2023 – a perfect year to try the Fixed Calendar
This is a great year to try the Fixed Calendar because the week days are the same, so conversion is easy (this only happens once every 11th common year). Feel … Continue reading
The Fourth Great Humiliation of Humanity is Upon Us.
If we don’t pull our heads in, we’re doomed. If we do, the future is bright. WHEN I WAS TEACHING in Japan 20 years ago, one of my students introduced … Continue reading
Parliamentary submission – International Education
The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade held an inquiry into the post COVID-19 recovery of Australia’s tourism and international education sectors. The Inquiry addressed challenges associated … Continue reading
Talking about Australia Day, 2023
January 26th is an opportunity to discuss a really interesting topic; our day of ‘national unity’ that has become quite contentious. Fortunately, we can practice democracy freely at home, even … Continue reading
Japan was the future, but it’s stuck in the past.
By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, Tokyo correspondent, BBC News, 22nd January, 2023. This report echoes my experience in Japan. Rupert arrived the same year (1993) I did, but left 3 years earlier. … Continue reading
Deadly Waters, Dumb Reporting
Surf life savers have reported a major spike in rescues and drownings. This year has seen about a third of the annual total in a matter of weeks, mostly at … Continue reading
Will a ‘Voice’ to parliament help degrowth?
John Coulter suggests so, in his article in Pearls and Irritations, Not a voice, but a shout … Of course I cannot but applaud criticism of endless growth on a … Continue reading
Federation Day – Australia’s Independence Day
Every year I throw a BBQ party in the late evening after the heat of the day, when people have recovered from NYE. Here is a fun Quiz I do … Continue reading
8 Billion Day – a response to The Conversation
“You are now one of 8 billion humans alive today. Let’s talk overpopulation – and why low income countries aren’t the issue.” Every country is the issue. We’re all in … Continue reading
2022’s Imperative: Letting Go of Our Past to Birth Our Future.
By David Korten, Yes! Magazine Our current society cannot be considered civilized by any objective standard. We grow the fortunes of billionaires, even as we increase the numbers of homeless … Continue reading