Iraq, U.S. Elections, Novel and Various Events

[tcpip]

Dr 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, 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.

Comments

[severina-242.livejournal.com]

As Douglas Adams said, he had no formal relationships with dogs. He didn't have to feed, walk, delouse or (and this applies to your rabbit) "suddenly arrange for any of its internal organs to be removed when they displease me."

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.

[rhapsodical78.livejournal.com]

Good letter.

How is Astaroth getting along with Vagabond and Rogue?

[cluebyfour.livejournal.com]

Good "reminder" re: the US support of Saddam. We had no problem letting Saddam play with his toys as long as it was other Iraqis dying. Only when he threatened something important to the US (namely, oil) did we suddenly feel compelled to take them away.

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?

[blot.livejournal.com]

omg I didnt know that about sanders! I thought he was just an independant. That is SO COOL!

[tau-iota-mu-c.livejournal.com]

First muslim to congress, too. And I thought Australia was xenophobic, but the day that Muslims start taking over congress, is the day that the red commies have won:

http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41422

[aske.livejournal.com]

Good stuff. Saw your letter whilst poking through the papers at work this morning and was curious to read the original letter. And what a bonus - it's right after a letter from the predictable Michael Burd, heh.

[omnot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for not letting people like Dr Mandel re-write history unchallenged. Whether he was aware of the inaccuracy of what he was stating or not, I am genuinely grateful that someone with the relevant knowledge is watching - and acting to redress the balance.

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.

[taavi.livejournal.com]

your "os economics talk" is missing a .com in its address