Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Just finished seeing a BBC documentary on North Korea. Highlights: Famine is still widespread. The hatred shown to the US (Bush's "Axis of Evil" taunt did not help things) The South continues to prop up the North because they don't want 22 million hungry and poor people streaming across the border if the North collapses. […]

A young-looking Patrick Swayze stars in this 1992 movie about paths to enlightenment, failed dreams, poverty and fulfillment through helping others. An American doctor (Swayze) is devastated when his young patient dies in the operating theatre. He quits his job and goes to India to find enlightenment (or at least to get away from the […]

Taiwan is a fascinating country since it's not really a "real" country. It's well worth a visit.

A description of some of Taiwan's features and issues. It's an interesting place to visit.

Australia Day is celebrated every 26th January, commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Britain's newest colony needed some "white stock", so the Brits sent a motley group of petty criminals half way around the world in crowded, harsh and dirty conditions. On arrival in Botany Bay and later Sydney Cove, the convicts' […]

Living in Singapore, you get a different view on religious "holy days". It's great here, really. We get to celebrate public holidays for Hari Raya (Muslim), Deepavali (Hindu), Chinese New Year and Easter & Christmas (Christian). Christmas is just as commercial here as in most countries, and is vital for local retailers. But it has […]

National Geographic is currently running a series on evolution, sponsored by IBM. The series is called "The Genographic Project". Part of IBM's input is to provide access to their vast computing resources for unlocking DNA information. The project is tracking DNA markers in peoples across the world and they have determined that humans arose in […]

Australia has had a long tradition of public broadcasting via ABC radio and television (modelled on the BBC). Australia's ABC has been staunchly independent and has acted in the role of political and corporate watchdog on many issues. And it is such a pleasure watching TV with no advertising. There was an interesting piece I […]

I saw a great documentary yesterday on Putin's meteoric rise to power. (The show was on Australia Network. The "Four Corners" programme on ABC is alone worth the subscription. I love the intelligence of public, non-corporate media...) Putin in his KGB days Such a bunch of scandals that allowed Putin into power! The show dwelt […]

The Privileged Planet Illustra Media, 2004 (www.illustramedia.com) It looked like it was going to be a promising title. From the cover: "The same factors that make a planet like Earth suitable for life also provide the best conditions for scientific discovery." and "Does it point to a deeper truth about purpose and intelligent design within […]