Posts by Stephen Judd

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  • Hard News: Away for the Weekend,

    You pushed me over the edge, Craig :D

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Away for the Weekend,

    I wrote a note to Rudman thanking him and Tapu Misa, and pointing out that given how the Herald gives McVicar and Comesky such sympathetic coverage, and allows open slather on their forums, they are reaping as they have sowed.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: Away for the Weekend,

    Crimewise in NZ the media are definitely heroes, and we would be a lot worse off without them and their freedom

    I couldn't disagree more with the idea that the news media are heroes in their crime reporting.

    While murders per head of population (a fairly reliable measure of violent crim) have been constant or going down, broadcast time and column inches have been going up, which in my mind amounts to an inadvertant propaganda campaign to instil fear and anger in the public. In fact they are so eager to convey gore that they will happily jeopardise an investigation or a trial in order to freak out their horror-loving audience. I find this far from heroic, I find it destructive and immoral.

    To the extent that worthy stories of wrongful conviction in the news are notable, it is for their infrequency.

    GRRRR.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Up Front: Isn't It Romantic?,

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    Apropos Dexter - I've wondered if it wasn't really torture-porn-justification a la 24. After all, Dexter uses his powers somewhat for good, largely against people who deserve it (somehow he just knows) and who tell him the truth when hurt. At some level it's training people that torture is both effective and justified.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    where in your linked source does it say that?

    Click on the link that says "APRA Constitution", download the PDF, and look at clause 41 on page 17.

    Every Full Member shall have one vote plus one additional vote for each complete $500 of such member’s earnings during the preceding financial year.

    so you would like to see a court level on it for further disputed claims?

    I'd certainly like a 3rd party involved for people who want to dispute complaints, yes.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    doesn't part of the proposed code of practice make provision for dispute

    It does. APRA have asked for a clause to be inserted that would make the complainant the sole judge of whether your defence was viable or not if someone accused of infringement disputes the claim. In other words, they want to be both the prosecution and the judge.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    they are supposed to be a non profit orginisation that exists to represent their members, ie a collection of individuals

    Is that actually the case that they are a collection of individuals? APRA in NZ is a limited liability coy wholly owned by APRA in Oz, which is a "company limited by guarantee", a non-profit structure which can have other corporates as members (and in fact if you look at the founders in the APRA charter they were largely music publishing companies).

    My understanding is also that voting power in APRA is proportional to the member's income, with one extra vote per $500 in income. Clearly a music publishing house with a lot of copyrights is going to have more swing than, say, me (income close to 0 in recent years).

    My source.

    So I am becoming a bit skeptical of the position that APRA merely represents a bunch of songwriters. I think there's more to it than that.

    I think you're right that a lot of ire is being focussed on APRA that should perhaps be directed elsewhere. Unfortunately they seem to be the most vocal defenders of the new regime, so they cope the most flak.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: A Full Sense of Nationhood,

    Good lord, I don't think you're a racist, and I wasn't trying to suggest that for a second. I do think your arguments aren't very considered, though. Wrong, even.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: A Full Sense of Nationhood,

    Gio, as you know, money talks.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

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