7 September 2022

The Hoot's here and we're talking stadium woes, COVID costs and murderous magpies

| Genevieve Jacobs
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Ross Solly and Genevieve Jacobs join forces to present The Hoot. Photo: Region.

Spring has sprung, the blossom is blooming and Canberra’s magpies are … cranky.

But are all the black and white bandits really murderous cold-eyed bastards intent on terrorising innocent cyclists? Or should we forgive, forget and try to blend in?

The Hoot news podcast is back, bringing a distinctively Canberran viewpoint from Genevieve Jacobs and Ross Solly. This week, we’re talking about the increasingly remote possibility of a stadium in Civic as Chief Minister Andrew Barr pours a bucket of ice-cold water over sports fans’ dreams.

READ ALSO Stadium pipedream in the queue as tired Canberra spaces vie for government’s attention

But is this really a bad thing? Couldn’t we just do a makeover at Bruce? Would the AIS option create a buzzing nightlife precinct, alive with restaurants and entertainment venues?

Leaving aside the area’s somewhat undersold charms, is it possible that transport is at the heart of Canberra’s stadium problem? If that’s the case, we might have a bright idea.

READ ALSO Did our COVID-19 response go too far – or not far enough?

And as the ACT government announces that we’ll no longer report daily COVID-19 case numbers, is it time to take a long hard look at how we managed the pandemic?

Canberra’s schools and workplaces continue to bear the brunt of the virus, while elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, even COVID-positive patients aren’t required to isolate if they feel well.

But where would we start on an enquiry, and how wide would the terms of reference have to be for a Royal Commission?

The Hoot appears every week on Riotact and wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify. Have a listen, tell us what you think and rate us.

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I often get attacked by magpies in spring riding a bike. My simple solution is ignore them. Let them dive as much as they like, but refuse to look at them or acknowledge their presence. I wear a helmet and wrap around sun glasses. People who panic at magpie attacks are the ones likely to have a bike accident. Wear a helmet and wrap around sunglasses, continuing riding and act like they aren’t there.

I recently pulled up in my car at a lookout. I had been told about attacking magpies there. As my car came to a halt I saw a magpie swooping from a high gum tree, steeply towards my car. I grabbed a sunhat for protection, but also threw a chip on the ground for the magpie. It changed course and went for the chip. Then flew away with the chip. Another, which had been sitting on the fence sharpening its beak, also flew away. Guess I paid the toll ?, and was left alone.

Damian Davies1:15 pm 11 Oct 22

More than 10 million people die from cancer globally each year. There have been approximately 6.55 million deaths attributed to Covid 19.
$175 billion US was spent globally on cancer research during the year 20/21.
During the same period, the global Covid response is estimated to have cost $12.5 TRILLION. That’s 675,000 times the amount spent on Cancer research!

Damian Davies, Very superficial comment.
You failed to mention long term Covid and the one in ten or more, that suffered and those that are still suffering from it. If not for the Covid response, and if Covid was ignored, deaths would be far higher and so would the numbers of those suffering from long term Covid.

A rather shallow consideration of the costs of the pandemic response. Would also need to include things like the cost of lockdown crisis we’ve been experiencing, and the additional 200 million people put into extreme hunger by the destruction of supply chains.

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