Back then there were all sorts of theories about the rise and fall, or comings and goings of Lake George, including the weird idea that its waters sometimes drained down a natural 'plughole' and ended up somewhere in China. The reality is much more mundane. Lake George disappears as a combined result of evaporation - the rate of which in such a broad and shallow body of water is enormous - and reduced (or zero) inflows during times of low rainfall.

Low rainfall seems to becoming the rule rather than an exception in our region, so it is very unlikely that we will see a full Lake George in the foreseeable future.

John Hewson's timely article on 'Strongmen' threaten the world's future (CT August 16, p. 18) highlights the fact that we don't learn from history or modern behavioural studies. The history of humanity is one of men behaving badly in the pursuit of power over others. How can we put an end to it? Researchers have long known that political decisions are strongly influenced by 'knee-jerk' emotional reactions, a fact routinely exploited by campaign consultants and advertisers. That would perhaps explain the success of Scott Morrison at the last election which was fought with slogans and fake news by the conservatives, which elicited a knee-jerk emotional response in a fear provoked voting public. Policies were unnecessary.

More recent research adds that self-enhancement (or 'strongman') behaviour is associated with a number of factors related to politically conservative ideologies: It is more pronounced among religious people, and competitive, hierarchically oriented groups. I think this helps us understand the list of 'strongmen' in Hewson's article and others who shall remain nameless. These 'strongmen' are fearful, irrational bullies and unfit for leadership in any field. It seems education of the public is essential in a democracy to deal with this human failing. First, we must become aware of the problem so we can begin to find a remedy. And second, we must learn how to recognise the symptoms in would-be leaders before they gain power.

Politicians, seeking expedient electoral advantage, choose to ignore corporate memory. Greek geographer Strabo (64BC-AD21) described "sickness of the lungs" in slaves weaving asbestos into cloth. Pliny the Elder (AD23-79) implemented safety measures of "masks", to protect slaves breathing asbestos fibers. Initial cases of asbestosis were documented in James Hardie workers in 1939. Why Australia had to wait 60 years after Wittenoom to "discover" asbestos lethality represents a political and corporate conspiracy against Australians ("Asbestos legacy lessons", Sunday CT, August 18).

Against this background Mr Fluffy piled lethal asbestos into unsuspecting Canberrans' roof spaces, bequeathing a disastrous inheritance to posterity, which continues to traumatise the community. There are any number of sources from which the "next" epidemic may arise.

A brief update on a shock-paralysed Kookaburra rescued from the middle of the road near the Southern Cross Drive and Florey Drive intersection, Holt, Friday afternoon, 16 August. Caught in a traffic updraft it had been flung down hard onto the road where it remained in an upright position; eyes wide-open but totally immobile.

Half-a-dozen East-bound motorists reacted immediately to its predicament and came to a stand-still, then waited patiently while a rescue was effected. This was followed by a brisk journey to Canberra Veterinary Hospital (Lyneham), where it was checked over by a vet and found to be physically undamaged.

Arrangements have been made for it to be cared for by a wildlife carer until it can be released back into the wild. To those patient motorists; thank you all - your support of the 'rescue operation' was palpable and very much appreciated.

To find a cure, first identify the cause. None of the people interviewed by Blake Foden ("Finding a cure for Canberra's predicted congestion," August 18) identified the decline in travelling as car passengers as a primary cause of Canberra's increasing road congestion.

The 2011 census showed that 14,344 Canberra commuters travelled as car passengers. By 2016 only 13,011 travelled as car passengers. Some people who would otherwise have travelled as car passengers switched to walking, cycling or public transport. About 760 of them became car drivers. As a result, the proportion of car-driving Canberra commuters rose to a record 73.3 per cent.

Congratulations to Crispin Hull for another excellent article ("We must ignore the doctor's orders and treat population growth properly", Forum, August 17).

Hull claims that the federal government's solution of sending people to regions is doomed to fail because the "Murray-Darling Basin has been starved of water by big agriculture and corrupt practices." He's right. There isn't enough water to go around between ever-growing towns, the environment and farms. Indeed, we should be pulling back most human activity from the western plains and leaving it to emus and kangaroos.

Rather than accommodating population growth, we should be ending it.

A lot recently about weekend lack of buses. No thought given to those who have no bus at any time. Once served by three bus routes in walking distance of home, we now have none.

We are now closer to 80 than 70, my wife disabled and a public servant told us to catch a taxi to the nearest bus stop.

Apart from the cost, our rates are supporting the buses we do not have. This is theft from those who cannot afford it. Even a new tram will be of no use at all from Wanniassa. Consequently, we drive everywhere as much as I would rather not. We drive on the worst roads Canberra has ever had. Please can we dump self government?

While I sympathise with the visually impaired, introducing noise to electric/hybrid vehicles is the wrong solution. New vehicle manufacturers strive to make their products quieter, thus leading to more peaceful urban environments. Introducing noise pollution at under 20km/h counters this benefit.

Targeting hybrid/electric cars is also wrong, this will add a negative for potential buyers. Many new internal combustion engine vehicles are equally quiet as hybrids, therefore if there were to be such a law, it should be applied more broadly.

Furthermore, the newest hybrids and electric cars are gaining incredible active pedestrian features to eliminate the potential for vehicle/pedestrian collisions at low speed.

Graeme Samuel, former head of ACCC has recently criticised the Government and the Pharmacy Guild for keeping the cost of medications too high. This accords with a finding in March 2017 by the Grattan Institute that Australians pay more than $500m a year too much for their prescription drugs. The report claimed that drug prices in Australia are more than twice as high as in the UK and more than three times higher than in New Zealand.

Perhaps it could be argued that since the population of the UK is about 2.5 times greater than that of Australia, market power could explain the differential. However when looking at the disparity between Australia and New Zealand, the Kiwi population is barely 20 per cent of that in Australia. I feel a Pauline Hanson moment coming on - "Please explain".

I sadly read, once again, about maximum temperature records around the globe that continue to tumble, yet found Saturday's CT article 'July hottest month on record ever' on page 37, after the racing guide, cartoons, horoscope, TV guide and crossword puzzles, in 6 short paragraphs. Hottest month on record EVER. Beating the recent 2016 hottest month on record. Just let that sink in. I think a bit more perspective, effort and placement is warranted on such an issue.

There was a severe, negative reaction from E Fyfe, of Kambah, to my recent letter, that had the temerity to suggest some moderation of all the hugging that goes on on the sporting field (Letters, August 17).

Not only does E Fyfe, of Kambah, heartily endorse all the hugging that footy players indulge in, she also believes the practice should be extended to the domestic front. This means that one gets hugged when one, for example, sets the dinner table, or serves a meal, or clears the dinner table, or loads the dishwasher, or unloads the dishwasher, or pots a plant, or waters a pot plant, and so on.

In addition to Gordon Fyfe's comments on the display of affection on the footy field (Letters, August 17). What is overlooked is that whilst a particular player scores a try, or in soccer kicks a goal, the ball gets to that particular player due to the playing of a number of other players. So it is not just the effort of one player, credit needs to recognized to those other relevant team members too.

While I was on the way by cab to Singapore airport some years ago the driver remarked to me that his city was 'the fine society' by which he meant that you could be fined for just about anything. Here in our own city-state, where you can now be penalised for allowing your miniature poodle, Chihuahua or silky a little free rein, I think that we've probably caught up with Singapore.

Will the Australian public service's need to re-focus on "'Middle Australia" include much closer attention being paid by the Tax Office to this cohort's financial practices ("PM's laser focus on APS" , August 19)?

If, as Scott Morrison asserts, Australia and our Pacific Island neighbours are "family", it is surely incumbent on us to protect our family by rapidly phasing out fossil fuels, the main cause of global warming that threatens the survival of our family members.

Don't know about books but some men disdain top authors ('Why don't men like a good read like women do?', August 18, page 6). For example David Jenkins (Letters, March 20) in reply to my earlier correspondence referred to work by Joseph Conrad, George Bernard Shaw and Evelyn Waugh as 'obscure literary fiction on library shelves.'

The Wallabies may have lost to New Zealand on Saturday, but first and foremost we were beaten by the inattentiveness and ineptitude of South African referee, Jaco Peyper.

Turning on 2CC radio the other day I was surprised to hear Alan Jones, so that means the only local content on this station is the news, Tim Shaw in the afternoons and some weekend programs. Not only is this station lurching evermore to the right it appears to have forgotten its local roots. Thank goodness for community radio and the local ABC.

Shame on you Scott Morrison for yet again, not acknowledging the overwhelming science behind our warming planet and for yet again, doing nothing to move away from coal in this country. History will not look on you or your government kindly.

All this fuss about Alan Jones, surely nobody takes the old fellow seriously. Let him rant and rave through the outlets that indulge him, just don't tune in, simple.

Like many Rajend Naidu (Letters 17 August) seems to think that the people of Hong Kong have some sort of "cherished democratic rights and freedoms" and has ignored the reality of the situation. Hong Kong is Chinese soil, for better worse. It has been sovereign Chinese territory, albeit administered under the "one state, two systems" principle, ever since Britain handed it back in 1997 and cut and run.

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