Posts by jon_knox

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  • The risks of older fatherhood,

    Radio NZ interview regarding a study on the risks of older fatherhood.

    Seems to confirm what elder siblings will perhaps claim to have intrinsically understood since the arrival of younger siblings.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    just posted on that other casino/kindle/pseudo-copyright thread a link to Radio NZ tech interview mentioning Kindle, Copyright & licensing....oh and everybody's favourite Andrew Dubber...who strangers were coincidentally mentioning to me in the bar after James Boyle's lecture...who needs a Bacon-number, when it seems a Dubber-number is so much more in vogue?

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Casino,

    When all this openess, particualry in terms of networks is apparently so good, Radio NZ interviewee identifies the use of closed & proprietary networks to huck ebooks for the Kindle.

    Also mentioned is Google's threat to end access to premium youtube content for licensiing reasons.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: The Prime Minister will see…,

    I was just thinking that it would be interesting to hear from Geoff Chapple, he who wrote the book 'Te Araroa - The New Zealand Trail'. Anyway National Radio has done exactly that. (in which Jim Moira sounds more than a bit like Paul Holmes in the intro...this is the first occassion I've noticed this and hope this observation doesn't ruin things for anyone).

    It was hearing about Geoff's book that got me thinking about walking the South Island a few years ago (perhaps 2002). I had even arranged a holiday to start a chunk of the process at that time, which was scuttled by breaking a bone in my foot 10 days prior to the planned start date. Subsequently having been introduced to cycle touring by some friends, cycling struck me as a more efficient use of time.

    Personally I'm not such a fan of cyclists and pedestrians sharing the same path because they don't tend to mix well. Also the terrain that is good to cycle (with a load) is a bit different from terrain people are inclined or interested in walking.

    It would be great to hear from people who've walked it, or done both.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    The other things that were apparent to me after attending last night's lecture, is that the discussions that have taken place in these threads are both more grounded in the real world (as opppsed to theory) and ahead of academic thinking...well at least ahead of the lecture circuit's portrayal of academic thinking.

    I thought both those things remarkable and a big tick in the box that says we're not completely wasting our time....even if it feels a bit that way from time to time.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    sorry ommitted a word.

    Institutionalized bias is bad, except where it's duly promoting access rather than creating barriers. (but I guess even that is subjective & hotly debate...I hope my intent is clear)

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    Can I briefly observe that the digital divide disproportionately affects disabled people as well as the poor (often a big overlap).

    Yeah this had struck me as the one exception. Also had identified/assumed that prisoners don't have access. but I think they're a special case. Perhaps we should ask Tim Selwyn his views?

    Institutionalized bias is bad, except where it's promoting access rather than creating barriers.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: The Prime Minister will see…,

    I don't think people are really shitting on the idea of the National Bikepath, it is the idea that it is somehow going to lead us out of recession that sticks, somewhat.

    Reeks of being a silver-bullet solution to me, but if we've got to find something for idle hands to do....routes in to and out of the bigger centres would be handy. Routes that are useful for everyday, ordinary cyclists would probably be more useful.

    Having cycle-toured a bit, NZ is great to tour not because of it's development, but because of it's lack of development, which actually makes NZ more than a bit special. As much as having a dedicated cycleway would improve the ease & safety of cycletouring, it also detracts from the challenge and unique-ness factors which for many touring cyclists seems to matter.

    I have to admit that I'm of the opinion that it's the natural environment that brings people to NZ, rather than development stoking people's desire to visit.

    And from what I've seen of cycle tourists, they tend to be happiest with their own tents, doing things for themselves (most of the time), rather than staying in swanky digs with it all laid on. (The Central Otago Rail trail with the charming old hotels is a bit a novelty) .

    Nice post Mr Slack!

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    Doesn't sound like I would have... I'm not a professional wet blanket

    it was more a comment about the lack of tech savvy being displayed, than a serious comment about you Mr Tiso...(a little light-hearted trolling perhaps). The one participant who did know what twitter is, seemed to think the possession of this fact made him worthy of a large prize. (it was almost like something out of Blackadder with Melchett & Darling)

    I quite like that the discussion focussed on single, tangible issue for a moment, being the archival issue hidden between Robbery & Russell's notes to each other.

    Am not sure that leaving the decision up to Mr Finalyson is worthy of celebrating, given that he's indicated his intention to be even more prescriptive....but that might have been tough talk to focus the minds of the TCF.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    This evening I attended Professor James Boyle 's lecture regarding his new book -"The Public Domain: enclosing the commons of the mind".

    Prof Boyle was anything-but-radically calling for the reform of intellectual property, with examples of the need being based on the contents of the various libraries, containing huge amounts of orphaned works. It was suggested that really the contents ought to digitized & made freely available, but because of the lack of approval from an identifiable rights holder, these works are rotting.

    Comment was made regarding whether it was wise to allow those with the most to lose have the biggest influence on the rule making process.

    Most radical solution proposed was legislation to efficiently deal with orphaned-works, by putting these into the public domain until such time as the rights holder is identified.

    Other than the orphaned works idea there was not much emphasis on solutions, nor much of an attempt to cover incentives & balance, though perhaps the book covers more than an hour's lecture can cover.

    Bumped into Ben Goldacre and some of the Open Rights Group in the bar afterwards, who were similarly a bit underwhelmed with the lack of original content & bland nature of the presentation, which paled by comparison with the venue.

    I also had a chat with Prof Boyle, who's opinion is that just about any change has got to be an improvement on the current situation, even if far less than perfect.

    Interesting hypothesis raised by a European Parliament insider present. Sweden, during it's upcoming presidency of the EU is apparently keen to see legislation strengthening copyright implemented because it will increase the importance of their much cherished pirate-bay. The example being Hollywood's establishment as the film industry sought to avoid enforcement of Edison's patents.

    Giovanni will be happy to learn that on this occasion the bias of technology was rendered neutral not only by the speaker, but also by the MC & the Chairperson. Hopefully they get the likes of Cory Doctorow along at some stage to cover the topic a bit more energetically, though I did note that Clay Shirky had presented to the RSA previously and accordingly I wonder if Prof Boyle might have been an attempt to tone things down...significantly.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

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