The Dean on Emotions
Looks like a fine series of talks. I imagine they will be up on his website at some point...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Amazing Grace
Has anyone got a PDF of a good arrangement of Amazing grace they can send me? I want lyrics, melody and chords. Thanks...
Long overdue
My piece on the UFC has so far attracted 218 comments. The debate is clearly long overdue...
Opera in the Domain
Went along to Opera in the Domain last night, along with five or six thousand others. Berstein's Candide was playing. It was very entertaining, a really good night out...
Saturday, January 30, 2010
10 Million Words
Challies attempt to read and review all of America's best sellers in a year is underway. How does he find the time? Does he have a job?
Family Law
There have been some rumblings about the government rolling back the shared care provisions in the family law act. These provisions legally guarantee a man ''equal or substantial and significant" time with their children after separation and divorce. I find it astounding that some lobby groups object to guaranteeing men "substantial" time with their children. The fact is, some segments preferred the "old days", where mum was awarded sole custody of the kids virtually automatically, and also the majority of the assets (as the assets follow the children in a divorce). Dad was left as a visitor on the periphery of his children's lives, and also as a wallet to pick up his ex-wife's bills.
Not surprisingly, many men found this situation simply intolerable, and suicide was very prevalent amongst recently separated blokes. The old family law act was covered with blood...
I should add that I don't think there is any chance of all that the government will make changes to this legislation in an election year.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Mad Monk
Katherine Murphy brings some common sense to the Tony Abbot virginity furor by, gasp, actually looking at what he said. (ht: Russell)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Something nice
Last Sunday at church we had a baptism, and as part of that we all stood and said the apostles creed. I can't tell you how nice it was to stand next to my 3 teenage sons, all reciting these words.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A treaty tax?
The Henry review has apparently recommended that state based mining royalties be scrapped in favour of a federal mining tax. WA is spitting chips, but the mining industry is cautiously supportive. I certainly think Joe Aussie should probably be getting a bit more of a taste of the bonanza that is coming out of our soil. Made me think though, perhaps a portion of the mining tax could be carved off for indigenous welfare. This could ultimately be used to fund such programs rather than general revenue. It could even turn into a kind of "treaty tax" - assuming we ever get a treaty with the aboriginal population. There seems something appropriate and neat about the indigenous population being given a permanent share of the wealth from the land.
Anglican Vicar uses police against Messianic Jew
This is an interesting story. A Messianic (Christian) Jew runs a blog called "Seismic Shock", which he uses to expose anti-semitism within and without the church. He has written extensively on an English vicar who allegedly has links with holocaust deniers and anti-semites. The vicar arranged for the police to visit the blogger, though no formal action was taken. Anyway, more details in the link.
Trouble sleeping
Had some trouble sleeping the last couple of nights. I think it might be because the boys are all at their mum's place. After spending a month with them here, the house feels very different... Could also just be I'm a bit amped up about moving. House is full of boxes and garbage bags at the moment.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The Henry Review
The most significant tax review for some years has just been completed. One recommendation, at least, will affect the churches. The review recommends that the government abolish the exemptions that apply to fringe benefits tax for charity. This would be a pretty substantial hit to ecclesiastical budgets. We'll see what the government does with it...
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Gates Notes
Bill Gates now has a personal website. Yep, it has taken him this long. For some reason, I expected the richest man in the world to be a really good writer. He ain't. Hard to believe he hasn't hired an editor to fix up his prose...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Found a place to live...
I'm moving to Camperdown, not too far from where I am at the moment. It is a nice place, hoping it will work out well...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
I am moving...
Received notice of my lease termination a few days ago. I think I've been in my current place nearly five years...goodness, where has the time gone? Currently looking for a new place - ideally somewhere near where I am. We'll see what comes up...
Nietzsche and Hitler
Here is an article including the famous photo of Hitler and Nietzsche's bust -
It's interesting, because the author acknowledge's Nietzsche's influence over Nazism, but says simply that Nietzsche was misunderstood. Hint: you should take the same approach, as the suggestion that the Nazi's weren't influenced by Nietzsche is simply untenable. The only place I've ever seen the influence denied is on atheistic web sites.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The Merchant of Venice
Saw "The Merchant of Venice" last night down at Federal Park on the Glebe Foreshore. The weather was fine, so it was a very pleasant evening. A very funny performance too, lots of laughter from the audience. I was very struck by the play's anti-semitism. Rather surprising to see it performed in this PC age...
Book Restarted
My book writing went on hold in September, when I changed jobs. Life is slightly less crazy now, and I've found some time to do a bit more writing. I'm about 2/3 of the way through chapter 10, which describes Johnson's role as a magistrate. As far as I can see, no substantial research has been done in this area before, so what I'm writing is "cutting edge", in it's own simple way.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Shakespeare in the Park
Heading down to Shakespeare in the Park on Friday night. The Merchant of Venice is playing. Looks like fine weather...
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 09, 2010
The house that Peter built
Just got back from a wedding in South Australia. While there I did some exploring up around the Barossa and managed to locate the ruins of the house that my great-great-grandfather, Peter, lived in before moving to Sydney.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Monday, January 04, 2010
Favourite TV Shows
In order -
1. UFC Wired
2. Top Gear
3. MythBusters
4. Scrapheap Challenge
5. The Reinventors
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Got the boys...
Got the boys for a month while their mum is overseas. All going well so far... They are not much trouble...
Friday, January 01, 2010
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