I did think that when I first realised the seriousness and current rate of acceleration of climate change.I just didn't want to be around to witness it.The intensity of the grief was as bad as any major depression.But slowly I adapted and accepted.Now, I ...  moreI did think that when I first realised the seriousness and current rate of acceleration of climate change.I just didn't want to be around to witness it.The intensity of the grief was as bad as any major depression.But slowly I adapted and accepted.Now, I do what I can to minimise my greenhouse gas footprint - and other than that, adapt for survival and try to enjoy life as best I can while it's still possible.  

8 billion people is considered by climate scientists to be overpopulated.We consume more resources than the Earth can replenish and still retain a balanced atmosphere and ecosystems.We would need to reduce our total to about 5 million in order to maintain...  more8 billion people is considered by climate scientists to be overpopulated.We consume more resources than the Earth can replenish and still retain a balanced atmosphere and ecosystems.We would need to reduce our total to about 5 million in order to maintain the balance in this current round of evolution.We also need to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy from sun, wind and hydro.There are lots of other solutions we need to get into as quickly as possible.It will take everyone's efforts around the globe to make a sufficient difference to survive.  less

Heartfire,Scribbler,Bookworm,maybe others I've forgotten.

Ari and I celebrated the SUmmer Solstice yesterday in our usual way, rising in the dark to watch the dawn with a cup of tea. Hope you're having a happy eight days of Hanukah.Hope your family are well.

Nup.If we didn't feel hunger we wouldn't eat.Need, discomfort or dissatisfaction motivates us.It's intrinsic to all sentient beings.

Bought a butter yellow linen shirt and dark olive green linen sheet set - 30% off and needed them anyway.Feeling very happy about it.Spent the day recovering from a hike up a mountain with friends yesterday - calf muscles complaining - gentle yoga stretch...  moreBought a butter yellow linen shirt and dark olive green linen sheet set - 30% off and needed them anyway.Feeling very happy about it.Spent the day recovering from a hike up a mountain with friends yesterday - calf muscles complaining - gentle yoga stretches.Will be right again tomorrow.  

Despite Musk's apparent Midas touch in the past, I think he may have overreached this time.His other businesses had obvious technical value.Social media are fickle platforms and I don't think Elon understands people.Stu B's advice is well informed.

Thankfully, nothing except recovery from a walk to Brummies Lookout yesterday.Glad to see you still have your nubile fanclub, Randy.Wishing all Muggers some good deals for Black Fridayand a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with loved ones.

They don't even try to say why it might be special.The sellers and the buyers (if any) would have to be mad.

Sorry to hear that, Cosmic.No one deserves to be abused for their point of view or leanings.In fact, I think that kind of abuse is the opposite of free speech. It's an attempt to bully opponents into silence, force them to shut down and hide.Which makes i...  moreSorry to hear that, Cosmic.No one deserves to be abused for their point of view or leanings.In fact, I think that kind of abuse is the opposite of free speech. It's an attempt to bully opponents into silence, force them to shut down and hide.Which makes it all the more important to hold one's ground and do it in an unconditionally patient and respectful way. We can say why we hold the views we do. We can point to the evidence of places in the world where the policies we like best have been proven to work very well, and show exactly how they work. We can refer to scholarly research, documentaries, YouTube and TED talks by experts.Online environments for media and social sites have definitely multiplied the tendency for those with strong views to become more verbally abusive.The media encourage this, particularly those owned by the Murdoch empire. People flock to the news that reinforces their pre-existing bias, and they deliberately avoid examining and thinking about alternative opinions and arguments. In ad...    less

Have I seen snow? Rarely. Can count the times.- when I was 4 and our family went to the ski fields of Mount Kosciuszko (NSW).- when 21 as a student in London, UK during the coldest winter on record,    .......tobogganing down the hill ...  moreHave I seen snow? Rarely. Can count the times.- when I was 4 and our family went to the ski fields of Mount Kosciuszko (NSW).- when 21 as a student in London, UK during the coldest winter on record,    .......tobogganing down the hill at Green Hill Observatory- while cycling along the lowers foothills of Snowdonia in Wales- driving through and pausing in Switzerland's Susten Pass on the way to Geneva- in my 30's hiking along the back of Mount Buffalo (Victoria) in mid-Summer - got hypothermiaI've never had to shovel snow.I don't envy you the hard yakka of having to dig your way out just to get to food and groceries at the nearest shop.I've been watching the increasing severity and changeability of extreme weather events in your neck of the woods.We're not immune here either. But the kinds are different: cyclones, floods, droughts and bushfires - all of catastrophic proportions.  less

About the size of the Emperor's new clothes.

Any plans for Hanukkah?

I often dream of moving back to England where I was born.My Anglo ancestors committed horrors against the Nungar and Gunditjmara people here in Oz.I have a strong feeling that I don't really belong here and never have - even though I love the landscape an...  moreI often dream of moving back to England where I was born.My Anglo ancestors committed horrors against the Nungar and Gunditjmara people here in Oz.I have a strong feeling that I don't really belong here and never have - even though I love the landscape and many aspects of Aussie life.I loathe the cold and rain of England, the polluted air and overcrowdedness of London, the dangers of molestation, mugging and theft on public transport, the increasing shifts of politics to the right. And the fact that the national parks have no true protection of endemic flora and fauna; there is nowhere free of the profound effects of human actions on the land, nowhere still wild. The cost of living there is more than double what it is here.Yet there are other aspects I love about the UK: the cosmopolitan and multiracial cultures, old and ancient architecture, the wealth, depth and ubiquity of arts and literature, and the fact that even the least educated speak English better than the best educated Aussies.When it comes to the cr...    less

Try wholemeal rye bread with thinly spread hatcho miso, thick slices of avocado, parsley and pepper. Guaranteed yummy.

I can't give a good technical answer but homo sapiens has moved from mono to stereo to quadrophonic surround sound. We have base woofers so loud that can destroy our hearing and few laws to prevent accidental overexposure. We have such precision with reco...  moreI can't give a good technical answer but homo sapiens has moved from mono to stereo to quadrophonic surround sound. We have base woofers so loud that can destroy our hearing and few laws to prevent accidental overexposure. We have such precision with recordings that they can sound almost exactly like the original, or be tweeked way beyond the expertise of the musicians, sound artificially "perfect", or sound totally synthesised. IT can fake sound so that we have to be careful about the probability and evidence for whether recordings are real.  less

It's partly a function of the fashion industry, partly a culture which expects us to dress appropriately for each occasion, and partly affluence.Consider someone in the third world: it's likely they may have no shoes or only a very few pairs, probably sec...  moreIt's partly a function of the fashion industry, partly a culture which expects us to dress appropriately for each occasion, and partly affluence.Consider someone in the third world: it's likely they may have no shoes or only a very few pairs, probably second hand and many times resoled and mended.I'm sure most Westernised men wear more than just shoes. They'll probably have slides, bedroom slippers, boots for hiking or work, formal shoes, casual shoes, sports shoes, and gumboots or equivalent for wet days.Queens and trannies will probably have a huge range.Some women have only their orthotics; nothing else would work.  less

It's partly a function of the fashion industry, partly a culture which expects us to dress appropriately for each occasion, and partly affluence.Consider someone in the third world: it's likely they may have no shoes or only a very few pairs, probably sec...  moreIt's partly a function of the fashion industry, partly a culture which expects us to dress appropriately for each occasion, and partly affluence.Consider someone in the third world: it's likely they may have no shoes or only a very few pairs, probably second hand and many times resoled and mended.I'm sure most Westernised men wear more than just shoes. They'll probably have slides, bedroom slippers, boots for hiking or work, formal shoes, casual shoes, sports shoes, and gumboots or equivalent for wet days.Queens and trannies will probably have a huge range.Some women have only their orthotics; nothing else would work.  less

News media broadcast according to seven key values:ImpactEvents are more newsworthy when they affect a greater number of people.
RelevanceThe bigger an issue is in the public mind, the more newsworthy it is.TimelinessAn event is more newsworthy the sooner...  moreNews media broadcast according to seven key values:ImpactEvents are more newsworthy when they affect a greater number of people.
RelevanceThe bigger an issue is in the public mind, the more newsworthy it is.TimelinessAn event is more newsworthy the sooner it is reported.ProximityEvents are more newsworthy the closer they are to the community reading about them.ProminenceEvents are more newsworthy when they involve public figures. This may include politicians, judges, experts, anyone with a great deal of influence or power. It also includes celebrities (sports stars, actors, artists etc) because many people are interested in following them. ConflictTo be well informed, the public has the right to know all the arguments on all sides of an issue (even if many people prefer to hear only their own side).Events are more newsworthy when they involve disagreement. Many of us are closely following Russia's invasion of the Ukraine, and hoping the Ukrainians will win. The split between conservatives and liberals in th...    less

Yes, especially if there's a lane and a road with the same name within the same postcode. Guarantees that at least half will likely end up at the wrong address.

Reading the OT or Torah is a useful exercise for atheists. It contains much that explains many of the attitudes and practices in Western and Muslim cultures - hence helping to understand customs and conflicts around the world.It can also be seen as a roug...  moreReading the OT or Torah is a useful exercise for atheists. It contains much that explains many of the attitudes and practices in Western and Muslim cultures - hence helping to understand customs and conflicts around the world.It can also be seen as a rough approximation of the shifts from earliest nomadic, tribal, agricultural and urban societies to far more complex feudal and imperial cultures. It carries the traces of many other religions competing for supremacy. It also reveals something of the social psychology of its peoples.I'd be very surprised if the shepherds did not eat their animals. Irrespective of what the OT/Torah says, paleontology and anthropology show that the urge to control herds for easy access to meat was one of the earliest social evolutions from hunter-gatherer cultures. The Bushmen of the Kalahari hunted; the nearest tribe to them learned to herd cattle for milk and blood which shows in the enzymes and genes of their digestive systems. Others added the meat to their diets  less

Neither can I.Did he teach biology? If so, did genes play a role in reproductive biology?Did he teach geography? If so, what did the ages and types of rocks show? How about the evidence of fossil fuel residues in the last two hundred years of new sediment...  moreNeither can I.Did he teach biology? If so, did genes play a role in reproductive biology?Did he teach geography? If so, what did the ages and types of rocks show? How about the evidence of fossil fuel residues in the last two hundred years of new sedimentary rocks?Did he teach chemistry? If so, how did he understand the workings of biochemistry?Did he teach physics? If so, did that include Newtonian, and intros to Quantum and Astronomical?And what is it about the state and the employment contract that makes it possible for a teacher to refuse to teach his subject?  less

i myte frolic, skip and gimbol in the wyde wirld til the mowment of retirn to ye olde lores of gramarye, diacritics, punctuation and spelling

Thanks for the pick, Cosmic. :)

I've wracked my brain trying to remember when I last noticed something strange, new or surprising.It would have to go back to when I was very young and still didn't know much of the wider world.I remember the first times I saw a homeless person sleeping o...  moreI've wracked my brain trying to remember when I last noticed something strange, new or surprising.It would have to go back to when I was very young and still didn't know much of the wider world.I remember the first times I saw a homeless person sleeping on a park bench, a busker, a schizophrenic having a psychotic episode, a spruiker, a Scientology questionaire-er, a charity collector, someone with an odd pet like an exotic parrot or snake, someone dressed up as a koala... and so on. But soon, none of those things were strange to me; they're just another aspect of life - sometimes sad and wrong, other times joyous and fun, but still a part of the total reality.  less

Thanks for the best pick, Cosmic! :)

For me, climate change is the most urgent issue because it affects the whole of life on this planet. It's already too late to stop it, but not too late to slow the rate and keep it within a survivable range.Yes, simultaneously, we need to brainstorm effec...  moreFor me, climate change is the most urgent issue because it affects the whole of life on this planet. It's already too late to stop it, but not too late to slow the rate and keep it within a survivable range.Yes, simultaneously, we need to brainstorm effective ways to deal with the alt right, populists and demagogues.We need to find a way to prevent fake news.  

Interesting question.I guess one could look at different types of inequality.Younger and older kids are usually unequal in many abilities - but we see that as a normal aspect of development and don't worry about it. We just sort the kids into grades on th...  moreInteresting question.I guess one could look at different types of inequality.Younger and older kids are usually unequal in many abilities - but we see that as a normal aspect of development and don't worry about it. We just sort the kids into grades on the education conveyor belt, and sort them into classes for ability (with or without the appropriate help).Yet if some disabled people have obstacles similar to those of a younger person, "normally able" people treat the disabled as less than equal. Disabled people have a much harder time getting jobs they are perfectly able to do. Many public facilities exclude them due to lack of physical access. Individuals enact acts of prejudice: ignoring, slighting, abusing, sexually harassing, assaulting, or patronising.There would be many examples like this: racism, misogyny, homophobia, ageism, class snobbery and its inverse, etc. Even though the common denominator is social inequality, the levels of what equals what are somehow different. For instance, if in China a pers...    less

I would imagine not many.Charles III will probably be more open with the public about what goes on within the monarchy and its ceremonial roles.He's likely to abstain from expressing any personal views about politics. But he might gently foster the idea t...  moreI would imagine not many.Charles III will probably be more open with the public about what goes on within the monarchy and its ceremonial roles.He's likely to abstain from expressing any personal views about politics. But he might gently foster the idea that dealing with climate change needs to become a bipartisan issue.  

According to his current powers under the Westminster System, he could not prevent it.

Trouble is, there are several models of a new constitution waiting in the wings, but none have been published. We're in the dark about what the constitutional reformers and would be Republicans want to achieve. Personally, I wouldn't vote for a Repub...  moreTrouble is, there are several models of a new constitution waiting in the wings, but none have been published. We're in the dark about what the constitutional reformers and would be Republicans want to achieve. Personally, I wouldn't vote for a Republic unless I knew it included significant improvements to our Constitution.And I think everyone should have a right to be involved in the process of deciding what those would be. Yep, I acknowledge there'd be loads of argy-bargy before getting a consensus, but that's exactly what a functional democratic process needs.  less

Presence or absence of a partner or pet.The feeling (weight and texture) of clothing and bedclothes or their absence.Itchiness, sweat.Light - someone switching it on or dawn.

I dislike the use of persons to refer to two or more people - but I accept it as an example of how our language changes.

Australia hasn't stopped.Our new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, paused Parliament.There was an official "Bank Holiday" to commemorate her death, but most people in Oz just went about their normal business. The ABC news, current affairs shows and docume...  moreAustralia hasn't stopped.Our new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, paused Parliament.There was an official "Bank Holiday" to commemorate her death, but most people in Oz just went about their normal business. The ABC news, current affairs shows and documentaries on TV and radio were full of reports on the minuti of British protocols and ceremonies, as well as reviews of the Queen's life. But other channels, stations and media still deliver their usual programs.The treasury will change the monarch's portrait on our currency. Official references to the monarch will now refer to King Charles, which seems weird to people born into a world with a titular Queen. But the role is symbolic and ceremonial only. In all practical ways, we rule ourselves via a liberal democracy. ("Small-l liberal" over here means that the state supplies the support and infrastructure that business cannot achieve through profit.)But other than that, the rest of life continues as normal.  less

I hope we get to hear plenty of rumbling and trumpeting ;)

Potentially, yes.It all depends on how quickly and by how much we reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate the effects we are now experiencing.We have the technology. We can invent more and better. Every bit of action counts. But it will take all countries ar...  morePotentially, yes.It all depends on how quickly and by how much we reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate the effects we are now experiencing.We have the technology. We can invent more and better. Every bit of action counts. But it will take all countries around the world acting and co-operating. Many animal and plant species have already gone extinct. Humanity, despite its resourcefulness, could experience starvation if global warming gets too high for agriculture.  

My Mum had a Schnauzer. She never trained him. She stayed home most of the time and he just followed her around the house like a shadow, totally devoted.

 
...  moreMy Mum had a Schnauzer. She never trained him. She stayed home most of the time and he just followed her around the house like a shadow, totally devoted.

 






The first things a puppy needs to learn are basic manners, his name, potty training, and not to bite your hands with those sharp teeth.Some people recommend a cage set up as a bed: give him his food and a comfortable bed in it. Let it become a safe place which he associates with comfort and rest. Later, this cage can be used for trips to the vet, so he travels safely in a car and doesn't freak out at being in a cage (for vaccinations, desexing and any vet emergencies.)A puppy needs to learn socialization skills, including people, places, and things. Vets can recommend a local puppy school once the pup is vaccinated. Puppy school is huge fin for owners and pets alike, and it teaches puppies how to socialise with other dogs of all sizes and temperaments. Later, this makes walking a dog, on or off leash in public, much safer.Nowadays, people tra...    less

None.Mum was a good cook when she was sober.When drunk she was unconscious so we went without.

I'd like to see people who resist giving evidencereceive a shot of truth serum.And hear how they answer.There must be good reasons why this isn't done, but I don't know what they are.

Not necessarily.I don't know the area.Achieving zero emissions locally depends on the geography.If there's lots of sun, solar voltaics and solar hot water will help enormously, and mean much cheaper power bills.If there's high wind or water, use solar in ...  moreNot necessarily.I don't know the area.Achieving zero emissions locally depends on the geography.If there's lots of sun, solar voltaics and solar hot water will help enormously, and mean much cheaper power bills.If there's high wind or water, use solar in combo with hydro and wind power.If there's no renewable source nearby, extend the power supply lines.Install huge Tesla batteries to allow enough storage for peak needs or periods of low sun, wind or water.Convert all transport to electric. Increase public transport and bike lanes.Reduce single-use waste.If packaging is necessary use re-usable, compostable or recyclable as much as possible.Wear natural fabrics; they reduce cancers, reduce the need for deodorants, and are compostable or recyclable.Install insulation and better ventilation control in all buildings.Design buildings with passive solar technology and engineered to cope with extreme climate and weather events.Reduce pavements in favour of plant-life as much as possible.Buy locally produced foods and g...    less

Yep, the Christian Scientists too.

Hi! 

Are these the same states that manufacture and sell armaments and permit most citizens to have almost unlimited arsenals of guns and other weapons? - the same states where it's so easy to massacre children in schools?

I guess what counts is not so much the number of neurons, but the number of dendrites connecting them.

Gruyere and grated carrot on wholemeal rye-caraway bread with a soup made from roasted root veggies, pumpkin and bouquet garni.That's what I'm making for dinner this evening.

We do know that global warming has arrived and is increasing.We know that catastrophic weather events will occur more frequently and less predictably.We know that we are too late to prevent it, but not too late to mitigate it if we start acting immediatel...  moreWe do know that global warming has arrived and is increasing.We know that catastrophic weather events will occur more frequently and less predictably.We know that we are too late to prevent it, but not too late to mitigate it if we start acting immediately.We know we need radical change on the same scales as the agrarian, industrial and computer revolutions.And we know we do have the technological means to achieve it.Big business has started to change because it realises the economic imperative.Many individuals have begun to shift their domestic behaviours.The biggest problem at the moment is getting more serious global commitments for all countries to cooperate.  less

Anything too small or too large for us to see with our naked eyes.Normal we only see 2-D images, which limits our perception of what they really look like.