April 1 – 7, 2017
News
Comment
Comment
Peter Greste
The decline of America’s moral authority
“Here is a question: Would I still be in prison in Egypt if Donald Trump had been president two years ago? The answer is important not so much because of what it might have meant personally, but because of what it tells us about the ability of the Trump White House to wield its influence beyond brute military or economic force. The United States has never quite been able to arrange a perfect marriage of its noble founding principles to its daily practice. But since the end of World War II, the US has been able to stand on its broad commitment to the classical liberal values of individual freedom, democracy and the rule of law to wield its moral authority. ”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Turnbull’s muddle kingdom fails on extradition treaty
“The botching of the treaty ratification with our biggest trading partner exposed much that is wrong with this government. It brought to the surface, yet again, deep divisions that have leadership implications. And it exposed a political tin ear that is destroying the government’s attempts to regain political ascendancy. ”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Artist Jacobus Capone and his fado project
Jacobus Capone’s performance art often finds him undertaking feats of endurance, such as his trans-Australia walk carrying a jar of water from one coast to the other. For his latest work, he found inspiration in the melancholy of Portuguese fado music.
Music
Polish Club’s ‘Alright Already’
For all the bands who think they know rock’n’roll, Sydney duo Polish Club use their debut album to prove they actually do.
Portrait
Writer and step-mother Kelly Chandler
“We’re sitting on high stools at Kelly’s kitchen bench. She’s got one leg tucked beneath her, yogi style, the other dangling far from the floor. She’s tiny. The kitchen is white and beautiful. There are toys tucked away in open shelves and in the background we listen to the rumblings of the washing machine. Kelly’s an old friend, but we haven’t seen each other for a while, in the way that sometimes happens when people have young children.”
Food
Lemon posset with Chantilly cream
I think it’s good to get away from contemporary desserts – gelatines, contemporary flavours. This dessert has its origin in the Middle Ages, and began as a warm milk drink. Eventually it evolved into a dessert that was curdled, often with alcohol. There are other iterations where almonds and egg yolks have been used to thicken the milk or cream. In this recipe, though, the thickening agent is also the flavouring agent: lemon juice.
Books
Life
Life
Satire, free speech and Mehdi Savari
Censorship and persecution of comedians is one indicator of a repressive regime. So why is Australia detaining a comedian on Manus Island?
The Quiz
Quotes
RUSSIA
“If the president puts Russian salad dressing on his salad tonight, somehow that’s a Russian connection.”
The White House press secretary chides the press for reporting Donald Trump’s relations with Russia. Apparently if the president’s businesses are hopelessly entwined with Russia and his national security adviser misleads the vice-president about his contacts with Russia, that’s “somehow” a Russian connection, too.
BROADCAST
“To be clear, a simple apology will do.”
The comic and broadcaster complains to Sky News after commentator Mark Latham called her a “female with a disability”. Latham was later sacked for calling a schoolboy “gay”. In classic schoolyard logic, he argued the boy was “gay” because he liked women and their rights.
PORTRAITURE
“When all of the people who denigrated you, Peter, are long gone, you’ll be here haunting this place.”
The Labor member unveils a portrait of disgraced former speaker Peter Slipper. The artist, Paul Newton, is perhaps best known for his depiction of the Virgin Mary on Australia Post’s Christmas stamps. The Bible is silent on her use of taxi dockets.
BIRTH
“Everything is fine. It was a nice controlled delivery. They are just waiting to assess things today to see if they can get her to hospital.”
The director of operations for the Queensland Ambulance Service describes the birth of a little girl during Cyclone Debbie. The story is not without tragedy, however: the child’s name is Billiana.
RACE
“Actually show me anything that I have said that has been racist.”
The One Nation leader asks a question worthy of Scheherazade. Unfortunately, Pauline, we haven’t the space.
TRAVEL
“Give me a break. We’re talking about a helicopter ride and some small expenses.”
The other disgraced former speaker dismisses complaints she failed to fully comply with a departmental audit of her expenses. And, really, it is small change when you consider her pension is nearly $250,000 a year.
