Friday 19 March 2010

The ANZAC alliance turns LOL


Darryl Mason at his best over at The Orstrahyun:

We cannot wait for New Zealand to become a threat to Australia's national security. They vigorously deny pursuing a nuclear weapons program, but information leaked to The Orstrahyun, by various defence industry lobbyists who are worried that a winding down of the War On Terror will result in a reduction in profitable war industry contracts, say that while New Zealand currently does not have nuclear weapons and is not actively trying to pursue a nuclear weapons program, the intent to do so at some future point in time is a possibility, and the dream of New Zealand becoming a dominant nuclear power in the Pacific is more than likely being discussed, if not in an official capacity, then at least between a few people at a pub on a Friday night.

Enough is enough.


Tony 10?


Oz Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said to be considering a "Tony 10" election campaign this year. Can't wait for the grading to begin. Let's start it off at an optimisitc 1 outta 10 before decending into minus territory.

Thursday 18 March 2010

FSANZ and the Food Labelling Law & Policy Review: intending to keep consumers ignorant for international biotech companies' benefit?


Hat tip to MADGE for pointing out the fact that the Food Labelling Law & Policy Review March 2010 Issues Consultation Paper seems to suggest that it would be acceptable for the general public and individual consumers/shoppers to be deliberately kept in the dark concerning certain food ingredients and/or preparation processes:

3.16 Certain technological developments in food production – genetic modification (GM), irradiation and nano-technology – have raised consumer concerns relating to these technologies that have led to calls for disclosure on food labelling. However, caution needs to be exercised in order that the development and application of these and other innovative technologies are not unduly inhibited.

If you have any concerns about this attitude now is the time to raise your voice.

Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy website with online submission page. Submissions closing date is 14 May 2010.
A public consultation is scheduled for Sydney on 29 March and one can register here.

The 'political' acts you see when you have a thumb on the tweet


Dan6_normal DanielleCronin: Couple making out in public gallery during #QT - strange what gets some people going.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Only on St. Patrick's Day 2010!



This mornin' the world woke up to find that bubbles go both up and down in a schooner of Guinness!
I'll have another, Pádraig - just to test the theory!

Pic from a very green Google today

Blogosphere's veracity is on the nose with Australian internet users?


It hurts to have to admit it, but if the team at Essential Media Communications are correct then Australian internet users are generally more likely to trust the word of shock jock Alan Jones on air than believe what bloggers opine online.

Click on image to enlarge

ABC TV and radio news and current affairs were the most trusted media (25% and 20% respectively have a lot of trust).

Commercial TV news and current affairs programs have the highest consumption, but only 9% say they have a lot of trust in them.

And although consumption of newspapers and internet news sites is very similar, newspapers are considered more trustworthy (62% compared to 49% have a lot/some trust in them).

[Essential Report weekly online survey 10-14 March 2010]

Here is the best argument against global warming: ....... Oh, right. There isn't one.




Here is the second best argument used by deniers against global warming, (but edited for children) from a message received by a colleague of mine:
"Mr. xxx, this is John Q. Public out here. Perhaps you don't understand there's no such thing as man-made global warming. I don't care if you call it f!@%$#%@ing climate change, I don't f!@%$#%@ing care what you call it. The same thing you communists tried in the 1970s. I've got a f!@%$#%@ing 75 articles from Newsweek Magazine stating we were making the earth freeze to death and we would have to melt the f!@%$#%@ing ice caps to save the earth. You, sir, and your colleagues, are progressive communists attempting to destroy America...Your f!@%$#%@ing agenda-driven, money-f!@%$#%@ing grabbing paws and understand there's no such thing as global warming, you f!@%$#%@ing idiot and your f!@%$#%@ing colleagues."
Nice, eh? Unfortunately, lots of climate scientists get emails and other messages like this. Note the careful reasoning? The persuasive and logical nature of the debate? The reference to the best scientific evidence from 1970 Newsweek magazines? Very compelling arguments, yes?
Scientists are used to debating facts with each other, with the best evidence and theory winning. Well, this is a bar fight, where the facts are irrelevant, and apparently, the rules and tools of science are too. But who wins bar fights? As the Simpsons cartoon so brilliantly showed, bullies. Not always the guy who is right.