Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
-
Tougher numeracy and literacy systems to be introduced by 2020
The HSC or Higher School Certificate could soon be referred to as the Higher Stress Certificate. The Federal Government announced it’s plans to introduce mandatory levels of numeracy on Tuesday, from 2020 onwards. The pressure will be on for parents, teachers and students alike. Australia is far behind the rest of the world when it comes to numeracy and literacy levels, and,…
-
No drought insurance for farmers
A government report has rejected the feasibility of drought assistance for struggling farmers. The report was commissioned by the government to investigate whether the provision of drought assistance would benefit Australia’s significant agricultural sector. The report found that the move would be uneconomical, as 80% of government aid after droughts is allocated to livestock producers.…
-
Contactless cards have arrived
Contactless smartphone payment systems are here and changing the way we deal with technology. Senior Director of Product Management at Google Pali Bhat told Fairfax Media that “60 per cent of Australians already make payments with a contactless card. It’s a logical cohesion that will see wallets become a thing of the past” (SMH, 2016). Gone are the…
-
Wooden escalators well past their use by date
Sydney’s Town Hall and Wynyard station are among the seven remaining wooden escalators in the world, and, finally, after some 80 years, it seems they might be given the chop for good. The wooden escalator was first installed in Sydney in 1932, the same year the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened. The escalators have continued operation due to their classification…
-
Schools to use gender neutral language as part of Safe Schools Program
Teachers at Cheltenham Girls High School, in northwest Sydney, have been asked to stop referring to their students as “girls”, ladies” and “women” and to instead use “gender-neutral” language like “students.” This is in line with Safe Schools, an initiative that aimed to “Create safer and more inclusive environments for same sex attracted, intersex and gender…
-
WATCH: Looks like the future is here in Artificial Intelligence
Engineers in China have created an eerily accurate and realistic robot, making it seem like we’re already in the future presented in all those sci-fi movies. The robot, named Jia Jia by its creators, looks like a real woman. She has been dubbed the “robot goddess” which may be an indicator of the robot-dominated future…
-
Ticketless train stations are a major cause for concern
Since 2012, paper tickets have been on their way out, after the state invested $1.4 billion into the electronic Opal ticketing system. Nearly five years on, and more than 7.5 million have converted to Opal. Now, the Government has set a deadline for the 1st August when paper tickets will be fully abolished. Transport for NSW said, “Just…
-
Habit Helping Apps
We all know breaking bad habits and getting into good ones is important, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult to do. The most productive and fulfilling life will be one with a good routine, so maintaining habits are the best way to reach your goals. These apps will streamline your habits, giving you…
-
5 most common startup mistakes
Creating a business is by no definition an easy task, but it’s one of the most fulfilling things one can do. These common mistakes are things to avoid when creating your own new business. #1 Over-complication It can be tempting to make things far too complicated when starting a business, as it seems the more complicated…
-
Fast food joints in strife
With the latest news about Eagle Boy’s maybe shutting down its doors, McDonalds and KFC are not doing any better with profits slowly plummeting. The days of the Whopper, Big Mac and Zinger are being threatened seriously by the changing tastes of the nation. There is a new cool kid on the block- gourmet food. It…
Got any book recommendations?