Posts by Joe Wylie

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  • Hard News: The odds, and the simply odd,

    Shower heads? Christmas Crackers? Tuck shop pies?

    Look, while a large proportion of the Kiwiblog regulars may be a little, you know, "differently abled", there's no need for name-calling.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Hard News: Rationalisation is at hand!,

    They got Obama confused with Ralph Nader:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader
    Being born of Lebanese parents, Nader even speaks Arabic.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Sport and Politics,

    At the fake-newspaper Framley Examiner site (http://www.framleyexaminer.com/) there's a "Girl's Mountain Penny-Farthing" for sale in the classifieds, along with a "Crack Pipe with Colourful Logo - World's Greatest Mum"'.
    If you really fancy a penny-farthing there's a guy in Chch. who'll build you one. I believe the wheel size depends on the length of your legs.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Hard News: Rationalisation is at hand!,

    Should we take away the right to vote when we consider Gran has got just too dottery?

    Good point. While she (or Grandpa) may be denied a drivers licence on account of being certified as a dotard, they retain the right to vote.

    I have a 40-year-old uncle who’s a complete fucktard. He can vote. I have a niece with reasonably intelligent opinions about the world. She can’t.

    I know of two cases where someone receiving an invalid's benefit due to an intellectual disability has performed jury duty. In one case a caregiver attempted to object, but was told to butt out. If someone's legally an adult and keen to serve they're free to do so.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Island Life: We are all Chinese now,

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Hard News: Rationalisation is at hand!,

    Yes, that is certainly one of Rodders' pet ideologies. Never mind that Telecom's shareholders have been thoroughly reimbursed for the purchase cost at least twice over by way of monopoly rents. Never mind that we were demonstrably being held back by the stranglehold over the market that Telecom enjoyed.

    Isn't that what ACT's about - too bad if Telecom was a ruthless and somewhat shonky monopoly - "Let no mere mortal put asunder what St. Roger hath created" ?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Discussion: On Copyright,

    Fair use is a concept that is actually derived from the American constitution. But not in NZ; and please do check this - not preserved under the current act going through legislation in NZ.

    Many thanks for that 81stcolumn, very interesting, tho it'll take a finer mind than mine to decipher the details of the local scenario.

    I'm sure you're right to be concerned about inadevertently using anything in your work that might be owned by suit-happy Fox/Murdoch. Over 20 years ago, in a far more innocent age, I fessed up and paid APRA for barely five seconds of Simon & Garfunkel, part of a soundtrack where someone twiddles the radio dial. It was so brief that I hadn't even spotted it till it was pointed out by somebody helpful.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Discussion: On Copyright,

    Lichtenstein did most of his "theft" in the 60's and Imants Tiller's most recent work would hardly raise the level of argument I put forwards. These dudes all got away with it in the past. It seems clear to me at least, that this sort of evolution is getting harder.

    Isn't the sort of fair use that 'fine' artists such as Lichtenstein have operated under the same as that which protects editorial cartoonists? For example, it's quite OK - or has been - to use Lisa Simpson to portray Fox Broadcasting in a confrontation with CBS, represented by Lucy from Peanuts.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Discussion: On Copyright,

    I take it when it becomes public domain we can have mickey mouse pron?

    You mind find this interesting:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Pirates

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Discussion: On Copyright,

    A big hook for movies based on Shakespeare is that they are exactly that.

    Not necessarily. I don't believe that The Forbidden Planet was ever hyped as being derived from The Tempest, despite the plot and characters being a very close (and clever) knock-off. In the spirit of Shakespeare's original it presented as a ripping piece of spectacular entertainment, rather than a slab of worthy culture. Pretty much proves your point about creating new art from existing, just as Shakespeare borrowed from a variety of sources for his original play.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

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