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tcpipDr Daniel Mandel, of the history of department at the University of Melbourne, made claims that the west didn't really support Saddam. The editors of The Age had the good sense to publish my reminder to him this morning.
Iraq, as we all know in el-jay land, featured highly in the U.S. mid-term elections where the results were a thumpin' for the pro-war forces and the quagmire they have put themselves into. What is also worthy of mentioning is was also the first ever election of a self-identified socialist to the U.S. senate.
My novel, The Outcast Girl, is going well although I am a little behind in the NaNaWriMo recommended wordcount. Historical fiction does have its own difficulties, especially when one is including anthropological hermeneutics. The experience is very much making me want to take another visit to Java and Bali.
Various other events of the last week include re-presenting my talk on Open Source Economics at Linux Users Victoria on Wednesday, once again dovetailing with Jon Oxer's Pragmatic Idealism presentation. On the lagamorph front, Astaroth rabbit has lost his balls but has recovered without incident. On Saturday,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
caseopaya and I travelled out to the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley, specifically to visit the William Rickett's sanctuary. Appropriately Joel Wright of the NTEU gave a good presentation at the Unitarians the following day on the Stolen Wages campaign.
Iraq, as we all know in el-jay land, featured highly in the U.S. mid-term elections where the results were a thumpin' for the pro-war forces and the quagmire they have put themselves into. What is also worthy of mentioning is was also the first ever election of a self-identified socialist to the U.S. senate.
My novel, The Outcast Girl, is going well although I am a little behind in the NaNaWriMo recommended wordcount. Historical fiction does have its own difficulties, especially when one is including anthropological hermeneutics. The experience is very much making me want to take another visit to Java and Bali.
Various other events of the last week include re-presenting my talk on Open Source Economics at Linux Users Victoria on Wednesday, once again dovetailing with Jon Oxer's Pragmatic Idealism presentation. On the lagamorph front, Astaroth rabbit has lost his balls but has recovered without incident. On Saturday,
caseopaya and I travelled out to the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley, specifically to visit the William Rickett's sanctuary. Appropriately Joel Wright of the NTEU gave a good presentation at the Unitarians the following day on the Stolen Wages campaign.![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2006-11-12 10:40 pm (UTC)A typically DNA way of talking about animals getting their 'nads removed.
PS: I've got the worst flu I've ever had at the moment.
You know, this is probably not a popular thing to say, but I don't like William Rickett's sanctuary, and when people suggest a visit, I make my excuses.
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Date: 2006-11-12 11:05 pm (UTC)A typically DNA way of talking about animals getting their 'nads removed.
He had reached "that age". I felt sorry for the poor fella, but it was either removal of 'nads or release him into the great blue yonder.
but I don't like William Rickett's sanctuary
Why not? You're always allowed to be unpopular around me.
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Date: 2006-11-13 12:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 01:11 am (UTC)More disembodied heads floating about?
Some of the symbolism I found a little superficial. But when returning through Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs I realised that even superficial spiritual symbolism would be too confronting to the majority.
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Date: 2006-11-13 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 02:15 am (UTC)Stylistically you are quite correct; it was conservative and decorative, but even that would be confrontational to the white masses that Rickett wanted to pitch to. I can also see why the Arrente people were more than a little perturbed with realistic presentations of their deceased.
The other thing I found interesting is that the overall output didn't seem that great.
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Date: 2006-11-13 02:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 02:43 am (UTC)I think the majority of what people get out of it is not the art as such, but the art in the location. Certainly that was my overall feeling.
Pretty place in the Hills
Date: 2006-11-13 05:07 am (UTC)(Cloudehill was also the site of
Re: Pretty place in the Hills
Date: 2006-11-13 05:16 am (UTC)Oh, pretty. And an opportunity to buy more plants.
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Date: 2006-11-13 10:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 10:18 am (UTC)From the little I know of the subject I believe clay is a lot easier to work with than other material.
Like yourself I'm in between on the moving/nafness side of Mr. Rickett. I suspect
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Date: 2006-11-12 10:41 pm (UTC)How is Astaroth getting along with Vagabond and Rogue?
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Date: 2006-11-12 11:01 pm (UTC)Cheers. I also had a response to Ramos-Horta's aggregate figure, but that was edited.
How is Astaroth getting along with Vagabond and Rogue?
Well, we spotted Rogue with a mouthful of rabbit fur the other night after 'stroth snuck into the ratzone. In general however they can be in the same room at the same time under careful supervision.
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Date: 2006-11-12 11:43 pm (UTC)Hey Lev,
Very short notice, but assuming I can't get alternate accomodation closer to Hawthorn, would you be able to put me up for just Tuesday night (tomorrow night)? These melbourne trips are damned expensive -- hope TAC end up reimbursing me.
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Date: 2006-11-12 11:47 pm (UTC)Sure, I reckon that would be fine.
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Date: 2006-11-12 11:35 pm (UTC)Anyway, I completely missed the fact that Sanders was elected to the Senate. I heard he'd won, but I thought it was just re-election to the House. It will be interesting to see how his principles play out there. Ron Paul has always been a hero to libertarians while serving in the House because of his stands against the war and pork-barrel spending and the like. But he's also largely marginalized within the GOP as the lone voice crying in the wilderness, so to speak, and now even more so since the Republicans have lost majority control.
Sanders' situation is a bit more interesting, however, since the Dems have a razor-thin majority in the Senate. His vote has a lot more weight now than it did in the House. Will he continue to stick to principles or seek compromise?
no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 12:04 am (UTC)Well, and Iranians. Indeed, there was a body of opinion among conservatives at the time that wished for the war to continue as long as possible.
Ron Paul has always been a hero to libertarians while serving in the House because of his stands against the war and pork-barrel spending and the like.
I reckon Rob Paul and Bernie Sanders should caucus. Just imagine a "Libertarian Socialist" bloc!
no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 06:20 am (UTC)LOL, imagine the screaming in the halls of Congress when they learn what "libertarian socialist" means!
However, I feel a Saunders/Paul affiliation would founder once talk turned to Social Security and healthcare. But it would be interesting enough if they just stuck to the issues they agree on.
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Date: 2006-11-13 10:07 am (UTC)LOL, imagine the screaming in the halls of Congress when they learn what "libertarian socialist" means!
*nods* A political ideology that would cause so much fear they'd label it 'cultural terrorism'.
I feel a Saunders/Paul affiliation would founder once talk turned to Social Security and healthcare.
Oh, I'm pretty sure they could come to a compromise on the issue... Just call it a "Citizen's Dividend" derived from natural resource rents for example..
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Date: 2006-11-13 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 12:41 am (UTC)I find his friendship with Walter Block interesting. I suppose my suggestion of a libertarian socialist caucus is not so crazy after all.
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Date: 2006-11-13 12:01 am (UTC)http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41422
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Date: 2006-11-13 12:25 am (UTC)Ah yes, Muslim congress member I remember that now.
Thanks for the FreeConservative board link. They weren't happy were they? :)
For our own part Australia has decided to abolish multiculturalism
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20697488-601,00.html
no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 01:59 am (UTC)For our own part Australia has decided to abolish multiculturalism
Oh dear, so we are. *reads*
"In a move seen as a shift in emphasis away from fostering diversity and towards increasing integration and responsibility among migrants, the government is canvassing alternative words to describe how ethnic communities harmoniously integrate into Australian society."
Heh. I suggest "New Australian". That seems to grasp the concept they're going for, doesn't it? "We were here before you, so you just sit down and be quiet until the next pleb in line comes along, then you can say this to them with us!"
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Date: 2006-11-13 02:09 am (UTC)*ding* *ding* *ding*
We have a winner!
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Date: 2006-11-13 05:27 am (UTC)Just saying.
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Date: 2006-11-13 05:32 am (UTC)Oh don't you start ;-)
Date: 2006-11-13 06:46 am (UTC)That was an amusing discussion.
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Date: 2006-11-13 02:15 am (UTC)YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED
CULTURAL PERSISTENCE IS USELESS
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Date: 2006-11-13 02:55 am (UTC)OH, SORRY, MAL! FUNC! TION!
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Date: 2006-11-13 05:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 06:41 am (UTC)OZZIE OZBORG
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Date: 2006-11-13 07:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 02:49 am (UTC)Ellison wrote supportive articles of NoI some ten to twenty years ago which he has since retracted. He denies ever being a member.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Ellison_%28politician%29#Nation_of_Islam
no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 04:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 12:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 01:14 am (UTC)... and I didn't even have to mention certain U.S. academics claiming Saddam's poison gas was residue bee shit.
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Date: 2006-11-13 10:46 am (UTC)I know from bitter experience that there are people who will believe whatever supports their preferred world view, and they will promulgate their views - and their purported evidence - to any who will listen. Trying to debate with them is pointless unless you are actively seeking real-life illustrations of Logical Fallacies. What is achieved by entering into discourse with such people is to educate the section of the audience who might not otherwise be exposed to evidence that opposes the strident arguments of the Utterly Convinced.
Someone has to reply to letters from people like Dr Mandel, and you do it well.
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Date: 2006-11-13 09:41 pm (UTC)Regardless of whether Dr. Mandel was aware of the facts isn't the main issue in this case, although obviously you would expect a historian to have some knowledge of actual events. What was particularly frustrating was that he used, as pivotal and definitive answers, criteria that was obviously trivial and irrelevant to the discussion at hand. A protest at a U.S. embassy in Iraq? A quote from Ramos-Horta? These are almost totally irrelevant to the critical question of the west's support (or lack thereof) for the Hussein regime.
You are quite right in noting that many debates are almost a waste of time, unless one is looking for logical fallacies as an excersise, or trolling with a little bit of time to spare. One can usually tell fairly quickly if a person is genuinely interested in protecting and promoting their point of view or not.
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Date: 2006-11-13 03:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 09:35 pm (UTC)Cheers. Fixed that.
99% of coding errors are typos.