Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: I'm in yr Beehive tellin yr MPs about teh internets

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  • Russell Brown,

    Oh, and if anyone was wondering, the Internet Caucus group also included Cunliffe, Tizard, Coleman, Tanczos, Mackey, Fenton and others.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I was surprised - although perhaps I shouldn't have been - at the extent to which MPs aren't familiar with the whiffier details of the Copyright Amendment Bil

    OK, bu manfully resisting the urge to take the usual slap at politicians, I'd like to think I'm a moderately intelligent chap and every discussion of copyright law seem to end with me reaching for a wee fistful of aspirin and lying down in a dark room. And I'm not being lobbied from all quarters by industry groups, who I think it's fair to say have their own interests to protect which aren't necessarily the same as mine/consumers.

    So, what kind of advice do you think MPs get - and do they bother to read it? :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    "So, what kind of advice do you think MPs get - and do they bother to read it? :)"

    Craig - there's a whole thesis in that question, but to boil it down to a few words, 'shit-loads and depends on who's giving it' :)

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Amy Gale,

    Don't we get a lolRuss pic?

    tha Ith • Since May 2007 • 471 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Don't we get a lolRuss pic?

    Heh. Perhaps I can get Leo to do one ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    And on the rugby refereeing, Tana was fairly accurate in his weekend summary, but unfortunately SANZAR have been hoist by their own inflexibility with regards to neutral refs, at a time when Aussie ref stocks are at their lowest.

    OTOH, I really get the shits with the Aussie rugby league attitude to referees, which is essentially, 'our referees are the best, therefore we won't play with anyone else'. Phooey to neutrality.

    While they may be right, its a self-interested short-term attitude that doesn't help develop referees from elsewhere in the world (ask Glen Black), so Aussies always (in my mind) get an advantage in international league (one which they scarcely need).

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Juha Saarinen,

    UR!

    J00 CAPS LOCK KEY B0RK3D? !!@~~~ ROFFLES!

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    'shit-loads and depends on who's giving it'

    And who's getting it too I reckon.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    go anika! munt chucks rock!
    and props to team nz for whupping oracle this morning too.

    cheers for pointing out that independent article russ. shame it came out waaaaay too late. and its preaching to the converted, the independent's further left wing and greenie than the guardian imho.

    oh well, at least NZ's thinking about climate change seriously on both sides of the fence

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Craig - there's a whole thesis in that question, but to boil it down to a few words, 'shit-loads and depends on who's giving it' :)

    I thought so, and that's where I'm inclined to cut MPs a wee bit of slack. (I know...) I love good 'popular science' writing -- and have enormous respect for the odd good science/medical/technology writer out there in the media - partly because I don't have have a geeky cell in my body, and party because it's so hard to do well.

    I think it's even more important for MP's when they're being asked to consider extremely technical bills that they have access to - and bother to digest - accessible, neutral summaries of the bill and related issues. I don't want to crap on lobbyists and sector groups who, by definition, have their own barrows to push. I just don't want them to be the only voices in the conversation.

    And ditto for the public debate around climate change, or (a few years back) GE. At the risk of sounding like a total arse-kisser, I think Russell did a considerable public service when he did that series on GE for BFM where he managed to drag some actual science (complex and hotly debatable as it was) into a rather shrill and polarized political debate. I'd like to see a little more of that separation of science and politics where climate change is concerned as well.

    In the end, I don't think good public policy comes out of bad, or incomplete, information. And that's a real danger I think politicians, and citizens, of all stripes have to guard against.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    LOLRUS PLZ MAYK SHURE TEH POLYTISHINZ DONT STEEL UR BUCKIT!!!!!!

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Riddley Walker,

    lolrus is excellent, what amazing creatures they are.

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Smith,

    " there's yet more evidence of falsification and lies in The Great Global Warming Swindle.."

    We shouldn't let the lies from both sides of the debate (Al Gore and Martin Durkin) detract from the real science which is still in dispute. Let's remain open minded about the Climate Change debate; which I think you are.

    Since Jan 2007 • 150 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Russell, did you see Dr. Cullen? Did you ask for your money back?

    It is that time of year, right?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Hey Andrew, I'd love for you to document Al Gore's climate change lies, just for the record.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    here we go...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Smith,

    Well, do we really want to go down this track...perhaps I should should just go back to work...I could send it to you privately Don if you want.

    Since Jan 2007 • 150 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    So Maurice Williamson has found a way to turn free TV into pay TV! But having no ads definitely adds value. I think I almost would pay $5 to see Heroes without the ads.

    Russell, you didn't tell him that his Communications Policy needs a bit of work? http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleId=5115

    I guess he's working on it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Andrew, no no. You publicly put it out there that Al Gore has lied about climate change. So, let's publicly hear those lies and see them for what they are.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Whilst you are at it, let us know which parts of the "real science" are in dispute and which parts are not.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • hamishm,

    Did you ask for your money back?

    Don, they have the money in shoeboxes at the Reserve bank. Cullen is not allowed to handle them. Separation of powers and all that.

    Russell do you think that these meetings have much bearing on which way the pollies jump? It would go back to they "depends if they are listening" and how it fits in with their world view wouldn't it?

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report Reply

  • Riddley Walker,

    i think it depends how early in the piece the consultation happens, ie. before other lobbies state and stake their claim.

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Smith,

    Don, I don't want to back away from what I have 'put out there', it's just that I see this debate clouded by philosophical lines more often than scientific ones. I may think about putting some material on my website soonish. I hope this will satisfy you wanting my 'public' response??

    Since Jan 2007 • 150 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    You can pay $5 and watch Heroes without ads.

    Download it over the bittorrent using Telstra and the amount of cap it takes up is roughly (should you be a big seeder) $3.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

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