However you celebrate, or even if you don’t, I wish all my readers a Merry Xmas. I’ll be back in the New Year, and wish everyone a great 2010.
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John Quiggin 
Merry Xmas John.
Thanks for another interesting and edifying year. Enjoy your break.
Merry Christmas to everybody and sorry to anybody that I have offended during the year, but remember words mean very little in the real world, it is actions that count.
Have a fantastic relaxing Xmas JQ and stay out of trouble. If you’d like me to take care of any (trouble, that is) while you are away….at your service! Though there is a slightly elevated risk I might create more than I take care of.
Terje – next year. To be continued.
Tony G – even troublemakers get to have Xmas. I have to also say that comment at 3 is humdinger coming from you!!.
Merry Christmas to all.
Seasons Greetings to all. Thanks for your good work this year Prof Q.
Tony G – never underestimate the power of words. Just think, we associate Christmas with snow and sleigh bells and yet the sleigh rides evoke images from another time. Enjoy the festivities just the same.
I saw the James Cameron movie Avatar last night. Can I just say that it was the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. If you are keen on the rights of indigenous peoples, biodiversity and the preservation of rainforests or sympathetic to Buddhism you’d be best advised to bring something to stifle the sniffles. I won’t spoil it too much for others by saying too much about the movie itself but this is a classic feelgood movie.
The usages were familar. Dances with Wolves, Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, Star Wars and maybe Pocahontas all rolled into one with simply stunning cinematography. There can’t be too many people who wouldn’t find this movie very engaging.
That said, one of the most perverse reactions was from Andrew Blot who in his now familar rants claimed that it was green propaganda while asserting that it would finally mark the end of environmentalism.
For me, this convinces me that whatever Blot once was, he is now completely unhinged — a psychopath. No properly socialised person who saw the film could use it as a springboard for embracing the filth merchant cause, and Blot is, after all, writing this because he fears just the opposite. His blog groupies weren’t slow to express this tension. For Blot now though, it’s like someone with reflexive OCD. When he sees red where others see green and he can’t not vent about it. Those indigenes on Pandora were metaphorically sticking him and his groupies through the heart with every arrow and spear they drove into the invading terrestrial hordes. With this latest piece, Blot at least has dropped the fiction that opposition to mitigation is not part of a broader disgust for things environmental.
It did occur to me though that in theory at least, a true conservative might well object to Blot’s piece along the following lines:
Perhaps it’s time for some of us to do a little concern trolling over in the Blotosphere. This he is going to find damn annoying.
and Merry xmas from me as well – my son loved Avatar(in 3D) as did all my daughter’s friends. I shall see it too and no doubt shed a few tears, as I always do, much to my children’s amusement. 🙂
Merry Xmas Prof Q, and all you interesting folks.
@Fran Barlow
All these extreme, religious, computer generated, power hungry one government greenies making movies and having conferences and wot-not guarantee that Andrew “Nut’n'” Bolt (nut and bolt, geddit? and nut’n’ is abbr “nothing”, empty, a void, ahh, I’ve pushed the analogy too far) will have a spectacular Xmas and New Year – just look at all that stuff to rail against! He’ll go so apoplectic that he’ll be happy for months 😀 Might even burst a few blood vessels…
For everyone else (except the person who kept leaving dirty plates and stuff in the staff’s communal kitchen sink back in 2002–2005 – you know who you are) Merry Xmas and Happy New Year, Good Health, Live long and prosper!
JQ, many thanks for the stimulating and varied posts throughout 2009. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, your family and everyone else who has the good taste of visiting this blogsite.
Merry Xmas Prof Q .. The people’s Professor. Thank you for the energy and commitment to providing your thoughts and findings to ius who are interested but time poor .. God where do you get the the energy? Please don’t stop!
Merry Xmas Prof Q .. The People’s Professor. Thank you for the energy and commitment in providing your thoughts and findings to us who are interested but time poor .. God where do you get the the energy? Please don’t stop!
Thanks so much John Quiggin for your efforts this last year. This site is a personal development site as much as it is economics, politics, environmental and social.
I especially want to pay tribute to the right wing posters who have stayed on and challenged the rest of us. Looking back, I wish I had been a bit more respectful of some of you and your different views as they are a valuable source of conflict and one should “never waste a good conflict” to improve ones understanding of others.
Merry Christmas to everyone and especially those who love the Natural World and want to preserve it and restore it as it needs to be preserved and restored.
@Fran Barlow
Fran – after that wonderful description of Avatar its on the must see list for my family and I in this Xmas break.
@Salient Green
Ill second that Salient on the right wing posters and maybe I could have been a bit more respectful too…I almost said a “bot” instead of a “bit”. Now that would have been a classic freudian slip.
On reflection I doubt it though…however I do hope they are still here next year (that means you Andy and Jarrah)…I like the parry and lets face it..how many of us get this sort of stimulating conversation over Xmas lunch unless your family happens to be in the business of politics?
Also, how tedious would it be if we all agreed?
Merry Xmas John and to all who make this an interesting place. That includes people with whom I agree and disagree, and excludes trolls, sock puppets and netlowlife. Like many, I suspect, I lurk more than comment but this is one of the better communities and I think JQ’s reasoned approach to things carries a lot of the responsibility for this, as well as his comments policy.
I wish JQ, his family, and all who come here a truly great New Year and hope for a better climate outcome than I expect.
About the only good thing I expect to really come is a climate that I like – around 30 degrees or more all year round.
Alice, I especially admire the way you put yourself out there, throw yourself into the debate, take risks and stimulate others. Mostly you are saying what I would like to but better and quicker. May the Universe embrace and reward you for the good person you are.
Donald, you know what I am going through at the moment with the apricot harvest. We live pretty close and i would like for us to get together some time. Have a good one mate.
@Fran Barlow
Fran – a blot on Blot! Im up for some concern trolling at blotosphere and if that fails we try hit, ridicule and run trolling. I could think of some good troll tactics (Ive learnt everything I know about what not to do, from trolls in here)…how about troll group therapy at Blotosphere? Ill see you there after Xmas.
Although for a humorous take on observing Christmas see here
Some messages to the distinguished individuals here:
SATP: I’d like to know where the pub actually is. I suspect we could have a good chat in between you serving drinks.
Alice: You discomfort me, because you remind me of me, a while ago. Have I just grown old, or are you too strong? Can’t say, can’t call and so the discomfort. Which is good for me.
Michael of Summer Hill: There is more than one side. I’m often more sympathetic to your views than your viewpoint.
Salient Green: I’m sorry, the name is so good you don’t get the critique your comments deserve (not criticism). Best of luck with the apricots.
Terje: IMHO, AGW is real. As for the rest, your comments are well based. There IS a justification for government action in the case of externalities, AGW being a prime case. Minimal government is most other areas is a well acknowledged good. Please keep going and know that a lot of us appreciate the commentary in the non-AGW arena.
JQ: I regret to say, no criticism. :p For as long as I have known you, you have been honest and forthright whether to your personal detriment or not. And I note your detractors have rarely had the courage to really attack your integrity, or the ability supply evidence where they have.
Trolls, sock puppets and delusionists: You as sooooo boring. Thank the powers you get barred as soon as possible.
HC: Like your work and your approach. I don’t always agree and as a fan of Bin 28, I’m not sure I’m ever going to forgive you for renaming your site. 🙂
Others who haven’t been named: the reading pleasure of folks like me is all the better for your contributions. Please think before you post, especially here, and we will all be the better for it. It may be a matter of interest, or none, or a peccadillo. I delete two posts of every three that I draft for this site. Other sites have people who write the first thing that comes into their heads and it is obvious.
If anyone finds this condescending or derogatory, please forgive me. It is intended as positive feedback on one of the best blogs, and to some of the best contributors, on the net. Merry Xmas.
Wishing everyone all the best for the festive season.
@2 tanners
That was very funny. Make it a Xmas tradition.
We, of course, will try our best to stay off this dishonour list but what is wrong with JQs post? – it sounds perfectly sensible to me. Also, I feel obliged to take the Windschuttle approach and point out, there is an incorrect reference in there. JQ didnt make that comment about trolls, sock puppets and delusionists being sooooo boring…..
How long does it take to cook a size 28 turkey? Thank gooodness for the internet.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All. Thanks JQ.
Alice, long and slow is best. High temps cause meat fibres to contract and this squeezes moisture out. Start early, you can always keep it warm.
Tony G:
especially to people like Tony G who don’t understand them.
Merry Christmas, everyone. I do hope it’s a happy time for all.
“the right wing posters…(that means you Andy and Jarrah”
I can’t speak for Andrew, but I’m not right-wing. I’m not left-wing either. I’m a liberal democrat, a radical centrist, a revolutionary incrementalist, a moderate libertarian, a conservative experimentalist. 🙂
Who remembers the Y2K Millennium Bug? That’s been exactly ten years ago now. Wishing everybody a happy new decade.
Happy Xmas to you too, but what does the “X” stand for?
@Jarrah
LOL Jarrah.
To all the ‘lefties’ out there, merry x-mas, happy new year and may your talents, abilities and wares be exposed to market forces.
Happy Materialness to all. To all the “righties” out there, may your talents, abilities and wares be exposed to a more beneficial blend of cooperation and competition than you are currently subjected to by the blind implementation of free market policy.
Happy Boxing Day, online denizens! Especially those leftwingers who apparently are the only ones being subjected to free market policy, because I can’t see any around here.
2 Tanners – I also suspect that AGW is real but I don’t take it as a given. Thanks for your kind words regarding general comments.
Alice & Fran – I’m intrigued to learn that you are both pro trolling. Why not attend blogs you disagree with and engaged constructively instead of advocating a negative approach.
@TerjeP (say tay-a)
Because Terje …I have been to a few alternative sites (for me) and found them inexorably withouit interest and Catallyxy is one of those. There is something unique about this site… it does have a certain freedom ..a certain je ne sais quois…a certain tolerance of a variety of views…a certain coolness Terje and even you have to admit that….or else why do you spend most of your time here? Be honest.
I have way too much ham….
Alice – Catallaxy isn’t as good as it used to be. However it still has some gems occassionally.
John Quiggin represents the best of Aussie statists. His arguments sometimes influence my thinking but obviously I have not been sold on his general worldview. None the less I do respect his contribution to the debate and he is clearly authentic in his beliefs.
@TerjeP (say tay-a)
There’s nothing wrong with trolling per se, any more than there is anything wrong with guns or drugs or talking very loudly. What it is depends on the end to which it is put and of course, the context.
In the case of the Blotosphere rational debate is barred. It is a mere echochamber for Blot’s madness. Concern trolling along the lines I suggested puts the finger on the incoherence of the Blot advocacy and thus serves insight.
@Fran Barlow
Fran – lets face it. Trolling is better than guns and drugs.
And talkimg very loudly is better than trolling, guns or drugs…lets get the order right. Does your deaf Aunt talk loudly?
@Fran Barlow
Im for trolling for remedial purposes at Blots blogosphere and bothering the hell out him and I dont see anything wrong with Fran’s ideas if she thinks Blot is a blot in blogosphere. Look at all the people who drop in here who clearly think JQ is a left wing blot in their weird blogospheres…fair is fair…why shouldnt we launch the occasional raid as well! I reckon we would be much better at it for the simple reason most of us in here are more intelligent!
Yeah
@Fran Barlow
I am sure I will enjoy Avatar as entertainment just as I would enjoy being an “eco-tourist” on a visit to Antarctica. However, being the iconoclast I am, I must point out that in both entertainments I am creating more CO2 emissions, more pollution in general and wrecking more of the environment. Being “feel good green” is part of the problem not part of the solution.
I don’t have the courage, committment or energy to be truly green. I would have to give up all my entertainments apart from second hand books, almost all my labour saving devices, sacrifice my marriage (my wife who wants to travel more would divorce me for sure), curtail the material possessions and education of my children and become a smelly isolated social pariah (in our society) living in a hut. There may be a little hyperbole in this but actually not all that much. It summarises how and why we are all locked into an unsustainable system.
@Alice
No, guns and drugs are OK, in all contexts where they are the least of all harms
Talking loudly when some psychopathic and murderous stalker is after you wouldn’t be nearly as useful as being possessed of a gun capable of delivering a sedative to the stalker in question at some distance.
@Ikonoclast
The sentiment you utter is counterproductive because, as you note yourself, it is incapable of being applied at industrial scale or of making the kind of difference we seek at micro scale.
Oops … I hit submit too early.
What is needed is a set of policies that can reduce and eventually put CO2-emissions into net decline and also abate the impact of other elements of the human footprint on the biosphere as a whole.
While individual sentiment is all very well, and an underpinning normative behaviour, the program’s ultimate success will not be the aggregation of the moral efforts of a few but the application of system wide changes enlisting the support of the many.
@Alice
And it’s not a matter of fairness. The Blot is not operating a site aimed at rational examination of the issues. The Blot is aimed at nourishing an army of cultural morlochs to do the work of affirming the subversion of the ecoystem in favour of his own dystopic viusion.
Trolling there, to pursue the war metaphor, is like acting as a sapper for a rival army. Fairness isn’t the issue.
Fran, I won’t say any more on this blog as I will hijack the Xmas thread too far.
A colleague at my old workplace did sum me up rather well. “What Ikon (name changed) says is often true but seldom useful.”
I was silent for at least half an hour after that. :0
Compliments of the season to you all. I hope you all had real eggnog, and if you did not, that you will make and consume some immediately.
@Fran Barlow
Fran…it depends on how you interpreted “fairness”…..try thinking retribution in war instead.