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Conferences, Religion, Telstra
It has caused some anguish and gnashing of teeth, but I've decided to attend the AUUG Conference. I am less than happy with the administrative competence of the organisation (let alone breaching their own constitution), but I do want to meet Marshall McKusick. It must be a month for IT conferences; work is sending me up to Queensland this month to the Access Grid Workshop, and at the end of the month I apparently have been invited to address an ICT Conference in East Timor.
In religious news science has developed a helmet with gives one a "religious experience" (from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
reddragdiva. Actually Timothy Leary did that some time ago... The Unitarian-Universalists (once again) are making a pitch for agnostics, atheists and the like to join the fold with a full page ad in Time magazine. I may be tempted to pitch a Unitarian perspective for a $100 000 reward (although, philosophically, the definition makes it impossible).
Many years ago I worked briefly for Telstra; during that period I wrote a response to their Senate select committee submission which advocated privitisation of the organisation. I took the opportunity to recommend instead that the infrastructure remain in public hands, and the service provision be placed in a competitive market. Some years later Lindsay Tanner recommended pretty much the same thing - the Tories attacked the plan. Now they briefly entertained the plan, dropped it - and once again the good idea is shelved for years to come.
In religious news science has developed a helmet with gives one a "religious experience" (from
reddragdiva. Actually Timothy Leary did that some time ago... The Unitarian-Universalists (once again) are making a pitch for agnostics, atheists and the like to join the fold with a full page ad in Time magazine. I may be tempted to pitch a Unitarian perspective for a $100 000 reward (although, philosophically, the definition makes it impossible).Many years ago I worked briefly for Telstra; during that period I wrote a response to their Senate select committee submission which advocated privitisation of the organisation. I took the opportunity to recommend instead that the infrastructure remain in public hands, and the service provision be placed in a competitive market. Some years later Lindsay Tanner recommended pretty much the same thing - the Tories attacked the plan. Now they briefly entertained the plan, dropped it - and once again the good idea is shelved for years to come.
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Ullo ullo. What's all this then? What's going on there?
I can't say I recognise many of the names of the office holders, but, I have a lot of professional respect for Steve Landers (listed as Vice President). He's done some very good work on the Tcl language, particularly its starpack system.
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Adrian is still president, I am the vp ... and yes Steve Landers has earned my professional respect too.
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It would be the first time that people have been brilliant at the technical details, but thin on the documentation and the "administrivia", as it is erroneously described.
I haven't pondered that question before.
A. NO. IT'S ALL THE SHOUTING.
(That, and I have absolutely no interest in being part of a loving, spiritual community).
Re: I haven't pondered that question before.
How about a clique of grumpy cynics? ;-)
Re: I haven't pondered that question before.
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(2)&(3)there are some pollies who might do better after a few goes of that helmet, eh.
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1) You could always start your own congregation (or at the very least a "fellowship").
2) & 3) Oh, yes. Of both varieties.
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2) and 3) :-) I'd go first, even.
/me holds the paranoia.
Agreed, we are doing what we can ... but that's pretty hard given the insane level of apathy amongst the members. Against that tide keeping the conf going has been one of the hardest things I have ever done.
Honestly that AUUG conf 2007 is happening *AT ALL* is a miracle and it has almost killed me.
Breaching the constitution? Where? how? If so then that's something that needs to be addressed, right now.
The AGM is scheduled for Saturday the 13th. make sure your voice is herd then.
Come to Kirk's full day tute on Friday, I would love to see you there!
Re: /me holds the paranoia.
Re: /me holds the paranoia.
How many of the advertised benefits are a reality?
http://new.auug.org.au/membership/index/
If so then that's something that needs to be addressed, right now.
Too late, she cried. The Constitution requires notification by mail for the AGM. That never eventuated. Indeed, new members are even included on the announce list.
I really don't see why I should renew my membership. The sum total of communication I've received from AUUG has been one email in the past year - and that was a password request that took three weeks.
The AGM is scheduled for Saturday the 13th. make sure your voice is herd then.
AUUG is having two AGMs for 2007?
http://www.auug.org.au/pipermail/auug-announce/2007/000250.html
Re: /me holds the paranoia.
Hmmm. That's not good for an association with a $120 per annum membership fee.
Re: /me holds the paranoia.
My sentiments exactly.
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Basic economics says "Never sell the infrastructure". Of course, sometimes that's not enough (witness Melbourne's public transport system of recent years).
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Perhaps I misinterpreted what I read in the link, but it appeared to me that the helmet was designed to locate a "god spot" in the brain via MRI, not give one a religious experience, though chuckles for the Timothy Leary reference, "religious" indeed, akin methinks to "sacred Peyote" and other hallucinogens used in sacred ceremonies.
Personally, I am opposed to putting Public trust and funds into private hands and pockets. I want good government and am prepared to pay for it with taxes and through voting. Perhaps or even, no doubt, I am naive.
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Hey, good to hear from you :-)
Personally, I am opposed to putting Public trust and funds into private hands and pockets.
It's an incredible contradiction, isn't it? Public funds are for the public good. I also strongly believe that any public funding of research should also mean the research and results are in the public domain.
The Public Good
And, hey, it's good hearing from you as well! :-) At minimum, IUUJ introduced me electronically to bunches of nice people all over the globe, who happily for me write in English. Wishing you Peace, Moderation and Success in many of your endeavors,
Brother Scissors of Cutting Thru Bureaucratic Red Tape
Re: The Public Good
I'll have a look for that Soros' book; I've read quite a few of his articles in the past and have generally been impressed by them.
As one good reference deserves another, I provide you this rather clever piece of work:
http://www.governmentisgood.com/
Re: The Public Good
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Have a nice day...
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I lived in East Timor for a year and traveled extensively through Indonesia... Also, as the most populous neighbouring state and the place with the best chance for a secular Islam...
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I like the idea of secularism though...
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A place where, although Islam is the majority religion, would studiously avoid the introduction of religious laws.
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I should also hasten to add, in an Indonesian context, there is already a strong mixing of different religious traditions which has made large numbers of the population, from my experience, quite willing to accept religious difference and to be suspicious of religious-derived legislation. Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Animism in addition to Islam, are all present and have had historical influence. These even a small Unitarian group, and apparently some atheists...
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Oh, I remember that quite well... I was asked a question about the religious breakdown in Australia and mentioned that, according to our census, about 25% or more are 'no religion' - and told that normally meant that they were communists. I had a bit of a laugh over that one, and explained that in Australia we don't really care what a person's religion is or whether they have one at all.. It took a bit of explaining!
Ahh, it was early days...
Yeah the FPI... Not a very popular bunch among most Indonesians from my experience!
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FPI are a bunch of hypocrites. I heard once when they did a raid, some of them DRANK beer. And even the Bali bombers who are supposedly anti-West are. Police found Western porn in their laptops. Ha.
The religion of the people: Beer.
One of the most common remarks I heard in Java was "Yes, I am a Muslim. But I really like beer".
Re: The religion of the people: Beer.
Re: The religion of the people: Beer.
Arak is quite tasty but very potent; the equivalent in Timor Leste is a palm brandy (50% alcohol) called Tua Sabu.
Re: The religion of the people: Beer.
LOL