spodula’s Comments

• Sep 24th, 2020 @ 12:43am

  Extortion

  on China Calls TikTok Deal 'Extortion'; Says It Will Not Approve

  If it was anyone other than the chinese government, i would agree this was a bad thing.

  However, as they do this on a daily basis preventing foreign own companies operating in China (anyone operating in china has to have a majority local ownership), we are firmly in in pot-kettle territory here.

  Its still the wrong reasons on the part of the Cheeto dictator, but i think its the right decision.

• Nov 9th, 2015 @ 8:48am

  Re: I was right with you until you said

  on Child Development Expert: Playable Female Characters In Call Of Duty Will Harm Girls Just As It Has A Generation Of Boys
  I should point out in more detail.
  
  In the UK, The daily mail is regarded as only one step up from those papers who regularly regard genuine UFO sightings and abductions.
  
  It places itself as "Conservative" but is actually mainly just opportunistic rubbish. There has been good journalism done there (The phone hacking stuff for instance), but mostly its complaining about Immigration, the EU, and anything else they think they can get to sell papers.
• Mar 7th, 2014 @ 5:22am

  Cue yes minister joke.

  on GCHQ Oversight Tribunal Has To Ask GCHQ's Permission To Reveal GCHQ's Wrongdoing
  "The Official Secrets Act is not to protect secrets, it is to protect officials."
• Mar 5th, 2014 @ 7:07am

  Re the UK. (as Graham)

  on Keith Alexander Supports Law To Gag Press So He Can Get His Preferred Online Surveillance Bill Passed
  I can understand why he brought up the UK. After all, we in the UK don't have any of those pesky free speech laws that are so inconvenient for civil servants of all stripes.
• Feb 25th, 2014 @ 1:09am

  Its almost exactly like something out of Yes Minister: (as Graham)

  on Eric Holder Officially Signs New Rules To Protect Journalists... But Fine Print Shows They're Meaningless
  We put the controversial bit in the title, so we don't have to deal with it in the text....
• Mar 4th, 2013 @ 1:43am

  The US constitution

  on Illinois Bill To Outlaw Online Anonymity Dropped Because People Got Pissed Off, Not Because It's Unconstitutional
  Over in the US, you have a wonderful document, remarkibly clear of legalese that made waves when it was orignially written, and is still an inspiration to people all over the world now.
  
  I Wish my own country (The UK) had such a clear and concise document as opposed to an "Unwritten constitution" which appears to mean "Whatever the ruling class feel like at the time"
  
  So, i'm wondering.
  Is the US Constitution not studied in US schools?
  This doesnt even seem to pass the laugh test.