Mark O'Brien's news digest

16/10/2024

The trauma of the Khmer Rouge atrocities echoing down the decades - strange that nobody makes the link - half the kids today been severely beaten!

There are some shocking statistics around the violence and abuse children in Cambodia suffer, and a new program led by the country's venerated Buddhist monks is helping to drive change inside families.

01/10/2024

F****ng bastards, radioactively poisoning these in areas in Lebanon forever via the depleted uranium in the bunker buster bombs. DU is the hardest thing known to man, and is used to pe*****te bunkers and make armour piercing bullets as well as lining tanks etc to prevent piercing.
Depleted uranium is an unusual metal inasmuch as it burns, even explodes, leaving behind radioactive nanoparticles that go wherever they want. Many, including me, think that Gulf war sickness/syndrone was due to DU. So yes, the Israeli IDF thinks they are bombing Lebanon, but one wind is enough for the DU to spread south to Israel, infecting Israelis too. See in the comments for link to article I wrote almost 20 years ago about DU

As more details emerge about the Israeli attack that killed Hezbollah's leader in Beirut, analysts say it's likely US-made 2,000 pound "bunker buster" bombs were used in the strikes carried out in the densely populated neighbourhood.

29/09/2024

Tim is one of the best

The lassitude that distinguishes our moment is born of sorrow and buried rage. We act like colonial subjects because, in effect, that’s what we are

13/09/2024

so, maybe it's true that people talk through their ass!

Scientific research on pigeon missiles and dead trout also win at awards for amusing studies with serious implications

25/08/2024

US election. Must say I was not surprised to see that RFK had removed himself from the ballot in many states and endorsed Trump. He never had chance, and was only every going to be a spoiler. Like with Musk, it seems all of the di*****ds support Trump and his 'drill baby drill' climate change denialism.
Beyond any other policy or idea, seems to me that climate change is what is most important, the issue that will decide if planet A (earth) is liveable or not. By hitching himself to Trump Kennedy has shown his true colours.

22/08/2024

Just read this. Australians going to Europe as of next year will need a visa. Not a big deal actually.

"Previously, Australians could travel to most of Europe with just their passport, but the new system being introduced means travellers will need to apply for a visa before arriving.

The Etias (European Travel Information and Authorisation System will be linked to your passport, and will be valid for up to three years.

Applications are made online or through the Etias mobile app, and should take minutes to be approved. Cost of 7 Euros

A valid visa means travellers can enter member countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period."

20/08/2024

https://youtu.be/cuQZ6rALub8?si=FXmL8bB_o2666-A3

The Australien Government has made a tourism ad for the Northern Territory and it's surprisingly honest and informative. 👽👉 Ways you can support us to keep...

14/08/2024

Keating called AUKUS the worst deal in history - being Scomos legacy agreement, but it really just does not make sense. There is no facility in the deal, for us to get ANY money back if US or UK change their minds. Which ANY president can do.
The most ridiculous agreement ever.
Flabbergasted!

The idea that Australia may have signed up for "political commitments" such as accepting nuclear waste, but we aren't allowed to know, is simply outrageous.

09/08/2024

interesting tech

The ground is humming with geothermal energy that could heat or cool our homes – and now the big US utilities are starting to take note

22/07/2024

another interesting post, tho to be honest I always thought women wear much thinner fashionable clothes while men wear anything!

Is there any science backing up the widespread belief women "feel the cold" more than men? Charlotte Phelps and Christian Moro unpack the evidence.

22/07/2024

Been seeing people talking about this lately, the difference between using visa/mastercard network via tap and go, and being charged 1-2%, or insering card, selecting savings, and being charge 20cents using eftpos network. Read the article

Card surcharges are banned in some countries, but they are legal in Australia. Here are some ways you can avoid paying extra.

13/07/2024

interesting

The signs of malnutrition in older Australians might be more familiar than you think but they are often dismissed as a 'normal' part of ageing. Here's how some simple changes could help.

12/07/2024

as a bit of a night owl myself I found this interesting

Research on 26,000 people found those who stay up late scored better on intelligence, reasoning and memory tests

08/07/2024

Paint stripper in your decaf? I never cease to be amazed at companies using radical chemicals with food and drink.

Environmental advocacy groups have raised concerns about chemical solvents used in decaf coffee. Should we be worried?

03/07/2024

god piece re solar

Energy experts — and even Greenpeace — underestimated solar power's rapid global growth. Now many believe solar is set to become the world's biggest power source within the next decade. But it is falling prices — rather than environmental benefits — that might be driving that change.

27/06/2024

An article i wrote nearly 20 years ago but still valid. Good to have some facts to refer back if you're engaged with a person who believes what they hear about nuke power.

Myths About Nuclear Power, part of Nuclear Power, is it really a Greenhouse Solution? which demolishes the idea of nuclear power being a greenhouse solution

25/06/2024

Some sense re Dutton's nuke fantasy

The opposition claims Australia is an outlier in the developed world in not having nuclear, yet Germany and Italy have closed their plants

19/06/2024

So Dutton is hoping to lie long and outrageously enough to win the election on mischievious nuclear rubbish. Yes, nuclear power is arising from the dead - people will again have to waste their energy fighting it

He says the AUKUS partnership, which will see Australia acquire and operate nuclear-powered submarines, has opened the door for that conversation to be had.

"If you look at a 470 megawatt reactor, it produces waste equivalent to the size of a can of coke each year," he says.

Get the picture? He wants to build 7 nuke power stations but unable to provide costs for one.
This is just a rubbish political ploy, to hoodwink people with.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has told his Coalition colleagues he will go to the next election promising to build seven nuclear power stations.