Archive for August, 2012

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-11

  • I see that Mitt Romney has chosen Paul Ryan as his running mate. I'm happy with that. Paul Ryan's fiscal prowess will be a big asset. #

August 11th, 2012 at 09:00pm

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-09

August 9th, 2012 at 09:00pm

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-09

August 9th, 2012 at 09:00pm

Video of Tony Abbott’s speech about freedom of speech

On Monday, as noted on this blog, Tony Abbott addressed the Institute of Public Affairs about the subject of freedom of speech. I consider myself privileged to have been there to see it, and found myself hoping that somebody would post the full video of the speech online for everyone to see as the grabs used by the media in their news reports, while capturing the bare point of the speech, did not seem to capture the full reasoning or argument behind the speech. Various media outlets have clearly noted and understood the reasoning, and echoed it in their own statements since Monday, but I don’t believe that the general public has been given the opportunity to date to hear Tony Abbott’s full thought process on the matter.

Today, I am pleased to be able to say, The Institute of Public Affairs have done just that.

The video runs just under 30 minutes. The IPA’s Chris Berg delivers introductory remarks for the first seven of those minutes, with Tony Abbott’s speech taking up the remaining 23 minutes. It’s well worth watching, or even just listening to. I think even those who disagree with Tony Abbott on this one will find this enlightening, even if it merely gives them a better understanding of where their own arguments fit in to the debate.

Samuel

1 comment August 9th, 2012 at 10:10am

How much data mining is going on here?

I’ve noticed some odd things with Facebook before where it seems to have known things about me that it should not have been able to know, mainly about people that I have communicated with in the past. On more than one occasion it has suggested a potential friend for me…someone with whom I corresponded via email once, many years ago, and with whom I have no mutual friends on Facebook. About the only way Facebook could know that I ever communicated with this person is if it had access to my Gmail account, or the other person’s email account. I certainly didn’t grant access…maybe the other person did. Either way, it was odd.

Today, something which would have required a little bit more research.

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Of late Facebook has become more forthright with its suggestions of pages in which it thinks I might have an interest. For the most part this has been benign and been about something which I recently mentioned on Facebook…but that one there about Bundanoon is odd, very odd.

To the best of my knowledge I have never mentioned Bundanoon on Facebook. I have mentioned the nearby town of Moss Vale, but that was many months ago. I have mentioned Bundanoon on this blog before, but that was years ago in relation to a nutty move in that town to ban bottled water. Until today though, Facebook has never suggested that I “like” Bundanoon’s page, so what’s changed?

Well, I think that’s simple and a tad scary. Last night I wrote a blog post about a dream I had which, among many other things, involved flying to Bundanoon. This blog post, once published, was automatically linked to in a notice about a new blog post on my Twitter account, and that tweet was automatically cross-posted to my Facebook account.

It seems to me that the only way Facebook could have determined that Bundanoon might be something in which I am interested, would be that upon seeing the link to my blog post, a Facebook robot has scoured the blog post for terms which relate to Facebook pages. With this as the case, how many of my other links has Facebook scoured? And how much of a profile has it built up about me? Equally importantly, how accurate is that profile of me? Because it has to be noted that I do not only link to things with which I am in complete agreement.

Beyond Facebook, it makes me wonder who else is building detailed profiles of me, and why they are doing so. I suspect quite strongly that I probably would not like the answer…and many others would feel the same way about the profiles being built about them.

And then (and I don’t want to get all conspiratorial on you, but perhaps it’s too late) there was that story in the news yesterday which was pushing a line that some psychologists think people who aren’t on Facebook are more likely to be psychopaths. Apart from the absurdity of such a claim, the obvious push to make people think they “need” to be involved in something which is clearly performing data-mining for its own purposes, is concerning, and does make me wonder who else might have access to the data, especially seeing as another article on the subject notes that Australian universities are advising students that they must have an active Facebook account if they ever want to be employed.

Maybe I’m over-thinking the situation…but I just can’t help but think that this is exactly the sort of thing which George Orwell was warning us all about.

Samuel

2 comments August 9th, 2012 at 07:04am

Thrifty Cessna Rentals

I had what can only be described as a very peculiar dream this afternoon (yes, this afternoon…the joys of being a shift worker). It started with me seeing an ad in a floating newspaper for a new venture from Thrifty Car Rentals who had decided to buy a bunch of Cessnas and lend them to people.

For whatever reason, I decided that it would be a good idea to fly to Bundanoon (about half way between Canberra and Sydney), so knowing that I don’t have the appropriate qualifications to fly a Cessna, I took out a label maker and covered the word “Driver’s” on my driver’s licence with the word “Pilot’s”.

I then walked out to Canberra Airport rather than driving as for some reason it seemed logical that if I had changed the purpose of my licence, then I would not be able to drive. When I got to the airport I was more than a tad surprised to find that the people at Thrifty quite gladly accepted that my licence with a sticky label on it was perfectly valid, handed me the keys to an aeroplane and off I went. Even more strangely, the aeroplane had an AM/FM radio so I tuned in to the Olympics (which is odd considering that in my dream it was 10am and the Olympics would not have been on at that time of day) and heard Mark Levy getting ready to commentate on the singing competition which Gordon Bray was competing in.

I took off…in reverse, but eventually figured out how to fly forwards, which made the air traffic control tower people happy, and started to make my way to Bundanoon. As I took off, Gordon Bray started singing Love Potion Number Nine which he was caught singing the other day, and with the Cessna on autopilot I sent Mark Levy an email advising that I thought Gordon deserved a gold medal, which he promptly read, although he disagreed as he saw that Ray Hadley was joining the competition and thought that Ray would be tough competition for Gordon.

Unfortunately I didn’t hear Ray sing as once I passed Goulburn, the radio stopped working and I had to insert eleven coins so that the engine would keep working. I then landed on the roof of a barn in Bundanoon and had a nap, at which point the dream ended.

As I say, most peculiar.

Samuel

1 comment August 8th, 2012 at 10:19pm

Nice Korea and Naughty Korea

Apparently in the last few days the freebie News Limited newspaper in the capital cities, MX, decided to rename the Koreas, calling North Korea “Naughty Korea” and South Korea “Nice Korea”. This angered the North Koreans which made noises about MX’s actions being against the spirit of the Olympics (because, as we all know, North Korea are the world authority on all of the peaceful sentiments of the Olympics) which in turn caused MX to run a paper with the headline “North Korea launches missive (yes, missive)”. That missive is one of the more amusing official statements I have ever read.

The Australian newspaper Brisbane Metro behaved so sordid as to describe the DPRK as “Naughty Korea” when carrying the news of London Olympics standings.

This is a bullying act little short of insulting the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and progress and politicizing sports.

Media are obliged to lead the public in today’s highly-civilized world where mental and cultural level of mankind is being displayed at the highest level. Brisbane Metro deserves criticism for what it has done.

The paper behaved so foolish as to use the London Olympics that has caught the world interest for degrading itself.

The paper hardly known in the world must have thought of making its existence known to the world by joining other media in reporting the Olympic news.

Then it should have presented its right appearance to the world.

Editors of the paper were so incompetent as to tarnish the reputation of the paper by themselves by producing the article like that.

There is a saying “A straw may show which way the wind blows”. A single article may exhibit the level of the paper.

Many people were unanimous in denouncing the small paper for defaming the mental and moral aspects of the players of the DPRK who earned recognition from several appreciative world famous media.

Even hostile forces toward the DPRK heaped praises on its players’ successful performance at the London Olympics, saying that “Korea whirlwind” sweeps the world.

The Australian paper cooked up the way of moneymaking, challenging the authority of the dignified sovereign state. The paper deserves a trifle sum of dirty money.

As already known, it was reported that a lot of petty thieves sneaked into the London Olympics together with tourists. Players fight to the finish in the stadium, but those petty thieves demonstrate their “skills” outside the stadium.

The paper Brisbane Metro is little different from those petty thieves. In a word, the paper discredited itself. How pitiful it is.

The Brisbane Metro will remain as a symbol of rogue paper for its misdeed to be cursed long in Olympic history. The infamy is the self-product of the naughty paper Brisbane Metro which dared challenge the spirit of Olympic, common desire and unanimous will of mankind.

(h/t News Limited)

MX were having a bit of fun…probably not as much fun as I have been having while reading the peculiar missive from North Korea. MX’s altered medal tally may have been in bad taste, although I personally think it was quite amusing. In fact, I think the names should stick. From now on, I intend on adopting MX’s names for the Koreas, referring to the North and South as “Naughty” and “Nice” respectively.

Now, let’s see if I get a personal message from Pyongyang describing me as “most sordid” and “cursed long in Olympic history”.

Samuel

1 comment August 8th, 2012 at 10:00pm

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-08

August 8th, 2012 at 09:00pm

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-06

  • Departing for Sydney! #
  • A sure fire sign you're in Sydney. Some guy waving a "$29 cheap parking" sign nearly hits you in the head with it and doesn't notice. #
  • I've finally figured out where I need to be in Sydney. Now to fill time by figuring out if @glennwheeler is in Martin Place today. #
  • An extract of the speech which Tony Abbott will deliver in about an hour http://t.co/bRNytCG7 #
  • The only Kerr that springs to mind is 2UE's John. I hope it's not. RT @theheraldsun: Kerr nude shots leak onto the web http://t.co/MKJni5cW #
  • I might be wrong, but I think former radio host Michael Smith is two rows in front of me. #
  • There's a good turnout to see @TonyAbbottMHR, and plenty of media too, which is impressive considering so much of our press is in London. #
  • Hooray for sanity! RT @PRIME7CanNews: The ACT Opposition says they'll scrap the plastic bag ban.. if elected in October. #prime7news #
  • Could this mean Palin is VP candidate? RT @toddstarnes: RNC speakers: Haley, Huckabee, Kasich, Martinez, Scott, Rice, McCain. No Palin. #
  • To whomever it was that called me from a blocked number a few minutes ago. Please try again as I received no audio. #
  • @STU_GBP or someone who looks just like him is sitting a few metres from me. Alas, as I'm in Sydney, I suspect the latter. #
  • Why is Colin Lane's cooking game show called "Ready Steady Cook"? I'd go with "Colinary Cuisine" or "Cooking In The Fast Lane". #
  • @therealsteavis Good luck! I'd offer you a lift but I'm in the CBD and my knowledge of Sydney is tenuous at best…just like some cabbies… in reply to therealsteavis #
  • @therealsteavis haha, now that's what I call looking at the bright side of things 🙂 in reply to therealsteavis #
  • 7 vehicle accident Hume Hwy southbound at Narellan Rd. Very heavy delays. The traffic really hates me this week. #
  • Back home, at last. I haven't slept for 30 hours so it's probably a good time for a nap. #

4 comments August 6th, 2012 at 09:00pm

Tony Abbott vows to repeal section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act

Tony Abbott delivered a rousing and encouraging speech on the subject of freedom of speech today. He made a number of important points, but in my view the most important thing he said is that he will repeal section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, if elected as Prime Minister. Section 18C is, of course, the section which Andrew Bolt was deemed to have breached for daring to suggest that some people with tenuous links to Aboriginal heritage might not really be entitled to claim governments benefits afforded to Aboriginal people.

20120806-123250.jpg
Tony Abbott addressing the Institute of Public Affairs today

The Coalition will repeal section 18C in its present form.
[..]
Expression or advocacy should never be unlawful merely because it is offensive. It ought to be inconceivable that a commentator offering an opinion should fall foul of the law just because offence was taken or might be expected to be taken. This is not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing with Bolt. It’s a matter of an expansive or a repressive view of the right to free speech.

–Tony Abbott

An edited, but lengthy, extract from Tony Abbott’s speech was published in The Australian this morning, and can be read online on The Australian’s website (subscription required, and personally recommended by me).

As I write this, I see that the full speech has appeared on Tony Abbott’s website at http://tonyabbott.com.au/News/tabid/94/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8833/Address-to-the-Institute-of-Public-Affairs-Sydney.aspx.

If you have the time to spare, I would strongly suggest reading it as it outlines why Tony Abbott believes in, and will defend, freedom of speech.

Now, to be clear, I would go further than Mr. Abbott insofar as I would push for a level of freedom of speech akin to that bestowed upon Americans by the United States of America’s constitution, but I applaud Tony Abbott for taking significant steps in the right direction.

On a personal note, it was a great pleasure to meet exiled radio broadcaster Michael Smith. We had a brief exchange, but I made my support for his plight quite clear, and he assured me that he will return to the airwaves eventually. The sooner the better in my view.

It was also wonderful to briefly greet both Tony Abbott and Phillip Ruddock. It is not the first time I have met either of them as I met Tony Abbott at the Convoy Of No Confidence rally against the Gillard government’s appalling carbon dioxide tax, and met Phillip Ruddock at his brief media interview for the swearing in of Justice Susan Kiefel to the High Court. Even so, it was wonderful to share a moment with them again.

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Samuel with Tony Abbott

20120806-125552.jpg
Samuel with Phillip Ruddock

Thanks must go to the wonderful people at the Institute Of Public Affairs for providing the forum and support for this wonderful event (and yes, I am aware that as a member of the IPA I am, in effect, thanking myself to a small extent…but really this is aimed at the staff) and also the staff of the Amora Jamison Hotel for setting up the venue and being so welcoming…and for the lovely coffee!

Freedom of speech is in trouble in this country, so it is good to know that those of us who believe in it are not alone in our beliefs, and we have the backing of some people in or near positions which can make a significant difference.

Update Thursday August 9: Video of the full speech is now available. Tony Abbott starts speaking at the seven minute mark.

End Update

Samuel

2 comments August 6th, 2012 at 01:06pm

Glenn Wheeler

In case you don’t already know, I’m up in Sydney today to see Tony Abbott deliver an address to the Institute of Public Affairs on the topic of freedom of speech. I’m led to believe he has an announcement to make.

As I have a bit of time while I’m up here, I decided to drop by the Seven Network studios at Martin Place and do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time…say hello to Glenn Wheeler in person as it has been far too long since I last did that.

Glenn was kind enough to spare a moment of his busy schedule…so I’m pleased to be able to present the one, the only, the great, and the incredibly psychic (or psycho, depending on which promo you listen to) (drum roll….) Glenn Wheeler! (I couldn’t afford his studio audience, so you’ll just have to imagine the applause).

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Thanks Glenn! Good to see you again.

Samuel

August 6th, 2012 at 09:17am

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-05

  • Ricky Stuart has stood down as NSW Origin coach. It was bound to happen. No sane club would let their coach have split focus for two months. #
  • In about twelve hours from now, I'll be leaving for Sydney and @TonyAbbottMHR's address to @TheIPA on freedom of speech. #
  • @talkthetolldown I hope @Rex_Hunt gets better soon, but in his absence it is a pleasure to have an extra afternoon of @SandyARoberts7. #
  • I think I've found some cheap parking in the Sydney CBD, but I'll have to leave Canberra long before the sun comes up if I'm to get a space. #
  • The word of the day comes from @SandyARoberts7 on AFL Live @talkthetolldown. Disconsolate: Without consolation or comfort. #

August 5th, 2012 at 09:00pm

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-04

  • It's always interesting taking the iPhone out of "airplane mode" and finding one's self immediately besieged by queued push notifications. #

August 4th, 2012 at 09:00pm

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-03

  • I just spotted Mike Frame on the TV in an ACTTAB ad. The last time I saw him on TV was for Shoprite http://t.co/YPGUEY2c Good to see him! #
  • "No mishaps required" — Gordon Bray calling the rowing on 2GB. He's given me a chuckle every day so far. #
  • @bipolarvoice So, are you saying that because he is saying something which is not applicable to 100% of people with a mental health in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice condition, he shouldn't say it at all, even if it applies to some people? I'm not going to advocate that people stop taking in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice medications without appropriate advice, and I don't think Seth Farber is saying that either. Rather I think his message is in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice that for some people, the conventional medical wisdom may not be the only approach, and some people will have success with in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice other approaches. I accept that much of the psychiatric community would frown on his approach, but I don't see it as being in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice any different to the common approach of trying counselling instead of, or in conjunction with, a pharmaceutical solution. in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice My experience (note that I had not heard of Seth Farber at the time…so my experience was not influenced by him) was that in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice medication made my condition MUCH worse. Admittedly the medical professionals I was working with seemed to show little in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice interest in this fact, and different doctors may have found a better combination of drugs. What I found though, and perhaps in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice I was lucky enough to be lucid enough to make these observations in conjunction with my (non-doctor) support network, was in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice that talking with people, and accepting a spiritual element to my condition, helped me to understand it and gain enough in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice control over it to return to being a functional member of society without the need for drugs. I repeat that I'm not advocating in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice that everyone follow my approach, as it won't work for a lot of people, but for some, finding a non-pharmaceutical way to in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice understand and control their condition can be a helpful approach, even if it's just for a little bit of added confidence that in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice they can cope. I don't reject the medical community. I just respect the approach of "find what works for you". in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice FYI, if someone doesn't have a support network, then I wouldn't even suggest a non-medical approach, but if they have people in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice around them, then I think trying approaches with the help of the support network is helpful. in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • RT @glennwheeler: good to see Wayne Swan displays the same arrogance in person as he does as treasurer as he departed Adelaide this morning. #
  • @glennwheeler At least Wayne Swan is consistently arrogant. A bit like economics…consistently wrong and befuddled. in reply to glennwheeler #
  • Traffic at a standstill Federal Hwy in to Canberra. Backed up beyond Majura Rd. @ACTPol_Traffic @2CC @PRIME7CanNews #canberra #
  • RT @2CC: Police executing a drug warrant on a vehicle on the Federal Highway. Southbound traffic at a standstill http://t.co/UuISKnGA” #
  • Odd. Fire Brigade leaving Federal Highway scene. Not so sure about it being a drug bust…traffic still stopped heading in to Canberra #
  • Definite confirmation of drug bust now. #
  • RT @PRIME7CanNews: Witnesses say police yelled & pulled out rifles as they searched a car for drugs on the Federal Highway this afternoon. #
  • Still sitting still here, but they reckon… RT @ACTPol_Traffic: Federal HWY lane 2 Southbound now open. #
  • More police arriving at Federal Hwy drug bust. Traffic still at a standstill. #
  • And don't bother trying to do a u-turn and head back down to Majura Rd the wrong way…police will send you back to the Federal Hwy queue. #
  • Starting to move now. Still very heavy on Fed Hwy southbound. Avoid if possible. Use Majura Rd. #
  • @nat_forrest Hey Nat, just sent some footage your way from Fed Hwy in case you want it. Should be there now if my phone did it's job 🙂 #
  • And now that I'm home, the phone is being turned off! #

August 3rd, 2012 at 09:00pm

Twitter Updates for 2012-08-02

  • @bipolarvoice Well that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. As someone who's been through it, I think he has a point in some cases. in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice For the record, I don't agree with all of Seth Farber's theories. What I know for sure is that spirituality and religious … in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice … beliefs did more to keep me alive than the medical profession. That could say something about Canberra's health system. in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • @bipolarvoice I certainly don't deny that psychiatrists and psychologists have an important role. I just believe in other options too. in reply to bipolarvoice #
  • RT @timwilsoncomau: The NBN is good for collecting government subsidies, stealing IP of artists and using YouTube: http://t.co/0qV9fBDs #
  • @timwilsoncomau I'm waiting for some group to realise that pornographic downloads might be faster, and reignite the filter debate. in reply to timwilsoncomau #
  • @timwilsoncomau After all, it's somewhat easier to run a filter when a government wholesaler provides the nation's Internet access. in reply to timwilsoncomau #
  • -6.6 about half an hour ago. I'm giving in and going to bed with the electric blanket. I'll get up later when the temperature is above zero. #
  • I loved the way a @foxnewsradio anchor introduced this: "I never thought I'd use these two words in the same sentence: Badminton…Scandal". #

August 2nd, 2012 at 09:00pm

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