Showing 1 - 10 of 11
The loveliness of a flying beetle
Roger Crutchley, Published on 20/07/2025
» The recent cricket match between England and India at Lord's was reportedly briefly delayed by a swarm of ladybirds which were bothering the players. It is believed to be the first recorded instance of "ladybirds stopped play". More importantly, swarm is not the correct term for these flying beetles. The collective noun for ladybirds (ladybugs for our American friends) is a "loveliness".
The 'living happily ever after' rule is for everyone
Oped, Steve Ammidown, Published on 14/02/2025
» The romance genre has a single set-in-stone rule: The main characters of the story will end up happily in a relationship. The HEA (Happily Ever After) or the HFN (Happy for Now) is the expectation of every reader who picks up a romance novel in the same way a mystery reader waits for a big twisty reveal or a fantasy reader anticipates strange and arcane magic.
Time to integrate Myanmar's displaced
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/03/2024
» In the bustling border town of Mae Sot, Julia smiled when I asked her about her new job. "I am very happy with my position," said the young woman who recently completed her Bachelor's degree in Communication Arts from Bangkok University.
Ardern gives world lesson in humility
News, Andreea Papuc, Published on 20/01/2023
» Jacinda Ardern announced her decision to step down as New Zealand Prime Minister showing her characteristic modesty.
Do we share a childish sense of morality?
Oped, Peter Singer, Published on 10/09/2022
» Consider the following statements describing our moral judgements:
Choices and consequences at a serious Davos
Oped, Julia Chatterley, Published on 28/05/2022
» This was always going to be a Davos with a difference, but there has been an unusually pensive atmosphere in the Swiss Alps this week at an equally unusual World Economic Forum.
Thailand not so bad
Oped, Postbag, Published on 20/11/2021
» So many letters to PostBag are negative, complaining about the government, military coups, the bureaucracy, the judicial system, inequality, immigration regulations, Section 112, incompetent Covid management, and much more.
Climate change is a health crisis
Oped, Julia Gillard, Published on 05/11/2021
» The threat Covid-19 poses to human health is now well understood around the world. In contrast, the enormous health threat of global warming, with its broad array of persistent impacts on our well-being, is under-recognised and poorly understood.
Reclaiming American greatness
Oped, Joseph E Stiglitz, Published on 17/09/2020
» Julia Jackson, the mother of Jacob Blake, a young black man from Kenosha, Wisconsin, who was shot seven times in the back by police, got it right when she said, "America is great when we behave greatly." Sadly, for the past four years, President Donald Trump has been leading America in the exact opposite direction.
Is Aussie political madness catching?
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 29/08/2018
» I happened to be in Canberra last Friday, speaking to a room full of journalists at the National Press Club, when the news came in, halfway through lunch, that Australia had a new prime minister. The moderator pointed out that the year is already two-thirds gone and it is "only three prime ministers till Christmas" -- and the China Daily's headline read "Australia changes its prime minister again, again, again, again, again".