Peer Pressure & Coffee in Cosmopolitan Melbourne

“I’m giving up coffee,” I told my friends. They would respond with laughter and disbelief: “Who gives up coffee? I’ll believe it when I see it!” Coffee is a drug that has become socially acceptable, but it is rather terrible for many people’s health. The real reason I am giving up coffee is because of health complications with ulcerative colitis. For me and 75,000 other Australians, coffee can be really, really bad for our stomachs. Nurses and doctors are cheering me on, applauding me for coming to my senses. Which is nice, as I am thankful for the encouragement.

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The NSA, political collateral and the privacy discussion we had to have

Let’s not pretend for a minute that spying among allies and foes alike hasn’t been happening for centuries. Some even thought the end of the cold war would result in an age of openness, transparency and good will between old foes. 

In the public’s mind these activities have been traditionally been limited between government agencies embassies and those generally in the game of spying.

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DRS is Ruining Cricket

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The Simpleton Podcast has a new home

You've read corretly the Simpleton Podcast has a new home. The podcast can now be found at www.simpletonpodcasts.com along with a number of other coming podcast coming attractions which will form the home of the soon to be established Simpleton Podcast Network. In the meantime www.thesimpletoncom.au will continue to go form strength to strength as the informative and entertaining blog that it is.

If you or anyone you know wish to contribute to the Simpleton then please send your applications and two examples of your writing to submissions@thesimpleton.com.au

Free Speech or Freedom from Racial Discrimination

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The Politics of Asylum Seekers

The decrepit asylum seeker debate continues to drag on in Australia and everyone has an opinion on what to should or should not be done with asylum seekers. The 90 to 95 per cent that are found to be genuine refugees fleeing persecution from countries that Australia has had direct involvement in or turned a blind to. I’m talking countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka etc.

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Olympian preparations as Blighty takes it for Team GB

As the people of Blighty take it for Team GB in our preparations for the 2012 Olympics, are we excited about our week in the sun? For many affected by the traffic chaos and business losses, the sheen of the events has long worn off.

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Asylum Seeker Debate Threatens to Scuttle Gillard Government

The divisive asylum seeker debate that swings like a wrecking ball through Australian politics looks like it has claimed another scalp, this time it may be the Gillard government itself.  The asylum seeker debate has taken another turn after yesterday’s ruling by the High Court. The landslide six to one ruling has put another nail in the coffin of the minority government.

In short, the judgment has found that Australia can’t send asylum seekers to Malaysia because of the absence of legal protection for asylum seekers within the laws of Malaysia thus contriving Australia’s own commitments under the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention. Malaysia, unlike Australia, is not a signatory.

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