Archive for April, 2007
Theocons
Monday, April 30th, 2007I have just finished reading The Theocons: Secular American Under Seige by Damon Linker. While an interesting read, with valuable insights into the thinking of some theocons (especially Neuhaus), it didn’t really live up to it’s name. Secular America is not under seige – the theocons do not want to get rid of democracy or [...]
My Job Adverstised
Monday, April 30th, 2007The DCC has advertised my job – Website – Customer Service Leader. Making it real that I’ll leaving.
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Sacrifice
Thursday, April 26th, 2007ANZAC Day I went to my second ever dawn service, this time in Wellington. I was pleased to some protesters but didn’t think burning a flag was necessary. They were right that the service was a justification for war – making violence respectable and OK if it is defend freedom. Interestingly I found this paper [...]
Which theorist am I? Quiz result…
Saturday, April 21st, 2007What 20th Century Theorist are you?
You are Franz Fanon! The father of postcolonialism, you were a prominant French academic until you resigned your post and joined the Algerian resistance. Your works are surprisingly readable for a major theorist, although you only have two of them. You died in 1961 of Lukemia.
Take this quiz! [...]
China, Human Rights and the DCC
Friday, April 13th, 2007Amnesty International currently has a human rights campaign focussed on China, complete with a tour, whose slogan is “Human Rights: Not Made in China”. AI members had a run-in with DCC staff when they tried to meet with the Mayor Peter (Wing Ho) Chin yesterday.
As a DCC worker and someone who supports Amnesty and human [...]
Easter Trading and the Church
Tuesday, April 10th, 2007Once again this Eastertide there have been the inevitable questions about the inconsistencies of New Zealand’s Easter trading laws. It happens every year. Shop keepers and right wing politicians complain about the laws keeping some shops closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Unions and church “leaders” seek to protect workers and the their holy [...]
My Tribe
Tuesday, April 10th, 2007Today I completed the survey at http://www.8tribes.co.nz after seeing the book 8 Tribes – The Hidden Classes of New Zealand, by Jill Caldwell and Christopher Brown in a book shop. I did the survey on the website and here are the results:
Your dominant tribe is Grey Lynn
You’re dedicated to the idea of making a [...]
The Section 59 Debate and new media
Thursday, April 5th, 2007The so-called anti-smacking debate started by the proposal to repeal Sec. 59 of the Crimes Act has begun a new form of campaigning that all political actors should take note of. Reading “We The Media” and this report “Oxford Internet Institute Working Paper: Web2.0 and Citizen Participation” has made me realise that the Sec [...]
“What is your PhD about?” – you ask
Thursday, April 5th, 2007People have quizzing me about my PhD topic. And fair enough too, as that will my main occupation for the next 4 years and may define the rest of my career. Here is a link to the PhD research proposal that got me admitted to Edinburgh. Doubtless it will change but it’s the best I [...]
New Flat
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007I have more or less completed my shift next door. Last night though I saw a cockroach in the new place. I was surprised by this as I’d been told that there are no cockroaches in Dunedin. This is clearly untrue. Hopefully no more will appear.
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