance, and song. According to the Kunwinjku people of western Arnhem Land, the mimic spirits are seldom seen by human eyes but continue to reside in rocks, trees, and caves. In the rock art of Arnhem land, these spirits are depicted as small yet dynamic symbols with hunting weapons. Several artists of the Injalak Art Centre tell the stories of mimih spirits through their art, such as this piece by Michael Naborlhborlh. Michael Naborlhborlh brings the Arnhem land to the viewer in this piece, Mimih Spirit Hunting 6773-18 Aboriginal Art Symbols #10: Bush Tucker Food is at the heart of every culture, and Aboriginal stories are no exception! Bush onions, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas – all bush tucker waiting to be gathered and grazed on! This food is native to Australia and is part of the culinary delights of Aboriginal Australian people. It is commonly represented by symbols of flora and fauna, usually with branches and berries, as seen in this artwork by Carol Kenny. Ladies (Coongas) Going Hunting for Bush Tucker by Carole Kenny shows the U-shaped females with their coolamons, ready to find an abundance of bush tucker! Shop Ethical Aboriginal Art Today One of Bluethumb’s primary focuses is supporting independent Indigenous artists and remote Indigenous Art Centers. As a proud Indigenous Art Code member, we always seek opportunities to promote Aboriginal artists’ talents and customs. These Aboriginal art symbols are fundamental to preserving the culture of the communities from which they originate. Knowledge of these symbols must be disseminated to strengthen Aboriginal culture and art. Bluethumb is proud to support diverse artists. Shop ethical Indigenous art on Bluethumb today. The post 10 of the Most Common Aboriginal Art Symbols appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.

An Australian man’s car broke down in the Outback, about 150 km from the nearest town. He walked...

For two couples, Uluṟu has been more than a destination – it’s been a spiritual touchstone across decades of changing landscapes, culture and understanding. Few places on Earth possess the power to transform a visitor with a single glance. Uluṟu is one of them. Towering out of the red heart of Australia, it has drawn people from every corner of the world – and left them forever changed. Among those who have felt its pull time and again are Brian and Lynda Ralph, and June and Geoff Tidey, two couples whose journeys to Uluṟu span decades. First encounters with the magic of Uluṟu Lynda and Brian at the Sounds of Silence Dinner in 2004. (Image: Brian and Lynda Ralph) When geography teachers Brian and Lynda Ralph first approached Uluṟu in the early 1970s, it was a raw, untamed experience. “We drove in, and it was late evening, and we thought, ‘Okay, this is huge,'” Brian recalls. But by the next morning, heavy rain had transformed the landscape. “We woke up, it was pouring rain, and the Rock was silver, just the way the light was in the early morning with waterfalls cascading down its sides. Unbelievable,” Brian says. A family connection June and Geoff’s Uluru journey was inspired by their daughter. (Image: June and Geoff Tidey) For June and Geoff Tidey, originally from Buckinghamshire in the UK, their journey to Uluṟu began much later, in 2008, sparked by their daughter, who has worked and lived in the region for the majority of the last 20 years. “We visited because of her,” June says, “but we fell in love with the place ourselves.” Over more than 10 visits, June and Geoff found Uluṟu to be both a family touchstone and a personal retreat. “It’s a very spiritual place, very calming,” she reflects. “And it’s not what you expect. People imagine a barren desert – but it’s green, it’s full of life.” Watching change unfold Camping in 1991. (Image: Brian and Lynda Ralph) Both couples have witnessed – and welcomed – the sweeping changes that have transformed how visitors engage with Uluṟu. For Brian and Lynda, the evolution has been profound over their seven or eight visits (they can’t quite remember how many times they’ve been). “In the 70s, people would just hop out of the bus and, often without a second thought, they’d climb the Rock,” Brian says. “But now, there’s a deep respect. And the Aṉangu culture has been openly recognised and embraced, and visitors are far more conscious of the cultural importance of the site.” “We didn’t know enough,” Brian admits. “But there wasn’t much information available then. Looking back, I just regret we didn’t understand the cultural significance.” The mesmerising Uluṟu Field of Light installation by Bruce Munro. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia) Brian points to the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa’s Traditional Owners, the respectful interpretive signs, and the re-routing of roads to protect sacred sites. “It’s heartwarming,” he says. “You feel like you’re being invited to experience something truly special, but with the understanding that you are a guest.” Brian and Lynda also point out the difference in accommodation options over the years. “[In the early days] we were in two-man tents on red dirt and that was it, there was nothing else,” Brian says. “Now, with Ayers Rock Resort, for people considering going there, there’s a really wide range of accommodation and pricing. There are a variety of options. We usually stay at the Outback Hotel.” June and Geoff have visited Uluṟu more than 10 times, but the exact number is difficult to recall. They, too, have a favourite accommodation – Emu Walk Apartments – and have discovered a favourite room as well. “We always stay in the same room – 209,” June laughs. “The room is a one-bedroom apartment, it’s so good, so centrally located, we just loved it, so we’ve asked for it ever since!” Memories made across generations The Ralphs visited with their grandchildren in 2022. (Image: Brian and Lynda Ralph) For the Ralphs, Uluṟu has become a part of their family’s story. They’ve returned with their children, and later their grandchildren, weaving memories of sunrise walks, Indigenous tours and quiet moments of awe into the fabric of their lives. “Every time we visit, we discover something new,” Lynda says. “Taking our grandchildren to see the Aboriginal rock art and watch their faces light up – it’s unforgettable.” “As teachers, we started teaching very differently as we became more and more aware of the cultural importance [of Uluṟu] to the local people and being sensitive to that,” Brian tells Australian Traveller. The Tideys, too, have found fresh experiences on each return trip. From laidback stays at their beloved Emu Walk Apartments to memorable moments with their daughter’s family, their connection has deepened beyond sightseeing. “It’s not just about seeing Uluṟu anymore,” June says. “It’s about feeling it. Listening, learning, respecting.” “For the next trip, we want to do the Wintjiri Wiṟu dinner and drone show. That’s the only one we haven’t done.” Why Uluṟu still calls them back “Seek to understand, not just to see.” – Brian Ralph (Image: Brian and Lynda Ralph) If they could go back to their first visits, Brian and Lynda know exactly what advice they’d give their younger selves. “Learn more,” Brian says simply. “Seek to understand, not just to see.” June, meanwhile, would advise newcomers to slow down. “Spend at least five days if you can. Have fun and join all the experiences that you can.” Despite the years, both couples feel the magnetic pull of Uluṟu as strongly as ever. “It’s become a very special place to us,” Brian says. “It always feels like coming home.” As for future visits? “Absolutely,” Lynda says. “We’ll go back again and again.” Because some places don’t just mark the map. They mark the soul. The post Why these Aussie couples have visited Uluṟu so much they’ve lost count appeared first on Australian Traveller.

Outback Steakhouse is taking its Bloomin’ Onion fame and running with it — straight into mozzarella stick territory. The new Fried Mozzarella Bloomerangs mash up… The post Fried Mozzarella ‘Bloomerangs’ Are Outback’s Newest Appetizer Flex appeared first on Foodbeast.

Blood and Gold by Michael Trant – Someone is stalking gold hunters. Now a bushman is stalking that someone . . . Terry Drage is by no means the first rookie gold prospector to turn up at the Murchison Hotel, boast about his thrilling discovery, then vanish! Gabe Ahern, however, is determined that Terry will […] The post Blood and Gold by Michael Trant – Book Review appeared first on Brisbanista.

This is Gaz. He’s a Galah. Most Australians use the non-Avian term Galah meaning a human is a fool or idiot. But Gaz is a real Galah and naturally entertaining by nature…mostly. Gaz has established himself as ‘spokes bird’ for the Crested Pigeons in the area. He’s very vocal if I’m late feeding them, or if I don’t give them what he thinks is enough food. Otherwise he was respectful, unless you are a Crested Pigeon trying to eat what he deems as his food, and then you will get a beak in your bum that will likely pull out a feather or three. Gaz has perfected the ‘fence straddle’ position to inspect the local service and make sure it is up to standard. We had a sort of a tolerance for each other for the past year or so. He tolerates the hand that feeds him—up to a point, and I tolerate him because he’s a Galah. One morning a couple of weeks ago after the wet week of rain we had, I decided to cut back on the amount and frequency of food I was giving to the native Crested Pigeons. They are very sweet and come and go without bother, though they do hang about if I’m late feeding them, and they poop a lot on our patio steps. This causes me work to clean off the poop and since we are downsizing I really could do without the extra work. Also, looking ahead, only four months now, we will be leaving. The new owners will not be interested in feeding pigeons and cleaning poop. They have three young children and a dog to feed as it is. Knowing there is plenty of food around for the animals since the rain, and temperatures have cooled, I decided to wean them off the seed. I cleaned the step one more time and the next morning only put out half the amount of seed. Well… Gaz was not happy. He demanded more. I resisted his very vocal objections, but noticed from my desk here in the office, it became a sort of crazed scream. Then finally it stopped. A couple of hours later I went out to see if I needed to clean the steps again and this is what I saw. There was no doubt in my mind who had created this hole. A crazed Gaz. Galahs have a reputation of being very destructive at times, but I’ve never heard of one attacking the wall of a house. A few days later I heard him sitting in the tree and making demands once again. A while after he stopped I went to check he had not removed the entire corner of the house, but thankfully, it was the same as the week before. There has been a quiet, singular ‘watch pigeon’ most mornings, just in case some food magically appears or more likely the inhabitants (me) can be shamed into feeding again. I noticed a little area amongst the native bushes on our place where the pigeons occasionally enjoy the shade. It is not visible from the treetops where the Galahs sit and observe. So I have a little dish there, and twice a week I leave a small amount of seed to finish the box before I stop altogether. Hopefully the Galah will not see the pigeons eating. When I put the small amount of seed there, I do it later in the day, too, when they don’t tend to be around. I want the pigeons here because they keep the less desirable birds from taking over the area. Right now the crows are trying to take over the neighbourhood and they ‘swoop’ people, namely ME! And I’m keen to keep them in check. This morning I resurrected my occasionally necessary skill set of patching the rammed earth walls of our house. This is another reason I will be glad to move. Believe me, if I could find someone to do it, I’d pay them, but such is the change and ‘progress’ of things here, trades people who will do small jobs are hard to find. Bad news Gaz, for all of us. Galahs and Crested Pigeons at sunrise, in happier days.

Blah blah Australia Finding outback gems and opals in Coober Pedy Our adventure in Coober Pedy starts early. Somewhere between the massive, almost dry salt lakes, the brush and the red dust along the Stuart Highway we hear a conversation over the CB radio. We’d just left Woomera and the words ‘Coober Pedy’ piqued our interest It’s a conversation between two men, one telling the other all the best things to see and do in Coober Pedy – the opal capital of the world. Turns out he’s the CEO of the council, I jump on to our CB and say ‘Thanks’. “We’re also heading to Coober Pedy,” I tell him. “And those are some great tips you’ve just given us,” so he keeps going. “Don’t miss the Breakaways,” he says. “But go the back way, through town, as you’ll see so much more.” And that’s the thing about Coober Pedy, we soon discover everyone is full of helpful tips on things to see and worthwhile experiences. The guy on a mine tour tells us about an opalised fish in one of the many jewellery stores, the guy in the jewellery store tells us about another tour and on it goes. Coober Pedy is renowned for its stunning landscapes, underground buildings (it’s too hot to live above ground in the desert plain) and for its opals which were formed from silica settling into cracks in the ground millions of years ago when the then ocean waters receded (hence the opalised fish in the middle of the desert). The result is coloured gemstones that we know as opals. It’s all about the mining in the town’s centre, of course, so Coober Pedy is not a particularly pretty town, but the landscape is fascinating. From a lookout in the centre of town – there are a couple you can walk or drive up to so take your pick – you can see relics from Star Wars and the surrounding lunar-like landscape. While many of the buildings are underground there’s enough above ground to keep it interesting. Coober Pedy is Aboriginal for ‘white man in a hole’, and you’ll definitely need to get underground if you want to see what this place is all about. We called in to the Unoona Museum to learn about the mining history of the city and then walked across the road to Waffles and Gems, which had just appeared on the TV show Travel Guides. We didn’t know about the café’s claim to fame until we arrived in town and everyone was still buzzing about it. The waffles were amazing (have the berry waffles – they are to die for) and the couple who run it – she’s Scottish, he’s German – are fascinating and very entertaining. Of course they sell opals here, every shop does. It soon becomes clear that pretty much everyone who lives in town mines for opals. We take the underground tour at Riba’s – the caravan park we’re staying in – and learn about explosives and water divining and how to get a licence to mine for opals. We visit the underground bookshop and the excellent café next door, Downunder Café which had an excellent selection of Aboriginal art for sale. We stop in at the Serbian Orthodox Church, which is also underground and John and Yoka’s opal store to see the opalised fish and walk away with an opal or two High above ground we watch a movie about the town at the Big Winch, which was really well done (but at $35 each it’s a little pricey) and enjoy a lovely cup of tea overlooking the city. We are entertained on the tour at Tom’s Working Mine, where our guide explains the intricacies of mining and tells us how to spot a good opal. But the real highlight is the sunset at the Breakaways, just outside of town. Leave early as there are quite a few things to see along the way including a Moon Plain, the Dog Fence and amazing scenery. The Breakaways are a mountain range that rise up out of the otherwise flat landscape about 30 kilometres from Coober Pedy. The sunset provides a kaleidoscope of colours in the sky overhead. But it also brings out the amazing colours in the rock formations that make up the Breakaways. It is a truly stunning outback scene. Read more about our adventures travelling around Australia here. Fast Facts We travelled in 2021. We stayed at Riba’s Caravan Park. We were here for two nights. Highlights: Watching the sunset at the Breakaways, the waffles at Waffles and Gems, the friendly locals. Join @AllAbroadAU on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube for more travel inspiration. Facebook Instagram Youtube X-twitter The post Finding outback gems and opals in Coober Pedy first appeared on All Abroad.

Australia Taking in the beauty of Uluru It’s an image we have seen countless times – the iconic image of the rock rising up out of the flat barren landscape. And yet in reality Uluru is so much more beautiful. Driving into the carpark the rock rises up, first beside and then in front of you and while I expected it to be rather long but relatively narrow, it has a far more interesting footprint than that. On our drive into Yulara from Curtain Springs, where we’d had a quick overnight stop, I tried to fool Adrian’s parents by pointing out Mt Connor to them over the CB. “That’s not Uluru,” replied his dad, thinking I had been fooled. The joke had completely backfired. But it’s true, at first site Mt Connor, or Foolaroo as it’s often called, looks a lot like Uluru. At the famous rock we walked around the base, did a ranger-guided walk and watched the sunset and sunrise. What struck me was the different textures in the rock, here smooth like silk, there gnarly and knotted. In sections, if you look closely, the rock appears to be etched with relief paintings and you can almost make out little scenes on the side. On the Mala walk our ranger guide asked if anyone had been here previously. Ade’s dad had, sixty years ago back when you could climb it. He pointed out where he went up – a vertical incline that would challenge even the regular walkers amongst us. But what he was most surprised about, he said, way back when he went up to the top, were the watering holes up there and the fish. We all looked at our guide – fish? Surely not. The guide grinned nodding his head. They’re not actually fish, he said, but fish like. They hibernate up there and then move into the watering holes when the rains come and fill them with water once more. The guide pointed out the sacred sections of the rock and explained how Aboriginal people had used the areas. It was a short, free walk arranged by the rangers but well worth it to get a better understanding of the Aboriginal history at the site. Walking around the base we marvelled over the rock art, those nooks and crannies and the sheer size of the rock. At times we were incredibly close and could feel the smooth cold texture beneath our fingertips, at other times the path weaved away from the rock giving us a chance to stop and look at the overall mass. We wandered through masses of flowers, flooding the base, and stopped at the water springs that in winter will see water cascading down the sides of the rock, but for now are simply blackened sections of the rock along which the water flows. In the very informative information centre we learned about the different animals that call this area home and were shocked to discover the number of bees, wasps and other insects that live here. The woman behind the counter told us to watch out for the smaller wasps. “The smaller they are, the worse they are,” she said and told us about the time she got up in the night to make herself a sandwich, bit into the bread and got stung by a tiny wasp inside her mouth. She said the pain was excruciating. As if there isn’t already enough to worry about in Australia’s family of wildlife, now we have to add bees to that list too. (I’m already incredibly freaked out by bees and wasps, so in truth, they’re already well and truly on my watch and avoid list.) We returned to the rock at sunset and sunrise so Ade could photograph it in different lights. It was worth it. The dropping and rising light changes the colour of the rock face and the ever-changing colour in the sky behind it creates stunning contrasts. Out at Kata Tjuta we did the Kala Walk and the Gorge walk and watched the sun set. It, Kata Tjuta, was equally, if not more impressive than Uluru. Both are fascinating, the way they rise up out of the flat landscape. It was a lot greener than I expected it to be with beautiful flowers forming a skirt around the base of the rock. Despite being there for four nights we didn’t have a lot of time to rest. Uluru is in the middle of nowhere, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that once you’ve seen the giant rock, there is not much else to do. But you’d be wrong. Very wrong. Ade learned to play the Didgeroo, there are camel rides, shops to explore, different walks and tours at the rock and activities at Yalara, the nearby town with the closest accommodation to Uluru. And then, of course, there’s Kata Tjuta. From Yalara you can climb a small mountain to watch the sunrise and set over Uluru and there are cafes and restaurants as well as swimming pools. We came back to the camp ground after doing the Mala walk to find our awning walls flapping away in the wind, the table overturned and the privacy tent missing – luckily some kind passerby had folded it up and put it behind our van. The wind was so strong we had to secure the privacy tent using the pole from our awning. And so, as we did in the Flinders Ranges, at Uluru we learned to live with adverse weather conditions and Australia’s extremes. Read more about our adventures in Australia here. Fast Facts We stayed at Yalara caravan park We stayed for four nights. Highlights: Every step! Read before you go: Songlines by Bruce Chatwin or Welcome to Country by Marcia Langton. Join @AllabroadAU on Instagram, FaceBook, X and YouTube for more travel inspiration Facebook Instagram Youtube X-twitter The post Taking in the beauty of Uluru first appeared on All Abroad.

A New Look to A Classic Clog

If a car doesn’t have a good cupholder, than who the heck needs it?!?! Those are words to live by, my friends… A woman named Nicole took to TikTok to and explained what she doesn’t like about her Subaru Outback. Nicole sounded pretty peeved about her conundrum and she said that the worst thing about her Subaru Outback is “the deep frickin’ cupholders.” She placed her drink in the cup holder and yeah, it wasn’t a pretty sight. Nicole said, “If I put my cup in here, it’s gone. It’s lost. How am I supposed to grab this?” The caption to her video reads, “Subaru of America, Inc. explain pls. I love you, but also too many drinks have been lost in this black hole of a cup holder.” Here’s the video. @bummerpunk @Subaru of America, Inc. explain pls. I love you, but also too many drinks have been lost in this black hole of a cup holder. #subaru #subaruoutback #icedcoffee ♬ original sound – Nicole De Anda Nicole posted a follow-up video and showed viewers how she modified the cup holders. Take a look! @bummerpunk Replying to @Peejay moment of truth! Purchased these off Amazon #subaruoutback #subaru #icedcoffee #cupholder ♬ original sound – Nicole De Anda Check out what viewers had to say. This individual asked a question. Another TikTok user chimed in. And this person offered a tip. That does look pretty annoying… If you liked that story, check out this one about a delivery driver who gave two weeks notice… so his employer disabled his truck when he was 300 miles from home!

Sensing there's just too much peace and harmony in the world these days, Rascals has taken it upon itself to shake things up with its first two new releases of 2025. "North vs South" is the theme, though it could also be "Cold vs Warm" as we have one pilsner and one IPA. Representing the north is Badlands, a pilsner made with American Luminosa hops. It looks well: a fine clear golden. It definitely smells American, more like a citric IPA than a European lager. While it's very clean, there's a lack of lager crispness; no snap, and no real malt character. Instead, the hops are all you get: bright and juicy, with lots of peach and lychee. It's less bitter than I was expecting from the aroma; less everything, in fact. For a beer that's presented as in competition with another, it doesn't put on much of a show. While it's perfectly acceptable as a lager with off-kilter hops, it doesn't offer the usual benefits of the pilsner style (see Wednesday's post), and runs the risk of being so clean it's bland. There's much more drama in the branding than in the glass. On the southern side there's Outback, a hazy IPA with Galaxy and Eclipse from Australia. The haze is on the lighter side: translucent rather than opaque, and a rose-gold colour. The aroma is very subtle, showing only a gentle sweetness, of tinned peach and fresh mango. It's a full 6% ABV and a little sticky with it, though that suits the overall tropical flavour profile. That's mangoes again, plus even sweeter pineapple and cantaloupe. A very slight pithy bitterness arrives in the finish and helps balance things. It's a simple offering, though happily devoid of haze off-flavours. With this style, clean is good. Both of these are decent if unspectacular affairs -- neither piles the flavours in to any great extent, but what's there is enjoyable. The pilsner didn't really deliver what I wanted so I'm finishing up as a member of Team South, albeit not through any preference of hops. Give the Americans the IPA next time out and perhaps the balance will be redressed.

Dan and his wife live in Portland and predictably drive an Outback. They are looking for a second car mostly for driving around town in something more fun to drive than the Subaru. With a budget up to $15,000, what car should they buy? Read more...

You never know what you have until it’s gone, and the proliferation of hood scoops on turbocharged cars is a perfect example of that. Looking back in time a decade or two, it was more common for turbocharged or supercharged road cars to have functional hood scoops, from station wagons to muscle cars to pickup trucks.… Read more...

I've made great memories while dining at steakhouse chains with my family. Terri Peters My family enjoys going to steakhouse chains. In many ways, they're better than stand-alone spots. With chains, we know what to expect, which is especially great when we're traveling. I've had steaks at chains that were as good as ones from high-end restaurants. Steakhouses are one of my husband and I's favorite places to get an extravagant dinner. As our kids have gotten older, we've brought them along to enjoy steak dinners with us in exciting locales or as part of birthday celebrations. Even so, our recent visits to steakhouse chains have felt like the best value for our family of four. Although we could afford to take our teens to higher-end, independently owned steakhouses, I think we get more bang for our buck at chains like The Capital Grille or Outback Steakhouse. Here's why steakhouse chains have become some of my family's go-to places to dine out. Knowing which chains my kids love makes grabbing dinner a breeze — especially if we're traveling My family has enjoyed dining at LongHorn Steakhouse. Terri Peters Chains aim to deliver consistent experiences, which is especially great for picky eaters and families with kids. At chains, my teens know what to expect and look forward to it, which can minimize stress in a new place. Plus, we know they'll actually eat what they ordered if they've had it before and enjoyed it. The first time we visited LongHorn Steakhouse was on a weekend trip to Orlando, and we've returned to other locations and had similarly positive experiences while traveling to California and Pennsylvania. Since our first time trying Outback Steakhouse, we've gone to its locations in different cities and on various occasions for consistently good meals. We still like to support small businesses and have our kids try unique, local cuisines when we travel, but sometimes our family is "hangry" and just needs a familiar meal. If we're going to spend a lot on a special dinner, it's nice to know exactly what we can expect It's nice to know what we can expect at Ruth's Chris locations around the US. Terri Peters I like knowing the quality and experience I can expect when returning to a chain again and again, especially when a meal is expensive. Although trying new restaurants with my husband is fun, it's satisfying to know we can expect our $460 dinner at The Capital Grille to be the same whether we're in Baltimore or Orlando. Since my family of four had an incredible $500 meal when we visited Ruth's Chris on Mother's Day weekend, I'd also confidently go to any of the chain's locations for any holiday celebration. My family still talks about our meal there, and I know the level of quality and value I can expect for my money. Really, steakhouse food is pretty similar everywhere Returning to the same steakhouse chain over and over means our family knows exactly what we'll be getting for the money we spend. Terri Peters I've had meals at well-known stand-alone steakhouses in cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles — although each was delicious, there are only so many ways to cook a steak or bake a potato. Most of my dinners at chain steakhouses have impressed me just as much. One standout is The Capital Grille. Our experience there was on par with the ones I've had at some of the highest-of-high-end steakhouses. In many ways, chains just make it easy for our family to have a nice dinner My kids know what they like to get at Outback no matter which location we visit. Terri Peters It's nice to go somewhere reliable when we're looking to have a nice meal, which is easy to do when most of our favorite steakhouse chains are fairly accessible across the US The meals we've had so far have been delicious, and our experiences have remained consistent. Our teens are still learning what they want out of a dining-out experience, and I like that chains allow them to figure that out while having consistent, clear expectations. For now, we'll continue going to steakhouse chains when we have extra money to spend on a reliably tasty meal. Read the original article on Business Insider

In a way, it makes sense that tall drivers get a lot of attention. The Mazda MX-5 Miata may be great, but it’s hard to enjoy if you’re too large to physically fit inside. At the same time, though, tall people aren’t the only ones who have problems fitting into cars. Sometimes, it feels like automakers just completely… Read more...

Have you ever bought a vehicle that turned out to not quite be as advertised, and wished you could just take it right back to the seller and give them a piece of your mind? Well, one Utah man tried after buying a used Subaru from a Mazda dealer, and did so in spectacular fashion: Driving the Outback straight through… Read more...

Natasha and Jesse’s journey from military coursemates to soulmates led them to a romantic outback elopement that was as unique […] The post Natasha & Jesse’s Intimate Australian Outback Elopement appeared first on Polka Dot Wedding.