Archive for September, 2005
Protected: My Leunig Fixes for the week
Posted in Uncategorized on September 30, 2005|
My Leunig Fixes for the week
Posted in Uncategorized on September 30, 2005| Leave a Comment »
Yup, it seems to accurately describe our current ugly bunch of politicians from both sides of the house in State and Federal Legislatures.
Leunig’s definition doesn’t quite match that of the headline –
Copied from _pet
Posted in Uncategorized on September 29, 2005| 10 Comments »
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Copied from <lj user = “_pet”>
Posted in Uncategorized on September 29, 2005| 5 Comments »
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Protected: Views on Our New Anti-Terrorist Laws
Posted in Uncategorized on September 28, 2005|
Views on Our New Anti-Terrorist Laws
Posted in Uncategorized on September 28, 2005| Leave a Comment »
Osama is really worried now, according to Bill Leak –
Our Government is Keeping us Safe –
Our Fearless Leader (Agent 86½)takes his inspiration from here –
I wonder what number our intrepid Foreign Minister, the ever-simpering superannuated school boy, Alexander Downer has? Agent Zero perhaps, matching his IQ.
Fascinating Book and Interesting Reference Source Found for Maturin Medicine
Posted in Uncategorized on September 27, 2005| 3 Comments »
Late Night Live last night was excellent, especially the last segment with the author of At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past, Roger Ekirch, though I wish Phillip Adams would not talk over his guests. It is an annoying habit and is rude.
At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past
Summary
Roger Ekirch’s wide-ranging survey on night-time in pre-industrial Europe and America raises some interesting questions about the way sleep has been transformed by the introduction of artificial light.
He also discusses the decline of nocturnal culture with the advent of gas lighting in public spaces and the establishment of public police forces.
Guests on this program
Roger Ekirch
Professor of History, Virginia Tech University
Publications
At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past
Author: A. Roger Ekirch
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (2005)
Here is the audio link –
Late Night Live 26 September 2005– Audio Link – Real Media Format
and the mp3 download link –
Late Night Live 26 September 2005– mp3 download
And of course after listening to this very interesting program I ordered the book on Amazon and while there saw some other books that looked fascinating (Spice : The History of a Temptation author Jack Turner and The True History of Chocolate, Sophie D. Coe) and I weakened and ordered them too. So much for my intentions to save money! I blame it on the fact that yesterday was the first day back at work after my week off. I was depressed and books always cheer me up.
I also discovered a fascinating book – The Anatomy of Melancholy, written by Robert Burton,(1577-1640) on the Gutenberg site. He has some interesting ideas of how to treat melancholy and I imagine Patrick O’Brian must have used books like this one to search for “antique” medical treatments and remedies for Stephen Maturin. It may prove an interesting reference work for anyone interested.
Fascinating Book and Interesting Reference Source Found for Maturin Medicine
Posted in Uncategorized on September 27, 2005| 3 Comments »
Late Night Live last night was excellent, especially the last segment with the author of At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past, Roger Ekirch, though I wish Phillip Adams would not talk over his guests. It is an annoying habit and is rude.
At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past
Summary
Roger Ekirch’s wide-ranging survey on night-time in pre-industrial Europe and America raises some interesting questions about the way sleep has been transformed by the introduction of artificial light.
He also discusses the decline of nocturnal culture with the advent of gas lighting in public spaces and the establishment of public police forces.
Guests on this program
Roger Ekirch
Professor of History, Virginia Tech University
Publications
At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past
Author: A. Roger Ekirch
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (2005)
Here is the audio link –
Late Night Live 26 September 2005– Audio Link – Real Media Format
and the mp3 download link –
Late Night Live 26 September 2005– mp3 download
And of course after listening to this very interesting program I ordered the book on Amazon and while there saw some other books that looked fascinating (Spice : The History of a Temptation author Jack Turner and The True History of Chocolate, Sophie D. Coe) and I weakened and ordered them too. So much for my intentions to save money! I blame it on the fact that yesterday was the first day back at work after my week off. I was depressed and books always cheer me up.
I also discovered a fascinating book – The Anatomy of Melancholy, written by Robert Burton,(1577-1640) on the Gutenberg site. He has some interesting ideas of how to treat melancholy and I imagine Patrick O’Brian must have used books like this one to search for “antique” medical treatments and remedies for Stephen Maturin. It may prove an interesting reference work for anyone interested.
Gas Guzzlers Condemned
Posted in Uncategorized on September 27, 2005| 4 Comments »
Always knew the drivers of 4WD are trouble, bloody road hogs –
4WD drivers obese, conservative: study
Gas Guzzlers Condemned
Posted in Uncategorized on September 27, 2005| 4 Comments »
Always knew the drivers of 4WD are trouble, bloody road hogs –
4WD drivers obese, conservative: study
Tuesday Sep 27 00:00 AEST
Forget the fit, rugged, 30-something-year-old navigating flood plains and climbing mountains in the snazzy 4WDs as depicted in the commercials.
The reality is, drivers of the suburban monsters are often obese, aggressive, intolerant and aged in their 40s or 50s.
A new study has found that city owners of large four-wheel-drive vehicles are less community minded than other drivers, less charitable, more likely to be homophobic and have a low opinion of indigenous culture.
The Australia Institute study has also found they are more likely to use force to get their way.
Based on a Roy Morgan Research survey in 2003-04 of 24,718 people aged 14 and over, the study found the typical city driver of a large 4WD is a male in his forties or fifties in full-time work with a higher than average income.
The 4WDS are also far more likely than conventional vehicles to kill or maim other road users, they are less fuel efficient and they are resented by other road users.
Two thirds of their drivers in the city are overweight or obese.
They also had a lower regard for the welfare system than the general population.
“While over half (57 per cent) of all Australians agree it is the government’s duty to support those who cannot find work, only 42 per cent of city drivers of large 4WDs concur,” the report’s authors, Clive Hamilton and Claire Barbato, said.
“These drivers tend to see themselves as rugged individualists who like physical activity.
“Perhaps with implications for how they drive, they are more inclined to say they sometimes use force to get their way,” the authors said.
The authors also say 4WDs are marketed as bold, tough, powerful and made for rugged terrain, while the daily reality is that most are driven between school, work and shops in metropolitan areas.
The survey counted only city drivers of 4WDs, where over half of the vehicles are owned.
However, drivers of luxury 4WDs are very different.
They are more likely to be female, in their 30s and 40s, and are more materialistic than other Australians.
“This group is more than twice as likely as the general population to say, `I was born to shop’ (33 per cent),” the authors said.
“And two thirds (65 per cent) say they would normally buy their favourite brand regardless of price, compared with 43 per cent of the population.”
They also watch their weight, and are less likely to be obese than the general population.
Monash University research indicates 4WDs are far more likely than conventional vehicles to kill or maim other road users.
Dr Hamilton said the vehicles are also less fuel efficient and are resented by other road users.
He said special licences and higher taxes should be imposed on 4WD owners.
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