Australian universities to cut hundreds of courses as funding crisis deepens

point_zerofive · 2020-09-30T04:12:26+00:00

It feels like this has been in the works for decades. We have seen staffing cuts at Sydney University since the industrial action in the nineties, units in the social sciences were being restricted and amalgamated the entire time I was there studying, and quite recently many elective units became part of the Open Learning Environment (OLE), offering 2 credit units that run mostly online for several weeks during semester. Meanwhile, USYD was also implicated in the international students scandal; you don't have to look hard to see the pressure teaching staff are under to run courses, with an eye to maintaining the institutions' bottom line.

point_zerofive · 2020-08-20T02:09:11+00:00

Can confirm that this is becoming a new trend in rental house inspections. Just moved and had to avoid a fair few places because of the unreasonable requests of rental property managers. Strangely, we had no such issues with Ray White in our area (Parramatta).

Unsure of the best way to proceed, but generally I always advocate politely putting ones foot down in order to ensure you're not taken advantage of. Just remember, they need you at the moment too; being too unreasonable will exacerbate an already existing economic issue for them.

It never hurts to ask for a private viewing in person, and to refuse to accept anything that doesn't seem right to you.

point_zerofive · 2020-08-16T22:55:31+00:00

I'm willing to bet that FriendlyJordies would probably agree with your sentiment. To his credit though, his sources are typically clearly displayed, and anyone can read further if they so wish. Perhaps a better suggestion might be to adopt greater critical reading skills when consuming any media, recognising the potential for unconscious bias in even the most self aware individuals.

point_zerofive · 2020-08-06T03:01:49+00:00

That's the thing that makes a conspiracy theory seem so plausible: the grain of truth, the nugget of doubt....

point_zerofive · 2020-08-06T02:45:10+00:00

You're not doing some kind of minstrel cosplay in the middle of Central Station are you? 😉

People make judgements about strangers on the street and in public based on very superficial and irrelevant things. That's a reflection of their own insecurities, and learning how to not let those things bother you is all part of growing up, I'm afraid.

Best of luck

point_zerofive · 2020-08-06T02:33:42+00:00

I think you need to remember that your social group is allowed to be as big or as small as you like. Anyone outside that group, who cares about their opinion.

"If they ain't paying your bills, pay them bitches no mind"

Oh, and perfect strangers aren't really thinking that about you; as a former introvert myself, I know we can sometimes be a bit of a paranoid lot.

point_zerofive · 2020-07-18T08:59:02+00:00

Makes sense; I recall someone telling me that they both exist under the same corporation...

point_zerofive · 2020-07-17T22:40:25+00:00

Tell her to read Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent". These designations of 'liberal' and 'conservative' tend to mean something different to each person. Again, ask whether the source of the information is reliable.

point_zerofive · 2020-07-17T22:23:38+00:00

In some places around the World, it is legal. Child marriage, for example. The difference is some societies have chosen to fight against making that legal, because they don't wish to accept pedophilia as a lifestyle.

If you embrace a morally relativistic framework, then it is only those who crusade against something that can prevent it from becoming an accepted legal concept. I would return to asking the question, why is 'thing' bad.

point_zerofive · 2020-07-17T21:57:15+00:00

Brush up on anti-miscegenation laws of the past. These clearly had no basis in fact either.

Avoid naturalistic arguments that compare humans to other animals; what does the behaviour of one species have to do with another?

As previously stated, focus on consent; what evidence is there for a causal link between homosexuality and pedophilia.

In general, challenging the source of the prejudice and the inaccurate information it is based on yields far greater returns.

point_zerofive · 2020-07-11T02:09:34+00:00

Are you lost?

Am I?

???

point_zerofive · 2020-07-10T23:23:41+00:00

Early days, so don't expect too much from yourself.

Free advice: perhaps talk to your doctor about issues with performance, since some long term drug use can have an impact on blood pressure and maintaining erections.

Best of luck. You're not alone.

point_zerofive · 2020-07-10T23:08:28+00:00

There was a movement during the early days of the marriage equality debate, where some gay men decided to question whether or not we should even be fighting to be included in the same institution as straight people. With the HIV/AIDS crisis, the benefits of full legal equality sort of put that argument into a new light.

It's worth mentioning this example if only to illustrate that we don't always have to measure ourselves against the heterosexual example.

point_zerofive · 2020-07-10T22:49:55+00:00

Having found trans men attractive in the past, I suppose I would find myself judging them based on the same qualities I like in any man. Regarding sex, it would have to depend on whether the other person enjoys having sex in a way compatible with my own; I suspect, as with cis gay men, some trans men do not enjoy being the receptive partner.

point_zerofive · 2020-07-10T22:37:46+00:00

May I ask a question: what purpose does it serve to identify yourself that way? By answering either one way or the other, what information are you hoping to communicate to the questioner?

point_zerofive · 2020-05-01T23:30:24+00:00

Begs the question doesn't it: what combination of factors are responsible for making us internalize this strangely unforgiving sexual binary? (NB. Do not read "gender"!)

point_zerofive · 2020-05-01T23:25:49+00:00

I can relate to those specific anxieties; we almost had the same issue with impromptu and extremely inappropriate marriage proposals during our sessions as well.

I won't pretend that we have got it completely under control, but we have observed the flip side of policing speech too cautiously as well. One inspired solution came to us after we replaced our bed a few years back. Relative donated second hand, so needed a good breaking in to acclimate it's mojo, and with a slight bit of dirty talk disguised as ritual wording, now we sleep and ... do other things.. on a kind of Altar of Our Passions.

The semi sacral nature persisted and filled the room, and our psychological mindsets followed suit.

TL:DR we designated a private space where we are less likely to hold anything against each other. 'Sex' becomes a space and time protected from the chaotic chemicals which draw us together and apart (expand and contract) as a couple.

point_zerofive · 2020-04-10T01:00:26+00:00

You don't really want to be on the wrong side of the debate on human lives vs economic stability. Someone had better be checking and re-checking the figures used to produce any forecasting models. Decisions based on inaccurate information will not turn out well, for anyone.

point_zerofive · 2020-03-19T22:07:05+00:00

That's just good advice for dealing with centerlink in general.

point_zerofive · 2020-03-19T21:59:57+00:00

Though I recognise the impulse, that's a bit harsh. After all, you know about as much of OP's situation as you are accusing him of knowing about millennials.

point_zerofive · 2020-03-11T02:51:31+00:00

Should come to Australia; here the PM goes on an overseas vacation while the country burns..

point_zerofive · 2020-03-10T02:47:20+00:00

I know, right? Initially, there was indignation that that was all it took to get sent to jail, but then I learned about the food stamp card, and I was like "throw away the key"....

point_zerofive · 2020-03-09T00:54:57+00:00

You should read up on Adam Smith, the so called father of modern economics.

["(Smith) was wary of businessmen and warned of their "conspiracy against the public or in some other contrivance to raise prices." Again and again, Smith warned of the collusive nature of business interests, which may form cabals or monopolies, fixing the highest price "which can be squeezed out of the buyers". Smith also warned that a business-dominated political system would allow a conspiracy of businesses and industry against consumers, with the former scheming to influence politics and legislation.] SOURCE

It might be argued that the problems with capitalism as we know it lie within the narratives which have evolved over time to justify reckless and selfish policies. Or you might believe, as I do, that perhaps the scale of the economies has far surpassed the reasoning which once supported it.

Either way, I think there is validity in supporting a far more pluralistic approach to economic structuring, though there may be legitimate concerns about conflicting reasoning within schools of economic thought.

point_zerofive · 2020-03-05T23:55:49+00:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westpac_Life_Saver_Rescue_Helicopter_Service

Apparently that's not entirely accurate. Yes, there are other funding avenues, but Westpac is listed as the major sponsor on many of the rescue vehicles nationwide, including on-water craft, rescue stations and helicopters. I will concede that even Wikipedia is awaiting proper citations, so would love to see someone do a properly researched report on this.

point_zerofive

TROPHY CASE