Matthew A. Sawtell’s Comments

• Mar 9th, 2011 @ 3:42am

  To average Commie - Facebook is merely a tool to take them down...

  on Facebook Comment Leads To Arrest In Zimbabwe
  There has been a leary mindset in silicon valley and elsewhere when Ms. Clinton and President Obama that encapsulates why folks like Uncle Bob absolutely loathe and hate websites like Facebook, a mindset that any form of communication that is not under their tight control is just a "tool of a foreign government used to take them out of power". People tend to forget the situation in Soviet Moscow during the Watergate Incident, where the Kremlin was stunned at how the Washington Post was able to report on President Nixon's actions.
  
  Do not be surprised if more countries take the P.R. China approach and outright block access and the use of websites like this.
• Mar 8th, 2011 @ 8:18am

  Make sure you get your voice heard correctly...

  on How To Get Elected Officials To Actually Hear Our Worries About Censorship: Speak Up!
  Folks, if you are going to talk - make sure you check which District you live to get the correct House Rep that is suppose to represent you. As for your State Senators, do take some time to compose something in your own voice about the subject.
  
  One other item of note... if you are not a registered voter, be not surprised if your voice/e-mail/letter gets "circular filed".
• Mar 8th, 2011 @ 8:12am

  Re: Re: Ken Zeran - Can appreciate his view...

  on Just Because You Don't Like Something Online, Doesn't Mean We Should Blame Third Parties
  Mike - let's face it, it is ALWAYS cases like this that are used - from the Amber Alert system to the Brady Bill. Unless that human element to these issues is dealt with, along with the existential, then we all see laws that are either too draconian or questionably functional.
• Mar 8th, 2011 @ 8:03am

  Re: Re: Ken Zeran - Can appreciate his view...

  on Just Because You Don't Like Something Online, Doesn't Mean We Should Blame Third Parties
  Trolling, moi? Humor me eejit... first section of Mike's article, or the Wikipedia article?
• Mar 7th, 2011 @ 3:06pm

  Ken Zeran - Can appreciate his view...

  on Just Because You Don't Like Something Online, Doesn't Mean We Should Blame Third Parties
  Love or Hate Ken Zeran (and from the looks of it, more than a few people here have some emotions about him) - it cannot be denied that what happened to him was dangerous to him and his family. God knows, I have personally seen this sort of B.S. at other sites - but not to degree that happened to him. Whoever did this was lucky this did not occur in this day and age (i.e. the Smoking Gun vs. Pranknet), because I have a feeling Mr. Zeran would not have hesitated to go after them with the same sort of righteous rancor that he did for AOL and Diamond Broadcasting, the company that owned the radio station that had "trouble" realizing that Ken Zenan was NOT the twit that posted the messages (nice touch not mentioning that part Mike).
• Mar 7th, 2011 @ 2:50pm

  Re:

  on Just Because You Don't Like Something Online, Doesn't Mean We Should Blame Third Parties
  Sorry Anonymous Coward - but that process already exists, it called the "Card Check" method.
• Mar 7th, 2011 @ 1:04pm

  So... Russia finally catching up to P.R. China?

  on Russia Wants Social Media Sites To Be Liable For User Content To Avoid Middle East-Style Protests
  Find it amusing that Putin is finally pulling out pages of the CCP's 50 Cent Playbook to handle spin. Yet, I tend to think about an article that John Dvorak wrote:
  
  http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381211,00.asp
  
  This may be worse than trying to make Russia a "Dry Nation".
• Feb 28th, 2011 @ 10:05am

  Seen my share of "Quality Control Audits' over the years...

  on Huawei To US Government: Please Investigate Us
  When it comes to the subject, of "please audit us" - I tend to think about the myraid of ISO, QS, and other 'Quality Control' audits over the years I have worked. Frankly, Huawei is probably thinking this is going to be another 'Red Envelope' situation.
• Feb 26th, 2011 @ 8:04am

  Tends to get funny when commies are mentioned...

  on Zimbabwe Professor Arrested, Tortured For 'Treason' For Watching News Videos About Egypt & Tunisia
  Tends to get funny when commies (like Uncle Bob) get mentioned in the news - just to watch how people will bend over backwards in the comment section to either defend or flame the them, without sounding too John Birch or Pinko in the process.
  
  Bottom line: Strongmen LOVE when countries like the U.S. get themselves involved with questionable actions - because it gives them more FREEDOM to do what ever the hell they want.
  
  And Mike - I would like to think that you have travelled outside the U.S. borders to somewhere other than Canada, so please do not pull a 'Pollyanna' act.
• Feb 25th, 2011 @ 4:47am

  Re: It really doesn't matter what each company did.

  on Truck Maker Discovers Chinese Knockoff Company; Helps It Come Up With Its Own Design
  Not old enough to remember the Ford Pinto, are you? Look up that infamous memo, then come back and attempt to repeat what you just said.
• Feb 24th, 2011 @ 7:09am

  Re: Re: Trouble with "helping"...

  on Truck Maker Discovers Chinese Knockoff Company; Helps It Come Up With Its Own Design
  Comes down to this scenario: Truck driving down road, driver attempts to hit the breaks before hitting some crossing the street, truck hits person. Person sues driver, company, and truck maker. In this case, the shangzhai truck maker can attempt to include Scandia in the lawsuit because "they helped design the truck".
• Feb 22nd, 2011 @ 10:22am

  Hm... waiting to see if this ideas is going to be combined with...

  on Maryland Corrections Agency Demanding All Social Media Passwords Of Potential Hires
  When I read this story, I immediately thought of this:
  
  http://www.orlandoforums.com/forum/news-politics-current-events/147954-police-use-college-i ntern-undercover-stripper.html
  
  Let the lawsuits fly!