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Linux in the Tasmanian Times
by Lev Lafayette 17 Nov '12

17 Nov '12

Not a bad article at all, arguing the well known points, albeit with a push towards those with a left-wing orientation.. http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/lefties-throw-off-your-… Some of the comments however... -- Lev Lafayette, mobile: 0432 255 208 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt

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which team for Ingress?
by Russell Coker 16 Nov '12

16 Nov '12

http://tinyurl.com/agvlb3h http://www.ingress.com/ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nianticproject.ingress The new Google game Ingress has two teams, the Enlightened and the Resistance. Which shall we join? -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/

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Re: [luv-talk] A country disappears
by Peter Ross 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

On Wed, 7 Nov 2012, Mike Mitchell wrote: > On 7/11/2012 12:34 PM, Peter Ross wrote: > > German newspapers believe we are the worst in the Western world, in this > regard. Whether FAZ (considered as the leading serious conservative paper), > Sueddeutsche (moderate left-leaning) or tageszeitung(left), they all apalled > by our refugee policies. > > > They are beating the drum of a bizarre agenda. When Germany has done as much > for refugees as Australia, then they will (A) have earned the right to > comment on Australia and (B) demand restrictions of their own. Well, first, I don't think that the German records are that spotless thar I need to defend that country in particular. Anyhow, the refugee laws are harmonized, I am not sure EU-wide, it may be the "Schengen zone" ( a group of European countries co-operating on border control issues) only. When you enter one of the countries you apply for asylum there. And Germany is right in the middle.. But, when you are successful, you have the freedom to move freely in the European Union. And many of them move to Germany. You can look at the European budget to find out how much Germany contributes to these EU politics. And nearly every Yugoslavian I met here has family in Germany too. I am living here now, for ten years, and I find the "boatpeople politics" hard to swallow. You would not win an election in Germany with these, I am pretty sure. You may win up to 10% fringe votes if you become a candidate of the Neo-Nazi NPD with these arguments (and maybe some in the CSU's Bavaria.. but that's a story for itself). The most Germans feel confronted by such opinions. The Australian politicians are fiddling with the migration zone to exclude the country. That makes it pretty clear that they are aware of the obligations and try every trick to avoid responsibility. The question is not: Is it a lawful thing to do? The question is: Do we think all means are OK if we can get away with it? And, yes, others are watching us, and we don't make a pretty picture. BTW: The up to 10% "fringe vote" means you get some seats in the parliament if you have proportional representation. Nobody wants to govern with them. In the Australian system both main parties are fighting for that fringe vote because to have them means to have the bums you need to govern. I have sometimes the feeling the "decent Australia" is taken for granted. Does it have a voice? Regards Peter

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Re: [luv-talk] A country disappears
by Peter Ross 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

On Wed, 7 Nov 2012, Mike Mitchell wrote: > On 7/11/2012 12:34 PM, Peter Ross wrote: > > German newspapers believe we are the worst in the Western world, in this > regard. Whether FAZ (considered as the leading serious conservative paper), > Sueddeutsche (moderate left-leaning) or tageszeitung(left), they all apalled > by our refugee policies. > > > They are beating the drum of a bizarre agenda. When Germany has done as much > for refugees as Australia, then they will (A) have earned the right to > comment on Australia and (B) demand restrictions of their own. Well, first, I don't think that the German records are that spotless thar I need to defend that country in particular. Anyhow, the refugee laws are harmonized, I am not sure EU-wide, it may be the "Schengen zone" ( a group of European countries co-operating on border control issues) only. When you enter one of the countries you apply for asylum there. And Germany is right in the middle.. But, when you are successful, you have the freedom to move freely in the European Union. And many of them move to Germany. You can look at the European budget to find out how much Germany contributes to these EU politics. And nearly every Yugoslavian I met here has family in Germany too. I am living here now, for ten years, and I find the "boatpeople politics" hard to swallow. You would not win an election in Germany with these, I am pretty sure. You may win up to 10% fringe votes if you become a candidate of the Neo-Nazi NPD with these arguments (and maybe some in the CSU's Bavaria.. but that's a story for itself). The most Germans feel confronted by such opinions. The Australian politicians are fiddling with the migration zone to exclude the country. That makes it pretty clear that they are aware of the obligations and try every trick to avoid responsibility. The question is not: Is it a lawful thing to do? The question is: Do we think all means are OK if we can get away with it? And, yes, others are watching us, and we don't make a pretty picture. BTW: The up to 10% "fringe vote" means you get some seats in the parliament if you have proportional representation. Nobody wants to govern with them. In the Australian system both main parties are fighting for that fringe vote because to have them means to have the bums you need to govern. I have sometimes the feeling the "decent Australia" is taken for granted. Does it have a voice? Regards Peter

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A country disappears
by Peter Ross 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

Hi all, is is actually well known that Tony Abbott's father was fleeing the Second World War, arriving in Australia as a 16 years old in 1940? Julia Gillard came to Australia as a child because her parents found the warmer climate suitable for her, to help her to recover from bronchopneumonia. (for bot see Wikipedia) Does it say anything about the character of these people that they are on "stop the boat" campaigns and run "stop the boat" politics? The latest step, legislation to excise Australia's mainland from the migration zone, is in clear breach of the Refugee Convention and the Declaration of the Human Rights. "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution." The declaration was proclaimed in 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, chaired by the Australian Herbert Vere Evatt. Sorry, I don't get these politics out of my brain. 10 years after Tampa, and nothing has changed. Every week another twist in this sorry story. How long do we run this race to the bottom? That's where we are, in the eyes of the UN High Commisioner for Refugees. German newspapers believe we are the worst in the Western world, in this regard. Whether FAZ (considered as the leading serious conservative paper), Sueddeutsche (moderate left-leaning) or tageszeitung(left), they all apalled by our refugee policies. I just heard one comment by a Swiss journalist, to find here: http://www.drs.ch/www/de/drs/sendungen/rendez-vous/2753.bt10247056.html Interesting. what he has to say about the reasons why Australians have such a problem with refugees. First, it mentions the influence of the highly monopolist press. "It leaves a mark if you get told for 10, 20 years who bad the situation is." Isn't time to reclaim the national debate to return to meaningful politics? Here is my alternate policy: Increase our official intake (as we do:-). The numbers of refugees in Malaysia and Indonesia aren't that high that we get flooded tomorrow. Support Malaysia, e.g. to sign the Convention. They are thinking of it. If we take a fair share it helps them to deal with their intake. Negotiate on lines as: "we take one refugee, you take one refugee", to resettle them (not leaving them without papers or in pratically infinite detention). It is sharing the load. Financially the politics in place are a disaster. Detention centres are expensive. We could use the money in better ways. If people arrive we give them a "social year" in a camp while they are being assessed. There are areas that could do with initial government support to establish a self-efficient economy, to attract more people, to prevent country towns and regions to die. Let the refugees build their own infrastructure, with support from local business, so they learn a trade, learning the language and try to grasp what Australian society is made of. You could give them regional visas for the next three years. This allows them to establish themselfs in regional Australia, developing the country. We already offer this programm to skilled workers that arrive under the points system, I believe. (If they fail the mark but are slighly below they are allowed to work outside metropolitean areas). I could imagine that would get support. From the local people who would profit from the boost in their local economy, as well as from the wider public. I guess many people would consider it fair, because the refugees start with a contribution. It takes away fears - there is sufficient time to screen the arriving. And it gives refugees a start in the country, a way of settling in, to keep themself busy and having a future to look forward too. I guess the most would not mind. They had to endure so many things - they would do it happily if the prize for freedom and safety is a year's work. It may be not perfect but human and a starting point, I believe. Is that so hard to come up with something better than twisting the truth until there is nothing left? Regards Peter

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Fwd: Invitation: Computing History Tour of Melbourne (Update)
by Bianca Gibson 07 Nov '12

07 Nov '12

Hi all, A computing history tour of Melbourne that I enjoyed is being run again. Be warned that it's all day on your feet and pretty tiring. Bianca - on my phone, please excuse my brevity. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Kerry McManus" <kerry.mcmanus(a)monash.edu> Date: Nov 8, 2012 9:07 AM Subject: Invitation: Computing History Tour of Melbourne (Update) To: Further to the email below, please note that the registration link has been amended to the following: https://secure.monash.edu/infotech/about/events/2012/computing-tour-form.ht… ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kerry McManus <kerry.mcmanus(a)monash.edu> Date: 7 November 2012 14:32 Subject: Invitation: Computing History Tour of Melbourne To: Cc: Graham Farr <graham.farr(a)monash.edu> You are invited to join the next Computing History Tour of Melbourne, organised by the Faculty of IT at Monash University. The tour is on Sat 1 Dec 2012. This tour is dedicated to Alan Turing, whose centenary is celebrated this year. The tour is part of Alan Turing Year (http://www.turingcentenary.eu/) a worldwide programme of events. The tour also marks the 50th anniversary of computing at Monash University: the university's first computer, a Ferranti Sirius, was acquired in Nov 1962. You will see this computer on the tour. Time: start 8:45am at Caulfield campus, Monash University; end ~ 5pm, probably at University of Melbourne. The tour takes in several sites of historical interest (and several architecturally significant buildings), including: - CSIRAC, Australia's first computer and the world's fourth (and the only one of its generation still intact) - the first site of CSIRAC in Melbourne - Melbourne's first Computer Room - Melbourne's link to Charles Babbage, the originator of the concept of a computer - the site of Australia's first supercomputer - Monash's first computer - the former Melbourne Computer Centre near Albert Park. It should be an interesting day of sight-seeing and socialising as well. The plan is to have lunch at a cafe somewhere on the way. There will be a fair bit of walking and getting on and off trams. A preview and guide for the tour, including photos from the first tour, is at: http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~gfarr/tour/ If you'd like to come, please register at https://secure.monash.edu/infotech/about/events/2012/computing-tour-form.ht…<https://secure.monash.edu/infotech/about/events/2011/computing-tour-form.ht…> where you can indicate your preferred date and numbers. Feel free to invite family and friends, but include them in the numbers you book for. Book early to avoid disappointment, as capacity is limited. The costs will be the necessary tram ticket and whatever you buy at the cafes. The tour itself is free. Thanks -- Graham Farr -- Kerry McManus Executive Officer Clayton School of Information Technology Monash University Ph 9905 9089 -- Kerry McManus Executive Officer Clayton School of Information Technology Monash University Ph 9905 9089

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free DVD drives
by Russell Coker 06 Nov '12

06 Nov '12

Once again I have DVD drives to give away. All presumed to work but not tested recently. Some time ago someone suggested that Computerbank would appreciate some DVD drives. If so is there anyone who will attend the meeting who will be going to Computerbank and can take some DVD drives? I'm generally not in the area of Computerbank with the option of carrying bulky items. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/

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Local elections - who can vote?
by Peter Ross 22 Oct '12

22 Oct '12

Hi all, does anybody bother about the way we vote here in Victoria? I find it quite ridiculous that someone can cast a vote just because he owns a property in the area or is representing a company owning a property. Well, AFAIK, the "one man one vote" is one of the basic democratic principles people were fighting for - and it does not apply to the state of Victoria. I am owning a property ca. 30km away from my home - I have no idea about the way people live there, what they are talking about, the local issues, the people that stand for election - I just don't live there. Who can I make an informed decision about the ability of local candidates and what they present? The same goes for any owner or company representive - if you don't live there, you don't have a clue what's important to the people. Governments represent people not businesses. Is this actually legal? No wonder that we end up with a city mayor who is licensing buskers.. Besides, it seems that the Australians on the other side of the Murray are having a "one man one vote" system. Regards Peter

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Worker's Cooperatives: Why they work
by Lev Lafayette 18 Oct '12

18 Oct '12

Some people here may be familiar with the model of worker's cooperatives, where the people who work in a business own the business. In Spain, despite the economic problem that country faces, the Mondragon Cooperative, with 83,869 people working in 256 companies, has a particular resilience which is attracting attention. On Monday a representative of the cooperative will be speaking in Melbourne. For those interested in alternative structures - which have been used very successfully in IT - you may wish to attend this event and perhaps even the dinner afterwards. Resilience to the Euro Zone Crisis: The Unique Advantages of the Mondragon Cooperative When: Monday, 22 October 2012 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST) Where: Sunderland Theatre, Medical Building - Corner of Berkeley and Grattan Street - Carlton - Melbourne, Victoria 3010 - Australia Employee Ownership Australia and New Zealand Monday, 22 October 2012 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST) Melbourne, Victoria http://www.eventbrite.com.au/event/4470958758/ Free lecture and (not free) dinner afterwards with Mikel Lezamiz, the Director of Cooperative Dissemination at the Mondragon Cooperative Corporation. c.f., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation -- Lev Lafayette, mobile: 0432 255 208 RFC 1855 Netiquette Guidelines http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt

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LTE version of Galaxy S3
by Russell Coker 16 Oct '12

16 Oct '12

http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/samsung-galaxy-s3-4g-i9305-black-16gb/ Kogan has the 4G version of the Samsung Galaxy S3, it costs $749 vs $499 for the 3G version. So you pay an extra $250 for 4G! If I was buying now I'd get the 3G version. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/

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