August 2013

Great story on Catalyst last night debunking the idea that we're much healthier than our ancestors - before farming we ate far more meat and far less plant matter, including sugar, and the bones and teeth show we were much, much healthier. The human biome project is going to turn a lot of ideas on their head: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3816207.htm

Dynamo. Far out.

So, and no people I'm not a "Labor supporter", what Tony Abbott plans to to do to create jobs and have a strong economy, because he won't spell it out (but it's a standard set of ideas for conservative parties all around the world): 1. Reduce taxes. 2. Make the labour market more 'flexible' (meaning make it easier to hire, fire and set wages, and 3. Privatise as much as possible. Much easier to discuss these ideas than slogans. The proof is actually out there - these ideas have been applied repeatedly in the UK, the US and Australia (and many other places) for decades. The verdict? It doesn't work. In every situation all of the 'efficiencies' listed above end up accumulating to the already-powerful and wealthy in society. Which common sense should tell everybody will be the outcome.

Still burning wood? Smoke from even a 'good' wood fire (one that follows the Australian suggested standard), in one day produces the same smoke as 5000 cigarettes, or the fumes from 370 diesel SUVs. Time to stop 'hazard reduction burns' too.