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Tag Archives: Philosophy
Kiva Micro Finance
Yesterday I had a very conversation with my doctor. She had just finished a masters in politics and I didn’t have anything wrong with me so we ended up talking about global issues. She introduced me to Kiva, a micro finance organisation which links people with too much money to people with not enough money.
Kiva’s mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.
While studying on Gov Love (Centrelink calls it youth allowance) my income was in the top 10% in the world. That wage was enough for me to live comfortably. Currently I am working full time and I just invested $250 in a ukulele (plus a bit more on a case). If I can spend $250 on myself I think I can invest a little in a stranger by lending them a bit of cash to improve their lives.
You can see where I’ve chosen to invest my money here. Ideally I would like to target my loans towards education and health projects but there aren’t many options in those fields, I suppose everyone wants to support those fields. If you find something especially worthy of support please let me know so I can help out 
FYI This is an F chord on a Ukulele but I still don’t have a mic 
Tagged centrelink, charity, doctors, health, kiva, Philosophy, politics, ukulele
The proposed Burqa ban
The whole burqa debate has got me worried. What affect will a ban on burqas have on my freedom of fancy dress or my freedom of motorbike helmet wearing? This has all kicked off again after burqa clad robbers held up a post office in France. There have been hundreds of helmet clad and fancy dress clad robbers so are two of my favourite pass times at risk? I am already greeted with this sign at fuel stations.
Which amuses me because the type of person that becomes a robber isn’t likely to be the type of person who obeys signs, and if they were this sign would be more effective.
I gimped this scene to illustrate my point.
Who is the dodgy one? There are 6 anonymous people in this scene, Mr Guy Fawkes, the helmet clad woman, the burqa clad woman, the child with the pixelled face, the baby under the cover, and whoever is watching them all on the security cameras. It’s funny how governments and the media focus on the form of anonymity that best suits their agendas. It’s a great way to distract us from the issues that will actually affect us like peak oil and unsustainable population growth. I’m not pro islam, I think their imaginary friend is as crazy as that of any other religion, but I don’t think we’re in a position to throw stones. Our indecency exposure laws forbid women from exposing their chests in public yet men are free to do so. My solution is walking around naked with an electronic burqa (infrared LEDs on a head band which blind security cameras), that way I can piss off everyone but not get caught by the fashion police
Beer, killer tunnels, and wet hands
I’ve given up on my “no drugs” crusade, society and cultural norms are against me I met my brother at a bar on Monday night and when I arrived there was a frosty Tooheys Old waiting for me. I then figured that Sunday will begin with ANZAC day traditions which is coffee and rum which is caffeine and alcohol in one hit! I figured my whole plan was doomed to failure, you win again society, I’ll do what I’m told. My weakness snowballed and I had a drink after work on Tuesday and a drink after frisbee tonight :s My “no drugs” crusade was an attempt to become a rational being by distancing myself from irrational culture (we drink the poisonous excrement of microscopic organisms, replace sleep with caffeine, and numb our bodies natural warnings with pain killers) but it is a difficult task. I think it’ll be easier to find a rational reason to use social drugs, I’ll get started on that instead
I’ve moved home but home has moved. My mum has moved to Newcastle and I’ve moved in while I’m still a uni bum finishing off my degree, 7 months left I travel down to Sydney for work, street mission sailing program, and Mac Uni frisbee which has clocked up some km’s on my new bike. Interestingly, my fuel efficiency has increased from 23.5km/L to 24.5km/L since my speeding ticket so yay for the fuzz helping the environment and probably saving me money in the long run! I’ve become accustomed to my new bike which has an engine 13 times larger than my scooter. It’s started to get colder and the condensation on the inside of my visor makes pretty rainbow pattern around lights and night. It creates a kind of rainbow tunnel towards cars headlights. It’s very pretty but I avoid the urge try and ride through these tunnels because I am well aware that at the end of the tunnel is a ton of metal travelling towards me at 200km/h.
I observed something very strange in the toilets the other day :0 A man entered, urinated, dried his hands with paper towel, and left… but the gentleman never washed his hands. Very disturbing.
Islands to start a new country
Have you ever wanted to start your own country on some island? Here is a list of possible territories to conquer.
Kermadec Islands
Population: Uninhabited except for the permanently manned Raoul Island Station
Currently claimed by: New Zealand
Climate: Sub tropical
Area: 33km^2
Location: Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand, 29°16′37″S 177°55′24″W
Conquering may be difficult. Although the islands have a small population, they are government funded so they will have reinforcements. The Island some sort of sanctuary for birds but so was New Zealand at one stage.
Tetepare Island
Population: Uninhabited
Currently claimed by: Solomon Islands
Climate: Tropical
Area: 118km^2
Location: Pacific Ocean, near Solomon Islands, 8°43′00″S 157°33′00″E
This island is the largest uninhabited island in the Pacific and some conservationists believe that makes it special and worth protecting. There are traditional owners also which may have something to say about you claiming their land. There were scared off by head hunters a century ago so the same trick might work again
Blasket Islands
Population: Uninhabited
Currently claimed by: Ireland
Climate: Mild, moist and changeable
Area: ~20km^2
Location: Atlantic Ocean, near Ireland, 52°05′21″N 10°32′49″W
This island was occupied until the mid 20th century. It is very close to Ireland and there are some archaeological sites on the island which the locals may want protected.
Antipodes Islands
Population: Uninhabited
Currently claimed by: New Zealand
Climate: Cold and yucky
Area: 20km^2
Location: South Pacific, south of New Zealand, 49°40′0.12″S 178°46′0″E
These islands are not very friendly, in the middle of nowhere and cold. Also these islands are again some sort of nature reserve.
Palmyra Atoll
Population: 4-20 scientists
Currently claimed by: the United States
Climate: Tropical
Area: 12km^2
Location: Pacific Ocean, South of Hawaii, 5°53′N 162°5′W
Nomans Land
Population: Uninhabited
Currently claimed by: the United States
Climate: Humid continental climate
Area: 2.5km^2
Location: Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Massachusetts, USA, 41°15′18.00″N 70°48′54.00″W
No Man’s Land, pfft, this island was used as a practice bombing range for 50 odd years so there might be some unexploded ordnance, other than that it seems like a good candidate.
Acteon Group
Population: Uninhabited
Currently claimed by: France
Climate: Temperate
Area: ~4km^2 spread over 4 atolls
Location: 21°22′59″S 136°34′59″W
These atolls would be perfect for setting up a new country if they weren’t 230km away from the French nuclear testing site
Ducie Island
Population: Uninhabited
Currently claimed by: Pitcairn Islands, kind of part of the Commonwealth.
Climate: Not too yucky
Area: 2km^2
Location: Middle of the Pacific Ocean, 24°41′S 124°47′W
This island is my favourite for conquering, it’s in the middle of nowhere and no one visits it. It has a lagoon to harbour ships and hopefully fresh water though a Ghyben-Herzberg Lens.
Although not an island Bir Tawil is also worth a mention.
Population: Uninhabited
Currently claimed by: Nobody
Climate: Desert with rocks
Area: 2,060 km^2
Location: Border between Egypt and Sudan, 21°52′14″N 33°44′14″E
Neither country wants this land because it means giving up some other land. For a decent explanation check out StrangeMaps.
There are many possibilities, Wikipedia has a page on uninhabited regions which makes creating your own countries easier then ever! My country will be based on information anarchism; individuals will transcended their physical bodies and live forever through their works, much as Leonardo da Vinci has lived on though Lisa’s smile.
Some other interesting blogs which may be useful in creating a country
8 More Strange Places on Planet Earth
If you find any other useful links, please let me know
Tagged conquering, islands, Leonardo da Vinci, Philosophy, world domination
Things I wish I knew when I was younger
Legal doesn’t mean moral
Illegal doesn’t mean immoral
You can’t experience non existence so don’t worry about death
Your purpose in life is to improve the universe
You are always completely free even if your choices are limited
The easiest way to improve the universe is to smile
Dancing is fun
School isn’t the best years of your life
Just because someone tells you something confidently, doesn’t make it true
If you’re telling a lie, say it confidently
Trying lots of different things shows more character then sticking to something you don’t enjoy
Don’t bother chasing girls, by the time your ready to settle down they’ll be chasing you
Learn to think rationally
The bible doesn’t make any sense
Be confident, what’s the worst that can happen
There is no shame seeking help
The majority aren’t always right
You don’t need a reason to laugh
If someone hurts you, tell them
A group of people are dumb
There are many norms in our culture which are really stupid
Don’t judge people but don’t let people push you around
Write your thoughts down
You don’t have to plan your life in your teens but a little direction is always good
Try to understand how others may perceive your actions
People only seem irrational because you have not had their life experiences
Your penis has very short term goals that probably aren’t conducive to achieving your long term goals
Tagged Philosophy
