Innovation and Best Practise, Droughts and Guns, Dunedin

[tcpip]

The past few days I've dedicated much of my time to completing two assignments, one for Managing Innovation, where I concentrate on the need for software development in GPGPUs just as Robert Faber has a great article on the same thing. It hasn't really entered into popular consciousness yet just how important how China's ascendancy to hold the most powerful computer in the world using a GPU-based cluster is. The second assignment on Organisational Best Practise involved making some fairly useful technical and administrative changes to our help-desk process.

It has been rather wet in Australia, indeed sufficiently wet to cause a a number of deaths and dozens missing. Spare a thought in memory of the 1100 who died in Pakistan recently due to flooding. Our alternative Prime Minister, showing typical acumen and sensitivity, has taken the opportunity to suggest that the country builds more dams. Apart from engaging in crass popularism, he appears to be ignorant of how flood plains actually work.

Much has been said about the recent shooting in Arizona where the apparent intended target, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords seems very likely to survive, not so for six others however. Meanwhile sixty are killed in Sudan during their historic vote for independence, whilst fifty are killed in Tunisia as the the crackdown on anti-government protests continue. Just to put it in context, you understand. In any case, one thing is certain. Giffords's would-be assassin was not a part of a well-regulated militia by any stretch of the imagination.

Deposited a sizable sum of money into a trust account for the Dunedin retirement home, leaving me rather cash poor. Took weeks to wrangle a simple international account details out of agents making me wonder if Piggy Muldoon's famous quote didn't have the nationalities around the wrong way. Amazingly, rather than provide such details they sent me a deposit slip for a NZ bank without a branch in Australia. Twice.

Comments

[zey]

has taken the opportunity to suggest that the country builds more dams. Apart from engaging in crass popularism, he appears to be ignorant of how flood plains actually work.

Yep. When he's not suggesting that, he's suggesting canceling the National Broadband Network to pay for flood damage. Any excuse will do to stop infrastructure spending, no matter how opportunistic, crass and obnoxious.

[brockulfsen.livejournal.com]

"not a part of a well-regulated militia by any stretch of the imagination"

You are less imaginative than some Tea Baggers, or at least less drunk...

On being less drunk and imaginative than a Tea Bagger

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

tcpip is too educated to be a tea bagger. (and, yes, I know you by no stretch implied TC was a teabagger, rather I wanted to draw a contrast.) Not only are his values as espoused here on LJ out of line with theirs, but he's repeatedly demonstrated his ability to engage in critical thinking, something the tea baggers and apparently most of the right-wingers are markedly deficient in. However, I must concur with brockulfsen, while the would-be assassin managed to kill a 9 year girl and a judge, conspiracies do happen along with cover ups and other deceptions. As with other assassinations, the truth may be hard to discern. Meanwhile, the media reports, which may or may not be factually accurate, are saying the gunman acted alone. Note also, that tcpip said "...was not a part of a well-regulated melitia..." I think the important word here is "well-regulated."

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well, "imaginative" is perhaps one word a generous person could use to describe their weltanschauung.... And I do try to stay away from bourbon.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Apropos... I'm glad to see that you're safe and slightly amazed that you're 'blogging..

[brockulfsen.livejournal.com]

Toowoomba had a small flash flood through the CBD Monday just after lunch, creek levels have returned to normal. Unfortunately we are cut off by road and rail so things like milk and bread are hard to come by. This had lead to panic buying.

The flash flood seems to have been the result of 130mm of rain in 30 minutes over the East and West Creek catchments (i.e. Toowoomba's southern suburbs).

Surge lasted 2 hours.

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I can see that no only am I typoing and misspelling but even leaving out entire words, such as 9 year OLD girl....

Break time for this kid! Besides I need to get some laundry started. :-)

[sianmink.livejournal.com]

Militia has nothing to do with it,
The important part here is

'well-regulated'

Meaning (in context of the constitution and the speech of the time) in proper working order, calibrated, and functioning normally. This guy was not, and was in fact a total nutter.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

This guy was not, and was in fact a total nutter.

True, but I prefer local nutters to be armed with a butter knife rather than an assault rifle.... Both might kill, but the probability is different.

Of course, part of the reason I raise the example is because I'm actually a strong supporter of the US 2nd amendment. Indeed I believe it should go further, following Madison - that standing armies should be abolished in favour of the well-regulated civilian militia.

[sianmink.livejournal.com]

The two have completely different roles, though.

If the government gives it orders, it isn't a militia. ;)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Replace "government" with "State" and I'll agree with you.

[sianmink.livejournal.com]

okay. ;)

Nice to see you & Thank you for Posting

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

Along with others who post to the LJ community, it is very rare that I do not find your linked articles of interest. Thank you for posting the things you do.

Yes, even in the myopic, self-absorbed United States, we heard about Queensland's flooding. (A different mutual friend assured me earlier that the few persons I know living there were safe, albeit wet.) And of course, I shall continue offering a prayer and a thought for the dead and missing. ROFL re: the Piggy (Robert?) Muldoon quote from what I saw on Google. [Upon reflection, I may be interpreting this. Here in the U.S. it is common for the States to have some friendly joshing, that while engaging in "put down" humor are nonetheless not intended to injure, nor usually taken that way. That is the context by which I'm reading the Muldoon quote.]

As I think most of the world already knows, the United States is still under attack but from within by some very powerful and monied individuals. (Totally sarcastically) Thank you so very much, Rupert Murdoch, now a U.S. Citizen, for changing Fox News into the 24/7 hate-spewing propaganda machine is has been now for many years.

I myself would be tempted to emigrate to the Shire, but I believe that Saruman has set up shop there and I seem to have mislaid my mithril armor. ;-) Meanwhile, I did recently consider yet again making application to emigrate to Canada, but my family and friends are here, and even if willing to accept me, I believe in staying where I am and continuing to attempt to promote positive changes.

Continued best wishes to you and the globe! Namaste!

Re: Nice to see you & Thank you for Posting

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Nice to see you as well! It's been a busy past month here...

The friendly jousting between Australians and New Zelanders is, I suspect, not dissimilar to people in sections of the US and Canada... I feel secure making such remarks as I'm a citizen of both countries!

Umm... yeah, sorry about Rupert. But we don't want him back!

Re: Nice to see you & Thank you for Posting

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

Thanks for clarifying. Glad to find I hadn't put my foot in it thru misinterpretation. And LOL you're being able to make a remark of that sort by being a citizen of both NZ and Australia.

Re: Rupert, yeah well almost no problem. It would not be one if my nation upheld its laws rather than applying them selectively. Even retroactively, it was not legal for him to purchase as much of the US media as he did at the time, hence his swift conversion to US citizenship. No doubt he is thick as thieves with his kind of people. Oh, did I say the word "thieves"..... ;-)

Re: Nice to see you & Thank you for Posting

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It is from such experiences we get "making out like bandits"....

The Australian Financial Review, possibly the best conservative newspaper in the country, many years ago did an article entitled "Well Paid for Poor Performance". I rather wish that they made it into an annual article... I rather hoped to do so at the time with a usenet post entitle "Capitalist Pig of the Year (2000)"

Whilst working men and women of Australia are scraping together their
pennies and paying off their credit cards following the festive season the
bosses will without a doubt once again request that any wage increases be
equated with productivity performances.

Fair enough. But when are the CEOs and senior managers of Australian
businesses going to stop ripping off the own companies with their own
excessive salaries. Imagine linking performance pay claims with the likes
of these nominees of the "Capitalist Pig of Australia" competition for the
year 2000:

Bob Muscat: CEO of the media company PMP. Despite a 43.6% drop in the
companies share price, Bob clocked in a healthy $1.125 million salary and
$1.9 million in options. Well done Bob. Kids got some nice presents for
xmas, we presume.

Rod Chadwick: CEO of Pacific Dunlop. Another top performer, with Rod's
management skills Pacific Dunlops share price dropped 31.7%. Rather
sensibly, he cut his own salary by $20,000 to a trifling $957,547 and
$1.896 million in options. Such restraint is boggling.

David Hearn: CEO of Goodman Fielder. Excellent management David, only a
7.9% drop in the share price for this company. That warrants a $433,700
incentive payment to bring one's total salary to $1.84 million $11.2
million in options.

Jodee Rich: Joint managing director of One.Tel. Hey, it doesn't matter if
the company posted $291.1 million loss. You're worth that $7.46 million
annual salary and $31.2 million in options. And you've worked so hard for
it. I mean, where would the world be without you?

Phillip Weickhardt: CEO of Orica. While resisting a Westfarmers takeover
last year, Orica shares fell 8.2%. Such successful management of the fort
justifies Phillip's $841,000 salary and $2.7 million in options.

Bob Dalziel: Of Maynes Nickless, Bob is the clear winner of  the
"Capitalist Pig of Australia" award for the year 2000. After a year of
skillfully over-promising and under-delivering without any strategic
direction Bob was finally given the sack - with a $1.2 million termination
payment, bringing his annual salary to a paltry $2.4 million. Sleeping in
a comfortable bed tonight, Bob?

Making Out Like Bandits

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

I share your wish that the Australian Financial Review published an annual article such as the one you posted. It's a bit disheartening to learn that the same shenanigans and disparity exist in your fair nation as plague my own.

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

For a change, I think Abbott's comment deserves investigation. The Q'ld premier has been saying things would have been much worse without Wivenhoe dam, but it is now releasing over 200 megalitres/day. It seems unlikely that our current solutions are as close to perfect as possible and that no further dams could lessen future flooding. Also, more clean hydro power would be a great thing and we yet we haven't built any new hydro systems to my knowledge in a long time.

I wouldn't have thought it would matter much whether the NZ bank had branches here. Sending money internationally is pretty easy. (The fees are excessive compared to the cost to the bank, but generally fixed and therefore become insignificant when the sum is sizable.)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Of course they're not perfect, but I fail to see how dams will help floodplains without nearby catchment areas.. Unless one is proposing a 4m high wall that snakes around some 1500km.

Yes, international money transfers are easy. Once one has been provided the correct information. Blood from a stone, herding cats & etc.

A Digression & I hope one that makes you smile or laugh

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

We have those same expressions here: Blood from a stone (or turnip) as well as "herding cats"; however, as one faculty member I worked with once remarked, "Herding cats is easy; just get out the can opener." (which presumes of course the cats are accustomed to eating canned food). She followed it up by saying, "It's herding frogs that's hard."

Re: A Digression & I hope one that makes you smile or laugh

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Actually I developed a koan, that the impossible task could only be achieved by the most useless object.

That is, herding cats and laser pointers... Ever seen a cat chase the dot of light from a laser pointer?

Re: A Digression & I hope one that makes you smile or laugh

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

No, I have not seen that. It sounds like fun for both the pet and the person. I do have a friend who has a small fishing pole with a feathered something she made for playtime with her feline friend. The cat rather seems to enjoy chasing and stalking the feathered object.

I rather like the koan, but snarkily point out we already had George W. Bush in the White House. (I know, I know, I should now be remanded to the Sunday Flowers and Banners committee along with Brother Gatling Gun of Patience, or worse, for making such an observation.)

I pledge to make today be one of greater compassion. BTW, have you ever posted any of your sermons (if that's the correct term) to the IUUJ web site? I think I'll re-read my translated copy of the Tao Te Ching; my spirit needs some nourishment.

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

Only sixty people dead in Sudan? That's actually something of a relief; call me cynical but I feared the elections were going to turn into a bloodbath. Not that sixty dead isn't horrifying enough - I guess we'll see how it all goes as the results come to light...

I've been unpleasantly surprised by how difficult, expensive and/or unpleasant it can be to move money between countries; in contrast to the commenter above we found that most Australian options wanted a flat fee plus a percentage in addition to whatever they were skimming of the often-sizeable buy-sell spread for the currency conversion. We actually considered just moving money into and out of a PayPal account at either end before we found a solution. So you have my sympathy - glad it came together for you in the end, though!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well given the potential for the referendum and post-referendum violence (of which East Timor stands as an example), and given the history of the conflict in Sudan, I guess I'm cynically pleased that the toll was so low.

I have no doubt that the vote will overwhelmingly be for independence. If it is less than 75% I will be very surprised. What happens to West Sudan will be very interesting however, and probably not in a good way...

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

Agreed, on all fronts.

It's hard not to be cynical (or at least pessimistic) about such things when faced with the evidence of similar situations elsewhere, but I'm trying for cautious optimism at this point.

I see that you noted the Brazilian floods, too. Heavy weather all over the place... *sigh*

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

And in related news more than 250 killed in Brazilian floods....

Crazy times...

[amazinggoatgirl.livejournal.com]

Tragedy around the world. Well, fuck, I don't wish to belittle, discount, or in any way minimize the importance of lives destroyed anywhere.

However, the Giffords/Loughner story is interesting because of how it fits in to the right-wing agenda in the U.S.

No, Loughner was not part of a "well-regulated militia;" it seems he wasn't part of anything at all. Because he is obviously psychotic, he was kicked out of community college and even the military wouldn't take him.

Here's a compilation of his videos. Note that this compilation was created by someone who claims to be a member of the U.S. military, who also believes that Loughner was a victim of mind control by the CIA. Yet the creator of the video was not considered off enough to be denied entrance to the military. Loughner was - that's how far gone he was and is.

So, Loughner, as well as many others, had nothing going for him and could not relate to other people. Who comes along to understand the misunderstood, shunned, and subsequently enraged grandiosely psychotic person?

Right wing pundits, whose ideological brethren have been systematically working to destroy the / prevent the creation of a better mental health system for decades. Curious.

I realize I might be getting close to Loughner territory here, but it seems that the U.S. right wing has a vested interest in keeping people like Loughner unstable, excluded, angry, without much-needed medical attention, and very suggestible.

Then they come in with not-so-subtle encouragement of violence against their political enemies.

If I was a total psychopath and wanted a never-ending source of free assassins, with the added bonus of plausible deniability, this is exactly what I would do. Think for a sec - wouldn't you?

Also, we can't talk about this, because then it would be a "blood libel."

Anyway, that's the main reason why people in the U.S. are talking about the Tuscon shooting so much.

Re: Crazy times...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

One of the things, from an outsider, which is peculiar about US culture is a glorification and celebration of violence to the point whenever that even loss of life is treated as sensationalist and even entertainment. This seems to be a feature that has existed for several decades as well at the very least. I think this has a very deep impact in the cultural psyche and something that is not helped by the way that the 2nd amendment has been interpreted.

Which I personally think is a terrible shame, because dammit, I really like the idea of a well-regulated militia instead of standing armies. It means an government which must be supported by the people, and a system of excellent defence which cannot engage in invasion.

Sorry, starting to rant there...