August 25, 2010
If Australia were a democracy
Australia's recent election was held under a very distorting electoral system, and like in Britain, resulting in a hung parliament.
We'll do the same exercise as for the UK in determining what the Australian parliament should have looked like if a proper proportionally democratic electoral system had been used:
Party: votes, vote percentage, seats (difference with current provisional outcome)
Australian Labor Party: 4,089,531 38.47% 58 (-12)
Liberal: 3,230,990 30.39% 46 (+3)
Liberal National Party of Queensland: 960,395 9.03% 14 (-7)
The Greens: 1,210,998 11.39% 17 (+16)
The Nationals: 405,322 3.81% 6 (-1)
Family First: 234,675 2.21% 3 (+3)
CDP Christian Party: 71,262 0.67% 1 (+1)
Independent: 271,323 2.55% 4 (0)
A hung parliament too. Nothing wrong with that. But it would represent Australians better.
We'll do the same exercise as for the UK in determining what the Australian parliament should have looked like if a proper proportionally democratic electoral system had been used:
Party: votes, vote percentage, seats (difference with current provisional outcome)
Australian Labor Party: 4,089,531 38.47% 58 (-12)
Liberal: 3,230,990 30.39% 46 (+3)
Liberal National Party of Queensland: 960,395 9.03% 14 (-7)
The Greens: 1,210,998 11.39% 17 (+16)
The Nationals: 405,322 3.81% 6 (-1)
Family First: 234,675 2.21% 3 (+3)
CDP Christian Party: 71,262 0.67% 1 (+1)
Independent: 271,323 2.55% 4 (0)
A hung parliament too. Nothing wrong with that. But it would represent Australians better.
Labels: Australia
August 21, 2010
What's the problem with nudity?
The Documentary Channel screened this BBC Horizon programme called "What's the problem with Nudity" the other night.
It tried to figure out why nudity is such a social problem for our species by asking 8 total strangers who have never stripped or been nude in front of other people (and a battery of TV cameras) to do exactly that. Coupled with a potted history of homo sapiens and more ancient forebears, it tried to figure out at what stage in our genetic and cultural history we decided that it was not OK to be around others without "clothes" on.
As this kind of cod TV science goes, it was rather un-illuminating on practically all questions it set out to answer. On the contrary, it left me with a great deal of other queries about aspects that never got touched on.
The obvious clanger was asking 21st Century males and females to rate male chests' sexual attractiveness based on hirsuteness or baldness of said chests. This was supposed to give a clue that evolutionary we have lost our body hair because females preferred to mate with hairless men. But what this really showed was the scientific incompetence of the sex researchers setting up such a thoughtless, biased and uncontrolled experiment: even intuitively (if I may) I would have shown the subjects a range of hairy and hairless women to rate, and I bet the outcome would have been far more pronounced in favour of hairless-ness than the male-only version. Hairy females did far worse evolutionary speaking than hairy males, just look at the number of hairy men still with us compared to the amount of hairy females (ladies with moustaches notwithstanding) and the relentless marketing of lady-shaves, depilatory products and the opprobrium heaped on unshaven continental women.
And we all know that when woman are at their most fertile era in their cycle, they prefer hairy bad boys as bed mates over plucked metrosexuals - and this has a long history too: interbreeding with hairy Neanderthal men apparently was far more common than many of us would like to remember.
It tried to figure out why nudity is such a social problem for our species by asking 8 total strangers who have never stripped or been nude in front of other people (and a battery of TV cameras) to do exactly that. Coupled with a potted history of homo sapiens and more ancient forebears, it tried to figure out at what stage in our genetic and cultural history we decided that it was not OK to be around others without "clothes" on.
As this kind of cod TV science goes, it was rather un-illuminating on practically all questions it set out to answer. On the contrary, it left me with a great deal of other queries about aspects that never got touched on.
The obvious clanger was asking 21st Century males and females to rate male chests' sexual attractiveness based on hirsuteness or baldness of said chests. This was supposed to give a clue that evolutionary we have lost our body hair because females preferred to mate with hairless men. But what this really showed was the scientific incompetence of the sex researchers setting up such a thoughtless, biased and uncontrolled experiment: even intuitively (if I may) I would have shown the subjects a range of hairy and hairless women to rate, and I bet the outcome would have been far more pronounced in favour of hairless-ness than the male-only version. Hairy females did far worse evolutionary speaking than hairy males, just look at the number of hairy men still with us compared to the amount of hairy females (ladies with moustaches notwithstanding) and the relentless marketing of lady-shaves, depilatory products and the opprobrium heaped on unshaven continental women.
And we all know that when woman are at their most fertile era in their cycle, they prefer hairy bad boys as bed mates over plucked metrosexuals - and this has a long history too: interbreeding with hairy Neanderthal men apparently was far more common than many of us would like to remember.
August 18, 2010
The mouse that roared
Fun with headlines:
Luxembourg attacks Germany
When Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, next meets his European counterparts, will he be heaped with praise - or brickbats? Germany’s economy is on a roll. It grew by 2.2 per cent in the three months to June, its best quarterly performance since reunification in 1990. But that has not necessarily gone down well with colleagues in other European capitals.
Unnoticed beyond his tiny country’s borders, Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg’s prime minister, earlier this month launched an extraordinary attack on German economic policy, according to the Luxemburger Wort. Germany’s success was based on “wage and social dumping,” Mr Juncker is reported as having said. “The way Germany went about improving its competitiveness, I would not like to see in our country.” Since the launch of the euro in 1999, German workers had seen a meagre 12 per cent rise in wages, whereas his countrymen saw a 41 per cent rise, he went on.
Labels: Germany, Luxembourg
August 13, 2010
å for awesome!
Denmark Introduces Harrowing New Tourism Ads Directed By Lars Von Trier
When you put genius minds of The Onion and Lars Von Trier together, you get a Danish Tourism Board promotion that is horrifically close to proving why the Danes are the happiest people on earth.
I'm not sure whether Lee Tamahori Meets The Feebles would do the same trick for New Zealand though.
Labels: Denmark
August 02, 2010
Prisoner beats up gaoler for more mayo
A typically Belgian news story: A jailbird in Hasselt beats up prison officer because there was not enough mayonnaise on his chips. I get bloody angry too when that happens!
UPDATE 2 September: The prisoner has been put on a "strict individual regime" for 3 months as punishment for complaining about the mayonnaise.
Een cipier van de Hasseltse gevangenis is al een week arbeidsongeschikt, en moet ook deze week nog thuisblijven. Vorige week zondag was hij met de maaltijden in de cellen rondgegaan. Bij een 22-jarige gedetineerde ontstond er een discussie over de frieten. De jongeman vond dat er te weinig mayonaise op de frieten was, en werd agressief. Hij trok de cipier in de cel en gaf hem enkele raken klappen in het gezicht. De cipier moest voor verzorging naar het ziekenhuis, en is minstens veertien dagen arbeidsongeschikt.
UPDATE 2 September: The prisoner has been put on a "strict individual regime" for 3 months as punishment for complaining about the mayonnaise.
Labels: Belgium
July 13, 2010
The map of human sexuality
I thought I was well-travelled but confronted with a map like this I have to admit I haven't ventured far.Labels: sex
June 23, 2010
Visualizing the BP Oil Spill
If It Was My Home - Visualizing the BP Oil Spill
The scary thing is that it can well happen here too.
The scary thing is that it can well happen here too.
Labels: oil spill
June 21, 2010
Rugby, as it should be played
That mid-winter time-honoured perennial ritual, the nude rugby match in Dunedin, was upon us again at the weekend, with a hard-fought match between the Nude Blacks and the Welsh Leeks.TV3 has fantastic video footage of the match here, for which they are risking a telling off by the Broadcast Standards Authority because some anti-nude wowser group is planning to lay a formal complaint.
All sports should be played sans-clothes. It makes it worth participating, and watching!
Links to previous editions here.
Labels: nude rugby
June 19, 2010
Hahahahahahahahahaha
June 17, 2010
Rural Bachelor of the Year 2010
It's that time of year again when the days are shortest and thoughts go to snuggling up in the hay with your favourite farm hand.
Our perennial favourite is the Rural Bachelor of the Year Competition at the Hamilton Fieldays and this year's crop of eligible rural young(-ish) men isn't too shabby.
You can see all entrants here.
My favourite is:
Jacques Reinhardt
Region: Napier
DOB: 13/02/1988
Occupation: Stock Manager
Why should you be Fieldays 2010 Rural Bachelor of the Year? I should be the Fieldays 2010 Rural Bachelor of the Year because I’m driven and motivated to be the best farmer that I can possible be. I have a real passion for farming. I am also attractive and fun to be around and have a good sense of humour. I am very skilled all round the farm and at most things I do. I’m fit and athletic, love animals and people. I am knowledgeable about most varieties of farming. Very sociable and confident. I have a great personality and am very loving and caring.
And the good news? He won.
Our perennial favourite is the Rural Bachelor of the Year Competition at the Hamilton Fieldays and this year's crop of eligible rural young(-ish) men isn't too shabby.
You can see all entrants here.
My favourite is:
Jacques ReinhardtRegion: Napier
DOB: 13/02/1988
Occupation: Stock Manager
Why should you be Fieldays 2010 Rural Bachelor of the Year? I should be the Fieldays 2010 Rural Bachelor of the Year because I’m driven and motivated to be the best farmer that I can possible be. I have a real passion for farming. I am also attractive and fun to be around and have a good sense of humour. I am very skilled all round the farm and at most things I do. I’m fit and athletic, love animals and people. I am knowledgeable about most varieties of farming. Very sociable and confident. I have a great personality and am very loving and caring.
And the good news? He won.
Labels: totty
June 03, 2010
The trams are coming back
Almost 60 years after ripping up the tram lines in Auckland, the Regional Council has voted to bring them back. Of a sort, of course, not the whole efficient, environmentally friendly system that ran in the first half of the previous century before addiction to petrol fumes caused under-investment, neglect, buses, cars and motorways to take over.A new system will get its kick off with a heritage line connecting Britomart and the Wynyard Quarter, which won't be more than a tourist line. Even vintage tram cars will be used, like they do in Christchurch.
From the press release:
The project’s first phase will see heritage trams circuiting the 30 hectare redeveloped Wynyard Quarter linking it with the Britomart Transport Centre.It will be still a long way from a modern, fast and efficient system that can give private transport a run for their money, so to speak. Like this one:
The proposal was first brought to the ARC’s Transport and Urban Development Committee last year by the Campaign for Better Transport and Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). Feasibility studies have been carried out by the ARC and Sea+City who developed a two phased proposal for the tramway.
Phase one will focus on Wynyard Quarter with a single track loop circuiting Gateway Plaza, Jellicoe Street, Halsey Street, Gaunt Street and Beaumont Street. This is planned to be ready in time for the Rugby World Cup.
Sidings at the western end of Jellicoe Street would house the trams in buildings beside the proposed Silo Park which is being designed to attract people to the western end of Jellicoe Street.
“The return of trams to Auckland’s streets will make a real point of difference for the Wynyard Quarter,” says ARC Chairman, Michael Lee.
“This is a modest beginning, but the longest journey starts with one small step.”
Phase two will see the trams linking to the CBD and connecting with existing public transport at Britomart and on Queen Street.
Labels: public transport, trams
May 12, 2010
The UK election in my universe
In my universe election outcomes should be strictly proportional with the number of seats allocated to party shares of the vote.
In the UK's case: 650 seats and 29,653,638 votes cast (sorry for those unable to vote, campaign for internet voting next time, please).
The threshold is 45,620 votes per seat.
The UK parliament 2010 would have looked like this (633 seat parliament as party votes that reach the treshold qualify for a seat): (difference with FPP outcome in brackets)
Conservative: 234 (-72)
Labour: 188 (-70)
Liberal Democrat: 149 (+92)
Democratic Ulster Party: 3 (-5)
Scottish National Party: 10 (+4)
Sinn Fein: 3 (-2)
Plaid Cymru: 3 (0)
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2 (-1)
Green Party: 6 (+5)
Alliance Party: 0 (-1)
UK Independence Party: 20 (+20)
British National Party: 12 (+12)
Ulster Conservatives: 2 (+2)
English Democrats: 1 (+1)
The winning post is 317 seats. A Con-LibDem coalition Government would have 383 seats, compared to Lab-LibDem 337.
This means coalition talks would have been far more competitive than current, with real alternative majorities possible.
Let's hope the British come to their senses soon and offer the electorate a real choice everywhere, with votes at equal weighting and parties far clearer on their preferred coalition partners and bottom lines.
In the UK's case: 650 seats and 29,653,638 votes cast (sorry for those unable to vote, campaign for internet voting next time, please).
The threshold is 45,620 votes per seat.
The UK parliament 2010 would have looked like this (633 seat parliament as party votes that reach the treshold qualify for a seat): (difference with FPP outcome in brackets)
Conservative: 234 (-72)
Labour: 188 (-70)
Liberal Democrat: 149 (+92)
Democratic Ulster Party: 3 (-5)
Scottish National Party: 10 (+4)
Sinn Fein: 3 (-2)
Plaid Cymru: 3 (0)
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2 (-1)
Green Party: 6 (+5)
Alliance Party: 0 (-1)
UK Independence Party: 20 (+20)
British National Party: 12 (+12)
Ulster Conservatives: 2 (+2)
English Democrats: 1 (+1)
The winning post is 317 seats. A Con-LibDem coalition Government would have 383 seats, compared to Lab-LibDem 337.
This means coalition talks would have been far more competitive than current, with real alternative majorities possible.
Let's hope the British come to their senses soon and offer the electorate a real choice everywhere, with votes at equal weighting and parties far clearer on their preferred coalition partners and bottom lines.
Labels: UK election 2010
May 03, 2010
Coromandel by ferry
Off we went for a grand day out yesterday to Coromandel by 360 Discovery Ferries, a dinky boat braving the Hauraki Gulf, Tamaki Strait and Firth of Thames. $69 return from Orapiu to Coromandel town was not too excessive, especially it's far more scenic, and actually faster, than by car or coach.
It seems to cater for tourists and locals alike, offering Coromandelites a fast-ish way to the big smoke and a timetable that allows for a good day out shopping.
On the return trip it called in at Pakatoa and Rotoroa Islands, both off-limits to mere mortals.
It seems to cater for tourists and locals alike, offering Coromandelites a fast-ish way to the big smoke and a timetable that allows for a good day out shopping.
On the return trip it called in at Pakatoa and Rotoroa Islands, both off-limits to mere mortals.
Labels: 360 Discovery, Coromandel
April 25, 2010
Voting for policies, part 2
Who should I vote for in Scotland? I expected the Scottish National Party but the quiz recommends the Green Party. A coalition of those two should do the trick.
Take the Who Should You Vote For? Scotland quiz
| Green |  | 51 | ||
| Scottish National Party | | 47 | ||
| Liberal Democrat | | 27 | ||
| Labour | | 7 | ||
| UK Independence | -28 |  | ||
| Conservative | -55 | |
You expected: SNP
Your recommendation: Green
Labels: UK election 2010
