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Saturday collected several parcels from the local post office including a Yuan dynasty zodiac sheep, which I am a little charmed by, even if it is quite possibly a clever forgery. Following this was Linux Users of Victoria's beginner's workshop with OpenShot, an incredibly easy-to-use video editing program. After that was the well-attended presentation by Dr. Virginia Tilley on whether apartheid existed in the Palestinian occupied territories, to which she gave a rather convincing argument that indeed it does so under the definitions considered by international law. Unsurprisingly, she also argued for civil and equal rights for all who live in de facto Israel, and opposed a two-state solution. Conversation on the subject continued over a long and filling dinner at Madina (which constitutes "cheap and cheerful"), then attended Robbie's 40th birthday event at Idgaff Bar and caught up with a lot of old friends, albeit too briefly.
Following morning attended the Unitarians and conducted the service for Virginia Geddes, Executive Officer of the Victorian Domestic Violence Resource Centre, who seemed somewhat pleased that had done some research on the subject. Afterwards, and rather ironically, had to gently escort a troublesome non-member who was getting abusive and aggressive with some members of the congregation from the premises. Finished the afternoon off with a group playing Dark Heresy, and a journey inside a space hulk" (often the game does become a satirical parody of its own motifs - and is no less enjoyable).
As Victorians would know, a by-election was held in Melbourne over the weekend following Bronwyn Pike's resignation (someone should send her a bill). Although there was an enormous slate of sixteen candidates (of whom I know five reasonably well), the contest was really between a left-wing Labor candidate and a left-wing Greens candidate. Despite predictions to the contrary, it now seems Labor has secured the seat, following a multitude of preference flows to their candidate. The real clincher was the third-placed Sex Party, which probably delivered Labor the election. There is "some disagreement" between the two, a lot that comes down to some differences between the Sex Party and senior Green's members such as Kathleen Maltzahn. The expenditure of the vast quantity of electoral resources between progressive candidates is of course, a terrible waste of scarce electoral resources. As the economics of opportunity cost dictate, if this goes on Labor and the Greens may as well be handing a big bag of cash to the Tories. Hopefully they'll be able to come to some sort of agreement prior to the next Federal election.
Following morning attended the Unitarians and conducted the service for Virginia Geddes, Executive Officer of the Victorian Domestic Violence Resource Centre, who seemed somewhat pleased that had done some research on the subject. Afterwards, and rather ironically, had to gently escort a troublesome non-member who was getting abusive and aggressive with some members of the congregation from the premises. Finished the afternoon off with a group playing Dark Heresy, and a journey inside a space hulk" (often the game does become a satirical parody of its own motifs - and is no less enjoyable).
As Victorians would know, a by-election was held in Melbourne over the weekend following Bronwyn Pike's resignation (someone should send her a bill). Although there was an enormous slate of sixteen candidates (of whom I know five reasonably well), the contest was really between a left-wing Labor candidate and a left-wing Greens candidate. Despite predictions to the contrary, it now seems Labor has secured the seat, following a multitude of preference flows to their candidate. The real clincher was the third-placed Sex Party, which probably delivered Labor the election. There is "some disagreement" between the two, a lot that comes down to some differences between the Sex Party and senior Green's members such as Kathleen Maltzahn. The expenditure of the vast quantity of electoral resources between progressive candidates is of course, a terrible waste of scarce electoral resources. As the economics of opportunity cost dictate, if this goes on Labor and the Greens may as well be handing a big bag of cash to the Tories. Hopefully they'll be able to come to some sort of agreement prior to the next Federal election.