Well, If Firefighters Support E-PARASITE Law... Then You Know It Must Make Sense
from the who-are-they-kidding? dept
Want to know just how desperate the folks at the MPAA are getting in their attempt to turn back the clock and outlaw all sorts of innovation? They're reaching the absolute bottom of the barrel, touting the fact that firefighers have come out in favor of PROTECT IP/E-PARASITE. What the hell do firefighters have to do with understanding detailed concepts like free speech, censorship, prior restraint, third party internet liability, and related topics? If you said absolutely, positively, nothing at all, you'd be correct. So, why are firefighters suddenly in favor of the censorship of the internet in America? It's not hard to guess, given how DC lobbying works these days:"You go down the Latino people, the deaf people, the farmers, and choose them.... You say, 'I can't use this one--I already used them last time...' We had their letterhead. We'd just write the letter. We'd fax it to them and tell them, 'You're in favor of this.'"Yup. What are the chances that the International Association of Fire Fighters has received large checks from those associated with the movie business? But, more seriously, who does the MPAA actually think it's fooling? Is Congress so stupid that it can't figure out for itself that firefighters have no clue what this debate is about? Otherwise, why would they be supporting censorship in America? Read the letter below, and wager a guess how much was actually written by a firefighter, rather than a lobbyist for Hollywood?
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Filed Under: e-parasite, firefighters, lobbying, protect ip, sopa
Companies: mpaa
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Faith in Congress
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Re: Faith in Congress
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Re: Re: Faith in Congress
Hi Mr Senator...I am a lobbyist, calling about this upcoming bill that we want you to vote yes on. There is no debate, as Mr. Benjamin and his twenty brothers we sent you will attest to. If you find out that your constituents don't like it, we can send over a briefcase containing 600 Benjamins to help you with your decision. Thanks, have a nice day. Take the Benjamins we sent out for a night of hookers and blow on us and relax a little.
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Re: Re: Re: Faith in Congress
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(and yes, this is hyperbolic bullshit that I've actually heard in response to reasoned debate on the US political system.)
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Re: Re: Re: Faith in Congress
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Re: Faith in Congress
Then the opposite of progress is congress?
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Re: Faith in Congress
Welcome to 1984
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MPAA & Firefighters
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Re: MPAA & Firefighters
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Re: MPAA & Firefighters
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Re: MPAA & Firefighters
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What that was not good? let me try again.
C'mon it is obvious why the firefighters are involved they are tired of putting out the flames that keep sparking out of the whole debate.
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Re:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_fav orability_ratings
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Police Support
But really, who knows about the fire fighters.
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Re: Police Support
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Arrogant Blockheads
Your pathological focus on the film and music industry is telling. There's no lie, no exaggeration, no accusation that you won't make in your desperation to stop the tightening of the screws on counterfeiters, infringers and those who illegally exploit the internet for their own gain at the expense of others. This is why you are laughed at Masnick. Sitting at a computer in California with your tinfoil hat cranking out unbelievable FUD based on some paranoid conspiracy theory. There are medications that can help you. Please look in to it.
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Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Welcome to the internet. Everyone is being laughed at by someone else here. Right now, we're laughing at you and the absurd things you spout. I'm pretty sure Mike isn't concerned about you laughing at him.
Also, you seem to be projecting. You seem to have a pathological focus on Mike and there doesn't seem to be a lie, exaggeration, or accusation that you won't make in your desperation to discredit him.
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Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Welcome to the internet. Everyone is being laughed at by someone else here. Right now, we're laughing at you and the absurd things you spout. I'm pretty sure Mike isn't concerned about you laughing at him.
Also, you seem to be projecting. You seem to have a pathological focus on Mike and there doesn't seem to be a lie, exaggeration, or accusation that you won't make in your desperation to discredit him.
Way to avoid the issue. Masnick ridicules the position of the firefighters who have a vested interest in getting phony smoke and carbon monoxide detectors off the market along with bogus, unsafe consumer electronics. And in his fulminations accuses an honorable group of people of being a bunch of stooges. That's bullshit, he know it but continue on in his fantastic delusion about the MPAA "shadow government" controlling everyone and everything. It's kind of creepy how detached from reality he's become and totally lost he is in his delusions.
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Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Do you or the IAFF have any actual evidence of "phoney smoke and carbon monoxide detectors" and "unsafe consumer electronics" being problems of a magnitude that require these new laws? Or is this just a faith-based issue?
Also note that there are undoubtedly both legitimate consumer electronics that are unsafe and counterfeit consumer electronics that are perfectly safe. The bills' targets are supposed to be counterfeit products, not unsafe ones.
"And in his fulminations accuses an honorable group of people of being a bunch of stooges."
I read it as an accusation against the IAFF, not fire fighters in general, as any sensible person should. And yes, they certainly do come across and bought-and-paid-for stooges, because the connection between the fire fighting profession and the proposed bills seems very weak.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Do you or the IAFF have any actual evidence of "phoney smoke and carbon monoxide detectors" and "unsafe consumer electronics" being problems of a magnitude that require these new laws? Or is this just a faith-based issue?
How about 18,500 smoke detectors distributed to low income families in Atlanta by the AFD? Honestly, you should Google your own questions.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11232.html
Also note that there are undoubtedly both legitimate consumer electronics that are unsafe and counterfeit consumer electronics that are perfectly safe. The bills' targets are supposed to be counterfeit products, not unsafe ones.
Consumer electronics are required (I believe) to meet UL standards in this country. That is the gold standard for safety. Rest assured that counterfeit electronics are not so certified. While some may be safe, others certainly are not.
"And in his fulminations accuses an honorable group of people of being a bunch of stooges."
I read it as an accusation against the IAFF, not fire fighters in general, as any sensible person should. And yes, they certainly do come across and bought-and-paid-for stooges, because the connection between the fire fighting profession and the proposed bills seems very weak.
Then you too are in denial like Masnick. The fact that you refuse to see the vested interest that firefighters have in eliminating faulty electronics and defective smoke detectors is simply breathtaking. It also speaks volumes to the utter desperation of the opponents to this bill. The only good news here is that Masnicks unwarranted assault and the echo chamber that supports it will end up on the desks of every undecided legislator as an illustration of how extremist and unreasonable the opponents to this bill are.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Do you or the IAFF have any actual evidence of "phoney smoke and carbon monoxide detectors" and "unsafe consumer electronics" being problems of a magnitude that require these new laws? Or is this just a faith-based issue?
How about 18,500 smoke detectors distributed to low income families in Atlanta by the AFD? Honestly, you should Google your own questions.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11232.html
Also note that there are undoubtedly both legitimate consumer electronics that are unsafe and counterfeit consumer electronics that are perfectly safe. The bills' targets are supposed to be counterfeit products, not unsafe ones.
Consumer electronics are required (I believe) to meet UL standards in this country. That is the gold standard for safety. Rest assured that counterfeit electronics are not so certified. While some may be safe, others certainly are not.
"And in his fulminations accuses an honorable group of people of being a bunch of stooges."
I read it as an accusation against the IAFF, not fire fighters in general, as any sensible person should. And yes, they certainly do come across and bought-and-paid-for stooges, because the connection between the fire fighting profession and the proposed bills seems very weak.
Then you too are in denial like Masnick. The fact that you refuse to see the vested interest that firefighters have in eliminating faulty electronics and defective smoke detectors is simply breathtaking. It also speaks volumes to the utter desperation of the opponents to this bill. The only good news here is that Masnicks unwarranted assault and the echo chamber that supports it will end up on the desks of every undecided legislator as an illustration of how extremist and unreasonable the opponents to this bill are.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
CPSC Alert: Counterfeit Smoke Alarms Distributed in Atlanta
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers in the Atlanta area to check their homes for counterfeit smoke alarms. About 18,500 counterfeit photoelectric smoke alarms were distributed for free in the Atlanta area between 2006 through May 2011 as part of the Atlanta Smoke Alarm Program. The smoke alarms can fail to alert consumers in the event of a fire.
The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, which distributed the free smoke alarms as part of a fire safety campaign, is recalling the smoke alarms and is working to provide free smoke alarm inspections and replacement units. Consumers who received these alarms should immediately contact the Atlanta Smoke Alarm Recall Hotline at (404) 546-2733.
The counterfeit alarms can be identified by a silver Underwriters Laboratories' UL label on the back and three sets of vented slots on the front. The UL label is counterfeit. The alarms do not have a model number or brand name printed on them. "Important: Refer to Manual for Operating Instruction and Safety" and "Do Not Paint" are stamped into the plastic on the front of the alarm in both English and German. The package states, "This Smoke Alarm save [sic] life and property by early warning!" Claims that smoke alarms can "save property" are not typical claims for smoke alarms. The packaging states, "10 YEAR LIFE LITHIUM BATTERY," but the battery included with the smoke alarm is a carbon zinc, industrial, heavy duty battery, which will power the alarm for only one year.
CPSC's independent testing of the smoke alarms determined that the alarms pose a life safety hazard to the occupants in the event of a fire. The alarms perform poorly and inconsistently and do not meet voluntary standards requirements in Underwriters Laboratories' (UL) 217, Single and Multiple Station Smoke Alarms and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The smoke alarms' sensitivity settings varied greatly between the alarms tested. Some alarms did not respond within an adequate time for life safety and other alarms did not respond at all.
CPSC has worked with the voluntary standards organizations to improve smoke alarm performance and reliability. Counterfeit alarms can put lives at risk. Working smoke alarms that meet the voluntary standards are proven to save lives. CPSC urges consumers to install smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms. Replace batteries at least once every year and test the alarms once a month.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Apples and oranges.
*hands firefighters some smelling salts*
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
If there is any effort to curtail piracy, that's all that matters. In his world, any enforcement attempts must be stopped.
And yes, as has been rather obvious this week, he has gone off the deep end. Piracy is integral to his personal life and business model.
Tough for him.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
if you must puke your propaganda, please proceed to post somewhere that people actually pretending to placate your profuse pandering and possibly, JUST possibly, people placating your pretentiousness, perhaps might post.
further more, for fuck's sake, fuck the fuck off.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
if you must puke your propaganda, please proceed to post somewhere that people actually pretending to placate your profuse pandering and possibly, JUST possibly, people placating your pretentiousness, perhaps might post.
further more, for fuck's sake, fuck the fuck off.
My somebody's impressed with himself. Remind me to send you a box of hankies when the bill passes. You and your fellow apologists can all have a good cry together.
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Will do. We'll also send you a box of hankies when after the bill has been passed, piracy will continue unabated.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Oh happy days are here again!!!!
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
You too should be worried, as a content owner you should be held responsible for what people related to you do it is your duty to watch everybody you do business with isn't it?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
But yeah, you go on believing pirates actually give a shit what you and the mafiaa have to say. Meanwhile we're laughing at you and you don't even know it
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Because it's not broad enough to also affect the wider public? Alright, I forgot you shills also tell yourself that this bill of yours will stop piracy.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
oh, look, Killer Elite in 720p, oh, look, Apollo 18 in R5.. laters...
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
"I have been profiling people online for many years, and every AC posting on techdirt can all be traced back to you."
EVERY AC, eh? -- Master AC, the All Controller, whoever you are, PLEASE instruct your minions to stop appearing as if some support Mike. It's just confusing me.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
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Between the two I say Mike is a saint.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Got any other moronic analogies?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Or something like that. Im not that into Jesus.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
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Jesus the Pirate.
He violated the Miracle Millennium Anti-Replication Act (MMAA) when he replicated wine at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee.
Then the medical industry complained about how he practiced medicine without a license. But his healing rate was near 100%. Theirs was much lower without lime soap being invented.
And those pirates on the Red Sea were real pissed when he was walking on the water right next to him.
The morticians wanted his resurrection to be a criminal offense. They lost revenue when they couldn't exhume the body.
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Re: Jesus the Pirate.
Because it is indeed funny, and since it ignores the point raised, it is most certainly insightful by Techdirt's standards.
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Re: Re: Jesus the Pirate.
Just didn't only just share, he produced his own whenever he felt like it and shared that.
In a way every pirate out there do the same thing the multiply things and share it, and if they are criminals so is Jesus.
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Re: Re: Re: Jesus the Pirate.
Keep trying tho!! This is fun!!!
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Jesus the Pirate.
Well I'm not a bible expert but google serves. Here you go:
With reference to the text can you explain where Jesus asks for permission to copy and distribute what he is given in response to his demand? Or are you perhaps just making an assumption based on his PR?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Jokes aside if you find that Jesus being a felon is just ridiculous that is how I see copyright law, just ridiculous.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
He took someone else's fish rather than just some random one from the water?
Please enlighten us, you newly christened biblical scholar, you :)
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Will he be willing to take responsibility for the people he do business with? There is no law that allows others to let people commit crimes right?
So studios, labels and publishers should be held accountable for their crimes.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
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How much did he make on it?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
And this has exactly what to do with censoring internet websites?
http://www.huliq.com/10473/fbi-investigating-detectors-distributed-atlanta-smoke-alarm- program
"More than 18,000 of the apparently uncertified units were purchased in 2005 and 2006 from a company in California."
http://news.consumerreports.org/home/2011/05/atlanta-recalls-counterfeit-smoke-alarm s.html
"The problem dates back five years to when the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department bought the alarms from a vendor in Calabasas, California."
"While the Atlanta firemen work to replace the alarms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into the vendor, Silver Sails Corp. The City of Atlanta is “currently examining all available legal options” to recover the $100,000 spent on the counterfeit alarms, according to the fire department."
http://www.made-in-china.com/traderoom/silversails
"We are an industrial supplier to local, state and federal agencies..."
http://www.atlantaga.gov/media/nr_afrdrecall_051211.aspx
"Purchase History:
Bids were submitted to AFRD, according to City of Atlanta Department of Procurement policies and procedures, with specifications for the detector purchase to include: new ionization type; Federal and State of Georgia Occupational Safety and Health Act compliancy; UL compliancy; continuous alarm duration; alarm sound level of 85 dB@ 10 feet; low battery indicator; hush button; test button; twist off mounting bracket; and long life 10 year lithium battery
Three bids were submitted from the following vendors: Englewood Electrical Supply (June 7, 2005), Silver Sails Inc. (June 7, 2005), and Cintas (July 8, 2005)
July 29, 2005- Silver Sails Inc. was awarded the procurement bid (8337-BA)"
You can't even play the "sold on a rogue site" card on this one. A government program got duped into buying them and distributed to people.
Just FYI, it helps to follow up on web links and find out key details when you're grasping as straws to try to support a completely untenable position. Just Googling "counterfeit + smoke detector + firefighter" and cut and pasting the first thing you see ends up making you look like an idiot.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Your "shining example" of why firefighters are in support of this travesty of a bill is complete bullshit.
We learned from Viacom vs. Youtube, where Viacom had no idea of which uploads were legitimately authorized by their own employees, that not even a copyright holder can be sure if something on the internet is authorized or not. And now you actually pointed to a situation where a government agency that should have known better and had the resources to be able to tell a fake physical product took 5 years to realize a mistake was made and they had counterfeits. Yet these are the people you want in charge of preemptively blocking entire websites with no adversarial hearing.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Holy shit! The Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department will be in charge of blocking websites?
BTW, read the bill. A company automatically gets an adversarial hearing simply by filing a counter-notice. Nice try though FUDboy.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
I have read it.
You have ignored a key word: preemptively. Two questions:
1) Yes or No: this bill requires an ISP to block a site within 5 days of receiving a notice?
2) Yes or No: the adversarial hearing must occur before the site is blocked?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Stop taking people's words out of context. He's referring to government in general. How do you expect people to take you seriously when you can't have a conversation without being willfully stupid.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Stop taking people's words out of context. He's referring to government in general. How do you expect people to take you seriously when you can't have a conversation without being willfully stupid.
Who the fuck is being willfully stupid? It's laughable to suggest that the AFRD has the same resources, sophistication and wherewithal as the Federal government.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Like the federal government never makes careless mistakes. What is the federal government composed of, infallible gods? No, they're composed of fallible individuals, just like any other government or corporation or group of people.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Adversarial hearings exist for good reason. Because governments would otherwise do things they shouldn't be allowed to and would abuse the system if the system lacks safeguards against abuse. Governments are imperfect entities composed of imperfect people. While due process itself may not be perfect, because it's also composed of imperfect people, at least it adds safeguards against allowing a single authoritative entity to make one-sided decisions at will without any sort of resistance to bad behavior. It allows another authoritative entity the opportunity to review and stop potentially bad behavior.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
If you want an adversarial hearing, file a counter-notice. The opportunity is there in black-and-white. The problem is that most of the accused don't want a hearing because they know they're guilty of infringement. And you desperately hanging on to the contention that a local fire department operates with the same level of sophistication as a federal agency is absurd.
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No, the use of this story as an example of how this bill could help fix this is absurd. The contention that this bill would have caused the federal government (or the state government) to prevent this when it's the state government that was operating everything is absurd. The contention that the federal government is somehow composed of people who are somehow far less likely to make mistakes because they are somehow more special than everyone else is absurd.
The error that was made here isn't an error due to a lack of resources or manpower. It was a human error that the state government has far more than enough resources to catch if it weren't for complete incompetence. To suggest that the federal government is somehow less likely to make such an error because it has more resources is silly. The state government has plenty of resources, if it can't catch a silly little mistake like this one, then a lack of resources is likely not the reason why it wasn't caught.
"The counterfeit alarms can be identified by a silver Underwriters Laboratories' UL label on the back and three sets of vented slots on the front. The UL label is counterfeit. The alarms do not have a model number or brand name printed on them."
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11232.html
Again, this was a human error by an entity with relatively plenty of resources to catch it. It failed not due to a lack of resources, but due to a lack of competence. To say otherwise is absurd.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
No, the use of this story as an example of how this bill could help fix this is absurd. The contention that this bill would have caused the federal government (or the state government) to prevent this when it's the state government that was operating everything is absurd. The contention that the federal government is somehow composed of people who are somehow far less likely to make mistakes because they are somehow more special than everyone else is absurd.
The error that was made here isn't an error due to a lack of resources or manpower. It was a human error that the state government has far more than enough resources to catch if it weren't for complete incompetence. To suggest that the federal government is somehow less likely to make such an error because it has more resources is silly. The state government has plenty of resources, if it can't catch a silly little mistake like this one, then a lack of resources is likely not the reason why it wasn't caught.
"The counterfeit alarms can be identified by a silver Underwriters Laboratories' UL label on the back and three sets of vented slots on the front. The UL label is counterfeit. The alarms do not have a model number or brand name printed on them."
http:// www. cpsc.gov /cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11232.html
Again, this was a human error by an entity with relatively plenty of resources to catch it. It failed not due to a lack of resources, but due to a lack of competence. To say otherwise is absurd.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
So why the fuck should we trust their judgement?
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Yah right.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Holy shit! They will go against fake smoke detectors so with real ones people wake up soon enough to put out the fire which leads to the firefighters being out of a job?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Repeat: Preventing counterfeiting supposedly IN SOPA.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Since you said "supposedly" I'm guessing you're the one that hasn't read the bill.
Please point out to me the text from the bill that supports your position. And explain how it would stop a US based company from importing cheap fire detectors from China, putting a counterfeit UL seal on them, then bidding on a government contract to supply them to a fire department.
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Repeat: Preventing counterfeiting supposedly IN SOPA.
Since you said "supposedly" I'm guessing you're the one that hasn't read the bill.
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I wrote "supposedly" to be accurate. It's a work in progress. Whether it will or not is irrelevant at this point: it's perhaps only a hook to hang firefighter support on. Stopping counterfeit products appears not only plausible to me, but desirable. -- Doesn't mean I'm for SOPA, even.
Try to be fair with you guys, and you just want to assign homework.
My position is that Mike didn't do his homework, just went off on an ad hom attack on firefighters. Annoys me, isn't honest, isn't weighty, and it appears a refuted take.
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So you go off on an ad hominem attack on me for pointing out an anonymous poster didn't do his homework?
You accuse me of not reading the bill when you haven't?
Here, I'll do it for you:
http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/112%20HR%203261.pdf
Start at page 60:
SEC. 202. TRAFFICKING IN INHERENTLY DANGEROUS GOODS OR SERVICES.
Section 2320 of title 18, United States Code, is amended as follows:
blahblah
That would seem to support your position...
However, go compare it to what Section 2320 already is:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/2320.html
"(a) Offense.—
(1) In general.— Whoever; [1] intentionally traffics or attempts to traffic in goods or services and knowingly uses a counterfeit mark on or in connection with such goods or services, or intentionally traffics or attempts to traffic in labels,"
You'll see that in the case we're talking about, whoever imported these fire detectors already broke the law, and SOPA would not have the slightest impact. It's already illegal to traffic in goods with a counterfeit mark.
So do your homework. Support your position with facts, and cite your sources.
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Why is desirable to have firefighters in a favour of a bill they understand nothing about it?
Further lets go ask them what they think about enforcement of IP laws and see if they really care.
What seems plausible is that this is astroturfing.
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We already have anti-counterfeit and anti-fraud laws. Do you honestly think E-Parasite would have likely prevented this? Adding more laws to make illegal behavior even more illegal does little to curtail illegal behavior. Someone illegally possessing a firearm isn't going to avoid possessing one just because of a new law that says he's breaking another law by possessing that firearm. He's already broken several laws, adding a new law doesn't stop criminals from breaking laws. What we need is competent government that enforces existing laws.
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CPSC Alert: Counterfeit Smoke Alarms Distributed in Atlanta"
Sorry, I should've been clearer in my request, but I thought it was obvious I was asking for evidence of problems that this bill would fix. Were these 18,500 counterfeit smoke alarms bought from a website known to sell counterfeit goods? I certainly hope not. So thanks for a useless example that does not strengthen your argument one bit.
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Mike has really gone off the deep end since the text to SOPA came out. It's sad and funny all at the same time.
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I should have guessed from the self-inflicted haircut and the shirt from the second-hand store he was wearing in the video.
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You won't.
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Fulminations
"The freetards fulminated against the MPAA"
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Oh my god!! :D This is f***ing hilarious!
You don't *really* think there is even one single person on either side of this issue that actually believes that for a single second?
ROLFMAO!
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Oh my god!! :D This is f***ing hilarious!
You don't *really* think there is even one single person on either side of this issue that actually believes that for a single second?
ROLFMAO!
Laugh it up Bozo. I'd guess the author of the letter believes it and more importantly, when a respected and politically active union like IAFF says it, politicians listen. Hope you're still laughing when the bill passes. I know I will be.
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Why do we need a new law again?
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You bet. Cause when piracy continues unabated you'll come back here with your usual whining.
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You bet. Cause when piracy continues unabated you'll come back here with your usual whining.
You only need to look at what happened to Wikileaks after it lost access to US payment processors. A 95% drop in revenue. Add to that loss of advertising and delisting from search engines and you will see a significant impact on pirate sites. This bill is no magic bullet, but it will be a kick in the balls.
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This bill is NO magic bullet. And it will be a kick in the balls alright. To pretty much the entire internet, freedom of speech, due process, etc.
But ignore all the damage it can cause (and more than likely will cause). Just so long as it annoys/stops a few people. Then it's all okay.
There's apparently a drug dealer on my street. The cops (sheriffs, state troopers, DEA, etc.) have gone by multiple times to raid this person's home (who coincidentally never happens to be there at these times) and then leave when they realize that. By the reasoning and logic of this bill, it'd be okay to seize the homes of everyone on my street and lock them up for some time. Just so long as we get that one drug dealer. The collateral damage (seizure of innocent people's homes and placing everyone in each home in prison) is acceptable and justified.
The phrase "better to let 100 guilty men go free than convict 1 innocent man" is not a phrase you're familiar with is it?
The people defending this bill always seem to try and take a moral high ground, you'd think there moral "superiority" would make them realize the problems with this bill. And at least acknowledge them. Rather than ignore the facts and just focus on the one specific "positive" thing they do care about.
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If the law narrowly focused on that, they'd have a point. Instead, it doesn't focus on that at all. Which is why they don't.
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Narrowly focus, bitches!!!
Artists: it's definitely most important that laws do not focus on you!!! Get it now?!?!
At least from Mike Masnick's point of view.
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widely focussed law: If its POSSIBLE you have killed someone we will execute you.
See the difference? If you can't then I worry for you and your families.
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Then they can sit down and pass a law for each and every item in your household, one item at a time, to assure that it is narrow enough to suit you.
There is a widespread problem Mike, so a wide ranging law is the most expedient and more conclusive way to address the issue. They can more narrowly focus on areas that need improving over time. This is a positive first step towards addressing the large scale issue of fake public safety equipment, and I can see exactly why the fire fighters support it. If you can't see that, well... your blinders are on too tight.
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Please define and provide evidence for this "widespread problem."
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Not to pour fuel on the fire (see what I did there?) when you're all trolled-up, but aren't there already a number of laws against that kind of thing specifically? I'm pretty sure faking a standards seal is already illegal in the US, no? I hear trademark infringement is also considered naughty already. What is it that makes you think yet another law will work better this time?
The rest was just the usual bile-filled rant so I'll ignore that bit. Probably should have ignored the lot but hey-ho.
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Re: Re: Arrogant Blockheads
Yes. But US laws are insufficient to stop foreign based websites offering counterfeit and/or infringing merchandise to the American public. Current US law can deal with violations in the US or websites registered in the US.
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And what reason do we have for calling something which may be perfectly legal in other countries (e.g, Spain, with a long list of court cases to back it up) illegal and illicit in our country? Should we have the right to block legal discourse and content in another country from being available in our own? How is that not censorship and restriction on freedom of speech and expression? Tell me how that is not comparable to the Great Firewall of China.
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Short of the US invading every country on the planet and enforcing their idea of law with an iron hand in each one, I don't see any law is going to stop that and even the British Empire wasn't stupid enough to try that one despite owning about 1/3 of the planet. So again, what makes you think this law is suddenly the magic bullet? How exactly do you imagine this is going to affect websites that are by their very definition not subject to US law?
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You should have linked to the actual article, and not the general MPAA blog: http://blog.mpaa.org/BlogOS/post/2011/10/31/Public-Safety-Community-Overwhelmingly-Supports-Rogue-Si tes-Legislation.aspx
In the article, some of the firefighters' concerns are highlighted. Pretending like you don't know what their arguments are is just more stupidity and sliminess from you.
God, you're an insufferable idiot.
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What you could do is politely correct him instead of making a huge deal out of a minor error. Then IP maximists complain that Mike makes a big deal out of nothing.
Though, judging from your use of the word 'sliminess' I sense possible sarcasm in your post.
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Perhaps it's a condition of the $1 million per year they get from Google for pimping for them.
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They're just greedy bastards looking out for their bottom line.
If they can't make their money in an honest manner, fuck them.
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Do actors not break the law, do rappers not kill each other, or traffic drugs or promote dog fightings?
Labels finance them and so they are responsible for those things too right?
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You don't happen to work for VIACOM do you? hehehehe
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"National President for the FOP, Chuck Canterbury, exclaimed, “The preparedness and safety of our members depend on sound, reliable equipment. Counterfeit batteries, gloves, brake pads, and other equipment put us and the public at risk. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals, tooth paste, and footwear put our seniors and our children at risk. Organized gangs use these profits from counterfeit DVDs to fund other criminal enterprises and fuel violent crime in our communities here at home.” "
Here's an idea - don't go to Walmart. Seriously, if one is spending tax dollars there is a responsibility to spend it wisely - this includes not purchasing crap that will end up costing more in the long run. Do your homework like everyone else and stop whining about it already.
Counterfeit DVDs funding terrorism is not even funny anymore, maybe you could find some new material for your standup routine.
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No, why a new law that does the same thing?
Because it is not about counterfeits is it?
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Hey! maybe Wikileaks can hop on it.
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Toothpaste?
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Re: Toothpaste?
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Supporting the artists is not censorship
http://www.amazon.com/New-Firefighters-Cookbook-John-Sineno/dp/0684818590
I think all of these firemen and their buddies understand the value of hard work. And so they're willing to support the creators.
Making it easy for people to steal a creator's work is much more likely to censor an artist than preventing some lame cheap couchpotato from using bittorrent.
Keeping people from using bittorrent or the other tools is not censorship because these people aren't expressing any opinions.
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LoL
You like big things don't ya?
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I guess only people who agree with you are relevant
About as much as Justin Bieber? http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111028/12580416553/justin-bieber-senator-klobuchar-should-be-lock ed-up-felony-streaming-bill.shtml
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If you cannot see how one is more relevant than the other, then perhaps you should take off those tinted glasses.
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Further anyone stupid enough to be in favour of a monopoly that is life + 95 years should be vilified and smeared.
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Fer sure. Free speech, prior restraint, due process, adversarial hearings; all that stuff needs to be addressed first.
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First Responder Spectrum Allocation
Well, someone put together a film clip of various first responders saying that if they did not receive this spectrum allocation that they couldn't do their job and that children and old woman would die. Pure FUD.
Without going into a lot of detail, interoperability is a management problem, not a spectrum problem. What I suspect, no proof, was that this was being proposed by the communications industry to "force" public safety department to buy PROPRIETARY radio equipment.
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Ummm..... Schaitberger doesn't have a vote. And I doubt they hold a vote of 300,000 every time he sends a letter.
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It's unfortunate the movie industry has such a disproportionate share of organized labor (in comparison to other industries, like the consumer electronics/computer hardware/software/Internet industry which is almost completely unorganized) because that allows them to get blind solidarity from other unions who don't know anything about the issues but will follow their brothers and sisters in a lock-step knee-jerk fashion to the end of the world.
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Firemen and Free Speech
"It was a special pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed."
From Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, describing the feelings of those men whose job it was to burn books: Firemen.
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Obviously the firemen are for this law! Then can't wait for the day that it is their job to burn the offending books and other materials!
Seriously though, Dragging firefighters into this debate is kind of stupid. I can understand the argument that something needs to be done about fake safty products like smoke alarms. The problem is that this bill does so much damage and offers so little. Yes there will be some good that could come of this bill BUT the bad side effects are much much worse.
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One thing Ivy League Mike is consistently against: Labor.
First, questioning ability of firefighters at "understanding detailed concepts" clearly shows Mike's abiding contempt for working people. I've pointed it out in the recent Huffington Post pieces. It's a consistent trait. From doubting the "claims" of a barista at Starbucks, through jeering at Huffpost free bloggers for wanting to be paid after Huffington cashes in for $310M, to now sneering at one of our last bunches of respectable public servants.
Mike hammers his contempt, holding that firefighters are both stupid and corrupt:
"What are the chances that the International Association of Fire Fighters has received large checks from those associated with the movie business? ...firefighters have no clue what this debate is about? Otherwise, why would they be supporting censorship in America? Read the letter below, and wager a guess how much was actually written by a firefighter, rather than a lobbyist for Hollywood?"
So, Mike, you try to peel off and dismiss firefighters, but a little actual information provided by AC about counterfeit smoke detectors fully explains a valid concern firefighters would have that'd bring them in. You're just making a wild baseless ad hom attack.
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An will it encourage a more distributed structure of the internet (e.g. competing DNS, like China was talking about at one stage)?
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Payment services such as?
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This bill may provide the catalyst needed to see more, larger services outside the US. I'm not prophesying, just wondering...
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WTG Mike - that's two notches down today!
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I hate it when I'm not thinging straight.
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The rationalization attempt here simply does not hold water. Support of a draconian bill because it may stop counterfeit goods is one thing - but to imply that lives will be saved is deceitful. For example, there will be authentically inferior smoke detectors out there and they will malfunction. Passing some poor excuse for legislation will not stop this inevitability from occurring.
Why not just come out and state what you want done in your proposed legislation? You want complete control of all media including but not limited to the internet. That was easy huh. I agree that it will be a hard sell and usually there is a sugar coating, but what you are using contains no sugar and was obtained from the rear end of a bovine.
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Ever noticed
Its weird, but there are vast numbers of people who WANT the government to hurt them just to give them something to moan about.
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Although, there goes 300 000+ jobs.
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Dangerous goods
While I can understand that the Firefighters' spokesman would advocate curtailing the flow of shoddy counterfeit equipment, those are physical goods that should be limited by other government agencies (port authorities, tariffs on substandard parts and so on). If people are stupid enough to buy cheap goods simply because the price is low then they deserve what they get. It would be fine for the Firefighters to advocate the creation of a list of illicit vendors' IP addresses and offer their block list to Adblock (and others). The key point is it being optional, not strong-armed such that it tramples freedom. We don't need to be reminded that the US is becoming a fascist police state.
There is a HUGE difference between stemming the tide of knock-off goods sold as proper retail items and SHARING digital copies. The rhetoric that jobs or sales are lost due to sharing has yet to be proven with cold hard numbers that can be verified and scrutinized.
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I'm an AC, and I agree with about 95% of what Mike says (including his opinions on e-parasite).
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