I’ve just upgraded WordPress (the tool I use for this website) and the Tarski theme all in one go without following the proper procedure. Because I am so clever. Tags are currently broken. Tags were remarkably easy to fix when I read and followed the procedure.
Unreliable Bangkok 5: Polite
One of the most important differences between Bangkok and Sydney is that Bangkok isn’t full of arseholes. I’ve already mentioned that Skytrain security staff are helpful. Unlike CityRail’s. But it goes way beyond that…
In virtually every bar in Bangkok, you don’t pay for your drinks up front. You sit, you order your drinks, they go on your tab, you consume, you enjoy the company of your friends. And when you’re ready to leave, then you get the bill. In virtually every Australian bar, though, you pay for your drinks in cash at the time of serving, thank you very much.
In other words, Australian pubs operate under the assumption that you’re the kind of arsehole who’d leave without paying.
Thai worker-owned brothel turns 1
Something I didn’t see in Thailand, because we didn’t go to Chiang Mai, but worth mentioning. Thailand’s first worker-owned sex bar, fully compliant with local labour laws, has just celebrated its first birthday.
St Kevin’s thoughts on religion in politics
Lots of Australian politicians claim to be Christians, but somehow the “What would Jesus do?” bit gets lost in the everyday business of arresting Indian doctors and sending refugees to concentration camps. Our new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he’s a Christian too. What sort?
Two years ago, Chairman Rudd gave a lecture at the University of NSW’s New College on Religion, The State and Politics. Written in the days of WorkChoices and well before Rudd became ALP leader, it begins with the observation that “Christianity began its life as an oppressed minority,” and argues that one of the church’s important roles is to speak out against injustice.
Continue reading “St Kevin’s thoughts on religion in politics”
This year’s Crikey articles
I’ve just noticed that Crikey makes its subscriber-only articles freely available after a while. So here’s links to what I’ve written for them this year — though the last one isn’t “free” yet. I’ll do a longer version for you soon anyway. Fret not.
Howard should be au fait with this internet thingy by now (20 June)
Blackle: a “green computing” furphy? (31 July)
Why MySpace for grown-ups won’t fly (13 August)
Failing the Citizenship Test (27 August)
Wikipedia and the PM — the trail is still hot (4 September)
Kirribilli house: yours for $15 (15 September)
Sputnik 2: The space age Australia never had (3 October)
Coonan kicks own goals over ICT strategies (5 October)
2007: The (second) last TV election (29 October)
Social media goes mainstream (except for business and politics) (17 December)
Last-minute Christmas gift
If there’s still some last-minute Christmas gifts to sort out, my friends at Lazy Tulip might be able to help (if you’re in Sydney). Flowers, potted plants, chocolates, fruit baskets, wine, champagne and spirits and more, delivered on Christmas Eve or even on Christmas Day.