Slashdot Mirror

Otherwise, it looks like a research group, that indeed makes stuff, but has now realised that suing people is a better business than research. That might fail the "non-practising entity" definition that you quoted, but I don't think it fails the broader "troll" definition.

So you think they have stopped doing research? I've read that they allocated a large part of the settlement as an ongoing research fund.

I'm getting the impression that you feel anybody that has a patent and enforces it is a patent troll. Is that what you mean by broader "troll" definition? Your website defines it as a company that acquires patents simply to demand royalties. I would think that is the idea of patents in general though isn't it? You patent something to make money from it. Perhaps you need to tighten your definition a little bit.

The chinese don't commit suicide because they are too busy working overtime.

Seriously, what is this pitiful statistics you are trying to use ?

There have been 13 suicides at the working place

There have been 13 suicides at the Foxconn complex which also contains free housing for the employees.

Case in point: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/news/experts-talk-of-mass-hysteria-after-eleventh-foxconn-suicide/story-e6frg90o-1225872506121

10 workers have taken their own lives at the factory since last January, all jumping from the seventh floor of a dormitory building.

Buddhism is hardly a minor religion (fifth largest according to wikipedia) and one of its precepts is not to take any life.

Indeed. But I think few Buddhists follow that precept. First, only the monks are required to lead a vegetarian life (so that they may not kill in order to eat). Second, I don't know exactly how they justify their actions, but even Tibetan monks engage in acts of terrorism/insurgency against China. (I'm not saying that the acts, if what the Chinese allege are true, are wrong in itself; I'm just saying, as an outsider, that any act of violence, even for a good cause, seems to be in contradiction to the faith.)

I think the biggest strike against Buddhism as a promoter of world peace is its limited impact: its influence is largely limited to Asia; I know of no significant Buddhist groups in U.S. or Europe and not because of any persecution against Buddhists. I think Buddhism is too passive a religion to have any worldwide impact. Even in Korea, where Buddhists outnumber Christians 2 to 1 (or better, I think), the modern culture is more sharply defined by Christian churches and the church-goers than Buddhist temples and their faithfuls (and I think a good number of present and past Korean presidents have been Christians, not Buddhists).

BBZZZTTT, WRONG! Australians also have to pay income tax to the Aaustralian tax office even though the don't live there or use any of the services that income tax provides.

Not always. If you are doing a long term overseas stint you would not be a "resident for tax purposes" and do not have to pay income tax on your salary (dividends and capital gains on Australian investments still attract some tax). This page sums it up nicely...

Apparently the government made it a bit tougher for short term overseas postings (where you would still be considered a resident for tax purposes) though. But you can get a living away from home allowance which probably soothes the pain a little bit.

The suggestion that the Rudd government has dumped the proposed legislation was only in an opinion article on The Australian. No other media that I found at the time (except Slashdot, of course) indicated anything to the contrary.

Voters are welcome to live in the fantasy world of their choice, but the truth is that Kevin Rudd and his cronies are a big disappointment, as there is little to distinguish them from their predecessors.

Whoa Slashdot! Why are you running stories like this? Do you want to get this site *BANNED* in Australia? Better tone it down. I suggest the only Aussie news you consider running are positive stories about the Rudd Government:

Like the one how Conroy gave a plum job for the Governent's Broadband network to Mike Kaiser, a Labor Party stooge who was previously convicted of electoral fraud. A $450K a year job without an interview for a guy who knows nothing about IT or comms and who should be sitting in a prison.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/i-recommended-mike-kaiser-for-nbn-job-says-stephen-conroy/story-e6frgczf-1225827983520

Submitted this next story to Firehose but it never ran:
"Stephen Conroy's Internet Filter has received an unexpected boost from the Australian Opposition. Instead of voting down the Filter in the Senate, the Opposition Party Leader Tony Abbot refused to articulate a definitive position on the Filter saying he would "await the final legislation and seek technical assurances from the government on the operations of the filter". Both Tony Abbot and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy who is implementing the Filter have affirmed their strong Christian faith, overwhelming anti-censorship moderates. This raises the question for those opposed to the filter: How can a Democracy work if the only two viable parties both offer the same thing?
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/web-filter-splits-opposition-20100406-rpf7.html

At least Conroy recently got a taste of his own medicine when Trend Micro's parliamentary web filter blocked politicians from accessing news commentary and train timetables."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/parliamentary-services-to-probe-trend-micro-filter/story-e6frgakx-1225850540731

Whoa Slashdot! Why are you running stories like this? Do you want to get this site *BANNED* in Australia? Better tone it down. I suggest the only Aussie news you consider running are positive stories about the Rudd Government:

Like the one how Conroy gave a plum job for the Governent's Broadband network to Mike Kaiser, a Labor Party stooge who was previously convicted of electoral fraud. A $450K a year job without an interview for a guy who knows nothing about IT or comms and who should be sitting in a prison.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/i-recommended-mike-kaiser-for-nbn-job-says-stephen-conroy/story-e6frgczf-1225827983520

Submitted this next story to Firehose but it never ran:
"Stephen Conroy's Internet Filter has received an unexpected boost from the Australian Opposition. Instead of voting down the Filter in the Senate, the Opposition Party Leader Tony Abbot refused to articulate a definitive position on the Filter saying he would "await the final legislation and seek technical assurances from the government on the operations of the filter". Both Tony Abbot and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy who is implementing the Filter have affirmed their strong Christian faith, overwhelming anti-censorship moderates. This raises the question for those opposed to the filter: How can a Democracy work if the only two viable parties both offer the same thing?
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/web-filter-splits-opposition-20100406-rpf7.html

At least Conroy recently got a taste of his own medicine when Trend Micro's parliamentary web filter blocked politicians from accessing news commentary and train timetables."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/parliamentary-services-to-probe-trend-micro-filter/story-e6frgakx-1225850540731

Didn't the founder flat-out steel code/the project from another company? http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/facebook-paid-99m-over-theft-lawsuit/story-e6frg6so-1111118832052

I can't say I blame this woman. Twelve years of Neighbours. I wonder if they ever made her watch it?

Mr Murdoch slammed Radio 2's effort to woo younger listeners by hiring presenters on "salaries no commercial competitor could afford".

Bollocks. If a private company had half the country listening, it's advertising revenue would MORE THAN cover the salaries of a bunch of presenters.

"There is general agreement that the natural operation of the market is inadequate, and that a better outcome can be achieved through the wisdom and activity of governments and regulators."

"This creationist approach is similar to the industrial planning which went out of fashion in other sectors in the 1970s. It failed then. It's failing now."

Come again? I read: The natural operation of the market is inadequate, and a better outcome has been reached through the wisdom and activity of governments and regulators.
While the approach may not have worked in the 1970s, they clearly have a winning strategy right now, and it's leaving other private enterprises out in the cold.

Sorry, but when private enterprise can't do a good enough job, and a publically funded organisation start showing them up, it's time for them to reel back? Piss off mate. That's the EXACT opposite of market freedom. The guy is just annoyed that HIS company doesn't have half of Britain listening, and that the BBC are providing an excellent service from public funds for free to the public that pay for it - along with ALL THE ADVERTISERS.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the days that the BBC wasn't in the black from it's own revenue are long history. Amazingly popular shows on it's TV side (Nature docos, popular shows like Top Gear) and their now massive DVD sales sure must line the bottom line of BBC quite well.

Please see the following article for a good example of the middle men you are for some reason defending. They have the gall to cry poor when in fact they are sucking out the profit from the industry and fooling the artists into thinking it's downloading that is the problem.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/copyright-staff-get-more-than-they-give-to-authors-and-artists/story-e6frg8n6-1225831556653

Something tells me he may just be in bed -> Stephen Conroy Cold on Kerry Stokes talk

except this isn't about stopping porn on the net a task the previous conservative government admitted was hopeless and certainly against the public desire. This "Liberal" government is more communistic and wishes control of the media as witnessed by the $250 million Gift to free to air TV this week http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/stephen-conroy-cold-on-kerry-stokes-talk/story-e6frgczf-1225830260479 Note Conroy was is internet villain of the year censoring the net is only the first step in letting us see what they want us to see

Really guys, naming your protest after female anatomy does nothing to help the cause. It is immature and reeks of disorganization.

Its actually a reference to our PM's "Shitstorm" comment on national TV a while back - The Australian, or more via google

You are kidding me aren't you ?

The only thing guaranteed is that the Liberals (the ONLY alternative government) will push exactly the same agenda with exactly the same results!

Have you forgotten Helen Coonan seeks to censor the Web and Senator Richard Alston: Australia's Internet killer? both Ministers for Communications under the previous Liberal government ?

Stephen Conroy is a mis-guided tool, there is no doubt, but please don't try to push the point that there is a credible alternative.... there isn't.

"SOUTH Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson late last night backed down on online media censorship laws.

After stoking a fight with the media less than two months from a state election, Mr Atkinson said the laws stripping anonymity from media blogs would be repealed after the March 20 poll.

"From the feedback we've received through AdelaideNow, the blogging generation believes that the law supported by all MPs and all political parties is unduly restrictive. I have listened," Mr Atkinson said in statement released to the website AdelaideNow.

"I will immediately after the election move to repeal the law retrospectively."

Mr Atkinson said the law would not be enforced for comments posted during the upcoming election campaign, even though it was technically applicable."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/sa-attorney-general-backs-down-on-political-blogging/story-e6frg6nf-1225826154732

But I’m not sure about the point of the “//”.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/web-creator-apologises-for-his-strokes/story-e6frgal6-1225786657345

The first people in this country from the general public to hear about this filter tells the story of what it is all about. Here's the link you can draw your own conclusions.

I have trouble keeping my son in his high chair with his hands in plain site in a high chair. Good luck getting infants to sit still.

I don't know who's stupider: The idiots at the TSA who come up with the rules, the politicians that give them this power, or the dickheads that allow the politicians to be elected.

I'll stay well out of your country. I only wish your fucked up rules didn't get copied by our own government and idiotic organisations. We just had some ridiculous security restrictions lifted in Australia. What's the bet that all gets reversed thanks to you crazy as fuck yanks?

Not likely: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/us-bound-passengers-in-for-tightened-security/story-e6frg6n6-1225813969830

The Australian government relaxed airplane security measures, which came into affect on Friday.

Items including nail clippers and knitting needles are no longer prohibited.

Mr Albanese said those changes would remain in effect for good reason.

“To take security personnel away from worrying about whether nail clippers are on board or not and worry about firearms and high-risk dangerous items,” he said.

Oh ok, so the skeptics are all in it for the money while the climate "scientists" are in it only for the love of humanity.

The Climategate emails reveal that Phil Jones and his bunch of crooks have been actively seeking funding from the same "Fossil Fuel" companies:
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/04/climategate-cru-looks-to-big-oil-for-support/

Robert Socolow the President of the APS and a prominent supporter of the link between CO2 and global warming has received millions in funding from British Petroleum. Please read up on what the "scientists" think about this (since you are convinced that not a single scientist could possibly disagree with AGW).

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/10/taking_liberties/entry5964504.shtml

Also, since you are convinced that this is some sort of American right wing conspiracy, may I point you to this Open Letter sent by German Scientists to the German President Angela Merkel way before the Climategate controversy:

http://www.eike-klima-energie.eu/news-anzeige/klimawandel-offener-brief-an-kanzlerin-merkel-temperaturmessungen-ab-1701-widerlegen-anthropogen-verursachte-temperaturschwankungen/

If you want the English translation:

http://www.climatedepot.com/a/2282/Consensus-Takes-Another-Hit-More-than-60-German-Scientists-Dissent-Over-Global-Warming-Claims-Call-Climate-Fears-Pseudo-Religion-Urge-Chancellor-to-reconsider-views

Japanese Climatologists and their disagreement over AGW:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/japanese-scientists-cool-on-theories/story-e6frg6t6-1111119126656

> I am thoroughly convinced that no amount of evidence at this point can convince the skeptics.

You've hit the nail on the head. In Australia, the Senator (Nick Minchin) that led the putsch against his own party leader (the one who was negotiating amendements to the government's proposed ETS scheme), is as hardcore a denier as they come. And I say denier, because he was (mid-90's) as equally opposed to the links between passive smoking and ill-health (at that time he was trumpeting a study by the Tobacco Institute as validating his views).

Check out:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/abbotts-warriors-place-their-trust-in-an-ancient-virtue-20091211-kokj.html?skin=text-only
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/nick-minchin-was-a-sceptic-on-tobacco/story-e6frgczf-1225805535960

Most people currently questioning the reality of anthropogenic climate change can be categorised as follows:
- genuinely confused or skeptical people who have often been on the receiving end of mixed messages
- those that just can't trust what they don't (or won't put the effort to) understand (e.g. science, scientists)
- oil/coal lobby shills/politicians who are happy to sell their mother if it suits their agenda/bank-balance
- complete kooks (TimeCube guy; the LaRouchies; David Icke; NWO conspiracy nuts etc)

Of these groups, only the first is really open to persuasion. Nick Minchin is at best in the second group, although he is more than likely in the third.

Australians aren't nearly as thick-skinned/tough as people think they are.

Mate, you have to be thick skinned to put up with our politicians. Or put up with hundreds of feral camels attacking your town, which is nearly the same thing I reckon.

Good point. I seem to remember that some of the earlier Bush-proposed legal frameworks for military tribunals (which were struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional) allowed evidence obtained after torture, but the current framework doesn't. Apparently, Australia is finding that overly restrictive, but in a way that's probably got some ex-Bush administration officials worried over their actions.

Xix.

A marine biologist from Queensland, Australia has won one o Japans top Haiku awards, the annual Nakaniida Grand Haiku Prize.
According to someone interviewed for the article he "is the first westerner I have come across to make Haiku of substance in the Japanese language"
Source: The Australian
still I can't haiku
Aussie male, no rhythm its true
yes, pathetic me

It was reported in the IT section of The Australian. You can find the article here

• email address of person(s) submitting story: - so we can confirm it if we have to
• 
  html links to other sites: - that also may carry to a story
  gut reaction factor: - comment, given your experience and checking within the industry about the likelyhood of a stories truth (bs detection).
  

Let's find the email addresses of every member and fuctionary of their parliament and send them porn. Let's find every law official and send them porn, let's find everyone and anyone who would be involved with this stupid law and send them porn..

There's not much point sending the government here porn - they're already downloading it as fast as they can. ;)

This story was making the rounds of the ISP's here at least a week ago, but only made it into the public arena today..

I happen to live in Tasmania - home of the senator I hold responsible for most of this rubbish. He holds a balance of power and the government rushed the censorship legislation through to get him to agree to tax reform.

The censorship legislation they've enacted is so poorly thought out and unenforcable that it will inevitably be turned over as soon as cases start reaching court, IMHO.