Mudslinger's Corner

YouTube – The universe is huge

Peer to government filter, and then possibly to peer

By Chris Williams • Get more from this author

Posted in Telecoms, 22nd December 2008 13:47 GMT

Free Download – Comparing Data Center Batteries, Flywheels and Ultracapacitors

The national web censorship apparatus being built by the Australian government will also include technology to restrict peer-to-peer traffic, according to the minister responsible for the plan.

Until today it had been thought that what opponents have called the “great Aussie firewall” – in a nod to Chinese internet censorship – would target only data transmitted over HTTP or HTTPS.

In response to suggestions by commenters on his blog that censoring web content would drive more peer-to-peer traffic, broadband minister Stephen Conroy wrote: “The Government understands that ISP-level filtering is not a ’silver bullet’. We have always viewed ISP-level filtering as one part of a broader government initiative for protecting our children online.

“Technology is improving all the time. Technology that filters peer-to-peer and BitTorrent traffic does exist and it is anticipated that the effectiveness of this will be tested in the live pilot trial.”

Conroy didn’t offer any further detail on how BitTorrent traffic will be “filtered” during the trials, which are set to run during the first half of 2009 with volunteer ISPs. They will filter websites against a blacklist for a minimum of six weeks.

In the UK ISPs use a blacklist of “child porn” websites maintained by the Internet Watch Foundation, an industry-backed group rather than government organisation. The recent climbdown over its censoring of a Scorpions album cover on Wikipedia demonstrated the pitfalls of even a self-regulatory approach. The Australian plan proposes much more government influence.

Prime minister Kevin Rudd’s Australian Labor government has committed AUS$125.8m over four years to what it calls “cyber-safety measures”. The great Aussie firewall is the centrepiece of the initiative, and has provoked strong opposition.

Hundreds of protestors gathered in major Australian cities last week, and some in the country’s internet industry have derided the plans too. In November, Michael Malone, boss of ISP iiNet, told the Sydney Morning Herald: “They’re not listening to the experts, they’re not listening to the industry, they’re not listening to consumers, so perhaps some hard numbers will actually help.” He pledged to take part in the pilot to help demonstrate that the system would be ineffective.

Conroy’s offhand announcement today that peer-to-peer traffic will be filtered is likely to add criticism of the Australian government from the filesharing community to that being voiced by free speech campaigners and the internet industry. ®

Oz net censorship apparatus to target BitTorrent • The Register

Blogged with the Flock Browser

YouTube – Kitten vs. Watermelon

YouTube – Flying with Mr Safety

I love what the instructor does near the end of the clip…..

Death Metal Puppy from That Happened!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Befriend a Geek from White October on Vimeo.

YouTube – Kitten LOVES Broccoli

YouTube – Yoga with Hayward and cat

YouTube – Chandni Chowk To China – Trailer HD |NEW|TRAILER|

Telstra shuns internet filtering trial | theage.com.au

• Dan Oakes
• December 9, 2008

AUSTRALIA’S largest internet service provider has said it will not participate in trials of the Federal Government’s controversial national internet filter.

Telstra’s BigPond said yesterday it would not be part of the pilot, which will run for six weeks from this month, citing “customer management issues”.

It wouldn’t say what the issues were but Telstra is believed to be worried about the effect on its reputation of any inconvenience to customers.

The Government has asked ISPs to test the filter, which will block more than 10,000 sites and has been criticised by the Greens, Federal Opposition, the internet industry, consumers and online rights groups.

There are fears of heavy-handed censorship and the effect the filter will have on speed. The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s trial of filtering technology this year found it could slow net access by up to 87 per cent and by at least 2 per cent.

The test filter has two streams, one that blocks ACMA’s blacklist of 1300 illegal sites, and an optional stream that blocks about 10,000 sites that contain “unwanted” content. The Government has stressed the 10,000 sites will not necessarily be on the final blacklist, but are being used as test subjects.

Telstra said yesterday it was extremely conscious of security issues surrounding the net.

Optus said it would participate in the first part of the trial, but not the optional component. Its customers will be able to opt out of the trial.

YouTube – The X PRIZE Vision 2008

A major investment in ethanol fuel production in Australia and a range of greener vehicles underpin Holden’s bid for a greater share of the eco-friendly motoring market from early next year.

Managing director Mark Reuss says Holden is in talks with American firm Coskata to establish Australia’s first plant to produce cellulosic ethanol, made from non-edible plant material, for use in motor fuels.

By 2010, Holden will also produce locally-built cars that can run on E85 fuel – fuel made up of 85 per cent ethanol – in an effort to encourage widespread use of ethanol-rich fuel in Australia.

E10 fuel – with 10 per cent ethanol – is widely available in Australia and is compatible with a range of modern vehicles.

The fuel would be cheaper, largely renewable and would reduce carbon dioxide emissions, Mr Reuss said.

Little start-up investment would be needed to sell commercially, he said.

“We have always said we would take a leadership position on ethanol and we’re going to provide the vehicles to do that,” he told a dinner in Melbourne on Thursday.

“We already have Saab bio-powered E85 vehicles on the market but there is obviously greater market pressure required to stimulate infrastructure, fuel production and policy in Australia.”

Holden will modify fuel systems and recalibrate engines in its cars to run on E85 fuel and will develop cars powered by other alternative fuels, Mr Reuss said.

Australia could lead the world in researching and developing vehicles powered by a range of alternative fuels, Mr Reuss said.

“It (ethanol) is not the only answer but things like LPG, ethanol, maybe CNG (compressed natural gas) here, with the resources that Australia has, I think this country could really lead that,” he said.

From early next year, Holden will also introduce a new range of green-friendly cars, known as EcoLine.

The range, announced last month, would eventually include cars that run on diesel, LPG or renewable energy, or have variable cylinder systems that shut down cylinders to save fuel while a car is cruising.

The company will import the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in rechargeable hybrid electric car, to Australia by 2012.

Consumer demands and the threat of climate change was “driving a fundamental and permanent shift” in the cars manufacturers produced, Mr Reuss said.

“The time to act is now and that’s why I see 2009 as a year of transformation for Holden. Truly this is the reckoning of General Motors,” he said.

© 2008 AAP

Holden embraces alternative fuels – Breaking News – National – Breaking News