Just wait till they start imposing TOS takedown fees federally enforced via CFAA terms of service enforcement. No reason will be given and the fee is automatically deducted from your charge card. Another fee will be charged if you even question it let alone challenge the righteousness of it.
The improper access reasons sound implausible and if so might be example of Internet address spoofing. If its a controversial content issue it does sound boring.
The “its for the kids” idiocy is getting so bad that its hard to recommend kids to kids oriented or content filtered sites. Its always wrong to provide a slanted/kilted/skewed/censored world view. Its damaging to a young persons psych to the extent it seems permanent. Or at leas requiring some life watershed event putting most into deeper shock. As long as a kid is old enough to understand that Santa is not what was originally presented then... Its the real world or nothing.
If its DMCA then is it time that the take-down idea be subject to civil liability?
Just the concept of identifying and spying on the few means that we have monitoring for the all. One might argue that some are spied on more than others but if all of us are monitored then anyone will be spied on once a few magic words have been uttered/printed/blogged/forum.
And what are these evil magic words? How many times have I personally used explosive language and brutal dialogue to tear apart any bloody topic that terrorized some socially vulnerable group or class? What is context anyway and why does anyone get paid to make such examination?
Its stupid that most enforcement derived from such monitoring is not about terrorism or 911. Its a fact that the likely terrorists convicted is close to zero and even the ones charged usually have entrapment complications. The investigative techniques seem more akin to creating and enabling rather than identifying and neutralizing.
Its like a huge panic attack in that only after the fact are there a lot of red faced politicians and parties (all two of them) trying to justify the (galaxy sized) spending waste and constitutional trashing actions. Don't expect anyone to fess up to being a panic boy anytime soon. Politicians don't admit mistakes or emit contrition easily until after they are voted out.
Its more likely about enforcing puritanical religiously derived law regulating culture like drugs, sex, home concerts, sharing culture, fill in blank, etc. then hijacked by political convenience. Its kind of normal that political motivated legislation is sometimes created to affect persons not likely to vote for the current regime. Example; Nixon (likely a nutcase) and the drug wars was possibly a great way to neutralize an entire generation rallying against him.
A reaction center can be compared to using a nuclear force on the average citizen and as such normal people will be unavoidably burned with silly arrests and ridiculous charges of terrorism. Example; Like kids with soda bottles and dry ice, about as bad as an M80 firecracker. Having some friends in law enforcement have heard of a few life ruining charges brought up if only because of department rivalry.
Such is the miscarriage of justice touted as necessary evil by present administration(s)? To catch a crook you send out the police in patrol cars. Trashing the very values (freedom, privacy, happiness?) we build our culture on is no way to win the war for democracy.
There seems to be a lot of room to save money on the state and federal level. Reaction centers seem redundant and open for abuse to whatever imaginary cybermen invasion cooked up by legislators/politicians.
Its been shown several time over that the longer and more draconian monopolies are (be it copyright, patent, software patent or whatever type of monopoly government sanctioned (give me a break!) or otherwise) the slower technological growth is. Thus; productivity and innovation using new technologies WILL be slower and this is a cultural fact.
A problem this simple is solved by straightforward inspection using no math or logic greater than “if this is true then that is also true.” Its amazing how buzzwords and a culture of misinformation completely bypass critical review of the obvious.
Stick to simple analysis and personal/business/corporate life is so much more manageable and profitable.
We all use the works of others. Its called looking over someone else's shoulder. We all want to be “standing on the shoulders of giants”. Its a common social meem and since a lot of times it works its gonna happen. Its universal that we all want to learn something that will allow us to live smarter, better and more profitable. Its called innovation.
Its easy to understand that 17 years is to long and undeniable that life plus 70 is a culturally destructive plan. Culture at all levels. Personal, state, national and intentional.
Reactionary.
I so totally agree that the article was drivel. The NYT should be embarrassed. Special interest motivated? Who knows.
Protectionism is an insect infestation that eats away any nation's technological innovation and commercial growth.
Anyone can, if they try, that these guys did not in any way question the quality of the water with claims of 'dihydrogen monoxide' coming out of water faucets. (this is actually an old joke of which the upper staff at WTSP should feel bad at not recognizing)
One could also claim that it is good to question the quality of any source of food or water regardless of some silly government claim of fitness. Questioning government is good at every level. This would of course require common sense and that is extraordinary these days but its still a valid concept for any democracy.
This was what? An April Fool's joke presented on April fools day? LOL! Now watch some preposterously stupid prosecutor present this as coming from out of the blue and shocking. (I hope there are TV cameras in that courtroom)
Was it shocking to anyone? GOOD! Every radio and TV broadcast must be questioned and verified by other means hopefully at least 3 independent sources if only for basic human behavioral reasons that most stories are skewed if not totally bent by special interest groups or worse by government agencies protecting their own arses from whatever scandal/mistake/pogrom cover-up of the time(s).
It is up to the individual to do this hopefully easy research. To rely on any once source of info is to be spooked by the ghosts/fears of others repeatedly. It facilitates living a life of fear raised by others who may not have your best interests at heart.
Anyone can remember the Orson Wells's War of the Worlds alien invasion from Mars April 1st broadcast which panicked several towns and entertained thousands of others. Such a great lesson of group cultural awareness can rarely be obtained in the classroom. Hysteria is its own lesson and our cultural awareness levels up by experiencing such. Even trying to be harmless and fun some would panic anyway and that is the lesson/wisdom gained.
Questioning the gossip one hears over the backyard fence it good. Questioning the rumors heard from friends is good. Questioning ANY news overheard from radio, TV or Internet is good. Questioning anything ANY government says regardless of presentability or apparent fitness is GOOD and HEALTHY. Such self verification breeds a culture that loves facts not fiction.
Because just saying such a thing as “,felony to call in a false water quality issue," is ridiculous in the first place its another law that should be thrown out. On the face of it we criticize water quality all the time and worry about it to much calcium/lead/fluoride/volatiles/suspended-solids/rust/etc. harm us every day and sometimes we are wrong and other times right! Making such a law prohibits public debate about water quality matters of which are vitally important to both public health and understanding.
The DJ's from WTSP were basically questioning the validity of water being healthy or even necessary to human life is good and healthy but no way can be considered criminal. Even if they are not ultimately charged just the brouhaha raised brings to light much self critical insight.
So if it is considerd a felony or punishable offense by WTSP or its listeners... Shame on the involved parties. Pants on fire? Nose too long? Brain dysfunctional? Likely! Since the average listener seems likely to kick someone rather than laugh one might reconsider any property values in the area.
Government openness should be demanded at every opportunity. All attempts to meet in private by public representatives should be rebuffed even for high medium to high level security meetings. There may be such a thing as national security but it if affects the everyday private activities of normal people its too much to bear.
Privacy is such a huge issue as it touches every single American life. Since it affects the individual more than companies and their desires to both collect their own data and also not get caught up in government spy wangling it's not surprising they might support it blindly. Firms also look to charge the government for such data in the same way telcos do for cell phone data.
Its a valid money trail for public awareness of profit incentives for selling them out. The figurative rats are out there and they bite.
Other reasons to support it might be nudging from industry special interest groups or subtle political threats from government about viability to future contracts. Many ways to force/coerce/entice the ambiguous firm. (stretching plausibility but its happened before.)
Shameless plug;
Please donate cash to EFF or the few senators in whatever states that fight for your privacy. Its the only way because physical protest has been basically been removed from the American option.
Its hard to think of anything less copyrightable than news. Gossip, grape-vine talk, heard it from a friend, over the fence backyard chat and other cultural ways to share information particularly news plus our opinions about it. All of this is foundation culture in the way we like to talk about the weather.
Its nice to have automation to deal with crunching data from diverse sources combining that into readable reports but this also allows the user to do the same or more analysis given the same data. In this case the data would be more important than the article itself.
Many times have I wanted to create own stock market value vs. points in economic history that I thought were pivotal complete with interest rate co analysis and other real time based reports/values plotted along side and the ability to update it as new data arrives. How about prison population vs. GDP economic drain on society or maybe crop production vs. global avg temp. you get the idea.
Not many of our personal analysis would be perfect but at least we were looking/checking on our own. It might be nice not having to believe some pencil-neck pinhead hired by a special interest group to grind an axe.
In the US data in not patentable or copyrightable but a published printout can be even though the facts in it cannot. So. We have the start of the data wars.
To keep one computer from taking/using the data from another the first algorithm would not give the data but some multiplier of two data values for some new industry value not rated or known to the general public. It gives new meaning to the term data processing. Such wold prevent the average person from making an original analysis.
Its already a common technique when the market has learned to measure the value of a product by standard industry values. Then through special interest industry groups doing market research find some new way to measure the product that makes smaller units seem larger thus willing to pay more. (Diagonal TV measurement instead of X and Y values, VA multiplier for UPS computer power supplies instead of watts etc.)
As if what is heard on popular media news sites is not suspect enough how would knowing that it was manipulated by robots be any better? At least with news anchors we could blame a person but how can one fault an algorithm? Have started to mistrust any article/research/experiment/causation/idea that does not provide original data sources.
The rabbit hole does seem stellar in size and gravity well depth. lol
To drive home the point it looks like business as usual for Prendaa unless this is the rope slacked off just to see what they are up to. (harder to press charges for alleged crimes than for evidence based prosecution) Pleading the 5th possibly gives them more time to supposedly run with the rope and squeeze the market for all its worth. As long as the rope is tied to a stake and finite in length it might be educational.
To be honest am surprised at how this Prendaa group copyright legal battle field vs. society/culture keeps getting larger and messier with respect of tentative new data. With the legal weapons getting larger and dirtier ate each round and each time examined under new light.
Keeping in mind that these guys are probably not the brightest bulb in the legal lantern (depending on opinion) the question stands; where one would learn of such apparent deviltry. What comedic local Jr. College evil genius course is offered to get ahead by legal shenanigans.
Silly things like multiple shell firms 101 (remember the shell game?) Finding compliant first prosecution clients/victims to set favorable precedent? (a 504 level grad course) Locating new personnel out of thing air? (202a undergrad level with paperwork examples for the sleepy heads in class) Stonewalling (406 senior level) district judges? Civil suits to everyone (and their blogs and legal research sites) for liable/slander just to get more detailed info on the defendants? (ya gotta appreciate the PhD level gall on that one!)
Closing out cases 306 for damage control? Possible honey pot seeding for the very items they are prosecuting for? (dark legal arts 604) Sending out thousands of intimidating demands for early settlements from vulnerable social groups? (dark legal arts 601) Taking advantage of culture and new technology to exploit the exploitable? (questionable legal philosophy 203) Just guessing/opinion on all this it all seems ridiculous and it never seems to end.
Carrying on business amid any of that needs a steel heart and stone for blood. Any public prosecutor worth the voters salt would slather and bug eyes out at the opportunity to prosecute. Such activities, if true and provable, would be hated by both sides of the bench and any citizenry (who actually cared about the arcane details of copyright law) alike.
Alright! The judges chambers have been empty for a while now. The staff is off for the afternoon. Some decision is expected, whats it gonna be? The accusations/evidence were written on note-it papers and pinned up on the dart board with a few shiny new darts have been delivered directly to your desk and the present evidence leads your aim to...
“NOTE: We would caution you to NOT contact attorney Adam Urbanzcyk who is representing the “lead defendant” Christopher Hubbard in this case. Due to potential collusion with the plaintiff, it may be that Mr. Urbanzcyk and his client Christopher Hubbard could be adverse to you.”
What does this mean except some sort of trickery (possibly fraud?) or misdirection to get evidence by pretending to be a sympathetic. Would a 'lead defendant' be used as some sort of planned precedence for further legal arguments? Wth? Sounds like collusion with the Prendaa group to get outrageous agreements from the courts that apply to other cases filed at same court. (Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Illinois.)
Even if the attorney was legitimate and in good standing would not the action of placing such an ad or information in likely places be considered corrupt? Its got to be worse than ambulance chasing doesn't it?
Just how much do these people have to hide and so far as can tell the rabbit hole is huge, deep and dark.
I'm in love. Judge Wright is awesome by taking none of the usual from Prendaa and assoc. Few times has a judicial event produced such a swift no nonsense response. Am mildly surprised that all of them showed up in a rare case of common sense from these dudes. Showing up was the best thing they have done since I can remember. More shocked am I of their silence. Compared to their usual loud and litigious responses its unprecedented.
This was the official opening and return shots of likely fraud allegations in the near future of which the legal trenches of criminal accusations/consequences and civil damages/awards are measured against ruin and risk. (From either perspective win or lose.) Its only a first step of the long legal road.
Opening round; “What do you say to these allegations of (only paperwork?) fraud?
Return fire; “No comment.”
It seems the Prendaa group still wants to keep its cards hidden. Are they aces, duces or maybe even a joker? The bets are still on the table and now for a round of raises. (all side bets are paid off)
A responding salvo has yet to be launched. Odds are still hard to measure. A rabbit hole is almost certain to exist but how deep?
As expected all of this was totally unexpected. Complete surprise and no disappointed whatsoever as tensions still rise and higher expectations replace the old.
One thing for sure is an unlikely thwarted judge siting in his chambers with a whole day to think about it... Since this was already a second chance event its at least possible that another hearing will be joined (somewhere) after some thorough investigation. Technically the court is waiting for a brief promised from Rosing to explain “where” the money goes (from settlements).
This is kind of telling in that the judge may be looking for some measure the base fines on and where (as it seems all the shell firms are Prendaa firms) they might be levied. (just guessing) Not to late for a SWAT raid. (is a joke, hard to wish that on anyone.) However a search warrant would not be out of bounds.
Now begins positioning for the next battle for justice. When, where and with what tools are good questions. The possible criminal trials for fraud are a good start but a few separate civil actions against them might prove more reveling. For that there would have to be disgruntled victims with valid complaints.
Its still my best observation that any lawsuit or harassment seemingly legal or otherwise that targets a vulnerable social group (in this case pornographic aficionados) is discrimination. Shaming anyone with the threat of religious puritanical legal stone throwing has got to be a sin even amongst themselves. (Defined on a flattened/equalized moral scale.) Did they target or turn down other legal actions in favor of porn chasing as this would show an internal bias.
The honey pot thing is just jelly on the bread. Are there any eye witnesses to them bragging? This is a real possibility since they have been quite loud mouthed until today.
What is kind of nice is the somewhat interest of the general media although its unfortunate that it takes abuses such as this story to make obscure copyright law news. Blind hope desires real copyright re-legislation.
No way could anyone consider on-line cruising to be as effective as actual patrolling. One might be critical in that way and be right in every claim. Its a fact that violence, murder, armed bank robberies, domestic violence and etc, etc. are much worse than any Internet scam, porn weirdness or whatever Cybermen invasion is suspected by the higher-ups.
However its not obvious about how police and other enforcement agencies are funded and that is by grants, projects and other financing tools derived from larger agencies to push congressionally supported initiatives deemed important. A lot of these are straight from special interest group suggestions but thats common knowledge already.
Why are the police trying to break up what is obviously a social cultural event. What is really going on here anyway. Parties at private residences has got to be listed as a right somewhere? (no? Well it should be!) Something like “freedom of life, liberty, justice and to party like hell if you want” would be appropriate.
Is the freedom to assemble in that much jeopardy that we cannot even throw a party at our own house and get our friends to play music? This has got to be more than performance rights enforcement even if they were using that as an excuse. To the extent that the police were trying to lie and infiltrate it sounds like the punkers were considered (Cybermen. haha) terrorists. -pukes in disgust-
There are a lot of unanswered questions about this kind of behavior. Any answers might not be pretty. The only threat this group might represent is political so why the high level action?
Several times have I verbally criticized local government about the apparent waste of spending grants that basically increased operating costs forever by starting programs and making promises that were likely nuts. Since the only thing that was seemingly important to them were the number of employees on the payroll all my economic and financial wisdom was wasted. Tax increase referendums have been presented at every election for several years now. Not surprised, just depressed.
To address this problem it would be necessary to conquer the constitutional misguidedness of the branch of congress, executive branch and resulting judicial enforcement of the 49 million filler pages put out by special interest infested legislation.
A big task but please start by donating to the EFF or some such un-hijacked (yet?) group with clear intent. A few Representatives and Senators have shown some promise and even if they are not from your state please consider donating anyway.
Have definitely not forgotten to go shopping today for the big pre discovery event tomorrow. Salsa and corn chips are the favorite besides a ton of half priced candy.
Disappointment is not expected. Expect to be impressed by the preposterous legal wanking, technically not technical almost lies and literal shanking of the truth with never once actually breaking the law to the extent that rage and delight will be experienced several times upon reading of the event and commenting thereafter.
What happens tomorrow depends much on who does and does not show up and the rational given for that. A lot of us might imagine immediate lighting and thunder thrown at the Prendaa group and or associates but that would only happen if they clearly defied orders to appear and explain very specific questions about the apparently funny paperwork and maybe who did and who did not sign them.
Since most of the involved have already defied an order to show up there is already enough rope to yank if the judge sees fit.
Its kind of obvious that Prendaa has already ticked off Judge Wright who was probably not happy to wade through the considerable obfuscation/weaseling already spewed out. I expect some sharp questions about such.
If the past is a portent of the future and the similar excuses like declarations of non jurisdiction, claims of its somebody else's problem, hardship whining about having to show up, fascinating theories of how the apparent paperwork snafus don't matter, etc.
My fave moment might possibly be when/if Peter (of 6 8 8 1 Forensics ?) takes the stand. Some brouhaha has been raised about seeding a possible honey pot and it seems likely that the rest of the Prendaa bunch does not have the technical wherewithal to do any such thing. -crosses fingers- (just making a wild guess.) Some careful groundwork might be laid for further questioning about this important matter.
What does seem to be clear is that Prendaa and associates do not want to show up with media present and may not even under great threat. A relatively private hearing in a day or so even if it cost a few grand in fines may be a possible strategy.
special-interesting (profile), 31 Mar 2013 @ 9:38pm
Oops. Almost forgot the punch line. (always trying to parse a few paragraphs from wordy posts)
To me its hilarious that corporate management actions can be almost always described using basal human behavior sometimes better described with barnyard metaphors. Animals and feeding troughs complete with pecking orders and cock fights to determine them.
Going further with the imaginary relation. Who are the farmers? Government? Would the customers represent the weather? Lots of metaphorical fun.
Btw. Thanks for the challenge. Always turns up more stuff to discuss.
special-interesting (profile), 31 Mar 2013 @ 8:48pm
No real argument to the categorization of delusion under incompetence. Other than the issues involved however real the possibility. (Which are always fun to turn over and see what lies beneath.) Its humor.
Its common that most think I am serious all the time (and am sometimes so its not easy to tell) but usually am just making fun of bad times and or ridiculous circumstances. (if ya cant cry then laugh principle) The EA story would definitely be ridiculous circumstances.
Think about it. In the same way the the Prendaa gang spoke doublespeak and used misdirection to try and cover their tracks (of whatever is going on, who knows) the EA guys are riding a similar horse down a similar road doing the unknown. Each trying to misdirect about something many educated people would take as obvious using monetary gain as motivation.
Point; What other areas of their business have been glossed over in the same way? Is this any way to run a respectable business? When people behave in ways that could be construed as funny... what else is a problem? What else is hidden when even the apparently obvious (DRM) seems obfuscated.
Makes one wonder... Gave some possible intent of the schism but who knows really.
special-interesting (profile), 31 Mar 2013 @ 1:07pm
Would like to propose a #3 option for EA's rational for not being officially aware; Corporate Delusion. (clueless-ness) Regardless of competence many firms fall for group delusions based on corporate culture.
The president of EA is likely either clueless, incompetent or completely complicit in the DRM cover-up/doublespeak/PC.
Yes Mr president of EA you can go through 100 or more staff meetings and never hear the word/phrase “DRM” especially if you don't want to! Your staff will edit it our all by themselves just being the natural office animals they can be. All basic (office behavioral) human nature with no surprises and it happens all the time.
Dictatorial corporate culture can be called many things. Call it boot-licking, brown nosing, sucking up, yes-persons, minions or whatever junior/senior assistants its just normal. Your staff will create a world where you see only what you want. But that is ALL you will see. Since reality may not have been a requirement of them it will be an illusion fabricated especially and uniquely for the commander in chief. (This basic human principle works at all levels of command be it corporate or governmental.)
No problem yet.
The problem here is when such a corporate illusion (feigned or real) is attempted over the consumers eyes. Many people (not all, by the sales numbers, thats for sure) won't buy EA products because in their opinion what EA uses is the very definition of DRM. Call it whatever but it still seems like DRM and DRM it is by definition of its control. Just by saying that there is no DRM sounds dysfunctional at the least and like lying at the worst.
Personally its a wonder that so many people tolerate this apparent abuse. Are they so susceptible to the whines of their kids? Are there kids so misinformed about privacy issues and or the economic loss derived from DRM'd loaned programs that they don't care either? Kids need to care also.
One can see what might be the result of this. Its possible that to preserve your precious city from the ravages of an earthquake they might have to pay $22 bucks for outside emergency services. What about selling a city wide insurance policy for 5/month? Etcetera, etc, etc.
Is easy to see some motives here and just maintaining your kids fantastically created towns might cost 200/year each and thats not including the cost for special buildings. (Mom! I just HAVE to have the bubbly fountain in front of my grand palace. Mooooommmm! -jumps up and down-)
Whatever the rational for EA and there may be benefits to being on-line but there are those who just want to play in their own sandbox and enjoy that. By forcing the issue they remove a large segment of the market in favor of corralling the ignorant into a likely economic trap.
There are economic, property rights and privacy issues beyond the obvious. What does seem obvious is the EA/Maxis does not seem to be giving their “all” to produce a consumer oriented great game.
special-interesting (profile), 30 Mar 2013 @ 7:39am
Why is UPS even involved in this anyway? Talk about Secondary Liability its hard to even write a good essay on the topic and still mention UPS's specific involvement of which has to be zero. Lets see now... the (people buying drugs internationally) problems are... Congress. The related (domestic prices of drugs are ridiculous) problems are... Congress. The tertiary adjunct (UPS ships internationally) problems are... unrelated!
Since UPS's involvement is zero their liability should be zero. What we need is a section 230 clause for shipping. (and allowing of re-shipping too for anonymity. Who would want their viagra usage frequency know to anybody especially the government?)
The connection to guilt is also presumption. Who know what is in a package until its opened? Is the cat alive or dead? A suspicious address... which one?
To draw any relation one has to sacrifice privacy and personal property purchasing rights. The ability to buy what you want, at the price you want to pay and from whom you want is at steak.
Its probably a hard choice for UPS to pay up on such weak claims, because its easier and less publicly controversial, but it encourages others to emulate it.
big pharma was worth a three page rant -save for later-
special-interesting (profile), 29 Mar 2013 @ 5:48pm
The great majority of high school graduates know of the supreme court and possibly hold it in high esteem because of the wonderful human hope that most Americans have for the constitution. Yes that great shining document officially defended by the Justice Branch and except for those who actually paid attention in history class (and had a good teacher) the rating might be high indeed.
However since the survey was given to adults (some age range would be more informative) we have to factor in personal experience.
Its not that many don't know or once knew of their (Supreme Courts) existence its the likely fact we don't want to remember. Its common for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) to edit memory. Why? All the bad decisions that have eroded privacy and personal property rights can make anyone cry. Every once and a while something good exits the Supreme Court but don't wait for it.
One of my more recent quotes “actually (yeah right anytime soon now. Hahaha) expect the courts to toss out about 49 million (of the) filler pages congress likes to pass so much.” kind of sums it up. It amazes me that throwing out legislation shouldn't be the default value. Hope is still there but faint.
So are they really corporation appointees or when are they actually going to start working like they have read the constitution? Kind of harsh criticism when applied to the (any of the state Supreme Courts also) Supreme Court(s). Does that sound negative? Capitalizing the words seem unnecessary.
When was the last time an entire act/bill/record was thrown out as garbage by the court system? When was the last time a government official or complicit private firm was punished by the courts for violation privacy or personal property rights? Considering the wild claims about the PATRIOT act and how even that did not encompass the suspected phone/Internet privacy violations... speechless.
And what about that little detail that electronic communications both analog and digital don't seem to be covered under the term privacy but only by other wire transfer laws?
Its possible that the courts find it an honor to decide the fate of loosely worded law and not choke on the fact much of it is not concise and specifically worded in solid legalese. (just a possible rationalization on why loosely written law is accepted at that level as pride is always a factor.) The rest (of the 49 million filler pages) is likely just wrong and makes a mockery of the claim 'ignorance is no excuse'.
Supreme Court? Never herd of them. (But probably should have?)
special-interesting (profile), 29 Mar 2013 @ 4:22pm
Hooray for the East Texas district court they got one right so far! (appeals still to come.)
Don't want to be cynical but are they under some federal review or something as this seems very not like them. Don't get me wrong am proud of them for any reason a decent court opinion (IMHO) appears.
special-interesting (profile), 29 Mar 2013 @ 4:16pm
What I would propose is a combination of public and private key encryption.
Public key encryption is nice and fairly private keeing in mind the rapid advances in computer technology makes even 512 bit encryption weak these days for a concerted effort. 2048 bit wold be nice for now. The problem is that almost all the prime number combinations have been already calculated demanding elliptic and other formulas (possibly something fractal in future) to hide keys.
So we have private key encryption of unlimited bits. When you meet someone and share cell phone numbers a bit of very short range local wifi (infrared or direct connect by touch?) could share a large key for personal private encoded talking. It would be changed every time you met in person if one was worried about it.
There are some legal technicalities of international calls but expect then not to interfere between personal friends.
special-interesting (profile), 29 Mar 2013 @ 4:09pm
Anonymity has always been a basis for constitutional law. Bitcoin violates nothing in the constitution except maybe a few of the 50 million poorly worded congressional filler pages sponsored by special interest groups. Compare that with the 50 or so pages of personal criticism about such ridiculousness posted here on TD... -feel suffocated- Which brings up monetary policy?
As inflation is imposed the value of cash diminishes (while commodities go up) what was once large sums 10k or a million bucks 100 years ago is nothing today in comparison. Other creeping laws of restrictive legislation chips away at the value and stability of personal property. Its like we don't even own our land, house or bank accounts anymore let alone spend (it) or move privately.
Its so bad that if your deposit $500 cash in a bank account and try to forget about it... (the best way to save!) it gets confiscated (various states with varying time lengths some as short as one year) by the state and a fee is charged to get it back. (if you remember it) It used to be a legend that a bank would call you up with a long lost deposit gaining compound interest but that is now impossible.
Have to be honest... don't care what the FED or US whines about and actually (yeah right anytime soon now. Hahaha) expect the courts to toss out about 49 million filler pages congress likes to pass so much. (figurative foot in congressional rear.) Have been tired of trying to sort out the doublespeak and statistical whatever long ago.
Since personal privacy has become an issue does it matter what money laundering charges have been levied by congress, white house, JDept or anyone? In reality it does very much but many times public sanity simply catches up. Since I don't believe in the validity or rational of the drug laws/war (another huge drain on economy/society) its an irrelevant subject. IMHO
Bitcoin is a fascinating development completely undefined by current law. Internationally based decentralized virtual spending accounts that does not use any currency at all? Some interesting questions as to how it is valued between each countries currency values without some base standard?
Since the stability of the rapidly inflationary adjusted dollar has long been in question it would be nice to find some island of value/transaction stability. Questions on how Bitcoin handles inflationary crisis need to be answered as these obvious economic traps need to be maneuvered around. What happens to forgotten accounts and family inheritance matters?
special-interesting (profile), 29 Mar 2013 @ 12:36am
Taxi AND Limo trade group? In big cities these two are mortal enemies of each other both in economic warfare and supposed social status. Its almost impossible to conceive these competing groups to agree on anything. Laughable.
Its fascinating that an individual cab or limo might actually bypass a central dispatch altogether empowering a whole new level of middlemen removal. This brings to mind the obvious question who the lobbying firm represents the dispatch/firms or the drivers? Looks like the drivers loose. (again?)
Haven't examined the individual rules for each of those apps but suspect a diverse approach from dispatch fee based to fuel charge only carpooling. (all should be the option of the user)
As for taxi regulation 95% is basically for squeezing more revenue from them at the expense of drivers. Both (big city) Limo and Taxi firms are legendary for getting drivers to work 18/hr days min for decent, family supporting wage, earnings. The 5% of safety is mostly just talk no action. Same for Limo drivers as its basically a city fee charged at the airport for admission to the limo lot. (all cities are unique in their fee and tax structure)
Since GPS tracking on smart-phones is normal it would be hard for driver cheating. Also the same for many safety issues so the reasons for government regulation has (almost) vanished. (total agreement) this would especially be true if the phone app actually kept track of the route and fare as part of the service or at least helped (to respect personal privacy) to record it and or at least compare actual mileage/km rates.
Liability is dependent on the hard to encompass concept of “negligence”. Might be nice for some passenger safety rules/etiquette like taking a picture of the driver (like many large city cabs are required to do of the passenger) and sending it to a friend or home.
A red light warning given to the “Taxi, Limousine & Paratransit Association” and related proposed legislation!
On the post: YouTube Takes Down Music Video For 'Terms Of Service' Violation; Refuses To Explain Or Put Back
The improper access reasons sound implausible and if so might be example of Internet address spoofing. If its a controversial content issue it does sound boring.
The “its for the kids” idiocy is getting so bad that its hard to recommend kids to kids oriented or content filtered sites. Its always wrong to provide a slanted/kilted/skewed/censored world view. Its damaging to a young persons psych to the extent it seems permanent. Or at leas requiring some life watershed event putting most into deeper shock. As long as a kid is old enough to understand that Santa is not what was originally presented then... Its the real world or nothing.
If its DMCA then is it time that the take-down idea be subject to civil liability?
On the post: Homeland Security 'Fusion' Center Director: We're Not Spying On Americans... Just Anti-Government Americans
And what are these evil magic words? How many times have I personally used explosive language and brutal dialogue to tear apart any bloody topic that terrorized some socially vulnerable group or class? What is context anyway and why does anyone get paid to make such examination?
Its stupid that most enforcement derived from such monitoring is not about terrorism or 911. Its a fact that the likely terrorists convicted is close to zero and even the ones charged usually have entrapment complications. The investigative techniques seem more akin to creating and enabling rather than identifying and neutralizing.
Its like a huge panic attack in that only after the fact are there a lot of red faced politicians and parties (all two of them) trying to justify the (galaxy sized) spending waste and constitutional trashing actions. Don't expect anyone to fess up to being a panic boy anytime soon. Politicians don't admit mistakes or emit contrition easily until after they are voted out.
Its more likely about enforcing puritanical religiously derived law regulating culture like drugs, sex, home concerts, sharing culture, fill in blank, etc. then hijacked by political convenience. Its kind of normal that political motivated legislation is sometimes created to affect persons not likely to vote for the current regime. Example; Nixon (likely a nutcase) and the drug wars was possibly a great way to neutralize an entire generation rallying against him.
A reaction center can be compared to using a nuclear force on the average citizen and as such normal people will be unavoidably burned with silly arrests and ridiculous charges of terrorism. Example; Like kids with soda bottles and dry ice, about as bad as an M80 firecracker. Having some friends in law enforcement have heard of a few life ruining charges brought up if only because of department rivalry.
Such is the miscarriage of justice touted as necessary evil by present administration(s)? To catch a crook you send out the police in patrol cars. Trashing the very values (freedom, privacy, happiness?) we build our culture on is no way to win the war for democracy.
There seems to be a lot of room to save money on the state and federal level. Reaction centers seem redundant and open for abuse to whatever imaginary cybermen invasion cooked up by legislators/politicians.
On the post: Author Claims That If Apple And Microsoft Started Today They'd Fail Without Stronger Patent Protection
A problem this simple is solved by straightforward inspection using no math or logic greater than “if this is true then that is also true.” Its amazing how buzzwords and a culture of misinformation completely bypass critical review of the obvious.
Stick to simple analysis and personal/business/corporate life is so much more manageable and profitable.
We all use the works of others. Its called looking over someone else's shoulder. We all want to be “standing on the shoulders of giants”. Its a common social meem and since a lot of times it works its gonna happen. Its universal that we all want to learn something that will allow us to live smarter, better and more profitable. Its called innovation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_on_the_shoulders_of_giants
Its easy to understand that 17 years is to long and undeniable that life plus 70 is a culturally destructive plan. Culture at all levels. Personal, state, national and intentional.
Reactionary.
I so totally agree that the article was drivel. The NYT should be embarrassed. Special interest motivated? Who knows.
Protectionism is an insect infestation that eats away any nation's technological innovation and commercial growth.
On the post: DJs' 'Dihydrogen Monoxide' April Fool's Prank Results In Suspension And Possible Felony Charges
One could also claim that it is good to question the quality of any source of food or water regardless of some silly government claim of fitness. Questioning government is good at every level. This would of course require common sense and that is extraordinary these days but its still a valid concept for any democracy.
This was what? An April Fool's joke presented on April fools day? LOL! Now watch some preposterously stupid prosecutor present this as coming from out of the blue and shocking. (I hope there are TV cameras in that courtroom)
Was it shocking to anyone? GOOD! Every radio and TV broadcast must be questioned and verified by other means hopefully at least 3 independent sources if only for basic human behavioral reasons that most stories are skewed if not totally bent by special interest groups or worse by government agencies protecting their own arses from whatever scandal/mistake/pogrom cover-up of the time(s).
It is up to the individual to do this hopefully easy research. To rely on any once source of info is to be spooked by the ghosts/fears of others repeatedly. It facilitates living a life of fear raised by others who may not have your best interests at heart.
Anyone can remember the Orson Wells's War of the Worlds alien invasion from Mars April 1st broadcast which panicked several towns and entertained thousands of others. Such a great lesson of group cultural awareness can rarely be obtained in the classroom. Hysteria is its own lesson and our cultural awareness levels up by experiencing such. Even trying to be harmless and fun some would panic anyway and that is the lesson/wisdom gained.
Questioning the gossip one hears over the backyard fence it good. Questioning the rumors heard from friends is good. Questioning ANY news overheard from radio, TV or Internet is good. Questioning anything ANY government says regardless of presentability or apparent fitness is GOOD and HEALTHY. Such self verification breeds a culture that loves facts not fiction.
Because just saying such a thing as “,felony to call in a false water quality issue," is ridiculous in the first place its another law that should be thrown out. On the face of it we criticize water quality all the time and worry about it to much calcium/lead/fluoride/volatiles/suspended-solids/rust/etc. harm us every day and sometimes we are wrong and other times right! Making such a law prohibits public debate about water quality matters of which are vitally important to both public health and understanding.
The DJ's from WTSP were basically questioning the validity of water being healthy or even necessary to human life is good and healthy but no way can be considered criminal. Even if they are not ultimately charged just the brouhaha raised brings to light much self critical insight.
So if it is considerd a felony or punishable offense by WTSP or its listeners... Shame on the involved parties. Pants on fire? Nose too long? Brain dysfunctional? Likely! Since the average listener seems likely to kick someone rather than laugh one might reconsider any property values in the area.
On the post: Congress Planning To Debate CISPA Behind Closed Doors; No Public Scrutiny Allowed
Privacy is such a huge issue as it touches every single American life. Since it affects the individual more than companies and their desires to both collect their own data and also not get caught up in government spy wangling it's not surprising they might support it blindly. Firms also look to charge the government for such data in the same way telcos do for cell phone data.
Its a valid money trail for public awareness of profit incentives for selling them out. The figurative rats are out there and they bite.
Other reasons to support it might be nudging from industry special interest groups or subtle political threats from government about viability to future contracts. Many ways to force/coerce/entice the ambiguous firm. (stretching plausibility but its happened before.)
Shameless plug;
Please donate cash to EFF or the few senators in whatever states that fight for your privacy. Its the only way because physical protest has been basically been removed from the American option.
On the post: Programming The News: The Future Of Reporting Is Algorithms
Its nice to have automation to deal with crunching data from diverse sources combining that into readable reports but this also allows the user to do the same or more analysis given the same data. In this case the data would be more important than the article itself.
Many times have I wanted to create own stock market value vs. points in economic history that I thought were pivotal complete with interest rate co analysis and other real time based reports/values plotted along side and the ability to update it as new data arrives. How about prison population vs. GDP economic drain on society or maybe crop production vs. global avg temp. you get the idea.
Not many of our personal analysis would be perfect but at least we were looking/checking on our own. It might be nice not having to believe some pencil-neck pinhead hired by a special interest group to grind an axe.
In the US data in not patentable or copyrightable but a published printout can be even though the facts in it cannot. So. We have the start of the data wars.
To keep one computer from taking/using the data from another the first algorithm would not give the data but some multiplier of two data values for some new industry value not rated or known to the general public. It gives new meaning to the term data processing. Such wold prevent the average person from making an original analysis.
Its already a common technique when the market has learned to measure the value of a product by standard industry values. Then through special interest industry groups doing market research find some new way to measure the product that makes smaller units seem larger thus willing to pay more. (Diagonal TV measurement instead of X and Y values, VA multiplier for UPS computer power supplies instead of watts etc.)
As if what is heard on popular media news sites is not suspect enough how would knowing that it was manipulated by robots be any better? At least with news anchors we could blame a person but how can one fault an algorithm? Have started to mistrust any article/research/experiment/causation/idea that does not provide original data sources.
On the post: Deep Dive: Prenda Law Is Dead
To drive home the point it looks like business as usual for Prendaa unless this is the rope slacked off just to see what they are up to. (harder to press charges for alleged crimes than for evidence based prosecution) Pleading the 5th possibly gives them more time to supposedly run with the rope and squeeze the market for all its worth. As long as the rope is tied to a stake and finite in length it might be educational.
To be honest am surprised at how this Prendaa group copyright legal battle field vs. society/culture keeps getting larger and messier with respect of tentative new data. With the legal weapons getting larger and dirtier ate each round and each time examined under new light.
Keeping in mind that these guys are probably not the brightest bulb in the legal lantern (depending on opinion) the question stands; where one would learn of such apparent deviltry. What comedic local Jr. College evil genius course is offered to get ahead by legal shenanigans.
Silly things like multiple shell firms 101 (remember the shell game?) Finding compliant first prosecution clients/victims to set favorable precedent? (a 504 level grad course) Locating new personnel out of thing air? (202a undergrad level with paperwork examples for the sleepy heads in class) Stonewalling (406 senior level) district judges? Civil suits to everyone (and their blogs and legal research sites) for liable/slander just to get more detailed info on the defendants? (ya gotta appreciate the PhD level gall on that one!)
Closing out cases 306 for damage control? Possible honey pot seeding for the very items they are prosecuting for? (dark legal arts 604) Sending out thousands of intimidating demands for early settlements from vulnerable social groups? (dark legal arts 601) Taking advantage of culture and new technology to exploit the exploitable? (questionable legal philosophy 203) Just guessing/opinion on all this it all seems ridiculous and it never seems to end.
Carrying on business amid any of that needs a steel heart and stone for blood. Any public prosecutor worth the voters salt would slather and bug eyes out at the opportunity to prosecute. Such activities, if true and provable, would be hated by both sides of the bench and any citizenry (who actually cared about the arcane details of copyright law) alike.
Alright! The judges chambers have been empty for a while now. The staff is off for the afternoon. Some decision is expected, whats it gonna be? The accusations/evidence were written on note-it papers and pinned up on the dart board with a few shiny new darts have been delivered directly to your desk and the present evidence leads your aim to...
On the post: Deep Dive: Prenda Law Is Dead
Have been reading up on the case at dietrolldie.com and this sentence has been repeated several times.
http://dietrolldie.com/2013/04/02/red-alert-repost-lw-systems-v-christopher-hubbard-st-clair-cou nty-illinois-13-l-0015/
“NOTE: We would caution you to NOT contact attorney Adam Urbanzcyk who is representing the “lead defendant” Christopher Hubbard in this case. Due to potential collusion with the plaintiff, it may be that Mr. Urbanzcyk and his client Christopher Hubbard could be adverse to you.”
What does this mean except some sort of trickery (possibly fraud?) or misdirection to get evidence by pretending to be a sympathetic. Would a 'lead defendant' be used as some sort of planned precedence for further legal arguments? Wth? Sounds like collusion with the Prendaa group to get outrageous agreements from the courts that apply to other cases filed at same court. (Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Illinois.)
Even if the attorney was legitimate and in good standing would not the action of placing such an ad or information in likely places be considered corrupt? Its got to be worse than ambulance chasing doesn't it?
Just how much do these people have to hide and so far as can tell the rabbit hole is huge, deep and dark.
On the post: Deep Dive: Prenda Law Is Dead
This was the official opening and return shots of likely fraud allegations in the near future of which the legal trenches of criminal accusations/consequences and civil damages/awards are measured against ruin and risk. (From either perspective win or lose.) Its only a first step of the long legal road.
Opening round; “What do you say to these allegations of (only paperwork?) fraud?
Return fire; “No comment.”
It seems the Prendaa group still wants to keep its cards hidden. Are they aces, duces or maybe even a joker? The bets are still on the table and now for a round of raises. (all side bets are paid off)
A responding salvo has yet to be launched. Odds are still hard to measure. A rabbit hole is almost certain to exist but how deep?
As expected all of this was totally unexpected. Complete surprise and no disappointed whatsoever as tensions still rise and higher expectations replace the old.
One thing for sure is an unlikely thwarted judge siting in his chambers with a whole day to think about it... Since this was already a second chance event its at least possible that another hearing will be joined (somewhere) after some thorough investigation. Technically the court is waiting for a brief promised from Rosing to explain “where” the money goes (from settlements).
This is kind of telling in that the judge may be looking for some measure the base fines on and where (as it seems all the shell firms are Prendaa firms) they might be levied. (just guessing) Not to late for a SWAT raid. (is a joke, hard to wish that on anyone.) However a search warrant would not be out of bounds.
Now begins positioning for the next battle for justice. When, where and with what tools are good questions. The possible criminal trials for fraud are a good start but a few separate civil actions against them might prove more reveling. For that there would have to be disgruntled victims with valid complaints.
Its still my best observation that any lawsuit or harassment seemingly legal or otherwise that targets a vulnerable social group (in this case pornographic aficionados) is discrimination. Shaming anyone with the threat of religious puritanical legal stone throwing has got to be a sin even amongst themselves. (Defined on a flattened/equalized moral scale.) Did they target or turn down other legal actions in favor of porn chasing as this would show an internal bias.
The honey pot thing is just jelly on the bread. Are there any eye witnesses to them bragging? This is a real possibility since they have been quite loud mouthed until today.
What is kind of nice is the somewhat interest of the general media although its unfortunate that it takes abuses such as this story to make obscure copyright law news. Blind hope desires real copyright re-legislation.
On the post: Boston Police Are Catfishing Locals To Bust Punk Rock Shows
However its not obvious about how police and other enforcement agencies are funded and that is by grants, projects and other financing tools derived from larger agencies to push congressionally supported initiatives deemed important. A lot of these are straight from special interest group suggestions but thats common knowledge already.
Why are the police trying to break up what is obviously a social cultural event. What is really going on here anyway. Parties at private residences has got to be listed as a right somewhere? (no? Well it should be!) Something like “freedom of life, liberty, justice and to party like hell if you want” would be appropriate.
Is the freedom to assemble in that much jeopardy that we cannot even throw a party at our own house and get our friends to play music? This has got to be more than performance rights enforcement even if they were using that as an excuse. To the extent that the police were trying to lie and infiltrate it sounds like the punkers were considered (Cybermen. haha) terrorists. -pukes in disgust-
There are a lot of unanswered questions about this kind of behavior. Any answers might not be pretty. The only threat this group might represent is political so why the high level action?
Several times have I verbally criticized local government about the apparent waste of spending grants that basically increased operating costs forever by starting programs and making promises that were likely nuts. Since the only thing that was seemingly important to them were the number of employees on the payroll all my economic and financial wisdom was wasted. Tax increase referendums have been presented at every election for several years now. Not surprised, just depressed.
To address this problem it would be necessary to conquer the constitutional misguidedness of the branch of congress, executive branch and resulting judicial enforcement of the 49 million filler pages put out by special interest infested legislation.
A big task but please start by donating to the EFF or some such un-hijacked (yet?) group with clear intent. A few Representatives and Senators have shown some promise and even if they are not from your state please consider donating anyway.
On the post: What Can Judge Wright Do To Team Prenda Tomorrow?
Disappointment is not expected. Expect to be impressed by the preposterous legal wanking, technically not technical almost lies and literal shanking of the truth with never once actually breaking the law to the extent that rage and delight will be experienced several times upon reading of the event and commenting thereafter.
What happens tomorrow depends much on who does and does not show up and the rational given for that. A lot of us might imagine immediate lighting and thunder thrown at the Prendaa group and or associates but that would only happen if they clearly defied orders to appear and explain very specific questions about the apparently funny paperwork and maybe who did and who did not sign them.
Since most of the involved have already defied an order to show up there is already enough rope to yank if the judge sees fit.
Its kind of obvious that Prendaa has already ticked off Judge Wright who was probably not happy to wade through the considerable obfuscation/weaseling already spewed out. I expect some sharp questions about such.
If the past is a portent of the future and the similar excuses like declarations of non jurisdiction, claims of its somebody else's problem, hardship whining about having to show up, fascinating theories of how the apparent paperwork snafus don't matter, etc.
My fave moment might possibly be when/if Peter (of 6 8 8 1 Forensics ?) takes the stand. Some brouhaha has been raised about seeding a possible honey pot and it seems likely that the rest of the Prendaa bunch does not have the technical wherewithal to do any such thing. -crosses fingers- (just making a wild guess.) Some careful groundwork might be laid for further questioning about this important matter.
What does seem to be clear is that Prendaa and associates do not want to show up with media present and may not even under great threat. A relatively private hearing in a day or so even if it cost a few grand in fines may be a possible strategy.
On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt
To me its hilarious that corporate management actions can be almost always described using basal human behavior sometimes better described with barnyard metaphors. Animals and feeding troughs complete with pecking orders and cock fights to determine them.
Going further with the imaginary relation. Who are the farmers? Government? Would the customers represent the weather? Lots of metaphorical fun.
Btw. Thanks for the challenge. Always turns up more stuff to discuss.
On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt
Its common that most think I am serious all the time (and am sometimes so its not easy to tell) but usually am just making fun of bad times and or ridiculous circumstances. (if ya cant cry then laugh principle) The EA story would definitely be ridiculous circumstances.
Think about it. In the same way the the Prendaa gang spoke doublespeak and used misdirection to try and cover their tracks (of whatever is going on, who knows) the EA guys are riding a similar horse down a similar road doing the unknown. Each trying to misdirect about something many educated people would take as obvious using monetary gain as motivation.
Point; What other areas of their business have been glossed over in the same way? Is this any way to run a respectable business? When people behave in ways that could be construed as funny... what else is a problem? What else is hidden when even the apparently obvious (DRM) seems obfuscated.
Makes one wonder... Gave some possible intent of the schism but who knows really.
On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt
The president of EA is likely either clueless, incompetent or completely complicit in the DRM cover-up/doublespeak/PC.
Yes Mr president of EA you can go through 100 or more staff meetings and never hear the word/phrase “DRM” especially if you don't want to! Your staff will edit it our all by themselves just being the natural office animals they can be. All basic (office behavioral) human nature with no surprises and it happens all the time.
Dictatorial corporate culture can be called many things. Call it boot-licking, brown nosing, sucking up, yes-persons, minions or whatever junior/senior assistants its just normal. Your staff will create a world where you see only what you want. But that is ALL you will see. Since reality may not have been a requirement of them it will be an illusion fabricated especially and uniquely for the commander in chief. (This basic human principle works at all levels of command be it corporate or governmental.)
No problem yet.
The problem here is when such a corporate illusion (feigned or real) is attempted over the consumers eyes. Many people (not all, by the sales numbers, thats for sure) won't buy EA products because in their opinion what EA uses is the very definition of DRM. Call it whatever but it still seems like DRM and DRM it is by definition of its control. Just by saying that there is no DRM sounds dysfunctional at the least and like lying at the worst.
Personally its a wonder that so many people tolerate this apparent abuse. Are they so susceptible to the whines of their kids? Are there kids so misinformed about privacy issues and or the economic loss derived from DRM'd loaned programs that they don't care either? Kids need to care also.
One can see what might be the result of this. Its possible that to preserve your precious city from the ravages of an earthquake they might have to pay $22 bucks for outside emergency services. What about selling a city wide insurance policy for 5/month? Etcetera, etc, etc.
Is easy to see some motives here and just maintaining your kids fantastically created towns might cost 200/year each and thats not including the cost for special buildings. (Mom! I just HAVE to have the bubbly fountain in front of my grand palace. Mooooommmm! -jumps up and down-)
Whatever the rational for EA and there may be benefits to being on-line but there are those who just want to play in their own sandbox and enjoy that. By forcing the issue they remove a large segment of the market in favor of corralling the ignorant into a likely economic trap.
There are economic, property rights and privacy issues beyond the obvious. What does seem obvious is the EA/Maxis does not seem to be giving their “all” to produce a consumer oriented great game.
On the post: UPS Coughs Up $40 Million Because It Delivered Drugs From Rogue Pharmacies
Since UPS's involvement is zero their liability should be zero. What we need is a section 230 clause for shipping. (and allowing of re-shipping too for anonymity. Who would want their viagra usage frequency know to anybody especially the government?)
The connection to guilt is also presumption. Who know what is in a package until its opened? Is the cat alive or dead? A suspicious address... which one?
To draw any relation one has to sacrifice privacy and personal property purchasing rights. The ability to buy what you want, at the price you want to pay and from whom you want is at steak.
Its probably a hard choice for UPS to pay up on such weak claims, because its easier and less publicly controversial, but it encourages others to emulate it.
big pharma was worth a three page rant -save for later-
On the post: People Who Have Actually Heard of the Supreme Court Don't Like It Very Much
However since the survey was given to adults (some age range would be more informative) we have to factor in personal experience.
Its not that many don't know or once knew of their (Supreme Courts) existence its the likely fact we don't want to remember. Its common for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) to edit memory. Why? All the bad decisions that have eroded privacy and personal property rights can make anyone cry. Every once and a while something good exits the Supreme Court but don't wait for it.
One of my more recent quotes “actually (yeah right anytime soon now. Hahaha) expect the courts to toss out about 49 million (of the) filler pages congress likes to pass so much.” kind of sums it up. It amazes me that throwing out legislation shouldn't be the default value. Hope is still there but faint.
So are they really corporation appointees or when are they actually going to start working like they have read the constitution? Kind of harsh criticism when applied to the (any of the state Supreme Courts also) Supreme Court(s). Does that sound negative? Capitalizing the words seem unnecessary.
When was the last time an entire act/bill/record was thrown out as garbage by the court system? When was the last time a government official or complicit private firm was punished by the courts for violation privacy or personal property rights? Considering the wild claims about the PATRIOT act and how even that did not encompass the suspected phone/Internet privacy violations... speechless.
And what about that little detail that electronic communications both analog and digital don't seem to be covered under the term privacy but only by other wire transfer laws?
Its possible that the courts find it an honor to decide the fate of loosely worded law and not choke on the fact much of it is not concise and specifically worded in solid legalese. (just a possible rationalization on why loosely written law is accepted at that level as pride is always a factor.) The rest (of the 49 million filler pages) is likely just wrong and makes a mockery of the claim 'ignorance is no excuse'.
Supreme Court? Never herd of them. (But probably should have?)
On the post: Even An East Texas Court Has Told Uniloc That It Can't Patent Math
Don't want to be cynical but are they under some federal review or something as this seems very not like them. Don't get me wrong am proud of them for any reason a decent court opinion (IMHO) appears.
On the post: DOJ Misled Judges For Years About How It Was Using Stingray Devices To Spy On People
Public key encryption is nice and fairly private keeing in mind the rapid advances in computer technology makes even 512 bit encryption weak these days for a concerted effort. 2048 bit wold be nice for now. The problem is that almost all the prime number combinations have been already calculated demanding elliptic and other formulas (possibly something fractal in future) to hide keys.
So we have private key encryption of unlimited bits. When you meet someone and share cell phone numbers a bit of very short range local wifi (infrared or direct connect by touch?) could share a large key for personal private encoded talking. It would be changed every time you met in person if one was worried about it.
There are some legal technicalities of international calls but expect then not to interfere between personal friends.
On the post: Feds Take A Step Closer To Trying To Regulate Bitcoin
As inflation is imposed the value of cash diminishes (while commodities go up) what was once large sums 10k or a million bucks 100 years ago is nothing today in comparison. Other creeping laws of restrictive legislation chips away at the value and stability of personal property. Its like we don't even own our land, house or bank accounts anymore let alone spend (it) or move privately.
Its so bad that if your deposit $500 cash in a bank account and try to forget about it... (the best way to save!) it gets confiscated (various states with varying time lengths some as short as one year) by the state and a fee is charged to get it back. (if you remember it) It used to be a legend that a bank would call you up with a long lost deposit gaining compound interest but that is now impossible.
Have to be honest... don't care what the FED or US whines about and actually (yeah right anytime soon now. Hahaha) expect the courts to toss out about 49 million filler pages congress likes to pass so much. (figurative foot in congressional rear.) Have been tired of trying to sort out the doublespeak and statistical whatever long ago.
Since personal privacy has become an issue does it matter what money laundering charges have been levied by congress, white house, JDept or anyone? In reality it does very much but many times public sanity simply catches up. Since I don't believe in the validity or rational of the drug laws/war (another huge drain on economy/society) its an irrelevant subject. IMHO
Bitcoin is a fascinating development completely undefined by current law. Internationally based decentralized virtual spending accounts that does not use any currency at all? Some interesting questions as to how it is valued between each countries currency values without some base standard?
Since the stability of the rapidly inflationary adjusted dollar has long been in question it would be nice to find some island of value/transaction stability. Questions on how Bitcoin handles inflationary crisis need to be answered as these obvious economic traps need to be maneuvered around. What happens to forgotten accounts and family inheritance matters?
On the post: Taxi, Limo Trade Group Hates Innovative Upstarts, Labels Them 'Rogue Applications'
Its fascinating that an individual cab or limo might actually bypass a central dispatch altogether empowering a whole new level of middlemen removal. This brings to mind the obvious question who the lobbying firm represents the dispatch/firms or the drivers? Looks like the drivers loose. (again?)
Haven't examined the individual rules for each of those apps but suspect a diverse approach from dispatch fee based to fuel charge only carpooling. (all should be the option of the user)
As for taxi regulation 95% is basically for squeezing more revenue from them at the expense of drivers. Both (big city) Limo and Taxi firms are legendary for getting drivers to work 18/hr days min for decent, family supporting wage, earnings. The 5% of safety is mostly just talk no action. Same for Limo drivers as its basically a city fee charged at the airport for admission to the limo lot. (all cities are unique in their fee and tax structure)
Since GPS tracking on smart-phones is normal it would be hard for driver cheating. Also the same for many safety issues so the reasons for government regulation has (almost) vanished. (total agreement) this would especially be true if the phone app actually kept track of the route and fare as part of the service or at least helped (to respect personal privacy) to record it and or at least compare actual mileage/km rates.
Liability is dependent on the hard to encompass concept of “negligence”. Might be nice for some passenger safety rules/etiquette like taking a picture of the driver (like many large city cabs are required to do of the passenger) and sending it to a friend or home.
A red light warning given to the “Taxi, Limousine & Paratransit Association” and related proposed legislation!
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