Category Archives: Australian stuff
This man is the best of Australia’s political landscape
I used to hate him, but I have come to the realisation that Malcolm Fraser is the very best Prime Minister, politician and senior statesman Australia has produced in my lifetime. He criticises his own party for its demagoguery and … Continue reading
Filed under Australian stuff, Politics
Discrimination against women politicians in Australia
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the rough equivalent of the BBC or NPR, has a “comedy” show entitled “At Home with Julia“, a parody of the Australian Prime Minister’s home life as an unmarried couple with partner Tim Mathieson. Now, every public … Continue reading
Filed under Australian stuff, Politics
Is reality liberal biased? Are liberals reality biased?
Josh Rosenau has a piece up on Chris Mooney’s latest article on the Republican war on science in the US. Conservative bodies around the western world seem to resist science when it conflicts with policy (usually driven by PR from … Continue reading
Filed under Academe, Australian stuff, Philosophy, Politics, Social evolution
Australian scientists resign from Murray-Darling Water commission due to a lack of heed
I don’t usually post these announcements, but GetUp are reliable and on target. Today it was revealed that key scientists have walked away from the government’s Murray Darling Basin Authority process in protest. Right now the Murray Darling Basin Authority … Continue reading
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Filed under Australian stuff, Ecology and Biodiversity, Politics
Me-mail
I hate moving, so the Universe has kindly arranged that I must do it around once per year. Despite having pared my possessions down to a begging bowl, loin cloth, and several thousand books, it is still a royal pain. … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, Australian stuff
Vale Lionel Rose
Back in the late 70s I was a weedy hippy with good intentions. One time I and a flatmate were walking through the Melbourne suburb of Carlton when we came across an older aborigine who was somewhat the worse for … Continue reading
Filed under Australian stuff
On the Greens, Israel, and the fallacy of composition
This is likely to upset some people. I apologise in advance. It is also about Australian politics. In Australia recently, the Greens have been making up a lot of ground, becoming in some electorates the second most popular party after … Continue reading
Filed under Australian stuff, Politics
Update on a pilgrim’s progress
Okay, well it’s more like the John Wayne sense of “pilgrim” than John Bunyan, but here I am, having gotten out of Dodge Brisbane just as the latest natural disaster hit. “Here” being the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. Once … Continue reading
Stuck in rural Queensland
So, here I am, marooned in Warwick, southeast of Brisbane, about one and a half hours drive. Stuck here by this: We missed getting through by half an hour or so. We may be stranded for two days… And no … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, Australian stuff
Australians and science
A new poll has shown, they say, that Australians are more interested in science than sport, and think politicians should pay attention to the scientists (are you listening, Tony Abbott?). At least half think we should rely more on science … Continue reading
Filed under Australian stuff, Education, General Science
