July 2013 – troutish.net

Podcast EP6 – Refugees & Electioneering + Ebs ‘The Travelling Unicorn’

Episode 6 of the (un) Common Sense Podcast is now available!

Featuring @Ebswearspink discussing IndigenousX and her ‘travelling unicorn’ project

This episode of the podcast includes:

Interview with Ebony blogger, IndigenousX star and travelling unicorn lady!
Indigenous Digital Excellent (IndigenousDX) and why she’s doing a vlog
Indigenous X and misconceptions about Indigenous women
Electioneering & Refugee policy in Australia
Gov’t leak proposes ‘Boot Camp’ for the unemployed
Spend your $2.49 (vote) wisely this election
Barnett forced council mergers plan
Only 27 new beds at new children’s hospital
Pine Gap used to direct US drone strikes
Concerns about 250 Marines currently in Darwin & future increase to 2500
US to deploy fighter jets around Asia & Australia

[powerpress] Continue reading Podcast EP6 – Refugees & Electioneering + Ebs ‘The Travelling Unicorn’

Dealing with death (and other wonderful thoughts)

I gave the title a little colour, but this really is a post about dealing with death. Recently I have had reason to think a lot about death, though it has never really been far from my mind in recent years.

When I was about 12 one of my favourite uncles died, then my best friends father (my basketball coach) during my final year of high school. There was a break then, for 6 longs years until I lost 2 of my friends from high school in just 2 years, both of them best friends, both of them to suicide. Around the same time my grandfather, after receiving a lung transplant and living an extra year and then some, succumbed to emphysema.

These deaths all register as major events in my life and all came with various degrees of grief and resulting personality shifts. But the impact of those was dwarfed by what I experienced when my 19 year old cousin Jessica Rose Joss was taken away from us in a car accident. That one is still hard to even talk about. She was so young and full of energy and life and for that to be extinguished is heartbreaking.

And I guess that’s what I am getting at here. Dealing with death is heartbreaking. Everyone has a different way of dealing with it and none of them are particularly pretty. Continue reading Dealing with death (and other wonderful thoughts)

Podcast Episode 5: Corey Hunt, Honduras and Gang Violence

Episode 5 of the (un) Common Sense Podcast is now available!

Featuring a great discussion about gang violence and homicide in Honduras, the murder capital of the world with Corey Hunt (@Corey_Hunt).

This episode of the podcast includes:

Interview with human rights activist, blogger and freelance journalist Corey Hunt
Blogging, Iraqi blogs and becoming a citizen journalist
Homicide, gang violence and drug trade in Honduras, murder capital of the world.
Role of multi-national corporations in perpetuating poverty in Honduras
Telstra allows FBI & US DoJ to monitor calls and data on Australian cables
Wyndham council involved in data snooping on local citizens
WA State Government refuses to release documents on MAX rail link
Parliamentary Budget Office confirms reworking mining tax, cutting mining subsidies and increasing tax rates on earnings above $1m/year would net $43bn over 4 years.
Study confirms Fracking triggers earthquakes
[powerpress]
Continue reading Podcast Episode 5: Corey Hunt, Honduras and Gang Violence

Podcast Episode 4: Egypt, Renewable Energy and PRISM protests

Episode 4 of the (un) Common Sense Podcast is now available featuring a discussion with Luke Nicholas (@lukedez)!

Issues covered in this weeks episode include:

Egyptian President Morsi overthrown
The need for a 100% renewable energy target
Tactics for achieving the legislation of a 100% renewables target
The need to prevent further burning of hydrocarbons
Prohibition, punishment and the prison system for minor offenders
Diversion, harm reduction and decriminalisation doctrine
Scott Ludlam’s speech on PRISM at the Perth #PRISMBREAK protest
Edward Snowden offered asylum by Venezuela
Tony Burke signs off on release of 18 Refugee Children from detention
[powerpress] Continue reading Podcast Episode 4: Egypt, Renewable Energy and PRISM protests

Podcast Episode 3: Armadale, 100% Renewables & ALP Leadership

This third episode of the (Un) Common Sense Podcast is a week late, as a result of a tragedy in Luke’s family last week.

Download Episode 3 – Armadale, 100% Renewables & ALP Leadership.

This weeks podcast includes:

My reaction to the Armadale Forum with Police Commissioner and Minister, including brief discussion on ‘privilege’ within the local community and the need for better community facilities in Armadale.
Comment on government paternalism + prohibition/harsh penalties vs harm reduction.
The need a set deadline to reach 100% renewable energy in Australia.
Various plans for achieving a 100% renewable energy .
The Greens ‘Energy 2029’ plan for Western Australia.
Clean Energy Act of 2011 and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).
Reflection on change in Labor Party leadership & implications/opportunities. Continue reading Podcast Episode 3: Armadale, 100% Renewables & ALP Leadership