Media Workshops, Networking and Programmin', Gaming, Clothes, The Odyssey and ... SEX!

[tcpip]

Prosper Australia were very happy with my first workshop on media and marketing, albeit it was more on organisational structure. More next Tuesday, this time on market segments for people who may think that resource rents are better than taxes on productive capital or labour. One point I emphasized with them is that as a political organisation a narrow focus is not helpful to building a large membership.

Tuesday was the begining of CCNA semester 2. Router configuration. Not nearly as exciting as it sounds ;-) Finished a review of "The Real World Network Troubleshooting Manual" for SAGE-AU, which has some good material, but could have done with an editor. For a bit of fun, and I'm sure it has some practical use, I'm working my way through some Java programming, which I think is slowly converting me from C++, even if the latter is better for most computer games.

Speaking of which met up with three lecturers on multimedia and computer games at Swinburne University on Thursday; Dr. Andrew Stapleton, Dr. Mark Finn and a physicist named... ahh... what was it now? Anyway, they're all mainstays in their Bachelor of Multimedia (Games and Interactivity). It sounds like the start of a beautiful friendship. They've invited me to come and give some guest lectures early next year. Have posted an update to the Immersion mailing list and timetable.

Later that evening had a dinner with severina_242 and her mother who has just returned from Europe. She handed me a big bag of clothes from her boss who throws out his clothes (name brand and higher thank you very much) every six months and who is exactly my size. This grab lot included three Hugo Boss suits, two of which seem to have never been worn at all.

Tonight off to see the Odyssey with lokicarbis and caseopaya. Appropriately, apparently Ulysses tomb has been found. The Odyssey is one of my favourite stories; not just because of the epic wandering adventure and the mythic creatures, but because when confronted with the supernatural, Ulysses uses his reasoning ability to defeat them (see Adorno and Horkheimer's great essay, "Odyssey or Myth and Enlightenment" in The Dialectic of Enlightenment).

Is George Bush the antichrist (from kraant)? If so it would explain the messages he has received from his master. On the opposite side of the theological spectrum Dr. Fernandes has had this little biographical review of Noam Chomsky published in Overland Express. Well worth a read.

I promised sex. Well, how about an "unauthorised reproduction" bill, courtesy of the land of the free? How about a mainstream church promoting panty parties to get more people involved? Or a website that wants sex toy testers? Tasmania's government was going to legalise brothels. Now it's changed it's mind.

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

No sign of it in Prosper Australia's FAQs. They make it appear as if they want an instantaneous cut-over.

I know. I've pointed this out to them. They actually have written up a 20 year gradual implementation plan in the past, which is quite workable.

The house itself deteriorates (at least, it often does, as old people lose the ability and/or desire to fix and renovate), while the land value increases.

Fred Nile raised this argument about a pensioner who lived in a shabby house on a 1/4 acre block in Vauclause in Sydney. "But I've been here all me life", she whimpered. Frankly, I don't have too much sympathy for this position. Their assets raise in value whilst their contribution to productivity is nil. Sell, and buy an apartment for goodness sakes and invest the proceeds in something that gives a kid a job.

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

Frankly, I don't have too much sympathy for this position.

How can you possibly make any claim to fairness and say that?

Say new scheme were implemented as described. Person X, born now, works hard and pays 30% tax over their working life, amounting to, say, $450,000 in today's money. They are left with easily the resources to own their home and to maintain it in their retirement.

Pensioner Y was born 70 years ago, worked hard and paid 50% tax (including sales taxes, etc) over their working life, amounting to, say, $750,000 in today's money. They are left with nothing but a house they own.

Explain how it is that, after the community has already received $300k more from Y than X, it's fair to then take their house away too.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

How can you possibly make any claim to fairness and say that?

Ultimately because I do not think it is right for people to own what they did not produce, or to purchase what has been achieved by invasion and violence. Which all ownership of natural resources ultimately comes down to.

Pensioner Y was born 70 years ago, worked hard and paid 50% tax (including sales taxes, etc) over their working life, amounting to, say, $750,000 in today's money. They are left with nothing but a house they own.

Apart from the fact they are equally entitled to a citizen's dividend (see above), they also can sell the land that they are not using.