“It doesn’t matter how brainy you are or how much education you’ve had – you can still improve and expand your mind. Boosting your mental faculties doesn’t have to mean studying hard or becoming a reclusive book worm. There are lots of tricks, techniques and habits, as well as changes to your lifestyle, diet and [...]

The romantic theory that Aborigines are mystically related to the ecology in their country is deeply attractive and pretty tenacious. Their respect for landscape is thought to embody an exemplary stewardship.
I don’t believe this notion. I think Aboriginal culture and knowledge is just as dense and flawed and partial as our own. We [...]

It took an American to find this, but then it takes an American company to make and sell our national food.
Yes folks, here is the heritage of Vegemite, as expressed through its ads from the 1920’s to the present day.
Stuff stinks as it cooks, no matter where you make it.
And at least [...]

Here’s a moment that fires my “not in sorrow but in steaming rage’ neurons.
The Discovery Institute has made a “documentary” about intelligent design (and I know my use of the quote marks points to a complicated debate about the nature of documentary), and booked “the national premiere and private evening reception”.
That is fine, sure, [...]

Interested in the French rejection of the European Union constitution? It is, after all, about the creation and consolidation of one of the world’s great power blocs.
Fistful of Euros is on the case in a string of posts under the link.
The ructions in the Chirac government will be fascinating.
Meanwhile, on [...]

Strange random connections:
I start with Restarea’s impressive ability to create interesting fun out of working on the road in rural New Zealand, which
jumps me to Random Acts of Reality, posting on finding corpses who have been dead some time, him being an ambulance person in London, which sends me via comment to
Spike at [...]

A manhole cover is a manhole cover, right?
Not in Japan.
A manhole cover is also a historic part of space exploration. Although Voyager is supposed to be the furthest human made object from the planet, and ready to leave the solar system altogether, that honour actually belongs to a manhole cover.
Round about 1957, the Americans [...]

Seven weeks ago, an unidentified man was found wandering along a beachside road in Kent, dripping wet, in a dinner suit with all the labels cut out.
He has not uttered a word, even though he was given interpreters from Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Given a piece of paper to perhaps write his name, he drew [...]

As you know, I love a bit of smiting. This one is a classic.
Three years ago D.J, Delancy and his unnamed wife moved into the house occupied by her father, Francis.
This month, a bat got into the house and the men confronted it. D.J. raised a sledgehammer for a bit of the aforementioned smiting as [...]

Evidence is now coming out about the Government’s role in the Corby defence. Given their record of callousness in other cases, it is fair to say they were motivated by an angered public.
Today’s Age tells us that both Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and Justice Minister Chris Ellison met “members of Corby’s defence team – the [...]