Note: The following posts were imported from my previous blogs.

House update  #
Wednesday, 05 Jan 2005 03:45PM
Everything is signed. Settlement moved to the 21st Jan (Friday). All utilities are organised (turn off and turn on) except phone*. Last rent paid. Half way through packing. Moving truck organised (thanks Dad).

* Still need to work out the best deal for internet. Only reason we have a land line is to run the ADSL. Although I have prepaid the ADSL for three months so will probably stick with what I have which means a Telstra phone line.


Gigs  #
Wednesday, 05 Jan 2005 03:32PM
Gigs I may go to in the next couple of weeks:

The Christinas - Elsternwick Hotel, Thursday 6th Jan
Look Who's Toxic - Espy Public Bar, Friday 7th Jan
Look Who's Toxic - Green Room (2nd B'Day), Thursday 13th Jan

Other gigs I might make it too if I miss any of the above in lameness:

Look Who's Toxic - Town Hall Hotel North Melbourne, Sat 8th Jan
Look Who's Toxic - 101 Smith Street, Sat 15th Jan


Aceh  #
Wednesday, 05 Jan 2005 03:22PM
Aceh, Indonesia, recently devastated by tsunami.

A history leason from Wikipedia / Aceh:

There is a cultural and religious divide between Aceh and the rest of Indonesia as well. A more conservative form of Islam than is mainstream in most of Indonesia is widely practiced in Aceh. The broadly secular policies of Suharto's New Order regime (1965-1998) were especially unpopular in Aceh, where many resented the central government's policy of promoting a unified 'Indonesian culture'.

This dissatisfaction has led to a long-running push in the province for greater autonomy, or complete separation, led by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

In 2002 the separatists and the Indonesian government agreed on a peace plan. However it collapsed in early 2003 and the government imposed martial law and began a large-scale offensive in the region. In November 2003 the martial law was extended for a further six months. According to a Human Rights Watch report [2] (http://hrw.org/reports/2003/indonesia1203/5.htm#_Toc58915047), the Indonesian military committed widespread human rights abuses during the invasion and occupation, with more than 100,000 people being displaced in the first seven months of martial law and extra-judicial killings being common.

Hopefully this is now all in the past...