Storm

This article was originally published as 'Storm' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 10th August 2013. Image borrowed from www.couriermail.com.au

The dumbing down of education and the reliance on one's own feelings as a reasonable basis for decision making are topics previously addressed in the column.

It seems to me that we have moved from a situation where few were relatively tertiary educated, but educated to a high standard, to one where a shallower style of tertiary education is available to most everyone. And we have moved from a system of highly organised (definitely flawed and perhaps over-bearing) religion as a source of self-reflection to one where daring to question the crowd is deemed heretical. The popular default now is a reliance on feelings and bureaucracy.

Read more...

Feelings

This article was originally published as 'Feelings' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 15/6/2013.

CIPL's chairman is an expert regarding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and my association with him has led to a heightened interest in aspects of psychological type. While Extroversion and Introversion are traits commonly discussed, it’s Thinking vs. Feeling that I want to explore here.

Read more...

Busy

This article was originally published as 'Busy' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 18/5/2013.

Being busy is good, and if you are a protestant being busier is (apparently) even better. But what is busy–good and what is just wheel-spin?

Read more...

Papua New Guinea

This article was originally published as "PNG" in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 20/4/2013.

My third visit, I took the opportunity to get beyond Port Moresby, venturing into the highlands to take stock of the situation and to meet the locals. With Mt Hagen the epicentre of bad press regarding sorcery murders and payback, what I found was a distinctly tribal community that welcomed us into their villages and loved the interest offered by three long piks (white people - literally "long pig").

Read more...