The Long Slide
(By Tucker Carlson) (2021) An anthology of magazine pieces by Carlson, author of the fairly recent Ship of Fools, serves not so much as exhibits for an argument against the decline of journalism; rather, as the author points out in an introduction, they are historical markers from times when political differences were perhaps more nuanced, less toxic and bellicose than our present discontent. Or, to put it another way, it is “a collection of nostalgic writings that underscore America’s long slide from innocence to orthodoxy.” (We’re not so sure about innocence, but still). From abortion issues to cancel culture, from…
Continue Reading →The Closer
Dave Chapelle’s last (?) Netflix Special, 2021 Chapelle is almost always controversial, and worth watching (except for his Block Party Special, which was an ocean-liner-sized yawn) but in his valedictory show for Netflix, he seems to be intent – or resigned – to cancel himself. He has been criticized for being ‘transphobic,’ and has obviously spent a good deal of time reflecting on (and deflecting) this. It has affected his naughty boy comedy: the naughty boy is still there, twinkling at us through his not-so-innocent eyes, but the deconstruction of his often sensible stance is slightly chilling, and the effort…
Continue Reading →Falling Short
SANFL 2nd Semi-Final, Adelaide Oval, 18 September 2021 It was hard to watch, hard to take, and hard to write about, but there is a clear and bright silver lining out of Glenelg’s loss to the Eagles on Saturday night. Sure, the opposition was better on the night and deserved to win. They beat the Bays for 3 quarters and while they were fully up for it, Eagles were handed the initiative by their opponents, who were playing in a static, clumsy and tentative manner, confirming fears over the last few weeks that the Tigers had lost their Mojo. In…
Continue Reading →A Loss Redeem’d
Norwood Grand March, Norwood Oval Glenelg v Port Adelaide, Alberton Oval (Saturday 4 September 2021) A rather surreal day marked the end of the minor round in the South Australian National League competition for 2021. At the end of it, there were clear winners and clear losers; in some cases, it was hard to tell. First, L and P attended the Memorial Gardens outside Norwood Oval (or Cooper’s Stadium, as it is badged in corporate-speak), she in her Fortis in Procella top (see below). From the Latin, it means “Forward into the Abyss” or something…seriously, it means something like “Strength…
Continue Reading →Wentworth
Remake series 1 – 3 (Foxtel) It is not Covid-19, but FLU-68 that is destroying Australian television. Fervid Ludicrous Upscaling first infected Australian drama series writers (and directors) in 1968, causing them to throw Charlie Cousens off a silo in the eponymous town of Bellbird (ABC 1967-1977). Each generation of writers catches it from the last and is less able to resist its degenerative depredations, no matter how many doses of Edge of Darkness (BBC 1985) or Better Call Saul (Sony etc., 2015-2019) vaccine they have had. Perhaps there’s been a switch a la The Young Doctors (1976-1983) and the syringes are filled with Erinsborough tap water. Australian tv…
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