To all Pubsters, their family and friends, and to all people in Australia in lockdown, or dealing with any effects of the Covid19 Pandemic, we send our best wishes for the best in these times.
Please stick to the rules of your Lockdown, follow medical advice. Wear your masks, do your social distancing, your handwashing and sanitising.
Stay home as directed. It is better to be bored than sick. Use your common sense: if in doubt stay home.
I have some suggestions to help spark ideas to pass the time at home. Do you have other ideas to share?
With the internet you can learn a new hobby, or a language, or listen to podcasts, music, jokes, explore art or sport or anything. You can go online to Berkeley College, USA, for example. Every lecture in every course is available to watch, for free. Play online (non gambling) games. Talk to others in your household.
Live cams from all over the world let you see other places from home. My favourite is Africacam at the waterholes to see wild animals gather to drink.
Get the kids to make their own board-games or invent new or rediscover old playroom games.
You could start to gather your family history from your elders, by phone.
Use the phone instead of a visit.
Lockdown gives you time to do such home-based projects that you wanted to do, but could not fit into your schedules. Protecting mental health is very important. Phone friends!
Think back to WW2, when restrictions were drastic in many countries. If they could do it, you can.
Maybe keep a diary, and/or a family scrapbook, so future generations can read about your experiences of these times.
If you have been ill, or know someone affected by Covid19, we wish for a rapid recovery.
For all who have suffered grief from Covid19, we give you our sincere sympathy.
We hope we can keep ourselves and each other safe.
Remember, consult your doctor, follow medical advice on vaccinations (not internet rumours or human gossip) and other health issues, follow Lockdown restrictions (including mask-wearing and staying home), and err on the side of caution.
Our leaders are limited in dealing with this pandemic by their abilities and beliefs. Some do well, others less so, as is clear from the data.
We can only try to influence our leaders, but we have control over ourselves.
So what are our areas of direct control?
- Our conduct.
- Our choices.
- Our decisions.
- Our understanding and patience with ourselves and others.
- Our words.
It is up to each one of us to act for the good of all, because what is good for us all is good for each of us.
Thank you to all you front line workers, volunteers, health staff, welfare staff and others keeping vital services running, often at risk to yourselves.
For example, my friend received free delivered meals from a group of volunteers from the Indian community. Thank you to that group.
Thank you to everyone doing the right thing to keep us safe.
Drop into The Pub, if you want!
THE PUB 
Two more weeks of lockdown in the ACT – to 2 September.
friendlyjordies –
Remember Bruz breaking NSW lockdown rules in May last year?
Here’s a refresher, in case you forgot – and guess where he went.
NSW deputy premier spent weekend ‘on the farm’ despite telling public not to travel
John Barilaro says travelling to second property 125km away did not breach lockdown rules
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/07/nsw-deputy-premier-spent-weekend-on-the-farm-despite-telling-public-not-to-travel
Why lie about building a cubbyhouse on a property you never live in?
Well, Bruz has now changed the rules for the latest NSW lockdown. He has specifically included trips to allow one person in a family to travel to regional NSW to “tend a second residence”. Well, that cleared up that problem. Not only does he get to visit his country estate but he does not need to take his kid with him to justify lies about cubbyhouses.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/aug/16/australia-covid-nsw-pfizer-morrison-berejiklian-sydney-corona-lockdown-
Usually, circumstances alter cases.
In this case, a case alters circumstances.
As some wag said, you can get to your holiday house regional NSW provided every one drives themself
Leone re Matt Canavan and why do people vote for the twerp?
Remember in the last election Senator Eric Abetz was number one on the Tasmania ticket
There was a very successful campaign to get people voting Liberal to vote below the line putting Abetz at 60(last)
Almost no one in Tas voted “1” Liberal above the line
everyone who voted Liberal voted Abetz at 60
Abetz got in because count votes for party not for candidate
I would say the odious Canavan will get back into the Senate even if he swung naked
F.M
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/16/we-hate-covid-but-we-hate-it-even-more-when-politicians-try-to-police-their-way-out-of-a-public-health-crisis
Someone sent me this as an explanation why Afghanistan was unwinnable. It makes sense to me now.
Afghanistan Meant Nothing
Laura Jedeed
A Veteran Reflects on 20 Wasted Years
https://laurajedeed.medium.com/afghanistan-meant-nothing-9e3f099b00e5
And some good writing on the upcoming Canadian election
Thanks for the articles about the Canadian election. Interesting reading.
September looks like it’ll be a major global election month, with elections happening in Canada, Russia and Germany in the one week.
Scrott makes the Aljzeera ‘Live coverage’ .
.
Australia PM ‘devastated’ by situation in Afghanistan
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/16/taliban-says-afghanistan-war-over-as-president-diplomats-flee#:~:text=Australia%20PM%20%E2%80%98devastated%E2%80%99%20by%20situation%20in%20Afghanistan
Another Scovid coulda, shoulda, didna
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-16/australian-military-rescue-afghanistan-proceed-when-possible/100381278
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/16/coalition-accused-of-being-too-slow-to-organise-evacuation-mission-to-afghanistan
Leigh Sales graced 7.5 with her absence. Laura was there.
Is there any girl’s name that doesn’t have a song?
1960
Worth opening the tweet, opening the image and reading. Kos is a Director at polling outfit RedBridge, and was the brains behind Dan Andrews’ 2018 election victory when he worked for Labor (the former state secretary is usually credited with that, but my info is Kos actually came up with the winning strategy). He knows how to pick up the vibe.
The States and Territories are doing it for themselves because there is no National leadership worth the name.
The populace as well as the governments.
Julian Hill –
Acting now is acting too late –
Julian Hill –
For some reason this happens at all of Scotty’s pressers
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Peter Hartcher explains that there are seven conclusions we can draw from the disastrous, costly and misguided allied occupation of Afghanistan. All of them point to significant security and geopolitical problems ahead as the emboldened Taliban regain control. Sage words.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/mission-demolished-afghanistan-s-hollywood-democracy-crumbles-20210816-p58j0j.html
The SMH editorial declares that Australia has come out badly in the longest war’s dismal endgame.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/australia-comes-out-badly-in-the-longest-war-s-dismal-endgame-20210816-p58j86.html
Matthew Knott writes that Biden’s silence during the Kabul exit is another aspect of the Afghanistan fiasco.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/biden-s-silence-during-kabul-exit-is-another-aspect-of-afghanistan-fiasco-20210816-p58j28.html
Greg Sheridan says the jury is still out on whether Taliban has changed its spots.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/jury-still-out-on-whether-taliban-has-changed-its-spots/news-story/92a5d4dd4064ffd5691da9648f2c2005
But Clive Williams believes that Taliban 2.0 will be little different to Taliban 1.0.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/taliban-20-will-belittle-different-totaliban-10/news-story/7a5a7f293bc4a79adee2003e160034ed
It has taken 20 years to prove the invasion of Afghanistan was totally unnecessary, opines Simon Jenkins.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/16/20-years-invasion-afghanistan-unnecessary-post-imperial-fantasy
“There’s no getting away from it – we’ve all failed Afghanistan’s hopeful girls”, says Michelle Grattan.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2021/08/16/michelle-grattan-afghanistans-hopeful-girls/
Kate Banville tells us how the end of the Afghanistan war is taking an emotional toll on Australian veterans.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/17/a-distressing-time-end-of-afghanistan-war-takes-emotional-toll-on-australian-veterans
As the Taliban returns, 20 years of progress for women looks set to disappear overnight.
https://theconversation.com/as-the-taliban-returns-20-years-of-progress-for-women-looks-set-to-disappear-overnight-165012
Morrison says troops died ‘for a great cause’ in Afghanistan. To quote a grieving father, that’s bullshit, writes Paul Daley.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/16/morrison-says-troops-died-for-a-great-cause-in-afghanistan-to-quote-a-grieving-father-thats-bullshit
Phil Coorey writes about a July survey that shows faith in Morrison, Berejiklian has ‘fallen off a cliff’ as delta runs riot.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/faith-in-morrison-berejiklian-falls-off-a-cliff-as-delta-runs-riot-20210816-p58j12
Saarah Martin unpicks the latest Essential poll which is essentially about the covid response.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/17/half-of-australian-parents-concerned-their-children-are-developing-behavioural-issues-due-to-lockdowns
NSW Police Minister David Elliott is urging the public to tip off police to illegal family gatherings and household visits, saying it is one of the most effective ways for the state to bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/police-minister-says-public-tip-offs-needed-to-stop-covid-19-outbreak-20210816-p58j5y.html
Clay Lucas reports that More than 40 per cent of aged care staff across Australia are yet to have their first COVID-19 vaccination despite Morrison saying in June that immunisation for nursing home workers was mandatory.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/more-than-40-percent-of-aged-care-workers-yet-to-get-first-shot-of-vaccine-20210816-p58j4y.html
Gordon Gregory writes about vaccinating aged care staff and the mismanagement by Scott Morrison’s government. He says the Federal Government’s approach to prioritising population groups for covid vaccines can be characterised as one that has favoured and promoted whichever group has newly-acquired media coverage while having no compunction whatsoever about whether higher priorities have been met.
https://johnmenadue.com/vaccinating-aged-care-staff-mismanagement-by-scott-morrisons-government/
This is an interesting explanation from an anonymous contact tracer about how it all works.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/16/what-its-like-as-a-contact-tracer-to-tell-someone-they-have-covid-and-what-happens-next
According to the AFR, health experts say the additional 530,000 Pfizer doses being sent to Sydney will do little to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned the state could soon report more than 1000 cases a day.
https://www.afr.com/politics/nsw-could-hit-1000-cases-a-day-by-september-20210816-p58j4u
The SmAge tells us how Morrison and McGowan are at loggerheads as WA strives for a COVID-free state.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/wa-premier-defends-stance-to-keep-borders-and-lockdowns-after-reaching-80-per-cent-jab-rates-20210816-p58j4n.html
Maybe Gladys Berejiklian wanted to provide hope but her message on easing NSW restrictions misled us, says Anne Davies. She describes Berejiklian’s morning pressers as “a fact-free zone, with the next after the numbers annoncements 45 minutes often filled with confusing messages and slogans.”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/16/maybe-gladys-berejilian-wanted-to-provide-hope-but-her-message-on-easing-restrictions-misled-us
The National Party has ceased to be a political party in the ordinary sense of the word. Instead, it has become a wholly owned subsidiary of big mining and energy lobbies, says Jack Waterford.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-national-party-in-the-service-of-the-mining-lobby/
With service industries and foreign tourism decimated, the potential fall in ore prices and demand shows just how much the country relies on mining exports, explains Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/17/an-end-to-australias-iron-ore-export-boom-is-just-what-the-economy-doesnt-need
Here’s the second article from Nick McKenzie and Joel Tozer on the neo-Nazi movement in Australia. A nice mob!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/political-ambitions-and-anti-lockdown-protests-how-neo-nazis-seek-to-spread-influence-20210813-p58imf.html
This team of researchers have concluded that contemporary right-wing extremism in Australia is a radically anti-democratic movement. Their aim is to erode faith and trust in Australian democracy, no matter which political party is in power.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/right-wing-extremism-weaponises-democracy-against-itself-20210816-p58j5g.html
Nothing says “we are the government for big business only” like doling out money for nothing to multinationals with one hand, while simultaneously clawing back cash from the impoverished with the other, writes Michelle Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/corporate-welfare-for-the-greedy–robodebt-20-for-the-needy,15394
Josh Frydenberg has been accused of attempting to short-change victims of dodgy financial institutions by curtailing the amount of compensation available to customers of collapsed firms in a long-overdue royal commission reform.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/tight-fisted-compo-scheme-undercuts-victims-20210816-p58j45
NSW Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean has fired a fresh salvo at federal Coalition counterparts over climate inaction, warning the public will use the ballot box to force change.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/get-out-of-the-way-kean-calls-out-canberra-over-climate-20210816-p58j5j.html
Michael Allen says that the resources industry must clean up its act or get out of the way.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7388928/resources-industry-must-clean-up-its-act-or-get-out-of-the-way/?cs=14264&utm_source=website&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews
Australian universities are adapting to a dramatically different business model, but closed borders are exacerbating the financial arguments with Canberra, explains Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/universities-count-losses-search-for-gains-20210816-p58j2k
Government funding for schools entrenches social inequality and leaves parents with few choices, writes Emma Willson.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/inequitable-education-policy-worsens-class-divide-and-drives-teachers-away,15410
Nick Bonyhady reports that the CFMMEU and six of its officials have been hit with $428,250 in fines over their handling of a series of safety disputes during the redevelopment of an Adelaide Airport terminal in 2019.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cfmmeu-cops-400-000-in-penalties-for-adelaide-airport-breaches-20210816-p58j36.html
John Lord writes that the Coalition governs for those that have, and the have-nots are left far behind.
https://theaimn.com/the-coalition-governs-for-those-that-have-and-the-have-nots-are-left-far-behind/
With investors becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, it isn’t surprising that BHP is considering selling its oil and gas business. But it is at odds with the strategy of one of its peers, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/faced-with-fight-or-flight-bhp-chooses-to-flee-20210816-p58j44.html
Cardinal Raymond Burke, a staunch conservative in the US Catholic church who has emerged as a leading critic of Pope Francis and a vaccine sceptic, was placed on a ventilator just days after testing positive for Covid-19. Enough said.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/16/vaccine-skeptic-us-cardinal-raymond-burke-ventilator-covid
Cartoon Corner
David Pope – ouch!
David Rowe
Cathy Wilcox
Glen Le Lievre
John Shakespeare
Andrew Dyson
Matt Golding
Dionne Gain
John Spooner
From the US
Hartcher has some good points but in recent times he has been hanging out with a lot of think tank people given the number of quotes he gets from them. So always keep a hefty supply of ‘pinches of salt’ handy given the sort of funding sources and agendas the think tanks have.
I recently saw Hartcher has penned several articles in ASPI publications so I guess he is now in the orbit of Thinktankistan these days. No wonder in recent months when reading his articles I have occasionally become ‘disorientated’ with a sense of deja vu . It suddenly felt like I was reading some Greg Sheridan from back in the days Greg wrote purple prose fawning over US Foreign policy, especially re the Middle East. 😆
NEW THREAD