I’ll be a little slow for the rest of this week. Last night I accidentally knelt on a glass object, which shattered, slashing my knee. Result: 4 stitches (after some hours waiting in the hospital). A minor injury, really, just a bloody inconvenience.
Australia 2020 Summit website (finally) online
The guv’mint has finally gotten up a website for the Australia 2020 Summit. The main new pieces of information are a little more about each topic area and the nomination process.
Key points:
- Nominations close 25 February. There’s a nomination form, and you’ll have to include an explanation of “why you want to participate as a delegate in the Australia 2020 Summit in 100 words or less.” A bit like a TV Week competition.
- You can nominate for up to three subject areas.
- If you don’t get selected, you can still make a submission. Submissions close 9 April.
And that’s about it, apart from a photo of Chairman Rudd. Not even an RSS feed.
Corey Delaney’s Other Party
Hugh Atkin, the man behind the excellent Chairman Rudd propaganda videos [1, 2], has retrieved an interview from the future, when Brendan Nelson is replaced as leader of the Liberals. Hat-tip to various people, including Peter Black. (I know, a few weeks old but still very amusing.)
Topic 9 to discuss Australia 2020 Summit’s government topic
I’ve just registered the Internet domain topic9.com.au, where I’ll set up a blog to discuss topic number 9 of the Australia 2020 Summit: “The future of Australian governance: renewed democracy, a more open government (including the role of the media), the structure of the Federation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.”
I won’t have time to do anything with it until (probably) tomorrow evening. Meanwhile, can you suggest people who might be interesting contributors?
The Psychology of Security
I should also post a link to Bruce Schneier’s magnificent essay The Psychology of Security. A fantastic read. For similar material, check out his keynote speech at LinuxConf Australia last week.
Strength through Fear
That august political journal The Onion has brilliantly outlined the new US political strategy.
We must all do whatever we can to preserve America by refocusing our priorities back on the contemplation of lethal threats — invisible nightmarish forces plotting to destroy us in a number of horrific ways. It is only through the vigilance and determination of every patriot that we can maintain the sense of total dread vital to the prolonged existence of a thriving, quivering America.
Our country deserves no less than every citizen living in apprehension.
Fear has always made America strong. Were we ever more determined than during the Yellow Scare? When every Christian gentleman lived in mortal terror of his daughter being doped up on opium and raped by pagan, moustachioed Chinamen? What about the Red Scare, when citizens from all walks of life showed their pride by turning in their friends and associates to rabid anticommunists? Has America ever been more resolute?
Hat-tip to Bruce Schneier.