Feminist Hollywood

In the fantastic Feminist Ryan Gosling stream of things, there's Feminist Hollywood.  Provoking and funny, I reckon.

ABC 7.30 Report on Coal Mining and Thirlmere National Park

ABC did a 9 min report on the situation.  Stop CSG Illawarra are campaigning if you want to get involved.

Two Things I Learnt While Editing My Thesis

The first was pointed out by my supervisors.  I had overdosed on the word 'arguably'.  For some reason I must have read that it was a good term at some point.  My supervisors pointed out that it is fluff, it obscures my argument, that I do have things that I say but arguably veils it, that I hedge.  This is because I often see things in many ways, from many perspectives, am full of empathy for the other (plus a fair bit of self-doubt in there).  However.  I just did Apple-F, find all, and cut all of the arguably's.  Radical.  The argument was suddently there, I was suddenly saying strong statements.  Kind of like the ole' creative writing chestnut, show, don't tell.  Just do the argument, don't say arguably.  I think it was something about the whole two reader/examiners that I may have may disagree, therefore I was putting in 'arguably'.  But they'll disagree if they want to anyway.  That's why it's called an argument.  Why it is an argument.  Ok, after mmmm 12 years of academic study, I think I am finding a way that I can 'do' argument.

I noticed that Christopher Hitchen's post-humous collection of essays is titled "Arguably".  Now I'm a sudden ex-arguably user, I feel quite allergic to any passive "arguably".  Quite holier than thou.

The second lesson is cutting.  Wow.  Anytime I have a doubt about a paragraph, line (which happens because they are often from 2.5 or 3.2 years ago, therefore may be repetitious, or saying similar things in worse ways), I just cut it.  Again, sudden clarity.  It just didn't need to be there.  Instead of wrestling, cut it!  

There you go.  May it help others:)

Casual by Name

A call for re-defining the plight of 'casual academics' or 'non-tenure track' workers.  So, so, so many similarities with the situation in Australia.  Man.  Sometimes I do think creating our own learning methods away from this corporatised circus is the way to go.  Re-definition may be part of the path of action.  It's funny that solidarity can date or else pigeonhole an otherwise clear piece of writing.  I'm all about solidarity; it has been kind of killed as a word.  Maybe I will just live it and not worry about the term.  Anyway, for those of you wondering what is going on at Unis or thinking about an academic career, read it.

New Stop CSG Illawarra Site and Apex's Response to Forum Questions

Stop CSG Illawarra has a new site with lots of information included.

There is a response from Apex Energy to questions put to it at a Public Forum.

I am dissapointed to see a certain nasty, sarcastic tone taken when answering the questions.

I have come across this recently in other fora of contention.

I find it to be a real shame.  Particularly when I witness those who are concerned taking time and effort to forumate their questions respectfully.  

It takes strength to not engage with nastiness.

Here's to all of those protesting and encountering nasty sarcasm.  Let's stay tethered to respect.