CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

It's Christmas time, and Santa's little elf has good reason to be satisfied with himself. 

Christopher Pyne's advertising campaign's a real treat!

But I'm not sure we will be hearing much about our forces in the Middle East this Christmas. 

Who ever thought anyone would be nostalgic for TK?

As this article for the Canberra Times suggests. 

Merry Christmas. You don't have to believe in anything to enjoy the presents . . . 

WHO'S IN CONTROL AT UNIVERSITY

This piece was informed by a bit of research from the Melbourne Institute, a couple of years ago. This found students with an "internal locus of control" (unsurprisingly) achieved better outcomes at uni than those who were "externally directed".

When admission to courses is allocated by the universities according simply to the TER marks students achieve, it seems apparent that aspirants for places aren't starting off on the right foot. Would be students need to be more empowered, although this is simply one of many issues explored below . . .