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

[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. ;)