2009 is not shaping up as a good year for the Australian Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.
First we hear that Derek Bambauer poured cold water on his national mandatory ISP-level filtering plan and now IT experts tell us the Minister is dreaming if he thinks he can selectively filter BitTorrent, LimeWire, Kazaa or other peer -to-peer networks.
Peer-to-peer filtering is an impediment to business is the bottom line it seems.
With few believing the technology exists to do anything but completely block all file sharing networks, thereby starving Australian business, research and development of a useful tool.
Computer World is inviting readers to sign its online petition:
Concerned about freedom of communication? Click here to sign Computerworld's Hands Off Australia's Internet petition. Make your voice heard!
Monday, 12 January 2009
Defining a small coastal town
Letter to the EditorThe Daily Examiner
6 January 2009
Click on image to enlarge
Now many locals as well as some tourists would define Yamba (at the mouth of the Clarence River) by its sense of community, social life, streetscapes and access to river, ocean or beaches.
However, one local in a moment of unconscious humour points out that Yamba might be defined in part by its lack of a cemetery!
New Australian Electoral Commission head: come on down, Ed!
"Mr Ed Killesteyn commenced his five year appointment as the Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on 5 January 2009.Mr Killesteyn said he was pleased and honoured to be appointed to the position of Electoral Commissioner, and looked forward to continuing the AEC’s strong and well deserved reputation for delivering an electoral system that serves well Australia’s democratic heritage.
Mr Killesteyn has held a number of senior Public Service positions, including four years as a Deputy Secretary at the then Department of Immigration and Indigenous Affairs, and most recently as the Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission and a Deputy Secretary at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. "
Now Ed has a bit of a chequered history hidden in that wee bio - anyone remember Truth Overboard and the Palmer Report on DIMIA's treatment of Cornelia Rau?
A soft word of warning to Ed, as he starts one of the most important public service jobs in Australia (running our elections) - don't stuff up!
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Australian political and religious leaders response to Gaza 2009
Australia recognises Israel's right to self-defence
HAMAS must accept Israel's right to exist within secure borders
The Australian government must end its acquiescence to Israel's military operations in Gaza
Dead silence so far from Warren Truss, Leader of the National Party of Australia
However he did sign the HEADS OF CHURCHES STATEMENT ON PALESTINE AND ISRAEL in July 2008. Along with these other national heads of churches:
Rev Dr Ross Clifford, President, Baptist Union of Australia
Lyndsay Farrall, Presiding Clerk, Australia Yearly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Rev Alan Filipaina, Moderator, Congregational Federation of Australia and New Zealand
Rev Gregor Henderson, President of the Uniting Church in Australia
Richard Menteith AM, National President of Churches of Christ in Australia
Archbishop Mor Malatius Malki Malki, Syrian Orthodox Church of Australia and New Zealand
Archbishop Paul Saliba, Antiochian Orthodox Church, Australia and New Zealand
Rev Dr Michael P Semmler, President, Lutheran Church of Australia
Pastor Chester Stanley, National President, Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia
Archbishop Stylianos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia
Rev Dr Ross Clifford, President, Baptist Union of Australia
Lyndsay Farrall, Presiding Clerk, Australia Yearly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Rev Alan Filipaina, Moderator, Congregational Federation of Australia and New Zealand
Rev Gregor Henderson, President of the Uniting Church in Australia
Richard Menteith AM, National President of Churches of Christ in Australia
Archbishop Mor Malatius Malki Malki, Syrian Orthodox Church of Australia and New Zealand
Archbishop Paul Saliba, Antiochian Orthodox Church, Australia and New Zealand
Rev Dr Michael P Semmler, President, Lutheran Church of Australia
Pastor Chester Stanley, National President, Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia
Archbishop Stylianos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia
No comment found from Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence, Senior Rabbi of the Great Synagogue, Sydney
Israel is committing an act of terrorism. It's the duty of all the free people in the world to stand against it and stop this evil.
2009 Internet scams, hoaxes and threats and the NSW North Coast
E-Victims has released its top 10 Internet scams expected to plague users this year.
ScamBusters also has a similar top ten list:
Surprisingly, by last Wednesday morning this scam was not yet posted on the ACCC-managed Scam Watch .
Australians reportedly lost up to a billion dollars in these scams in 2006-07, but what is more worrying is that identity theft is often being used for purely malicious ends in email attacks mounted as 'payback' for some form of personal disagreement.
There is some evidence that emails of this sort may have be sent from the NSW North Coast over the last 6-12 months.
So, if you receive an email with content or language that appears out of character for the named sender:
ScamBusters also has a similar top ten list:
Currently in Australia a phishing email is doing the rounds which falsely alerts the recipient to an Australian Tax Office refund.10. Travel and vacation scams. Travel scams have always been around. But this year we expect to see more Internet-based ruses like bogus offers of cheap airfare and event tickets. The huge Olympic Games Internet tickets scam of 2008 was just the start.
9. Phony auction and classified sales. Yes, eBay, Craigslist, etc. scammers continue to reel in the victims. Despite attempts by the sites themselves to clamp down on the con artists, we expect the tricksters to re-double their deception efforts.
8. Investment and pump and dump scams. We've broadened this category after reporting on a number of failed or phony investment schemes that have cost victims tens of millions of dollars.
7. Work at home and job scams. With unemployment on the rise and the growing popularity of working from home, we think this scam will become more prevalent in 2009.
6. Grandparent, family tragedy and death threat scams. These are extremely common scams where people ask for money by claiming a relative is in trouble or that a murder contract has been taken out. Mostly, they come by phone but increasingly are seen in emails.
5. Viruses and spyware.
4. Nigerian scams, again with lots more new twists.
3. Lottery scams. You've won! New ones are appearing from Canada, the Caribbean, inside the US and from the Far East.
2. Economy related scams. We predict huge growth in loan- and credit-related scams, but foreclosure scams may ease slightly as pressure eases on banks. We'll see.
1. Identity theft and phishing. Despite tougher counter-measures, this scam is still way too easy for the criminals.
Surprisingly, by last Wednesday morning this scam was not yet posted on the ACCC-managed Scam Watch .
Australians reportedly lost up to a billion dollars in these scams in 2006-07, but what is more worrying is that identity theft is often being used for purely malicious ends in email attacks mounted as 'payback' for some form of personal disagreement.
There is some evidence that emails of this sort may have be sent from the NSW North Coast over the last 6-12 months.
So, if you receive an email with content or language that appears out of character for the named sender:
- First, contact the sender directly (not via email reply link) and attempt to verify the suspect email;
- Secondly, contact the local police if the email is fraudulent as identity theft can be an offence under Australian law if it involves stealing, fraud, forgery, uttering, computer hacking and misuse, or personation.
Saturday, 10 January 2009
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