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Woz Applying For Australian Citizenship Because of the NBN
An anonymous reader writes "It's a well known fact that Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is a fan of Australia and now we know why. He supports a national broadband network — a scheme being rolled out by the Australian government to provide fibre 'for everyone' — so much he's applying for citizenship, the Australian Financial Review reports. You can be assured that he's not giving up his American citizenship though, he told Brisbane radio."
And for U.S. citizens: "Despite his status as a technology icon, Mr Wozniak said he was not connected to a broadband service in his home in California, classing the options available to him as a 'monopoly.' 'There’s only one set of wires to be on and I’m not going to pull strings to get them to do something special for me,' he said .... 'I've sat with our FCC commissioner and told him that story in his office, but it’s not going to happen. We just don’t have the political idea to bring broadband to all the people who are 1 kilometer too far away.'"
just cause you dont think health care should be a for profit industry... hum... never mind, perhaps Woz is on to something.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
Being a good citizen means fighting tooth and nail for what you want for your country. It doesnt mean jumping ship because it doesn't have this one thing you want. There is a lot not to like about America but to simply move to a whole different country after just some talks with local government? Seems like an overreaction.
America won't have 100Mb/s broadband until the cable and telcos have finished squeezing ever last cent they can out of copper. (Or until someone comes along and starts taking their future profits away by building it now.)
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
You could Google dual citizenship and check the first result: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html
no, it's not a rule at all. your information is about 45 years out of date.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html
http://www.richw.org/dualcit/faq.html#noway
"They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky
Your ISP doesn't have to take your resources by threat of violence, they can *gasp!* get the government to take them on their behalf.
For a lot of essential services, you may as well take out the middle-man.
Or, require there to be more than one provider. I wonder how much Woz has looked into DSL, in that one may still have to get one's line from the local phone company, but one can steer one's account to a network of a different provider. Once that's done it's not a whole lot different that dialing into one's ISP by way of the telephone company was. For a time I had a DSL account that gave me eight usable static IPs at home with full reverse resolve and everything, with everything I wanted to run my own mail, FTP, DNS, and HTTP.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
Well, the downside is they'll censor everything he likes about the internet. That's the major problem with the Aussie government, they don't feel like people should have rights.
There are certainly people who have proposed to do that, as others have in the US and every other country, but so far it isn't in practice. If Woz really does become an Oz, then I'm sure he would be an activist on preventing this.
As someone who is currently watching Telstra upgrade the infrastructure (pits etc) on my street in preparation for the NBN roll-out in my area, I can say that the NBN is most definatly NOT a fail (not compared to the Liberal alternative of fiber-to-the-node or the current situation of ADSL if you are lucky, overpriced 3G if you are not)
Australia is a nation built on immigration and welcomes those who aspire to the Australian way of life, in the same way as the Puritans, Unitarians, Amish and other religious folks left Europe for the American Colonies all those centuries ago, rather than fighting tooth and nail for religious freedom in the countries of their birth. Conversely, guys like Rupert Murdoch and Mel Gibson are also welcome to fuck off at their own pleasure.
American born Australians are welcome to participate and integrate fully into Australian public life, we even had an American born Premier of New South Wales recently.
When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
NBN is a wholesaler they are specifically forbidden by legislation from becoming an ISP, all ISPs (E.g. Telstra, Optus, iiNet) can resell on the NBN network.
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The NBN is a wholesaler, they are forbidden by legislation from becoming an ISP and all ISPs can sell through them (E.g. Telstra, iiNet, Optus)
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This sucks, in Tokyo they've have fiber for years. I can illegally download a movie in a minute instead of like three minutes.
Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
I don't know what's better, a government that determines and redefines your rights at their leisure or a government that defines your rights, and then passes secret and not-so-secret laws that supersede and suspend your rights for the government's convenience.
greed@All_Evils:~#
I actually believe allegiance to country is a silly concept. I was born in Canada, but I have lived all over. I will go where I see the most benefit for me and my family. I have no allegiance to Canada beyond wishing her well. I have one life, I will not spend it fussing over imaginary lines in the dirt.
Yes, you can redefine any word to mean anything you want.... it really doesn't help your case in the eyes of rational people.
A private company isn't bound by the Bill of Rights, and it can refuse to serve you if it wants. Only one ISP in your area.... and they choose to refuse service to you? Too fucking bad, you're SOL. That is the cornerstone of the free market. That doesn't make them a government organization, and anyone who thinks that's what it means is a fucking idiot.
If you really hate governments so much, move to a country where what little government there is has no power... like Somalia. There you can bitch and complain that the local "monopoly" on rules and regulations, AKA: private criminal organization, will shove their AK's up your ass if you don't do what they say. At least you won't have a "government" to protect your basic rights.
Government isn't a company. It can't be run as a company, and works in a role pretty much opposite of what a business does.
You have not been coerced into using roadways, breathing clean air, drinking clean water, eating safe food, using safe products, or the myriad of other services you use EVERY SINGLE DAY that are provided BY THE GOVERNMENT; but you are expected to help pay for those.
The problem is: there too many idiots who have their heads stuck up their ideologies asses in this country.
Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
Australia is a nation built on immigration and welcomes those who aspire to the Australian way of life, in the same way as the Puritans, Unitarians, Amish and other religious folks left Europe for the American Colonies all those centuries ago, rather than fighting tooth and nail for religious freedom in the countries of their birth. Conversely, guys like Rupert Murdoch and Mel Gibson are also welcome to fuck off at their own pleasure.
American born Australians are welcome to participate and integrate fully into Australian public life, we even had an American born Premier of New South Wales recently.
This is the Australia of the past, where the displaced Greeks and Itailians came in droves after the war, the 10 pound poms after them seeking a better life on our fair shores. All this started turning around in the 80s as demonstrated in the documentary Romper Stomper.
The Australia of today is a very different place where immigrants are treated with disgust and suspicion, the evil brown people are accused of turking jerbs, you're told to Fit In or Fuck Off, because all the immigrants need to Fuck Off Were Full, or so the stickers on the back of chevrodores keep telling us. I mean how can the Bogan have 3 kids and if we're that full. How can the Bogan afford his jet ski and McMansion if the Abbos keep taking all his tax money, after deduction he's already taxed at 20% which barely pays for the money the government gives him for child care.
How is the Bogan supposed to drink a bottle of Jimmy and threaten to "smash" everyone on his stumble home if this keeps happening. Wont someone think of the Bogan?
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
Emergency Kit = Australia has extremely good emergency response (SES, Fire Services, Police, Ambulance Services) for everyone.
Basic Medical Care = Medicare. Quality health care for anyone all billed directly to the government.
Place to Live = Low homeless rate and good quality government housing.
Proper Nutritional Assistance = Covered under Medicare
Bomb Shelter = We aren't paranoid.
Gun = Don't want em.
Efficient Car = Some excellent cars available if people want them, but many still drive SUVs or low efficient cars through choice.
Water Filtration System = We have excellent tap water in most cities. One exception, and they have alternatives in place.
Money off their taxes = We have a AAA economy still.
Vote that actually counts = Compulsory voting and our representatives will generally talk to us if we need them to.
Additional Insulation = Been there, was a waste of money.
Own surveillance and security system = What now? See point 1.
Money = AAA economy. Strong dollar.
Food talks = We produce most of our own food and export almost as much again.
Looks like we covered your bases. Time to build us an Internet that's better.
This "well known fact" is news to me.
I have not applied for Australian citizenship but have taken some first steps towards it. I would very gladly be a devoted and loyal Australian. This has nothing to do with the NBN, which I do praise in concept, regardless of whether it even exists. I would love to be an Australian even with lower bandwidth like I have today in the States. I do applaud any attempts toward inclusion of all. For things as important as broadband, we should deal with our fellows as family and take care of those who just live in the wrong place. That's my personal opinion but it has nothing to do with why I would love to reside in Australia.
Cheers, mates
OK a new size TV
they haven't solved all the other problems
They never will. So we shouldn't try to solve any problems at all. Just give up because perfection is impossible.
Ah yes, I remember that one. It's worth mentioning that one of the participants of that documentary (Russell Crowe) was a host on another documentary entitled "Fightin' Around the World with Russell Crowe". It was very educational. I remember this altercation:
Man: Oh my God! It's Russell Crowe!
Russell Crowe: (taunting) Oh my God, it's Russell Crowe! Oh my blah blah blah blah blah! (normal) Why don't you mind your own business, you scrotum? (attacks him)
Of course I'm already an Aussie so it's in my blood anyway. Time to fight cancer!
Most people on Slashdot are fucking idiots.
Its actually WAY funnier than that. So the Puritans were this completely bug-fsck religious sect, they honestly believed that as a Christian your life should be a miserable lot so along that thinking they outlawed music, dancing and singing. So to express their love for their maker they proceeded by smashing the church organs in England and cutting ears off people who dared to enjoy music. The English people, most of whom were sane at the time made it clear to the King, its us or them, so there were asked to leave England with extreme prejudice. They traveled and made friends wherever the went... not. They landed in the Netherlands, the most accepting and accommodating people in Western Europe in that day, and after just a few years wore out their welcome big time. Where to go... Of course the New World, where they could practice their religion without persecution (which would be truly odd because almost from the get, practicing their religion involved persecuting someone, somewhere.)
And so they went to the New World. Here's the really funny part. The few Puritan Communities that survived were vicious nasty places and as a general practice they slaughtered Native Americas who helped them and showed pity on them when they first came to the New Land. The really funny part is that many of the first colonies vanished. Well not completely. It seems that when confronted with the idiocy of their beliefs and the natives with plenty of food, happy children and healthy lives, they said screw it and joined the local tribes. So from just about any angle you slice this, there wasn't a lot pure about the Puritans. Most of what get's taught in our elementary schools is just plain crap. Now we have states that are actually codifying religious crap they want to teach children instead of science and just physical reality in general. I realize teaching children the truth, and at an early age fostering the notion of questioning authority would make life for the Plutocrats almost unbearable, but it would sure make a more interesting civilization.
Fortunately for you, some British citizens - among them men named Jefferson, Franklin, Paine, Franklin, Adams, and Washington - decided once upon a time that jumping ship was preferable to being "good citizens".
... nasty wildlife ...
We have kangaroos jumping down our main streets that would kick you in the guts as soon as hug you. Then, there's drop bears...
What's wrong with pledging allegiance to the Queen? She's pretty cool and chill.
Would you rather pledge allegiance to 350 million random other people?
Democracy is overrated. Monarchies are always better.
Wouldn't have taken much research to find out this is no longer the case. First hit on Google:
http://www.citizenship.gov.au/current/dual_citizenship/
Basically prior to April 2002, you are correct - Australian citizenship was lost if you acquired a different citizenship. But for the last 10 years, that has not been true - dual citizenship is recognised and perfectly OK now.
In the US we have our "Red Necks" which come in assorted flavors including "Shit Kickers", "Skin Heads", "Hill Billies" and "Hard Hats". We here actually have a bit of a warm spot for our Protohominid brethren, and though "Red Neck" is a pejorative, its usually said with a smile. For example there is the entire catalog of Red Neck jokes to be enjoyed by our country's favorite Red Neck Comedian, Jeff Foxworthy.
Our bigotry has a long and illustrious history. It seems we had many episodes if racial discrimination in our past as well. The most commonly pointed to are obviously Black Slaves, and Slaughtered Native Americans, but even the Irish had their day. During the Potato Famine, the Irish fled to America by the Millions. They were not welcome when they got here. They were put to tasks that you wouldn't humanely put animals to. They were used to drain the swamps of New Orleans, which were infested with mosquitoes carrying malaria and yellow fever. They wouldn't use slaves to do this work because slaves were valuable live stock, whereas Irish men were considered gun fodder. Along the same lines Chinese were used to build be cross continental railroad, and thousand died along some of the more challenging sections, and then upon completion, we deported them back to China. As much as we dislike Irishmen, we despised brown people (and today we bomb them for fun and profit.)
So I guess that makes us alike in one more way, we have our Bogans too.
Yeah weird huh? The requirements to become an Australian citizen (which I'm well versed in, as my American wife has just obtained her Australian citizenship a few months ago) are:
- You have lived lawfully in Australia for at least 4 years; and
- You have lived in Australia for at least 12 months as a permanent resident
(OR ... you were born in Australia or used to have citizenship but lost it for whatever reason)
My wife moved here after we were married and lived here for 4 years. The first two she was a temporary resident (all spouse visas are temporary for the first two years, and can then be migrated to permanent). The latter two she was permanent. She qualified earlier this year, did the test, had the ceremony and voila.
Woz seems to be thinking that, if you are well-known and/or rich, you can bypass all these requirements. I am not sure that is the case. You can certainly qualify for a permanent residence visa to live here on the basis of being rich ('investing' in the country), but that isn't citizenship.
Sorry to break it to you Steve, but I live 35.659km (as per google maps) from the center of Melbourne and I'm not on the NBN constuction list till after June 2015. Unless some serious cable comes to town I'll still be living the 10Mbit ADSL2 dream. Yeah I was excited when they announced the NBN, I really was.
They landed in the Netherlands, the most accepting and accommodating people in Western Europe in that day, and after just a few years wore out their welcome big time.
You missed one of the juciest bits. They weren't kicked out from Netherlands - they decided to leave, because it was too open-minded for them, and they were afraid that they couldn't keep the kids sufficiently brainwashed.
They were subjects of His Majesty the King.
"3. If everyone/majority has Jigabytes of speed... how would that change the internet, what would become possible/everyday because of it?"
Who knows, but it would most probably be a waste of Goules of power
The same in Australia, but really it's just words. The Queen is a figurehead and a symbol of historical ties. She has no real role in the running of either Canada or Australia from a practical standpoint. And having an apolitical and arms-length head of state is actually a good thing from a governance perspective (note - head of State, not head of Government ... the two roles are the same guy in America, but separate people in Parliamentary systems).
AC is correct (I'm also a dual US-Aussie citizen). Australia recognises both and regards both as valid. The US doesn't disallow you getting another citizenship ... but basically ignores its existence and will treat you the same as if you were simply any other US citizen.
Incidentally if you are an Australian citizen you should always enter Australia on your Australian passport, even if you could technically enter on the other one. Less trouble for you, and it allows you indefinite entry, whereas for the other passport you'd need a visa or electronic travel authority etc. set up. Plus it screws their 'is the person in or out of the country at the moment' system up if you leave and enter on different passports (which matters if there's an emergency in a place overseas and they need to know if any Australian citizens might be there).
That sounds suspiciously like "This software works pretty well, time to add a feature."
Wish I could get 10 Mbit ADSL2. 4 km from the CBD of Canberra and the most I can get is ~5 Mbps (crappy long line!). I AM on the NBN three-year rollout though :) (Early 2014)
What on earth are you going on about? The internet filter proposal was dropped and is unlikely to be reintroduced for a long time, as it's politically untenable. The net is currently no more censored here than in any other country.
Also, Australia has an absolutely massive online gambling industry ... so much so that some of the biggest online betting agencies have actually moved from other countries, to base themselves here. Again - not sure where your comments came from.
It is 'Hear, hear!" you bogan...
Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
Houses for votes was a scandal in England a decade or two ago at the end of the Tatcher debacle. Conservaties would sell council houses to turn labour renters into conservative house owners.
People have two objectives when voting. Their wallet and their ideals and the wallet overrules their ideals every time during the actual election.
That is why right-wingers love privatization, it means they can score some quick cash to give handouts, buying votes and then when it comes time to pay the price for collapsed industries and sky-rocketing prices, they claim the economy is just bad because of high labor costs.
People think left with their heart but vote right for the promised tax-cuts (which are only delivered upon for the rich). Then they bitch that politicians don't take them serious. Democracy needs a better class of human being then we got.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
I don't know what's better, a government that determines and redefines your rights at their leisure or a government that defines your rights, and then passes secret and not-so-secret laws that supersede and suspend your rights for the government's convenience.
The net effect is equivalent; therefore, I prefer the former because it is less hypocritical.
As an American I've become so cynical and frustrated by my government's deliberate evisceration of the Constitution that I wish we didn't have one. The countries of the former British Empire seem to get by with unwritten constitutions. They don't have to pretend they are adhering to. a written Constitutiom while violating it egregiously, which is so much more honest.
America's slippery slope really accelerated once the Progressives seized power in the early 20th century. Wickard v. Filburn was farcical, but it laid the foundation for the insanity of the Raich decision and later upholding Obamacare.
Basically, because of twisted, specious legal sophistry, simply being alive is tantamount to interstate commerce (or the lack interstate commerce, which is *also* interstate commerce thanks to Wickard v. Filburn), and therefore is the complete jurisdiction of the federal government. Because, you know, that's what the Founders meant when they proposed the Constitution.
I kinda get what you meant except many former British colonies have written constitutions. Ironically it is Britian itself that is notable in not having a single document as a written constitution (although there may be other examples).
Andy Warhol got it right / Everybody gets the limelight
Andy Warhol got it wrong / Fifteen minutes is too long.
He undoubtedly has shitloads of cash so the business migration scheme applies and it's effectively a done deal. He doesn't hit the barriers deliberately put in the way of anyone that comes to Australia expecting to work for a living.
As for point two, the libs are opposing any and all infrastructure spending at this time but once they are in control the NBN may be seen as popular pork. The libs hated Telstra as much as anybody when they put their own mates on the board but got backstabbed by them, so the major aim of the NBN of doing an end-run around Telstra is likely to be supported by a large number of representatives. Those in the regional areas are especially likely to remember that Telstra has done little for them since 1996 apart from mobile rollouts, and that some areas have actually had reduced mobile phone coverage since then due to a change to a digital network with shorter range.
+1, mod parent up in an anti-clockwise direction.
Welcome to Team Awesome Woz!
So are you proposing a return to the good old days of the White Australia Policy? Or just back a little to letting the wogs in, but letting them know they are wogs at very opportunity?
Or maybe the past isn't quite as rosy as you remember?