Rubénerd :)

With the Australian federal elections less than a week away, I decided to plot on a handy table the positions of the leading two parties and their leaders that matter to me. This way I can make a more informed decision, and ultimately help others.

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In celebration of Singapore’s birthday, I uploaded a couple more photos I took just before we left for the last time in July.

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Wendy Francis of the Orwellianly-titled Family First political party went online last night and blasted Australia’s homosexual community, so I’m standing on my own online soapbox to respond, as well as sending it through her website feedback form.

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SBS News is reporting that some US billionaires have pledged at least 50% of their wealth to charity through a campaign started by Warren Buffett.

A noble cause, but those billionaires could have made an infinitely more positive impact by running ethical and sustainable business that perhaps would have made less money, than robbing us and giving some of it back later. CEOs could (if they wanted to) use their influence to affect the world in positive ways; when they retire their money is no better than anyone else’s.

This could be my late hippy mum speaking through me, but isn’t it about time we stop valuing a company based on its profits and more on its impact?

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Various vexillological societies and The Wikipedias are reporting that Malawi has changed its flag to restore the previous Pan-African colour layout, a change the opposition party is none too pleased with. I don’t pretend to know or understand the political motivation behind the change, but I like it. It looks brighter, more cheerful :).

When I was growing up I was intensely interested in flags and logos because so many designs could be visually expressed with so few colours and geometric shapes. People used to call me a loser, can you believe it? Don’t answer that.

It’s time to start worrying.

Labor has lost its substantial two-party preferred lead against the coalition in just two weeks, the latest Newspoll has found. [...] The poll, taken between Friday and Sunday, found Labor and the coalition are split 50-50.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not a Labor fan (at least not any more), but the prospect of this guy being our PM is absolutely terrifying. We don’t need another anti-intellectial theocracy.

From a tech perspective I’m guessing we’re screwed either way, unless enough people vote below the line and oust Stephen Conroy, or enough Labor ministers grow spines to stand up against the filter, or enough Greens are elected to put pressure on Labor to straighten up and fly right, or a decent combination of all three.

For a brief period of time this evening, Australia watched Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott debate over who would best serve the country as PM by dodging questions, not proposing constructive steps towards any environmental action and expelling much hot air about boat people in a way Pauline Hanson would be proud. Third party candidates like Bob Brown or Fiona Patten who would have made the debate interesting (or even just useful) were not invited.

I watched by proxy through Twitter. Don’t think I missed much.

Discovery Health is running a story about 15 modern conveniences that are bad for our health. I have a 16th item to add to their list: paginated stories that are split up into 15 separate webpages!

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We’ve come so far in some ways, but tragically not so in others. I guess I’m just a little disillusioned at all the squandered potential.