Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Don't slogan at them ...

(Above: and more Pope here).

Oh dear, there's David Pope stirring the pot yet again with his canberry flavoured pie ...

And this morning the Daily Terror also had its knickers in a knot:



Indeed, indeed. And for a moment there, the pond almost thought the Terror had gone communistic, pinko pervert socialist, and might actually have suggested a role for government in regulation. 

But the best they can produce in their terror-torial is hand-wringing:

While we can be assured local produce meets appropriate standards for public safety, it now emerges that nearly all the fruit and vegetables imported to Australia are not subject to any safety testing at all prior to going on sale.

This would not be such a worrying issue if, like Australia, imported produce was grown and harvested in secure and fertile surrounds. The trouble is, in more crowded foreign areas, fruit and vegetables share their growing space with real estate that is not particularly suited to the best possible health outcomes...

Ah those pesky furriners.

The Terror's solution? Perhaps do some safety testing? Note that there's a role for government? You know, public servants on the front line.

Of course not:

Until a source of infection is identified, parents of young children might want to take the nearly fail-safe precaution of buying only local produce.

Let the deregulation continue! Everything is working for the best in a free enterprise way, and who could quibble with that? Oh, and watch what you and your children eat ... who knows what's lurking out there ...

Meanwhile, big Mal made quite a splash in last night's Q and A. It seems that it was a job application.

Not that the pond watched. The moment the grandiloquent humbug turned to camera and started to address the Indonesian government, the pond had to retire with a sudden bout of nausea.

But big Mal did come out with the immortal words "Don't slogan at them" which has the virtue of turning a noun into a verb, so that a quaint antique word which is an actual verb - like sloganeer - can now be declared redundant and gracefully retired... while a grateful public can wear with pride the badge of "them" ...

As for the bromancer, it seems he was caught in a Stockholm Syndrome moment:

Fellow panellist, The Australian’s foreign affairs editor Greg Sheridan, said he would give Tony Abbott a “50 per cent chance” of remaining the prime minister, and nominated Mr Turnbull as his natural successor. 
“[If there was another spill], I think it is very likely the party would ask Malcolm Turnbull to take the leadership,” he said. (here at news.com.au).

Et tu bromancer?

Naturally the Graudian was all over big Mal's performance in Malcolm Turnbull plays convincing role as the man who is not Tony Abbott.

Big Mal was in particularly fine form praising Philip Ruddock to the skies and trotting out the now standard joke about the captain:

“[Abbott] is the one who has to explain it, but I just want to say I think Philip Ruddock is a great Liberal, a great parliamentarian and it was a very sad day for all of us when we learnt his services as chief whip had been terminated by the prime minister,” Turnbull said. 
“He is the boss. He is the captain. He can make a captain’s call.”

Oh dear, and this just as the Captain is going to slogan at the nation about national security, and even resorted to a tease, promising there'd be a slogan fest, but not actually delivering on the promise of the slogan fest until next week.

So that in the meantime, mice and cartoonists could play:



Yes, there's a bad man playing the Australian public for mugs ... and too lazy to do the washing up. (And more Rowe here).

It's got so everyone is making a joke about Abbott and his sloganeering:


That was at Mama Mia here, but even before he's delivered his speech, there's Michael Gordon at Fairfax deciding Tony Abbott overplays the national security card (forced video at end of link). Gordon even manages to swallow the simple-minded Seussian chant of "not bail, jail", but otherwise he wasn't buying much about Abbott's talk of systemic failure, or removing the presumption of innocence, or inviting rabid paranoia about "the other":

If Abbott needs more powers, he needs to explain in a measured tone where the gaps exist and how they should be filled. Otherwise, he risks being accused of talking tough to shore up his diminished leadership.

Measured tone? Evil, pure undiluted evil?

Risks being accused? See Mr Rowe's excellent cartoon, Mr Gordon ...

But enough of this failing, flailing leader, girding his loins to deliver yet another bout of slogans in his patented sloganeering way ...

Instead the pond would like to pause to catch up on a couple of recent posts. It's rare that the pond, like a wayward dog, returns to the vomit on the lawn, even after eating a whole patch of grass, but we were intrigued to see if anything had happened to a holocaust denying comment on little Timmy's column in support of the use of the word 'holocaust', provided the word had no capital H:



Yes, it was still there, a day later, but along the way it had picked up two likes.

Seems like the Terror is holocaust denial central, which isn't the same as Holocaust denying,  since it's lower case. So the writer was probably referring to Tony Abbott referring to jobs under Labor, which makes it even more poignant ...because he seems to be asking for proof that the jobs holocaust ever happened ...

And then there were the reptiles of Oz, attempting to explain the blatant bias of their reporting on wind farms.

It was as expected, the subject of a Media Watch report last night, which can be found here

The defence the hapless Clive Mathieson offered - well you always need a token reptile on hand to defend the indefensible - is available via that link, and is in turn risible and pathetic, and gave the show a free kick:


More scientific and objective? Now there's a joke ...

Which brings us to the latest bit of science in today's rag:




Uh huh. Garth Paltridge is of course a well known participant in the debate, and he distinguished himself when he published his book The Climate Caper:

Even those who support Garth’s views think that his book would have been more credible, more “respectable” perhaps, if he had chosen someone other than Monckton - indeed almost anyone other than Monckton - to write the foreword. (How climate change sceptics spread doubt and denial).

Ah yes, the Monckton ploy. It must have seemed like a good idea at the time, before Monckton was revealed as a loon, and thereby made Paltridge look like a devotee of loons.

Paltridge is one of those who write on the subject in ways that combine verbal abuse with the procedural. It's a nifty variation on the proposal that climate science is religious in nature, and its followers subject to arcane belief.

Instead it's art that's the problem:

... the real worry with climate research is that it is on the very edge of what is called postmodern science. This is a counterpart of the relativist world of postmodern art and design. It is a much more dangerous beast, whose results are valid only in the context of society’s beliefs and where the very existence of scientific truth can be denied. Postmodern science envisages a sort of political nirvana in which scientific theory and results can be consciously and legitimately manipulated to suit either the dictates of political correctness or the policies of the government of the day. (At the AFR as Science held hostage in climate debate).

Damn you, Jackson Pollock, with your pissing on canvases and into Peggy Guggenheim's fireplace. Now every scientist around the land is having postmodernist pissing contests in their laboratories ...

Let's leave that simplistic defamation of thousands of scientists aside.

There's more of the same in today's piece which you can find by googling Climate of cherry-picking:

Basically the academy has fallen into the trap of being no more than a conduit for a massive international political campaign seeking to persuade a sceptical public of the need for drastic action on climate change. There are more than enough org­anisations already doing that. 

Perhaps instead the academy could be persuaded to spend its considerable intellectual capital on problems relevant to the ­general conduct of research — ­problems that the climate issue has brought well into the open. Among them are a peer-review system that is arguably corrupted by groupthink; a deliberate banishment of contrary opinion to the internet; and a publish-or-perish syndrome that is ­completely out of hand. 
Maybe the academy could use the resource of its overall fellowship to identify those situations where scientists have too much skin in a political game. US President Dwight Eisenhower foresaw that problem many years ago in his retirement speech to the nation: “The prospect of domination of the nation’s scholars by federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present — and is gravely to be regarded. Yet … we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could ­itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.”

Ah the old scientific elite, which is even funnier when you consider that Garth Paltridge signs off as a "former CSIRO chief research scientist".

And it's also funny that in a short piece, Paltridge proves himself adept at cherry picking, so that he can raise saucy doubts and fears ...Roman and medieval 'warm' periods, wayward rainfall predictions, arbitrary data, useless models and modellers, and so on ...

But the real question is why the reptiles at the lizard Oz routinely give space to the Monckton lovers, and rarely run lots of stuff about the science that's known, the science that's in question, and the science yet to be done.

For that, you have to head off to other sites on the internet, because if your sources are either Paltridge in the Oz or Paltridge in Quadant, your knowledge is likely to be paltry ... even if your saucy doubts and fear quotient is high ...

What else?

Well today is Cater day ...


But sad to say, this is just a standard bit of boofhead bureaucratic bashing, with DHS staff coping most of the opening round of abuse.

It never occurs to the Caterists of the world to ask exactly what they're contributing to the economy, as they're tidily paid to piss abusive words against the wall in a reprehensible rag which arguably does more to drag down Australia than any other rag - and since it's up against the HUN, the Currish Snail, and the Daily Terror, that's a remarkable badge of honour.

The Caterists this week are up in arms that public servants might dare to go to lunch, but really the only reason the pond notes this outing is to drag up a splendid note from the comments section.

The correspondent provided a quote from Jeff Sparrow's It took two decades, but 'anti-elitist' posturing is finally out of fashion.

Inter alia, Sparrow came out with this:

Perhaps the “spirit of the front bar” exists only in the country. But where in the country? The Top End, perhaps? A prize to anyone who can give an example of a politician or pundit using the “pub test” to ask how a policy might be received by Indigenous drinkers in their local bar. 
But that’s the beauty of the argument. Because it relies on mythology rather than sociology, it’s infinitely flexible, so that almost anyone of whom you approve can be tricked out as a dinkum battler. You might suppose, for instance, that chamber music represented the quintessence of hoity toity cultural elitism. But Nick Cater seems to like it – and so a performance by violinist Richard Tognetti becomes as dinkum as a meat pie. He swoons: 
This is not a musical masterclass but hot, sweaty manual labor; by the end one senses it is not so much applause that Tognetti craves as an ice cold Victoria Bitter. […] That is not a bow in Tognetti’s hand but a blade, for he does not play his Guarneri del Gesu, he shears it. This is music as Tom Roberts would have painted it; cotton sleeves rolled up, dirt under the fingernails, a clay pipe in the back pocket; there will be no interval in tonight’s performance, just a twenty-minute smoko. 
 his hilarious method allows anyone to become dinky di. Murdoch herds his editors like an outback drover running his stock, shaping their copy with the efficiency of a Victa mower. Gina Rinehart inherited her wealth from Lang Hancock because mineral wealth’s as sticky as vegemite – and now she runs her empire with the aplomb of a sheerer playing his lagerphone. The Queen reigns over us, sturdy and reliable as a Hills Hoist.
The pond would love to know where Sparrow got that quote from. It's so sublimely silly, there must be a rich context for it ...

If nothing else, public servants could pin it to the pinboard, and use it as inspiration on their way to and from lunch ... or perhaps Paltridge could incorporate it into his latest rant about post-modernism and technological-scientific elites ...

How ineffably stupid Caterists routinely sound ... but at least we know that deregulation of food safety procedures is working a treat for public health ...

Oh and also in the comments section came the note that an Oz columnist has bitten the dust, as recorded in The Graudian in Columnist Tanveer Ahmed sacked by the Australian over new plagiarism allegation ...

Truth to tell they could sack the lot of them, the Caterists, the climate science deniers like Dame Slap, the wind farm haters, Graham Lloyd, and the rest of the bunch, and the IQ of the national debate would likely increase by ten points within the week.

No, there's no hard data to back that post-modernist thought up, but why don't we just try the experiment? If it fails, where's the harm? Oh sure, a few columnists might have to seek work at the ABC and other bureaucracies, since that's all they really know ... but most of the reptiles at the Oz already turn up at the ABC on a daily basis ...

But if it works ...

Oh wait, there is one more thing. Peter 'let loose the hounds Smithers' Reith is in crazy brave mood today:


Oh wait, that's a double dissolution after the Abbott government wins the next election "with some fiscal measures in its manifesto" ... though maybe it could happen in this term ... and maybe pigs could fly ...

And then, this very day, there was Peter Hartcher determining Monis was a fighter for Daesh, instead of a crazy fellow traveller after notoriety and a discussion with the PM, while Harcher blathers on endlessly claiming it was the information sphere and social media that was pumping up Daesh's influence ... as if giving Monis the status of a Daesh fighter wasn't subverting what has been established to date about the man, who even had trouble rustling up a flag...

So much stupidity, so little time ... and so little signs of change (and more Tandberg here).

Keep those slogans coming at them bad mugs:


And more Wilcox here.


34 comments:

  1. I trust Paltridge has either resigned or been asked to leave any professional organisations he may have been a member of during his employment as a CSIRO chief research scientist.

    Such organisations wouldn't allow their names to be tarnished by the crap he writes.

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    Replies
    1. None of the commenters under Reith's article seem to have picked up that fact you note DP, that Reith is referring to a DD after the coalition win the next election.

      Says something about the commenters at Fairfax.

      "Election now! DD now!" seems all they're capable of.

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    2. CSIRO? Unwinding the torturers' of science matrix continues... Randomised controlled trials? Systematic review? Selection bias? Evidence based... who needs that? Not GW, DC, The Pentagon, JWH, CN... a whole lot of others, nor apparently in some cases does GG.

      There's a long painful but largely hidden history of the dark side of 'Positive Psychology' dating from the Korean War. Positive psychology, Happiness psychology, Resilience training, SERE, torture, or must we say "enhanced interrogation"? ... Despite the time and indecent amounts of money spent there's very little evidence to date that it actually has a bright side - that it actually is anything but old periodically rehashed blather. But there's more money to be made! There's money with a positive spin being made in a school, workplace, employment service provider, prison, detention centre, aged care facility near you. And the moneyed neoliberals, neocons, and their corporate chiefs don't mind paying either - it's comparatively cheap, blame shifting, and a real get out while it lasts.

      pro. Newman's Qld Chief Scientist (metallurgist) says it's "profound" of Esher House, http://www.viacharacterblog.org/a-strengths-based-approach-helps-unemployed-find-success/ note there: US Army; "And for Government, the public-purse benefits of the “ARC & APP” model are irresistible, freeing $hundreds of millions for expenditure on more proactive, strengths-based policies" (cue: strength - STRENGTH - STRONG POLICIES - STRONG CHOICES - A STRONG PLAN : QLD LNP); note there also: “From a Welfare State to a Wellbeing State” (Cue Moorice Newman on the LNP project being "unwinding the welfare state". That statement examined here http://www.spookmagazine.com/politics-like-house-cards/ )

      pro. Qld Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett AO http://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/about/biography

      pro. About the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist http://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/about/about-the-office

      pro. "Some of our findings have been labelled “profound” (Chief Scientist to Queensland Premier)." http://esherhouse.org/media-research/

      Who's that?

      pro. Australian Science Media Centre, Science Advisory Panel, Dr Geoff Garrett AO Queensland Chief Scientist http://powerbase.info/index.php/Australian_Science_Media_Centre#Science_Advisory_Panel

      pro. Science Media Centre (parent of Australian Science Media Centre above) — is overwhelmingly conservative and pro-business in its outlook, sponsors include... not a single environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) or trade union.
      (Humbert Wolfe, poet, wrote: “You cannot hope / to bribe or twist, / thank God! the / British journalist. / But, seeing what / the man will do / unbribed, there's / no occasion to.) http://powerbase.info/index.php/Science_Media_Centre

      pro. http://powerbase.info/index.php/Living_Marxism

      pro. CSIRO, Board Members, Dr Geoff Garrett: Chief Executive http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/CSIRO#Board_Members

      pro. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?search=Geoff+Garrett&button=&title=Special%3ASearch
      http://www.csiropedia.csiro.au/display/CSIROpedia/Heads+of+CSIRO

      pro. Dr Geoff Garrett, defended Staunton's CSIRO appointment -Tobacco Institute of Australia (TIA), Institute of Public Affairs, an ultra-conservative business-oriented think tank - "I do not believe that cigarette smoking is an addiction, based on any reasonable definition." - http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Donna_Staunton

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    3. - CSIRO gags retired scientists www.bmartin.cc/dissent/contacts/au_wba/whistle200506.pdf - A group spokesman said the honorary fellows — who undertake unpaid research work and mentoring for CSIRO in return for library and computer access — had been “rapped over the knuckles and told to shut up”. But CSIRO chief executive Dr Geoff Garrett said he did not believe any attempt had been made to gag the retired scientists. “We have a policy on public comment, and that applies to honorary research fellows as well as all CSIRO staff.” Dr Garrett said he had been told the majority of the CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems research fellows had accepted Dr Johnson’s view on public comment.

      pro. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Tobacco_Institute_of_Australia http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Institute_of_Public_Affairs

      pro. Dr Geoff Garrett, mentor, The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) - are "Assisting Education for Sustainable Development" for the oil giant Santos, and key US military *[[contractors like KBR Government & Infrastructure http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/The_Natural_Edge_Project

      http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/The_Natural_Edge_Project:_Mentors

      con. (Oops!) Call for inquiry as CSIRO comes under the microscope http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/call-for-inquiry-as-csiro-comes-under-the-microscope-20130411-2hojm.html
      - Confidential reviews of the CSIRO by some of the world's most accomplished scientists show that the once great institution is now unable to act in the best interests of advancing research... The reviews commend some areas for world-class research but repeatedly criticise the management structure, which it has dubbed the ''matrix''. This matrix was incrementally introduced from 2003 by former chief executive Geoff Garrett, aimed at conducting more science targeted to specific problems facing industry, government and the community. Dr Garrett dismantled many of the 22 divisions. In their place he introduced entities called ''flagships'', which are more focused on generating revenue.
      - CSIRO spin doctors work their magic in latest annual report http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/csiro-spin-doctors-work-their-magic-in-latest-annual-report-20141023-11aerc.html - The contrast in approach with that of the former CEO, Geoff Garrett, is somewhat striking
      pro. - http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/new-chief-scientist-for-qld-20101006-16794.html
      - New Chief Scientist for the smart State http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/71866
      http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/science-is-golden-on-george-street-chief-scientist-20110718-1hlbd.html - New LNP leader Campbell Newman told the LNP conference on Sunday that the government put politics ahead of science in decision-making...

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    4. - Newman promises public service shake-up http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/newman-promises-public-service-shakeup-20110717-1hjqc.html Mr Newman’s speech today was a targeted attack directed at decisions based on science, accusing the ALP of putting ‘‘politics’’ ahead of science. He promised that Queensland’s Chief Scientist Dr Geoffrey Garrett, who led the CSIRO for eight years (2001-2008) would be in charge of science policy... "DERM is meant to protect our environment,’’ Mr Newman said. ‘‘It’s meant to protect national parks and show leadership when it comes to protecting waterways and wildlife,’’ he said... Mr Newman pointedly questioned the role of Premier Anna Bligh’s husband Greg Withers, an experienced public servant, in running Queensland’s Office of Climate Change... Mr Newman also criticised the operation of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. ‘‘Many people from business, the community and even government simply do not understand how this department works, or which of its six ministers is in charge,’’ he said. ‘‘They are meant to be protecting our farmers and prime agricultural land and they are supposed to be working with business to continuously improve environmental practices.’’
      - Political climate heats up as Newman wages war on Department of Environment and Resource Management http://www.smh.com.au/environment/political-climate-heats-up-as-newman-wages-war-on-derm-20110717-1hkk2.html
      http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/930706/political-climate-heats-up-as-newman-wages-war-on-derm/ - "It's a department without true leadership, a department that's more about political ideology than science," he said... Mr Newman said the LNP would take scientific advice from Geoffrey Garrett, Queensland's new chief scientist, if it won the next state election....
      - Report recommends way ahead for UCG industry http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/7/8/report-recommends-way-ahead-for-ucg-industry The Newman Government today released the final recommendations of an Independent Scientific Panel examining the future of the Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) industry in Queensland... “The Panel’s report has now been peer reviewed by a team of scientists led by Queensland’s chief scientist Dr Geoff Garrett which has endorsed its recommendations.
      - Uranium Implementation Committee announced http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2012/10/30/uranium-implementation-committee-announced - The Premier Campbell Newman has announced the membership of the Uranium Implementation Committee which will establish a best-practice framework for the recommencement of uranium mining in Queensland... Other members of the Uranium Implementation Committee will be: Dr Geoff Garrett, Queensland Government Chief Scientist

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    5. - A great big thank-you goes to our corporate partners Rio Tinto, GE ecomagination, ERM Power and Thiess Services. Queensland Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett http://www.citysmart.com.au/news/latest-citysmart-ezine/june-2012
      - Environment minister's climate science doubts 'refreshing' http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/environment-ministers-climate-science-doubts-refreshing-20120605-1zthu.html#ixzz1wvJ9s825 https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/wq-news/R-joyOMV8Vc - Queensland's environment minister has confirmed he doubts the role of humans in causing climate change, but says he believes society should act to curb pollution and find renewable power sources. Premier Campbell Newman today backed his minister, Andrew Powell, saying it was “refreshing” to have someone in charge of the portfolio who was prepared to tell the truth... Mr Newman added: “I'm surprised you'd ask the minister; I mean, the sea level rise predictions have changed constantly over the last 15 years... But Mr Newman questioned the IPCC's future forecasts for sea level rises... “Isn't it refreshing finally we've got a Queensland minister for the environment who is actually prepared to tell the truth, unlike the previous mob?” Last year, Mr Newman said the LNP would take scientific advice from Geoffrey Garrett, Queensland's chief scientist, if it won the election. "Our plan, which we will detail further over coming months, will see the chief scientist properly in charge of science policy and the government's applied science efforts, not the [Labor strategy blueprint] Q2 shame that currently exists," he said in July last year. Dr Garrett, who was appointed Queensland's chief scientist in January 2011 after eight years as head of the CSIRO, said his view on climate change reflected the position of the broad scientific community. "The science indicates that we have anthropogenic [man-made] global warming and we need to reduce carbon emissions," he said.

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    6. - The Gap State High School Newsletter, 7 March 2014, Deputy Principal’s Column https://thegapshs.eq.edu.au/Calendarandnews/Newsletters/Newsletters/newsletter2014_6.pdf - The theme for this year’s Mount Coot-tha Cluster professional development program is Positivity, Creativity and Design. The conference was designed to reflect on current research and to be inspired by positive and creative practices both in and beyond the classroom and forms the direction for our cluster’s year ahead – informing our Instruction and collaborative opportunities for teachers and students. Last week we were treated to two keynote speakers during our first evening conference. Our first speaker Mark Davidson is the manager of the ‘Classroom Profiling’ program, based in Cairns. He is an expert in positive supportive strategies for managing behaviour. The program assists teachers in developing their behaviour management skills and implementing key techniques with the focus on using positive classroom management to engage students and develop healthy and productive classrooms. Evidence strongly supports the fact that positive behavior and thoughts enhance motivation and engagement, which is instrumental in student success. It was also great to see so many parents attend the evening session to hear about these strategies to support their students.Our second keynote speaker was Dr Geoff Garrett, Queensland’s Chief Scientist who discussed ‘Megatrends’. Dr Garrett spoke about how trends, patterns of economic, social or environmental activities change the way people live in the future, and the science and technology they will demand. It certainly was a thought provoking and insightful presentation in understanding the importance of science, research and innovation in the state's future economic, social and environmental wellbeing. --- It is also with much anticipation we also look forward to next week’s session on Positive Psychology by Justin Robinson from Geelong Grammar School who is the Head of Positive Education.
      http://thegapshs.schoolzinenewsletters.com/subscribe https://thegapshs.eq.edu.au/Calendarandnews/Newsletters/Pages/Newsletters.aspx - note: The Gap State High School is that situated in the State Electoral District of Ashgrove, won by Premier Campbell Newman in the 2011 Qld State election.
      https://thegapshs.eq.edu.au/Curriculum/Subjectsandprograms/Pages/Leadership-and-Personal-Development.aspx GOALS uses and teaches techniques developed by positive psychologists for positive education as well as outdoor and adventure learning strategies.

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    7. - How to be happy, The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/nov/19/1 - There are other criticisms too. The movement, though now in its sixth year, cannot show much scientific research to support it. "It's not yet a field that has had a lot of systematic research. So if I say to you that a sense of humour in the face of trouble is a strength, you might want to see some good research that backs that up - but I'll have trouble showing you that," says Wolin.

      - The Unhappy Truth About Positive Psychology http://www.mindzone.com.au/news/the-unhappy-truth-about-positive-psychology

      - Post-Traumatic Stress’s Surprisingly Positive Flip Side (Oh yeah?) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/magazine/post-traumatic-stresss-surprisingly-positive-flip-side.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

      - Positive self-statements: power for some, peril for others http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19493324

      - Christopher Peterson http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Christopher_Peterson

      - Positive psychology criticism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_psychology#Criticism

      - The Negative Side of Positive Psychology http://jhp.sagepub.com/content/44/1/9.abstract

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    8. From happy clapping prosperity gospel true believing loons to advisors on the application of torture - they're all sold on it. But you want more? Systematic reviews of "Positive Psychology"? After all this time, funding, and all the promoting by Petersen, Seligman, the Pentagon and Co... the Cochrane Community has but three. http://community.cochrane.org/ And pretty weak on it they are too...

      COCHRANE LIBRARY - Exploring the use of positive psychology interventions in brain injury survivors with challenging behaviour http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clcentral/articles/620/CN-01001620/frame.html
      Source Brain injury, 2014, Authors Andrewes HE, Walker V, O'Neill B, ABSTRACT - Objective: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of conducting two positive psychology interventions to improve mood and self-concept with survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI), within a neuro-rehabilitation hospital. Method and procedures: Ten patients with brain injury were randomly allocated to an intervention and control group. The efficacy of the first intervention, 'three positive things in life' was measured via Seligman's Authentic Happiness Index (AHI), at base-line, directly following the intervention and at the end of the 12-week group programme. The second intervention, the 'Value in Action (VIA) signature strengths intervention' was measured by the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale (HISDS) at baseline and at the end of the group. Results: Compared to baseline and control group scores, the AHI index showed an increase in the intervention group's happiness following the intervention and at the end of the 12-week programme, albeit the latter increase was non-significant. The HISDS showed non-significant improvement in self-concept and reduction in polarization of the self in the present, future and past in the second intervention. Anecdotal evidence revealed a clear improved mood following the interventions. Conclusion: This study shows promising results for the effectiveness of Positive Psychology interventions and methods to improve feasibility when applying this treatment within a hospital setting. 2014 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted. Andrewes, et al. Brain injury Volume 28 , 2014. Pages: 965

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    9. COCHRANE LIBRARY - Positive psychology group intervention for breast cancer patients: A randomised trial. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clcentral/articles/681/CN-01013681/frame.html
      Source Psychological reports, 2014, Authors Victoria Cerezo M, Ortiz-Tallo M, Cardenal V, de la Torre-Luque A, ABSTRACT - This study assessed the effects of a psychological group intervention based on positive psychology in women with breast cancer. 175 women were randomly assigned either to an experimental group, receiving the 14-session intervention (n = 87), or to a waitlist group (n = 88) that did not receive any type of intervention. For treatment, a group intervention was applied, based on improving psychological strengths and enhancing positive psychology-based styles of coping. Strength-related outcomes, self-esteem, well-being, and happiness were assessed before and after the intervention. The experimental group showed higher scores on all of the study variables after the intervention. Participants reported improved self-esteem, emotional intelligence-related abilities, resilience, and optimism, as well as positive affectivity, well-being, and happiness. The results show a beneficial effect of this psychological intervention based on positive psychology on female breast cancer patients' psychological health. Psychological Reports 2014. Victoria, et al. Psychological reports Volume 115 , 2014. Pages: 44 US: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clcentral/articles/681/CN-01013681/frame.html

      Are you sure about this last? Can you believe it? Why would you? Watch Barbara Ehrenreich - Smile or Die - RSA speech - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJGMFu74a70

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    10. COCHRANE LIBRARY - Exploring the use of positive psychology interventions in brain injury survivors with challenging behaviour http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clcentral/articles/620/CN-01001620/frame.html
      Source Brain injury, 2014, Authors Andrewes HE, Walker V, O'Neill B, ABSTRACT - Objective: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of conducting two positive psychology interventions to improve mood and self-concept with survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI), within a neuro-rehabilitation hospital. Method and procedures: Ten patients with brain injury were randomly allocated to an intervention and control group. The efficacy of the first intervention, 'three positive things in life' was measured via Seligman's Authentic Happiness Index (AHI), at base-line, directly following the intervention and at the end of the 12-week group programme. The second intervention, the 'Value in Action (VIA) signature strengths intervention' was measured by the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale (HISDS) at baseline and at the end of the group. Results: Compared to baseline and control group scores, the AHI index showed an increase in the intervention group's happiness following the intervention and at the end of the 12-week programme, albeit the latter increase was non-significant. The HISDS showed non-significant improvement in self-concept and reduction in polarization of the self in the present, future and past in the second intervention. Anecdotal evidence revealed a clear improved mood following the interventions. Conclusion: This study shows promising results for the effectiveness of Positive Psychology interventions and methods to improve feasibility when applying this treatment within a hospital setting. 2014 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted. Andrewes, et al. Brain injury Volume 28 , 2014. Pages: 965

      From happy clapping prosperity gospel true believing loons to advisors on the application of torture - they're all sold on it. But you want more? Systematic reviews of "Positive Psychology"? After all this time, funding, and all the promoting by Petersen, Seligman, the Pentagon and Co... the Cochrane Community has three. http://community.cochrane.org/ And pretty weak on it they are too...

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  2. Funny, I'd always imagined Chrissie Pyne being in a cat-in-the-hat costume.

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  3. We might as well take our chances with the Japanese pufferfish Fugu as eat a frozen raspberry from China.

    All those years worrying about invasion from the north when a deregulated food market can immobilize us all with punnets of contaminated berries, bought cheap.

    Just imagine what will come our way with free trade agreements. The pufferfish will have some competitors in The Thrill Cuisine area.

    Spare me.

    Meanwhile Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison continue to talk about the government's problems in terms of salesmanship. We must explain. Blah blah. It is the product boys. We know what you are selling and we do not like it.

    Miss pp

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    1. After watching Andrew Robb on 'Kitchen Cabinet' simultaneously boast about his role in undermining his leader's attempts to approach climate change in a bi-partisan manner, and bask in Annabel Crabb's admiration for his heroic victory over depression, it occurred to me that the current Australian leadership and its most significant environmental policy position is the work of an old man with a mental disorder. And now he's negotiating trade agreements . . .

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  4. Little Akio

    The teacher said, "Let's begin by reviewing some History.
    Who said 'Give me Liberty , or give me Death'?"

    She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Little Akio, a bright foreign exchange student from Japan , who had his hand up: "Patrick Henry, 1775," he said.

    "Very good! -- Who said, 'Government of the People, by the People, for the People, shall not perish from the Earth'?"

    Again, no response except from Little Akio: "Abraham Lincoln, 1863."

    "Excellent!" said the teacher continuing, "Let's try one a bit more difficult –
    Who said, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country'?"

    Once again, Akio's was the only hand in the air and he said: "John F. Kennedy, 1961."

    The teacher snapped at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed of yourselves,
    Little Akio isn't from this country and he knows more about our history than you do."

    She heard a loud whisper: "F**k the Japs."

    "Who said that? -- I want to know right now!? she angrily demanded.

    Little Akio put his hand up, "General MacArthur, 1945."

    At that point, a student in the back said, "I'm gonna puke.'

    The teacher glares around and asks, 'All right! -- Now who said that?"

    Again, Little Akio says, "George Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister, 1991."

    Now furious, another student yells, "Oh yeah? -- Suck this!"

    Little Akio jumps out of his chair waving his hand and shouts to the teacher, "Bill Clinton, to Monica Lewinsky, 1997!"

    Now with almost mob hysteria someone said, "You little shit! -- If you say anything else -- I'll kill you!"

    Little Akio frantically yells at the top of his voice, "Michael Jackson to the children testifying against him, 2004."

    The teacher fainted. As the class gathered around the teacher on the floor, someone said, "Oh shit, We're screwed!"

    Little Akio said quietly, "The Australian people, when Tony Abbott
    was elected, September 2013."


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    1. Applause!

      Miss pp

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    2. i loved this so much I recited it to the 2 teens in my kitchen (18 & 17) and they looked at me with blank faces...... says it all really. The 18yo said that he wasn't interested in what had happened in the past, only in the future. Looks like it won't be too much to absorb way things are going!

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    3. :)³, and a tear for the young determined to repeat the past ...

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  5. DP - you are getting a few plugs on Bob Ellis' Tabletalk. It's mostly 'rusted-on' ALP geriatrics, but occasionally has a fortuitous burst of wisdom. Pity old Bob can't move with the times.

    I got called by a polling organisation this morning. Told 'em I would never vote for the Libs, can't forgive the ALP for putting refugees kids in concentration camps, was feeling dubious about the local 'independents', and would most likely be voting for the Greens. But truth be told I'm sick of the lot of them.

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    1. And now I know what it feels like to be Rabbott; attached to an ever-moving target, raced around and around in a circle, and finally devoured by ravenous dogs.

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    2. Which vomit up ScoMo

      Miss pp

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    3. Can you find a picture of Peter Dutton smiling? I think his permanent snarl is botoxed on.

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    4. Been mentioned on a Bob Ellis site? The gods are cruel ...

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  6. Talking about gongs as dubious awards, may I remind dear readers of "The Gong Show?"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gong_Show

    "When Barris announced the final score, a midget in formal wear (former Munchkin Jerry Maren) would run onstage, throwing confetti while balloons dropped from overhead. On rare occasions, two acts that tied for highest score would each receive the check and trophy. No prize was awarded if all of the acts on a particular episode were gonged.

    The daily Gong Show also gave out a "Worst Act of the Week" Award (later changed to the "Most Outrageous Act of the Week" Award), where the producers and that week's judges decided which of the show's bad acts for the week stood out the most. The winner of this award was announced following the trophy presentation on the Friday show, and the performer received a dirty tube sock and a check for $516.32."

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  7. Dogs being trained by chasing rabbits. What an outrage! Forgetting perhaps that that is what the Rabbitohs are named after. And the vermin are destroying the bush. So we introduced Myxomatosis and calciform virus to kill the buggers.

    And wild pigs too are a pox on the landscape. So why not let a few dogs have a go?

    We wire out whole species, introduce new ones where they devastate the local ecosystem (Think possums in NZ, and I have an Indian Mynah trap in my garden and regularly gas the buggers).

    Hypocrites one and all.

    http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/vertebrate-pests/pest-animals-in-nsw/rabbit-control

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    1. You really do sound very silly, but let's hope people and rabbits stay off your lawn

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  8. The positioning is under way, especially as Great Man (of whom Turnbull had denied referring to as a Demented Plutocrat, something seeming more accurate with time) has signified intentions. That is, Abbott, who had enjoyed five years as an untouchable, is no longer fully protected. It is not yet 'open season' on him or he'd be gone by now.

    Bishop had struck out a more independent path since they tried to prevent her attending a Climate Change conference, and after a dispute forcing her to acceot Monsignor Robb as chaperone. She has started on a more independent pathway mostly through briefing Latika. It has all been media games both before and after the spill. Turnbull and Morrison have quietly joined in.

    The most interesting leak, of Rudd-like calibre, was that the 6-month delay in young people getting the dole, one of a string of Budget measures seemingly aimed at alienating support, had been pushed by Abbott and Credlin. It was also given a nice bit of irony with the revelation that Andrews and Abetz had opposed. As two of their most reactionary ministers, it had been assumed that they'd have supported. Indeed, they defended the move, but only apparently in the spirit of cabinet solidarity.

    If those two, with a reading capacity not advanced beyond 1950, can smell a steaming turd, what does it say about Credlin and Abbott and their grasp of policy? Or Hockey, for that matter, who used Budget Night preparations for a celebratory dance with his wife to the song, The Best Day of My Life? Did none of them have a clue, or did they really believe those IPA twats knew what they were doing and advocating? In policy depth, they hardly offered more than Abbott and Credlin's slogans. Intellectually they might almost match the Rudd wunderboy advisers.

    Assuming that Turnbull will eventually get the nod, apart from having a more coherent sales pitch what else will he bring to the position. He's signed off on all these lemons and what's more he's trashed the NBN and pardoned some of the pre-election lies. It's the product that is wrecked, not just its selling. They'd be better off giving the nod to silly Wyatt. At least he recognises the trouble with breaking so many promises and constantly lying.

    Who leaked that story to Savva? It's another sure sign that Abbott has lost his protected status. Muroch might still back Abbott if he ditched Credlin. But Abbott depends on her to to be even vaguely coherent, even with a tame media.

    The brakes have not been entirely released yet. But it's not the same as it was during the Gillard years. In fact, it seems that it is more face-saving from the Press Gallery pack-leaders. None of them want to admit how badly they got it wrong and how much damage their inaction has caused the nation.

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    1. Don't you think it would be incredibly interesting to say the least if the powers that be decide to enlist the help of our OzFeddyPolizia to get the metadata of these Newscorpse journos to see where the leaks are coming from. Talk about irony ahahaha

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    2. Another measured piece GD. Savva has been the recipient of many leaks, and the slow turnaround on the 6 months of punishment of the young - whom they keep saying they care about and don't want to burden - is one of the more fascinating exercises on the good ship Titanic.
      And yes, the ratpack of cheer leaders who still keep denouncing Fairfax, the ABC, and when they know it exists, the Graudian, will have their day in court when the next set of circulation figures emerge ...

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  9. John Alexander MP for Bennelong who assumed office in August 2010. I always considered him to be one of the Rip Van Winkles of the backbench. He finally bestirred himself today and issued a Sergeant’s call with the suggestion of “matehoods”.

    “It came about when the new honours were announced last year and I said to a couple of my colleagues ‘our highest honour should be a matehood and you should honour people by officially calling them ‘mate’ and the official greeting should be ‘g’day mate’,” said Alexander.

    Four and a half years in parliament and this is it? We certainly don’t get value for money with some politicians.

    Sleep tight for the next 4 ½ years John, mate.

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    Replies
    1. As I recall, JA back in his tennis days had gorgeous legs and a rather cute bottom.

      He's proved in his parliamentary career that his attractions finish below his waist.

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    2. laughs sighs boggles expletes

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    3. Anonymous,

      That was back when I was in my late teens, and he in his mid twenties.

      I don't have any problem with admiring male anatomy - likewise I don't have any problem with admiring female anatomy - provided the admiration is respectful.

      My admiration was, I think, couched in respectful terms.

      My analysis of his other abilities was - covertly - less so.

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    4. :). You're all entitled to a matehood for this ... but remember matehoods are supposed to last for life ...

      Delete

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