Ambit Gambit http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/ Ambit Gambit is the first blog established in National Forum's Domain. en-us 2008-06-29T14:16:28+10:00 Who said the Nats were washed-up? http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003207.html The results in the Gippsland by-election have to give a few people pause for thought. By-elections this close to elections generally punish the candidate associated with the party that causes them, in this case the Nationals. However, they were rewarded... Australian Politics Graham 2008-06-29T14:16:28+10:00 Caroline Marohasy rides The Horseman http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003206.html My friend Caroline Marohasy makes her movie debut in The Horseman, a new Australian revenge thriller, shot in and around Brisbane, including at the Burpengary caravan park. If you like the look of the trailer (I found it was suitably... Arts Graham 2008-06-29T13:17:01+10:00 Why does the MSM do science so badly? http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003205.html You'll have to go hunting to find this story, but it is perhaps the most important event so far this year, with the greatest potential to affect our lives. A Nature Physics article outlines how researchers have managed to manipulate... Science Graham 2008-06-29T13:01:28+10:00 Back in the Harness - with Clathrates http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003201.html Another stint in the good ol' public service. But my mind is elsewhere. On clathrates, to be quite precise. And I sure hope I am not the first one to mention this to you, because you'll be hearing a lot... General Ronda Jambe 2008-06-26T19:01:28+10:00 Nats to wipe the floor with Libs http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003188.html This looks like being inaugural at the same time as it is the ultimate, as in last. Courtesy of Facebook, Nats v Libs looks like the merger isn't going anywhere. Closer attention to detail reveals that it is actually a... Sport Graham 2008-06-23T09:26:45+10:00 Under the Moruya Moon (6) http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003177.html Two steps forward, one step back. It's the way of the world. So it wasn't surprising to find that the termite damage to the house was worse than we thought. The floor in one bedroom had collapsed before the tenants... Resources Ronda Jambe 2008-06-19T13:57:09+10:00 Liberal National Party could be the end for Springborg http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003167.html One of the lesser mysteries of the proposed Liberal National Party is why the Santoro faction changed from being opposed to its most enthusiastic proponents. Afterall, when Mal Brough first mooted his ambition to be Liberal Party President they targetted... Australian Politics Graham 2008-06-16T22:08:01+10:00 Putting the Wowser into Rudd http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003166.html The NHMRC is about to change its definition of what constitutes "binge drinking" and Kevin Rudd is getting the blame. When I started this piece earlier today that was unfair, because the NHMRC is an independent body that the Prime... Australian Politics Graham 2008-06-16T15:06:32+10:00 Grammar's taught to grammarians http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003163.html Baden Eunson from Melbourne Uni decries the "fallacy" that children "learn grammar by osmosis", and it needs to be taught. I agree with him to some extent, but after reading Nicholas Ostler's "biography" of Latin Ad Infinitum, I'm not so... Education Graham 2008-06-14T05:44:07+10:00 The Age of Stupid http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003160.html You will see this phrase again, as it is the name of a hot new movie about environmental catastrophe. This doco formerly named 'Crude' features Pete Postlethwaite playing a journo looking back from some decades in the future, wondering why... Environment Ronda Jambe 2008-06-13T08:19:59+10:00 What would pigeons make of Henson or Leda? http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003159.html I've always found the claims for what you might call Human Exceptionalism a little absurd and over-blown. Over the years I've had some quite close relationships with non-human animals, and I don't think I'm practicing anthropomorphism in saying that they've... Science Graham 2008-06-12T08:53:48+10:00 For the Liberals, how many is a majority? http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003148.html The Queensland Liberals are busy polling their members on whether or not they want a merged party. The plebiscite is non-binding and is extra-constitutional. There are some potential problems with the plebiscite. The largest is what exactly members are voting... Australian Politics Graham 2008-06-09T15:57:15+10:00 Martin Ferguson is right. http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003143.html I have a bet with a close friend that oil will be more expensive in around 18 years time than it was 2 years ago (it's a two year old bet). My money's looking pretty safe at the moment. Not... Environment Graham 2008-06-05T22:32:50+10:00 A Nice Way to Spend the Morning http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003142.html Spiral is a group set up 38 years ago in Canberra. A newcomer to town saw that many older people were isolated, and what started out simply as a casual gathering has become a weekly event. Volunteers, some of them... General Ronda Jambe 2008-06-05T15:43:44+10:00 Senator's pitch for amalgamation http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/003138.html We've heard a lot from Senator Brandis about the proposed merger, and little from other senators. Ian MacDonald is one of the moderates in the Queensland Liberal Party, he's also a long-time proponent of merger. This is the text of... Australian Politics Graham 2008-06-02T20:59:21+10:00