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All my major tasks at Borderlands and Student Partnerships Worldwide are now more or less complete, so now I can dedicate myself to publishing and writing again. Which means (drum roll).. the formal foundation of the Mimesis Publishing Cooperative. It is proposed that this is a non-trading cooperative with shares, mainly because that (the government guarenteed rules) the best way to avoid the various hefty fees. We have already had interest from Akademos (delightful name) for cooperative ventures.
Anyway, the Formation Meeting is noon, Saturday July 3 at the Borderlands Cooperative, Augustine Centre, 2 Minona Street Hawthorn.
Had dinner with Jenne and Katie last night, two fellow political and para-religious activists. Jenne (a reform Jew) took over from me as president of the Aboriginal Affairs Policy Committee when I went to East Timor and has been active on indigenous issues for years. Katie (a liberal Quaker), who has recently become a mother, spent her political energies on refugee support, and founded the low-key "Liberals for Refugees" about two or so years ago. It was like the beginning of a joke: "So, this Jew, a Quaker and a Unitarian are having dinner....". All jokes aside however, it was great to see them. We haven't moved in similar circles since my return to Australia and I used to see both of them almost every week.
Speaking of such matters, the Melbourne Unitarian Church held a peace concert last weekend. On my request, the collection of a few hundred dollars was directed to the Tabessi War Widows and Veterans Association in East Timor. It will make quite some difference there. Following the concert, caseopaya and I wandered in and joined the World Environment Day Tasmanian Forests' rally. Whilst the turnout was impressive, I felt that the "carnivale" atmosphere typically present at such gatherings was absent.
The campaign for legal equality for same-sex relationships is bound to get nasty. Catbiscuit has alerted me that the Federal Minister believes that keeping it in the closet is the best option. Meanwhile the Onion (courtesy of Darkstar) is full of its standard goodness: Gay Couple Feel Pressured to Marry.
Meanwhile, back on a serious note: A petition calling Mark Latham to support same-sex relationships. Sign it, cut and paste it. Email it far and wide. Stick it in your journal. http://www.gopetition.com/online/4457.html
The attempt rewrite the history of Ronald Reagan is fairly typical. After all, it is in the vested interests of mass media editors to do so; he was their man. So let us not forget that he converted the United States from the world's biggest creditor nation to the world's biggest debtor nation, that he was a war monger who had a complete and utter disregard for international law, and pathologically sick sense of humour which included "jokes" about the nuclear annihilation of an entire nation.
All that said, it must also be mentioned that Reagan was actually a left-winger until "converted" by some thuggish behaviour towards him by members of the American Communist Party in the 1940s. I am reminded of Peguy's statement: "the social revolution will be moral or it will not be". On that note, Hamish McDonald (who, I must confess I have had the opportunity to meet in East Timor), provides the right reports on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square:
Blood on the Tanks and "We will never fire on the people"
Anyway, the Formation Meeting is noon, Saturday July 3 at the Borderlands Cooperative, Augustine Centre, 2 Minona Street Hawthorn.
Had dinner with Jenne and Katie last night, two fellow political and para-religious activists. Jenne (a reform Jew) took over from me as president of the Aboriginal Affairs Policy Committee when I went to East Timor and has been active on indigenous issues for years. Katie (a liberal Quaker), who has recently become a mother, spent her political energies on refugee support, and founded the low-key "Liberals for Refugees" about two or so years ago. It was like the beginning of a joke: "So, this Jew, a Quaker and a Unitarian are having dinner....". All jokes aside however, it was great to see them. We haven't moved in similar circles since my return to Australia and I used to see both of them almost every week.
Speaking of such matters, the Melbourne Unitarian Church held a peace concert last weekend. On my request, the collection of a few hundred dollars was directed to the Tabessi War Widows and Veterans Association in East Timor. It will make quite some difference there. Following the concert, caseopaya and I wandered in and joined the World Environment Day Tasmanian Forests' rally. Whilst the turnout was impressive, I felt that the "carnivale" atmosphere typically present at such gatherings was absent.
The campaign for legal equality for same-sex relationships is bound to get nasty. Catbiscuit has alerted me that the Federal Minister believes that keeping it in the closet is the best option. Meanwhile the Onion (courtesy of Darkstar) is full of its standard goodness: Gay Couple Feel Pressured to Marry.
Meanwhile, back on a serious note: A petition calling Mark Latham to support same-sex relationships. Sign it, cut and paste it. Email it far and wide. Stick it in your journal. http://www.gopetition.com/online/4457.html
The attempt rewrite the history of Ronald Reagan is fairly typical. After all, it is in the vested interests of mass media editors to do so; he was their man. So let us not forget that he converted the United States from the world's biggest creditor nation to the world's biggest debtor nation, that he was a war monger who had a complete and utter disregard for international law, and pathologically sick sense of humour which included "jokes" about the nuclear annihilation of an entire nation.
All that said, it must also be mentioned that Reagan was actually a left-winger until "converted" by some thuggish behaviour towards him by members of the American Communist Party in the 1940s. I am reminded of Peguy's statement: "the social revolution will be moral or it will not be". On that note, Hamish McDonald (who, I must confess I have had the opportunity to meet in East Timor), provides the right reports on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square:
Blood on the Tanks and "We will never fire on the people"
no subject
Date: 2004-06-09 03:39 pm (UTC)In general I prefer a model of self-publication with the benefits of a collective name and administration. It has been pointed out to me however that at the very least someone needs to check material for possibly defamatory material. So it looks like publications would have to be approved by the committee of management.
Mimesis is the ancient Greek word for "representation", so I would hope for an an emphasis on "realism". Initially I though that non-fiction only works would be appropriate, but I have been swayed that may not be the case.
Akademos, and Jacques Boulet, the director of Borderlands, seem to think that academic-orientated publications would do particularly well, and I tend to agree. Apparently there is a German publishing house which specializes in publishing PhD theses - I quite like that idea ;-)
Once upon a time, I helped establish the Mimesis Association, which was roleplaying and simulation games, which a particular "historical fantasy" bent. I certainly imagine that could remain a cash-cow for the organization.
I guess I've raised more questions than I've answered. ;-) What are your ideas on the subject?
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 03:13 am (UTC)Maybe an academic-orientated publication can work. A collection of sample chapters of PhD thesis? so that the interested reader can go to the thesis proper for further reading?
Apart from that, I think if you are forming a collective, maybe the interests that engage particular members could form the basis of publishing activities...?
Anyway I enjoy checking out the photo's you posted at one of your recent journal entries. I'm very keen to investigate further the content of your talks!