from: iHotDesk [1]

US senator ready to confront 'tubes' jibes

US Senator Ted Stevens shouted down another member of the house during the week and claimed the internet was nothing but a series of tubes.

The senator happens to be on the Senate Commerce Committee which has a great deal of influence over IT and internet legislation. Unsurprisingly he has come in for a great deal of mocking for his comments.

Popular US programme the 'Daily Show' hosted by comedian Jon Stewart has particularly made a point of discussing the incident and Senator Stevens has claimed he is prepared to go on the show to meet his critic.

The senator told reporters: "I have a letter from a big scientist who said I was absolutely right in using the word 'tubes."

Arguments began over a bill to prevent high speed access internet companies from charging more to provide certain content. This would take away the 'neutrality' of the internet claimed a set of internet companies.

The Republican Senator Stevens rejected the proposals and then went on to talk of the internet as a bunch of tubes.

There was certainly something simple and easy to understand about the senator's argument. However comedians and pundits will be busy for some time swapping jibes about possibly the most powerful tubes ever made. Thankfully IT support in London considers the internet to be a lot more than a bunch of tubes.