An Obscure Vacation Spot

So, looking for a good place to get away? Yet you don’t want to go where everyone else goes. Well, how does camping sound to you? No, I don’t mean camping out in the woods. How about camping on the beach?

You are looking at Perdido Key, which is located south of Florida.  I went there for Spring Break freshman year of college.  That’s an über-zoomed in view, as the key is much longer (with buildings).  It’s run by the National Park Service, interestingly enough.  We only stayed a day because it was too windy to keep our tent up (we really didn’t know what we were doing).  Having said that, this place is paradise.  Nobody, and I mean, nobody was in our view (with the exception of an old couple whom we passed on the road in).  Look at these photos and decide for yourselves.

If I remember correctly, the cost for a pass is only $6.  Therefore, it’s extremely reasonable!  Also, Perdido Key is literally right across the straight from Panama City, so you can drive there to get anything you might need or want.  In short, it’s the ideal (in my opinion) and undiscovered vacation spot.  So, think about it next time (instead of Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Fort Lauderdale, etc.).  

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.

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.

Cricket or Yachting for Boxing Day?

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

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

[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?

[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.”

[file sharing] piracy or legit biz

Walk into most markets over here [and the markets are still the centres of daily trading] and you’ll find a cluster of stalls flogging everything from DVDs to games. You have to smile at the guy who sells them.

He opens the cover, scrutinizes the disc, announces to you: “Novi” and you have 200 songs for a few roubles. Pity the poor companies though who are legit businesses. They get raided, their hard disks confiscated and have to pay exorbitant fees for licences, if they keep their own trading permits, that is..

Sad but true – to go legit, to go legal, hardly seems to pay either here or overseas. The big labels have everyone screwed. If you pirate, you get hit with lifelong debt if caught. If you go legit, you get screwed:

According to Michael Robertson, the major labels have now set a new kind of trap. They’re licensing all right – only they’re licensing on terms that screw new businesses. In his latest Michael’s Minute, Robertson alleges that startup Imeem has settled a lawsuit with UMG on terms that ensure it will never make money.

There is a time honoured tradition of file sharing and I have to agree – why not? As long as the first link in the chain pays full price, then what is subsequently done with that album is nobody’s business but theirs.

An alternative view is that people who do this are:

… freeloaders who insist it’s their moral duty not to pay for music. These “activists” are never around to support lawsuits when songwriters want a fairer share of royalties from the Major Labels – they’re probably too busy reading Boing Boing …

The record labels are pretty well known for their shoddy practices. Damien Cave in Salon quotes professor and musicant Joseph Byrd, speaking to a Napster judge:

“The record companies’ representation that they are legitimate agents for their artists is false,” he continued. “The only payments they make are to those who have the means to force them to be accountable; to the rest, a vast majority, they pay nothing.

Therefore, allowing them to collect fees in our behalf does not serve the public interest. I personally would prefer to allow my music to be freely shared, to the present situation, in which only the corporations stand to gain. Until this is changed, the record companies and publishers deserve nothing.”

Because low to mid level artists haven’t collected royalties on their music, they can’t afford to take the record labels to court to get those royalties.

Royalties are the musicians’ bread and butter but how far can one go in collecting them? This is an old story from Poland:

ZAiKS and other organizations of this type [royalty police hit squads] rule the royalties market with an iron hand. It is obviously understandable that royalties are what artists buy their bread and butter with and that supermarkets or radio station should pay them.

But demanding them from a barber or a shoe shop owner who has a radio on while working borders on the ridiculous, although the matter is different if he played CDs or cassettes.

In the end, it’s hardly possible to clamp down on file sharing – there are increasing technologies to make it possible and as in that Polish example, at what point do legitimate claims for royalties for your work cross the line and become rampant greed for every last cent?

At what point does royalty collection turn people right off and the musician then gets nothing either way? After all, this is a pleasure industry issue, not a daily food and drink issue. There is such a thing as market self-actualization. I don’t think file sharing can ever be stopped.

As the chief of the indie label alliance AIM, Alison Wenham, said earlier this year:

“You can fight piracy valiantly on the beaches and in the trenches, but you can’t win it. The average file sharer has as much chance of being caught as they have of being hit by a meteorite. We need to monetize the usage of our music – whether or not we delivered it in the first place.”

Surely the solution is to just allow it, stuff the major labels, ensure that little labels get their cut at first point of sale, from which the artist gets his 50/50 cut too and after that, it’s anyone’s guess where it goes.