An open thread, where at your weekend leisure, you can discuss anything you like.
Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas
Larvatus Prodeo was an Australian group blog which discussed politics, sociology, culture, life, religion and science from a left of centre perspective. more»
Frist!
Updating the travel blog. Now up to the bit about the highly-trained squad of urban cleaning Yorkshire Terriers, all equipped with little brushes and plastic bags to collect the litter left behind by visitors to The Ancient Ferro-Cement Castle Of Crows (built in 1966, thanks to the Yanks).
Got one of my old uni lecturers into strife with Australia Post by posting a book to his daughter (she’s in Canberra, but the post has to go through him on the Gold Coast for some strange reason): apparently, the postal service thought that Pride And Prejudice And Zombies could threaten the political stability of the Australian Commonwealth.
Palin to resign this month.
WASILLA, Alaska – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made a surprise announcement Friday that she is resigning from office at the end of the month without explaining why she plans to step down, raising speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in the 2012 race.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_us/us_palin_resigning
Is doom and gloom a natural obsession of the left? In other words, could a deeply held belief that for some reason the human race is doomed, be a distinguishing characteristic of those on the left of political thought? Curious
I read somewhere this week that nominations for the seat of Higgins will close? Am I right that The Smirk didn’t renominate despite the collapse of leadership at the top? If so my conspiracy theory is dashed and I’m very disappointed. But this disappointment is made up for at the thought of what’s left to “lead” the party in his wake…
Am I right?
Also David H: No and no.
David: no. It’s fun for the whole political family.
May I recommend to you, if you’re the gaming sort, Defcon?
I’ve noticed a pattern here in Melbourne: Glorious blue, sunshiny winter mornings, with cloud and OMG RAIN!! coming over in the afternoon. So I must get out into the garden instead of hanging around here! (In fact, I think I’m stretching a point referring to this thing as a “garden” just now)
sg@4, I believe in old, quirky, Liberal tradition the goal posts have been moved.
From what I think I heard, via John Roskam- who in this case, may, for once, have his facts right- nominations will be open in Higgins for one more month.
sg
the sad fact is that PeterC announced his departure some many days before the Coming of Godwin. The conspiracy theorists think the Email Fiasco may have been cooked up as Departing Costello Sabotage.
Unlikely in my view: can’t field, can’t bowl, can’t bat. Couldn’t get himself elected Leader; organising a chook raffle on a Friday night at the Sh*t Creek pub might challenge the lad.
The Email Fiasco is just too brilliant a spectacle to have been anything more than a bejewelled Cock-up, First Class with Bar.
“More harm has been done by people panicked over societal decline than societal decline ever did.” Discuss.
Thank you, xkcd.
Terangeree that silly old Commonwealth clearly isn’t aware that you can buy P&P&Z in every chain bookshop in the country including the the ones at the airport. Nice one, Oprah.
I’m packing up the house to Candy Dulfer and Jimmy Sommers tunes. Moving to sydney soon to be closer to family, twins + 1 = HELP needed. I’m going to miss melbourne. Anyone recommendation for good jazz in sydney?
Must get that Jane Austen/Zombies book. Anybody read it yet? What’s it like?
Meanwhile, here’s a post on my blog which links to my latest book review.
http://beingahistoryheadandotherthings.blogspot.com/2009/07/latest-book-review.html
If you’re interested in Aboriginal history its a book I recommend highly.
And this is a link to a quite long essay in the Guardian which discusses the nature of successful novels dealing with politics.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jul/04/politics-in-literature
I found it absolutely fascinating. Well worth a read. Was delighted it mentioned two of my favourite writers, Dickens and hemingway. (And little Dorrit is probably my favourite Dickens.) You’ll see the relevance of that non-sequitor if you read the article.
Are there any early adopters out there who have set up with a new digital radio, despite the big layout for a receiver?
My own hopes have been dashed on finding that nothing much has been done to organise anything , on that front, for regional Australia.
Still , with a good internet connection I largely listen to radio via the internet via a relatively cheap purpose built radio or much cheaper still, “dongle”.( I wonder who the freak was who came up with that word?)
I am having a feel sorry for myself day, I cannot help it!I cannot sing “Always walk on the Bright side of life”! And if anyone accusers me of their fact I cannot sing,I will howl!And seeing I am over the age of 44 and being Australian is important to me,but, not AFL., I just dont buy this line about the Left this and the Left that.Because it is getting lonely, when one calls oneself an Australian with the accent uncontrived and accepted as such.
David H @ 3 – It’s probably because people on the left do a lot more thinking, which means we inevitably end up wanting to do the right thing by others, particularly the less fortunate, so we spend a lot of time with no hope causes and people. It can get depressing and doomsaying becomes a state of mind, even though we started out thinking we could change the world and make it a better place.
Those on the right seem to go in for just doing, and often end up with the wherewithal to do some good for their own and sometimes for others, even if it’s just by way of a offering a job to clean their house or working in their factory. And cheerful giving is a lot less stressful than devoting time to the less fortunate. Amazing how many more strokes one gets for generous donations of cash rather than hours spent door knocking or other volunteering.
That’s something of a generalisation and more cynical than I really am. Yet I’ve been surprised at how aging has affected my leftist need to change the world. I always planned that once freed from the need to earn a living I would devote myself fully to my favorite causes and do really useful work. I’m fit as a fiddle and all I want to do is walk the dog, read, swim and enjoy my garden, grandchildren and sunsets on the beach.
What happened? Well, somehow prosperity overtook me and I became a cheerful giver of cash to charity yet found myself stubbornly resistant to giving my time. I still applaud those who do give time, often their lives to help others.
But I hope for their sakes they also make time for themselves and their own. My children have told me how cheated they felt when I was off on some mission to Nepal or the Kimberley so many decades ago. Did I make much of a difference? You all know that answer to that.
Oddly, though, I’m much more optimistic about life and the capacity of humankind to avert catastrophe and for things to change and improve. Oh, and I’m still rusted on to the left
Higgins pre selections has been delayed to give Cossie another chance to turn down lib leader pleadings.
It’s a small world:
.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106115324
http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Censor/lyons.html
Do you mean IP radio Joe2? I think the digital radio, which is simply a receiver of digital transmissions from existing licensed broadcasters, is a red herring, by the way.
IP radio is quite revolutionary on the other hand and its potential, BTW, to scare the shit out of MSM broadcasters just as bloggers and net journalism scare the shit out of media moguls – check out News Ltd’s Harto’s speech to the press club (as per the discussion in the “Hartigan punches back” thread).
IP radio – transmission of music and voice via Internet Protocol – is simply web radio using a personal computer to download a live “broadcast” and that’s it. But as Joe2 has correctly observed, there are now available standalone “radio” receivers, usually about the size of an old-style mantel radio, that will do the same job as a personal computer. Mine is a Sagem brand and it also has an standard radio FM tuner inside, though no AM.
An IP radio works the same way a computer works when we go to a website that has a “listen live” facility.
This is a very subversive bit of kit and I am not surprised that it is being downplayed because it has the potential to eventually murder MSM radio. Like blogging and websites, the concept demolishes barriers to entry for any putative broadcaster, as no broadcasting licence is required! All one needs is a home computer and a website. Plus a cheap microphone.
IP radio receivers pick up the “listen live” streaming via the wireless network (LAN) in the home or even via hard wire fif there is no wireless LAN – all IP radio units also have USB female plugs to take a Cat 5 LAN cable or USB patch cord direct from a router.
Of course, you can still listen to any IP radio streaming broadcasts on a laptop/PC via headphones or the computer’s loudspeaker. Quite a few people I know listen to IP radio at work on the boss’s computer at the their workstations.
The standalone IP radio receivers, which are easily available from retialers for $70 to $200 have a self-tuning facility set up to scan the world’s IP broadcasters and you can put in presets so it is just a touch of a button and you are listening to say KJAZZ from Long Beach Ca or Jazz88 from New Jersey or a station in Sengal if that is what you want to hear. The ABC broadcasts live via IP and if you are interstate and want to tune to your local station wehile away, you can. Neat technology.
I found this article in TIME about our PM entitled “Mr World:Kevin Rudd” quite interesting. Enlightening to see how Australia is presented to the rest of the world.http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1908274-1,00.html
Arrgh link fail! cut and paste – I think its worth a read.
Thanks for the summary Sir Henry. I’ve got into the habit of listening to some great radio via itunes on the PC, but the idea of having a stand alone version is intruiging. You can also get apps for the iphone/ipod touch that will also stream these stations.
They were trying to spruik the benefits of digital radio on the ABC the other moring, and it sounds very ordinary. The ability to rewind and limited text/picture facility seemed about it. Nothing to get excited about.
WARNING: GRATUITOUS AFL COMMENT …
Go the Crows!
That has pretty much summed up my weekend so far.
Lynda, does this mean that you do not care that the Power gave Brisbane a dirty great big bath? Or even that you were barracking for Brisbane?
Heh.
With respect to Higgins, it seems that Kelly O’Dwyer has the inside running.
Watch out for her – she’s pretty smart and articulate.
Defcon, hell yeah! ALL SILOS ON STANDBY!
General Buck,
you need to go back to your apartment. There’s a young lady there who is likely to “start without you”.
Your work here is done. She needs you.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1908274-4,00.html
Another link to the Time article – it is an interesting perspective they present – maybe it just reinforces the sense that this country is too far away to matter.
Do we really want to be perpetually associated with a “have a go” attitude ?
“Look there are Australians – having another go !”
It can feel like the reporter wants to say “Poor isolated twerps , they don’t know how the world really works at all……”
Early Sunday arvo.
I’m pissed off.
We came back from the wet and cold city yesterday, complete with its noisy smelly traffic, just in time to watch the Williams sisters, or at least for my wife to do so, tennis is a marginal interest for me.
Reception was perfect on all channels which considering our antenna was broken by the gale that went through here a few days ago is really surprising.
My turn today, Geelong and St. Kilda, I had visions of sitting in front of the fire watching.
Reception is still perfect on all channels…except one.
Guess which one.
Bugger.
Went to see “Taming of the Shrew” ( Bell Shakespeare Company )yesterday.
It was at the recently opened Glasshouse theatre and gallery in Port Macquarie.
How often is the opening Act performed these days?
I was loooking forward to seeing this part of the play but it was cut out.
All of the cast was played by female actors which is one way I guess of avoiding or mitigating what can seem like pretty chauvanistic sentiments.
It did set the older memebrs of the audience all atwitter though once the pashing started!
If anyone, Group Captain Leinad, I thought it’d be you. It’s the white circular flashes that do it for me in that game. We oughta organise an intra-Left tournament one of these days and sort out who’s the most efficient hater of all human civilisation.
Re. the Higgins preselection. I thought it had been decided she was bi?
Sir Henry@19, thanks. As adrian said you have summed things up very well and cover matters that I have wondered about. There appears to have been very little take up for IP radio which you correctly identify I was talking about.
Promotion is everything and it is strangely quite difficult to pick up these receivers at normal retailers. Though I managed to pick one up in the discount section of Aldi well over a year ago. It does not have a line out but I have since picked up a dongle for about ten bucks and can now hook up directly from my laptop to our stereo system.
The range of stations from o/s is quite mind boggling and you are likely correct that if it was more widely known and used it would turn the local radio industry on its head. Adrian, the menu that comes with these machines is what tames the huge, otherwise unfathonable, variety of radio from around the world.
Digital radio, that adrian mentions, is being promoted heavily. It was introduced at the beginning of this month in all the major cities. It will, I believe, reach full speed in August..
Sir Henry, I am curious to know why you think the latter is a likely “red herring”. They have been running it in the U.K. for quite some time as an advance on F.M. quality reception. Adrian mentions a couple of other small advances. I suppose the ability for quick rewind would be handy sometimes. The big advantage would be that great stations like RN will have become available on a more stable bandwidth. And it could be used away from the computer, in the car, for instance. Cheers.
Pavlov’s Cat: no, I didn’t catch the Port game. Whilst I am pretty much a one-eyed Crows supporter, I will barrack for Port as the other SA team when they are playing against others, particularly Victorian teams.
But not this weekend, when I’ve been trying – and failing spectacularly – to finish the house renovations.
Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission, Monday 6th July
Counsel assisting objects to the announcement last Friday by Premier John Brumby, on preparations for next summer. Jack Rush QC says the Victorian Govt “is off on a frolic of its own” making changes before the interim report is issued, mid-August.
Frolic? They’re governing. The next bushfire season is a mere 15 weeks away. Preparations must begin. The Govt governs. A Royal Commission reports and advises.
Reminds me of the old Primary school retort: “You’re not the boss of me!!”
Is it true the QC’s in the RC don’t want action on safe areas thought about until the fire season starts? I liked Tolhurst’s observations but I wonder how many will know of them if the next REAL fire takes a generation to appear. I wont be around then but I feel, as much as I’d hate to see it, that I will see yet another one, if not more than one, in my few years remaining.
I’d venture to suggest that when Victorian teams play non-Victorian teams most Victorian non-supporters of the Victorian team want the non-Victorian team to win.
State identity has little currency in Victoria. Old hatreds reign.
“State identity has little currency in Victoria.”
Except in the general case, when a few premierships go interstate over a few years, and Victorians start whining like little brats.
That may apply to journalists who have a vested interest in turning whining into drinking money.
I know of no non-Collingwood supporting Victorian who wanted Collingwood to beat Brisbane.
Few Victorians wanted Geelong to beat Port Adelaide.
Victorians welcomed the 2008 match-up between Geelong and Hawthorn because no irrelevant interstaters interrupted Victorians opportunity for full-blooded hatred.
Essentially, any interstate premiership is viewed in Victoria as a bye in the competition.
zorronsky
I think the counsel assisting are being very precious about this. The Commissioner rejected the suggestion that the Premier be brought to give evidence on this “frolic”. He ruled that a written response to their “please explain” would suffice.
In rural and regional Victoria meanwhile, I have no doubt that folk are repairing fences and buildings, cutting down damaged trees or trees adjudged too close to buildings, making new fire shelters, buying new fire pumps, re-thinking the family fire plan, etc etc etc.
Folks aren’t waiting for an interim report. Neither do they frolic. This is too serious to be left to the likes of ……..
Good on ya Katz but you’d better talk a few more Crows into thinking your way going by Port crowds this year.
Ambi, here in the Grampians ’06 is already a memory, it was a huge burn but in reality a fairly cool one. Black Saturday changed a lot of thinking around “stay and defend” but what’s the betting preparation slackens off gradually as the years roll on.
I suppose this as good a post as any to see if I can still post. In my effort to make a joke about DLP Catholics behind a wall where R. G. Menzies couldn’t see them on another thread I changed my moniker and wiped myself out. Just seeing if its fixed.
That Gretched Godwin has been messing with AFL.
Well, I guess we’re lucky it weren’t the cricket.