The answer to that question is: They aren't thinking. They're just doing, seeking political points.
Probably the best recent example of that was the school police force that acquired a grenade launcher. What possible use could a launcher for grenades have--what use could grenades have--that wouldn't be likely to do more harm to the kids than to an attacker?
At the rate we're going, pretty soon we'll see an announcement like this one:
The Spring Vally School System Police Force has acquired a 10-megaton tactical nuclear weapon, in order to better protect your children.
No doubt, the strategy is that, if someone attacks the school, just set off the nuke and--Presto!--no attackers anymore.
The point is that we've reached the stage where the only thing that matters is the security theater and political points: Hey look, we can get a humvee! We can be better than the school next door. Hey look, we can get a grenade launcher! We can be better than the school next door. Hey look, we can get a tank! We can be better than the school next door. Hey look, we can get a drone! We can be better than the school next door. Hey look, we can get a figher jet! We can be better than the school next door. Hey look, we can get a 10-megaton nuclear weapon! We can be better than the school next door.
...and each time, that's where the thinking ends.
The risk in these school drills is horrible; that some kid will die of a panic attack, asthma, some other medical problem, a fall or other accident, or get shot is just petrifying.
But who cares, when we can make an impression on the locals and show how much better protectors we are than the school district next door?
Sooner or later, a child will die during one of these stupid drills. I don't know if it'll be some kind of shooting accident by a cop, security guard, or some helpful gun-carrying teacher; a terminal panic or asthma attack; some other medical emergency; or a fall or similar accident.
But it's bound to happen at some point...and when it does, I wonder how they'll justify the cost-benefit ratio then?
So now KCSC will need to ban the German Chat App. Then the people will switch to another app, and KCSC will need to ban that.
Another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...
Infinite loop. KCSC will end by banning everything; just like all forms of censorship end by banning everything.
"If we were doing this, which we may or may not be doing, it would be legal. Because anything we do would be legal; if we were doing it, which we may or may not be doing.
"We can't provide any data on this program that may or may not exist, because we do not admit any data exists or does not exist from this program that may exist or not.
"So obviously we can't provide any examples, which may or may not exist of data that may or may not exist for a program that may or may not exist, but would be legal if it does exist.
TRUSTe provided the boilerplate to be used that specified TRUSTe was non-profit. TRUSTe then neglected to provide new boilerplate for its change to profit status. As a consequence of this negligence its status is misrepresented to customers.
What TRUSTe said; what TRUSTe failed to do: Those are first liability issues, not second.
It would be second liability if TRUSTe directed a site to change the boilerplate and the company did not do so, then the FTC sued TRUSTe for what the other site failed to do.
This may be more clever than it appears at first; making AT&T ride the sword point.
If I understood some of the articles correctly from the last few days, AT&T is being subsidized to do exactly the development it just said it isn't doing. So, if in fact they prove that statement, wouldn't they also be proving they are fraudulently collecting subsidies?
There's all kinds of heroes like that. Take Gibbs, from NCIS: I'd trust him with any information I own, because he'll always use it only at need and never to punish those who don't do wrong.
In real life, such heroes don't exist, and that's why we have to treat real life different from the fiction.
Better yet, intimidate them: Teach them that wrongdoing and despotism are career decisions.
Back when we had a fourth estate that worked, that was one of the principle things that allowed it work: Our leaders were afraid to offend the press because, if they did, the press would focus on discovering their wrongdoing and putting them in jail--or at least on the bread line.
Back then leaders treated the press with kid gloves; and prayed (sometimes fruitlessly) that the press didn't notice their crimes.
We will "Shut up about it already" when it stops and when we have made certain it never happens again.
I was taught from the earliest age I could understand it, that torture was evil; one of the greatest evils in the world. So great that it was the worst depravity of which a movie villain could be guilty. So evil that it was the distinguishing mark of our most vile enemy regimes.
I don't care who did what--administration, CIA, military, DOJ, whoever. I want them all in prison; until their ashes are ashes and their dust is dust.
And with respect to this report, I want the CIA to understand that, no matter how much they think they might be able to keep the secret, it will be dragged out into the open and they will answer for their crimes. I want them to understand that this will never stop so long as anyone guilty remains alive; so long as anyone within the CIA thinks it is acceptable to commit crimes like this and then hide behind "National Security".
I want that because I want every official down through the ages, who might dare to do the same, to understand: This shall not pass.
Speaking of chilled speech. I really so wanted to bring up that old well-wish for actors and actresses, "break a leg". I wanted to write a reply along the lines of, "Hey, ________ _______ _______ guys, break a leg."
I find I can't bring myself to do it...at least not with a name in the blank: There's simply too much chance some authoritarian goon would take it as a threat; and if so, I'd find myself under investigation or arrest.
It's sad that our authorities have so little respect for Rights that we must restrain ourselves from making even the most mundane jokes, to avoid official attention.
"Both companies proclaimed that the characters in their headers are rotated on a weekly and daily basis to protect user information."
These companies don't care about user information. Therefore, they don't do that rotation to protect the users: they do that because, if they didn't, the advertising company would build its own database of tracking codes. To prevent that the code is rotated, requiring the advertising company to make yet another paid request to learn the identity of the person.
I'm sure Verizon was deliciously amused that this feature permitted them to lie that they were protecting "user information".
The panel hearing the inquiry didn't seem very impressed with those taking the side of the American public.
"American public" is irrelevant. What is relevant is "Citizens of the United States of America". I am one. I so wish they would stop treating us all like alien terrorists.
First of all, the mandatory disclaimer. I'm probably unusual in that I type around 60 words per minute. I guess that makes me biased.
But touch screens cut my typing speed to a dismal crawl. I can't imagine writing a book on one of those. Or a program.
And touch...is the mouse family's dark-secret closeted retarded brother. I'd like to think I'm competent with touch, but it is always selecting the wrong thing or not selecting/ignoring touch, or double-touching when I touched once. Then there's the tools you can't use because they require drags you can't do with touch, and heaven help you if you want to select a point between two letter i's.
We spent 140 years perfecting the keyboard and 30 years perfecting the mouse. Screen keyboards and touch have a loooooooooooooooooooonnnnnng way to go before they're anything like as practical.
While I'm ranting: I have a pad and use it routinely; a high end smartphone and use it too. My conclusion is that they are toys, not productivity devices. As they stand, no one will ever make their living using one. If you want a laugh, just imagine trying to work your way through a spreadsheet with 70 columns and 1.3 million rows; or trying to compare two spreadsheets (switching apps at the rate of 30 times per minute); or writing War and Peace.
They're fine for browsing, sound/video, and short e-messages, but that's about it.
On the post: Middle School Principal Suspended Over Unannounced School Shooter Drill
What the hell is the matter with you people?
Probably the best recent example of that was the school police force that acquired a grenade launcher. What possible use could a launcher for grenades have--what use could grenades have--that wouldn't be likely to do more harm to the kids than to an attacker?
At the rate we're going, pretty soon we'll see an announcement like this one:
No doubt, the strategy is that, if someone attacks the school, just set off the nuke and--Presto!--no attackers anymore.
The point is that we've reached the stage where the only thing that matters is the security theater and political points:
Hey look, we can get a humvee! We can be better than the school next door.
Hey look, we can get a grenade launcher! We can be better than the school next door.
Hey look, we can get a tank! We can be better than the school next door.
Hey look, we can get a drone! We can be better than the school next door.
Hey look, we can get a figher jet! We can be better than the school next door.
Hey look, we can get a 10-megaton nuclear weapon! We can be better than the school next door.
...and each time, that's where the thinking ends.
The risk in these school drills is horrible; that some kid will die of a panic attack, asthma, some other medical problem, a fall or other accident, or get shot is just petrifying.
But who cares, when we can make an impression on the locals and show how much better protectors we are than the school district next door?
On the post: Cops Decide Running Surprise School Shooter Drill During Class At A Middle School Is A Great Idea
A child will die
But it's bound to happen at some point...and when it does, I wonder how they'll justify the cost-benefit ratio then?
I mean, a Tucson high school student died in a fire drill, which is certainly less risky than a school shooter drill.
On the post: AT&T Quietly Backs Away From Its Use of Sneaky Super Cookies
On the post: USA Freedom Act Fails To Move Forward... For Incredibly Stupid Reasons
Politician naivete
But, just curious, did anyone here expect the politicians to do something brilliant?
On the post: To Avoid Government Surveillance, South Koreans Abandon Local Software And Flock To German Chat App
Never-ending story
Another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...another app, another ban...
Infinite loop. KCSC will end by banning everything; just like all forms of censorship end by banning everything.
On the post: Justice Department Defends US Marshals' Airborne Cell Tower Spoofers; Refuses To Acknowledge Program Exists
If we're doing it we're not
"If we were doing this, which we may or may not be doing, it would be legal. Because anything we do would be legal; if we were doing it, which we may or may not be doing.
"We can't provide any data on this program that may or may not exist, because we do not admit any data exists or does not exist from this program that may exist or not.
"So obviously we can't provide any examples, which may or may not exist of data that may or may not exist for a program that may or may not exist, but would be legal if it does exist.
"Which we do not admit or deny."
On the post: TRUSTe Pays Up $200k To Settle Charges Of 'Deceiving Consumers' Over Its Certification Of Sites
Not second liability
What TRUSTe said; what TRUSTe failed to do: Those are first liability issues, not second.
It would be second liability if TRUSTe directed a site to change the boilerplate and the company did not do so, then the FTC sued TRUSTe for what the other site failed to do.
On the post: FCC Calls AT&T's Net Neutrality Bluff, Asks For Proof That Fiber Investment Has Stopped
Riding a sword point
If I understood some of the articles correctly from the last few days, AT&T is being subsidized to do exactly the development it just said it isn't doing. So, if in fact they prove that statement, wouldn't they also be proving they are fraudulently collecting subsidies?
Be interesting to see how it plays out.
On the post: UK's Home Secretary Says Terrorists Will Be The Real Winners If Country's Cell Coverage Dead Zones Are Fixed
Why would he suggest this?
If we were to eliminate that totalitarian control, those terrorists win.
On the post: Republicans And Democrats Alike Overwhelmingly Support Net Neutrality; Why Don't GOP Officials In Congress Recognize This?
Republicans And Democrats Alike Overwhelmingly Support Net Neutrality; Why Don't GOP Officials In Congress Recognize This?
On the post: Federal Judge Says Public Has Right To Know About FBI's Biometric Database, Awards $20,000 In Legal Fees To FOIA Requester
Re: You're an optimist
On the post: Asset Forfeiture Is Just Cops Going Shopping For Stuff They Want
Re: Re: Re: The other wrong
In real life, such heroes don't exist, and that's why we have to treat real life different from the fiction.
On the post: The FBI Is Offended That It Isn't Allowed To Control How The Press Portrays Its Deceptive Activities
Offend and intimidate
Better yet, intimidate them: Teach them that wrongdoing and despotism are career decisions.
Back when we had a fourth estate that worked, that was one of the principle things that allowed it work: Our leaders were afraid to offend the press because, if they did, the press would focus on discovering their wrongdoing and putting them in jail--or at least on the bread line.
Back then leaders treated the press with kid gloves; and prayed (sometimes fruitlessly) that the press didn't notice their crimes.
On the post: Part Of CIA Torture Report May Finally Be Released Next Week, As More Details Leak
Re: Shut up about it already
I was taught from the earliest age I could understand it, that torture was evil; one of the greatest evils in the world. So great that it was the worst depravity of which a movie villain could be guilty. So evil that it was the distinguishing mark of our most vile enemy regimes.
I don't care who did what--administration, CIA, military, DOJ, whoever. I want them all in prison; until their ashes are ashes and their dust is dust.
And with respect to this report, I want the CIA to understand that, no matter how much they think they might be able to keep the secret, it will be dragged out into the open and they will answer for their crimes. I want them to understand that this will never stop so long as anyone guilty remains alive; so long as anyone within the CIA thinks it is acceptable to commit crimes like this and then hide behind "National Security".
I want that because I want every official down through the ages, who might dare to do the same, to understand: This shall not pass.
On the post: Chicago Transit Cops Start Up Their Own Security Theater, Will Start Randomly Swabbing Bags For Explosive Residue
Chilled speech
I find I can't bring myself to do it...at least not with a name in the blank: There's simply too much chance some authoritarian goon would take it as a threat; and if so, I'd find myself under investigation or arrest.
It's sad that our authorities have so little respect for Rights that we must restrain ourselves from making even the most mundane jokes, to avoid official attention.
On the post: Russian Law Demanding User Data Remain On Russian Soil Could Turn Into A Ban On Apple Products
No point
On the post: Verizon May Soon Get to Enjoy a Lawsuit Over Its Sneaky Use of Perma-Cookies
Delicious Lie
These companies don't care about user information. Therefore, they don't do that rotation to protect the users: they do that because, if they didn't, the advertising company would build its own database of tracking codes. To prevent that the code is rotated, requiring the advertising company to make yet another paid request to learn the identity of the person.
I'm sure Verizon was deliciously amused that this feature permitted them to lie that they were protecting "user information".
On the post: Part Of CIA Torture Report May Finally Be Released Next Week, As More Details Leak
Re: Re: Executive Summary
and
That's exactly how the real report will be redacted, and that's all you need to know. That's all any alien terrorist peon, needs to know.
(signed) CIA
On the post: Civil Liberties Groups Argue Against DOJ's Petition For Expansion Of Hacking Powers And Judicial Jurisdictions
I Want to be Respected Again
"American public" is irrelevant. What is relevant is "Citizens of the United States of America". I am one. I so wish they would stop treating us all like alien terrorists.
On the post: DailyDirt: Who Needs A Mouse And Keyboard Anymore?
I vote for both mouse and keyboard
But touch screens cut my typing speed to a dismal crawl. I can't imagine writing a book on one of those. Or a program.
And touch...is the mouse family's dark-secret closeted retarded brother. I'd like to think I'm competent with touch, but it is always selecting the wrong thing or not selecting/ignoring touch, or double-touching when I touched once. Then there's the tools you can't use because they require drags you can't do with touch, and heaven help you if you want to select a point between two letter i's.
We spent 140 years perfecting the keyboard and 30 years perfecting the mouse. Screen keyboards and touch have a loooooooooooooooooooonnnnnng way to go before they're anything like as practical.
While I'm ranting: I have a pad and use it routinely; a high end smartphone and use it too. My conclusion is that they are toys, not productivity devices. As they stand, no one will ever make their living using one. If you want a laugh, just imagine trying to work your way through a spreadsheet with 70 columns and 1.3 million rows; or trying to compare two spreadsheets (switching apps at the rate of 30 times per minute); or writing War and Peace.
They're fine for browsing, sound/video, and short e-messages, but that's about it.
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