‘Deadpool’ Isn’t the Only Solution. But ‘Batman v Superman’ Is the Problem. - The New York Times
This take on the matter of superhero movies sounds pretty right to me - except that I assume I would dislike the violence and poor language in Deadpool.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Because you weren't?
I didn’t I know I was transgender.
Reading this article of a former butch lesbian who has decided she is transgender after all does little to encourage sympathy; but that may just be me (and my new best friend Germaine - ha).
I think what really grates with me is the use of medical effort to endorse something which (in this woman's case) sounds more like a curious exercise in what it will feel like to be more manly in appearance than she already is.
Reading this article of a former butch lesbian who has decided she is transgender after all does little to encourage sympathy; but that may just be me (and my new best friend Germaine - ha).
I think what really grates with me is the use of medical effort to endorse something which (in this woman's case) sounds more like a curious exercise in what it will feel like to be more manly in appearance than she already is.
Not a good look
News Corp journalists reject domestic violence views of Daily Telegraph's Tim Blair | Media | The Guardian
Actually, I had read Tim Blair's post about the ABC adding "domestic violence leave" to its work conditions, and didn't take much offence. (It does seem to stretch the imagination that the ABC employs people who would be in violent relationships - we like to imagine that smart people don't get themselves into that situation, but then again, we all know of examples where it has happened.)
Still, it's a very embarrassing look for Tim to be taking this line when it turns out his own company is doing the same:
Actually, I had read Tim Blair's post about the ABC adding "domestic violence leave" to its work conditions, and didn't take much offence. (It does seem to stretch the imagination that the ABC employs people who would be in violent relationships - we like to imagine that smart people don't get themselves into that situation, but then again, we all know of examples where it has happened.)
Still, it's a very embarrassing look for Tim to be taking this line when it turns out his own company is doing the same:
A constant critic of the ABC, Blair ridiculed the ABC staff for askingHonestly, his constant ridiculing of the ABC has long since spilled over from ridicule of pretentiousness to what reads like sour grapes and an unhealthy obsession with every single person who works there (and makes a good quid out of it.) The same can be said of Andrew Bolt, of course, although with Blair it feels more, I don't know, personal. (He did have a brief attempt at a radio show there, didn't he?)
for domestic violence leave but appeared ignorant that his own
colleagues had logged a similar claim in the current bargaining round.
Maglev, if you must
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...
Michael Pascoe argues that if you must have high speed rail in Australia, use maglev.
He might be right...
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?
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