The death of the street party and why we love swearing

Block parties. Street libraries. Kerbside lemonade stands. These are the signs of a neighbourhood that's really alive. But often times, the tangle of red tape required to bring your street to life can get in the way. David Howie, whose decades-long Christmas block party is under threat due to new council rules, joins sociologist Peter Walters to discuss the real price of living in the village. 

Australians have long had a particularly creative penchant for swearing. We seem to take a strange sort of pride in our colourful language — we've even used it in tourism ads and public safety campaigns. Linguistics professor Kate Burridge and author Amanda Laugesen explore what's behind this cultural attachment to swear words.

It's that time of year again — the Black Friday sales are upon us. Last year Australians spent nearly $24 billion in that fortnight alone. But are we really saving anything? Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison explains how to tell whether a "sale" really is a bargain, or just clever marketing.