Update: Jan 4 2010 – I received this response from Stephen Conroy today.
Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy announced that the Federal government would go ahead with plans to filter internet access for all Australians.
It has yet to pass caucus. So it’s not too late to do something about it.
Apart from the whole “police state” mentality this brings, the whole scheme is simply not going to work. It will NOT protect children from unwanted net predators.
Here’s a copy of the letter I wrote using the campaign on GetUp:
Dear Mr Conroy
As a web-savvy parent of 2 children. I urge you to re-think your strategy for tackling “net threats” to children.
The answer lies in educating parents and children.
Making the filter mandatory is an infringement of our personal freedom and clearly the wrong choice from a technology perspective.
You said there would be a public consultation process, now is your change to listen to the people.
A quick search in the internet shows the vast majority of Australians do NOT want their internet filtered. The same search shows how easy the proposed filter can be bypassed.
I realise it’s difficult for the government to admit it’s made the wrong decision. This is a great opportunity to show strength and do the right thing.
Thanks for listening.
Some links for further reading:
- ISP filtering pilot results on the DBCDE website
- Why the Internet filter is not the solution we wish it was (Penny Sharpe MLC)
- Net censorship move a smokescreen: expert (SMH)
- Bypassing Australia’s Net Filter
- Do these people have no idea? — the folly of the Internet Filter
- My thoughts on the mandatory Internet filter – Lauren Cochrane
What you can do
Write to the government and put your name down.
The last thing we want is to end up with our freedom controlled by an ill-informed government.
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Avatar movie review
December 18, 2009
Let me just say this up front… Avatar is amazing! It’s no wonder that Wired magazine said that this movie will change film forever.
When James Cameron first conceived Avatar, 15 years ago, the technology did not exist to make his dream a reality. He spent time developing the technology, even going as far as having to convince cinemas to upgrade their projectors to be able to screen the movie!
Plot summary
Jake Sully, former first recon marine now confined to a wheelchair, is sent to Pandora – a human outpost being mined for a rare mineral which is the key to solving Earth’s energy crisis. His mission: infiltrate the Na’vi, an humanoid race who have become an obstacle to mining the precious ore.
In Avator form, Jake can walk again. As Jake learns more about the Na’vi, he has to face conflicting emotions -- loyalty to the marine corp over a sympathy towards the Na’vi.
The plot reminded me of Pocahontas and Fern Gully.
Production notes
After 4 years of production, it’s finally hitting movie screens in both 2D and 3D. If you have the choice, I’d recommend seeing the 3D version. After all, that’s what all the fuss is about.
The movie was shot using the same Fusion 3-D camera system first used in Cameron’s IMAX feature Ghost of the Abyss in 2003.
Gone are the cheap cardboard glasses with red and green lenses -- the bane of anyone who wore ‘normal’ glasses for seeing. Cameron developed the digital 3-D stereoscopic technology that uses polarised lenses activated by infrared. The glasses handed out fitted nicely over my ’seeing’ glasses, which I must admit, are quite small. If your fashion sense tends towards the giant bug-eye look, you might want to wear contact lenses.
Stunning 3D CGI
The film itself combines live-action and CGI imagery to create a visually stunning experience. To achieve that seamless integration, he came up with something called “Simulcam” – a revolutionary new camera able to superimpose CGI images over live images being filmed in real-time.
Hopefully the experience will be the same at home on blu-ray. The Blu-ray Disc Association has announced that the specifications for 3D Blu-ray have been finalised. I say “hopefully” because using the technology will require hardware upgrades for most people. Specifically, new HDTVs (that support stereoscopic 3D) and Blu-ray hardware and glasses for the whole family.
Also, apart from Avatar, there are few compelling 3D movies available right now.
All that aside, Avatar is definitely worth seeing -- for all ages. There is no gratuitous violence, at least, no more than any of the Star Wars films.
Here’s the trailer:
Some links for further reading:
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