It always surprises me how few Australians have seen their country or met people from other parts of it. If we were compelled to make better connections with people from different backgrounds and situations, would we have a better understanding of Australian-ness?

Because I’m trying to take the first steps on an exercise regimen for the first time and first steps in writing a book and first steps in renovating parts of our house and it’s also a source of interest to me where people draw strength, for a lot of aspects of life.

The recent discovery of water on Mars has brought into perspective that a manned mission may contaminate the results of any discovery of life. Perchlorates and cosmic radiation are still barriers to a lengthy mission. Is it more important to have realistic expectations of Mars or a vision of solving problems to which we do not yet have answers?

Is it a protective reaction to dtop us from seeing things that cause us pain ? Evolutionary mystery.

I’m asking this question because it is, without doubt, something that most of us want to have happen, and I would like it to be both possible and to be brought about. However, I’m wondering if thinkers who have had more experience of life and of thinking, than I have, believe that it is actually possible. It matters to me because I see peace as enabling any person to experience a positively richer experience of life, and for this reason, I view it as being something that should matter to all of us.

Sure Bill Murray is awesome but what about poor Ned Ryerson had he no agency?

I ask this question because I genuinely ponder over it daily. We are on this constant hunt for self reflection and improvement but really whats the point? We are only around for 80 years or so, why does it matter if we are the best we can be? Why don’t we spend our time attempting to improve the lives of others instead?

Who gets to be an expat, and what makes them different from an immigrant? Why do we label new arrivals as immigrants with an implied scorn, while choose to label white, wealthy immigrants as expats?

The horrors of war are making the planet unliveable. Every decent human being wants it to end.

And what was the deal with that Cambodia resettlement? So much money for four people…

Indigenous Australia needs to be associated with the cultural fabrication of daily life. Our landscape is baron of Indigenous indicators.This would make Australians and the rest of the work knowingly participate in Aboriginal culture daily. x

Political rhetoric seldom translates easily into discernible difference at the individual level. When Malcolm Turnbull proposes an increasingly ‘agile’ Australia, what real difference will this occasion in our 21st-century, day-to-day lives?