To Critique, Inform, Challenge and Entertain
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 30 May 2019 · Last modified 4 October 2023
Reading Time: 3 minutesSomeone is systematically destroying records of human history. The book’s storyline revolves around Maggie Costello, a former White House staffer, and her efforts to stop the person or organisation responsible. But, it is not the fiction that makes this book a particularly rewarding to read. The author facilitates understanding of a coherent and plausible rationale for populist movements’ troubling attack on verifiable truth.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 26 May 2019 · Last modified 4 October 2022
Reading Time: 5 minutes‘The Sinner’ is a two series mystery and at times mystical crime drama. It stands out from the crowd of other television crime drama series. It does so by staying away from predictable plots, and cliched characters, while intelligently tackling some of the most complex personal and societal issues. The storylines and the issues addressed in the two series were notably original and poignant. This resulted in creating a show that offers much more than mere entertainment.
Reading Time: 2 minutesOpposition to greater legal and constitutional protection of freedom of religion is in part led by leaders of Australia’s established religions. What has long concerned our major churches appears not be widely appreciated by the Australian public. To protect religion entails protecting all religions, including the nutters, haters and the offensive.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 23 May 2019 · Last modified 18 July 2019
Reading Time: 7 minutesThe outcome and events leading up to the federal election, when considered alongside the escalating conflict between the US President and Congress, suggest that it’s time to evaluate the nature of our representative democracy. An infusion of direct democracy would provide the means for great involvement by the people, many of whom feel alienated from politics. Direct involvement by the people in place of reliance on disappointing parliamentary representatives has the potential to reinvigorate Australian democracy. Such direct democracy would in particular benefit the initiation of constitutional amendments and enactment of legislation. It also has great potential in resolving deadlocks between the Houses of Parliament and reforming the behaviour of politicians as well as the nature of increasingly undignified and unruly parliamentary procedure.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThis excellent ten-episode first series of black drama/comedy is thoroughly enjoyable and consequently highly addictive. Judy and Jen are very likeable, larger than life characters. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are perfectly cast as characters who are alike, yet very different to each other. This series is a breath of fresh air. It is not bleak, crude or violent. While the language is very colourful, it is not gratuitously crude.
Reading Time: 2 minutesSome religious leaders argue that express guarantees of freedom of speech would counter the use of workplace agreements to deny the right to express religious beliefs
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 4 May 2019 · Last modified 5 May 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutesA multi religious society, like ours, relies on mutual respect for other religions and the non religious sector. Publicly denigrating others as an expression of religious belief has to be minimised, if not eliminated, if we are to remain a harmonious society. The only respect shown in this saga appears to be the public’s respect of Folau’s right to believe whatever he chooses to believe. What is being asked of him in return is that he respect the life choices of others, and not publicly condemn and offer unsolicited advice as to how they should live.
AUSTRALIAN POLITICS / CURRENT ISSUES / SMALL SCREEN REVIEWS
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 4 May 2019 · Last modified 6 May 2019
Reading Time: 3 minutesOur federal politicians have become the focus of our attention. And it’s not Just because of the looming federal election. Recent Dis-endorsements of Election Candidates In the past week, at least nine politicians...
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 3 May 2019 · Last modified 4 May 2019
Reading Time: 7 minutesthere are countless wacky, evil, hateful and downright dangerous religious beliefs, the expression of which the law needs to keep in check. Whether this includes Folau’s expression of his religious beliefs is far less clear.
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Chaperone is a much more profound film than its promotion suggests. It loosely tells the early story of flapper era film star and socialite Louise Brooks. But her story makes way for more significant developments and themes. So many films seem to run out of ideas after the first hour. The Chaperone, on the other hand, moves from strength to strength.
A satisfying experience, very well acted and thankfully not a lightweight period costume drama
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