The AWB, British politics, Raskin, Ballarat Work and Gaming

[tcpip]

This AWB issue has suddenly cranked up a notch. The basic are that it is believed that the Australian Wheat Board knowingly paid kickbacks to the Iraqi government, defrauded the United Nations and violated sanctions to the tune of almost $290 million dollars. The government has established an inquiry to work out just how much of this went on, why they did it and who knew. (One of the more amusing discoveries was an insight to the brilliant coding technqiues of senior executives; from p_cat - Italy, The League of Nations, Wax and Eggs. But now the Prime Minister is implicated, and Kevin Rudd is going for the throat; "these documents today demonstrate that we have an Australian Prime Minister who is a liar.". On topic, who do you think is executing the Sunnis?

Some may remember a TV series entitled A Very British Coup. Younger readers may remember another series entitled House of Cards (special thanks to imajica_lj for his loan of said DVD). Truth, as usual is strange than fiction, Tony Blair is about to effectively abolish parliament through the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill; and some elements of the press of woken-up to what it means: The Abolition of Parliament Bill; coming closer to a totalitarian state, BTW, the Bill allows for Orders to bind the Crown, so the Monarchy is no defense.

This is circulating fast: Jamie Raskin: "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You didn't place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible.". I may paraphrase a quote from stephen_deadman on this issue: "A radical burns the flag and wraps himself in the Constitution. A reactionary, on the other hand..." In Missouri on the other hand, they seem to be confused about the U.S.'s own history in attempt to introduce prayer in school

This weekend caseopaya and I are escaping the Commonwealth games to Ballarat to participate in Linux Users Victoria's first ever regional install fest. Meanwhile at work, MS-SQL server is sending me nuts with simple tasks that just don't seem to work (yeah, maybe there's a MS-SQL admin on my flist). Also have spent a few hours this week making a few changes to the Melbourne Unitarian Church website, and James Nicholson's.

In that other part of my life (i.e., gaming) having just finished my contribution to playtesting Mongoose's new edition of RuneQuest, I have now joined The Chaosium's playtest list for their upcoming "meta-rules system" Deluxe Basic Role Playing. The Chaosium are also holding a Call of Cthulhu module competition (March 31 deadline) which I'd better get cracking on if I want to submit something (damned if I'm going to buy yet another edition of the rules, tho'). GURPS Australian Noir last Sunday solved the Bolshevik mystery of Sans Souci and this Sunday is the return of Vlad Tepes to the mortal world in Outbreak of Heresy.

Comments

[p-cat.livejournal.com]

"... and I use the term precisely and intentionally".

I love Lateline.

[blot.livejournal.com]

we spell it misery not Missouri

[horngirl.livejournal.com]

On topic, who do you think is executing the Sunnis?

It's probably wrong to point the finger at just one group, but things I have heard lately are suggesting Al Qaeda are certainly giving a big helping hand in the insurgency in Iraq. In the meantime, I think someone is trying to encourage a civil war when the people concerned don't really want one.

[lardarsegreg.livejournal.com]

"A radical burns the flag and wraps himself in the Constitution. A reactionary, on the other hand..."

ROFL

Have you got the original reference for that quote?

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

In case you haven't seen it already.

[stasiaone.livejournal.com]

What with your various interests (UUism, Linux, SQL, East Freakin' Timor, a PhD thesis on the internet), you must be either very, very cool or very full of shit. I choose to believe the former---occam's razor, you know.

You are far too interesting to limit yourself geographically; we must ensure that your persona/charisma/worldview transcends any narrowing confines. Here are some randow thoughts, that I hope you will take in the spirit intended:

1. Have you thought about participating in UU events, either locally or internationally? I can personally recommend SUUSI.org and First Parish in Cambridge, MA USA. You would fit in well in either locale.

2. Have you participated in any longdistance gamers events? My husband is a D&D freak-at-forty (jjaquinta), but you might enjoy moving in Boston type circles.

IAE, I've friended you (natch). Here's to you, Kid!

[baconsoup.livejournal.com]

hey, i'm gonna add you. i need a source of foriegn news since its being censored in the states.

is there really a civil war in iraq between the sunnis and the shi-ites, or is the govt wagging the dog for a reason to stay over there?

[misnim.livejournal.com]

finally! an erotillectual who's australian!
I honestly don't have time right now to read and digest much of your journal, (though I have this sort of guilt that I probably should) so I'm going to friend you and try to keep up.