Linkspam for 14-5-2009

2009-05-14T23:37:54Z

Neil Gaiman's Journal: Entitlement issues...

The shorter Neil: George R.R. Martin is not your bitch. I still don't get why people can't understand that authors and other creative types don't have on/off switches. I wan the next book too, but I want it to be good, and released when it's ready. In the meantime, I have a whole library full of other books to read.

(tags: writing neil+gaiman george+rr+martin entitlement)
Stumbling and Mumbling: Immigration & GDP

Oh look, something else we already knew but have to keep repeating because people refuse to believe it. Immigration makes us better off. All of us.

(tags: immigration economics freedom)
Stumbling and Mumbling: MPs' pay in historic context

Chris has a historical analysis of MPs pay compared to the average. Does show that they've been going down, comparatively, since the early 80s—strangely, allowances have been going up since then, can't think why. Oh, wait, it was a fiddle created by Thatcher to keep the troop in line but keep the headline salary low. That worked REALLY well didn't it? Can we scrap the stupid allowances scheme, reduce the number of MPs, abolish safe seats and give the replacement lot we elect fairly a decent salary so that there're less absolute numpties and careerist arseholes please?

(tags: parliament economics MPs)
Is There Anything Good About Men? - Roy F. Baumeister

Interesting talk on how society exploits both men and women, but traditionally in different ways. In many ways it similar in analysis (if not conclusion) to the feminist patriarchy critique, and definitely worth a read as a good contribution to the debate.

(tags: equality feminism gender men patriarchy makes+you+think)
One Div Zero: A Brief, Incomplete, and Mostly Wrong History of Programming Languages

Does exactly what it says on the tin. And is probably more accurate than my actual real knowledge.

(tags: humour history language software)
Pasty wars flare after Devon wins 'Cornish pasty' prize | Metro.co.uk

Of course, the Cornish aren't too happy about this. But then, the Cornish never seem to be happy about anything.

(tags: pasties pies devon silly)
British Pie Awards : winners

On the subject of the best things coming from Devon, this does of course include pasties. (USians—that's a type of pastry pie, not a silly thing moralists make strippers wear, the A is soft, paaasteee). The British Pie Awards says the best Cornish Pasties are made in Devon. And everyone knows the recipe comes from there anyway.

(tags: pasties pies devon awards silly)
2D Goggles » Lovelace– The Origin

The (true?) story of how Ada Lovelace became the worlds first superhero crime fighter. Or something. It's cool. And silly. Computers. Invented in Devon. Like all the best things.

(tags: computers ada+lovelace charles+babbage)
Time to safeguard public service broadcasting - Common Endeavour

Paulie suggests that ISPs should contribute money to content creators out of the money they make selling us connections and similar. Not sure I agree with him, but it's an interesting argument. Much prefer it to the special pleading and subsidy requests some of them are doing at the moment.

(tags: media newspapers funding ideas ISPs)
Ariane Sherine: If fish do feel pain, should we stop eating them?

Have I mentioned how much I dislike terrible puns? I have? Well, I'll mention it again. Ariane is gorgeous, funny, and smart. But this is one of the biggest collection of terrible fish based puns ever. Even if she is, on balance, having ago at those annoying pescetarians

(tags: pescetarians puns ariane+sherine food)
Interesting Moments - You'll Love these Photos

Well, you will if you like a lot of pics of animals either being cute or in strange poses. I especially like the MeerCat, while SB preferred the snake & robin.

(tags: photos animals cute)
Ironic Sans: Thsrs - The Shorter Thesaurus

It's a Thesaurus that only throws up shorter synonyms. Useful if a) you use Twitter/SMS a lot or b) you're a verbose git. Like me. Works in the Firefox search box as well, which is nice.

(tags: thesaurus twitter wordplay geekery)
TVSciFi - The Q Asks the The Last Surviving Star Trek Red Shirts

TVSciFi attends a Red Shirt convention. It's utterly daft, but amusingly so.

(tags: Star+Trek humour)
Great Liberal Speeches: George Tierney on sacrificing the constitution on the altar of public security | Mark Pack

The good Dr Pack demonstrates that I'm nowhere near the biggest hostiry geek in online Lib Demmery witha pretty good analysis of this classic speech. This REALLY OLD classic speech. Surprising how much it still resonates really, still, those who refuse to learn the lessons and all that...

(tags: speeches history freedom security George+Tierney)
99.873% of statistics are made up « Sci-Ence! Justice Leak!

Andrew makes the point about the damage that can be done to YOUR cause if you, or people on your side, make things up or inflate statistics. One I completely agree with

(tags: research statistics campaigning)
Race for Life - Sisters in Harmony Fundraising Page

My (future) mother-in-law is doing a charity run with a friend. She'd appreciate donations. I appreciate a happy mother-in-law. I'm sure you understand, right?

(tags: charity family cancer)

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Mat Bowles

Linkspam for 14-5-2009