Week beginning 15 December 2021

This week the books reviewed include one fiction, and one non-fiction. Both uncorrected proofs were provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Liane Moriarty Apples Never Fall Macmillan Australia 2021

I am thrilled to have received this impressive new novel from Liane Moriarty. While I have enjoyed all her novels, I was a little disappointed with Nine Perfect Strangers. However, Apples Never Fall is such a triumph, my previous disappointment is irrelevant. Apples Never Fall is an engrossing and intelligent novel.

John Callow The Last Witches of England A Tragedy of Sorcery and Superstition Bloomsbury Academic 2022.

This is a well-designed narrative, following the steps by which the last witches in England became the victims of poverty and changing social and religious ideas. Both factors had an impact on the development of superstition in Bideford, England, where the women lived, and Callow’s narrative makes this case well.

The complete reviews are at Books: Reviews

Articles this week appearing after the Post lockdown Covid report for Canberra are: Kevin Rudd and the Senate Report into Rupert Murdoch; Cindy Lou’s remarks about several Melbourne restaurants she visited recently; Paul Mecurio’s tilt at state politics; Guardian Master class online with Maggie O’Farrell and Kate Mosse; and Brian William’s departure from The 11th Hour.

Post lockdown Covid results for Canberra for this week.

From the 9th December to the 11th there were four; six; an eleven new cases recorded. Pop up Pfizer clinics were established from Monday 13th December. One new case was recorded on the 12th December and three on the 13th. Some schools have recorded cases, and been closed; one has had to only require a class of students to self isolate. Tasting facilities are now making arrangements to accommodate changing needs. Masks remain a requirement on public transport, and restaurant staff wear masks. Cases recorded on the 14th and 15th numbered four and seven. Updates to requirements will occur at 11.59 tonight.

‘A rare example of political courage’, backed by half a million Australians

Kevin Rudd

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It is a rare example of political courage — the sort we should see every day but has been made possible only with the backing of more than 500,000 ordinary Australians and their relentless demonstration that the public is demanding action to protect our democracy.

For more than a year, a cross-party panel of senators has been weighing all the evidence for and against a royal commission. Against the background of a ferocious bullying campaign by the Murdoch empire, the senators considered more than 5000 written submissions and conducted five days of open hearings. They interviewed Murdoch’s top executives, award-winning journalists, former politicians, media industry experts, academics and others. I was one.

Kevin Rudd goes full destroy the joint to hit Murdoch where it hurts

Read More https://www.dianomi.com/smartads.epl?id=3533

Media regulation in Australia is “weak, fragmented and inconsistent” with a patchwork of co-regulators, self-regulators and non-regulators responsible for enforcing standards that are frequently breached without consequence.

This has bred “corporate cultures” within large media companies — chiefly Murdoch’s News Corporation — that view themselves as beyond accountability for their actions, even when they spread deliberate disinformation.

The convergence of traditional media platforms — print, radio, television and online — into online platforms, including social media, and Murdoch’s rising influence across these domains has bolstered the case for a single platform-neutral regulator.

And the proper response is not more piecemeal reform but a judicial inquiry with the full powers of a royal commission. And this must be at arm’s length from the nation’s politicians who are, frankly, too vulnerable to Murdoch’s political manipulations. Several witnesses attested to this insidious influence as a major barrier to change.

I would expect this independent royal commission-style inquiry to examine every aspect of the media landscape — including the hurdles for smaller publishers, the state of public broadcasting, social media platforms and Murdoch monopoly which dominates our national conversations through its 70% domination of daily print readership.

Supporters of strong public broadcasting, including the ABC, should have confidence that a royal commission will investigate better funding models and enhanced protections for editorial independence. The fact that the Murdoch empire, which incessantly campaigns against supposed “left-wing” bias at the ABC and the “digital dystopia” of Facebook and Google, is willing to pass up the opportunity for a broad-based royal commission that would examine those claims speaks volumes. If Murdoch has nothing to hide from a judicial inquiry, he should have nothing to fear.

There is nothing in these recommendations that should surprise anyone. Australians know instinctively that it’s not right that we have the most concentrated media landscape in the democratic world. And they are sick to their back teeth with a public debate that is driven by the commercial objectives and ideological preoccupations of a 90-year-old American billionaire and his family.

What is most surprising to me is that the senators — including all Labor senators — demonstrated the courage to call out the problem and advance a solution. This would have been unthinkable to many only a year ago; it is a testament to the more than 500,000 Australians who signed the national petition for a royal commission last year, and the many more who have joined the campaign since then. I am grateful to each and every person who has raised their voice.

So what should happen now?

It would be unacceptable for Parliament to ignore the Senate’s detailed recommendations, including a judicial inquiry, a permanent trust to support new local news and journalism traineeships, and broadband upgrades to ensure fair access to digital media.

The Murdoch media is working overtime to discredit this report and pressure all political parties to throw it in the bin without even reading it. Some members of Parliament — particularly those who hold marginal seats, or whose political fortunes hinge on appeasing the Murdoch beast — will find themselves in the media firing line over the coming days.

If these recommendations are dismissed out of hand, it is not only an abrogation of responsibility to the Australian people but a show of disrespect to the senators who have poured a year of their life into producing this detailed report. They have scratched at the surface of Australia’s media diversity problem and decided, in good conscience, that there’s a lot more to investigate.

Murdoch’s cut-throat lobbying tactics can be intimidating. But thoughtful politicians should think carefully before siding with Andrew Bragg and Murdoch against their own colleagues and rank-and-file supporters who are now powering this movement.

The best way that Australians can achieve a royal commission is to continue to let the political class know that, if politicians have the courage to speak out, the Australian people will have their back. I’ve launched a community organisation, Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission, to do just that and I’m delighted to have hired Sally Rugg as national director.

I’ve been a member of the Australian Labor Party for 40 years, and I’ve seen a lot of big debates in that time — economic policy, foreign affairs, marriage equality. Few campaigns start with widespread support political support on their first day, but the strongest ones are powered from the ground up.

Only by continuing to demonstrate widespread public support to rein in the Murdoch monopoly, and let diversity flourish, can we hope that public figures will gain the confidence to join the Senate committee majority in siding with the interests of our democracy.

The post ‘A rare example of political courage’, backed by half a million Australians appeared first on Crikey.

Cindy Lou visited restaurants in Melbourne- none of them posh, but an interesting range.

Lamb and Flag

One of the most interesting was the Lamb and Flag in Brunswick. This pleasant venue, with its simple menu, was a delight. We chose from the menu, and the specials. On this occasion these were a smoked salmon sandwich, and a roast beef sandwich. Both were fresh, and presented with potato crisps – a very British feature, which I found rather nostalgic. The main menu offerings included a bacon butty and a roll with bacon and extras. The coffee was good. The prices are commensurate with the food, which, while not glamourous, was filling and part of a lovely occasion with very dear friends. As well, making a contribution to this courageous venture amongst the multitude of Brunswick’s restaurants and cafes was a pleasure.

The Lamb and Flag provides a pleasant and relaxed social environment that fully meets the principle purpose of this restaurant as a community service. To be able to chat as long as we wanted, while another patron spent her time on her laptop, and people came and went provides the nucleus of a successful community social environment. In addition, free meals are provided on Thursdays, for anyone who arrives wanting something filling and tasty. In 2022 the Lamb and Flag intends to provide a venue for musicians who would like a receptive audience for their early endeavors.

Il Solito Posta

The Il Solito Posta is a lively, comfortable and fun Italian restaurant in a basement venue just off Collins Street. There was a buzz of conversation, with good humour obviously a huge feature of this friendly restaurant. At the same time, it was easy to hear the conversation at my table – an important feature in my view. The food was generally good, although the tiramisu was a little disappointing. The herb read was excellent – hot, full of flavour, crisp and generous. i enjoyed my chicken , fennel and rocket salad – particularly when paired with the crunchy garlic and rosemary potatoes. The pasta sauce from my companion’s dish was also a good accompaniment to the potatoes. The wine was good – and served in very generous portions! Overall, I would make this my ‘go to’ restaurant when staying in the vicinity in Melbourne. Although the food was not stunning, the ambience was everything it should be, and something to be enjoyed over again.

Starbucks

Strictly Ballroom’s Paul Mercurio’s surprising career change revealed

Jesse Hyland For Daily Mail Australia  21 hrs ago (slightly edited in this post)

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He’s a renowned actor and dancer who most famously starred in Baz Luhrmann’s classic film Strictly Ballroom.

But it was revealed on Saturday that Paul Mercurio is making a big career change to state politics from his usual work in the arts and as an entrepreneur. 

Mercurio is currently a councillor for the Mornington Peninsula Shire and runs his own company selling spices and chutney, according to News.com.au.

He is also an actor and a dancer in his spare time and appeared as a judge on this year’s Dancing with the Stars.

The 58-year-old has nominated to run for Labor in the seat of Hastings, which is in Melbourne‘s outer south east, for the 2022 Victorian state election. 

Mercurio is among four others to put their hand up for the seat of Hastings.

The battle for Labor preselection will be held on Monday. 

Guardian Master class online

While I was living in London I attended several of The Guardian masterclasses and found them great value. They were informative, well organised and lots of fun. It was thrilling to walk from Kings Cross station to The Guardian offices for the classes. Eating lunch together with the other participants was a particularly fine feature of being able to attend in person. I have not been to an online class, but this one looks excellent.

A masterclass in novel-writing with Kate Mosse and Maggie O’Farrell

In partnership with the Women’s Prize Trust, this novel-writing workshop will provide insights into the creative process of two global bestselling authors, and give you or your loved one the confidence to take your writing forward. Order your combined book and course ticket before 17 December and receive a copy of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Journal, packed with beautiful illustrations as well as inspirational quotes and writing tips, before Christmas. Tuesday 11 January 2022 7pm–9pm GMT

Enrol now

Brian Williams signs off with what no one else is willing to say…at least…

StellaRay Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.) Saturday December 11, 2021 · 1:44 PM AEDT

The “darkness of the edge of town has spread to the main roads and highways and neighborhoods,” Williams lamented. “It’s now at the local bar, and the bowling alley, at the school board and the grocery store. And it must be acknowledged and answered for.”

“Grown men and women who swore an oath to our Constitution, elected by their constituents possessing the kinds of college degrees I could only dream of, have decided to join the mob and become something they are not while hoping we somehow forget who they were,” he continued.

“They’ve decided to burn it all down ― with us inside,” added Williams. “That should scare you to no end as much as it scares an aging volunteer fireman.”

Brian Williams

I have written other diaries about Williams, whose show I greatly enjoyed and I will miss.   I know there are those who will not ever forgive him his trespasses, but I see him as a man who redeemed himself, and did so in a way that benefited many, including me. I found his show the perfect end to an evening of big news. There was a smart calmness about it. He asked good questions and no one can ever accuse him of not listening to the answers. 

I think it is interesting that he also said on his sign off that he is not a “liberal or a conservative, but rather an institutionalist.” I get this, assuming the institutions are of our choosing and sturdy if not perfect—which clearly Williams is no longer sure of, nor am I.

I thought his words were well chosen and scary as hell. For as much as there are certainly others saying the same thing, there was something about Williams terse brevity, his choice to make these his last words on his show, that really rattled me. Not that I need to be more rattled than I am these days by what’s going on.

But I was struck by the idea that when we talk about “messaging” I think this is what it’s about. We need more people WITH A PLATFORM to step up and say, “hey folks, we’re on the ledge of loosing our  imperfect republic, our highly flawed but great democratic experiment. Open your eyes. We are hanging on by our freaking fingertips.  

There will be those who say this is hyperbolic—but I now think those are the same sort who didn’t see Hitler coming, even after the Brown shirts had arrived. And make no mistake about it, the Brown shirts have arrived in the United States of America. They just go by a different names these days. All sorts of  names, but most disturbing of all is this name: the Republican Party. There is no “both sides do it” in this ultimate game, despite my opinion on the many imperfections of the Democratic Party.  

I think there is no doubt this is who Williams was talking about. Yes, we are on the edge of destroying ourselves the way every great nation/culture from the beginning of time does: from the inside out. And maybe, while one side is worse than the other here—as in not both siderism— it is also true that the other side fails us when they don’t find the strength to fight, tooth and freaking nail.    

What we desperately need is more people with big voice to step up and do what Williams did—scare us out of our complacency. Because even in the midst of a culture grinding epidemic, so many in this country don’t get it—going about their ways as if nothing can touch us, not even a killer pandemic, because we’re just that special, and maybe just that spoiled. 

Whatever you think of Brian Williams—and I expect to hear from his detractors here too, as I have every time I’ve written about him—he spoke the dark truth boldly.

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A suitable photo for completing a lovely few days in Melbourne.