Whether or not Howard’s History Summit is a good or bad thing we might not know for a while yet, but surely all this focus on education is a good thing in itself. Many good things may come out of this summit, and if more students learn the lessons of history, the better.

But is all this attention focused solely on history a good thing? As Geoff ( Read more... )

Just had to gloat about this one, sorry :P

From http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3d6295c8-317b-11db-b953-0000779e2340.html (Financial Times)

IMF must keep up with political developments too

By Brad Ruting

Published: August 22 2006 03:00 | Last updated: August 22 2006 03:00

From Mr. Brad Ruting.

Sir, Peter Costello, Australia's treasurer and head of the ( Read more... )

How can economic theory help you to get a job or find a lover?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_5250000/newsid_5259400/nb_wm_5259436.stm

BBC video where Tim Hartford explains how... picture quality isn't that great, but it's the sound that matters.

An excellent series of five feature articles from Der Spiegel: http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,429968,00.html (links to the next one at the bottom of each page)

It discusses the global politics of oil and energy -- very comprehensive, and a few unusual but interesing parts (eg, the future scenario towards the end.. quite ( Read more... )

waah. the first day this semester i get to go home early and i miss all the action!!


( Read more... )

An interesting article on the global money supply and its role in Japan's 20th Century development...

http://www.newleftreview.net/?page=article&view=2625

Yes, it is the New Left Review, and does have the occasional arbitrary swipe at something-or-other, but overall it's not too bad... it's an interesting viewpoint that's given, but it's informative ( Read more... )

Saturday's Herald had two good letters which stood out...

"Aw gee, mate. You're in a bad way. Have you come far? Is it awful back there? Sit down, I'll put the kettle on. Tell me what happened." That's roughly what we'd like to hear as we stagger away from a car crash, a bush fire, a rape, a bomb. Sounds Australian, right?

Well, if these immigration ( Read more... )

The Sun Herald annoys me sometimes. It mostly tries to be a 'serious' Sunday newspapers, but then makes attempts at being a trashy tabloid.. and it's always a half-arsed effort. Turn to page 10... the supermodel sister of a terrorist, photographed with Collette Dinnigan. It's a bit photo... what meaning are we supposed to get out of that photo? ( Read more... )

Today’s media release from the Reserve Bank has a number of interesting juicy bits which otherwise dry monetary policy statements haven’t exhibited for a quite a few years. Most notable is this sentence, about as explicit as central-banker speak gets:

"Although the increase in the headline CPI was much larger, reflecting fuel price increases and a ( Read more... )

There I was thinking Peter Debnam had lost the plot...

From today's Oz (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19974584-7583,00.html):

New Zealand's National Party leader Don Brash, at the NZ Association for Migration and Investment in Auckland on Friday: 
"Diversity is a bit like red wine: a certain amount is good for one's health; too ( Read more... )