Why? Why not?

Nice account of the way one guy deals with spammers. Basically, he replies to their email opting-out of their offer, and telling them that any further email sent to him from them constitutes acceptance of a contract on usage of his network. Not sure about the legality, but very clever nonetheless.

Another note about the previous, this time from /.:

Politicians in Australia seem to be determined to prove that they can be even more conservative and out of touch than Americans, obvously.

Conservative, yes, out of touch, no. I would argue that Australia’s current spate of conservatism is probably related to the aging of the population; it seems that there is a propensity for people to become more conservative as they get older (I’ve seen it happen). Thus, given our current ‘by-the-polls, for-the-polls’ style of government, it is hardly surprising that we end up with such bullshit laws being proposed.

There’s a really funny piece of legislation being tabled by the NSW parliament, which will make it illegal to post material on the net that would be classified R or above by the OFLC. Electronic Frontiers Australia made a good call regarding this:

It is recommended that the NSW Parliament reject proposals to criminalise inability to foresee a non-unanimous decision of a group of people.

At this rate, we will soon be able to have policy contests not only on who can be toughest on refugees, but also on who can stop adults from making available adult content to other adults, when those other adults can walk down the street and buy whatever the hell they like.

Well, another post I can only end with ‘Bah!’.

Oh, the Humanity!

Warning: contains graphic depictions of mangled computers.

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but I finally watched the two Evangelion Movies a while ago. They’re certainly very interesting as entertainment, but even more so as art. It’s amazing the way the series as a whole creates expectations in the viewer, and then turns them on their head.

Hideaki Anno, the directory, was quoted as saying:

Evangelion is like a puzzle, you know. Any person can see it and give his/her own answer. In other words, we’re offering viewers to think by themselves, so that each person can imagine his/her own world. We will never offer the answers, even in the theatrical version. As for many Evangelion viewers, they may expect us to provide the ‘all-about Eva’ manuals, but there is no such thing. Don’t expect to get answers by someone. Don’t expect to be catered to all the time. We all have to find our own answers.

quote from EvaOtaku.com

That is definitely an attitude I wish more producers of entertainment would take. By not forcing a particular message down a viewer’s throat, while making it clear that there is a message to be found, the viewer can get as much or as little as they wish out of their entertainment, by constructing their own idea of what the message is.

I guess it’s almost like postmodern criticism for people who don’t like postmodernism…

Thank you Miranda Devine.

Now people who protest against globalisation are in league with terrorists. Oh there’s no proof, but many, many, carefully written insinuations. All of this based on the fact that anti-globalisation activists didn’t like the World Trade Centers, or the WTO. Actually, here’s a paragraph well worth quoting:

Against such a backdrop, it’s worth pointing out that the so-called “peace” movement gathering steam in Sydney is organised by anti-globalisationists. Those well-meaning people who swell their numbers should ensure they are not “useful fools” for a more sinister cause.

Thanks again, Miranda, for confirming my boundless cynicism about human nature.

Well, back at work after an eventful weekend.

Firstly, went to the Peppertree Merlot Ball in the Hunter Valley on Sat, with Trang, Richard, and Alix. Fun night, although I should keep in mind that I don’t drink very much anymore. I’d forgotten how bad a wine hangover is…

Secondly, unimpressed with the Australian people’s actions on Sunday. Well, I guess people are content to live in a country thought to be racist and uncaring. I reckon that when we get invaded by some other country for the border policy and similar stupidities, all the people who supported this bullshit will realise their mistake, and I’ll get to say ‘I told you so’.

Feh, too annoyed to write any more.

I actually can’t think of anything clever to say. Picture is from engrish.com. As they say, ‘I think the rainbow motif really sets the mood here…’

On a lighter note, Way of the stick rocks. It’s Stick Figure Death theatre where you control the action. My highest score so far: 3056.

Another example of how inane, crass, and downright irritating the current election is: Paddy McGuinness’ latest opinion article about the policy of both parties on refugees. Apparently those who have moral objections to telling people to fuck off at the borders of our domestic waters are indulging in an ‘unedifying orgy of moral vanity on the part of the elites’.

Well, I’m sorry Paddy, but this ‘elite’ has a problem with not giving a crap about people who would like to have a go in Australia.

He also points out how ‘the increasing flow of would-be arrivals trying to enter Australia without visa or other authority, some without any traceable credentials’ has been dismissed in this manner. So what he’s saying is that if you’re fleeing your country, you should make damn sure to bring your identity papers issued by the regime you’re fleeing, so we can ‘check up’ on you.

Perhaps the most amusing part is where he makes a case for the ‘intellectuals’ being supporters of dictators, and lovingly describes how ‘The degree of hero-worship directed towards these monsters from intellectuals has always been extraordinary’. Again, sorry mate, but it wasn’t just the intellectuals supporting these people. In Hitler’s case, the intellectuals all supported him because any who didn’t were either no longer in the country, having sensibly fled (making them refugees, probably without ‘credentials’), or dead. Indeed, Einstein was a nationless person for some time, having destroyed his passport and renounced his citizenship.

Perhaps, if he were to come calling, Paddy would be there, telling him that, sorry, we have a right to decide who comes into our country, and right now, that’s no one. And you don’t even have credentials?