Channel Frederator

A site dedicated to "the world's coolest and funniest cartoons". Most are funny, some are strange and quite a few are rather wrong, but all are free so there is no excuse not to have a look.

NB: You'll need software capable of playing m4v files but that doesn't count as an excuse.

Christmas in Keswick

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. This is where I spent mine, Keswick in the Lake District. Not a bad place at all, and plenty to do...

Sitting on top of hills...

Drinking...

Admiring the scenery...

Walking...

All in all a good place to spend Christmas.

Racial Tension in Australia

So John Howard believes that there is no underlying racism in Australia? Well, I'm sorry but I have to disagree with that.

May I start by saying that I formed these views months ago, and not as a reaction to the recent mob violence in Cronulla. That was as much a reflection of the intelligence of drunk young people as it was of any racial tensions. This post is prompted not by the riots but by subsequent comments by politicians.

While I've always considered Australia's underlying attitudes towards race as suspect, I actually had to leave the country to form a clearer picture of the subject.

Most Australians are aware, to varying degrees, of Australia's historical attitudes regarding race and nation, from early European settlement, through the White Australia Policy and up to the "modern" approach towards Refugees and immigration. However, it wasn't until I had to explain these things - on a number of occasions - to someone with no knowledge on the subject that I found myself confronted, and I mean really confronted, with Australia's past, both colonial and modern, and what it meant regarding our racial attitudes. Asked point blank if Australia was racist, I found that a simple "no" couldn't suffice.

Leaving aside the modern dilemma surrounding Refugees, those shameful days have been consigned to - and deeply buried in - the history books, haven't they? John Howard and others may be able to brush such ideas aside, and why not? They hardly make for easy or comfortable study. Yet, we mustn't be so quick to assume that such a nasty part of a country's psyche can be so quickly eradicated. That would be both dangerous and irresponsible.

Just because Australia may be a "tolerant and respectful" nation does not remove the possibility of there being any underlying tensions. "Tolerant", coming as it does from "tolerate", isn't necessarily a good thing. I tolerate headaches and rush hour on the Tube because I have to, not because I like them. John Howard himself has said that he is "tolerant of homosexuality". Do you think that he meant that in a good way?

Now remember that I'm discussing Australia's underlying values. I'm in not trying to argue that Australia is, on the face of it, an outrightly racist country, that all Australians are inherently racist or that any racial tensions that may exist are worse than those in other countries. To illustrate this point, One Nation was a flash in the pan compared to the British National Party and its brethren, not to mention any number of worrying "nationalist" parties across Europe.

I'm not proposing any solutions. John Howard says we shouldn't overact, this much I agree with. However this doesn't mean that we should avoid taking an honest look at ourselves as a nation, without dismissing any parts we may find uncomfortable to look at. Only then can these problems be properly addressed.

As a postscript may I address the argument that, as Australia's population is so diverse, it can't be racist? Who said that only white people can be racist?

The Precious

Allow me to introduce you all to my new best friend. It plays music, stores and displays photos as well as playing videos. It weighs less than 150 grams and fits neatly into my hand or pocket. What more could you possibly ask for in a device (other than the ability to make phone calls, surf the internet, take photos and perhaps cook dinner)?

Crikey!

I'd be more sure of Tim Faber's innocence if it wasn't for the arsenal of fireworks I know he has at his place.

Bad Astronomy

Not a bad picture, hey? I took it from a website called Bad Astronomy, which in turn took if from the Hubble website. It is a composite of pictures from Hubble and the amusingly named Very Big Telescope. It is just my way of emphasising that Bad Astronomy really is a good website. Its author Phil Plait states his aim as "airing out myths and misconceptions in astronomy and related topics". I am not saying that I have a previously hidden love of astronomy, but the site is useful for broadening your knowledge. I particularly recommend the - albeit sporadically updated - movie review page.

Hampstead Heath

I went for a walk on Hampstead Heath, in North London, on the weekend. Unfortunately I was at the bottom of the stairs when I realised that I had forgotten my camera, and there are some days that you just don't want to climb four flights of stairs. Of course I went on to encounter a number of picturesque scenes, such as this one. It looks very pretty but judging by the noise the generators were making the air isn't really cold enough to keep the ice solid on its own, yet.

Discrimination, and a lesson learnt

The Linklaters Christmas Party was last night, and temps were not invited! Did you hear what I said? TEMPS WERE NOT INVITED TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY!! I had never felt so discriminated against. As a middle-class white male I can’t specifically remember the last time I was discriminated against, but that is beside the point.

I was only slightly mollified when my supervisor - who had drawn the short straw and had to work - produced some “appropriated” wine and beer from an ad hoc liquor cabinet, better known as the stationary cupboard.

I was therefore able to enjoy an (average) glass of red whilst undergoing yet another evaluation. The defining characteristic of my evaluations thus far is that while I have a habit of occasionally missing the obvious, for example, a comma that should be a semi-colon, I am rather good at spotting more complex issues such as defined terms that have been misused in the document. Its almost as though I was a lawyer, not a proofreader!

What I am not so good at is remembering that I am not to take it upon myself do any significant redrafting of the document. By that I only mean a little minor rewording, not serious legal redrafting. Not only isn’t it my job but the lawyers can apparently get a bit shirty. “We’re not paid enough to worry”, my Deputy Team Leader matter-of-factly informed me.

That was just after she had pulled me up for a comment I made in the margin of a document. The drafting lawyer had applied two different legal tests in similar circumstances, one of which would have left the other party with some wriggle room, I merely drew this to their attention. I thought that I was being polite, apparently it came off as a bit pompous. It seems in such circumstances just because I know the difference doesn’t mean that I should the lawyer know that I know. I especially shouldn’t let the lawyer think that I think they don’t know the difference. Obviously.

Almost the end of the week...and Christmas is coming

Just another quick update for y'all. I was told the other night that whilst my training wasn't over I was welcome to take the job should I wish to. So do I? Hard to say really, at the very least it will bring in a good bit of cash whilst I cast around for something else to do with my time.

A few hours ago I was convinced that what I needed was a complete change of career, however it is probably best not to trust my mind at 5.00 am.

Christmas plans are beginning to shape up. Tim Faber and friends have booked a place up in the Lake District over the Christmas period and one way or the other I will be making my way up there. Last I heard Tim had taken charge of the menu, with roast beef and mulled wine taking pride of place. Ought to be good.