Comments for Austrolabe http://austrolabe.com Sat, 17 May 2008 12:50:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Open Thread — 11/5/2008 by Abdul Rahman http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/11/open-thread-1152008/#comment-87837 Abdul Rahman Sat, 17 May 2008 12:20:59 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/11/open-thread-1152008/#comment-87837 For the record, I don't actually like being called "AR". The only places where these issues aren't sorted out are the places where the traditional forms of learning are rejected. Which is the one of the very dangers of wahhabism and the equally misguided liberals. I may not know these answers, but I don't need to. All we are required to know is the knowledge of what acts we involve ourselves in or are obligatory upon us. The rulings of marriage for the married for example. This type of knowledge touched on here is only necessary for the fuqaha, may Allah accept their service. For the record, I don’t actually like being called “AR”.

The only places where these issues aren’t sorted out are the places where the traditional forms of learning are rejected. Which is the one of the very dangers of wahhabism and the equally misguided liberals.

I may not know these answers, but I don’t need to. All we are required to know is the knowledge of what acts we involve ourselves in or are obligatory upon us. The rulings of marriage for the married for example. This type of knowledge touched on here is only necessary for the fuqaha, may Allah accept their service.

]]> Comment on Outrage at 2020 by Abdul Rahman http://austrolabe.com/2008/04/28/outrage-at-2020/#comment-87834 Abdul Rahman Sat, 17 May 2008 12:13:14 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/04/28/outrage-at-2020/#comment-87834 Such "freedom" is an illusion. Such “freedom” is an illusion.

]]> Comment on Outrage at 2020 by antish http://austrolabe.com/2008/04/28/outrage-at-2020/#comment-87787 antish Sat, 17 May 2008 07:54:30 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/04/28/outrage-at-2020/#comment-87787 "When we cease to see sin as such we are in real trouble, when we say it is actually halal, where does that leave us?' Actually, in the same position of most of the rest of us - making decisions about right and wrong for ourselves (based on an untangelable jumble of biology, history, culture, and so on) and living as free people. “When we cease to see sin as such we are in real trouble, when we say it is actually halal, where does that leave us?’

Actually, in the same position of most of the rest of us - making decisions about right and wrong for ourselves (based on an untangelable jumble of biology, history, culture, and so on) and living as free people.

]]> Comment on WA Opposition Leader: I did not do anything inappropriate to that quokka by antish http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/wa-opposition-leader-i-did-not-do-anything-inappropriate-to-that-quokka/#comment-87747 antish Sat, 17 May 2008 03:55:37 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/wa-opposition-leader-i-did-not-do-anything-inappropriate-to-that-quokka/#comment-87747 I think the ALP will lose a swag of state governments, if not at the next elections at the following. Labour is on the nose in NSW and WA, and Brumby is much less popular than Bracks in Vic. Dunno about SA or Tas. Probably a reasonable price to pay for holding federal power. I think the ALP will lose a swag of state governments, if not at the next elections at the following. Labour is on the nose in NSW and WA, and Brumby is much less popular than Bracks in Vic. Dunno about SA or Tas. Probably a reasonable price to pay for holding federal power.

]]> Comment on Why the food shortage? by antish http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/why-the-food-shortage/#comment-87743 antish Sat, 17 May 2008 03:49:12 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/why-the-food-shortage/#comment-87743 Yes, but it's a pretty silly article. For example: "As for Krugman's last argument, that farmland usable for food is now being used for the growing of biofuel feedstock instead, this is a question mark. In a free market, if there were a shortage of food and if the necessarily associated high prices of food gave that market signal, land used for any other item — biofuel feedstock, car lots, movie theatres, houses, or whatever — would be converted to use for farming." That's precisely what's happening - shortage of food is driving up prices. Doesn't bother first-worlders much, does bother third-worlders. If the price of food rose high enough to make it worthwhile turning first-world housing lots into farms, most of the third-world and many in the first world would be long dead. Yes, but it’s a pretty silly article. For example:

“As for Krugman’s last argument, that farmland usable for food is now being used for the growing of biofuel feedstock instead, this is a question mark. In a free market, if there were a shortage of food and if the necessarily associated high prices of food gave that market signal, land used for any other item — biofuel feedstock, car lots, movie theatres, houses, or whatever — would be converted to use for farming.”

That’s precisely what’s happening - shortage of food is driving up prices. Doesn’t bother first-worlders much, does bother third-worlders. If the price of food rose high enough to make it worthwhile turning first-world housing lots into farms, most of the third-world and many in the first world would be long dead.

]]> Comment on Why the food shortage? by Shadower http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/why-the-food-shortage/#comment-87739 Shadower Sat, 17 May 2008 03:08:20 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/why-the-food-shortage/#comment-87739 This article would seem to agree with Eudaemonion Are We Running Out of Food? http://mises.org/story/2958 This article would seem to agree with Eudaemonion

Are We Running Out of Food?
http://mises.org/story/2958

]]> Comment on WA Opposition Leader: I did not do anything inappropriate to that quokka by Shadower http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/wa-opposition-leader-i-did-not-do-anything-inappropriate-to-that-quokka/#comment-87738 Shadower Sat, 17 May 2008 03:01:53 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/wa-opposition-leader-i-did-not-do-anything-inappropriate-to-that-quokka/#comment-87738 It seems like the entire Liberal Party has falling apart across Australia these past few months. Western Australia and Victoria are having issues at State levels (they are both important States considering their contribution to the economy) and at a Federal level it has also fallen to bits. WA has elections soon and I doubt they`ll be ready for it, but the Victorian and next Federal elections are about 2 years or so off and the Liberal party would need to get its act together soon. It seems like the entire Liberal Party has falling apart across Australia these past few months. Western Australia and Victoria are having issues at State levels (they are both important States considering their contribution to the economy) and at a Federal level it has also fallen to bits.

WA has elections soon and I doubt they`ll be ready for it, but the Victorian and next Federal elections are about 2 years or so off and the Liberal party would need to get its act together soon.

]]> Comment on Open Thread — 11/5/2008 by Shadower http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/11/open-thread-1152008/#comment-87736 Shadower Sat, 17 May 2008 02:57:22 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/11/open-thread-1152008/#comment-87736 Iran would be stupid to call for his execution, considering he is the only presidential candidate that wishes to sit at a table and talk with their leader. Personally I think Senator McCain would make a great President. Iran would be stupid to call for his execution, considering he is the only presidential candidate that wishes to sit at a table and talk with their leader.

Personally I think Senator McCain would make a great President.

]]> Comment on Open Thread — 11/5/2008 by antish http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/11/open-thread-1152008/#comment-87730 antish Sat, 17 May 2008 02:28:22 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/11/open-thread-1152008/#comment-87730 AR, all well and good, but there has been 1400 years to get it sorted out and codified, plus a Caliphate with absolute power - yet it's still as uncertain as ever, and the Taliban can kill schoolgirls, believing that they are doing God's will. Shouldn't someone get their act together? AR, all well and good, but there has been 1400 years to get it sorted out and codified, plus a Caliphate with absolute power - yet it’s still as uncertain as ever, and the Taliban can kill schoolgirls, believing that they are doing God’s will. Shouldn’t someone get their act together?

]]> Comment on Why the food shortage? by antish http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/why-the-food-shortage/#comment-87729 antish Sat, 17 May 2008 02:24:33 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/14/why-the-food-shortage/#comment-87729 I agree, Alplanet. However will it be easier to drastically change the eating habits of the first world, or drastically change the reproductive habits of everyone? It's a tough call. One of them has to happen, or goodbye earth. If the change is in the first world, then there's still the problem of overpopulation regarding natural resources other than food. It isn't trade barriers that caused the Asian rhino or the Perisan lion to become extinct, for example. I agree, Alplanet. However will it be easier to drastically change the eating habits of the first world, or drastically change the reproductive habits of everyone? It’s a tough call.

One of them has to happen, or goodbye earth.

If the change is in the first world, then there’s still the problem of overpopulation regarding natural resources other than food. It isn’t trade barriers that caused the Asian rhino or the Perisan lion to become extinct, for example.

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