It's what writers do....
Nov. 23rd, 2003 08:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tcpipWriters, or at least ones that have overcome that terrible illness called writer's block (a mimetic infection which can last for years at a time), write. As I fancy myself a bit of a wordsmith, I have been pretty prolific recently....
Radical Humanist: The Personal and Political Philosophy of Dr. Jim Cairns, is now in the draft stage. Several hundred copies are being distributed as part of the entrance fee at the ALP's memorial function for Jim on December 6. I'm pretty happy with this - it's taken me about a month to put together something that is at least equivalent in content and length to an honours thesis. Special thanks go to Anthony Leong for editing and to Severina242 for typesetting.
On a related note, I've convinced Anthony to expand his photography business to include publishing. Say "hello" to Modform Publications. It's a nominal addition so that we can stick a name to things that we churn out in hardcopy form and have a PO Box, a website etc. At some stage we'll even get around to doing a hardcopy distribution of the speeches at the Labor Left Activists and Supporters Conference of 2001. Maybe in time for the next Federal election ;-)
Links for the draft of A Traveller's Dictionary in Tetun-English and English-Tetun has been distributed through several appropriate mailing lists. About two hundred people have downloaded copies so far that I know of. The final version is now online thanks to the sharp editing skills of caseopaya.
Also, I have turned my attention to a little matter that I have neglected over the past two and half months; my doctoral thesis. My current subchapter, 3-4 Data Security, deals with encryption, anonymity, fraud, intellectual property and intrusion. Substantial parts of it had already been written, but over the weekend I managed to put together several thousand somewhat coherent words and reach the half-way point.
Thinking ahead it also time that I returned to my idea of writing a roleplaying simulation set in the Malay archipelago and using regional history and mythology. With a working title ("Ten Thousand Islands"), a setting (16th century) and with a plan to write it in English and Bahasa, I'll probably release it with a nominal and voluntary shareware fee. Unlike other simulation games which use rather attractive but odd-shaped dice, I'll use something that is a little more common in Indonesia and Malaysia - playing cards. I should have the English version finished by the end of February.
Two Sunday's ago I gave the presentation at the Melbourne Unitarian Church entitled East Timor: Moral Obligations and Systematic Betrayal". It was fairly well attended and with publication in the upcoming edition of the Beacon magazine. Glenn Kneebone, fellow traveller from a Buddhist pilgrimage in 1996, wants to co-author a book entitled: "So You Think You're Jesus? A Guide for the Insane" and I'll be traveling to Wangaratta to meet with him in a couple of weeks. On other fun religious matters, I've joined the Convert Me community. Thanks to Severina242 for the heads-up. It's an opportunity for people to attempt to convert or resist conversion. Should be fun.
On December 15 I'm off to New Zealand for a few weeks to spend Christmas and see in the New Year with family. This will be a first. Seeming that I'm an uncle, I'd better by something for that cheeky little nephew, although probably not this. I'm also supposed to squeeze in a week in South Australia before all this. It looks like (I can hear the screams of disappointment already) that my idea of a week in Queensland is going to have to be delayed until the new year.
Last Thursday I overcame my aversion to music by seeing the reformation gig of The Money Shot at the Terminus Hotel. These lads, having had two of their members overseas for a year, are an excellent indie band, sort of like R.E.M. with chord progressions with a touch of the Psychedelic Furs and Nick Cave for good measure. They played several times at cocktail parties at Jika Jika back in those days. Great to see them back in action.
Whilst not the most careful in spelling or grammar myself a journey to the Victoria markets in the city caused a couple of surprises on Saturday. One was a pharmacist with the street sign "Why Pay More!". I thought that was a question, not a statement and frankly I find the idea of a pharmacy that can't read or write somewhat scary. Another was a car rental with "Your special" emblazoned on the window. Evidently we're owners of a special car-rental. Finally there was the hotel with the two story banner emblazoned with "Great Atmostsphere" despite the fact it's rather rectangular.
Obligatory weather comment: Melbourne's weather is a long running joke ("four seasons in a single day"), but the last week has defied even these prevailing norms. It's been like something out of a Stephen Donaldson novel - two days of searing heat, following by a downpour of rain, followed by an autumn-like ambience, then back to the winter chill and rain just to kickstart summer. Go figure.
Radical Humanist: The Personal and Political Philosophy of Dr. Jim Cairns, is now in the draft stage. Several hundred copies are being distributed as part of the entrance fee at the ALP's memorial function for Jim on December 6. I'm pretty happy with this - it's taken me about a month to put together something that is at least equivalent in content and length to an honours thesis. Special thanks go to Anthony Leong for editing and to Severina242 for typesetting.
On a related note, I've convinced Anthony to expand his photography business to include publishing. Say "hello" to Modform Publications. It's a nominal addition so that we can stick a name to things that we churn out in hardcopy form and have a PO Box, a website etc. At some stage we'll even get around to doing a hardcopy distribution of the speeches at the Labor Left Activists and Supporters Conference of 2001. Maybe in time for the next Federal election ;-)
Links for the draft of A Traveller's Dictionary in Tetun-English and English-Tetun has been distributed through several appropriate mailing lists. About two hundred people have downloaded copies so far that I know of. The final version is now online thanks to the sharp editing skills of caseopaya.
Also, I have turned my attention to a little matter that I have neglected over the past two and half months; my doctoral thesis. My current subchapter, 3-4 Data Security, deals with encryption, anonymity, fraud, intellectual property and intrusion. Substantial parts of it had already been written, but over the weekend I managed to put together several thousand somewhat coherent words and reach the half-way point.
Thinking ahead it also time that I returned to my idea of writing a roleplaying simulation set in the Malay archipelago and using regional history and mythology. With a working title ("Ten Thousand Islands"), a setting (16th century) and with a plan to write it in English and Bahasa, I'll probably release it with a nominal and voluntary shareware fee. Unlike other simulation games which use rather attractive but odd-shaped dice, I'll use something that is a little more common in Indonesia and Malaysia - playing cards. I should have the English version finished by the end of February.
Two Sunday's ago I gave the presentation at the Melbourne Unitarian Church entitled East Timor: Moral Obligations and Systematic Betrayal". It was fairly well attended and with publication in the upcoming edition of the Beacon magazine. Glenn Kneebone, fellow traveller from a Buddhist pilgrimage in 1996, wants to co-author a book entitled: "So You Think You're Jesus? A Guide for the Insane" and I'll be traveling to Wangaratta to meet with him in a couple of weeks. On other fun religious matters, I've joined the Convert Me community. Thanks to Severina242 for the heads-up. It's an opportunity for people to attempt to convert or resist conversion. Should be fun.
On December 15 I'm off to New Zealand for a few weeks to spend Christmas and see in the New Year with family. This will be a first. Seeming that I'm an uncle, I'd better by something for that cheeky little nephew, although probably not this. I'm also supposed to squeeze in a week in South Australia before all this. It looks like (I can hear the screams of disappointment already) that my idea of a week in Queensland is going to have to be delayed until the new year.
Last Thursday I overcame my aversion to music by seeing the reformation gig of The Money Shot at the Terminus Hotel. These lads, having had two of their members overseas for a year, are an excellent indie band, sort of like R.E.M. with chord progressions with a touch of the Psychedelic Furs and Nick Cave for good measure. They played several times at cocktail parties at Jika Jika back in those days. Great to see them back in action.
Whilst not the most careful in spelling or grammar myself a journey to the Victoria markets in the city caused a couple of surprises on Saturday. One was a pharmacist with the street sign "Why Pay More!". I thought that was a question, not a statement and frankly I find the idea of a pharmacy that can't read or write somewhat scary. Another was a car rental with "Your special" emblazoned on the window. Evidently we're owners of a special car-rental. Finally there was the hotel with the two story banner emblazoned with "Great Atmostsphere" despite the fact it's rather rectangular.
Obligatory weather comment: Melbourne's weather is a long running joke ("four seasons in a single day"), but the last week has defied even these prevailing norms. It's been like something out of a Stephen Donaldson novel - two days of searing heat, following by a downpour of rain, followed by an autumn-like ambience, then back to the winter chill and rain just to kickstart summer. Go figure.
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Weather
Date: 2003-11-23 10:34 am (UTC)Re: Weather
Date: 2003-11-23 10:46 am (UTC)I actually quite like all weather, hot, dry, humid, cold, stormy whatever. All examples of nature, each as enjoyable as the other.
What really irks me is pollution. I hated Jakarta.
But Melbourne has been pretty all over the place recently. Far more than usual.
Heheh... Talking about the weather.... Have we come down to this? ;-)
Boo Hoo!! :(
Date: 2003-11-23 12:49 pm (UTC)Bounce!! Bounce!! Squee!!!
Feesch
Re: Boo Hoo!! :(
Date: 2003-11-24 01:03 am (UTC)It won't be long, I promise.... Besides sunny qld has the Great Barrier Reef, and I have this thing about seeing the wonders of the world.. As the world's largest living critter, it rates pretty high.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 01:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 01:02 am (UTC)You betcha. Web-based info is the way to go. Lowest publishing cost, lowest distribution cost (no money for the author, but I write for love..)
The draft of the dictionary is on the previous post(http://au.geocities.com/lev_lafayette/morris.html), the thesis goes on subchapter by subchapter, the roleplaying game will be online etc etc...
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 09:59 pm (UTC)Good luck with getting over that writers block and I look forward to reading chapter 3-4
no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 01:27 am (UTC)Hey! I don't have writers block! At least not at the moment!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 02:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 10:32 pm (UTC)It's just got to be a result of over-exposure to the bodgy handwriting of doctors.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 01:05 am (UTC)You know, I thought the same thing.... BTW, very nice to see in this world! Great icon too!
hello.
Date: 2003-11-24 01:29 am (UTC)Isn't it sad that I read this entire post, and enjoyed reading it very much, but can only muster out a comment about the weather? It is always good to read your journal. *nods head respectfully*
Re: hello.
Date: 2003-11-24 01:58 am (UTC)Hey, that's OK. I realized after the post that the weather was a bit of a conversation piece. Let me guess about Canadian prairies. Cold and some more cold, yes?
I actually like Melbourne's weather too. In fact, it was one of the (many) reasons I moved here.
Mind you, I must admit I love Canadian real estate. And your nation's liberal politics. God, compared to Australia (shakes head)... Whatever happened to the Aussie love of the larrikin rebel? The place has turned into a bunch of monocultural, paranoid, tight-arse wowsers...
wowsers!
Date: 2003-11-24 02:00 am (UTC)