Vorsprung durch Technik

Nigel Stewart Personal funny, xkcd

Yay for Sunflower Farmers Market – a new store in South Austin!
Their Liquorice Allsorts are the best I’ve had, anywhere – no more need to airmail them in from Australia.

Nigel Stewart Austin, Personal Liquorice, liquorice allsorts, yum

The Money Box Cap 2K Swim in Lady Bird Lake, Austin.
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
From Red Bud Isle to the Texas Rowing Center.

Nigel Stewart Austin, Personal Austin, may 2009, swimming

As reported in The Age:

The Government’s plan to introduce mandatory internet censorship has effectively been scuttled, following an independent senator’s decision to join the Greens and Opposition in blocking any legislation required to get the scheme started.

Senator Nick Xenophon previously indicated he may support a filter that blocks online gambling websites but in a phone interview today he withdrew all support, saying “the more evidence that’s come out, the more questions there are on this”.

It’s a shame that the Rudd government have been so bone headed about the issue.  I guess it’s not quite too late for them to take credit for changing their minds.

Nigel Stewart Australia, Commentary Australia, australian federal government, censorship, kevin rudd, politics, web filtering

Follow up to Atheism deemed offsensive…

Places most likely to disallow displays of Atheists advertisements on buses are Australia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Africa and other politically/religious dysfunctional regimes.

Nigel Stewart Australia, Commentary atheism, Australia, politics

The Age: Bushfire Memorial Service in the Australian state of Victoria

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said people had experienced unspeakable suffering in the fires.  “Let us resolve today that from this time forth, on every 7th of February this nation’s flags will fly at half mast. This nation will pause for a moment’s silence,” the prime minister said.

“We are picking up the pieces after the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history. Devastating fires that have taken family, friends, neighbours and workmates,” Mr Brumby said.

Nigel Stewart Australia, Commentary Australia, bush fire, victoria, wildfire

New to the podcasting scene is the Young Australian Sceptics with their podcast called The Pseudo Scientists.  They are five episodes into it now, covering topics including religion, evolution, secular ethics and celebrity nonsense.  I particular like their “on the street” segment in which they go out an interview random real people about topics such as star signs and creationism.

Also worth noting The Skeptics Guide to the Universe (SGU) podcast from New England in the USA, which I’ve listened to on and off for several years.

Nigel Stewart Australia, Commentary Australia, melbourne, podcast, religion, sceptic, sgu, the pseudo scientists, young australian sceptics

35 Free High-Quality Games for Linux – a list of 35 high-quality, well-working games that will run smoothly on Linux.

Nigel Stewart Linux games, Linux

Featured pictures – Natural phenomena

Nigel Stewart Graphics, Personal images, photos, wiki commons, wikpedia