The lure of nuclear power
Here in Australia we have an election tomorrow, and one of the things the Coalition has promised as part of their energy plan is nuclear power. We’re told 19 out of 20 major nations either already use nuclear power or are building that capacity, so we’re the odd ones out. Nuclear is going to solve all our problems.
The perils of incumbency
Last year when I was in Sydney, I visited the State Library of NSW, and they had a collection of Australian political cartoons from the last 120 years. Some of them were funny, while others would probably have been more funny if I actually understood their political context. But there was one from our last election that particularly caught my eye.
100 months: a celebration
I started this blog in December 2016. It’s now March 2025. That’s 100 months - and I’ve published at least one post in each of those months.
Sometimes I get frustrated when I don’t manage to write what I want or as much as I want - but it’s still an accomplishment to celebrate.
Why look ye into heaven?
What is it about the phrase “Why look ye into heaven?” that ties together a Bible Truth Camp, an opera, a telescope, the progress of science, and humanity’s place in the universe?
The first 1% of 2025
A New Year began, so I wanted a quick and easy New Year’s post, suitable for a snappy beginning to 2025. Clearly, since it’s now the end of January, this didn’t happen. I made a start on this post, sure, then got busy actually living life rather than writing about it.
Better late than never, though: Here are some new year’s thoughts, and a selection of photos from the first 1% of the year. Or at least, the first four days.
Gabriel the red-nosed angel
Christmas is round the corner, and you’ve probably heard someone saying “Jesus is the reason for the season”. But you might never have thought to wonder “Which department in Heaven is the most Christmassy?” Gabriel’s department, of course.
Completing an Everest challenge
This time last year I visited the Australian Alps for a week of walking. I’d done similar things after escaping lockdown in December 2020 and December 2021. But this time, it was also the central part of my plan to complete an Everest challenge.
A duckling finds its way
I want to tell you the story of a duckling I saw the other day. There was nothing particularly remarkable about it, but it was very cute. It was walking along a concrete structure with its parent, then wasn’t able to follow said parent into the water. It ran back and forth cheeping with increasing distress, before eventually finding its way into the lake to the cheers of the human onlookers.
And that’s just one of many animal encounters I’ve had in the last week alone - some with other humans about, some by myself.
Covid Diary: Two Covid Christmases (with new carols!)
You may remember 2020 as the year Covid began. That also made Christmas 2020 the first Covid Christmas, before 2021 gave us the bad re-run nobody wanted. In those two Christmases we had new experiences, new troubles, and even some new carols.
It’s now thirty days before Christmas 2024 (where does the time go?!?) and here in Melbourne the decorations are well and truly up. When better to reflect on that increasingly distant time?
Another five post November
Five years ago (pre-Covid, even!), I set a goal to publish five posts in November. What’s more, I actually achieved it!
I’d like to try again this November (starting Friday…).