From loch at pobox.com Sun Feb 1 18:35:10 2009 From: loch at pobox.com (Andrew Loch) Date: Sun Feb 1 18:35:17 2009 Subject: [eclectika] [Fwd: war is a racket] Message-ID: <1233534910.16299.4.camel@localhost> -------- Forwarded Message -------- amazing speech by retiring US military hero smedley butler from 1933 http://www.fas.org/man/smedley.htm From tracey.orso at gmail.com Mon Feb 2 20:50:38 2009 From: tracey.orso at gmail.com (Tracey Orso) Date: Mon Feb 2 20:50:42 2009 Subject: [eclectika] =?utf-8?q?Iceland_to_get_world=E2=80=99s_first_lesbi?= =?utf-8?q?an_prime_minister?= Message-ID: <466e880a0902021850g30febe51w6d649ce9d1420fed@mail.gmail.com> http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2009/01/iceland_to_get congrats Johanna -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090203/a715cb01/attachment.htm From subs at phatpad.com.au Mon Feb 2 23:20:52 2009 From: subs at phatpad.com.au (Nathen Street) Date: Mon Feb 2 23:21:04 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Sand Drawings by Jim Denevan References: Message-ID: > Jim Denevan makes freehand drawings in sand. At low tide on wide beaches Jim searches the shore for a wave tossed stick. After finding a good stick and composing himself in the near and far environment Jim draws, laboring up to 7 hours and walking as many as 30 miles. http://www.jimdenevan.com/images.htm From loch at pobox.com Wed Feb 4 04:18:55 2009 From: loch at pobox.com (Andrew Loch) Date: Wed Feb 4 04:19:21 2009 Subject: [eclectika] save Bletchley Park Message-ID: ? Bletchley Park, the codebreaking centre that helped to win the Second World War and launch the modern computer, is in danger of irreparable decay unless the Government steps in to save it." http://www.savingbletchleypark.org/ From flippy at internode.on.net Thu Feb 5 04:24:05 2009 From: flippy at internode.on.net (Ben Dixon) Date: Thu Feb 5 04:24:19 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Financial Data Statistics Turned into Music by Microsoft Songsmith Message-ID: <002601c9877b$e0623730$a126a590$@on.net> Sounds a bit iffy, but is actually pretty funny. http://infosthetics.com/archives/2009/02/financial_data_charts_of_doomsday_s tatistics_turned_into_music_by_songsmith.html#extended From aliak77 at gmail.com Thu Feb 5 06:19:56 2009 From: aliak77 at gmail.com (Kath O'Donnell) Date: Thu Feb 5 06:20:00 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Fwd: Erik Davis: upcoming online course - Gnosis Now! Message-ID: <383607190902050419u1cf641f2u610bd5c085b87676@mail.gmail.com> Hi all, in case anyone's interested in this course - Gnosis Now! I did the Philip K Dick course with Erik Davis and there were lots of great discussions. I think there's a couple from that class doing this one too (me included). sorry for x-posts kath ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Erik Date: 2009/2/5 Subject: Erik Davis: upcoming online course To: Erik Davis Hi there everyone in email land I wanted to let you know about an online course I will teaching through the *Maybe Logic Academy*, beginning *February 23*. The course is eight weeks long, and it is called *"Gnosis Now!"* Here is the blurb: Gnosticism is one of the most potent, complex, and misunderstood elements of western esoteric spirituality. Rooted in the apocalyptic era of early Christianity, gnostic mysticism animates hermeticism, alchemy, and magick, and has profoundly influenced modern pop culture as well (Philip K. Dick, The Matrix, even Scientology). Because gnosticism is rooted in direct experience of the divine, it remains open to many different interpretations; scholars bicker about it constantly. This class proposes to study a few of the most accessible and transformative gnostic texts, both ancient and modern, and to bring their tricky wisdom to bear on the state of consciousness today. In addition to online discussion threads, the course will feature weekly podcasts from Erik Davis, a celebrated speaker, as well as a few group voice-over-IP chats. Modestly-sized texts will include ancient gnostic gospels as well as accessible scholarly interpretations and modern short stories featuring mystical and psychedelic themes. Many of these texts are already available online; the rest will be made available as pdfs. More information and sign-ups, etc., are available at http://www.maybelogic.org/courses.htm Thanks for your interest! erik ** to be removed from this occasional list, just email me at erik@techgnosis.com -- http://www.aliak.com http://www.brisbanedancepartiesarchive.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090206/2af6b993/attachment.htm From keith.duddy at gmail.com Fri Feb 6 23:03:16 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith) Date: Fri Feb 6 23:03:20 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Theory: Traffic Triggers Lightning [Traffic] Message-ID: <000e0cd151fa2d5b4c04624d0e4b@google.com> Use of istockphoto??? shows PA hospital in unrelated story from US blog... Sent to you by Keith via Google Reader: Theory: Traffic Triggers Lightning [Traffic] via Gizmodo by Brian Lam on 2/5/09 It's just a theory but some scientists believe that lightning strikes are provoked by traffic. Honk if you like thunder! A study by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that in south west US states, lightning strikes near major roadways increased up to 25% during weekdays, coinciding with pollution increases. Look for next next next gen Prius's to have lightning rods on their rooftops. [New Scientist via BLDGBLOG , image from Garry''s] Things you can do from here: - Subscribe to Gizmodo using Google Reader - Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090207/bee0d48f/attachment.htm From loch at pobox.com Sun Feb 8 19:09:35 2009 From: loch at pobox.com (Andrew Loch) Date: Sun Feb 8 19:09:58 2009 Subject: [eclectika] [Fwd: science fiction studies] Message-ID: <1234141775.28715.9.camel@localhost> -------- Forwarded Message -------- a pretty good resource of scholarly articles and interviews. (eg Jorge Martins Rosa. A Misreading Gone Too Far? Baudrillard Meets Philip K. Dick) Lots not in full text (the Rosa isn't), but lots is (an interview with Lem) http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/index.htm From keith.duddy at gmail.com Tue Feb 10 00:36:54 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Tue Feb 10 00:37:01 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Why it is good that most software projects fail Message-ID: http://www.berglas.org/Articles/ImportantThatSoftwareFails/ImportantThatSoftwareFails.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090210/503281ee/attachment.htm From subs at phatpad.com.au Thu Feb 12 19:41:24 2009 From: subs at phatpad.com.au (Nathen Street) Date: Thu Feb 12 19:41:30 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Where dreams become heart attacks Message-ID: <143E1BD1-D2BA-401A-B71C-690D4302BC20@phatpad.com.au> A blog dedicated to fine food http://thisiswhyyourefat.com From keith.duddy at gmail.com Thu Feb 12 19:47:28 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Thu Feb 12 19:47:33 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Where dreams become heart attacks In-Reply-To: <143E1BD1-D2BA-401A-B71C-690D4302BC20@phatpad.com.au> References: <143E1BD1-D2BA-401A-B71C-690D4302BC20@phatpad.com.au> Message-ID: On this theme, I was watching ABC 2 last night and kacked myself over this sketch by Peter Serefinowtz... it's only about 60 sec. Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjnuBTPOaKY |< 2009/2/13 Nathen Street > A blog dedicated to fine food http://thisiswhyyourefat.com > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090213/0ee587a7/attachment.htm From loch at pobox.com Sat Feb 14 19:07:46 2009 From: loch at pobox.com (Andrew Loch) Date: Sat Feb 14 19:08:13 2009 Subject: [eclectika] swap ads for art Message-ID: Add-Art is a free FireFox add-on which replaces advertising on websites with curated art images. The art shows are updated every two weeks and feature contemporary artists and curators http://add-art.org/ From loch at pobox.com Sat Feb 14 19:10:48 2009 From: loch at pobox.com (Andrew Loch) Date: Sat Feb 14 19:11:22 2009 Subject: [eclectika] 80% renewable by 2050? Message-ID: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/02/will-the-children-of-today-be-living-in-a-world-powered-by-renewable-energy-by-2050-54649#q_close Will the Children of Today Be Living in a World Powered by Renewable Energy by 2050? From keith.duddy at gmail.com Sat Feb 14 20:08:32 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Sat Feb 14 20:08:39 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Re: 80% renewable by 2050? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: [I think I've spruiked this on elcectika before] I use 100% renewable electricity right now.... it costs $4.40 per week more than coal fired. You can ask any utility retailer (those middlemen who send you your bills) to switch you to 100% renewable, but I did the research over all the retailers that were available to me, and Jack Green ( http://jackgreen.com.au/) did it the cheapest.... and they're the only one who is specifically focussed on green power. So I challenge you all to find a way to use $4.40 worth less electricity per week (by switching things off) - or just cough it up - that's the cost of one skinny frappe latte with hazelnut syrup a week. Don't wait for the government to choose it for you.... Big Coal has too large a lobby, and it's gonna take forever judging by the pathetic emissions trading scheme. (And please let me know if you _do_ switch, cos I'd be interested to see if anyone takes up this idea). Oh... and JackGreen is not paying me anything for plugging them ;-) |< 2009/2/15 Andrew Loch http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/02/will-the-children-of-today-be-living-in-a-world-powered-by-renewable-energy-by-2050-54649#q_close > > Will the Children of Today Be Living in a World Powered by Renewable > Energy by 2050? > > > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090215/7707ed20/attachment.htm From subs at phatpad.com.au Sat Feb 14 20:24:44 2009 From: subs at phatpad.com.au (Nathen Street) Date: Sat Feb 14 20:24:49 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Re: 80% renewable by 2050? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Also while on all things green; Europe?s Grass-Lined Green Railways = Good Urban Design http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/ El 15/02/2009, a las 12:08 PM, Keith Duddy escribi?: > [I think I've spruiked this on elcectika before] > > I use 100% renewable electricity right now.... it costs $4.40 per > week more than coal fired. You can ask any utility retailer (those > middlemen who send you your bills) to switch you to 100% renewable, > but I did the research over all the retailers that were available to > me, and Jack Green (http://jackgreen.com.au/) did it the > cheapest.... and they're the only one who is specifically focussed > on green power. > > So I challenge you all to find a way to use $4.40 worth less > electricity per week (by switching things off) - or just cough it up > - that's the cost of one skinny frappe latte with hazelnut syrup a > week. Don't wait for the government to choose it for you.... Big > Coal has too large a lobby, and it's gonna take forever judging by > the pathetic emissions trading scheme. > > (And please let me know if you _do_ switch, cos I'd be interested to > see if anyone takes up this idea). > > Oh... and JackGreen is not paying me anything for plugging them ;-) > > |< > > 2009/2/15 Andrew Loch > > http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/02/will-the-children-of-today-be-living-in-a-world-powered-by-renewable-energy-by-2050-54649#q_close > > Will the Children of Today Be Living in a World Powered by Renewable > Energy by 2050? > > > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > > > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090215/509c1ac7/attachment.htm From simon at rumble.net Sat Feb 14 20:27:20 2009 From: simon at rumble.net (Rev Simon Rumble) Date: Sat Feb 14 20:27:24 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Re: 80% renewable by 2050? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090215022720.GD14301@rumble.net> This one time, at band camp, Keith Duddy wrote: > [I think I've spruiked this on elcectika before] Rather than spruik a particular supplier (I don't understand how Jackgreen makes a fixed $4.40/week payment to switch to 100% Greenpower work, and if your electricity usage is lower than average I suspect you'd be paying more than you should) there's an independent site that assesses the suppliers and their packages. Though the "2007" in the title of the page worries me a bit. http://www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au The worst part of all this, however, is the appalling quality of customer service I've found with _ALL_ energy retailers. Origin's online ordering system seems to not work in the slightest -- black hole land, and they've screwed up our billing three times in three years. The key thing about these suppliers is that they use _new_ renewable sources for the electricity you're buying. There's no net gain if they deliver it all from Snowy Mountains Hydro. -- Rev Simon Rumble www.rumble.net The Tourist Engineer Because nerds travel too. http://engineer.openguides.org/ "I still say a church steeple with a lightning rod on top shows a lack of confidence" - Doug McLeod From drjon at pacific.net.au Sat Feb 14 20:59:33 2009 From: drjon at pacific.net.au (drjon@pacific.net.au) Date: Sat Feb 14 20:59:37 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Re: 80% renewable by 2050? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4646.203.206.253.158.1234666773.squirrel@wm2.pacific.net.au> Out of curiosity (ie, this is an agendaless question), what's your weekly power bill? (if it's not a rude question) > [I think I've spruiked this on elcectika before] > > I use 100% renewable electricity right now.... it costs $4.40 per week > more > than coal fired. You can ask any utility retailer (those middlemen who > send > you your bills) to switch you to 100% renewable, but I did the research > over > all the retailers that were available to me, and Jack Green ( > http://jackgreen.com.au/) did it the cheapest.... and they're the only one > who is specifically focussed on green power. > > So I challenge you all to find a way to use $4.40 worth less electricity > per > week (by switching things off) - or just cough it up - that's the cost of > one skinny frappe latte with hazelnut syrup a week. Don't wait for the > government to choose it for you.... Big Coal has too large a lobby, and > it's > gonna take forever judging by the pathetic emissions trading scheme. > > (And please let me know if you _do_ switch, cos I'd be interested to see > if > anyone takes up this idea). > > Oh... and JackGreen is not paying me anything for plugging them ;-) > > |< > > 2009/2/15 Andrew Loch > > http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/02/will-the-children-of-today-be-living-in-a-world-powered-by-renewable-energy-by-2050-54649#q_close >> >> Will the Children of Today Be Living in a World Powered by Renewable >> Energy by 2050? >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> eclectika mailing list >> eclectika@wudee.net >> http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika >> > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > From loch at pobox.com Sat Feb 14 21:29:04 2009 From: loch at pobox.com (Andrew Loch) Date: Sat Feb 14 21:29:20 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Re: 80% renewable by 2050? In-Reply-To: <4646.203.206.253.158.1234666773.squirrel@wm2.pacific.net.au> References: <4646.203.206.253.158.1234666773.squirrel@wm2.pacific.net.au> Message-ID: about $300 - $350 a quarter (you do the maths :-) ) that's for 2 adults and 2 kids. On Sun, 15 Feb 2009, drjon@pacific.net.au wrote: Out of curiosity (ie, this is an agendaless question), what's your weekly power bill? (if it's not a rude question) > [I think I've spruiked this on elcectika before] > > I use 100% renewable electricity right now.... it costs $4.40 per week > more > than coal fired. You can ask any utility retailer (those middlemen who > send > you your bills) to switch you to 100% renewable, but I did the research > over > all the retailers that were available to me, and Jack Green ( > http://jackgreen.com.au/) did it the cheapest.... and they're the only one > who is specifically focussed on green power. > > So I challenge you all to find a way to use $4.40 worth less electricity > per > week (by switching things off) - or just cough it up - that's the cost of > one skinny frappe latte with hazelnut syrup a week. Don't wait for the > government to choose it for you.... Big Coal has too large a lobby, and > it's > gonna take forever judging by the pathetic emissions trading scheme. > > (And please let me know if you _do_ switch, cos I'd be interested to see > if > anyone takes up this idea). > > Oh... and JackGreen is not paying me anything for plugging them ;-) > > |< > > 2009/2/15 Andrew Loch > > http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/02/will-the-children-of-today-be-living-in-a-world-powered-by-renewable-energy-by-2050-54649#q_close >> >> Will the Children of Today Be Living in a World Powered by Renewable >> Energy by 2050? >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> eclectika mailing list >> eclectika@wudee.net >> http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika >> > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > _______________________________________________ eclectika mailing list eclectika@wudee.net http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika From keith.duddy at gmail.com Sat Feb 14 21:41:27 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Sat Feb 14 21:41:33 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Re: 80% renewable by 2050? In-Reply-To: <4646.203.206.253.158.1234666773.squirrel@wm2.pacific.net.au> References: <4646.203.206.253.158.1234666773.squirrel@wm2.pacific.net.au> Message-ID: Simon wrote: there's an independent site that assesses the suppliers and their packages. Though the "2007" in the title of the page worries me a bit. http://www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au Cool! I Don't think it existed in 2005 when I switched over. I'll take a look and see whether I'm getting a good deal. (And maybe they have info on _how_ they're spending my money). However, I did get the impression that the plan I chose promised to source from new renewable sources. 2009/2/15 > Out of curiosity (ie, this is an agendaless question), what's your weekly > power bill? (if it's not a rude question) That's a good question Jon... sorry, can't find a power bill (and I wouldn't know off the top of my head, cos we pay quarterly). |< > > > > [I think I've spruiked this on elcectika before] > > > > I use 100% renewable electricity right now.... it costs $4.40 per week > > more > > than coal fired. You can ask any utility retailer (those middlemen who > > send > > you your bills) to switch you to 100% renewable, but I did the research > > over > > all the retailers that were available to me, and Jack Green ( > > http://jackgreen.com.au/) did it the cheapest.... and they're the only > one > > who is specifically focussed on green power. > > > > So I challenge you all to find a way to use $4.40 worth less electricity > > per > > week (by switching things off) - or just cough it up - that's the cost of > > one skinny frappe latte with hazelnut syrup a week. Don't wait for the > > government to choose it for you.... Big Coal has too large a lobby, and > > it's > > gonna take forever judging by the pathetic emissions trading scheme. > > > > (And please let me know if you _do_ switch, cos I'd be interested to see > > if > > anyone takes up this idea). > > > > Oh... and JackGreen is not paying me anything for plugging them ;-) > > > > |< > > > > 2009/2/15 Andrew Loch > > > > > http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/02/will-the-children-of-today-be-living-in-a-world-powered-by-renewable-energy-by-2050-54649#q_close > >> > >> Will the Children of Today Be Living in a World Powered by Renewable > >> Energy by 2050? > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> eclectika mailing list > >> eclectika@wudee.net > >> http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > eclectika mailing list > > eclectika@wudee.net > > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > > > > > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090215/514fe173/attachment-0001.htm From keith.duddy at gmail.com Thu Feb 19 17:46:43 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Thu Feb 19 17:46:52 2009 Subject: [eclectika] I can read movies Message-ID: 1950s/60s style book covers for movies more recent than that.... nice look: http://spacesickart.com/books.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090220/a81a60ed/attachment.htm From monoman at internode.on.net Thu Feb 19 21:54:29 2009 From: monoman at internode.on.net (monoman@internode.on.net) Date: Thu Feb 19 21:55:34 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Monster gamma-ray blast lights up deep space Message-ID: <2636.1235102069@internode.on.net> Checkout the comments thread, griefing on a uniquely geeky scale: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/20/2496919.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090220/bee299bd/attachment.htm From keith.duddy at gmail.com Sat Feb 21 06:24:49 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Sat Feb 21 06:24:58 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Fwd: Hamas no, human rights yes - The Guardian In-Reply-To: <1102468652102.1102276891661.844.9.280525DC@scheduler> References: <1102468652102.1102276891661.844.9.280525DC@scheduler> Message-ID: Once again, Pater Tatchell is out there expressing what I have only vaguely formulated in the back of my mind.... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Peter Tatchell Date: 2009/2/20 Subject: Hamas no, human rights yes - The Guardian To: keith.duddy@gmail.com Hamas no, human rights yes Why are the left and the anti-war movement ignoring Hamas's repression of the Palestinian people? By Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner and Green Party parliamentary candidate for Oxford East The Guardian - Comment is Free - London - 18 February 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/18/hamas-palestine-israel-human-rights?commentpage=4&commentposted=1 Hamas is intensifying its repression of the Palestinian citizens of Gaza, according to recent reports by Amnesty International and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. This repression includes beatings, kneecappings, executions, detention without trial, torture, restrictions on civic organisations and violent attacks on critics and protesters, as reported in The Guardian on Friday 13 February 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/13/hamas-gaza-murders-abduction-torture Amnesty International is highly critical of the Hamas "campaign of abductions, deliberate and unlawful killings, torture and death threats." http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/hamas-waged-deadly-campaign-war-devastated-gaza-20090212 Referring to Palestinians who were beaten or murdered by Hamas, Amnesty notes: "Most of the victims were abducted from their homes; they were later dumped - dead or injured - in isolated areas...Some were shot dead in the hospitals." In a media briefing, Amnesty International added: "There is incontrovertible evidence that Hamas security forces and armed militias have been responsible for grave human rights abuses and that the victims of such abuses and many others are being intimidated and discouraged from testifying about their ordeal. The Hamas de-facto administration has displayed a flagrant disregard for the most fundamental human rights norms, not only allowing such abuses to be perpetrated, but actually facilitating and encouraging the abuses by justifying them and by granting absolute impunity to the perpetrators." http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE21/001/2009/en/9f210586-f762-11dd-8fd7-f57af21896e1/mde210012009en.html A dossier by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights independently corroborates Amnesty's allegations: "The human rights violations perpetrated....have included killings of fugitives, prisoners and detainees, injuries caused by severe physical violence, torture and misuse of weapons, the imposition of house arrest, and other restrictions that have been imposed on civil society organisations." http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/Reports/English/pdf_spec/Increase_rep.pdf These abuses, which are part of a long-standing pattern of human rights violations, reveal Hamas's totalitarian agenda and are a portent of the Iranian-style theocratic tyranny they would impose on the Palestinian people if they ever secured absolute power. It is an anti-Semitic, misogynistic, homophobic, anti-trade union, authoritarian, clericalist movement. Nevertheless, none of Hamas's crimes excuse Israel's disproportionate, reckless and indiscriminate attacks on Gaza. The Israeli armed forces wantonly targeted civilian areas and caused thousands of civilian casualties, including the deaths of over 400 children. Under international law, such as the Geneva Conventions, Israel's actions are war crimes and its political and military leaders should be taken to The Hague and put on trial. http://blog.amnestyusa.org/middle-east/there-is-no-lens-wide-enough-to-embrace-the-sheer-dimensions-of-the-devastation/ This is the broad consensus among much of liberal and left opinion in western countries like the UK and US. I agree. But while progressive opinion is justifiably quick to condemn Israel, it is oddly silent when Palestinians are being persecuted by fellow Palestinians. Why the double standards? Hamas styles itself as a resistance movement. In fact, it is as much a repression movement and the victims of its repression are fellow Palestinians who don't toe the Hamas line. In the future, Hamas is potentially as much of a threat to Palestinian freedom as Israel is today. Hamas shares a similar religious-political ideology to the tyrants in Tehran - Islamism. More than a faith, Islamism is a religious-inspired fundamentalist political movement. The Islamists of Hamas have the ultimate goal of establishing a religious dictatorship, where every detail of Palestinian life is governed by its perverse hard-line misinterpretation of the Qu'ran. If it ever managed to secure total control of a Palestinian state, Hamas would begin to impose its own restrictive Islamist version of democracy, as has happened in Iran under the ayatollahs. It would eventually ban non-Islamist parties and candidates. Gradually, genuine democracy and human rights would be dismantled and replaced by Hamas's own qualified, limited Islamist version, which would not be true democracy at all. This is obvious to anyone with knowledge of Hamas's founding documents and guiding principles. These set out its plan to create not a Muslim state, but an Islamist one, where harsh religious edicts become the law of the land. Many Palestinians - probably most - reject theocracy. They do not wish to live under religious tyranny. Their desire is a democratic, secular state where people of all faiths are free to practice their beliefs but where religion does not dictate legislation and control government policy. It is therefore disturbing that significant sections (not all) of the left are flirting with Hamas. During the January protests in the UK against Israel's barbaric bombardment of Gaza, there were frequent pro-Hamas chants and placards. "We are all Hamas now!" some marchers yelled. At one rally in Hyde Park, speakers on the main stage urged "Victory to Hamas!" and received tumultuous cheers of approval (with only a few boos). I am tired of hearing left-wingers defend Hamas on the grounds that it was democratically elected. So what? The Israeli leaders are democratically elected but that does not make their war in Gaza right. A democratic mandate is not, by itself, sufficient to secure legitimacy for the government in Gaza - or anywhere else. If democratically elected governments violate human rights they forfeit their legitimacy, as in the case of Britain when it was torturing and assassinating Irish republican suspects in the 1970s and 80s. Besides, support for Hamas has declined dramatically as people have experienced the consequences of its administration in Gaza. If a genuinely free and fair election were held today, Hamas would not win. Another favourite left and liberal justification of Hamas is that it is less corrupt than its Palestinian rivals in Fatah and that it organises social programmes for the poor. You could say the same about the Nazis, compared to the indulgence and incompetence of some Weimar Republic leaders. No, a few good works do not exonerate Hamas. Yes, their critique of Fatah nepotism, pocket-lining and thuggism has some truth. But the alternative they are offering is far worse. Some of the left seem to see Hamas as a Palestinian equivalent of the African National Congress of South Africa - a heroic national liberation movement that is resisting the iniquities of Israeli occupation. Sorry, this analogy does not wash, as Brett Lock argued on the Harry's Place blog a couple of weeks ago. http://www.hurryupharry.org/2009/01/29/why-the-anc-deserved-support/ He pointed out that Hamas is offering nothing akin to the political and ethical stature of the ANC's Freedom Charter. In fact, Hamas's charter is a charter for discrimination and religious tyranny - the exact opposite of what the ANC stood for. Moreover, Hamas's macho posturing mirrors that of the Israeli extreme right. It has a juvenile tit-for-tat, eye-for-an-eye war mentality. To supposedly prove its resistance credentials and outdo Fatah, it fires rockets into Israel against non-military targets, with no concern for the civilian casualties caused there and no regard for the effects on Palestinian civilians of Israeli retaliatory attacks. Far from advancing the Palestinian cause, Hamas's strategy is constantly weakening and undermining it. The people of Gaza are worse off in every way since Hamas took control. The Gazan people are lions led by Hamas donkeys. These donkeys keep giving Israel an excuse to attack the Palestinian people and to frustrate the urgent task of creating a viable, independent Palestinian state. I have some sympathy for a one-state solution - a unified democratic, secular state of Palestine-Israel, based on a confederation of autonomous, self-governing Jewish, Arab and mixed towns and cities, where all Israelis and Palestinians can live together in peace, security, harmony and equality. As well as the intransigence of short-sighted Israelis, one of the major obstacles to this dream is Hamas. It demands an Islamist state governed by sharia law. It won't accept equal co-existence or secularism, democracy and human rights. If I did not know better, I would suspect that the leaders of Hamas are Mossad agents, who were long ago planted in the Islamist movement by the Israelis to frustrate Palestinian national ambitions. Despite my many criticisms of Hamas, I also believe that Israel and the West should negotiate with them, just as the British negotiated with the Irish Republican Army, the US negotiated with North Korea and Pakistanis are now negotiating with the Taliban. The ideology that Hamas represents has a sizable, if shrinking, minority following among Palestinians. You cannot defeat an ideology by military means; especially not an ideology that is fuelled by the fundamental injustice of Israel's dispossession of the Palestinian people from their land. Even with the opponents of freedom, talk, talk is better than war, war. ENDS -- Peter Tatchell is the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Oxford East www.greenoxford.com/peter and www.petertatchell.net PETER TATCHELL HUMAN RIGHTS FUND Donations are requested to help Peter Tatchell's campaigns promoting human rights, democracy and global justice. Peter is unpaid and receives no grants. He depends on donations from friends and supporters. Please make cheques payable to: "Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund". Send to: PTHRF, PO Box 35253, London E1 4YF To download a donation form or a standing order mandate, go to Donations at: www.tatchellrightsfund.org For information about Peter Tatchell's campaigns: www.petertatchell.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090221/a21b334a/attachment.htm From keith.duddy at gmail.com Sat Feb 21 06:46:09 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Sat Feb 21 06:46:19 2009 Subject: [eclectika] New Joss Wheedon TV Show just premiered in the US Message-ID: And I would _never_ recommend that you steal copyrighted material.... but there 1000s of seeds on piratebay at the moment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollhouse_(TV_series) |< -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090221/a3c9c9bd/attachment-0001.htm From ahortonart at earthlink.net Sat Feb 21 11:27:49 2009 From: ahortonart at earthlink.net (Andrew Horton) Date: Sat Feb 21 11:27:58 2009 Subject: [eclectika] New Joss Wheedon TV Show just premiered in the US Message-ID: <18134955.1235237269778.JavaMail.root@elwamui-norfolk.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I warn you, though: Nolan, Emily, Kate & I just watched the premiere. It is paint dryingly dull. -----Original Message----- >From: Keith Duddy >Sent: Feb 21, 2009 7:46 AM >To: Eclectika , Jim Steel , Michael Henderson >Subject: [eclectika] New Joss Wheedon TV Show just premiered in the US > >And I would _never_ recommend that you steal copyrighted material.... but >there 1000s of seeds on piratebay at the moment. > >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollhouse_(TV_series) > >|< From andy.adamsmoran at gmail.com Sat Feb 21 11:53:52 2009 From: andy.adamsmoran at gmail.com (Andy Adams-Moran) Date: Sat Feb 21 11:54:03 2009 Subject: [eclectika] New Joss Wheedon TV Show just premiered in the US In-Reply-To: <18134955.1235237269778.JavaMail.root@elwamui-norfolk.atl.sa.earthlink.net> References: <18134955.1235237269778.JavaMail.root@elwamui-norfolk.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Message-ID: We haven't watched it yet. But Joss is quoted as saying that it takes 6 (!) episodes to get going. Yay? Ugh. On Sat, Feb 21, 2009 at 9:27 AM, Andrew Horton wrote: > I warn you, though: Nolan, Emily, Kate & I just watched the premiere. It is paint dryingly dull. > > -----Original Message----- >>From: Keith Duddy >>Sent: Feb 21, 2009 7:46 AM >>To: Eclectika , Jim Steel , Michael Henderson >>Subject: [eclectika] New Joss Wheedon TV Show just premiered in the US >> >>And I would _never_ recommend that you steal copyrighted material.... but >>there 1000s of seeds on piratebay at the moment. >> >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollhouse_(TV_series) >> >>|< > > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > From keith.duddy at gmail.com Sat Feb 21 19:14:40 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Sat Feb 21 19:14:47 2009 Subject: [eclectika] New Joss Wheedon TV Show just premiered in the US In-Reply-To: References: <18134955.1235237269778.JavaMail.root@elwamui-norfolk.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Message-ID: I watched it last night, and, on the contrary, I didn't find it dull... think of it as a part of mini-series rather than just a self-contained episode. I'm gonna keep going. (cf the beginnings of Duffy, which were just dross). |< 2009/2/22 Andy Adams-Moran > We haven't watched it yet. But Joss is quoted as saying that it takes > 6 (!) episodes to get going. Yay? Ugh. > > On Sat, Feb 21, 2009 at 9:27 AM, Andrew Horton > wrote: > > I warn you, though: Nolan, Emily, Kate & I just watched the premiere. It > is paint dryingly dull. > > > > -----Original Message----- > >>From: Keith Duddy > >>Sent: Feb 21, 2009 7:46 AM > >>To: Eclectika , Jim Steel , > Michael Henderson > >>Subject: [eclectika] New Joss Wheedon TV Show just premiered in the US > >> > >>And I would _never_ recommend that you steal copyrighted material.... but > >>there 1000s of seeds on piratebay at the moment. > >> > >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollhouse_(TV_series) > >> > >>|< > > > > _______________________________________________ > > eclectika mailing list > > eclectika@wudee.net > > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090222/3de75402/attachment.htm From keith.duddy at gmail.com Sat Feb 21 20:39:54 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Sat Feb 21 20:39:58 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Some cool photos Message-ID: Including one of Kim Jong Ill inspecting a gum-ball factory - I shit you not. http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/at_work.html |< -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090222/1d74e8bf/attachment.htm From darryl.rosin at gmail.com Mon Feb 23 19:45:46 2009 From: darryl.rosin at gmail.com (Darryl Rosin) Date: Mon Feb 23 19:46:03 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Sasha Obama Keeps Seeing Creepy Bush Twins While Riding Tricycle Through White House Message-ID: "While some White House staffers believe the visions to be nothing more than a child's plea for attention, others are less skeptical, claiming that the building's last resident committed horrible atrocities." -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Sasha-Obama-R-hres.article.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 14652 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090224/07c2ea0f/Sasha-Obama-R-hres.article.jpg -------------- next part -------------- http://www.theonion.com/content/news/sasha_obama_keeps_seeing_creepy From keith.duddy at gmail.com Wed Feb 25 00:59:18 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Wed Feb 25 00:59:27 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Dinosaurs fucking robots Message-ID: Yes, you heard right.... http://dinosaursfuckingrobots.com/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090225/4d197ac6/attachment.htm From keith.duddy at gmail.com Thu Feb 26 15:34:36 2009 From: keith.duddy at gmail.com (Keith Duddy) Date: Thu Feb 26 15:34:47 2009 Subject: [eclectika] I hope to be in this blog one day Message-ID: In the not too distant future I hope to be a fashionable older person worthy of appearing here: *http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/* |< -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://laika.gnusto.com/pipermail/eclectika/attachments/20090227/9ed4838b/attachment.htm From loch at pobox.com Thu Feb 26 18:06:46 2009 From: loch at pobox.com (Andrew Loch) Date: Thu Feb 26 18:07:15 2009 Subject: [eclectika] I hope to be in this blog one day In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1235693206.28575.8.camel@localhost> none of those men have their pants pulled up high enough! At that age the belt should be worn just below the nipples On Fri, 2009-02-27 at 07:34 +1000, Keith Duddy wrote: > In the not too distant future I hope to be a fashionable older person > worthy of appearing here: > > http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/ > > |< > _______________________________________________ > eclectika mailing list > eclectika@wudee.net > http://laika.gnusto.com/mailman/listinfo/eclectika From anna.e.milan at gmail.com Thu Feb 26 18:52:51 2009 From: anna.e.milan at gmail.com (Anna Milanowicz) Date: Thu Feb 26 18:53:06 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Who would have thought rats could be so cute? :) Message-ID: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=128999440322&h=v-i4D&u=mUqv3 From justien at gmail.com Fri Feb 27 04:21:32 2009 From: justien at gmail.com (jstn) Date: Fri Feb 27 04:21:49 2009 Subject: [eclectika] User Interaction / Information Architect at ableton Message-ID: Hi all, The company where I work, Ableton, is looking for a User Interaction /Information Architect for the website. Seeing as many of us are in these rarefied technological fields, I thought you might like to hear about this job. The guy who had this job previously (he's moving to Japan now) did not speak German. It's a good company to work for, very very interesting people indeed, flexible working arrangements are par for the course, and I'm there too, sysadminning. My apologies if this is spam; I really do not wish to offend anyone. Cheers, Justine Here is the blurb (also on the website at: http://www.ableton.com/jobs) : =========================================================== Ableton is looking for a User Interaction/Information Architect. The position is based in our main office in Berlin-Mitte, Germany. Your job is to work with a cross-functional team on developing information architecture and user interaction designs for Ableton?s website and web-based applications. === Your responsibilities * Design and specify the information architecture and user interactions of Ableton?s website and web-based applications in collaboration with developers, designers, writers and management staff ? Create and manage all related documentation and deliverables ? Coordinate closely with specialist teams during the technical planning, visual design, and implementation process ? Work with usability staff to translate findings from user research ? Stay informed of advances in interactive techniques, technologies and methods, and adapting to rapidly evolving industry space === Your Profile The ideal candidate is a self-motivated, productive and hard-working team player who possesses: ? Creativity, conscientiousness, meticulous attention to detail, and entrepreneurial spirit ? Advanced understanding of, and experience with, user-centered interaction and information architecture and design principles ? Strong ability to look at problems from user, designer and developer point of view ? Strong English writing skills, clear verbal communication (German language skills a plus) ? Professional experience in Information Architecture, Information Design, or Interaction Design for the Web and/or offline applications ? Strong problem-solving skills ? Understanding of core web and application development concepts ? Strong knowledge of current user experience, usability and accessibility standards, corresponding methods and best practices, and how to implement them ? Ability to meet deadlines under pressure and be proactive === Preferable qualifications: ? Ability to deliver interaction designs directly in HTML and CSS ? Web development skills and experience ? Bachelor's degree in computer science, human-computer interaction, psychology, graphic design, or related field === How to Apply If you meet these criteria, please send your resume and a cover letter describing your motivation to apply for this position to: jobs@ableton.com Please include your expected salary and possible starting date, and indicate ?User Interaction/Information Architect? in the subject line of your e-mail. =========================================================== the connotation depends on the beacon, as usual From rjmcarthur at gmail.com Tue Feb 3 04:42:44 2009 From: rjmcarthur at gmail.com (Robert McArthur) Date: Wed Apr 15 18:21:18 2009 Subject: [eclectika] Imagine that Message-ID: <49881F9B.1010900@gmail.com> Nikon's new camera: "High-speed continuous shooting up to 45 shots at 15 fps means it is an ideal camera for sports photography and can even record images before you?ve pressed the button." http://www.dpreview.com/news/0902/09020303nikonp90.asp I wonder if it can tell when I'm pissed off with it with the quality and content of the shots I didn't want it to take? Maybe we can know who shot JFK if it we put a big enough card in it... Rob