Comments on: Saturday Salon http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:35:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: joe2 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-470266 joe2 Fri, 23 May 2008 01:30:30 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-470266 Ali Moore reckons that ANZ is set to knock back money to Gunns to finance the tassie pulp mill. Hooray! Ali Moore reckons that ANZ is set to knock back money to Gunns to finance the tassie pulp mill. Hooray!

]]> By: Graham Bell http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468697 Graham Bell Mon, 19 May 2008 10:58:53 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468697 J-P-Z [25]: No not that Turkey - though I can understand the hurt feelings of the Turks after trying so hard and after progressing so far and then not getting into the EU. No, they're all talking about the banning of Graeme M. Bird ["GMB"] from the Australian website Catallaxy. He has a - well, what would you call it? - "robust" style of debating. Unfortunately, his intellect is not matched by his social skills and politeness. Also unfortunately, he stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for a minority libertarian party in our recent semi-rigged federal election .... he would have turned our bland, predictable, ritualistic House Of Representatives into a very lively, unpredictable and interesting debating chamber. Hey, be a bit more careful where you toss that snow next Winter .... the lot you shovelled earlier has just landed on Armidale in NSW! J-P-Z [25]:

No not that Turkey - though I can understand the hurt feelings of the Turks after trying so hard and after progressing so far and then not getting into the EU.

No, they’re all talking about the banning of Graeme M. Bird [”GMB”] from the Australian website Catallaxy. He has a - well, what would you call it? - “robust” style of debating. Unfortunately, his intellect is not matched by his social skills and politeness. Also unfortunately, he stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for a minority libertarian party in our recent semi-rigged federal election …. he would have turned our bland, predictable, ritualistic House Of Representatives into a very lively, unpredictable and interesting debating chamber.

Hey, be a bit more careful where you toss that snow next Winter …. the lot you shovelled earlier has just landed on Armidale in NSW!

]]> By: j_p_z http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468664 j_p_z Mon, 19 May 2008 09:18:31 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468664 FDB: "Turkey banned from only remaining playground." Good grief. First they're stonewalled out of the EU, and now this. FDB: “Turkey banned from only remaining playground.”

Good grief. First they’re stonewalled out of the EU, and now this.

]]> By: joe2 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468660 joe2 Mon, 19 May 2008 09:08:24 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468660 "Why does Truss think Banjo-playing hillbilles are a bad thing?" Kim he is just an old square. Graham Bell suggests Epsom salts or Sennakot ™. I would be inclined to prescribe Sativex®. Apparently it is good for those unable to get their feet a tappin' on either side of the Pine and other pain relief. It is already available in New Zealand. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/doctors-to-trial-cannabis/2008/05/18/1210765250875.html “Why does Truss think Banjo-playing hillbilles are a bad thing?”

Kim he is just an old square. Graham Bell suggests Epsom salts or Sennakot ™.
I would be inclined to prescribe Sativex®. Apparently it is good for those unable to get their feet a tappin’ on either side of the Pine and other pain relief. It is already available in New Zealand. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/doctors-to-trial-cannabis/2008/05/18/1210765250875.html

]]> By: Nick Caldwell http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468643 Nick Caldwell Mon, 19 May 2008 08:01:44 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468643 <blockquote>Nick, I am living in London now so you’d think if Matter was in paperback in Aus it would be out here too, but I haven’t seen it. This is hardly fair!!! It was 13 C here yesterday, I at least deserve first release of cheap books for my pains!!!!</blockquote> Well, to be fair, even paperbacks are bafflingly expensive in the land of Aus these days. Your standard mass-market format paperback has basically quadrupled in price over the last 18 years, without any reference to improvements in the parity of the Australian dollar with other currencies. The Brits are, without a doubt, completely owning hard SF and space opera right now. Banks can take a lot of the credit for that. The mixture of hot sex, extreme violence, gigantic spaceships with funny names, and ultra left-wing politics seems to be strangely compelling. See also Ken McLeod, except the extreme violence is usually directed at artificial intelligences.

Nick, I am living in London now so you’d think if Matter was in paperback in Aus it would be out here too, but I haven’t seen it. This is hardly fair!!! It was 13 C here yesterday, I at least deserve first release of cheap books for my pains!!!!

Well, to be fair, even paperbacks are bafflingly expensive in the land of Aus these days. Your standard mass-market format paperback has basically quadrupled in price over the last 18 years, without any reference to improvements in the parity of the Australian dollar with other currencies.

The Brits are, without a doubt, completely owning hard SF and space opera right now. Banks can take a lot of the credit for that. The mixture of hot sex, extreme violence, gigantic spaceships with funny names, and ultra left-wing politics seems to be strangely compelling.

See also Ken McLeod, except the extreme violence is usually directed at artificial intelligences.

]]> By: FDB http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468545 FDB Mon, 19 May 2008 03:49:36 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468545 Turkey banned from only remaining playground. http://catallaxyfiles.com/?p=3587 (3rd paragraph down) Turkey banned from only remaining playground.

http://catallaxyfiles.com/?p=3587

(3rd paragraph down)

]]> By: Paul Burns http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468486 Paul Burns Mon, 19 May 2008 01:07:27 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468486 David, Not so bad today. I'm even going to make a sally to the corner shop later this morning. (To buy chocolate or cigarettes, I'm not sure which. Indulging myself.) David,
Not so bad today. I’m even going to make a sally to the corner shop later this morning. (To buy chocolate or cigarettes, I’m not sure which. Indulging myself.)

]]> By: David Rubie http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468460 David Rubie Sun, 18 May 2008 23:54:30 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468460 Paul Burns, Yes it was bloody cold on Saturday night but it didn't really start snowing until fairly late. The firewood delivery guy was just about run off his feet on Friday, I assume they all did pretty good business judging by the pall of smoke hanging over Armidale this morning. Can't be too good for our lungs but it is supposed to be carbon neutral. Paul Burns,

Yes it was bloody cold on Saturday night but it didn’t really start snowing until fairly late. The firewood delivery guy was just about run off his feet on Friday, I assume they all did pretty good business judging by the pall of smoke hanging over Armidale this morning. Can’t be too good for our lungs but it is supposed to be carbon neutral.

]]> By: Tony D http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468451 Tony D Sun, 18 May 2008 23:16:50 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468451 Ok, so I need to get out more; <i>Complicity</i> was released in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0188518/" rel="nofollow">2000</a> Ok, so I need to get out more; Complicity was released in 2000

]]> By: Tony D http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468449 Tony D Sun, 18 May 2008 23:13:58 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468449 <i>"Has anyone here seen the movie of Complicity?"</i> It's out? Heard it was in the works but don't know any release info... Complicity would have to be my fav non-scifi Banks, the protagonist is just way too fun a character :-) “Has anyone here seen the movie of Complicity?”

It’s out? Heard it was in the works but don’t know any release info…

Complicity would have to be my fav non-scifi Banks, the protagonist is just way too fun a character :-)

]]> By: Graham Bell http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468440 Graham Bell Sun, 18 May 2008 22:21:01 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468440 Kim [16]: What's wrong with hill-billies? [Had the honour of serving alongside many intelligent, hard-working, dependable and fun-loving hill-billies]. What's wrong with banjo-playing? [Love listening to good violin, banjo, mandolin and harp playing]. Maybe those who are so reliant on quasi-racist stereotypes [such as calling those south of the border, Mexicans] need a good dose of Epsom salts or Sennakot (tm) to markedly improve their I.Q. Kim [16]:

What’s wrong with hill-billies? [Had the honour of serving alongside many intelligent, hard-working, dependable and fun-loving hill-billies].

What’s wrong with banjo-playing? [Love listening to good violin, banjo, mandolin and harp playing].

Maybe those who are so reliant on quasi-racist stereotypes [such as calling those south of the border, Mexicans] need a good dose of Epsom salts or Sennakot ™ to markedly improve their I.Q.

]]> By: Kim http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468346 Kim Sun, 18 May 2008 12:16:41 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468346 Why does Truss think Banjo-playing hillbilles are a <b>bad</b> thing? Why does Truss think Banjo-playing hillbilles are a bad thing?

]]> By: joe2 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468340 joe2 Sun, 18 May 2008 11:55:55 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468340 This looks likely to be the week of banjogate... http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/hillbilly-economics-and-the-banjo-state-rudd-a-disgraceful-elitist-truss/771302.aspx ... i'm already a hummin'. This looks likely to be the week of banjogate…
http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/hillbilly-economics-and-the-banjo-state-rudd-a-disgraceful-elitist-truss/771302.aspx
… i’m already a hummin’.

]]> By: SG http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468329 SG Sun, 18 May 2008 11:05:14 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468329 Against a Dark Background is my favourite too, though I remember reading the first Culture novel with a growing sense of wonder, thinking "my god, someone is finally going to salvage sci-fi!" Without Iain M.Banks and China Mieville I think I might have given up on sci-fi and fantasy years ago. Plus of course he has brought a bit of new life into the fiction world too. Has anyone here seen the movie of <i>Complicity</i>? Nick, I am living in London now so you'd think if <i>Matter</i> was in paperback in Aus it would be out here too, but I haven't seen it. This is hardly fair!!! It was 13 C here yesterday, I at least deserve first release of cheap books for my pains!!!! Against a Dark Background is my favourite too, though I remember reading the first Culture novel with a growing sense of wonder, thinking “my god, someone is finally going to salvage sci-fi!” Without Iain M.Banks and China Mieville I think I might have given up on sci-fi and fantasy years ago. Plus of course he has brought a bit of new life into the fiction world too. Has anyone here seen the movie of Complicity?

Nick, I am living in London now so you’d think if Matter was in paperback in Aus it would be out here too, but I haven’t seen it. This is hardly fair!!! It was 13 C here yesterday, I at least deserve first release of cheap books for my pains!!!!

]]> By: BilB http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468320 BilB Sun, 18 May 2008 10:51:13 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468320 I should have added "commercially available". I should have added “commercially available”.

]]> By: BilB http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468319 BilB Sun, 18 May 2008 10:50:12 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468319 The worlds first high performance long range electric aircraft. http://cafefoundation.org/v2/pdf_pav_electricaircraft/2008/ivo.bosarol.pipistrel.electro.pdf This is a 20 meg file. The worlds first high performance long range electric aircraft.

http://cafefoundation.org/v2/pdf_pav_electricaircraft/2008/ivo.bosarol.pipistrel.electro.pdf

This is a 20 meg file.

]]> By: Paul Burns http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468201 Paul Burns Sun, 18 May 2008 00:55:18 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468201 Savid Rubie @ 7, So that's why its so bloody cold this morning. Didn't see it last night, too rugged up watching Tv/reading. Bet we'll get dome more today. Savid Rubie @ 7,
So that’s why its so bloody cold this morning. Didn’t see it last night, too rugged up watching Tv/reading. Bet we’ll get dome more today.

]]> By: Nick Caldwell http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468187 Nick Caldwell Sat, 17 May 2008 23:19:36 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468187 Matter is already in paperback here, albeit large format paperback. It's certainly worth picking up but in my case it's a birthday gift I've finally got round to reading. Tony, I'm very fond of AaDB; Banks gets the tension between comedy and terror just right there. Excession is fun but at the time seems to have been considered a bit of a lightweight compared to its predecessors. Possibly because there weren't enough flayings. Matter is already in paperback here, albeit large format paperback. It’s certainly worth picking up but in my case it’s a birthday gift I’ve finally got round to reading.

Tony, I’m very fond of AaDB; Banks gets the tension between comedy and terror just right there. Excession is fun but at the time seems to have been considered a bit of a lightweight compared to its predecessors. Possibly because there weren’t enough flayings.

]]> By: Tony D http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468182 Tony D Sat, 17 May 2008 22:31:58 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468182 Nick, UoW is hard to beat, Banks in his prime. Though for my money AaDB trumps it as the best non-culture culture novel and <i>Excession</i> is best of all... though I love that scene in LtW where two of the characters are having a conversation using only Ship names! Nick,

UoW is hard to beat, Banks in his prime. Though for my money AaDB trumps it as the best non-culture culture novel and Excession is best of all… though I love that scene in LtW where two of the characters are having a conversation using only Ship names!

]]> By: SG http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468158 SG Sat, 17 May 2008 20:13:24 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/17/saturday-salon-140/#comment-468158 Nick, I am reading "the steep approach to Garbadale" by Iain Banksand liking it. I am waiting for Matter to come out in paperback. Is it worth the money, do you think? What is the Official Larvatus Prodeo Policy on posting in a Saturday Salon when it is still Saturday where one posts from, but Sunday in Brisbane? Nick, I am reading “the steep approach to Garbadale” by Iain Banksand liking it. I am waiting for Matter to come out in paperback. Is it worth the money, do you think?

What is the Official Larvatus Prodeo Policy on posting in a Saturday Salon when it is still Saturday where one posts from, but Sunday in Brisbane?

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