Palestine, Elections, UNIX and Science!

[tcpip]

Last Thursday attended a University of Melbourne forum with Dr. Ghada Karmi speaking on the need to establish a "one (secular, democratic) state" solution in Palestine; as a two-state solution simply isn't possible anymore; there were some 250 people there with an hour for the talk and an hour of questions afterwards. It was also a discussion around her latest book Married to Another Man, which is a well-referenced, accessible and personal introduction to the topic. Her talk in Adelaide, has attracted some debate. On the tram on the way back home there was a small group of young pro-Israelis discussing the talk (although during the presentation they scattered themselves throughout the lecture theatre). One rather enthusiastically rejected Dr. Karmi's suggestion to read the works of Jewish scholar Norman Finkelstein on the grounds that he is a holocaust denier. I really should have opened my mouth at that point; Finklestein is a critic of what he justly calls the "holocaust industry"; but that's not the same thing as denial: Finklestein's parents were both in the Warsaw ghetto. His mother was shipped to Majdanek concentration camp, his father to Auschwitz.

In a more local country where the Basic Laws don't dictate a particular religion, an election has been called. Opinion polls indicate that the Howard government is well and truly on the way out and I suspect that he knows it as well. This is why, I suspect, that he has turned to indigenous reconciliation and has just claimed that Medicare shows that the Coalition is caring. When one spends their life in public office, typically one wants to be remembered from something positive; to date the Prime Minister has left behind of that nature. So expect a "kinder, caring" slate of promises from the PM in this election. Frankly however, as The Age editorial remarked on the indigenous issue: Sorry Mr. Howard: Too Little, Too Late.

Attended one day of AUUG 2007 and was delighted to talk at some length with Marshall Kirk McKusick. Was especially impressed with Enno Davids' presentation and have put in a request for a related to talk at Securecon. Challenging talk by arjen_lentz; will be dining with him tonight.Also testing the waters to see if VPAC will be interested in a FreeBSD cluster. Military's "gay bomb" (sounds like an X-rated "Get Smart" movie) wins Ignoble Award, although with some serious challengers. British court notes nine minor errors in Al Gore's film, as he wins the 2007 Noble Peace Prize.

Comments

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

I have noticed a number of minor errors in popular science works.

Gore's strong claims are, to me, typically USan. They are prone, especially by UK cultural standards, to hyperbole (IMO).

As for the election: here's hoping that a succesful stunt won't be pulled by the Coalition (whom I believe don't care for all equally, not at all).

It's time for change here.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I have noticed a number of minor errors in popular science works.

*nods* It's not unusual at all. Even the best encyclopedias are error-prone. Gore's greatest mistake, as you have correctly noted, is that he's prone to hyperbole. In general tho' the science is pretty clear.

I've noticed that the ABC interactive prediction pendulum doesn't even go as far as opinion polls are suggesting :-)

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

Yes, the pendulum is feeble.

At its highest though it shows a most satisfying annhiliation...even though I doubt the seats are correct.

It's hard to know at this stage still, particularly as Victorians can be Dark Horses.

I suppose Dunkley, Casey and Flinders (my area) will stay with the libs :-/

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Flinders is a hard one; it used to consist of a lot of semi-rural townships some of which were quite pro-Labor (e.g., Hastings) although overall it was old money Liberals. Over the years it has become partially gentrified (Rosebud) and partially taken up by "Kath and Kim" land of the outer suburbs. If strangedave is correct and the Tories are going to abandon the Kath and Kims of the world, then it may become Labor again; although I have my doubts.... Much will depend on how much Rudd kicks the AWA can..

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

:::nods:::

Flinders and Dunkley were thought winnable by Labor last time.

Indeed, I'm just a walk from part of Flinders, and was in Corinella which disappeared etc.

I suspect the previous Dunkley Labor candidate (who sounded good on paper) may have been known in the community as a hugely domly bossy temper-person (which she is, I took a class of hers and know her collegues are afraid of her, some of them) etc.

Yet Billson is such a...I won't say it.

So it's hard to know.

Also: I don't that Rudd needs to say much more about AWAs: I daresay many ordinary people know someone who has been sorely impacted by them (I certainly do). He should describe his alternative clearly instead.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

I'd be less chaitable to Howard. My theory is that senior cabinet figures have acknowledged they are losing the election, and have decided on a strategy of shoring up the inner city seats (like Bennelong, Wentworth, etc), abandoning the mortagage belt blue collars that got them in last time. I think it will fail, though.

The Gore thing wasn't even nine errors, but nine 'errors' - points that deserved discussion/clarification,onyl some of which were really errors. And while the climate change deniers have been crowing about the decision, they really have no grounds to do so - the judge accepted the IPCC as the standard of truth, and explicitly rejected the 'tech the controversy' argument that would have given denialism a look in. So kids will learn a little about the politicisation of science.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

That's quite a good pitch regarding Howard; although I suspect that they're fighting the inevitable in the long run regarding the inner urban regions.

Agree with you entirely with the Gore decision; I was rather surprised that some in the denier crowd have been positive about the Court decision. It's not a victory for them at all for any stretch of the imagination. Indeed, it's a significant and crushing defeat.

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

Global warming deniers, like creationists, work on the basis that any minor disagreement by their opponents should be considered proof positive that their own claims are absolute truth. Logic rarely if ever enters into it.

I'm also less charitable to Howard: I think he knows that the coalition is almost certain to lose, and is now desperate just to hold onto his seat to have some say over picking his successor.

[delibash.livejournal.com]

word to the wise - in order to sustain the rich one must have an abundant pool of the poor. i live in a working class hispanic neighborhood of new york. of course, their condition cannot be compared with that of the palestinians. but the principle is the same. those who do not "belong" must toil. in the end, in my opinion, it comes down to simple racism. the grand master plan is always a failure...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

in order to sustain the rich one must have an abundant pool of the poor

Well, in a relative sense certainly. You do raise a very interesting angle which is worth investigating; the degree that the Palestinians are being used a labour pool. It has been noted that for a great number of important positions is often advertised that prior military service is required (whether relevant or not)... which really restricts who can and cannot apply for such jobs.

[mozillafs.livejournal.com]

Institutionally, Palestinians are hated - and of course Israel's afraid of suicide bombings, etc. if Palestinians were allowed in more freely. So Israel has created the interesting situation where, despite a shit-ton of people under their control that are essentially jobless and starving, they have to bring in poor immigrants from eastern Europe to do the menial wage-slave work within Israel proper.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

*nods* This is quite true; in an labour-economic sense Israel does not need the occupied territories - which leaves one to think that in reality it's about the expansion of land into the West Bank - the "pastrami" option.

(Gaza, being more rebellious and annoying than it is worth in all factors, has been left to its own devices)

[beingfrank.livejournal.com]

I'm worried that it's not as cut and dried as the opinion polls might suggest. Winning the seats is the tricky bit, and that could be harder.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I would be surprised if there was not some closing of the gap - but the opinion polls haven't shifted for some time now and, contrary to popular belief, Howard is not the amazing campaigner that many think ..

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=6471

For a change in government there needs to be a c3.8% swing. That isn't much in a volatile electorate.

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

i can't believe it took so long and so much to get australians to realise howard is an arse! i hope the boot that kicks him out is HUGE!

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

I suspect that if Howard hadn't won control of the senate in the last election, he might still be a contender in this one. WorkChoices showed what a monster he could be if unrestrained, and he can't pin any of the blame on other parties as he did with the GST or other stuff from his previous terms.

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

interest rates! interest rates!!!
ROTFL!!!!!!!!!!!!
yes constituents, the government really does *coughbullshitcough* have the power to dictate interest rates....
haaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa!!!

WorkChoices. as a parent of a brand new working 19 year old....

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Actually, as the nation's biggest borrower, the government actually does have a significant role to play in what interest rates end up being...

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

hmmmm. interesting. thanks. :-)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

They don't decide the rate; and of course business and overseas changes are very influential as well, but a government that spends lots of money that it doesn't have is going to have an effect...

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

i hadn't thought of that aspect before. i guess it is all inextricably tied in together.

we have a large mortgage... but interest rates is the last thing we would base our vote on. just can't see how any govt can "guarantee" safety there. even at the height of keating's recession we still had hope that we lived in a relatively humane, sane and socially conscious country. after howard took over, it has been difficult to maintain the optimism. perhaps we are too naive /idealist... but in all good conscience, we can only base our vote with concern to building a happy, healthy society.
have to admit, the way things are these days, we aren't that impressed by the alternative... just that it is not howard!

[ser-pounce.livejournal.com]

Yay for election! Howard is really scrambling this time. Acknowledging Aboriginals a month before an election......convenient.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

.. and how embarrassing, I've been meaning to email you for weeks...

Way short notice but do you both feel like coming to the Astor tomorrow night? Black Sheep is on!

[ser-pounce.livejournal.com]

Ah crappy crap crap! I only just checked e-mail/LJ today. :(

Been uber-busy lately.

We saw 'Kagemi' last night at the State Theatre. Was awesome! Check it out here -> http://www.mytickets.com.au/kagemi-beyond-the-metaphor-of-mirrors-melbourne-international-arts-festival/1-87330/view.aspx

When are you 2 lovely people available for catching up?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Message just sent to your gmail account... Blade Runner!

[ser-pounce.livejournal.com]

I didn't get the message... :(

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Eh, that's a bit strange. It's in my outbox and caseopaya sent it as well; I sent it to combined J+D gmail account..

Anyway, here's the details.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut: Saturday - November 17 - 5pm

As the subject says at the Astor Cinema cnr of
Dandenong Rd and Chapel St Prahran...

We're going along and I think you should as well :-)

Come over on Saturday and we can have fun and an excellent movie!

[ser-pounce.livejournal.com]

Yep, we finally got the e-mail. Sent a reply :)

[reddragdiva]

Heh. I started that McKusick article.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Small world indeed... Or similar interests... Or something like that..

(Did you have anything to do with the quote from his partner concerning "gay programs"?)

[reddragdiva]

Nah. But it's a pretty common Allman quote.