Author Archives

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writer, singer, webwrangler, blogger, comedy tragic | about.me/vivsmythe

  • For the fallen

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    The news of Australia’s first military fatality in Iraq, which came just before Anzac Day, is a timely reminder of the fact that people at home in suits make decisions that cost soldiers overseas in uniform their lives. And those… Read More ›

  • Mountains in autumn

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    Ten years ago my parents retired back to the home in which I spent my early childhood. It’s in the Lower Blue Mountains near one of the National Park entrances, and they have a magical backyard for children. We went… Read More ›

  • This may seem like I’m some kind of prevert

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    (although I’m actually a fully fledged vert fast approaching ultravert status) but anyway there’s an excellent thread about cunnilingus currently up at Pandagon – why some women really don’t like it, why lots of others like it OK or like… Read More ›

  • 150 years of 8 hour days

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    Kim has a post up at Larvatus Prodeo reminding us all about the 8-hour working day pioneers in our own Australian state of Victoria. 150 years. It’s probably just as well none of them are still alive to see what’s… Read More ›

  • Annals of Ex-Spousal Jousting

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    Civil but not effusive congratulations on birth of child to new partner of ex-spouse: “I hope both mother and baby are doing well.” Naughty Nic’s very clearly not mentioning someone here: Perhaps because this is her fervent unvoiced wish: [For… Read More ›

  • vaccines and autism redux

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    Orac on Respectful Insolence adds a cracker to his series taking on the Mercury-in-Vaccines-is-causing-Autism crowd. Some years ago I was for a while concerned about the possibility that the mercury compound thimerosal that is used as a preservative in vaccines… Read More ›

  • Keep Katie Quiet

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    … or Xenu will come and take her away! I know, a bit late considering yesterday’s news, but still good ol’ stoopidfun. Via commentor Saint at LP.

  • Daddy Dearest

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    Look at the man with his young daughter at the Father-Daughter ball. And all the other dads dancing there with their daughters. They look kinda sweet, don’t they? I would have thought that these two girls were a bit young… Read More ›

  • Pseudoscience of the day

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    I loathe cynical advertising playing on the generally poor science education of the wider populace. We are not taught enough about how our own bodies work to spot the snakeoil salesmen. Case in point: a company advertising a daily multi-vitamin/mineral… Read More ›

  • Look over there

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    Light blogging for me with kids home for school holidays, which makes me even more of a taxi service than usual. So hie thee over to Pandagon for an interesting post and an especially fascinating comment thread on radical vs… Read More ›