July 29 – August 4, 2017
News
Comment
Comment
Santilla Chingaipe
Opinion journalism and clickbait
“Uhlmann made some strong statements on his personal position on North Korea’s missile testing and his view of how that should have been handled, as well as his views on Russia and China’s recent actions. It raised questions about a journalist’s role at events such as the G20 summit – whether they are there to reflect opinion or to have one.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Canavan’s dual citizenship imbroglio
“Already there is some natural justice in politics. The prime minister was quick to condemn the Greens for “incredible sloppiness”, while Trade Minister Steve Ciobo was even harsher, accusing the Greens of amateur-hour incompetence. Those assessments have now come back to bite them, though Ciobo refuses to acknowledge it.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Author Robert Drewe on his latest satire, ‘Whipbird’
Author Robert Drewe’s award-winning novels are much loved for their sharply drawn portraits of Australian life. For his latest, Whipbird, he has turned his satirical eye to the type of monied professional chasing the settler tradition by owning a modest vineyard.
Visual Art
Jenny Watson’s ‘The Fabric of Fantasy’
Jenny Watson’s assured handling of paint, and the worlds hidden beneath it, as well as her exploration of feminism and psychoanalysis, make her a vital Australian artist.
Portrait
Actor Steve Coogan
“For a film that is, at its heart, two men eating lunch, the repartee is tremendously fast paced, almost manic. Is it difficult, I ask, to dial it down at the end of the day, when filming wraps? ‘Well, when I’m on screen, I’m sort of dialling it up,’ he explains, and I can’t help wondering if he’s deliberately missing the point of my question. ”
Food
Pumpernickel sandwiches with bacon and marmalade
“Pumpernickel is a curious beast. A dark, soft loaf hailing from the Westphalia region of Germany, traditionally, it was cooked in a sealed container in a steam-laden oven. This more modern version hails from the United States, where it is a little lighter and is allowed to bake with a crust.”
Books
Life
Health
Death literacy and dying at home
When the end comes, most of us would rather die at home among family than in a hospital, but our reluctance to discuss the inevitable can leave it too late. That also denies us the great solace some find in grieving with the deceased.
The Quiz
Quotes
RESPONSIBILITY
“It has been such an honour to represent the Australian mining sector over the past year.”
The senator resigns his ministry after his mother made him an Italian citizen without him knowing. Canavan pleaded that the only power to which he had conflicting obedience was coal-fired.
DISCOURSE
“Mr Abbott, when he campaigned for government, one of those campaign platforms was the elimination of the Australian Human Rights Commission.”
The outgoing HRC president tells the truth. As she has been doing for five years, in the face of great opposition.
WATER
“We have taken water, put it back into agriculture, so we could look after you and make sure we don’t have the greenies running the show.”
The deputy prime minister explains his environmental policy to a pub in Shepparton. Because this country’s real future is in heavily subsidised cotton crops.
MILITARY
“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”
The US president announces that transgendered people will not be allowed to serve in the military in any capacity. His logic was unclear but then most hate is ill formed.
POLITICS
“Oxford University? That’s a school for stupid people.”
The president of the Philippines hits back at a study showing he paid to increase his popularity on social media. Given the thousands of extrajudicial killings he’s ordered to increase his popularity since, it seems a minor point.
DEATHS
“People are going to be talking about G for the next 100 years.”
The Indigenous rapper marks the death of Dr G Yunupingu. He was 46.
