When the Great Barrier Reef of Australia wasn’t obviously dead - 10 to 15 years ago - there were fierce battles between various factions of Queensland (and global) business sectors over what needed to happen. The mining industry, under scrutiny not just for the emissions from all the coal burnt but also the danger posed... Continue Reading →
“Professional amateurism” as authenticity (once you can fake that, you’ve got it made…)
This, from chapter 3 (on the 2019 election in the UK) of "Johnson at 10" by Anthony Seldon and Raymond Newell, leapt out at me Brooks, like Levido, was an alumnus of [Lynton] Crosby’s consultancy and had worked with him on the 2019 Australian campaign. Attempting to replicate their antipodean successes too would be left-field... Continue Reading →
We live drenched and waterboarded by propaganda – two (trivial) examples
There is that quote by Alex Carey, the Australian wicketkeeper social scientist about three big developments in the twentieth century being - well, let me google that for me. "The 20th century has been characterised by three developments of great political importance. The growth of democracy; the growth of corporate power; and the growth of... Continue Reading →
In the Kingdom of the Biters, the …. thick-skinned? are king?
Holy cow this is a must-read. The thing about the Trump regime(s) is that allows people to express their worst impulses. It gives permission to the atavism, the id, the sadism. And, as per the article, it allows deeply inadequate people to wield power (or, rather, strength) and get vengeance for the perceived (and actual)... Continue Reading →
That’s infotainment
So much for daily posts. I have (almost) daily thoughts, but don't find the time (motivation) to put fingers to keyboard, even with a voice recorder and transcription software. It seems, tbh, a bit pointless and narcissistic (this never stopped me before, but I am no spring chicken; as the t-shirt goes "it's weird being... Continue Reading →
“Transition theory” as (failed) transitional object as we transition from the Enlightenment to the Endarkenment
This year I am going to write something short, mostly daily, about what is going on – “2 cents on the Arrived Ecological Debacle” (2cotAED). I have to write it; you don’t have to read it. If you DO read it, feel free to tell me how wrong I am (and hopefully why). Re: the debacle aspect:... Continue Reading →
Reading headlines, and pushing back
Long before we scrolled, we skimmed. The headlines are supposed to give you the story "in a nutshell". That and the first sentence, that is there to tell you who did what when, where and 'why'. Except of course, it's always more complicated than that - but these are the myths journalists like to believe... Continue Reading →
Being 15 – sweet innocent and underprotected, or Evil Mastermind Who Deserves Damnation? #Adultification #WhiteSkinPrivilege
Short post, because should be working. Kirstie Allsop, who is some sort of television presenter (1) is being hauled over the coals because she let her 15 year old son go interrailing with his older brother (or someone older, I can't be bothered to read beyond the headlines) Some (e.g. Ally Fogg) are suggesting this... Continue Reading →
Metaphors for thinking about power: the tug of war
You can come up with all the elaborate diagrams and schema you like for thinking and talking about power. They'll definitely be read by reviewers one and two (it is always reviewer two, innit?). And once it's published in some paywalled journal it will be read by, ooh, a dozen or so other people. World-changing.... Continue Reading →
On raising and dashing hope for fun and profit…
I'm co-presenting something soon on the thorny question of "hope." Rattling around in the back of my skull was an anecdote from one of the several Special Forces selection memoirs that I have read (esp 20 or more years ago, but there's a lingering interest). The incident in question is from "The Operators" by one... Continue Reading →