“Design depends largely on constraints.” — Charles Eames
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Australia has apparently decided, through its elected leaders, to filter its own Internet connection. Since many, many other people are discussing whether this is advisable or indeed effective, I’ll focus here on what this will do to HTTP, and...
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Thursday, 13 April 2006
According to ABC Online (that's Australian Broadcasting Corporation to the Americans out there): Two Melbourne men have been elected to the Italian Parliament. It is the first time Italians living overseas have been allowed to vote and stand for...
Sunday, 26 March 2006
A few snippets from the day; 1) The Wall Street Journal reports on the divergence between productivity and wages; Since the end of 2000, gross domestic product per person in the U.S. has expanded 8.4%, adjusted for inflation, but...
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Thursday, 21 July 2005
Both my wife and I signed up to johnkerry.com’s mailing list during the last federal election cycle. After he lost, we inevitably lost some immediacy of interest in what he had to say, so we’ve unsubscribed from the list....
Tuesday, 10 May 2005
Social Security represents a pact between generations—a financial and social commitment among people of all ages. — US Social Security Administration Although George Bush has caused a brouhaha with his ill-defined plans to reform Social Security, it’s actually part...
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Sunday, 10 April 2005
Those who have been preoccupied by Two Funerals and a Wedding may have missed news of a developing diplomatic crisis in Australia. Sir Michael Somare, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, happened to transit through Brisbane airport on his...
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Friday, 5 November 2004
For some reason, people are considering a change, such as this one. Might I make another suggestion [pdf].
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Saturday, 16 October 2004
I’m not the first to blog this by any means, but it’s notable enough to interrupt our regular… err… broadcast. Stop what you’re doing and see John Stewart take on Crossfire. A taste; STEWART: It’s not honest. What you...
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Friday, 30 July 2004
Apple is making an executive summary of the 9/11 commission report and the major speeches from the Democratic National Convention available for free on the iTunes Music Store. They deserve a lot of praise for this, and I hope they...
Tuesday, 27 April 2004
I think I'm starting to sympathise with Our Great Governor in California; the state senate has passed a bill banning the production or sale of foie gras. That's right, when they're not telling us what's good for us on the...
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Monday, 12 April 2004
From the Washington Post: This is Bush’s 33rd visit to his ranch since becoming president. He has spent all or part of 233 days on his Texas ranch since taking office, according to a tally by CBS News. Adding his...
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Saturday, 14 February 2004
Paul Krugman points out continuing efforts to shore up George Bush, the Myth; By my count, this year’s budget contains 27 glossy photos of Mr. Bush. We see the president in front of a giant American flag, in front of...
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Monday, 9 February 2004
In the same week that Melbourne is yet again called the most liveable city in the world (a regular occurrence), John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, has negotiated a free-trade agreement that allows US businesses to invest as if...
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Sunday, 8 February 2004
George Bush on why he should be re-elected: “I’m a war president. I make decisions here in the Oval Office in foreign policy matters with war on my mind.” Well, I’ll sleep better at night....
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Monday, 12 January 2004
From the Washington Post: The Army War College has published a paper questioning the scope and approach to the war on terror. Record’s core criticism is that the administration is biting off more than it can chew. He likens the...
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Sunday, 11 January 2004
Well, this should liven things up… “These people are nasty and they have a long memory,” [O’Neill] tells Suskind. But he also believes that by speaking out even in the face of inevitable White House wrath, he can demonstrate loyalty...
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Friday, 12 September 2003
I was in Stockholm earlier this summer as a stopover on the way home from Helsinki. One morning, Jorgen and I were walking along Strömkajen, waiting for a ferry, when a well-dressed man walked by, just a few feet away....
Saturday, 3 May 2003
From the Montreal Gazette - "Deborah Wolfe, a Canadian citizen who was just breast-feeding her son and changing his diaper while en route between Houston and Vancouver, says her "subversive" actions led to her being threatened with detainment, RCMP involvement...