Little Brother is Cory Doctorow's latest book. Anyone familiar with his earlier works, or his postings on boingboing should probably just go and get a copy, available from the Young Adult section of all good bookstores or freely downloadable here.

Little Brother is set in the very near future, and tells the story of Marcus, a 17 year old boy, who gets caught up in an authoritarian overreach by the DHS in the wake of a terrorist incident in San Francisco and his efforts to fight back. Like a lot of Cory's work, this book gets major points out of the blocks for pure neat technology bits. If you're already enthused or entertained by the use of ingenuity and smarts to defeat poorly thought out security and surveillance, you'll find yourself nodding along to a lot of the ideas in the book.

The plot ticks over at a reasonable pace, with occasional interruptions for infodumps. I have to admit that I skimmed past the infodumps for the most part, due to having a pretty thorough grasp of the technologies and activities detailed in them.

The book is unabashedly political. It pays homage to the anti-authoritarian movements in the Vietnam era, it features debates which allow the viewpoint character to make the good points while the defenders of authoritarianism resort to using their postions to quell debate, and it depicts the harms produced by an increasingly authoritarian system.

Many of the characters, and all of the pro-authoritarianism characters, felt faily one dimensional, with the pro-authoritarian characters feeling like straw men. None of the supporters of the authoritarian actions of the DHS is presented as anything except evil or misguided, with the strong implication that the misguided ones can easily be brought around once they're on the wrong end of the DHS.

I'd recommend this book with anyone who has political issues with abusive authoritarianism, anyone who likes a decently written Young Adult story, but mostly I'd recommend that anyone who knows a nerdish young kid get this book in their hands.

Anyone thats still interested in the book should head off now and download a copy. I'll be interested in everyone elses thoughts on it.

XKCD, one of the best comics in the world, has a news section. While reacquainting myself with its archives, I stumbled across another Eric TF Bat comment. Further comment sightings will only be mentioned if they occur on more obscure corners of the net.

Additionally in the small world category, I attended the local SCA meeting last night, my second attendance at said meeting, and was given some tim-tams from a member of the local SCA group who had just returned from Australia.

For consideration. 5 geek points shall be awarded for appreciation of the heavy petting exception, 10 points for knowing why the "No Heavy Petting" illustration is funny.

Well, I've not been doing much, but I've been working on a post for my other blog, the one where I say things that will probably qualify me as first up against the wall when the revolution comes, and I only tend to post things to one journal at a time.

This, however, needed to be shared with my friends list.

Thats all. I'll now return to our regularly scheduled posting fuck all.

There are many things people just don't seem to get on the internet, but the one I notice most often is a fundamental failure to understand Godwin's law.

I think a major cause of the problem is a fundamental misunderstanding of what sort of law it is. It is not a law in the legal sense, its a law in the scientific sense. It applied originally to usenet threads, but can generally be applied to any sort of message board or discussion forum where comments are structured in threads. And all it says, to use the exact wording, is "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." Meaning that there is a chance of a comparison of something under discussion to hitler or nazis in any usenet thread, and this chance increases with every post to the thread.

What Godwins law does not say is "If you mention Hitler, or Nazis, the thread is over and the other guy won". It doesn't even say "If you mention hitler or nazis, the thread is over and no one won". There is a social convention that it means the thread is now unfit for its original purpose, and a reasonable usenet tactician can manufacture a win by gracefully, and without comment, or with some sort of reasonable farewell, cease posting to the thread. Jumping up and down and going "You said Hitler, Godwin's law says I win" will usually take the thread off into a churning, messy discussion of Godwin's Law, and why this reference to nazis was significant and appropriate.

So, just in case you have been misusing and misunderstanding Godwin's law, now you know.
And knowing is half the battle.

So I was reading one of my most regularly read blogs MightyGodKing dot com and I found this post, a discussion about the various areas that people consider themselves experts. I will digress here a moment, and point out that I have no idea how I started reading this blog, and that it is written by one of my fellow Canadians. And you should be reading it. It delivers a regular dose of what we call amusement.

So I'm reading through the comments, (you can find my comment about 1/2 way down, if anyone should really care), and I found a comment mentioning such things as SCA heraldry, filk and programming languages. Hmm, thinks I, perhaps I should add a comment to the thread about there being two SCA people reading this blog, truly demonstrating the crossing over of nerddoms. So I scroll up and check for the name of the man making the comment.
...
Eric TF Bat.

Its a small world people, a small small world.

this is my back.

when flying into Canada, and you're going through the "do you have any of these to declare" checklist, don't pause to think "I definitely got rid of all the snacks I had before I got off the plane, didn't I", just confidently answer "no, I have no food."

I'm fairly sure thats what got me diverted into the full bag check, where I was asked pointed questions (by a cute girl, but still a customs person) about the following items; my riding boots and crop, my set of d6s with a heraldic design where the 1 normally is, my collection of comic books, my laptop ("can you power this up", "why does this not look like windows", "where is the My Pictures folder" (ah, thank you paranoia, as all my vaguely questionable data is encrypted and stored in inobvious locations when crossing borders)), my cable ties. by the point that we unearthed my stuffed cow, and my bottles of ink, and my pieces of original art, and about the 5th notebook, and my massive collection of power cables, the customs person was pretty much reduced to giving me funny looks.

I was also asked long questions about what my plans were in Canada, and had people look unsatisfied by my responses, at both the preliminary customs point and the bag search. This is not particularly surprising, since my total plan was "I've got a place in Montreal for a few days, then I'll head to a hostel in Toronto and start looking for work". The part that got me was that the immigration person, who issued my visa and is supposed to ask pointed questions about my ability to find work and my level of funds allowing me to support myself and then piss off out of the country when I'm done, asked very few questions and was not at all disappointed by answers like "I'll work wherever I can get a job", but the customs people, who aren't really in the position of having to worry about anything other than "does he have a shipment of coke stuffed up his arse" asked more probing questions and appeared more disappointed by the answers. Despite the fact that I have enough money to spend the entire year in this country and get by without working a damn day, if I wanted to blow my savings (spoiler: I do not want to blow my savings).

Anyway, I'm now in canada, hanging round at a hostel and starting to apply for jobs. I've been to a B grade hockey game, but I doubt I'll make a leafs game this season, cause they keep hanging on to the outside chance of making the playoffs, thus making every game a fascinating do or die affair, and greatly reducing the chance of getting a decent price scalped ticket. At least there is bugger all chance of them taking the cup this year, the level of support and ticket prices are bad enough as it is. As every hockey fan I've talked to here has said, "Imagine how big their fan base would be if they'd managed to take a cup in the last 40 years"

I'm liking it here. the people are friendly, the snow is neat, job market looks OK, poutine is interesting, hot wings are good, pancakes and syrup and bacon is a complete breakfast, beer is expensive. I'm planning on doing a wineries tour at some point before leaving Toronto, mainly to see what Icewine is like.

This is my last day of work in the UK. I've got touristy stuff left to do, then I'm off for the next country I work in. And this is where you come in. I'm interested in hearing everybodies opinion, should I come home to australia, or galivant off to canada.

I can't make up my own mind, this is your chance to convince me. This is not a binding vote, this is an opportunity to pursuade me one way or the other. If you want to make your opinion known to me alone, email me.

I've been entertained by this on some other Lj's so now I pass this on. We're going to play the classic game of Shag, Marry and Cliff. essentially, one person proposes a set of three people, and everyone else (well its usually a one on one thing, but this is the internets, so its more of a free for all) selects which one they would sleep with, which one they would marry and which one they would push off a cliff. When you're selecting people for the set of three, the choices shouldn't be obvious. (eg, Hitler, Eliza Dushku and Jessica Simpson is a really bad set (if there is anyone who cant guess who gets what in that set, you are fired as my friend))

I will note that I'm operating under the assumptions that shag means a one night stand, or at most a short and entirely physical relationship, marry implies sex, unless there is a really good reason why not (hes a man and I dont swing that way is not a good reason. He is in jail for life, and I'm fairly sure super-max prisons don't allow conjugal visits is a decent reason why not). And push off a cliff means splat.

just to kick things off, the two sets I actually bothered posting answers too when someone else made this post, and my personal choices.

Buffy, willow & faith. (Cliff, Shag, Marry)

Mal, Jayne & Wash. (Shag, Cliff, Marry)

You are encouraged to discuss your reasoning for any choices made.

now go and play in the comments section, ya'll

So I've been catching up on Californication, which means I watched the whole first season over the course of 3 days, and I have to say, I generally enjoyed the show. The presence of naked breasts may have been a contributing factor, along with some thoroughly amusing moments. But there were two fairly major bits of plot that sucked some of the entertainment out for me. ( spoiler alert )

there was a smh article today, asking why we recognise the achievements of great athletes and sports people, but not, for example, those of great mathematicians.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/nerds-geeks-superstars/2008/01/12/1199988640627.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

personally, the answer is simple. because it is far harder to understand the achievements of great mathematicians. or scientists, or the majority of artists. and it is getting harder, as the work of those who stand on the shoulders of giants is getting further and further away from those who do not have the time and/or ability to climb up the giants in the first place.

Sport, on the other hand, is generally easier to understand. especially sports we have competed in at some level. we apply an understanding of how far our best efforts take us in order that we can be amazed by the efforts of those at the top of their game. Even when we have no direct experience with a sport, if we understand the basic skills that make it up, it can still serve to amaze us. This works far better in sport than it ever would with appreciating science or maths or art, since excellence in sport is often a matter of simply applying the same basic set of skills, just with a measure more of speed or strength or willpower.

Thats my thoughts on the matter anyway.

"The kind of Unitarian
Who having by elimination got
From many gods to Three, and Three to One,
Thinks why not taper off to none at all. "

1. What curse word do you use the most?
Bugger. I'm not allowed to say Cunt in nearly as many situations, and those are the two swear words that I nearly always say multiple times any time that I have occasion to use them (I rarely just say "bugger", its usually "Bugger bugger bugger bugger. Bugger!". occasionally the really emphatic "Bugger!" goes at the start instead of the end)

2. Do you own an iPod?
Yep. it gets used about 20% for music and video, majorly for extra HDD storage. will change once I finish travelling

3. What person on your Flist do you talk to the most?
tuiredan.

4. What time is your alarm clock set to?
800 ish. it often gets moved when I'm setting it at night. I'm trying to start getting up with the sun, since winter is really doing a number on my brain.

5. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?
Yup. I actually have a short list of different milestones, like first "quick peck" type kiss, first snog, first shag. Interestingly, first shag came well before first snog. Get me drunk and you might even find out the story of how that happened.

6. Do you remember where you were on 9/11/01?
I was at my parents house, chatting on #atbuffy, my brother called me into the tv room and showed me the news, and I went back online where we started betting on the number of casulties. I won.

7. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?
well, at the moment the standard pic in my collection is a pit of english scenery, and my bike helmet.

8. What was the last movie you watched?
If double episode/TV movies count? Graduation (kim possible finale). TV movies? A sitch in time (also Kim possible). download pirate stuff? superbad. At the cinema? I have no idea. its been ages.

9. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes.

10. Has anyone ever called you lazy?
Oh hell yeah. I regard myself more as excellent at procrastination, blessed with a poor attention span, and with a poor ability to find goals which adequetly motivate me. Which comes to about the same thing, but means I've got three problems to tackle instead of one. Biggest problem is my tendency to settle into a rut, both in my hobbies as well and in my work.

11. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep?
Not specifically. I have drunk to excess, and I have torn up half a house trying to find pain killers so I could go to sleep despite my headache

12. What CD is currently in your CD player?
MP3 is the only way I listen to stuff. Currently listening to the Cruel Sea

13. Do you prefer regular or chocolate?
Regular? what the hell is wrong with the word vanilla? And the answer is choc mint.

14. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
Nope.

15. Do you sleep on your side?
Yes. Usually. depends on the available bedding. I require a stack of good quality pillows to sleep in the manner I am most comfortable with.

16. Do you watch the news?
I mainly read it.

17. How did you get one of your scars?
The first girl I had a proper crush on turned me down, decided she was a lesbian, and moved to another state in the couple of months after I asked her out. whats that? physical scars only? The scars on my face (and the busted teeth) are all from mistaking my it for an appropriate set of brakes for a bike going full speed downhill.

18. Do you have any siblings, how many, sex?
One sister (who has been a great freind the whole time I've been in a different country to her) and three brothers (one has the energy to counterbalance my lazy, one reminds me of most of the things I don't like about myself, and one who keeps astounding me by how well he is doing)

19. Do you have any children?
No. Well, none that I know of.

20. What is the last thing you purchased?
Cigarettes. I fell of the wagon, but I regard it as self medication. I'll try again when there is more sunlight.

this is for all children who live at home, and all parents who have their children living with them.

Yes, the house belongs to the parents, and yes, they can enact the "my house, my rules" system. But usually, the rules have to change as the children get older. The thing is, most parents do it by changing the rules whenever they get around to thinking of it, or by some sort of strict age thing.

I think there should be more negotiation to it. figure out what living at home provides them, and how it restricts them, and be prepared to negotiate one thing away for another. allowances have to be made for the capabilities of their age, but try and start early on. And try to keep as few non-negotiables as possible.

(you can read the preamble, or skip to the bottom for the question)

( preamble/rant )

So, Question time. Advice you'd give to a young person. (anything up to and including university student). Advice based on things you wish you'd done differently. If it only applies to a small group of personality types, make a note.

well, I've fallen off the wagon again. will try again once I'm back at work

1. First name? Michael
2. Were you named after anyone? shrug. it is my dad's middle name.
3. When did you last cry? Also shrug. I'm a guy, with that ground in "no emotional outbursts thing"
4. Do you like your handwriting? nope. its shit.
5. What is your favourite lunch meat? ham. but proper ham
6. What is your birthdate? 10 aug
7. What is your most embarrassing CD? I dont got CD's at this time in my life, all mp3s
8. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? probly, if I got to know me. although I'd get really annoyed at me from time to time.
9. Do you have a journal? hmmm. yes. but I dont post much. and when it was written, I didn't write much
10. Do you use sarcasm a lot? yeah
11. What are your nicknames? ish. mick. 's about it these days. and I'm shedding the ish one on a rapidish basis. I've got online ones, but skunkboy is the longest term one of those, and I'm not using it for anything except the journal these days
12. Would you bungee jump? yes
13. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? No. not unless they're boots with laces.
14. Do you think that you are strong? nope.
15. What is your favourite ice cream flavor? vanilla, for eating with pie.
16. Shoe Size? 7. I think. not sure which system thats in
17. Red or pink? red
18. What is your least favourite thing about yourself? my procrastination.
19. Who do you miss most? in no particular order, my parents. my sister. my brothers. andrew, daniel, malachi, aimee, sharon, bonnie.
20. Do you want everyone you send this to, to send it back? send?
21. What color pants and shoes are you wearing right now? stripy fluro thermal pants, no shoes
22. What are you listening to right now? the ticking of my alarm clock
23. Last thing you ate? reheated leftover nachos.
24. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
25. What is the weather like right now? cold. overcast.
26. Last person you talked to on the phone? some guy from a recruitment company
27. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? hair.
28. How many countries have you visited? 3. Australia, sweden, england.
29. Favourite Drink? really expensive red wine.
30. Favourite Food? varies from craving to craving. A good steak is great, but I'm all about the stews at the moment
31. Hair Colour? brown, darkish
32. Eye Colour? blueish
33. Do you wear contacts? sometimes
34. Where were you born? newcastle. aus
35. Last Movie You Watched? So the drama
36. Favourite Day Of The Year? Either all days are sacred or none are. I haven't decided yet.
37. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings? I'm generally against horror movies. otoh, the wrong happy ending can actually do a real number on my mental state for some reason. shrug.
38. Summer or winter? coolish summer. with a decent ice rink to play hockey at.
39. Hugs or Kisses? just keeping physicial contact with someone as you drift off to sleep, or watch TV or engage in some other lethargic activity. then kisses. then hugs. in order of lowest rated preference
40. What Is Your Favourite Dessert? a good fruit crumble of some kind is great.
41. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? gah. filler
42. Who Is Least Likely To Respond? as above
43. Living Arrangements? me. one room in a suburban terrace house shared with two housemates who are away at the moment.
44. What books are you reading? just finished Making Money. Pynchon's Vineland.
45. What's On Your Mouse Pad? mouse pad?
46. What Did You Watch Last night on TV? no TV. did download some of season 4 of Kim possible
47. Favorite Smells? girly shampoo. fireworks
48. Favorite Sounds? soothing music. kickarse explosions. sultry voiced women promising sex
49. What's the furthest you've been from home? sweden? i think. depends what I count as home
50. Do you have a special talent? procrastination. moping. I could mope for Australia.