Reading

Created
Mon, 17/02/2025 - 09:29

A few years ago, I came across an old book at an estate sale. Its title caught my eye: “Our New Possessions.” Its cover featured the Statue of Liberty against stylized stars and stripes. What were those “new possessions”? The cover made it quite clear: Cuba, Hawaii, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. The subtitle made it even clearer: “A graphic account, descriptive and historical, of the tropic islands of the sea which have fallen under our sway, their cities, peoples, and commerce, natural resources and the opportunities they offer to Americans.” What a mouthful! I’m still impressed with the notion that “tropical” peoples falling “under our sway” offered real Americans amazing opportunities, as did our (whoops — I meant their) lands.... Read more

Created
Mon, 17/02/2025 - 04:59
In a recent post Eric Hunter asked: “Why doesn’t God save the world?” (P&I, 10 February 2025). It’s an interesting question, usually framed under the rubric of “the problem of evil.” Hunter prefers to believe in science rather than to believe in God. So why did he post about God in the first place? There Continue reading »
Created
Mon, 17/02/2025 - 04:56
Late last year, rumours swirled online that HomeSafeID, a private Australian pet microchip registry, had stopped operating. On 5 Feburary 2025, a notice appeared on the HomeSafeID website, ostensibly from the site’s administrator. It states the website “is likely to go offline” soon due to unpaid bills. This means the database of information stored on HomeSafeID would also Continue reading »
Created
Mon, 17/02/2025 - 04:55
Diplomatic appointments usually don’t get much news coverage unless it’s a retiring politician getting appointed. Apparently Australian ambassador to the Holy See is one such plum job. Since last Friday rumours have been circulating in the media that former Coalition minister, Keith Pitt, will soon be off to Rome to precisely this position. If true, Continue reading »
Created
Mon, 17/02/2025 - 04:53
The spate of anti-Muslim racist attacks around the country are being fuelled by the anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian policies of mainstream politicians. Political attempts to undermine the Palestine movement and bipartisan support for Israel’s genocide are causing this. Mariam Tohamy, a member of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine NSW, was the victim of a vicious, racist Continue reading »
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Mon, 17/02/2025 - 04:52
February 7 saw the first AUKUS meeting held between officials of the Trump administration and their Australian servitors since the changing of the guard in the White House. In attendance was the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his unbearably compliant Australian counterpart Richard Marles. From all general appearances, the sense was that a change Continue reading »
Created
Mon, 17/02/2025 - 02:30
Do Democrats even have “game”? A few “Democrats concede they are losing an asymmetrical battle with the president and his MAGA allies,” Politico reports. But there is no agreement on how to mount an effective, attention-getting rapid-response: “Republicans are running circles around Democrats for how to connect to the culture today,” said John Della Volpe, director of Harvard University’s youth poll and an expert on Gen Z. “People are still asking me in these post-election meetings, ‘Who is Theo Von?’ Even if they had the best message, you can’t connect if you’re not part of modern American culture, if you’re not injecting yourself into these spaces where people already are.” It’s not just the leadership’s overdependence on traditional media, although that’s part of it. A majority of “swing voters” identified by Navigator Research got their political news “primarily from social media and alternative sources, like podcasts,” while Kamala Harris voters relied on broadcast TV. The GOP is winning the fight for attention.
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Mon, 17/02/2025 - 01:00
Use it now. Before you lose it. “Repetition is really important. And so is repetition” is a message to take to heart. You will be seeing more of it here in coming months. Like this example from Friday: A commentator the other day said that there are only two guardrails left against Musk-Trump’s predations, meaning Congress and the courts. He was wrong. There is a third: Americans in the streets. Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance offers some analysis on the status of the many of court cases filed to slow Musk-Trump’s rolling coup. It’s just that right now what we have are a series of temporary restraining orders (TROs) Musk-Trump will resist, ignore, and surely appeal, as is Trump’s wont. “There are limits to how much the courts can or will do, even at the TRO stage,” Vance cautions before confirming what I wrote on Friday: That’s not to say I don’t have confidence in the courts, because I do, and I think some progress will be made there, although as we know far too well, it may be very slow. But the courts aren’t the calvary. We are. We have to be in this fight for ourselves. We can’t get complacent.
Created
Sun, 16/02/2025 - 16:58

WOOLGOOLGA has been named the top beach on the Australian mainland in Tourism Australia’s official 2025 Best Australian Beaches list. The top spot nationwide went to the Bay of Fires in Tasmania. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us...

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Created
Sun, 16/02/2025 - 16:35

WELL known Coffs Harbour resident Ron Powell passed away Thursday, 30 January 2025, aged 94. Ron was a senior area manager with the Waltons chain when he planned, purchased space and built a Coffs Harbour store in the early 1970s – managing it for many years. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth...

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Created
Sun, 16/02/2025 - 15:40

COFFS Harbour Chamber of Commerce members met on Thursday 13 February to hear from several prominent local speakers, including a keynote speech by Mayor Nikki Williams. Opening the breakfast-time meeting, Chamber President Ray Smith welcomed attendees and introduced Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh to the stage. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth...

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Created
Sun, 16/02/2025 - 14:48

WOOLGOOLGA day and evening VIEW clubs are hosting a combined International Women’s Day event at the C.ex Club. Taking place on Friday 7 March, the fundraising event supports The Smith Family Learning for Life Program. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981...

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Created
Sun, 16/02/2025 - 13:26

QUALITY Hotel City Centre in Coffs Harbour has been named a 2024 Gold Award winner by leading hotel franchise group Choice Hotels Asia-Pac. These annual awards recognise exceptional performance and an unmatched dedication to the guest experience across properties in Australia and New Zealand. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for...

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Created
Sun, 16/02/2025 - 11:30
I know …Valentine’s Day was yesterday. But at least I remembered. OK, I’m on the couch. Anyway. I’ve combed through my review archives of the last decade or so and assembled a “top 10 list” of romantic comedies that may not have set the box office on fire, but are definitely worth seeking out. You may even fall in love with a few of these. Alphabetically: Blind Date – Is there a level of humor below “deadpan”? If so, I’d say that this film from Georgian director Levan Koguashvili has it in spades. A minimalist meditation on the state of modern love in Tbilisi (in case you’d been wondering), the story focuses on the romantic travails of a sad sack Everyman named Sandro (Andro Sakhvarelidze), a 40-ish schoolteacher who still lives with his parents. Sandro and his best bud (Archil Kikodze) spend their spare time arranging double dates via singles websites, with underwhelming results. Then it happens…Sandro meets his dream woman (Ia Sukhitashvili). There’s a mutual attraction, but one catch. Her husband’s getting out of jail…very soon.