Internet Companies Are Not Complying With Police

Despite calls by some countries for Internet companies to had over information on citizens' searches and email, the knowledge superhighway is moving in the other direction. Information stored in the cloud are out of reach of national police forces. Gone are the days when just about everything that a suspect has done is available recorded somewhere at sometime. Data is there but it cannot be accessed.

The ordinary person will not have much sympathy for police trying to "background" a suspect. They see authorities as being too intrusive anyway. For years Australian social security sent out "demand" forms for aged pensioners to provide up-to-date information about what they had in the bank. A court found that social security did not have the legal right to demand honest answers. The forms are still being sent out. Legally they are still suspect. Such is the quagmire authorities are in.

Anyway, back to the case in hand. Police are saying even getting data from Google is a problem. Even obtaining information Between Australians in Australia has barriers. In some cases it takes five year to get information via court processes. In that time period technology has moved on and not everything is stored for posterity.

The National police forces' desire for greater access is like smoke over a factory chimney. It will blow away with the breeze. Companies operating across national borders will never comply because their customers don't want them to play the game. The European Cybercrime Convention treaty is a furphy. Internet companies are watching with no intention of complying.

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http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

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Internet

Internet Companies Are Not Complying With Police

Despite calls by some countries for Internet companies to had over information on citizens' searches and email, the knowledge superhighway is moving in the other direction. Information stored in the cloud are out of reach of national police forces. Gone are the days when just about everything that a suspect has done is available recorded somewhere at sometime. Data is there but it cannot be accessed.

The ordinary person will not have much sympathy for police trying to "background" a suspect. They see authorities as being too intrusive anyway. For years Australian social security sent out "demand" forms for aged pensioners to provide up-to-date information about what they had in the bank. A court found that social security did not have the legal right to demand honest answers. The forms are still being sent out. Legally they are still suspect. Such is the quagmire authorities are in.

Anyway, back to the case in hand. Police are saying even getting data from Google is a problem. Even obtaining information Between Australians in Australia has barriers. In some cases it takes five year to get information via court processes. In that time period technology has moved on and not everything is stored for posterity.

The National police forces' desire for greater access is like smoke over a factory chimney. It will blow away with the breeze. Companies operating across national borders will never comply because their customers don't want them to play the game. The European Cybercrime Convention treaty is a furphy. Internet companies are watching with no intention of complying.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

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Internet

Native Claim Wins Out Over Commonsense

Here we go again. Beliefs of a small group win out over commonsense. We all know that the land around Uluru, Ayers Rock, is sacred. That is accepted. Saying it is too sacred to go boating on a freshwater lake in South Australia is absolute rot. The native Aboriginals, the Arabunna, at Lake Eyre are making outrageous claims. How does boating affect their beliefs that objects have souls? If you want to believe that grains of sand have souls so be it, but leave everyone else alone.

The Arabunna were quite happy with local boating until plans were made to hold a sailing event by a yacht club. Nothing has changed. Swimming will be banned next. Aboriginals are afraid to use the lake anyway because they fear the lake's spirit keeper.

It all boils down to a dispute with the government over native title. If things aren't going well say something is sacred and stop this, stop that, stop everything. It is just bloody mindedness.

As the commodore of Lake Eyre Yacht Club says: this infringes on the natural right of people to use the lake as a navigable waterway. Talks have stalled. It seem nothing will be done until the Arabunna have their way.

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~~~~~Politics~~~~~

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Native Claim Wins Out Over Commonsense

Here we go again. Beliefs of a small group win out over commonsense. We all know that the land around Uluru, Ayers Rock, is sacred. That is accepted. Saying it is too sacred to go boating on a freshwater lake in South Australia is absolute rot. The native Aboriginals, the Arabunna, at Lake Eyre are making outrageous claims. How does boating affect their beliefs that objects have souls? If you want to believe that grains of sand have souls so be it, but leave everyone else alone.

The Arabunna were quite happy with local boating until plans were made to hold a sailing event by a yacht club. Nothing has changed. Swimming will be banned next. Aboriginals are afraid to use the lake anyway because they fear the lake's spirit keeper.

It all boils down to a dispute with the government over native title. If things aren't going well say something is sacred and stop this, stop that, stop everything. It is just bloody mindedness.

As the commodore of Lake Eyre Yacht Club says: this infringes on the natural right of people to use the lake as a navigable waterway. Talks have stalled. It seem nothing will be done until the Arabunna have their way.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

~~~~~Politics~~~~~

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RBA Governor's Case for Financial Review of NBN Is Too Late

Glenn Stevens the Governor of the Reserve bank says he supports a check on the National Broadband Network. You can't really take this man seriously. He obviously just said it to give a non-partisan, either party approach to government. Getting the Coalition off his back was his main aim. After all this time, he says this now. It is obviously late, very late indeed, with the legislation to change the structure of Telstra going through parliament at this very moment.

The Labor Government wants to stop any further investigation into the full cost of the NBN, particularly now at the end of parliamentary sitting. It wants to go away and breath a sigh of satisfaction. All government projects end up costing more than was budgeted. The Coalition knows this and if it can keep the pressure for financial investigation going it is on a winner. Though, what it can achieve by this is unclear. Labor surely has support to pass anything that is needed to get this monster of a project up and running.

Australia needs the new Internet system just to remain credible in the world. If a third of the population fully take up the capacity offered it will be a surprise. Ordinary households only need a basic service and one that is only a bit faster than that available now - city people that is. Business and rural people will be the big winners. If the industry was left to its own resources as at present those in the bush would be on dial-up permanently.

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RBA Governor's Case for Financial Review of NBN Is Too Late

Glenn Stevens the Governor of the Reserve bank says he supports a check on the National Broadband Network. You can't really take this man seriously. He obviously just said it to give a non-partisan, either party approach to government. Getting the Coalition off his back was his main aim. After all this time, he says this now. It is obviously late, very late indeed, with the legislation to change the structure of Telstra going through parliament at this very moment.

The Labor Government wants to stop any further investigation into the full cost of the NBN, particularly now at the end of parliamentary sitting. It wants to go away and breath a sigh of satisfaction. All government projects end up costing more than was budgeted. The Coalition knows this and if it can keep the pressure for financial investigation going it is on a winner. Though, what it can achieve by this is unclear. Labor surely has support to pass anything that is needed to get this monster of a project up and running.

Australia needs the new Internet system just to remain credible in the world. If a third of the population fully take up the capacity offered it will be a surprise. Ordinary households only need a basic service and one that is only a bit faster than that available now - city people that is. Business and rural people will be the big winners. If the industry was left to its own resources as at present those in the bush would be on dial-up permanently.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

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We Have the Government We Deserve

Well we have a government. There could be shaky times ahead but it seems the independents did the rational thing. Supporting the coalition would have given them only a one vote working majority. It was assumed all three independents would go one way. With the two independents Labor has two votes in hand under the new agreed system with Bob Katter voting against the government. Bob Katter is a real National Party person - no ifs no buts. He would have known what the others were going to do. For all his talking his electorate got nothing. He obviously knew which way he would fall all along. It was all show.

Ironically, the Coalition has given Labor an extra vote by having a member of the opposition as deputy speaker with no voting power. Tony Abbott was not thinking clearly when he made that decision. Not giving in to this could have swung the two independents the other way. The Western Australian National must have had an effect. He said he would not block supply for the Coalition. His decision to sit on the cross bench gave the impression that he was not fully supportive though.

After the treasury analysed the Coalition election promises, throwing more money at the independents had no effect. A brand new hospital was clearly far too much for the Tasmanian representative. It seems Tony Abbott had lost credibility. His behavior in the election came back to haunt him. Something fishy was about when his promises were not costed initially.

The real "swinger" was the National Broadband Network. If the Coalition had just said it would review the NBN it would have won office without this fiasco. You can sometimes be too stubborn for your own good. Many have said if labor had not brought the mining tax in the coalition would have done so. It was like the GST - a Labor idea adopted by the coalition. Pity Tony Abbott was not more like John Howard who saw some good in Labor concepts.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We Have the Government We Deserve

Well we have a government. There could be shaky times ahead but it seems the independents did the rational thing. Supporting the coalition would have given them only a one vote working majority. It was assumed all three independents would go one way. With the two independents Labor has two votes in hand under the new agreed system with Bob Katter voting against the government. Bob Katter is a real National Party person - no ifs no buts. He would have known what the others were going to do. For all his talking his electorate got nothing. He obviously knew which way he would fall all along. It was all show.

Ironically, the Coalition has given Labor an extra vote by having a member of the opposition as deputy speaker with no voting power. Tony Abbott was not thinking clearly when he made that decision. Not giving in to this could have swung the two independents the other way. The Western Australian National must have had an effect. He said he would not block supply for the Coalition. His decision to sit on the cross bench gave the impression that he was not fully supportive though.

After the treasury analysed the Coalition election promises, throwing more money at the independents had no effect. A brand new hospital was clearly far too much for the Tasmanian representative. It seems Tony Abbott had lost credibility. His behavior in the election came back to haunt him. Something fishy was about when his promises were not costed initially.

The real "swinger" was the National Broadband Network. If the Coalition had just said it would review the NBN it would have won office without this fiasco. You can sometimes be too stubborn for your own good. Many have said if labor had not brought the mining tax in the coalition would have done so. It was like the GST - a Labor idea adopted by the coalition. Pity Tony Abbott was not more like John Howard who saw some good in Labor concepts.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

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NSW Is Arrogant in Believing It Can Retain the NRL Grand Final

NSW will retain the National Rugby League grand final despite the fact that Queensland and Victoria have teams in the competition. This is the height of arrogance. Everyone knows Queensland players are the best in the country. The state expects to keep it for the next 10 years. This will not happen. Pressure will be brought to bear on NRL officialdom.

Having a large stadium is not the only factor in this. More teams will become established in other states. Queensland especially will push for a piece of the $10 million on offer to stage the grand final. NSW is wasting its money in investing $45 million in upgrading the Sydney venue. Let's face it Queensland deserves a go at this because Queensland players provide the high drama of the State of Origin. Without the drubbing that Queensland gives NSW the competition would be nothing.

Of course the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW is happy with the government funding. But it too should face the reality that rugby league is changing every year. Power will not always reside in NSW. By definition it is the National Rugby League.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NSW Is Arrogant in Believing It Can Retain the NRL Grand Final

NSW will retain the National Rugby League grand final despite the fact that Queensland and Victoria have teams in the competition. This is the height of arrogance. Everyone knows Queensland players are the best in the country. The state expects to keep it for the next 10 years. This will not happen. Pressure will be brought to bear on NRL officialdom.

Having a large stadium is not the only factor in this. More teams will become established in other states. Queensland especially will push for a piece of the $10 million on offer to stage the grand final. NSW is wasting its money in investing $45 million in upgrading the Sydney venue. Let's face it Queensland deserves a go at this because Queensland players provide the high drama of the State of Origin. Without the drubbing that Queensland gives NSW the competition would be nothing.

Of course the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW is happy with the government funding. But it too should face the reality that rugby league is changing every year. Power will not always reside in NSW. By definition it is the National Rugby League.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
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British People to Be Offered Australian Style Preferential Voting

There is no way Nick Clegg will get his new voting system introduced. While David Cameron has said a referendum will be held, he is not interested in changing, neither is the Labour Party. When the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition cuts spending and makes life harder with more unemployment who is going to be blamed? It will definitely be the Liberal Democrats. After all, the Conservatives will only do it with Liberal Democrat support.

A referendum will take place when spending cuts take effect. British people will hit the Lib Dems hard when they vote. First past the post is like the monarchy in Britain - it is an institution. There is little doubt that this is not a new beginning for the Lib Dems. This will be the only time they experience power.

The British public are to be offered the Australian system of preferential voting. In Australia this "twisted' form of voting is responsible for the Senate being continually unworkable with the ruling party not being able to get much of its legislation passed. It was brought in to stop the Liberal Party, which is in reality a conservative party, from losing power by locking them into a permanent coalition with the National Party. While the coalition benefits the Liberal Party is does absolutely nothing for the National Party. The smaller party has its own policies but the Liberals always give them a few cabinet posts and tells them to shut up. Though the National Party gets the post of Deputy Prime Minister it is expected to follow Liberal policy. The National Party in Australia is a laughing stock. It just makes up the numbers.

What upset the system was the emergence of first the Australian Democrats and then the Greens. The Democrats are in decline now. However, the Greens are gaining momentum. The problem for the Coalition is that the majority of Greens give their second preference to Labor. Indeed, in some elections Labor has virtually won office on Green and Democrat preferences. The system has not benefited minor parties much in the lower house. Minor parties do hold power in the upper house. This has seriously weakened the governing Labor Party. It is ironic - the Greens put Labor in power, then block legislation in the upper house.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

British People to Be Offered Australian Style Preferential Voting

There is no way Nick Clegg will get his new voting system introduced. While David Cameron has said a referendum will be held, he is not interested in changing, neither is the Labour Party. When the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition cuts spending and makes life harder with more unemployment who is going to be blamed? It will definitely be the Liberal Democrats. After all, the Conservatives will only do it with Liberal Democrat support.

A referendum will take place when spending cuts take effect. British people will hit the Lib Dems hard when they vote. First past the post is like the monarchy in Britain - it is an institution. There is little doubt that this is not a new beginning for the Lib Dems. This will be the only time they experience power.

The British public are to be offered the Australian system of preferential voting. In Australia this "twisted' form of voting is responsible for the Senate being continually unworkable with the ruling party not being able to get much of its legislation passed. It was brought in to stop the Liberal Party, which is in reality a conservative party, from losing power by locking them into a permanent coalition with the National Party. While the coalition benefits the Liberal Party is does absolutely nothing for the National Party. The smaller party has its own policies but the Liberals always give them a few cabinet posts and tells them to shut up. Though the National Party gets the post of Deputy Prime Minister it is expected to follow Liberal policy. The National Party in Australia is a laughing stock. It just makes up the numbers.

What upset the system was the emergence of first the Australian Democrats and then the Greens. The Democrats are in decline now. However, the Greens are gaining momentum. The problem for the Coalition is that the majority of Greens give their second preference to Labor. Indeed, in some elections Labor has virtually won office on Green and Democrat preferences. The system has not benefited minor parties much in the lower house. Minor parties do hold power in the upper house. This has seriously weakened the governing Labor Party. It is ironic - the Greens put Labor in power, then block legislation in the upper house.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

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Create Your Own Country

Establish your own country. People have been doing this for decades. Individuals crown themselves king and plant crowns on their heads to rule in perpetuity. Don't laugh. These people are serious. Such "countries" have currencies made, issue stamps and visas, and even produce constitutions. People can become "citizens" on the Internet.

Why do they establish new countries? Some do it because they are fed up with the country they live in, others to highlight an issue of contention. Doing it just for laughs is not uncommon.

Last month a meeting of micronations took place at a Sydney university. They discussed their place in The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations. The meeting went well. There were Laughs aplenty. Just imagine how the leaders were decked out with flowing robes, scepters and crowns.

There is a problem, however. It is an illusion of independence. The "countries" are still part of the larger countries they are in. If the leader works, he/she has to pay income tax to the larger nation. Furthermore, the new nation pays rates and land tax to the local council.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Create Your Own Country

Establish your own country. People have been doing this for decades. Individuals crown themselves king and plant crowns on their heads to rule in perpetuity. Don't laugh. These people are serious. Such "countries" have currencies made, issue stamps and visas, and even produce constitutions. People can become "citizens" on the Internet.

Why do they establish new countries? Some do it because they are fed up with the country they live in, others to highlight an issue of contention. Doing it just for laughs is not uncommon.

Last month a meeting of micronations took place at a Sydney university. They discussed their place in The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations. The meeting went well. There were Laughs aplenty. Just imagine how the leaders were decked out with flowing robes, scepters and crowns.

There is a problem, however. It is an illusion of independence. The "countries" are still part of the larger countries they are in. If the leader works, he/she has to pay income tax to the larger nation. Furthermore, the new nation pays rates and land tax to the local council.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

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