About a week ago, as we Melburnians began Lockdown 2, I realised that many other cities and areas are in the same position. I realised that ‘this’ may well be our medium-term future – permanent physical distancing, local cluster lockdowns, no international (and minimum domestic) travel, no large scale events (sports, entertainment, pubs, clubs, restaurants). And I realised that no one seems to be planning for this as our ‘future’. Everyone is assuming we will return to old normal. With no vaccine on the near-term horizon, the number of global cases continuing to hit daily records, this no longer seems likely. I wondered: What might our medium-term future really look like?Read More »
STUMPED! What Are My Goals for Life (at 70)??
Conversing with a young friend recently, I was asked, in the middle of some fairly superficial conversation, ‘So, Graham, what are your goals now?’ This is the difficult type of question I usually ask others. This time, I was stumped. What are my goals for life now? Why am I here?Read More »
Doing the Covi Avoidance Dance (the Covoid)
Watching ‘Grease’ recently, I realised I’ve been dancing most days over the last 10 weeks. It’s a new dance. It’s called the Covi Avoidance Dance. Here’s how it goes.Read More »
Why Traditional Arts Are Being Ignored During Covi
I’m a financial supporter of various art forms. I love the theatre, cinema, live music, art exhibitions, drawing. So I’ve been surprised that, during this chaotic covi period, what we have heard from traditional Arts organisations and people is pleas for financial assistance. Arts are very vulnerable and deserve support, because they nurture and challenge society. They appear not to have received their ‘fair’ share of support. Here’s why.Read More »
THE SOUNDS OF CORONAVIRUS
The Sounds of Coronavirus
Silence.
Birds singing
Wings flapping
Magpies warbling
Parrots chattering
Silence.
Walking people talking
A single car approaching
Children cycling, playing
Neighbours talking, laughing
Silence.
Zoomers calling
Netflix playing
Facetime showing
Youtube watching
Silence.
Windy trees whispering
Proud roosters crowing
Happy dogs barking
Handy men sawing
Silence.
DEAR ALLAN
You’re an important part of my body, controlling aspects of my airflow. You used to be so nice, Allan. You didn’t make a noise when you weren’t wanted. You could hold the air and then just let it out slowly, noiselessly, in privacy, when I was alone, on my instruction. But about five years ago, you started unexpectedly exploding at the most inopportune times. Frankly, Allan, we can’t go on this way.
Read More »
SURPRISES FROM COVI ISO
Six weeks into covi iso (as Gen Millenials would say) now, we’ve had some unexpected benefits, along with the expected costs. But some things have surprised me – things we wouldn’t have expected.Read More »
THE UGLY TRUTH: CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES SACRIFICE THE YOUNG TO BENEFIT THE OLD
I rarely agree with Trump…but he’s right (for the wrong reasons) to call to open up the economy. The ugly truth is this: we are currently sacrificing the Young (say Under 60s) for the benefit of the Old (say Over 60s). Progressing from the current lockdowns should address this. Here’s how.Read More »
More Benefits of Coronavirus! (No. 3)
Now that we are really ‘into’ coronavirus (I’ve been self isolating for 4 weeks now), even more benefits have become apparent. Here are 4 more major benefits.Read More »
CORONAVIRUS IN AUSTRALIA: DO THE FACTS JUSTIFY THE ACTIONS?
We are all very concerned about the spread of CV, the overall risk to us and the chance of personally dying. Information from the Department of Health’s reporting (health.gov.au – coronavirus current statistics), as opposed to the media and pictures you get, show that the real story is significantly different from people’s fears. Do the facts justify the current set of actions? What should be/should have been done?Read More »