MPs vote in favour of 'three-person embryo' law | Science | The Guardian
As I have written before - this is crazy.
The reason it is crazy is not (as some pro-life conservatives in this report claim) because it involves destroying embryos to create a third - I mean, just everyday IVF results in scores of discarded embryos every week and they aren't rioting in the streets about that - but because it is a highly artificial process with very likely subtle and unforeseeable long term health consequences for the babies created. Just as there already is a higher birth defect rate for "normal" IVF babies - the reasons for which remain unclear - it is reasonable to expect more problems if you are fiddling around with the actual contents of eggs.
All this for a small number of families who simply want to have their own babies instead of adopting or using donor egg techniques.
The Americans are unwilling to proceed with it - at least until more animal studies are done. Why are the English so gung-ho about this?
Wednesday, February 04, 2015
Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Planetary heating continues
A Fresh Look at the Watery Side of Earth's Climate Shows 'Unabated Planetary Warming' - NYTimes.com
There is a new study at Nature Climate Change that appears to offer strong confirmation that the "missing heat" from CO2 is going into the deep ocean, based on the latest Argo measurements.
There is an article about it at The Conversation, but a more detailed discussion appears at the above link at Andrew Revkin's blog (which, I must admit, I forget to check often lately.)
The issue of deep ocean heat absorption might make surface temperature increase slower than current models indicate, but when you look at the graphs for surface increases since the middle of last century, surely anyone sensible would have to say that it looks fanciful to suggest that suddenly, all further heat is going to start disappearing down that sinkhole, never to bother us again for centuries.
There is a new study at Nature Climate Change that appears to offer strong confirmation that the "missing heat" from CO2 is going into the deep ocean, based on the latest Argo measurements.
There is an article about it at The Conversation, but a more detailed discussion appears at the above link at Andrew Revkin's blog (which, I must admit, I forget to check often lately.)
The issue of deep ocean heat absorption might make surface temperature increase slower than current models indicate, but when you look at the graphs for surface increases since the middle of last century, surely anyone sensible would have to say that it looks fanciful to suggest that suddenly, all further heat is going to start disappearing down that sinkhole, never to bother us again for centuries.
A slip of the finger
Just noticed this in the online AFR story by Phil Coorey:
The influence of Peter Slipper seems to linger on...
The influence of Peter Slipper seems to linger on...
The slippery Creighton
Adam Creighton bemoans in the Oz today that Campbell Newman's desire to privatise electricity distribution is a good thing that Queensland is missing out on:
According to this 2014 report, SA is significantly more expensive, as is most electricity in Victoria.
Adam's highly selective way of looking at matters is not to be trusted without looking into more detail.
The Liberal National Party never adequately explained how that would improve the lives of ordinary Queenslanders — by cutting power prices. The Victorian and South Australian governments privatised their electricity distributors between 1995 and 1998. Since then, the cost of Queensland’s electricity network (the biggest component of household bills) has risen more than 120 per cent while falling in the two southern states, according to a recent Ernst & Young study.Fascinating. Yet what are the actual electricity costs in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia?
According to this 2014 report, SA is significantly more expensive, as is most electricity in Victoria.
Adam's highly selective way of looking at matters is not to be trusted without looking into more detail.
Cater in denial
The most hilarious thing in the papers this morning is the irritating wannabe political culture warrior Nick Cater telling the country that we don't know how lucky we are to have Abbott as our PM. Maybe he didn't come up with the headline, but here it is: Tony-haters can't cope with reality.
The spin is of cyclonic intensity as he claims Australians don't like Abbott because Labor under Rudd and Gillard has ruined politics in this country. (Yes, seriously.)
And Cater has his own problem with reality when he claims electricity prices have dropped 10% since the carbon "tax" went. In fact, his own paper was reporting only a few days ago that the average price reduction was 7.31%, after Abbott promised a 9% drop. That's some rounding error for Cater. (Particularly as it appears clear in the report that some electricity drops were only around 5%.)
Cater also talks up jobs growth, when the unemployment rate since the change of government actually looks like this:
source: tradingeconomics.com
Apparently, we should also be grateful to Abbott for causing the Arabs to dramatically drop the price of petrol. Yes, that makes sense [not].
Cater even has a go at his brothers in arms at the likes of the IPA and Catallaxy for attacking Abbott from the Right. Yes, it's a real tragedy, Nick.
Meanwhile, I just saw Abbott give a lacklustre morning interview on Sunrise, flanked by Australian flags. (The background to Abbott's media appearances always appear to be some attempt at subliminal messaging - remember all the Christmas trees behind in December?)
I think everyone - even Cater - knows the truth: Abbott is just one stupid comment or decision away from losing leadership. At his current rate of making those, he probably has less than a month...
Update: Judith Sloan notes that it's not wise for the government to brag about jobs creation, and thinks the "small business" tax cut is a bad idea. (Yes, it's a worry: she has been increasingly capable of being cited with approval! But when someone like her criticises a tax cut, there is almost certainly something to it.)
Update 2: I can't get to it behind the paywall, but it appears from a tweet that Dennis Shanahan at the Oz has suggested that someone is thinking that Christopher Pyne could be a "compromise" candidate for the Prime Ministership!! Please, let it be true. Hahahahaa
Monday, February 02, 2015
He's not for turning
Note: no suggestion of actual Thatcher-like qualities, such as consistency, intended. Just looks funny in drag...
Update: how prescient of me to post this yesterday, when today it is reported:
MPs today continued to leak against the Prime Minister despite a staunch defence of his leadership to the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday.
“Cabinet ministers have been ringing me and telling me things are just untenable,” one MP said.
“Julie Bishop and Tony Abbott now have a Gillard-Rudd like relationship. It can’t go on like this,” another said.
Tony's big speech observed
I just dropped in on the Abbott Press Club speech.
Really sounds like an election campaign launch. I suppose it is - to his Party for his own job.
He's still with the blue tie thing. Boring.
Now he's talking tough on cracking down on organisations promoting Islamic terrorism. I didn't realise that the public thought that was a big issue at the moment.
Gone on a big ramble touching lots of things now, but nothing in depth.
Ooh - now he's reading the bit of the speech leaked to Michelle Grattan this morning. Deja vu.
Oh - was Maggie Abbott looking a bit dewy eyed then, while he talked about her returning to work?
A small business tax cut coming. Yes - that will help the government's revenue problem.
Wants to be remembered for cutting tax. GST - to change it would need a political consensus. He's probably right there. Broken clock, as they say.
Back into repeating last election's slogans. Boring.
Now talking directly to the public - sounds exactly like a campaign launch.
Onto questions now.
I missed the first one.
Second one - promising to be more, much more, consultative in Cabinet etc.
Lordy - now into "we're all on journey" guff. Well, it's one to the backbench for you, Tone.
Supports fair umpire deciding minimum wages.
Hey a tough question from a journo I haven't heard of before - essentially, telling him he's failed to make transition from opposition to government. He doesn't answer.
Mark Riley's question rather tough too.
I gotta sign off, though...
My verdict: he's combative and obviously not planning on resigning any time soon. Good! More bad decisions and entertainment on the way then.
When is the next Newspoll out for federal voting intention? We seem to waiting a long time...
Really sounds like an election campaign launch. I suppose it is - to his Party for his own job.
He's still with the blue tie thing. Boring.
Now he's talking tough on cracking down on organisations promoting Islamic terrorism. I didn't realise that the public thought that was a big issue at the moment.
Gone on a big ramble touching lots of things now, but nothing in depth.
Ooh - now he's reading the bit of the speech leaked to Michelle Grattan this morning. Deja vu.
Oh - was Maggie Abbott looking a bit dewy eyed then, while he talked about her returning to work?
A small business tax cut coming. Yes - that will help the government's revenue problem.
Wants to be remembered for cutting tax. GST - to change it would need a political consensus. He's probably right there. Broken clock, as they say.
Back into repeating last election's slogans. Boring.
Now talking directly to the public - sounds exactly like a campaign launch.
Onto questions now.
I missed the first one.
Second one - promising to be more, much more, consultative in Cabinet etc.
Lordy - now into "we're all on journey" guff. Well, it's one to the backbench for you, Tone.
Supports fair umpire deciding minimum wages.
Hey a tough question from a journo I haven't heard of before - essentially, telling him he's failed to make transition from opposition to government. He doesn't answer.
Mark Riley's question rather tough too.
I gotta sign off, though...
My verdict: he's combative and obviously not planning on resigning any time soon. Good! More bad decisions and entertainment on the way then.
When is the next Newspoll out for federal voting intention? We seem to waiting a long time...
Not sure that this is the best headline...
Global warming won't mean more stormy weather
The article says that the study indicates not more storms, but:
The article says that the study indicates not more storms, but:
Instead, strong storms will become stronger while weak storms become weaker, and the cumulative result of the number of storms will remain unchanged.
Blogger who noted beard length released in Saudi Arabia
Saudi woman blogger released from jail | GulfNews.com
I'm pretty sure I have posted about this poor woman before. But good news - her tweet about Mohammad's beard length only resulted in 3 months in jail.
Here's the tweet:
I'm pretty sure I have posted about this poor woman before. But good news - her tweet about Mohammad's beard length only resulted in 3 months in jail.
Here's the tweet:
Suad waded into controversy in 2013 when she said on the microblog thatWhat a mad country.
the Islamic saying that men should have beards to distinguish them from
non-believers did not make sense.“Several atheists, Jews and Communists in the past had, and in the present have, beards, and even Abu Jahl [a polytheist pagan leader] had a
beard that was longer than that of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH),” she
reportedly said. Several senior religious figures in the Saudi kingdom condemned her
tweet, accusing her of denigrating Islam and targeting the Prophet, and
calling for severe action against her, including putting her on trial.
Douthat considers the new PC
Our Loud, Proud Left - NYTimes.com
Douthat been's considering the argument over the resurgence of political correctness in the Left, particularly the academic Left.
I'm a touch on the skeptic side of this. While it does appear that there is a resurgence of silliness, particularly in American universities, I'm not sure that it is having much of a practical effect on society overall. In any case, Douthat's thoughts on it are not a bad read.
Douthat been's considering the argument over the resurgence of political correctness in the Left, particularly the academic Left.
I'm a touch on the skeptic side of this. While it does appear that there is a resurgence of silliness, particularly in American universities, I'm not sure that it is having much of a practical effect on society overall. In any case, Douthat's thoughts on it are not a bad read.
Fear of sustainability
Over at Catallaxy, there's a post up showing a bunch of IPA "we hate tax - all tax" types having a recent love in about why the Victorian Liberals lost their recent State election.
It goes on for a tedious 2 hours, but I skimmed through it, and apart from noting that Christian Kerr is now physically unrecognizable (he really needs to look into the 5-2 diet, but if it's due to some illness or other, my apologies in advance) I was particularly interested to hear what John Roskam had a whine about.
One thing that caught my attention was his complaint that the State governments all signed up to the National school curriculum with its emphasis on "sustainability". I think he might have even called this "frightening" - but I stand to be corrected.
I don't know. If he actually read more than Monckton, Andrew Bolt and Ridley on climate change and the environment, he might have noticed that there is presently much concern that deforestation in Brazil is making a large contribution to a severe drought that is about to leave no water, and little electricity, to an city of 11 million people (and 20 million in the region.) Now that is frightening...
Perhaps he should go to Sao Paulo and talk to them about the ridiculousness of sustainability...
It goes on for a tedious 2 hours, but I skimmed through it, and apart from noting that Christian Kerr is now physically unrecognizable (he really needs to look into the 5-2 diet, but if it's due to some illness or other, my apologies in advance) I was particularly interested to hear what John Roskam had a whine about.
One thing that caught my attention was his complaint that the State governments all signed up to the National school curriculum with its emphasis on "sustainability". I think he might have even called this "frightening" - but I stand to be corrected.
I don't know. If he actually read more than Monckton, Andrew Bolt and Ridley on climate change and the environment, he might have noticed that there is presently much concern that deforestation in Brazil is making a large contribution to a severe drought that is about to leave no water, and little electricity, to an city of 11 million people (and 20 million in the region.) Now that is frightening...
Perhaps he should go to Sao Paulo and talk to them about the ridiculousness of sustainability...
Friendly fire
It's hard to keep tally of who on the Right is supporting Abbott and who isn't.
Andrew Bolt is having a bet each way, and I'm not sure that he has weighed in on the Peta problem.
Greg Sheridan, who Fairfax reported was offered a job by old pal Abbott, is still supporting Abbott but telling him he has to throw Peta under the bus.
Amanda Vanstone, like the rest of the nation, puzzles about what goes on in the labyrinth mind of Tony, and says with more subtlety than Sheridan that he:
Update: That's odd: looks like the Abbott lunchtime speech has had at least large chunks leaked to Michelle Grattan. So he's giving up on his PPL scheme that no one wants, but indicates more money will go into supporting childcare. That'll make the "spend less, tax less" people of Catallaxy grind their teeth, I expect.
Andrew Bolt is having a bet each way, and I'm not sure that he has weighed in on the Peta problem.
Greg Sheridan, who Fairfax reported was offered a job by old pal Abbott, is still supporting Abbott but telling him he has to throw Peta under the bus.
Amanda Vanstone, like the rest of the nation, puzzles about what goes on in the labyrinth mind of Tony, and says with more subtlety than Sheridan that he:
...needs to fix whatever it is that makes relations with his office fractious. That is nobody's responsibility but his.It seems that, despite Rupert's intervention being an incentive for Abbott not to do something about Peta, everyone who sympathises with him still thinks he really has to do something about her...
Update: That's odd: looks like the Abbott lunchtime speech has had at least large chunks leaked to Michelle Grattan. So he's giving up on his PPL scheme that no one wants, but indicates more money will go into supporting childcare. That'll make the "spend less, tax less" people of Catallaxy grind their teeth, I expect.
Sunday, February 01, 2015
Pantheists anonymous
The Gods of Spinoza & Teilhard de Chardin | Issue 106 | Philosophy Now
This article notes that neither Spinoza nor Teilhard de Chardin happily accepted the title of "pantheist", despite the obvious, um, "pantheist friendly" sound of much of what they wrote.
It's a good read.
This article notes that neither Spinoza nor Teilhard de Chardin happily accepted the title of "pantheist", despite the obvious, um, "pantheist friendly" sound of much of what they wrote.
It's a good read.
Talk about constipation
How the Scorpion Lost Its Tail (And Its Anus) – Phenomena: Not Exactly Rocket Science
Amusing article here about how scorpions can lose their tail in self-defence, but it also means losing their anus and ability to defecate. Still, they can manage for up to another another 8 months.
Amusing article here about how scorpions can lose their tail in self-defence, but it also means losing their anus and ability to defecate. Still, they can manage for up to another another 8 months.
What's big in India
This Alien Comedy Is India's Biggest Movie Of All Time
As the first comment notes, there's a distinctly "Mr Bean" feel about the enterprise, but someone further down claims the movie is more profound (as a semi-satire on Indian culture and religions) that the dubious trailer indicates.
As the first comment notes, there's a distinctly "Mr Bean" feel about the enterprise, but someone further down claims the movie is more profound (as a semi-satire on Indian culture and religions) that the dubious trailer indicates.
More about the droughts
Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog : Brazil, California Face Specter of Worsening Drought | Weather Underground
The situation described with the drought affecting Sao Paulo sounds particularly dire, in this update yesterday at Jeff Master's blog.
The situation described with the drought affecting Sao Paulo sounds particularly dire, in this update yesterday at Jeff Master's blog.
The truth is out there - maybe?
Stories of some Coalition resentment with Peta Credlin's power and control in Tony Abbott's office began as soon as he had won the election, but it's fascinating watching a News Limited writer (Miranda Devine) giving Credlin both barrels mere days after Rupert Murdoch called for her resignation.
But the real point of the post is to note my surprise at some of the comments that are getting though after the story. These ones:
This is a long standing Canberra insider rumour about Abbott and Credlin, but it is rather remarkable that comments alluding to it are now appearing in Herald Sun comments, with (apparently) no concern about defamation action. Or is the explanation simply that the comments on a Sunday are not cleared by anyone, let alone a defamation lawyer?
I think the closest we ever got to this rumour being a mainstream media one* (and not just something that circulated on the internet) was when Chris Uhlmann in an interview with Tony Abbott once made reference to journalists knowing of rumours of personal matters on the Liberal side which would suggest they should be careful of personal rumour mongering of other politicians. I have read the theory, though, that the Credlin friendly profile of her in The Australian in 2011 was there to dampen speculation of the rumour which was already out there.
Now to be perfectly clear here: I don't know if the rumour is true or not. Politicians suffer continual rumours about their private life, a great many of which are bulldust.
But I would say this: if a journalist comes out to confirm it after Abbott loses his job (either in the next few weeks, or after an election), it would not only absolutely kill Abbott's reputation, given the shameless way he capitalised on his wife and daughters on the election trail, and made snide remarks about Gillard's not having a family; but also lead to serious questions about whether Australian journalistic reticence to publicise details of a politician's private life have actually gone too far.
Hence, it is (if true) by far the juiciest and most interesting bit of potential political scandal since at least the Morosi affair. (In fact, it is much, much more serious than that - which was really just about conservatives and the sexual revolution.) I am dead keen to know if it is true, and suspect that if there is any confirmation to come, it would likely be arriving soon.
Update: * some may argue that it would more likely be the kerfuffle about the joke at the Labor dinner, but the media refused to repeat the joke, even though it eventually surfaced on the 'net.
Also, as I made clearer in my comment to Homer, the thing I find interesting about it is the question of whether, in the current situation, with a wildly dysfunctional PM's office under the control of Credlin being alleged by journalists and unhappy MP's, doesn't the question of disclosure of an affair by journalists now become a matter of public interest, even if it hadn't previously?
But, the other possibility is that it is not true, or no one knows for sure. In which case, given that it is now appearing in the small print of Rupert's papers, mightn't Abbott be wise to publicly deny it and at least get that problem out of the way? Shorten took that approach when a rumour was getting out of control and was plainly false - I think Abbott would be wise to follow suit. If he feels he can....
But the real point of the post is to note my surprise at some of the comments that are getting though after the story. These ones:
This is a long standing Canberra insider rumour about Abbott and Credlin, but it is rather remarkable that comments alluding to it are now appearing in Herald Sun comments, with (apparently) no concern about defamation action. Or is the explanation simply that the comments on a Sunday are not cleared by anyone, let alone a defamation lawyer?
I think the closest we ever got to this rumour being a mainstream media one* (and not just something that circulated on the internet) was when Chris Uhlmann in an interview with Tony Abbott once made reference to journalists knowing of rumours of personal matters on the Liberal side which would suggest they should be careful of personal rumour mongering of other politicians. I have read the theory, though, that the Credlin friendly profile of her in The Australian in 2011 was there to dampen speculation of the rumour which was already out there.
Now to be perfectly clear here: I don't know if the rumour is true or not. Politicians suffer continual rumours about their private life, a great many of which are bulldust.
But I would say this: if a journalist comes out to confirm it after Abbott loses his job (either in the next few weeks, or after an election), it would not only absolutely kill Abbott's reputation, given the shameless way he capitalised on his wife and daughters on the election trail, and made snide remarks about Gillard's not having a family; but also lead to serious questions about whether Australian journalistic reticence to publicise details of a politician's private life have actually gone too far.
Hence, it is (if true) by far the juiciest and most interesting bit of potential political scandal since at least the Morosi affair. (In fact, it is much, much more serious than that - which was really just about conservatives and the sexual revolution.) I am dead keen to know if it is true, and suspect that if there is any confirmation to come, it would likely be arriving soon.
Update: * some may argue that it would more likely be the kerfuffle about the joke at the Labor dinner, but the media refused to repeat the joke, even though it eventually surfaced on the 'net.
Also, as I made clearer in my comment to Homer, the thing I find interesting about it is the question of whether, in the current situation, with a wildly dysfunctional PM's office under the control of Credlin being alleged by journalists and unhappy MP's, doesn't the question of disclosure of an affair by journalists now become a matter of public interest, even if it hadn't previously?
But, the other possibility is that it is not true, or no one knows for sure. In which case, given that it is now appearing in the small print of Rupert's papers, mightn't Abbott be wise to publicly deny it and at least get that problem out of the way? Shorten took that approach when a rumour was getting out of control and was plainly false - I think Abbott would be wise to follow suit. If he feels he can....
Saturday, January 31, 2015
An observation
One of the funniest things to read on an election night when Labor is doing well (as it is in Queensland tonight where, in what is surely the most extraordinary reversal of fortune in Australian electoral history, it looks to have a chance of forming government after being in Opposition with a number of MPs you could count on two hands) is the Catallaxy blog. Especially when that bunch of climate change denying numbskulls - it's a prerequisite to be part of the club there - start saying the only explanation is that Australians are too dumb.
Update: While he's not the only economist who seems to have too much faith in election betting markets (Kouk loves quoting them all the time too,) Sinclair Davidson's dedication to them should surely be tested after this election.
Also - I see that Adam Creighton had a tweet last night claiming its all due to the electorate's economic illiteracy. This from a man whose ideologically anti-Keynesian pals in the US have been predicting runaway inflation as the big worry for the last 6 years. And, of course, his pals here include a certain blog master who warned about stagflation in Australia 3 years ago.
Creighton's latest persistent line is that the drop in the Australian dollar is not really a good thing - I suspect because it makes his internet overseas purchases more expensive, which trumps its obvious benefits to just about anything being exported from here, as well as the tourism industry.
Update 2: The election result seems to confirm that the Newman campaign to drum up support for asset sales by calling them 99 year leases was too slick by half. The campaign was so obviously advertising agency manipulation to get the result Newman wanted, it backfired. Mark this one as a Crosby Textor fail. Couldn't happen to a better jerk, as Mark Textor clearly is.
Update 3: Good Lord. Judith Sloan has a post about the apparently leaked replacement policy to Abbott's to-be-abandoned-tomorrow parental leave plan with which I agree. The thing is, though, people like me always said Abbott was a policy flim flam man and a mere opportunistic flake. That's how he got the leadership, for God's sake; but because the ideologically driven to not believe science were so excited that he was their man for carbon tax removal, they weren't worried about him then.
Update: While he's not the only economist who seems to have too much faith in election betting markets (Kouk loves quoting them all the time too,) Sinclair Davidson's dedication to them should surely be tested after this election.
Also - I see that Adam Creighton had a tweet last night claiming its all due to the electorate's economic illiteracy. This from a man whose ideologically anti-Keynesian pals in the US have been predicting runaway inflation as the big worry for the last 6 years. And, of course, his pals here include a certain blog master who warned about stagflation in Australia 3 years ago.
Creighton's latest persistent line is that the drop in the Australian dollar is not really a good thing - I suspect because it makes his internet overseas purchases more expensive, which trumps its obvious benefits to just about anything being exported from here, as well as the tourism industry.
Update 2: The election result seems to confirm that the Newman campaign to drum up support for asset sales by calling them 99 year leases was too slick by half. The campaign was so obviously advertising agency manipulation to get the result Newman wanted, it backfired. Mark this one as a Crosby Textor fail. Couldn't happen to a better jerk, as Mark Textor clearly is.
Update 3: Good Lord. Judith Sloan has a post about the apparently leaked replacement policy to Abbott's to-be-abandoned-tomorrow parental leave plan with which I agree. The thing is, though, people like me always said Abbott was a policy flim flam man and a mere opportunistic flake. That's how he got the leadership, for God's sake; but because the ideologically driven to not believe science were so excited that he was their man for carbon tax removal, they weren't worried about him then.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Lost for choice
Tony is out and about, being a proud captain of Team Australia with his happy team players.
Honestly, there are more potential funny captions for what could be coming out of this guy's mouth than there are stars in the galaxy:
Honestly, there are more potential funny captions for what could be coming out of this guy's mouth than there are stars in the galaxy:
Remarkable droughts remarked upon
California's drought is now even more horrible.
Looks like San Francisco is definitely set to have its first completely dry January since continuous records started in 1850. Snowpack in the Sierras (which supplies a lot of drinking water) down to 25% of normal.
As for Brazil, even the WSJ is reporting on how dire its drought is.
All with barely a degree of warming, hey Lukewarmists?
Looks like San Francisco is definitely set to have its first completely dry January since continuous records started in 1850. Snowpack in the Sierras (which supplies a lot of drinking water) down to 25% of normal.
As for Brazil, even the WSJ is reporting on how dire its drought is.
All with barely a degree of warming, hey Lukewarmists?
Good work Waleed
The PM's woes started earlier than you think
Truth be told, I think lots of journalists have been telling this exact same story over the last 12 months, but Waleed does sum it up all rather well.
Update: well I barely got that out, and I see that Twitter is bent over in stitches because Tony Abbott has apparently just said that Turnbull and Bishop are excelling because "they have a good captain".
On current indications, his press club performance on Monday will, one suspects, likely see him out of the job....
Truth be told, I think lots of journalists have been telling this exact same story over the last 12 months, but Waleed does sum it up all rather well.
Update: well I barely got that out, and I see that Twitter is bent over in stitches because Tony Abbott has apparently just said that Turnbull and Bishop are excelling because "they have a good captain".
On current indications, his press club performance on Monday will, one suspects, likely see him out of the job....
The tedious world of Moffat
This summer, the ABC has been running that re-invented Sherlock show from the BBC from the start. I had not seen it before.
There is quite a bit to like: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are both good in their roles, and the (novel, as far as I can recall) method of showing internal thoughts or other information simply by having the floating words in the air near the character is neat. On the downside, I have always found the 90 minute format for character based, slightly comedic, detective stories is just a bit too long. I remember my interest in episodes of Columbo, for example, always started petering out at the 60 to 70 minute mark, and that was with commercials.
But my main reason for the post is to make the observation that, just as Graham Greene's output seemed permanently stuck in a "Greeneland" [depressed males, often with a crisis of faith, seeking solace in sex,] co-creator and sometimes writer Steven Moffat seems absolutely stuck in pan or omni-sexual Moffatland.
It was an obvious modern joke to make in the first episode: people wondering if Sherlock and Watson are a gay couple. Maybe even the second episode. But last week, I think 4 shows in, and we have the lesbian dominatrix story. And Watson still talking about how he is not gay. And everyone wondering if Sherlock has ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend. Really, who cares? It is tediously like modern Dr Who of the last 5 or so (possibly 8 or so - I lose track) years, where it seemed an episode which did not feature some jokey reference to queer sexuality or practice of some kind or other was a real rarity (in what is basically a kids' show.)
I have no idea why this obsesses Moffat so much. Amusingly, it seems that even gay or "queer" theorists find fault with how he deals with it. It also appears that some feminists find Moffat very objectionable. Maybe he is rather like Tony Abbott - can't keep anyone on any side of the spectrum happy.
But the main thing is - it's just such a bore to see a personal obsession keep on appearing with such regularity in shows which are not about sexuality. It sticks out like a sore thumb, from a man who seems to have issues.
There is quite a bit to like: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are both good in their roles, and the (novel, as far as I can recall) method of showing internal thoughts or other information simply by having the floating words in the air near the character is neat. On the downside, I have always found the 90 minute format for character based, slightly comedic, detective stories is just a bit too long. I remember my interest in episodes of Columbo, for example, always started petering out at the 60 to 70 minute mark, and that was with commercials.
But my main reason for the post is to make the observation that, just as Graham Greene's output seemed permanently stuck in a "Greeneland" [depressed males, often with a crisis of faith, seeking solace in sex,] co-creator and sometimes writer Steven Moffat seems absolutely stuck in pan or omni-sexual Moffatland.
It was an obvious modern joke to make in the first episode: people wondering if Sherlock and Watson are a gay couple. Maybe even the second episode. But last week, I think 4 shows in, and we have the lesbian dominatrix story. And Watson still talking about how he is not gay. And everyone wondering if Sherlock has ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend. Really, who cares? It is tediously like modern Dr Who of the last 5 or so (possibly 8 or so - I lose track) years, where it seemed an episode which did not feature some jokey reference to queer sexuality or practice of some kind or other was a real rarity (in what is basically a kids' show.)
I have no idea why this obsesses Moffat so much. Amusingly, it seems that even gay or "queer" theorists find fault with how he deals with it. It also appears that some feminists find Moffat very objectionable. Maybe he is rather like Tony Abbott - can't keep anyone on any side of the spectrum happy.
But the main thing is - it's just such a bore to see a personal obsession keep on appearing with such regularity in shows which are not about sexuality. It sticks out like a sore thumb, from a man who seems to have issues.
Tracking down the cause
Mystery childhood paralysis stumps researchers : Nature News & Comment
I don't like hearing that there are cases of childhood paralysis that don't have a clear cause, but there you have it.
I don't like hearing that there are cases of childhood paralysis that don't have a clear cause, but there you have it.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Meanwhile, in New York...
PS: my theory is that Rupert lives on by taking a daily infusion of more youthful blood compulsorily donated by editors and staff at News Limited papers. Hard to explain that in one box, though...
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Julie's loss noted
For those of my vast international readership who are wondering what this is about.... http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-19/julie-bishop-tweets-in-search-of-lost-earring/6024594
Musing about the PC, 28 years ago
I'm under pressure again to dispose of my old magazine collection - many of them Omni's from the 1980s. (By the way, they were printed on quality paper - there's really not that much page yellowing in my carelessly stored editions.)
But just glancing through these still quite appealingly designed magazines, I come across articles that remind me how the world has changed, and it's sort of charming, even if it makes me feel old. Here's a scan of an article written by someone in the PC business in April 1987, who was asked by Omni "Is the Computer Business Dying?":
But just glancing through these still quite appealingly designed magazines, I come across articles that remind me how the world has changed, and it's sort of charming, even if it makes me feel old. Here's a scan of an article written by someone in the PC business in April 1987, who was asked by Omni "Is the Computer Business Dying?":
Cute design
Cubitat from Urban Capital and Nichetto Studios is a compact home in a box.
I like this a lot. Of course, as a home, all it lacks is exterior walls. But no design is perfect...
Maybe if I could just have one installed in an appropriate sized yurt...
I like this a lot. Of course, as a home, all it lacks is exterior walls. But no design is perfect...
Maybe if I could just have one installed in an appropriate sized yurt...
Rupert now directing Prime Ministerial staff arrangments...
Hilarious to watch Rupert directing the show from New York:
Especially funny if Abbott really is personally responsible for the Prince Phil knighthood and didn't even run it past her...
Especially funny if Abbott really is personally responsible for the Prince Phil knighthood and didn't even run it past her...
A bunch of studies American's don't believe
Good guy with a gun myth: Guns increase the risk of homicide, accidents, suicide.
The most surprising thing, as this article points out early, is that a significant majority of Americans actually believe the NRA line that gun ownership is a good idea for personal safety.
The most surprising thing, as this article points out early, is that a significant majority of Americans actually believe the NRA line that gun ownership is a good idea for personal safety.
More common than you think
BBC - Earth - Spectacular real virgin births
A good read about virgin births in the animal kingdom. (Quaint term - "animal kingdom" - isn't it?)
A good read about virgin births in the animal kingdom. (Quaint term - "animal kingdom" - isn't it?)
Time to 5:2 again
Fasting facts: is the 5:2 diet too good to be true? | Life and style | The Guardian
I tried the 5:2 diet last year and it did work, but having stopped completely for maybe four months now the weight has been creeping back up towards last year's starting point. Michael was probably right - having lost the weight, doing it one day a week may be the way to maintain it.
This Guardian article starts out as if it is going to take down the claims a peg or two, but everyone it quotes still seems quite strongly supportive. There is an alternative mentioned:
Anyway, perhaps from next week it's time for me to go back to 5:2. When it's cooler, I can throw in one of those 60 second a week exercise regimes . Michael endorse them too! (Heh).
I tried the 5:2 diet last year and it did work, but having stopped completely for maybe four months now the weight has been creeping back up towards last year's starting point. Michael was probably right - having lost the weight, doing it one day a week may be the way to maintain it.
This Guardian article starts out as if it is going to take down the claims a peg or two, but everyone it quotes still seems quite strongly supportive. There is an alternative mentioned:
Longo himself has fasted daily for more than five years now. He practises time-restricted feeding, where he allows himself only two meals within three to 12 hours – a method that is common among centenarians and, says, “a good way for me to maintain a healthy weight”. It’s better than 5:2, according to Longo, because your system prefers a daily routine, rather than extremes every few days (he also recommends three-to-five day fasts every three months). But he wouldn’t recommend trying it without medical supervision, for fear of malnourishment and “because people like to improvise”, he says. You certainly can’t just go around fasting willy-nilly if you’re still growing, pregnant, diabetic or have other serious health conditions.Well, until a book comes out about that, I won't try it.
Anyway, perhaps from next week it's time for me to go back to 5:2. When it's cooler, I can throw in one of those 60 second a week exercise regimes . Michael endorse them too! (Heh).
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Hotter
Climate change will hit Australia harder than rest of world, study shows | Environment | The Guardian
The CSIRO/BOM website that the article links to looks pretty good - it breaks Australia down into regions and explains what is on the cards regarding not just rainfall, but extreme rainfall, temperatures, etc. It also indicates the degree of confidence.
While regional forecasts of the effects of climate change are still very tricky, it's interesting to note that one thing they are still most confident about is that the south west corner of Western Australia will continue to get drier.
The Guardian report also notes this:
I am guessing that economists and their DICE models haven't worked out a way to factor that one into projections for GDP effect of global warming in 2090...
The CSIRO/BOM website that the article links to looks pretty good - it breaks Australia down into regions and explains what is on the cards regarding not just rainfall, but extreme rainfall, temperatures, etc. It also indicates the degree of confidence.
While regional forecasts of the effects of climate change are still very tricky, it's interesting to note that one thing they are still most confident about is that the south west corner of Western Australia will continue to get drier.
The Guardian report also notes this:
Some of the most profound transformations are set to take place in theThe ecological changes that this could involve have potentially serious consequences on such mundane matters as tourism. This summer, a boy was stung at the Brisbane bayside suburb of Wellington Point by the (sometimes) deadly irukandji jellyfish. An article at the Conversation in 2013 noted that they are normally only in northern Queensland waters (north of Gladstone) but had been found in Harvey Bay. Now Brisbane. While it remains unclear whether they can establish this far south in large numbers, if they did, and effectively prevented widespread use of southern Queensland beaches for the hottest summer months, the tourism effect would be very dire.
seas that surround Australia, which will warm by a further 2C to 4C
unless emissions are cut.
I am guessing that economists and their DICE models haven't worked out a way to factor that one into projections for GDP effect of global warming in 2090...
Monday, January 26, 2015
Faker than a spaghetti western
Just turned over to watch some of the Baz Luhrmann film Australia, which I knew would be ridiculous, but it exceeds my expectations.
What on earth was this director thinking? Everything about the film screams "fake": the awful acting of poor Nicole Kidman, the sets, the story, the stampede, and (somehow) he even makes the Australian outback look fake - it looks and sounds more like a (particularly bad) 1940's American Western. It's a film weird in concept and execution. Any Australian critic who liked it is not to be trusted.
And looking back at what some American critics said about its treatment of aborigines - I see exactly what they mean.
I've been out for a while...is Abbott still PM?
Tony Abbott under fire from Cabinet colleagues over decision to grant knighthood to Prince Philip
So, the answer seems to be yes, but is on the way out...
So, the answer seems to be yes, but is on the way out...
Hot
Yesterday, ABC TV said that Brisbane had a high of 37 degrees, and Ipswich too. It's quite unusual to see the same temperature in both locations.
I know it was hot where we live, about halfway between those locations. If this heat and high humidity continues well into February, I think it will start to have the feel of the 1998 summer.
Looking around the world, Brazil is apparently having record heat and continuing, very serious, drought, and California has been hot. Its drought is also still hanging around, even though rains late last year gave them hope. The January lack of rain is, however, highly unusual:
Although our weather bureau contains tables of our climate at different locations, I can't see that they provide anywhere where you can easily graph the results. (I would welcome being corrected on that.) But over at the Berkeley Earth temperature records, they do provide pre-made graphs for all major cities.
Here's what Brisbane's looks like:
Seems a clear trend since I was born...
I know it was hot where we live, about halfway between those locations. If this heat and high humidity continues well into February, I think it will start to have the feel of the 1998 summer.
Looking around the world, Brazil is apparently having record heat and continuing, very serious, drought, and California has been hot. Its drought is also still hanging around, even though rains late last year gave them hope. The January lack of rain is, however, highly unusual:
January is usually San Francisco's wettest month, averaging four and a half inches of rain since 1850. In January 2015, though, it hasn't rained at all -- and the forecast doesn't suggest that's likely to change. Over the past 165 years, that has never happened. Not once. The closest the city came to a rainless month was when it got 0.06 inches -- in 2014.But back to Brisbane.
Although our weather bureau contains tables of our climate at different locations, I can't see that they provide anywhere where you can easily graph the results. (I would welcome being corrected on that.) But over at the Berkeley Earth temperature records, they do provide pre-made graphs for all major cities.
Here's what Brisbane's looks like:
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