Australian Bioscience News & Views

Control issues

Australians do not have the right to choose a dignified, self-administered death, and Americans are losing the right to choose. Cancer patients can't get RU 486 into Australia. I would not recommend suicide or abortion, but I will defend the right to openly discuss and choose them if a person feels it necessary.  Life is complicated, and I don't pretend to know all the answers, so I'm quite negative about denying other people actions they feel are required.

Sydney Harbour Week is coming, but the news reports say that the fish are too toxic to eat. I hope no one has been poisoned, and I dread to think of birds eating those fish. One of my favourite birds came to mind as I watched the news.

Watching world affairs from my  desk, I note that while South America moves to the left politically, the Commonwealth (& former) countries move to the right. We do live in interesting times, and I wonder how they will appear to future historians.

Fun in Centennial Park

I've been considering matters of medical ethics and the nature of 'good work' while reading Federal Bodysnatchers and the New Guinea Virus lately. Taken with a pinch of salt, this book can be a good conversation starter or handy prism to view personal choices. I'd recommend it if you're not feeling too down or pressed for time, it does meander pleasantly down the memory lane of a very interesting man.

While learning some braking & maneuvering skills on our new electric scooter in gloriously hot & sunny Centennial Park, I spied a small group of gorgeous sulphur crested cockatoos.

They were languidly flying between trees, probably eating the Moreton Bay fig fruits and other things. They stayed for 15 minutes, making the occasional call, and then eventually flew away shreeking loudly.

I had my phone with me, and took a snap of the one perching closest to the ground, which was at least 3 metres.