December 17, 2022 – January 6, 2023
News
Comment
Comment
Peter Doherty
What we got wrong about Covid-19
“Right at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, even as the informed science community was telling everyone that this was not influenza, we were, perhaps unconsciously, basing our approach on the assumption that the causative SARS-CoV-2 virus would tend to behave like the flu. Covid-19 was just another viral pneumonia, right?”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
What the prime minister did next
“What we are seeing already is a government comfortable in the exercise of power and confident enough to risk losing a fight that it judges worth having. A Newspoll analysis of support for the past four incoming governments at the end of their first six months shows the Albanese government second only to Kevin Rudd’s in popularity.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Actor Michael Sheen
For Michael Sheen – in Sydney to star in Amadeus, in which he performed more than two decades ago – past and present are inextricably entwined.
Fiction
Dream of the Magi
“It’s not easy, being on the road. The roads being what they are, and my companions always keen on finding something low-budget. Melchior is generally okay with a twin share, but Gaspar – another story. It’s embarrassing, standing there in your crowns at reception as Gaspar quizzes some poor desk clerk about whether breakfast is included and whether there are extra pillows.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Media
“I am beyond gutted and devastated to know I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party.”
The Sky News host apologises after harassing female colleagues at a work function. He said he “dropped the ball”, an interesting choice of words from a man who has been previously in trouble for pulling out his dick at a work lunch.
Technology
“You weren’t expecting this, were you?”
The comedian responds after bringing Elon Musk on stage, which led to 10 minutes of solid booing from the audience. Both men are well known for taking something great and destroying it – in Chappelle’s case, his career.
Animals
“He has, despite what we see on the video, a natural affinity and love of horses.”
The lawyer for Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir attempts to defend his client against charges of animal cruelty. In a real photo finish, Weir confessed to abuse but not torture.
Science
“There’s a lot known about male snake genitalia but not so much – really anything – known about females.”
The University of Adelaide academic publishes her work revealing for the first time that snakes have clitorises. If you want a joke about this, you will have to read a lower- brow publication.
Music
“I am a beautiful black woman and I am not going to get in front of some audience of white people for them to be throwing shit at me.”
The American rapper cancels a show in Brisbane, calling Australia a racist country and saying she will not tour here again. She also cited our “weak ass currency”, which is fair enough.
Race
“We haven’t advocated for any terrorist … We advocate for white people.”
The neo-Nazi leader is recorded explaining himself during evidence in his trial for assaulting a security guard. Sewell is pleading self-defence, which is the central misunderstanding of the far right.
Politics
“Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker.”
The Opposition Leader continues to refer to Sharon Claydon as Mr Speaker. It’s almost as if he can’t imagine a woman in a position of power.
Crime
“We are asking questions, we don’t know why they did it, I cannot give you a response to why they have done what they have done.”
The father of the men responsible for a mass shooting in Queensland reflects on their crimes. The brothers and a woman were anti-vax conspiracy theorists and possibly in a throuple.
