some awesomeness from Radio New Zealand - they've licenced their schedule under creative commons.

Radio New Zealand National : Schedules

This is a great step forward - meanwhile NZ's television broadcasters (even the government owned ones) keep fierce copyright over their schedules. This is really quite loony, restricting the very information that encourages more viewers.

One day you won't need to break copyright law to get your tivo/mythtv to record new zealand television.

Radio New Zealand News : Stories : 2009 : 02 : 03 : New copyright rules fair, says APRA

The Australasian Performing Rights Assocation has dismissed claims that the new Copyright Act will force people off the internet unfairly.

New Zealand has a new Copyright Act, that goes into effect on 28th February 2009

In amongst the act is section 92a: ISPs are required to disconnect those accussed of copyright infringement. This was worrying, and during select committee discussion this was modified to have penalties when the accuser turns out to be wrong. (see Controversial copyright clause to be amended computerworld.co.nz)

At the last minute the penalties for wrong accusations was removed. So, the copyright act passed, with section 92a allowing copyright holders to accuse anyone of infringement, without requiring proof - and ISPs are forced to comply and disconnect service. You don't get a trial, you're just cut off and no more internet for you.

No more email, no booking airlines, no more buying books on the internet - you're cut off based only on an accusation. If they decided to accuse me, I would not be able to continue my occupation as an Open Source programmer / gadget wrangler. I'd have to give up and probably retrain as a barrista.

This is New Zealand law. You can't make this shit up!

Radio New Zealand National : Programmes A-Z : Saturday Morning with Kim Hill

Source: www.radionz.co.nz

Ogg+mp3 of my interview today with Kim Hill.

The New Zealand open source awards are tomorrow night - I wanted to ask what your picks are for winners? The finalists are listed on the NZOSA website

Open Source Contributor
This is a really hard one, as there are massive contributions by all four contributors. My pick is Francois Marier, due to the huge number of contributions as a debian package maintainer for over 50+ packages.

Open Source Software Project

last.fm user "iluvtheclean" has Radio New Zealand tracks!

where'd she get them? podcast? what? sounds potentially worthwhile.