Usyd podcast

Another bit of cross-promotion for my work…
We launched the USYD podcast feed this morning with the release of our second podcast in the series, the World Bank East Asia and Pacific Regional Update held at the University yesterday.

Why do you blog?

No, I’m not going to write one of THOSE posts, I’m going to point you in the direction of Mark Bahnisch who is doing some research on why people blog.
I’d like to do a survey on [why people blog], with a view to writing up the results for an academic journal article. If interested, please [...]

Off its tits and going berko

The story is terrible but the reporting of it made me realise that sometimes I do enjoy being Australian, our language is often so unashamedly brash. Headlined ‘Berko rooster pierces girl’s throat’ this SMH story contains the following quotes from the poor girl’s uncle:
“It’s gone off its tits. I don’t know what it was doing. [...]

I am…

You’re Brave New World!
by Aldous Huxley
With an uncanny ability for predicting the future, you are a true psychic. You can see how the world will change and illuminate the fears of future generations. In the world to come, you see the influence of the media, genetic science, drugs, and class warfare. And while all this [...]

Bottle of red, bottle of white

This one goes out to my family (and those privileged enough to know about the only weak spot in my music collection): a teacher in Syracuse uses Billy Joel lyrics to teach her year 7 students about poetry (and no, it’s not a compare and contrast exercise).
This has just made my day. I wonder if [...]

Condi

Last week there was some excitement around my workplace because Condoleeza Rice was to speak at the Conservatorium. Now, despite the fact that I have obvious political problems with Condi I have no problem with the University inviting/allowing her to speak. Even though I agreed with the sentiments of the protesters I did not agree [...]

Googleidol

In the old days it was only drag queens at seedy pubs who thought that lipsynching was an art, now you can video yourself lipsynching to your favourite song, whack it up on Google Video and who knows, you might find yourself on Googleidol.
What. Is the world. Coming to.

Whiny = Conservative

Ok, so there are a lot of holes in this study, but it’s fun. Whiny kids grow up to be Conservatives apparently.
Remember the whiny, insecure kid in nursery school, the one who always thought everyone was out to get him, and was always running to the teacher with complaints? Chances are he grew up to [...]

Coupland meets Morrissey

You’ve never done an interview in your life and then The Observer flies you to Rome to interview Morrissey. And you’re a fan. That’s what happened to Douglas Coupland. Bastard. (Well, ok, he’s written the odd book so maybe it’s not that surprising).

Comment is free

Last week the Guardian launched their new comment blog Comment is free. They’ve asked several hundered people to blog about what they want, when they want. They’ve tarted up the usual chronologically-ordered blog front page and turned it into a more magazine style look, exposing more content above the fold. As with most blogs, [...]