To Critique, Inform, Challenge and Entertain
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 6 March 2022 · Last modified 15 October 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutesNot unlike Russians who uncritically accept Putin’s explanations, we don’t question whether the world really is powerless to intervene militarily in Ukraine. The reason we should question the seemingly irrefutable rationale for inaction is because it doesn’t make sense.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 31 December 2020 · Last modified 4 October 2022
Reading Time: < 1 minutePerfect Strangers is an Italian comedy/drama that is not only highly entertaining, but also, somewhat surprisingly, thought provoking.
AUSTRALIAN POLITICS / CURRENT ISSUES / OPINION
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 5 October 2020 · Last modified 3 October 2022
Reading Time: 3 minutesChanges to university fees, announced by the Federal Education Minister Job ready graduates, reveal a distorted view of higher education and a failure to take into account the changing nature of work. The recently...
FILM REVIEWS / SMALL SCREEN REVIEWS
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 4 October 2020 · Last modified 12 October 2022
Reading Time: 3 minutes‘Life on this planet,’ is David Attenborough’s ‘witness statement and vision for the future,’ and his outline of specific steps that need to be taken by governments and individuals to undo the damage done.
CURRENT ISSUES / LEGAL MATTERS / OPINION / RELIGION / US POLITICS
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 2 October 2020 · Last modified 6 November 2022
Reading Time: 7 minutesWidespread criticism of President Trump nomination of Justice Amy Barrett. to fill a vacancy on the US Supreme Court raises many issues including the separation of church and state, the perception of judicial neutrality and the politicization of the US Supreme Court. Particularly concerning is Justice Barrett’s apparent willingness to permit the President to exploit her religious beliefs to further his agenda of reinterpreting the law.
CURRENT ISSUES / OPINION / US POLITICS
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 25 September 2020 · Last modified 4 October 2022
Reading Time: 10 minutesMany of us are paying close attention to the everchanging issues in the lead up to the 2020 US Presidential election. There is little doubt that the outcome of the election will also affect us and the rest of the world. We have much to learn of relevance to our re-emerging consideration of whether it is time to become a Republic. Particularly significant are lessons we can learn from the US regarding a directly elected President and the appointment and independence of the judiciary.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 9 September 2020 · Last modified 3 October 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutesIt would be misleading and an injustice to the film to simply describe it as telling the story of a couple visiting his parents for the first time, while she contemplates leaving him. Yet this aspect of the film is smattered with complex ideas and literary references. Even this ends up being the light layer of the film. The film’s story is also told through scenes of modern dance, drama, music and switches in time and even identity of characters I recommend this complex and superbly acted film as a positively challenging audio visual experience.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 4 September 2020 · Last modified 4 October 2022
Reading Time: 9 minutesFormer Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott proposes that we allow elderly Covid-19 patients to die for the sake of a speedier economic recovery. Reviewing alternative responses to the pandemic reveals underlying philosophies and values.
CURRENT ISSUES / OPINION / US POLITICS
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 25 September 2019 · Last modified 3 October 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutesTrump’s UN Speech: World-Wide Balkanisation Speaking at the UN, yesterday, President Donald Trump urged countries to pursue self-interest and patriotism. He also condemned countries and individuals who champion global interests, such as the rights...
CURRENT ISSUES / LEGAL MATTERS / RELIGION
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 21 September 2019 · Last modified 4 October 2023
Reading Time: 2 minutesIt is possible that the High Court will grant Pell special leave to appeal. Such an appeal would provide the Court with an opportunity to rule on the law relating to appeals of jury verdicts in trials such as Pell’s. But, Pell’s guilty verdict, I suggest, is most likely to stand.
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