I recently decided to pay a little more attention to the political powers-that-be in my little country. This was partially based on the sometime fiasco that culminated in Dubya's ascension to the highest throne in the world. During said fiasco, I happened to have dinner with two Americans, one from LA, one from Texas. Predictably (or not, depending on your persuasion), one was a democrat, one a republican.

The conversation was an interesting enlightened one, with the single caveat one would expect whenever one deals with a conservative mind. I was left with a lingering desire to label my perverse view of the world, and I nearly succeeded.

The democrat was liberal, even more so than textbook Gore-ites, and we shared many ideas and values, but I still had a different way of looking at things. Then I discovered Libertarianism.

Now don't get me wrong - I feel the Libertarians take things a little too far too - but they are the closest "mainstream" US political party to my values, and having read their manifesto I know what I DON'T like about them. Some day I hope to write some more about this...

So just the other day I decided to put some of these ideas into action, and do some research into Irish politics, thinking perhaps there was a party which at least peripherally matched my views. Unfortunately, this was a little harder than I expected.

American parties are quite fond of their websites, as are most modern organisations and corporations. They have come to the realisation that the web is the best place to freely publish information, permanently and freely accessible, with none of the downsides associated with other ubiquitous media. Not so the Irish parties.

Although most parties of any size have their own website, none has an easily accessible manifesto page. This is very disturbing, and the only reason I can think is that they expect everyone who visits to be either already partisan or not sufficiently conscientious to spend the effort to understand who they are voting for. Having said that, I found two "manifestos" of sorts, one of which was called "philosophy", found when you go to the "about" page, then click "philosophy", the other called "Plan for the nation", and more a focussed manifesto than well rounded. The policy pages of the other parties I investigated contained only specific statements on specific recent high-profile issues - nothing general enough for me to base my voting preference on.

*sigh*

So I think I'm going to have to do it the old fashioned way: vote blindly, or abuse the candidates when they cold-call.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 22:52  |  

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

OK, I couldn't believe it this morning. My alarm went off. And again. And again. (I have a close relationship with the snooze button). At one stage, while my finger was hovering over the button, I heard a piece of news. The airport closed, a long stretch of rail closed, hour long tailbacks all over the city. It was SNOWING???? Here are some pics...

Pretty weird. I'm at home "working" now. :-)
posted by Jeremy Smyth 11:57  |  

Thoroughly fun quickie.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 11:46  |  

Monday, February 26, 2001

Regular readers will know how I feel about censorship. Although this is a public forum for a private life, mine, I will occasionally have opportunity to refer to one or two other people.

I'm normally careful not to mention any names or be specific in any details. Despite my best efforts, one of these people has taken offense to one of my earlier comments, so I have removed it. Don't worry, you won't be mentioned again! If anyone else has a problem, let me know, I'll whip it out.

This does not change my opinions on censorship. Be warned - you may be "outed" unless you request otherwise...
posted by Jeremy Smyth 21:42  |  

I've put up a vote on the right hand side: Should I hire a car at the wedding? Couldn't be bothered

• Making a decision
  
• Writing proper code to do this myself (lie: I threw 10 minutes at it and failed)
  

So off you go!
posted by Jeremy Smyth 15:39  |  

Happy Monday, everyone. Here's an article about blogging. Shouldn't be news for most of you ;-)

This weekend was probably the arty-fartiest weekend I've had in AGES! I saw two films - one Saturday and one Sunday - focussed on the Ardetti Quartet. The first film, Le Quatour des Possibles, was EXTREMELY arty (as you'll see if you read French and go to that link), about a piece by Luigi Nono called Silence, Fragmented Diotina or something like that. Memory fails me. The second, altogether more approachable film was called "The Helicopter Quartet" <<< FOLLOW THAT LINK!!! - the whole idea was MAD - a string quartet, each member in a different helicopter, choreographed in a particular way. The film charted the rehearsal and début of the piece, and shows Stockhausen's particular personality quite well. It's almost comedic in parts.

{THIS BIT HAS BEEN CENSORED SINCE WRITING}

Canadian Funky Chick Siouxsie Spitfyre wants me to say something about her, so here goes. I LOVE YOU!!! *LOL* And mind the crunchy bit.

Should I hire a car? Answers on a postcard, etc. Put it this way, arriving at 8am on Friday, don't know what time the hotel allows a check-in, wedding etc. on Saturday so little likelihood of driving after noon, Sunday is recovery day, and nothing else doing, until the home flight on Monday. I think I should, what do you think?

posted by Jeremy Smyth 14:24  |  

Friday, February 23, 2001

Oh, and before I forget - I don't think I can describe people as unamerican anymore. It was a compliment, and I meant it at the time. But someone else has taken the term and turned it into a loudmouthed anarchic pointless screaming soapbox thing.

I'm bitter today.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 09:27  |  

Right. I hate Netscape. That's the first thing. You resize a window, it reloads the page. You resize a frame, because for example you can't see the bottom of what you're typing, and it reloads the frame. Wiping the paragraphs you have already typed.

I hate Netscape.

The reason I have to use Netscape is the fact that I got Linux dual-booting on my laptop. Previously it was a floppy disk when I wanted to boot in. But I got it sorted - new version of Lilo helped. Enough nerdy stuff.

The paragraphs that just got lost mostly concern the recent layoffs in my company. No fun - one of them was a guy in my team. So more work, less staff. What's new there?

18 positions made redundant. 10 of those involuntary in this batch, 3 or 4 involuntary and already done, just not being backfilled, the remainder recent or upcoming departures. It's not boding well...

And then there is the good news that I've booked flights and hotel room for the wedding! I'll be there, L, don't worry!! (L is my cuz, lives in another country, and soon won't have the same surname as me anymore. Her loss.)

That's all I have the energy for right now. I'm about to tuck into my Egg, Sausage, Bacon roll sold to me by the guy with the funny car horn who drives around taking money of people in industrial parks.

I'm going before I babble away.

posted by Jeremy Smyth 09:22  |  

Wednesday, February 21, 2001

Haven't been posting. Shame....

Today's gonna be a funny day, so bear with me. In the meantime, I've got this story about online censorship in Australia. I know some of you are there right now... watch this space.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 10:54  |  

Thursday, February 08, 2001

Late addition to the last entry...
The Myth Of The Tech Slump.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 14:29  |  

It had to happen. There was no way that the current über-capitalist mentality would allow otherwise. We're talking
the end of The Library as we know it. At least for a while.

Ya see, there are people who talk about information, saying it wants to be free. This is a fairly narrow way of looking at things. Especially when many industries today are based on information dealing. Everyone has heard of so-called "knowledge workers" - I'm one myself.

Some argue that the "information age" we live in is one of sharing and working together against the old boundaries of commercialism. But is that really true? Is information only becoming valuable now? What of the stone-age hunter/gatherer who knew where to find a copse full of ripe berries, or a pond full of fish? Was that information he would share with everyone, or only those who he cared for or who could pay him in kind?

So when those on both sides of the fence stand up and be counted, we have the ultra-leftist technocrats such as GNU, and then we have the content farmers, the IP hoarders who refuse to let anyone use their products without some kind of payback.

The patents issue is an example. Some companies have made a habit - and a reputation - of patenting ideas or methods that quite frankly are obvious to anyone with a working knowledge of the technology. The most widely publicised is Amazon's one-click patent.

On the other hand, companies such as IBM and Xerox PARC have made huge advances in technology with their patents, and would not continue to do so were there not some way they could make back their development costs from licensing their ideas. Patenting is this way.

Then there are grey areas - ethical issues raised by licenses and patents. Medical companies spending millions, billions on research to create new and powerful drugs - but then hiking up the price of their products beyond the reach of most people who need them. Or even worse, drugs developed in public labs, but the distribution and commercialisation rights given to a large pharmaceutical company. Victims of AIDS in third world countries are recipients of a double-blow from their disease and the companies who can move to alleviate their symptoms, but don't on financial grounds. Fortunately, some governments go against the grain and put their people before their trade agreements.

Information wants to be free. I have a right to profit from my developments and creations. Which is correct? Which is more correct? Are these the right questions to ask?

posted by Jeremy Smyth 14:07  |  

Now this is fairly unbelievable... the anytime-anywhere orgasm. I just had to post it.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 10:34  |  

Wednesday, February 07, 2001

For those of you who know how much time I spend hooked into the internet or on the PC or playing with my new toys, now you'll be happy I can spend time on the
internet in my car. Not quite yet, but it looks interesting.

I'll probably have more detailed links up sometime soon.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 11:36  |  

Tuesday, February 06, 2001

Right. Toys are here, I'm happy. I've played around, had lots of fun, and then just in time, this article appears... about memory loss in young IT-literate people, particularly users of PDA and other external memory aids.

And there was me thinking it would help me get over my memory problems. Ah, well.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 16:18  |  

Monday, February 05, 2001

9am -

I'm getting increasingly impatient.

I bought a toy last week from Amazon (against some of my better judgements...). It was on 24hr availability, i.e. it's in stock and will ship within 24 hrs. I ordered one or two accessories also, and decided to "Priority Express" ship them, meaning they get to me one working day after they ship.

Ha ha.

It's now 6 days later. According to their website, ONE of the three items has shipped. I don't have a tracking number.

Of course, I did what any self-respecting member of a tertiary industry would do, I called them and ripped some heads off. They're refunding the shipping costs. How kind.

2:30pm, still not here.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 14:31  |