North Coast Voices

Saturday, 12 March 2011

Tony Blair is coming to Australia and he wants to hold an audience.....

In July 2011 former British prime Minister and alleged war criminal Tony Blair is coming to Australia to do a little revenue raising in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.

Wonder who will actually admit to paying these prices to meet him or which Australian corporations (besides Visy) might actually believe that being associated with this man will enhance business reputations?
Will someone try to claim Monbiot's bounty by performing a peaceful citizen's arrest?

An Audience With Tony Blair: Lessons in Leadership, Negotiation and Innovation

TICKET PRICES

$1,000 per person
Ticket includes a full sit down banquet meal and attendance at the pre-event cocktail party

$10,000 per Table of Ten
Tables of ten include a full sit down banquet meal and attendance at the pre-event cocktail party

$1,500 VIP Ticket
Includes a seat at one of "the best tables in the house", one ticket to private pre-event "meet and greet" cocktail party and individual photograph with Tony Blair

$15,000 VIP Table of Ten
Includes "the best seats in the house" table of ten, ten tickets to private
pre-event "meet and greet" cocktail party and individual one photograph
with Tony Blair, full page advertisement in the program, logo recognition in the program and on the screens at the event

World Day Against Cyber-Censorship today 12 March 2011

Launched by Reporters Without Borders in 2008, World Day Against Cyber-Censorship (on 12 March 2011) is intended to rally everyone in support of a single Internet without restrictions and accessible to all. The fight for online freedom of expression is more essential than ever. By creating new spaces for exchanging ideas and information, the Internet is a force for freedom. In countries where the traditional media are controlled by the government, the only independent news and information are to be found on the Internet, which has become a forum for discussion and a refuge for those who want to express their views freely.

RWB’s list of ENEMIES OF THE INTERNET

Never a truer word spoken on the Mad Monk

Abbott is behaving like a vandal. While saying he is concerned about energy prices he is wrecking any chance of them stabilising. By saying he will rescind any new carbon price approved by parliament (if, as is likely, he wins the next election) he is forcing would-be investors in the power industry to extend their capital strike.

Read the rest of Peter Martin’s “Memo to Julia: You don't have a carbon consensus” here.

Friday, 11 March 2011

NOAA Tsunami Information 11 March 2011 - predicted wave arrival times for Australian east coast

Tsunami Information

Earthquake Information

Message Time:	11 Mar 2011 07:30 UTC
Message Num:	3
Message Text:	click to read
Message Type:	a Widespread Tsunami Warning is in Effect
Warning:	Japan, Russia, Marcus Is., N. Marianas, Guam, Wake Is., Taiwan, Yap, Philippines, Marshall Is., Belau, Midway Is., Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Johnston Is., Solomon Is., Kiribati, Howland-baker, Hawaii, Tuvalu, Palmyra Is., Vanuatu, Tokelau, Jarvis Is., Wallis-futuna, Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, Mexico, Kermadec is, Fr. Polynesia, New Zealand, Pitcairn, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Antarctica, Panama, Honduras, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru
Watch:
ETAs / Obs:	measurements

	Preliminary (PTWC)	Official (USGS)
Origin Time:	11 Mar 2011 05:46 UTC	11 Mar 2011 05:46 UTC
Magnitude:	8.8 Mwp (reviewed by PTWC)	7.9
Latitude:	38.2° N	38.3° N
Longitude:	142.5° E	142.4° E
Depth:	10 km (6.2 mi)	24.4 km (15.2 mi)

Location:	Near East Coast of Honshu Japan
More Info.:	updated earthquake information from the USGS NEIC

Predicted arrival times:

AUSTRALIA

CAIRNS 16.7S 145.8E 1528Z 11 MAR

BRISBANE 27.2S 153.3E 1620Z 11 MAR

SYDNEY 33.9S 151.4E 1651Z 11 MAR

GLADSTONE 23.8S 151.4E 1730Z 11 MAR

MACKAY 21.1S 149.3E 1811Z 11 MAR

HOBART  43.3S 147.6E 1826Z 11 MAR

http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/?region=1&id=pacific.2011.03.11.073000&msg

You're from "Microsoft"? My computer is infected? S#d off!

Took great pleasure in telling a recent caller "This call is a scam" and hanging up the phone in his ear - right after a short, clumsy intro which alerted me to the fact that he was going to request remote access to my personal computer because Microsoft software supposedly had a virus only he could fix.

As bogus anti-virus alerts and other scams (eg.,callers offering products, services or cash under fake government grants/seeking bank details in order to process a bank fee refund or tax refund/offering to place the person’s number on the Do Not Call Register for a fee/recorded messages asking consumers to “dial 9” for a ‘free’ holiday/incomplete messages which solicit a billable call back/work at home offers) happen at least a couple of times a year to many people and successful cybercrime/scamming cost $63M in 2010, it is worth remembering the ACCC's advice at the beginning of every call received from a stranger:

* If you receive a phone call out of the blue from someone about your computer system’s security status, hang up.
* NEVER give a stranger remote access to your computer.
* Do not give out your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.
* Make sure your computer is protected with anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a good firewall - but only purchase the software from a source that you know and trust.
* If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Consumer fraud from all sources costs an estimated $1 billion annually according to the Australian Institute of Criminology and there is an invitation on its website to take part in the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce Survey 2011.

Even politicians are not immune from scam attempts according to the Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin:

“Lately a number of local people have been in touch with me about emails they’ve been sent claiming to be from the Tax Office offering a tax refund, but requiring bank or credit card details and tax file number. I have received these emails as well.
The Tax Office will never ask for your personal information such as credit card details, date of birth, tax file number, passwords etc.
If you are suspicious of any online approaches you can check at www.scamwatch.gov.au where there is up to date information on the latest scams and methods to beware of. You can also report a scam on the site.
Consumer fraud comes in many forms and can target both consumers and businesses....”
[Media release, 9 March 2011]

20th Century Fox gets bitten by belated Streisand Effect

Snapshot from Google Search found at Torrent Freak

Hat tip with a flourish to Lauren Weinstein’s tweet for alerting us all to the fact that Twentieth Century Fox Corporation has an image problem after sending yet another DMCA takedown notice to Google Inc. on 28 January 2011 demanding mention and links be removed from its search engine results:

Fox DMCA Takedowns Order Google to Remove Fox DMCA Takedowns : WTF

7 Mar 2011 ... Fox got itself into an endless loop. Stack overflow is imminent. This is what we are going to fight that DCMA shit with - recursion! ...
reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/fz2ko/

Fox tries to censor its own censorship - Gets caught in a ...

8 Mar 2011 ... Fox has been caught out trying to use the DCMA to prevent Google from telling the world about its DCMA take-down notices. ...
www.techeye.net/.../fox-tries-to-censor-its-own-censorship - United Kingdom

Fox DMCA Takedowns Order Google to Remove Fox DMCA Takedowns ...

7 Mar 2011 ... The Chilling Effects web archive was founded in 2001 as a response to the usually secretive practice of sending so-called 'takedown notices' ...
nivun.com/.../fox-dmca-takedowns-order-google-to-remove-fox-dmca-takedowns/

Fox DMCA Takedowns Demand Google to Remove Fox DMCA Takedowns ...

The DMCA complaint in question was sent by Fox to Google and contains dozens of links its anti-piracy division has culled from the web, allegedly linking to ...
www.torrent-invites.com

Fox DMCA Takedowns Demand Google to Remove Fox DMCA Takedowns

7 Mar 2011 ... The DMCA complaint in question was sent by Fox to Google and contains dozens of links its anti-piracy division has culled from the web, ...
gxiso.com/.../2358788-fox-dmca-takedowns-demand-google-remove-fox-dmca-takedowns.html

Fox DMCA Takedowns Order Google to Remove Fox DMCA Takedowns ...

7 Mar 2011 ... The DMCA complaint in question was sent by Fox to Google and contains dozens of links its anti-piracy division has culled from the web, ...
torrentfreak.com/fox-dmca-takedowns-demand-google-to-remove-fox-dmca-takedowns-110307/

Fox DMCA Takedowns Order Google to Remove Fox DMCA Takedowns

7 Mar 2011 ... The DMCA complaint in question was sent by Fox to Google and contains dozens of links its anti-piracy division has culled from the web, ...
www.libertyvoice.net/.../fox-dmca-takedowns-order-google-to-remove-fox-dmca-takedowns/

The Flashlight » Fox tries to censor its own censorship

8 hours ago - Fox has been caught out trying to use the DCMA to prevent Google from telling the world about its DCMA take-down notices. ...
theflashlight.podbean.com/2011/03/.../fox-tries-to-censor-its-own-censorship/

Fox tries to censor its own censorship HappyMan - Happy Making ...

6 hours ago - Fox has been caught out trying to use the DCMA to prevent Google from telling the world about its DCMA take-down notices. TechEye ...
www.happyman.com/2011/03/08/fox-tries-to-censor-its-own-censorship/

Fox tries to censor its own censorship News for Dallas, Texas ...

8 hours ago - Fox has been caught out trying to use the DCMA to prevent Google from telling the world about its DCMA take-down notices. For a while now Google has ...
topics.dallasnews.com/article/04XZckEeGkec6

Fox tries to censor its own censorship

7 hours ago - Fox tries to censor its own censorship. China National News Tuesday 8th March, 2011 (Source: TechEye). Google from telling the world about its DCMA ...
story.chinanationalnews.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/.../id/43608793/

On 9 March 2011 Chilling Effects listed 414 complaint entries under Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

Thursday, 10 March 2011

'Street Cruise' Underage Dance Party at Yamba, 7-10pm Saturday 12 March 2011

Clarence Valley Street Cruise
is supported by funding under the
Australian Government
National Binge Drinking Initiiative

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Moggy Musings

Hi! My name is Boy. I'm a male bi-coloured tabby cat. Ever since I discovered that Malcolm Turnbull's dogs were allowed to blog, I have been pestering Clarencegirl to allow me a small space on North Coast Voices.

A false flag musing: I have noticed one particular voice on Facebook which is Pollyanna-positive on the subject of the Port of Yamba becoming a designated cruise ship destination. What this gentleman doesn’t disclose is that, as a principal of Middle Star Pty Ltd, he could be thought to have a potential pecuniary interest due to the fact that this corporation (which has had an office in Grafton since 2012) provides consultancy services and tourism business development services.

A religion & local government musing: On 11 October 2017 Clarence Valley Council has the Church of Jesus Christ Development Fund Inc in Sutherland Local Court No. 6 for a small claims hearing. It would appear that there may be a little issue in rendering unto Caesar. On 19 September 2017 an ordained minister of a religion (which was named by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in relation to 40 instances of historical child sexual abuse on the NSW North Coast) read the Opening Prayer at Council’s ordinary monthly meeting. Earlier in the year an ordained minister (from a church network alleged to have supported an overseas orphanage closed because of child abuse claims in 2013) read the Opening Prayer and an ordained minister (belonging to yet another church network accused of ignoring child sexual abuse in the US and racism in South Africa) read the Opening Prayer at yet another ordinary monthly meeting. Nice one councillors - you are covering yourselves with glory!

An investigative musing: Newcastle Herald, 12 August 2017: The state’s corruption watchdog has been asked to investigate the finances of the Awabakal Aboriginal Local Land Council, less than 12 months after the troubled organisation was placed into administration by the state government. The Newcastle Herald understands accounting firm PKF Lawler made the decision to refer the land council to the Independent Commission Against Corruption after discovering a number of irregularities during an audit of its financial statements. The results of the audit were recently presented to a meeting of Awabakal members. Administrator Terry Lawler did not respond when contacted by the Herald and a PKF Lawler spokesperson said it was unable to comment on the matter. Given the intricate web of company relationships that existed with at least one former board member it is not outside the realms of possibility that, if ICAC accepts this referral, then United Land Councils Limited (registered New Zealand) and United First Peoples Syndications Pty Ltd(registered Australia) might be interviewed. North Coast Voices readers will remember that on 15 August 2015 representatives of these two companied gave evidence before NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6 INQUIRY INTO CROWN LAND. This evidence included advocating for a Yamba mega port.

A Nationals musing: Word around the traps is that NSW Nats MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has been talking up the notion of cruise ships visiting the Clarence River estuary. Fair dinkum! That man can be guaranteed to run with any bad idea put to him. I'm sure one or more cruise ships moored in the main navigation channel on a regular basis for one, two or three days is something other regular river users will really welcome. *pause for appreciation of irony* The draft of the smallest of the smaller cruise vessels is 3 metres and it would only stay safely afloat in that channel. Even the Yamba-Iluka ferry has been known to get momentarily stuck in silt/sand from time to time in Yamba Bay and even a very small cruise ship wouldn't be able to safely enter and exit Iluka Bay. You can bet your bottom dollar operators of cruise lines would soon be calling for dredging at the approach to the river mouth - and you know how well that goes down with the local residents.

A local councils musing: Which Northern Rivers council is on a low-key NSW Office of Local Government watch list courtesy of feet dragging by a past general manager?

A serial pest musing: I'm sure the Clarence Valley was thrilled to find that a well-known fantasist is active once again in the wee small hours of the morning treading a well-worn path of accusations involving police, local business owners and others.

An investigative musing: Which NSW North Coast council is batting to have the longest running code of conduct complaint investigation on record?

A fun fact musing: An estimated 24,000 whales migrated along the NSW coastline in 2016 according to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the migration period is getting longer.

A which bank? musing: Despite a net profit last year of $9,227 million the Commonwealth Bank still insists on paying below Centrelink deeming rates interest on money held in Pensioner Security Accounts. One local wag says he’s waiting for the first bill from the bank charging him for the privilege of keeping his pension dollars at that bank.

A Daily Examiner musing: Just when you thought this newspaper could sink no lower under News Corp management, it continues to give column space to Andrew Bolt.

A thought to ponder musing: In case of bushfire or flood - do you have an emergency evacuation plan for the family pet?

An adoption musing: Every week on the NSW North Coast a number of cats and dogs find themselves without a home. If you want to do your bit and give one bundle of joy a new family, contact Happy Paws on 0419 404 766 or your local council pound.

North Coast Voices

Saturday, 12 March 2011

Tony Blair is coming to Australia and he wants to hold an audience.....

World Day Against Cyber-Censorship today 12 March 2011

Never a truer word spoken on the Mad Monk

Friday, 11 March 2011

NOAA Tsunami Information 11 March 2011 - predicted wave arrival times for Australian east coast

You're from "Microsoft"? My computer is infected? S#d off!

20th Century Fox gets bitten by belated Streisand Effect

Thursday, 10 March 2011

'Street Cruise' Underage Dance Party at Yamba, 7-10pm Saturday 12 March 2011

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