I second everything Chris says, and would like to point out that by the looks of it, you'll get a harsher sentence for portscanning than for many serious crimes against a person, should the bill go through. Before someone says that this is OT, please note that the network providers will be in the thick of it. -- Juha :: There is a global trend form politicians to take things they don't :: understand (i.e. words with more than two syllables and in :: general any :: kind of technology) and pass laws constraining how the industry is :: required to behave, without fully understanding any of the :: implications of what they are doing. :: :: New Zealand is no different, it is probably worse in many respects. :: :: I wish I could blame Labour, but the current government is only :: marginally more inept than the previous one. The real :: problem is that :: as a society we tolerate these total utter clueless cretins :: to 'govern :: the country' --- and when they do the most ludicrous inept things, :: sure, we get upset, for about two months, but come election day, The :: Disgusting Maggots Of Power are back. :: :: Leave now. While you can. Just leave! Don't walk, RUN! :: :: :: For those with families and such like who cannot escape the clutches :: of ineptitude and taxation based oppression, and for those :: who know it :: doesn't get much better elsewhere! The best you can do is :: contact you :: local politician (call early Monday, insist they talk to you, pretend :: you are an old friend from school, say you used to share needles or :: something, that often works) and ask of them what their position on :: the issue is (they will probably not have much to say here, maybe :: mumble something about poverty in their electorate and that being the :: biggest concern). :: :: Find out from there whom to contact and how with regards to what :: committees are looking at such things, and hopefully, if :: enough people :: do this, a few politicians will actually take and interest and help :: work with US (the people who technically do have a few ideas) and the :: select committee in not making a complete mess of things. :: :: Things to remember if you do want to talk to them: :: :: -- Call Monday, many send Tue -> Fri in Wellington :: :: -- Make sure they hear you name, what you do, and why you are :: concerned. Let them know you will be a thorn in their side if :: need be. :: :: -- Remember, when it comes to technology, most of these :: people have :: no education beyond what they got at school --- and for some of :: them, that was quite some time ago. :: :: -- Find out as much as you can from them of what is happenning, :: somewhere there will be a committee looking into this. Try to :: get documents on what they are presently doing and find out how :: to particiapte. Find out who is on the committee (usually what :: are supposed to be industry representatives, often people like :: former senior IT managers and we know how many clues some of :: them have). :: :: :: Or, just leave. Its easier. Really it is. :: :: :: :: --cw :: :: --------- :: To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz :: where the body of your message reads: :: unsubscribe nznog :: :: --------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog