Posts by Graeme Edgeler

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  • Hard News: Not Helping,

    I was raised on Stilton, though sadly even here in the UK the real thing can be hard to find. The stuff in the supermarkets may conform to regulations to carry the label of Stilton but they are mild and bland.

    There is a great scene in Lenny Henry's Chef! about this, and the lengths to which he goes to find unpasteurised stilton.

    each will served at the optimum temperature to maximise just how superbe! each is.

    And a great scene in a different episode about this, come to think about it.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Friday Media Bag,

    A further explanation of the roles each host will play in Q+A, courtesy of the TVNZ Planit:

    Guyon Espiner - a political interview.
    Paul Holmes - a long-form interview with people involved in the nation's political life.

    TV ONE’s new Sunday morning political programme Q+A will be presented by TVNZ political editor Guyon Espiner; political scientist Therese Arseneau; and veteran broadcaster, Paul Holmes. The live, hour-long local programme will feature a political interview with Guyon Espiner, a long-form interview with people involved in the nation's political life, conducted by Paul Holmes, and a panel debate moderated by Canterbury University political scientist, Therese Arseneau. Q+A will feature a live online component that viewers can participate in.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Not Helping,

    Our new Foreign Affairs minister, Mr McCully, is ditching the philosophy of New Zealand's foreign aid programme. And he is doing so unilaterally, "with virtually no consultation, parliamentary scrutiny or public discussion."

    Funnily enough, I remember being annoyed with Labour's moves around foreign policy during the start of their Government - taking us even further from our traditional allies - without much or any public discussion. Change this law or that law, sure, but changes around our diplomatic relations are a lot harder to undo. Etc.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Island Life: The Prime Minister will see…,

    How about an hour on the TV? No ads; a good interviewer. You have a digital channel at your constant disposal, ideal for the purpose.

    There's an interview show on 7? For some reason, when Freeview was coming up with shows that could be made cheaply, it decided panel shows were it, and didn't think that interview shows might also be pretty simple.

    And it would be a little dodgy, kinda, for the PM to instruct them to start one.

    But he actually does have a digital channel at his disposal - and just for Whoops, it's carried on both Freeview and Sky, and streamed live on the Internet:

    Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): I wish to make a ministerial statement pursuant to Standing Order 348.
    Mr SPEAKER: The Honourable Prime Minister.
    Hon JOHN KEY: Mr Speaker, the world economy...

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • The Wire - Season 5 to air,

    Just so you don't miss it, season five of The Wire will air from next Monday night/Tuesday morning. Set your FreeVos and MySkys (sp?) for around 12:20am.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Three strikes (w/ updates),

    Now that's a more transparent govmint eh?

    No. Just MMP.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Three strikes (w/ updates),

    Self-transcribed transcript:

    Wallace: ... whaddaya reckon - banning patches in Wanganui? ...

    Rodney: Well, I don't think it will have much impact ... ah ... we voted for it because it ...

    [interuption]

    Rodney: ... well here's here's the thing, we voted for it because what it's gonna to do is get three strikes through ah this Parliament and that will actually make a difference, right through New Zealand keeping us safe.

    Metiria: no, that was a deal, it was a deal done, they're voting against their own policy.

    Rodney: I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what, Wallace, those people that are booing, those people that are boing for three strikes, they're actually clapping for the murderers and the rapists of New Zealand.

    Wallace: that's it - a round of applause for tonight's crew!

    Video at the Back Benches' web page. Episode 2, 4 Mar 2009 (three-quarters into the second chapter.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Three strikes (w/ updates),

    I also note this apparent endorsement from Pansy Wong

    The National-led government has introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at tackling the problem of domestic violence; the Domestic Violence (Enhancing Safety) Bill, giving police the power to issue on-the-spot protection orders keep victims safe, and the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill, which takes away the right of parole for repeat violent or sexual offenders sentenced to five or more years in jail.

    These two pieces of legislation will help protect women from abusive partners...

    You've read too much into it.

    The Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill has two broad underpinnings:

    1. It keeps National's promise to ACT to introduce a three strikes bill and support it to select committee.

    2. It keeps National's pre-election promises to voters to enact legislation to:

    2.1 remove the possibility parole for repeat violent or sexual offenders sentenced to five or more years in jail; and
    2.2 introduce life sentences without parole for the worst murderers.

    The quote from Pansy Wong is about the aspects of National's policy included in the bill - i.e. the consequences (no eligibility for parole) on the second qualifying strike. It does not address ACT's policy - the additional consequences (life with no parole for 25 years) on the third qualifying strike.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Asserting ancient rights,

    92C is effectively guilt by accusation - but you aren't disconnected from the Internet as a result of the accusation. The result is that offending material is removed from a website (or a website itself is removed).

    The law as written regards you as guilty when accused by a copyright holder and you have to then prove your innocence to the ISP.

    No you don't, or rather, s 92A does not require this.

    Lyndon is right when he notes "having to defend an allegation is not an assumption of guilt".

    The police charge me with assault. I go to court and plead not guilty. Because I pleaded not guilty, the judge says, thank you, you are acquitted. This is not "proving your innocence".

    What the TCF Code may or may not do will be limited to the bodies that agree to it. It will make no change to the law, which is wrong, and it will not prevent anyone from another jurisdiction, or even from this one who is not party to the voluntary code, will not have to abide by the procedure of that code. Thus you will be guilty until proven innocent.

    The codes that have to be adopted have to be adopted by NZ ISPs (even though that is broadly defined). If my ISP has adopted the TCF code it does not matter whether some overseas copyright claimant agrees to it or not. My ISP will apply their code.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Asserting ancient rights,

    Graeme, I'd be interested in your opinion on this:

    However, the Act implies Parliament’s acquiescence to a “guilt by accusation” method of copyright enforcement through an avenue that avoids the stringent evidentiary requirements of the courts.

    It seems rather out of step with the other statements made in the article; for example:

    Section 92A effectively imposes the work of a court on the shoulders of a commercial ... entity. ISPs will be required to both make a judgement and carry out the sentence.

    If one of the problems is that section 92A requires ISPs to exercise judgement, it is hardly guilt by accusation.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

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