High speed rail: wrong train, right track?
Michael Pascoe argues that if you must have high speed rail in Australia, use maglev.
He might be right...
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The perfect Guardian storm
Heh. I don't think I can imagine a more perfect storm for Guardian readers' response than an opinion piece criticising Germanine Greer for her, um, less-than-entirely-endorsing-transexuals opinions.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Scratching the high speed itch
As much as I like taking the Shinkansen when in Japan, count me as skeptical about the prospects of a successful very fast train that runs any distance in Australia. But if we have to build one, instead of doing all this tunnelling (I heard someone on the radio saying that the Melbourne to Sydney one requires sixty something kilometres of tunnels) I'd like to see this design:
How cool was that? Avoids the 'roo on the track issue, too (unless you catch a very unlucky one mid-bound.) And instead of having just one leave the station every 2 hours or so, you could have one small one leave every ten minutes. Sort of like Musk's Hyperloop, without the claustrophobia.
Clearly, this desire to try for something like a Shinkansen in Australia will not go away from the public's mind. But like some itches that need to be scratched, it's probably best to try small scale before committing to large. Buy just a couple of handweights before putting that home gym machine on the credit card; or a set of rubber cuffs before the deluxe ceiling swing. (I have no idea what I am talking about in either case.)
So, just build the thing for a relatively short, relatively useful distance, like Sydney to Canberra, and see how that goes before spending money on expanding it beyond that. In fact, given how long both projects will seemingly take, build it from the new airport site at Badgerys Creek to Canberra, maybe? Put a relatively fast train from Central to Badgerys, perhaps - with an automatic luggage transfer to the really fast train? (I am assuming that might cut costs a fair bit.)
You can thank me later, Australia, for my useful suggestions....
How cool was that? Avoids the 'roo on the track issue, too (unless you catch a very unlucky one mid-bound.) And instead of having just one leave the station every 2 hours or so, you could have one small one leave every ten minutes. Sort of like Musk's Hyperloop, without the claustrophobia.
Clearly, this desire to try for something like a Shinkansen in Australia will not go away from the public's mind. But like some itches that need to be scratched, it's probably best to try small scale before committing to large. Buy just a couple of handweights before putting that home gym machine on the credit card; or a set of rubber cuffs before the deluxe ceiling swing. (I have no idea what I am talking about in either case.)
So, just build the thing for a relatively short, relatively useful distance, like Sydney to Canberra, and see how that goes before spending money on expanding it beyond that. In fact, given how long both projects will seemingly take, build it from the new airport site at Badgerys Creek to Canberra, maybe? Put a relatively fast train from Central to Badgerys, perhaps - with an automatic luggage transfer to the really fast train? (I am assuming that might cut costs a fair bit.)
You can thank me later, Australia, for my useful suggestions....
Monday, April 11, 2016
The history of a denier meme
The Volcano Gambit � RealClimate
I'm not sure why Gavin Schmidt is re-visiting this right now, but it's still good to read of the origin of the mistaken meme on the matter of volcanoes and their greenhouse gas contributions.
I'm not sure why Gavin Schmidt is re-visiting this right now, but it's still good to read of the origin of the mistaken meme on the matter of volcanoes and their greenhouse gas contributions.
More "in praise of higher taxes"
I'm an American living in Sweden. Here's why I came to embrace the higher taxes. - Vox
There was a very similar article to this in one of the other American sites I visit earlier this year, and I think I posted about it, too.
I feel I should point out something, in light of how often I post about this: it's not that I'm an ideologue when it comes to taxes and the role of government, and I don't think every country should (or can) be like Scandinavia. For one thing, the physical size of countries surely helps determine what governments can reasonably be expected to provide, and all European nations benefit from the small geography and high density of living. Singapore does, too.
There is also the cultural element that affects the way a government can succeed (or not), so that (for example) a country like Japan can expect societal co-operation in some policies (ease of access to alcohol, little societal interest in illicit drugs) that others can't.
My attitude is more that the international examples of how countries and economies work show us the many ways different tax and government spending regimes can work, so that it is clear that low tax, limited government is not the only way to success and a happy society.
It's more a case that I am interested in showing that the libertarian/small government/low tax position that is powerful in the US and parts of the Australian Right is more pure ideology and belief system than something that is inherently the best way to approach economics and how we should run Australia.
There was a very similar article to this in one of the other American sites I visit earlier this year, and I think I posted about it, too.
I feel I should point out something, in light of how often I post about this: it's not that I'm an ideologue when it comes to taxes and the role of government, and I don't think every country should (or can) be like Scandinavia. For one thing, the physical size of countries surely helps determine what governments can reasonably be expected to provide, and all European nations benefit from the small geography and high density of living. Singapore does, too.
There is also the cultural element that affects the way a government can succeed (or not), so that (for example) a country like Japan can expect societal co-operation in some policies (ease of access to alcohol, little societal interest in illicit drugs) that others can't.
My attitude is more that the international examples of how countries and economies work show us the many ways different tax and government spending regimes can work, so that it is clear that low tax, limited government is not the only way to success and a happy society.
It's more a case that I am interested in showing that the libertarian/small government/low tax position that is powerful in the US and parts of the Australian Right is more pure ideology and belief system than something that is inherently the best way to approach economics and how we should run Australia.
Human misbehaviour less than expected
Fathered by the Mailman? It’s Mostly an Urban Legend - The New York Times
Yeah, I think I have read this before: the old estimates of how many children are fathered by someone other than their assumed father are way over the top, and many scientists think the true figure is closer to a relatively modest 1%.
Yeah, I think I have read this before: the old estimates of how many children are fathered by someone other than their assumed father are way over the top, and many scientists think the true figure is closer to a relatively modest 1%.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Zootopia viewed
Got around to seeing Zootopia today.
Utterly charming, constantly witty but often hilarious; visually pleasing, inventive in concept, not heavy handed in "messaging"; great fun for adults, and intense cuteness in character design bound to please the younger viewer as well. It's terrific.
The Disney brand on animated movies has, without doubt, replaced that of Pixar as the one to look out for.
Utterly charming, constantly witty but often hilarious; visually pleasing, inventive in concept, not heavy handed in "messaging"; great fun for adults, and intense cuteness in character design bound to please the younger viewer as well. It's terrific.
The Disney brand on animated movies has, without doubt, replaced that of Pixar as the one to look out for.
Transgender politics
How the Fight Over Transgender Kids Got a Leading Sex Researcher Fired
A truly startling article here from February 2016 about transgender identity politics in the matter of how to deal with children who think they are transgender. (Added to put some justification into my "cynical" positioning on the current state of our culture's understanding of transgender issues.)
A truly startling article here from February 2016 about transgender identity politics in the matter of how to deal with children who think they are transgender. (Added to put some justification into my "cynical" positioning on the current state of our culture's understanding of transgender issues.)
Friday, April 08, 2016
Who do I believe, the trader or the libertarian?
Well, this is kinda weird.
Sinclair Davidson writes this morning indicating that he's distinctly ambiguous when it comes to the question of what's wrong with Westpac rate rigging. (OK, he mentions "poor banking behaviour" in one sentence, then in the next he puts "scandal" in inverted commas, and indicates that he thinks no one can really explain why it's a problem.) This is even when the trader in question has been widely quoted in the media saying:
Update: perhaps Sinclair should read this post at The Conversation for some ethical enlightenment.
Sinclair Davidson writes this morning indicating that he's distinctly ambiguous when it comes to the question of what's wrong with Westpac rate rigging. (OK, he mentions "poor banking behaviour" in one sentence, then in the next he puts "scandal" in inverted commas, and indicates that he thinks no one can really explain why it's a problem.) This is even when the trader in question has been widely quoted in the media saying:
"I knew it was completely wrong but f--- it I might as well, I thought f--- it. We've just got so much money on it, we just had to do it, right ...", court documents allege Mr Roden said.I think when it comes to matters of ethics, and their potential to interfere with making money, don't let a libertarian, or anyone associated with the IPA, anywhere near policy influence.
Update: perhaps Sinclair should read this post at The Conversation for some ethical enlightenment.
Transgender comment
Readers would know that I am certainly somewhere on the "cynical" end of the scale on acceptance of the current understanding of what transgender identity is all about. Especially when it comes to the matter of children and the way some parents respond to it.
On the other hand, what is this American conservative panic about transgenders using the toilets they want to use? I would have thought that a man who wants to be a woman wants to identify with them - not use their existing equipment to present a danger to them. I mean, I could be wrong, but I would have thought a transgender man (pre-op or not) is about the safest person a woman could find in their toilet - more wanting to exchange make up tips than have raise any issue about sex.
Is the concern that men could pretend to be transgender so as to get their way into a toilet that might give them access to a woman alone? I suppose...but really, any heterosexual potential rapist could already sneak into a women's toilet if he wants to.
If a woman is concerned by any man who does not appear to be non transgender in the toilet alone, does the law change prevent her raising a concern?
On the other hand, what is this American conservative panic about transgenders using the toilets they want to use? I would have thought that a man who wants to be a woman wants to identify with them - not use their existing equipment to present a danger to them. I mean, I could be wrong, but I would have thought a transgender man (pre-op or not) is about the safest person a woman could find in their toilet - more wanting to exchange make up tips than have raise any issue about sex.
Is the concern that men could pretend to be transgender so as to get their way into a toilet that might give them access to a woman alone? I suppose...but really, any heterosexual potential rapist could already sneak into a women's toilet if he wants to.
If a woman is concerned by any man who does not appear to be non transgender in the toilet alone, does the law change prevent her raising a concern?
A tale of two business/economics commentators
In the Australian today, I was able to Google through to two columns about the Arrium steel crisis in Whyalla.
First: Judith Sloan has a piece with all the analytical depth of Nelson Muntz going "ha ha". Seems she can't actually find a way to blame the union (noting that they have made wage cut concessions), but that doesn't stop her with an implied "AWU. Phff. What do you expect..." And same with the electricity prices increases which haven't actually happened yet.
So it's to John Durrie to get some actual detail as to what has gone wrong with the company, and he ends with a pretty compelling sounding:
On the Labor side and the suggestion of (I think) some protectionist motivated unionists that cheap steel from China is potentially dangerous: that does raise a good point - what sort of quality control is there for imported steel? Obviously, the company overseas manufacturing it would say it meets a set of specifications or standards, but do nations importing it have any systems for quality testing to see whether it does meet them? Or is it up to private enterprise to do that? How much of each shipload would you have to test to be confident that a batch is fine?
That's something I have no idea about, but I would hope there is some system of quality testing.
First: Judith Sloan has a piece with all the analytical depth of Nelson Muntz going "ha ha". Seems she can't actually find a way to blame the union (noting that they have made wage cut concessions), but that doesn't stop her with an implied "AWU. Phff. What do you expect..." And same with the electricity prices increases which haven't actually happened yet.
So it's to John Durrie to get some actual detail as to what has gone wrong with the company, and he ends with a pretty compelling sounding:
To suggest the company’s failure is anything more than failed business strategy compounded by cyclical markets is a nonsense and that is where the argument starts and finishes.As for the political responses: I thought Christopher Pyne came across pretty well on 7.30 last night. It's remarkable how working for Turnbull has made him sound a much more reasonable politician.
On the Labor side and the suggestion of (I think) some protectionist motivated unionists that cheap steel from China is potentially dangerous: that does raise a good point - what sort of quality control is there for imported steel? Obviously, the company overseas manufacturing it would say it meets a set of specifications or standards, but do nations importing it have any systems for quality testing to see whether it does meet them? Or is it up to private enterprise to do that? How much of each shipload would you have to test to be confident that a batch is fine?
That's something I have no idea about, but I would hope there is some system of quality testing.
Thursday, April 07, 2016
A nervous stop
Shinkansen makes emergency stop in Hokkaido's subsea tunnel | The Japan Times
I see that the underground tunnel that runs between the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu has been opened for decades (since 1988), but the Shinkansen service using it is new.
I don't know: being in a tunnel 54 km long and under the ocean in that earthquake prone part of the world - it would certainly make me nervous to undergo an emergency stop.
Update: the Wikipedia entry on the tunnel explains that it is well below the ocean floor - about 100 m or so. But with the massive shift in the ocean bed during that last earthquake, it may not get wet, but I really wonder if it would withstand the worst.
Also interesting to read that 34 people died in its construction.
I see that the underground tunnel that runs between the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu has been opened for decades (since 1988), but the Shinkansen service using it is new.
I don't know: being in a tunnel 54 km long and under the ocean in that earthquake prone part of the world - it would certainly make me nervous to undergo an emergency stop.
Update: the Wikipedia entry on the tunnel explains that it is well below the ocean floor - about 100 m or so. But with the massive shift in the ocean bed during that last earthquake, it may not get wet, but I really wonder if it would withstand the worst.
Also interesting to read that 34 people died in its construction.
If I ruled the world...
....there would be an immediate and permanent ban on "relationship" "reality" TV shows. Australian night time television is being absolutely overrun by this woeful category of "entertainment" at the moment, which I strongly suspect is primarily watched by women (and the occasional boyfriend or young husband trying to feign interest.)
And while I'm at it: the producers of Gogglebox would be jailed, and anyone who had agreed to be part of the show deported.
You know it makes sense...
And while I'm at it: the producers of Gogglebox would be jailed, and anyone who had agreed to be part of the show deported.
You know it makes sense...
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