The US of Ain't - posted by Ronda Jambe

What this election clearly ain't about is change, although both candidates are now waving that banner. After two weeks in the US, I'm now about to leave for Costa Rica, and not a moment too soon. The combination of crass... More

Obama - the great black hope - posted by Ronda Jambe

Visiting the US, one is everywhere reminded of the power this country has assembled, and the history it draws on. Last week I renewed my acquaintance with the treasures of the Frick Collection, established by a 19th century entrepreneur and... More

McCain's Folly - the view from New Jersey - posted by Ronda Jambe

Today John McCain gave himself the big shot in the foot (or maybe head) that may be decisive. He has chosen as his Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who is known for taking on the oil companies in Alaska, which... More

'Churnlism' and global warming - posted by Graham

A friend drew my attention to this interview on the 7.30 Report with Nick Davies, the author of Flat Earth News. Most of the interview is taken up with the question of how you produce good quality journalism when corporatism... More

Can Fairfax survive with 30 percent fewer journalists? - posted by Graham

According to The Australian Fairfax is about to cull 30% of its journalists so as to keep its newspaper empire financial. The article suggests that they will do this by cutting back on news, which is bad news. It is... More

I'm apparently still a "top Lib" - posted by Graham

According to my occasional employerThe Australian, I am still a "top Lib". In an article entitled "More top Libs opt to sever LNP ties" reporter Greg Roberts says: Mr Young, who survived an attempt by the Liberal Right faction to... More

In the LAnd of the Free - posted by Ronda Jambe

I'll never get used to the cattle-class trips across the Pacific. Purchasing carbon off-sets for this trip might assuage my conscience, but it does nothing for my back. The company I chose, Cleaner Climate, provides renewable energy projects in developing... More

My partner made me fat - posted by Graham

Jenny Craig has just posted the results of a survey of 400 people which, according to the press release comes to the conclusion that your partner can make you fat. Apparently one in 10 women blame the bad eating habits... More

Gone digitally native - posted by Graham

I couldn't resist this post. I've just invested in a broadband Optus modem that can put me on the Internet just about anywhere, including in this instance Hyde Park in Sydney from where I have a good view of St... More

Bush Policy on Russia and Georgia (IPA) - posted by Ronda Jambe

This forwarded commentary complements the one from FAIR yesterday. This is from the also excellent Institute for Public Accuracy, another US based commentary on current events that I think could be cloned for Australia: from www.ipa.org: The New York Times... More

Georgia/Russia Conflict Forced Into Cold War Frame - posted by Ronda Jambe

Below is reprinted an article from FAIR, or Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. It can also be found at: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3596 I offer it here as an example of the distorted media coverage in the US. It is rather long and... More

Georgia versus South Ossetia - posted by Graham

Posted for, and written by Ivan Simic On August 8, 2008, South Ossetia attracted world's attention when Russian military forces entered Georgian territory, and seriously interfered in the Georgian-South Ossetian unresolved conflict. This conflict is well known to the world,... More

Quiggin: cleaned-up or cleaned-out? - posted by Graham

Yesterday, Jennifer Marohasy posted a blog asking for peer reviewed scientific papers that: "1. examine the causal link between anthropogenic carbon dioxide and warming, and 2. quantify the extent of the warming from anthropogenic carbon dioxide. This would seem like... More

The Horseman - give the boy a budget - posted by Graham

If it wasn't for Australia's housing boom The Horseman, Stephen Kastrissios' first feature film, may never have been made. It was financed out of the sale of a house he bought just a few years ago. Which gives me a... More

Under the Moruya Moon (7) - posted by Ronda Jambe

One last visit to see the restored goat shed before I go. We head off from chilly Canberra, planning to watch the Olympic opening spectacular in the also chilly brick house. It is all the colder now that the end... More

Hola! From the Parliamentary Triangle to Costa Rica - posted by Ronda Jambe

Only a few more weeks to go, then an adventure. What is more tempting: finding another contract in Canberra, and having money pour in for rather little effort, or vanishing overseas to study Spanish in Costa Rica? Someday maybe I... More