Friday, December 28, 2007

A Canadian Perspective

I found this via Watching America. Read the aformentioned article. It provides a unique perspective of Canadians, who don't want to be integrated into an NAU.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

All your children are belong to us

I note that James is on a brief hiatus and as such I thought that I'd leap in with one of my rare posts—only my second, in fact—in order to fill the gap.

I would like to say a few words about ManHunt 2, a computer game that is causing some controversy, as it essentially involves the gamer playing the part of a character who hunts down assorted people and kills them in inventive ways.

After deliberation, it had been given a release in this country but now that is going to be fought in court.
British censors have won the right to fight the UK release of video game Manhunt 2 in the High Court.

A judge accepted the British Board of Film Classification's argument that the game had been approved for release on a misinterpretation of the law.

The game was banned in June but the Video Appeals Committee said the game could be classified and released.

The BBFC said that the VAC had been guilty of "a very serious misdirection of law" on the question of harm.

The judge said: "I have taken into account the high public interest in the possibility of harm to children."

Mr Justice Wyn Williams ruled the Board had an arguable case that should go to a full hearing.

Both sides agreed that the game was not suitable for children, but the BBFC argued that if given a certificate for release, it could still end up in the hands of minors.

The first point is, if these media releases—be it video games or films—are going to "end up in the hands of minors" anyway, then what point is there is giving them a classification in the first place?

And how will they end up in the hands of minors? Either through shops selling them to minors—in which case the shops are breaking the law and they should be prosecuted at every opportunity—or the parents are going to buy the game for their children.

In this second scenario, the parents have made a deliberate decision to flout the law and the warnings that come with the classification. Whatever the reason, we have to accept that parents have ultimate legal rights over their children; their wishes should trump both the classification board and the government. To deny that is to accept that the parents do not own their children and are not responsible for them: the state is, and the state should have preference over the parents as to what is suitable for the children. And that is an utterly unacceptable scenario—unless, of course, you are someone like Polly Toynbee, for whom such a situation would be the first step on the road to socialist Utopia.

The final thing to consider is whether or not violent computer games are responsible for violent behaviour. And the answer is that it is unlikely and, assuming that it follows the same projection as porn, we can actually say how unlikely it is. Or, rather, Strange Stuff can.
The available data is quite explicit. The availability of porn does not lead to sexual violence, it actually decreases the incidence of it.
The incidence of rape in the United States has declined 85% in the past 25 years while access to pornography has become freely available to teenagers and adults.

Not good enough? How about in the land of tentacle sex?
Within Japan itself, the dramatic increase in available pornography and sexually explicit materials is apparent to even a casual observer. This is concomitant with a general liberalization of restrictions on other sexual outlets as well. Also readily apparent from the information presented is that, over this period of change, sex crimes in every category, from rape to public indecency, sexual offenses from both ends of the criminal spectrum, significantly decreased in incidence.

Most significantly, despite the wide increase in availability of pornography to children, not only was there a decrease in sex crimes with juveniles as victims but the number of juvenile offenders also decreased significantly.

In short, in the case of porn, easy availability leads to a decrease in sexual attacks because, fundamentally, porn acts as a substitute for the act itself. As far as we can tell, violent computer games act in much the same way: they allow people to play out a fantasy and they are less likely to ape the acts that they see portrayed.

Therefore, whilst various campaigners may hail this court challenge to Manhunt 2 as a triumph for decency and common sense it is, in fact, anything but. But these special interest groups don't like to get in the way of a good moralising, because that is why they exist.

However, make no mistake: if this game's release is banned, the subtext here is that the state knows better than you how you should raise your children. And from there, it's only a short step to the state podding hutches of Polly Toynbee's dreams.

Cross-posted at Devil's Kitchen.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Cricket or Yachting for Boxing Day?


Matthew Hayden celebrates his 28th century in the Boxing Day Test

Align Centre Leopard and Wild Oats XI duel for position on Day 1 of the Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race

One of the great Ocean Races, the annual Sydney to Hobart, which always starts on Boxing Day is under way in perfect conditions. The winner for the last two years, Wild Oats XI leads the field and is favourite to win again, but weather conditions are likely to preclude a new record. The race includes a wide variety of yachts from the Super Maxi's which complete the trip in less than two days to smaller yachts which can take a week or more depending on weather conditions.

There is an excellent web site where you can track the yachts, read updates and see some excellent photographs if you are nautically inclined. I know James is.

Here in Australia, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race vies with the Boxing Day Cricket Test Match held annually in Melbourne as the major sporting events for this part of the year. For the record over 60,000 people and a huge television audience saw Matthew Hayden hit his 28th test century as India fought back to be marginally ahead after day one with Anil Kumble getting five wickets. Everywhere you go for the next few days, people will be watching and listening to the cricket. Even my mother in law set aside today to just watch the cricket and sew. Many are hopeful of a more competitive series than the Poms last year and it looks like they may get one.

Photos from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Official Site and Cricinfo

Cross Posted at Adelaide Green Porridge Cafe

Monday, December 24, 2007

[blog hiatus] just for a few days

Hamish, I'm speaking about you tomorrow.

Had to smile. Went to the usual "nourishing" page, my homepage and was not surprised to discover I'd dropped one place to third.

I was very surprised to see which post of mine Google chose to run - the one from a few days back, speaking of my place on that very page. Is this incestuous or is this incestuous?

OK, so I have to announce that my statement at Blogpower later this evening will be my last for a few days though I'll visit all on my blogroll over the next few days, in a more leisurely fashion and check the e-mail of course, which includes BP posts. I just won't blog.

The thing is that my health has deteriorated to the point where it's a danger so I must stop for now. The plan is to return to this blog on the 30th.

I would adore it if anyone could see his or her way clear to guest posting - I'd love to read one of your posts [maybe more than one]. Any photos - try to make them 400 pixels wide and centred. You might have to select and choose Verdana for best effect.

One last thing - I love my work over here but these guys never know when to stop. They've got me scheduled tomorrow morning to go to the TV station to speak on ... wait for it ... livestock breeding and milk production in Germany and Sweden! What?!!

I tell them it's Christmas Day.

They say: "Yes?"

No point even trying to explain - better to just celebrate Christmas on January 7th and be done with it. The text was just delivered to me [for the film] by a big, smiling bear of a man - lovely chap, lucky wife. Nice hearts, the people I deal with.

Have a good festive season. For those who won't be offfended - G-d bless.

James

[christmas] don't forget the families


If you wonder how I, a Christian, can accept Oestrebunny's post:

There are no Christmas miracles and if Santa is coming down your chimney it's more than likely that he's not a benevolent bearded man, but in fact your drug addled pikey neighbour attempting to pilfer your presents.

And before anyone starts up, I refuse to accept 'celebrating the birth of our lord' as an answer. We all know the Romans pinched these festivities from the Pagans. I know it, you know it. Lets just all accept the fact that Jesus wasn't born with glitter in his hair or tinsel around his neck.

... then we need to look more closely at what she's saying. She's only speaking the truth here - the current orgy of consumer debt based on this time of year and the false pretence of festive cheer has no basis in history.

On the other hand, it is generally accepted that this time be the one designated as His birth [even though I don't celebrate December 25th myself - mine is January 7th]. Kids do love the tree and tinsel and it is a chance for famlies to come home and be together. It would be churlish to set that aside, to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Enjoy your festive eve and day, especially as a family and I'll now toast to you with a glass of wine. Enjoy your family - it makes me feel warm just to think of it.

[wales] leading the way to a house of lords


Wow! How's this for an issue?

The people of Wales call upon the Prime Minister to end Unicameralism* in Wales by creating a second chamber, modelled on the House of Lords, entirely appointed to scrutinise the work of the elected Assembly.

The people of Wales are so annoyed by this lack of a Welsh House of Lords that so far only two people have signed the petition other than the author.

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' he chortled in his joy. I have been arguing for a House of Lords, unaccountable to the governing party, for a long, long time.

Here are my proposals for the English Parliament, though I was still thinking Britain then. Then come follow up posts here, here, here and here.


Some good Christmas Eve reading for all.

Of course, it is only logical that the EU regionalization is henceforth scrapped, that England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own bicameral parliaments and that the upper houses embody, as I mentioned to
AlwynapHuw:

... the country's traditions - comprised of historians perhaps, [national] lords, not English, church leaders and so on ...

The UK or Britain can be retained for defence purposes, such being administered from the Isle of Man.

[nepal] the times they are a changin'


Fascinating story of a monarchy on the doorstep of China now changing to a republic:

Nepal's major political parties have agreed to abolish the world's last Hindu monarchy as part of a deal to bring former communist rebels back into the government, the one-time insurgents said Monday.

The communists, who are known as the Maoists, ended their decade-long rebellion last year and later joined the country's interim government. But they withdrew in September, demanding the monarchy be immediately abolished.


The current monarch, King Gyanendra, heads a dynasty that dates to 1769, when a regional ruler led an army down from the hills and conquered the ancient city of Katmandu.


Gyanendra came to the throne in 2001 after a palace massacre in which the crown prince is accused of gunning down Gyanendra's older brother, the late King Birendra, and much of the royal family and then killing himself. The murders helped pierce the mystique surrounding Nepal's royalty.

Wonder how much influence China itself or the U.S. had on this matter? Also, what is the future for Hinduism?

Sunday, December 23, 2007

[wassailing] and maybe just a little mulled wine


What are your favourite carols = the ones you'd most like to hear tomorrow evening when they come round wassailing? The Top 10, according to the Classic FM poll:

1. O Holy Night

2. Silent Night

3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

4. In The Bleak Midwinter - Darke

5. O Come, All Ye Faithful

6. Once In Royal David's City

7. In The Bleak Midwinter - Holst

8. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

9. O Little Town Of Bethlehem

10. Coventry Carol

So do you have your ensemble ready? Don't forget to take a hot toddy with you when you go and in order to extract maximum cash, select just two or three carols and sing them over and over. But no less, as this will get you a beating.

Mrs. Beeton's recipe:

INGREDIENTS.- To every pint of wine allow 1 large cupful of water, sugar and spice to taste.

Mode.-In making preparations like the above, it is very difficult to give the exact proportions of ingredients like sugar and spice, as what quantity might suit one person would be to another quite distasteful. Boil the spice in the water until the flavour is extracted, then add the wine and sugar, and bring the whole to the boiling-point, when serve with strips of crisp dry toast, or with biscuits.

The spices usually used for mulled wine are cloves, grated nutmeg, and cinnamon or mace. Any kind of wine may be mulled, but port and claret are those usually selected for the purpose; and the latter requires a very large proportion of sugar.

The vessel that the wine is boiled in must be delicately cleam, and should be kept exclusively for the purpose. Small tin warmers may be purchased for a trifle, which are more suitable than saucepans, as, if the latter are not scrupulously clean, they spoil the wine, by imparting to it a very disagreeable flavour. These warmers should be used for no other purpose."