Libya etc, Racism and Linux, Social Gatherings

[tcpip]

The stubborn Gadaffi is still in power. Of course, he's now down to most of the capital, his home town and a military town in the middle of the desert out of the entire country, but he's likely to fight for those every inch of the way. I've been following the evens pretty much hourly on Al Jazeera's live 'blog. Obviously if a strongman like Gaddafi can be overthrown less stubborn dictators will fall like flies. A recommendation that Libyan officials resign in protest of their government's actions. Regional left-wing parties call for international intervention to stop the bloodshed. Why the pro-democracy uprisings are bad news for the Islamic fundamentalists.

It is not often I can discuss Linux and racism at the same time; however recently I had to use the banhammer, and received some press coverage as a result. We can see the problem on a country-wide level. The core problem isn't so much a discussion on immigration or even race theory (even though the scientific basis is lacking in my opinion), but rather the objective of the discussion (in this case, to denigrate people based on phenotypical characteristics). On a better note, this Tuesday is the LUV meeting with the world's worst inventions and Linux routers.

We spent most of Saturday with log_reloaded with a long lunch and Koyaanisqatsi. After that we went to Paula and Craig's house departing party as they are on their way to Adelaide, as Paula will be starting a PhD in history, specifically on the internationalism of the Wobblies. Finally to finish of the night we visited, all to briefly, Brendan E's birthday drinks at Polly's. The weekend concluded with Karl B., running another session of GURPS Krononauts as we attempt to prevent the evil company changing history for their own ends.

Comments

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

Dude. I'd have banned that dork, too.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

My motto as expressed at a couple of meetings - and it's not really hard - "keep it friendly, keep it helpful".

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

Reminds me one of my rules "Don't be a dick"

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

I'd have banned him too - but ITWire must be pretty desperate for news to report on it.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I thought that as well initially, but then it was pointed out to me that (a) it was good that the reporters are paying attention to the activities of local LUGs (and LUV is particularly big and active) and (b) it came across that LUV is a safe place for people to attend and that it is moderated.

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

I did see that the Counsellor to the Libyan Embassy in Canada had resigned, but didn't know the official Ambassador was on "sick leave".

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Given that it seems increasingly likely that those with positions of responsibility in the old regime will find themselves visiting the International Criminal Court, I think the Ambassador should "get well soon".

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/open-sauce/45158 is coming up blank for me.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

That's a bit weird. The title of the story is "LUV member banned over offensive post" if you want to follow it through...

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

Apparently the URL was snipped along the way from your browser's address box to the link posted on LJ. When I google for the headline you gave me, it gives the full URL:

http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/open-sauce/45158-luv-member-banned-over-offensive-post

Having read it, it's depressing to see that Australia suffers the same ignorant, xenophobic samizdata e-mails as here.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Ironically, it's a multicultural phenomenon.