Given the times and events it seems worth popping an extract in from my non-fiction book for upper primary students. War Hmmnn? YES to ‘that the world would be better if we only had peace’ Who'd have thought there would be people who say NO to peace? From a debating point of view, it’s certainly … Continue reading Extract from: The Big Fat YES Debate[s]
Author: sjk
Lives and works in Bunjurgen, Queensland, Australia.
The reader as passenger
I am reading Dan O’Brien’s excellent The Contract Surgeon and making the odd note as I go along. Not in the book, I should add (it is not mine) but in a notepad. On page 23 this rather excellent little cameo is made by a female character – ‘an old woman’ who is tending a … Continue reading The reader as passenger
Vaccine mandates
In keeping with my occasional passion (note the oxymoron) for quick commentary on the current let us go to the idea of vaccine mandates and alleged government dictatorial behaviour or autocracy. I note that Austria may mandate restrictions for the unvaccinated depending on ICU case numbers. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/23/austrian-chancellor-says-unvaccinated-may-face-restrictions-if-covid-cases-rise. This is the way the world is going; … Continue reading Vaccine mandates
Extract from Mythic Dreams – why modern capitalism’s pursuit of growth is a sin
Ch 2: A Haves and Have Nots World A much greater hunger In 1800, the world’s population was about 1.36 billion. If we are to believe statistical analysis, most people lived, in income terms, relatively similar lives. According to Gapminder statistical analysis (admittedly conjectural, given that data before 1900 is ‘highly uncertain’) the world’s poorest … Continue reading Extract from Mythic Dreams – why modern capitalism’s pursuit of growth is a sin
Extract from book for kids with art by Brendan T.
Weather is crazy cold snaps and frying egg hot days and blizzards. A day or two. Climate is when you can expect those things with some certainty. Yep, it's August—here come those wild and woolly westerlies. Jacaranda here always flower in early October; that sort of thing. Climate change means those old certainties aren’t as certain as they used to be.
Malleable: a new look
On his way out, Myron takes the photo of the cat...
The feminist dilemma
Found this wonderful notion in an Atlantic article by Judith Shulevitz. She writes of Simone de Beauvoir's existentialism that: "...“existence” (that is, freedom) must be chosen over “life”—that is, allowing oneself to be mired in the repetitive processes of nature." Existence v LIFE. One's lips smack with pleasure. See I FOUND THE FEMINISM I WAS … Continue reading The feminist dilemma
Plagued
Released new novella on Amazon.
Plagued
On the way to work Tory, if she’s on the tram as she is this morning, has taken to opening The Montage, to which she’s subscribed. For nearly three months now the opening page has been simply filled with the virus. The first thing you see, most days, are New Selaw, UK, C.S. and world figures. Cases, deaths. New Selaw figures have been more or less flat since the end of March but the world numbers are very worrying. She also has noticed, lately, a small, worrying, and persistent upswing in Victoria, looking, she decides, more with David’s virologist’s eyes than hers, because he’s written about how second waves come with mild inclines that then go suddenly crazy. She’s tired already and doesn’t want an upsurge, wishes she could unsee it. The tram rattles on past the Gardens stop. She wonders if she’ll ever stop for a quiet walk before work again. It feels like that all belongs to pre-virus Tory, not her, not this new and lacquered one... '
Bad government 4
A quick one re two key aspects of this Lib-Nat government that deserve further pillorying: It's always someone else's fault with this PM & government. See https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/14/scott-morrison-blames-atagi-doctors-for-australias-slow-covid-vaccine-rollout? This was my response (Lordy, that's all we need: more ham-fisted, pork-barrelling right wing "money is the only thing that matters" nutters running for office) to a friend … Continue reading Bad government 4
Inkstained fingers 