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Book Review: Neal Stephenson
This week’s book review is a survey of Neal Stephenson‘s work. I’ve lately been on a kick of re-reading all our Neal Stephenson books, partly prompted by tigtog‘s rave review of SnowCrash. Tigtog’s rave was mostly about one of the main characters, YT (a sexy intelligent kick-ass woman), a variantContinue Reading
Market forces and childcare
The AFR this morning had an interesting article about the budget plans to improve childcare.Apparently, the way in which this government will improve childcare is to “improve market intelligence”. “Family and Community Services Minister Mal Brough is adamant that leaving the provision of childcare to the market will solve problemsContinue Reading
Perception of risk
I’ve recently gone from being a PAYG taxpayer (pay tax quarterly, generally get an interest free loan from the tax office for six months for your tax, but in charge of making sure you pay the right amount of tax) to being a PAYE taxpayer (tax is deducted from myContinue Reading
What makes a good playground?
I went to a fantastic playground on the weekend that I’d not been to before, which made me wonder – what do you need in an ideal playground? For me, you need: a pretty big space for running around with a ball either a fence, or a big area whichContinue Reading
Older mothers
The world press has faithfully reported another milestone in older mothers – Britain’s oldest mother at the age of 63. She’s 7 months pregnant with a donor egg. The articles are all full of disapproval of how someone can become a mother at that age – a small section onContinue Reading
Medical care
I’d really like to write a thoughtful post about healthcare. I’m too tired, tonight, though. So I’ll just point you to a few US links. Stayin’ Alive has an excellent series on what health insurance is, and why it’s a misnomer to call it insurance. Half Changed World has aContinue Reading
Lost potential
I was watching re-runs of The West Wing last night, and much of the plot revolved around Toby Ziegler, and the fact that he was born in 1954. My uncle Richard was born in 1954. He was only half a generation older than me – my mother’s much younger brother.Continue Reading
Book Review – The Men who stare at Goats
This week’s book review is The Men who Stare at Goats, by Jon Ronson. It’s hard to tell what to think about this book. Ronson is a UK journalist (for the Guardian), who investigates the US military’s dabblings in alternative culture and the paranormal over the years; or at leastContinue Reading
ANZAC Day
There has been a rash of articles this year talking about Anzac Day and how it has become Australia’s national day. My grandfather was an Anzac (a New Zealander – this has never been just about Australians). He wasn’t at Gallipolli, but he spent a few pretty horrible years inContinue Reading
Fashion Industry
50% of Kathmandu, the clothing company, has just been sold by the founder, Jan Cameron. It made me ponder, in fashion week, just how snobby the fashion press is. Fashion week press is usually accompanied by articles about how Australian designers are just about to make it overseas, and isn’tContinue Reading