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I predict a close victory for Labor.
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I have had a recent run-in with Telstra, over a disputed phone bill from two years ago where the account and the quite modest outstanding balance was transferred into another persons' name just prior to my move to East Timor. It came to a head when I attempted to transfer my old Parliament of Victoria mobile number to my name - and bumped into![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ultraviolencia who works at a Telstra shop at the same time. I've submitted a complaint to the Telecommunications ombudsman over Telstra's intransigence on the matter and will be going to different providers for all my services. In general, it is clear to see why Lindsay Tanner's suggestion (I may add with significant prompting by myself) that Telstra be split into a private service provider and a public infrastructure maintenance body makes a great deal of sense. Their behaviour is that of an organization that thinks that they are still a monopoly, whereas the only reason that they retain any customers is because of their hold on infrastructure.
In that other news which takes up 99% percent of my life - the two courses of full-time study, the one course of part-time study and my part-time work - all goes well. I am positively flying through the Cert in Business Management being the only person in a class of 37 to have handed in the three assesment tasks (15 haven't handed in any, 14 have handed in one, 7 have handed in two). I am now feeling quite confident with the CCNA, having tested myself on the first part of the exam and getting over 85% whilst literally falling asleep last Monday night. Business goes well with more new clients from the course seeking my attention and a hairdresser where old Perth friend microJames promises to splash a great deal of money in my direction. Editing on the PhD continues as usual.
Last weekend was mostly spent helpingseverina_242 move into her spacious new flat in Elwood - the place that artists inevitably end up when successful in Melbourne. Seeming that she is now employed as a graphic artist it seems quite appropriate. Although time out was taken to attend the Unitarian's whose service fell under the old anarchist slogan "No Gods, No Masters" (very appropriate for the Unitarians, some would say), and the presentation on the introduction of Islamic law in Iraq, its re-establishment in Afghanistan, the force of non-secularists in the United States and the effect on these on women. When one hears about such things it is very easy to understand why people are (a) very cynical about claims of "freedom" and "liberation" when all that seems to occur is a gender-specific "liberation" for economic purposes and (b) why many women are not prone to be particularly supportive of patriachial religions in secular states.
As if it wasn't obvious from many preceeding posts over the past twelve months, I have had a change in diet in the past month which is friendly to mammals. I am still chowing down on chicken and fish and marsupials are a bit of a grey area. I still reckon I would try grilled rat if I get to visit the countryside of southern Viet Nam. Nonetheless, by an large, mammals are off my main culinary activity.
And on a related note, I do have a brain-breaker of the week, which is a bit of an oldie, but a goodie.pr0zac, being a zoologist, was about to attend a lecture on mice and mutant penises and was having a bit of giggle about the fun that zoologists have. In response I pointed her to the unusual penis of the Argentine Duck. Subsequently caseopaya and I discussed what happens to this poor duck. I mean, imagine if it doesn't retract. Whilst flying it would be mistaken for a kite's tail. When swimming a large fish might take a bite out of it. And landing and waddling would cause it to trip over its paddles. The mind boggles!
Update (aka "How did I forget that?")
Gathering of the week was the thirtieth birthday bash at Polly's forusekh. So many el-jay people there, great to see y'all, seeming how little I get out these days. Apologies for not being so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but I had been moving furniture all day. And that can be somewhat tiring...
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I have had a recent run-in with Telstra, over a disputed phone bill from two years ago where the account and the quite modest outstanding balance was transferred into another persons' name just prior to my move to East Timor. It came to a head when I attempted to transfer my old Parliament of Victoria mobile number to my name - and bumped into
ultraviolencia who works at a Telstra shop at the same time. I've submitted a complaint to the Telecommunications ombudsman over Telstra's intransigence on the matter and will be going to different providers for all my services. In general, it is clear to see why Lindsay Tanner's suggestion (I may add with significant prompting by myself) that Telstra be split into a private service provider and a public infrastructure maintenance body makes a great deal of sense. Their behaviour is that of an organization that thinks that they are still a monopoly, whereas the only reason that they retain any customers is because of their hold on infrastructure.In that other news which takes up 99% percent of my life - the two courses of full-time study, the one course of part-time study and my part-time work - all goes well. I am positively flying through the Cert in Business Management being the only person in a class of 37 to have handed in the three assesment tasks (15 haven't handed in any, 14 have handed in one, 7 have handed in two). I am now feeling quite confident with the CCNA, having tested myself on the first part of the exam and getting over 85% whilst literally falling asleep last Monday night. Business goes well with more new clients from the course seeking my attention and a hairdresser where old Perth friend microJames promises to splash a great deal of money in my direction. Editing on the PhD continues as usual.
Last weekend was mostly spent helping
severina_242 move into her spacious new flat in Elwood - the place that artists inevitably end up when successful in Melbourne. Seeming that she is now employed as a graphic artist it seems quite appropriate. Although time out was taken to attend the Unitarian's whose service fell under the old anarchist slogan "No Gods, No Masters" (very appropriate for the Unitarians, some would say), and the presentation on the introduction of Islamic law in Iraq, its re-establishment in Afghanistan, the force of non-secularists in the United States and the effect on these on women. When one hears about such things it is very easy to understand why people are (a) very cynical about claims of "freedom" and "liberation" when all that seems to occur is a gender-specific "liberation" for economic purposes and (b) why many women are not prone to be particularly supportive of patriachial religions in secular states. As if it wasn't obvious from many preceeding posts over the past twelve months, I have had a change in diet in the past month which is friendly to mammals. I am still chowing down on chicken and fish and marsupials are a bit of a grey area. I still reckon I would try grilled rat if I get to visit the countryside of southern Viet Nam. Nonetheless, by an large, mammals are off my main culinary activity.
And on a related note, I do have a brain-breaker of the week, which is a bit of an oldie, but a goodie.
pr0zac, being a zoologist, was about to attend a lecture on mice and mutant penises and was having a bit of giggle about the fun that zoologists have. In response I pointed her to the unusual penis of the Argentine Duck. Subsequently caseopaya and I discussed what happens to this poor duck. I mean, imagine if it doesn't retract. Whilst flying it would be mistaken for a kite's tail. When swimming a large fish might take a bite out of it. And landing and waddling would cause it to trip over its paddles. The mind boggles!Update (aka "How did I forget that?")
Gathering of the week was the thirtieth birthday bash at Polly's for
usekh. So many el-jay people there, great to see y'all, seeming how little I get out these days. Apologies for not being so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but I had been moving furniture all day. And that can be somewhat tiring...