SOUNDS OF SILENCE
IT'S Friday night (in Australia) and it's time to watch TV.
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We have about 50 different public channels from five different providers, but it's really down to three choices - so which to watch?
We have a game of Australian football which others describe as aerial ping pong as the ball is in the air most of the time.
It's my club playing tonight, but generally it's clear by half time who's going to win so then what other options are there?
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There 's also new episodes of Midsomer Murders, which features the world's worst police officer given the number of people that die before he solves it.
It's the most dangerous area in England, given how many murders there are but with the prettiest countryside apart from the blood stains.
It will help me to get to sleep.
I could also watch the Olympic games ceremony and listen for the roar of the crowd as Australia marches in, but the sounds of silence from the missing crowds is a bit sad.
I don't think it's right when nobody is there to cheer the gold medallist so I might skip that and watch the highlights on the news.
Hasn't COVID made life a bit less fun?
I might just read a book, go to bed early and dream of the time when I can get out of lockdown and burn my mask, after I take it off.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne.
What do you think? Send us a letter to the editor:
A MUCH-NEEDED RAINBOW
WHAT a wonderful opening ceremony for the Olympic Games.
Team humanity was on parade as athletes from over 200 countries proudly flaunted the flags and colours of their countries.
Masks were the only reminder that we are still in the middle of a pandemic and the ceremony acknowledged the many lives lost to date from all the countries represented.
Japan's decision to continue with the Olympic Games has been a bold one.
But the world is in desperate need of a sense of solidarity in combating an invisible enemy that has caused so much pain and havoc.
The opening ceremony has injected a much-needed rainbow of hope into what has been a depressingly drab and grey time.
In the next fortnight, the global community will have the opportunity to witness some breath-taking moments when our athletes remind us that nothing is impossible if there is a willingness to put minds and hearts towards an attainable goal.
Ed Sianski, West Moonah.
START PROCESS AGAIN
WITH all of the trouble that Minister Elise Archer has had with Risdon since she took over the corrections portfolio in 2017, it appears to me that the proposal to build a new prison on a wildlife reserve at Westbury indicates a devious intention.
Tasmania cannot possibly afford to run two similar prisons.
There are the obvious major staffing problems, as well as the ridiculous financial cost.
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It's therefore reasonable to suppose that the Westbury wildlife prison is intended to replace the failed Risdon prison.
The Meander Valley Council wrote to the government in 2017 suggesting that Ashley Detention Centre be extended to become a corrections facility, perhaps with an adjoining market garden facility along the lines of the Hayes Prison Farm.
Minister Archer jumped in and started the current farcical proposal over and above the suggestions of the council.
Not only have the council been blindsided, but the Meander Valley residents have been put through two years of real discomfort from this brain burp.
Start the process again under a new, effective minister, and do the job properly and transparently, without all of the trickery that we at Westbury have endured for the last two years.
Peter Wileman, Westbury.
A PLEA TO COUNCILLORS
THERE are many views of the Gorge from public spaces around our city that are unique and priceless. So much so that most developers and seem incapable of seeing it's true value.
As it is likely these cannot be saved by any local or world heritage regulations, all we are left with is to plead for our city councillors to use their power to say no to ruining the atmosphere of our town, by refusing the Gorge Hotel application and others that are not compatible and stand up to save the character of our town.
Delia Ratcliff, Launceston
EXTRA SERVICES NEEDED
HAVING regular art shows in Evandale's beautiful old pub is great.
I love art, and not enough is being done both to help the galleries survive the COVID and provide good local outings for us (usually poor) creatives.
So please, can some of Lonnie's other places perhaps do this extra service for us art and music-loving oldies?
Merril Thompson, Invermay.
TRAVEL VOUCHER SCHEME
THE government should give it (travel vouchers) to the people who missed out the first time round.
I tried so hard but kept failing. I have a very rare cancer and would like this time to get the voucher as I missed out the first time.
I want to travel Tassie before I get too sick to do anything. It's not fair.