Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters’ Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all. It is not a figure of speech, or a witty saying; it is a literal … Continue reading
I love the word authentic. When you walk into an Outback Steakhouse its meaning hits you right in the face. Genuineness: Why is an actual canvas painted by Van Gogh worth so much more than a perfect reproduction? Why is … Continue reading
The streets of Burma are quiet at the moment. Only a few days ago SLORC’s soldiers were firing into the crowd, and hundreds of people were killed. The army surrounded monastaries, preventing monks joining the protests. Four thousand monks have … Continue reading
Every year something strange happens in southern Australia. A significant proportion of it’s population get involved in a celebration of tribalism. It’s not about ethnicity – the population of Melbourne, the centre of this cult, is pluralist and ethnically diverse. … Continue reading
Recently there were 100 thousand Burmese marching against the military junta in control of their country. They were led by Buddhist monks, and marched in defiance of the pronouncements of Brigadier General Thura Myint Maung: People are not to follow, … Continue reading
Avast, me hearties! I’ve always had a thing for pirates. How could you not? They come from the absolute bottom of society, the vagabonds and street kids pressganged or forced by desperate poverty into slavery on the merchantmen and ships … Continue reading
You said true love is the most powerful force in the universe makes the human transcendant, divine; Shines like sunshine and illuminates the world. Your magical heart transformed me brought me to life and yet I disagree True love is … Continue reading
I’ve been puzzling for a long time over something I read in Jared Diamond’s book Collapse. He tells the story of Easter Island, in the centuries before Europeans’ occasional visits, and of an ecological disaster caused by deforestation. If that … Continue reading
Governments and the lobbyists who advise them have a problem. Many of the things done by large corporations are good ways to make money but bad for voters. In a democratic country, with a well informed population, it would be … Continue reading
There’s a dog living across the road from me. It’s a young golden retriever, sweet tempered and extremely friendly. I regularly see it taking its owners for a walk. I’m not exaggerating. The dog strains on the leash and Deborah … Continue reading
It’s a truism, or even a cliché, to say that fear and desire – self absorption, in other words – prevent people expressing and accepting love. However commonplace, this idea is deeply important to human existence. Over and over again … Continue reading
Unskilled and semi-skilled jobs in the US have been exported to sweatshops in the third world. Many of the jobs which are left are being performed by underpaid non-citizens. Unemployment levels in the developed world are near historic lows, and … Continue reading
“Just as in the embrace of his beloved, a man forgets the entire world, all that exists within himself and without, so in union with the Being of knowledge, he no longer knows anything, either within or without” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, … Continue reading
My theory about achieving one’s goals begins with knowing exactly what you want and why. The thing is that you’re not effective unless you’re wholehearted. This requires engaging ever level of your being simultaneously, so start with meditation. Humans have … Continue reading
Stand in the place where you live Now face North Think about direction In fact I would suggest that if you live in the Northern Hemisphere you face south. Go somewhere outdoors and quiet, face south, and plant your feet … Continue reading
You may know that I live in Hobart, Tasmania. What you may not know is that Hobart was, in the 1890′s, a thriving whaling port. At that time there was one pub for every 11 citizens, because of the large … Continue reading
I want to tell a story about a guy I knew from high school. But I have to be careful, because if I make it possible for someone who knows him to identify who it is I’m talking about I … Continue reading
I’ve often heard the idea that humanity’s survival depends upon finding a way to leave this planet. Most recently it was Stephen Hawking, who said after a visit to zero gravity that: I think life on Earth is at an … Continue reading
I found myself explaining my thoughts about this in detail to a friend recently. The trouble is, there’s a lot of explaining. And in the end, although I bring up some ideas which are based in reason, it’s a personal … Continue reading
I was walking to the bus the other day when an old man stopped me. He had been replacing a Rotary Club sign, and he was grumpy because the sign he was replacing had been damaged by vandals. We were … Continue reading