A publisher, articles and ancient history

[tcpip]

Well, it looks like I've found a publisher for my Jim Cairns study. Otford Press seem to be enthusiastic and - best of all appropriate. Meanwhile, New Politics have accepted my review of Strangio's biography of Cairns.

This Wednesday between 6pm and 7pm I'm being interviews on a RMIT student radio session (90.7fm) as the founder of Labor for Refugees. Be prepared to pitch me some difficult questions ;-)

Have been html-ising some ancient history, including an article on Magic in Roleplaying and Reality, which I wrote in 1996 for Mimesis and Reflection on the Death of Superman, which was published in Green Left Weekly in 1993. As I said, ancient history. Hopefully I'll manage to collate most of the things I've written this year in a single place!

Greylock alerted me to
this BBC article on luxuries versus necessities. The following table says it all really.

Luxuries
Make-up: $18bn
Perfumes: $15bn
Ocean cruises: $14bn
Ice-cream in Europe: $11 bn
Needs
Eliminate hunger: $19bn
Reproductive health care for all women: $12bn
Clean water for all: $10bn
Universal literacy: $5bn

The rest of the week has consisted of plodding away on my Data Security subchapter of my thesis and coding for the Tetum-Bahasa-Portuguese-English translation programme. Coding for Sesami.org is finished and ConnectIE are happy with the result. If anyone else needs a very motivated and skilled IT generalist for the short or long term you know where to find me.

Spent the weekend being quite sociable - dinner on Friday night with some friends of severina_242, some senior East Timor and military people on Saturday and Sunday all-singing and all-dancing Iranians. Whilst each event was individually very pleasant, it has also reminded me how much I really enjoy my own company - and how little of that I get.

My diet starts today. No, I'm serious. I returned from East Timor slightly thinner than usual - probably clocking in at 84kg. Now, three months back and with the festive season, I'm about 95kg. With a height of around 181 cm, this does put me in the "overweight" range and with a BMI of about 28-29 - which is far too high. Fortunately I'm one of those people who loses/gains weight quite quickly. A few weeks on a diet of complex carbohydrates, pure protein, skim milk, vitamin supplements and cycling should see me return to the more healthly level.

Je-sus. I just checked the BBC BMI site. It reckons that I should go down to about 76kg... I haven't weighed that much since, ummm, 1988... Oh well, here goes...

Update

An interesting experiment. Friend_Whoring. Join.

Comments

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on finding a publisher! When did you find out? Can't wait to hear more when I see you next.

Whilst each event was individually very pleasant, it has also reminded me how much I really enjoy my own company

That's sort of what I was feeling too.... except in general I just prefer smaller groups of people.

Don't take to much note of those BMI things, they aren't always that good.... as for the cycling you know I would join you if I could LOL

[ktwhoopi.livejournal.com]

181cm at 76kg?? i don't think so! that's too low. I am going to check this thing soon, I am cringing at what it's going to tell me i should be

that luxuries thing is mind boggling, the essentials are so inexpensive compared to all the other rubbish we waste our money on

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

Linky BMI no worky.

However, I found it. And it suggests that I should be under 60kg. Which I haven't been since I was about 18.

So... yeah. I'll stay happy in the borderline overweight/obese bracket, I think. Maybe I can whittle it down to merely overweight. :-p

[the-christian.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the publisher but...

Dude, the Superman thing!
No! Superman is a beautiful immigration story! And in his early appearances is brilliantly pinko swine. Chucking bund leaders, strike breakers and the like into planes. Yes.

[bar-bar-ella.livejournal.com]

Well, it looks like I've found a publisher for my Jim Cairns study. Otford Press seem to be enthusiastic and - best of all appropriate. Meanwhile, New Politics have accepted my review of Strangio's biography of Cairns.

Hey! Big congrats on both counts, that's fantastic. :)

[lefae.livejournal.com]

26.44 BMI

I'm turning into a little fatty! See how huge I am?

I don't trust those BMI things for a second ;)

[fraerie.livejournal.com]

link to magic & RP article appears to be broken :(

[monkeygirldiva.livejournal.com]

woohoo! fantastic news about finding a publisher :)

not so long ago i toyed with the idea of starting a campaign encouraging people to give up on pets and redirect their potential animal food/vet bill/registration/etc spending toward broader social development issues... but somehow i don't think personal priorities in this area are likely to change in a hurry :)

... all-singing, all-dancing iranians???

[kalayasha.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on finding a publisher!

Luxuries Vs Needs
In the western world those luxuries, to some people, would be seen as definite needs. I think that may be because the people who "need" these things have never gone hungry, or had inadequate health care. (Generalizing there...) However, not having makeup won't kill you, but hunger does. Many Perfumes smell very bad, and have really no purpose.(unless you smell really bad, but that's what deodorant is for) All perfumes do is to try and cover your natural scent. How are you supposed to find a mate without that? (Basic instincts, mind you) Those two to things would cover clean water and food, which is essential.
The BBC article just reminded me how shallow people can be.
And thats enough babble from me for now.

Also, good luck on your diet. I hope it goes well for you. :)

[zey.livejournal.com]

Je-sus. I just checked the BBC BMI site. It reckons that I should go down to about 76kg... I haven't weighed that much since, ummm, 1988... Oh well, here goes...

Same here, though only just (maybe I've overestimated my height). The lightest I've been was 65kg back in 1996 when I lived in the inner city and was walking everywhere. I'm about 17 kilo heavier now, so I probably really should do a bit more...

I'm slack though. I can only justify doing walking if I've actually got a destination I want to go to. None of this 'walking for the sake of exercise' malarchy.

[claudine-c.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the publisher!

...founder of Labor for Refugees...

I didn't know you were the founder! That's great, I'll try to catch the interview.

Look forward to reading the old articles when I get a chance.

Yes, of course the problem is just money

[erudito.livejournal.com]

Read the BBC recycling of a World Watch press release. (Notice the complete lack of any other comments.)

It's the sort of approach that gives me the irririts. I don't mind the pointing out that people are necessarily happier from having more stuff, though that does not support the 'leaving them dissatisfied' theme.

It's the problem-is-lack-of-money-so-the-solution-is-money-transfer approach. Third World poverty is not created (or even worsened) by First World wealth (if anything, the opposite is true). Third World poverty is a result of institutions that work a lot worse than First World ones do. The trouble is, going down that path leads to awkward things like markets and genuine property rights and they are the 'wrong solutions'.

The list of policy recommendations range from otiose to pathetic. This is strictly policy consumerism -- being seen to care rather than actually doing so. It's fairy-floss compassion -- pink, frilly & empty.