Author: cottonward

Professor Lawrence Gostin — US Health care

Went to hear Lawrence Gostin talk about US President Obama’s health care plan, and its chances of being enacted.

Gostin works in the US for a Health Law thinktank. He said Americans are fearful of ending up with a health system similar to Canada or the UK (Australia doesn’t rate on the US radar), which they believe is rationed so noone gets good health care.

Gostin pointed out that the US system is severely rationed — only the well-off can afford to have proper medical coverage.

Continue reading Professor Lawrence Gostin — US Health care

Decriminalisation of drugs

David Marr gave a brilliant talk on decriminalisation of drugs at the Uni of Sydney. He was on a panel chatting about it, and the place was packed out. He said the best way for individuals to help with change is to publicly admit their drug experiences.

I’ve never had any, though H told me she put dope in a curry I ate once (without telling me at the time). I didn’t notice anything. I drove home OK. A couple of days later, I found out. Dunno if that confession will change the world. 😉

The panel said by the age of 40, 60 per cent of the Australian population had tried illegal drugs at least once. Marr said it was disgraceful how the threat of a criminal record and career ruination hung over the lives of those who like to pop a pill for a good time at a dance party on the weekend.

A.C. Grayling: privacy and right to life

Went to A.C. Grayling lecture tonight. He quoted Benjamin Franklin, 1775: “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

He says we should resist having Google and Facebook harvesting all our details, and governments being able to read all our emails. What if our govt isn’t benign one day?

Also, people from conservative cultures might become the dominant online force — maybe we will be made to go back to the days of Mad Men and a lack of equality?

He said some countries (eg. Russia) don’t even have a word for “privacy”.

He told some scary anecdotes about people from countries where privacy doesn’t exist and the govt monitors everything — I won’t mention them here, as he’s on tour in Sydney for the Writer’s Festival and you can see him yourself.

Right to Life: he means quality of life. So, actually: a right to die with dignity when the quality of life plummets.

A pretty radical character with an interesting history.

Saw Graeme Garden in The Unbelievable Truth

The Chaser crew have bought the format from Graeme Garden and are doing an Australian version. Garden came out here to appear in a show and give them his best jokes.

He was in great form. I won’t mention more, you’ll have to tune in. The taping went really well and the comedians are all even funnier in real life, with much ad libbing and witty repartee.

Brady v Brady (1969) Paramount ABC

Watched the Kitty Karry-All episode where Cindy’s favourite doll and Bobby’s kazoo go missing. Each accuses the other of theft. Dad Brady teaches them that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and you can’t jump to conclusions using circumstantial evidence.

Some quotes that outline the main facts:

“She was right here on the couch. Then she was gone. And he was gone too!”

“She doesn’t even have her bottle — she’ll STARVE to death!”

“She can’t accuse him and get away with it.”

“I didn’t take that doll, no matter what she says!”

“Cindy … did you take Bobby’s kazoo?”

“Tiger, you’ve been accused of doll snatching. How do you plead?”

“Mike, aren’t you convicting Tiger without a fair trial?”