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Not that this means I agree with you in your senseless flame of the person who put together this project, but I do have concerns when people do not themselves deal with issues. Creating jobs is creating something worthwhile, and I believe strongly that doing so will improve the situation for everyone.

This quagmire of job creation being undermined by unnecessary flames and those in work seeing the work of those who are not as worthless will not disappear by itself. Unless people are prepared to actually act, not just talk about it on Slashdot, nothing will ever get done. Apathy is not an option.

You can help by getting off your rear and writing to your congressman or senator. Write also to Jack Valenti, the CEO and chair of the MPAA, whose address and telephone number can be found at the About the MPAA page. Write too to Bill Gates, Chief of Technologies and thus in overall charge of systems like Windows NT, at Microsoft. Tell them that unemployment is a critical issue for you. Tell them that the talents of people are being wasted by not providing them with jobs. Tell them that you appreciate the work being done to improve the economy but that if unemployment continues to grow you will be forced to use less and less secure and intelligently designed alternatives. Let them know that SMP may make or break whether you can efficiently deploy OpenBSD on your workstations and servers. Explain the concerns you have about freedom, openness, and choice, and how unemployment harms all three. Let your legislators know that this is an issue that effects YOU directly, that YOU vote, and that your vote will be influenced, indeed dependent, on their policies concerning job creation.

You CAN make a difference. Don't treat voting as a right, treat it as a duty. Keep informed, keep your political representatives informed on how you feel. And, most importantly of all, vote.

Exchange is a closed and entirely proprietry system, and with good reason: Microsoft knows that opening up the system entirely would be one area where its desktop monopoly could be threatened. Some proof of this can be seen in that this is the one area on the Mac where Microsoft has let their software lag behind - users of that platform can get an excellent office suite, a good web browser, internet access, all from MS. But users of Exchange are limited to bug ridden clients that have to be run under Classic, and while upgrades to Entourage, MS's Mac mail/group system, are in the works to support some interoperability with Exchange, these upgrades are a long time coming and will only scratch the surface of what's required.

Meanwhile, Internet email standards lag behind and cause interoperating clients and servers to appear crude and unprofessional. As an example, the Internet's "rich text" standard is HTML, which is usually entered using a crude unintuitive user interface, appears completely different on different viewers, and requires embedded objects to be located on a central server pre-arranged ahead of time. Some objects, such as line drawings, have no universally supported internet standard for embedding anyway.

Ironically, the crude and incomplete standards offered for interoperability means that Microsoft can safely support, for example, IMAP and LDAP, knowing full well that it will not produce an environment with full interoperability and that users of these systems will appear less professional to their Microsoft-user co-workers.

With unprofessional and unfinished standards, and with the dominant platform being essentially closed, entry into the groupware area is difficult.

This quagmire of closed standards making professional interoperability unviable, but open standards being to unprofessional and incomplete to support and persuade system administrators to switch to will not disappear by itself. Unless people are prepared to actually act, not just talk about it on Slashdot, nothing will ever get done. Apathy is not an option.

You can help by getting off your rear and writing to your congressman or senator. Write also to Jack Valenti, the CEO and chair of the MPAA, whose address and telephone number can be found at the About the MPAA page. Write too to Bill Gates, Chief of Technologies and thus in overall charge of systems like Exchange, at Microsoft. Tell them that viable, professional, open standards for groupware are important to you. Tell them that the current system must change, and that either Microsoft's excellent standards need to be opened up, or that new open standards need to be put into the public domain, and that Microsoft needs to adopt these standards in order to ensure that groupware really is group ware, not limited to a "group" that finds sharing a single platform viable. Tell them that you appreciate the work being done by the IETF to create open standards but that if these standards remain incomplete you will be forced to use less and less secure and intelligently designed alternatives. Let them know that SMP may make or break whether you can efficiently deploy OpenBSD on your workstations and servers. Explain the concerns you have about freedom, openness, and choice, and how cl

It was especially fun to watch when senator John McCain was reading some Clearchannel executive the riot act for suppressing free speech, even though he strongly disagreed with what the Dixie Chicks said himself.

"We are deeply disturbed that the Committee would attempt to force companies to divest assets simply because it decides to change the rules in the middle of the game. It is bad precedent and bad policy, and is precisely why the Fifth Amendment prohibits unlawful government takings. We certainly hope and expect the full Senate will reject this highly controversial and dangerous measure,"

Measure Number: H.R. 3162 (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001 )

Vote Counts:
YEAs 98
NAYs 1
Not Voting 1

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_li sts/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1& vote=00313

If people really oppose this then I expect to see EVERY INCUMBENT SENATOR LOSE THEIR SEAT.

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech! Happy fuckin' Independence Day, Hillary!

your last name isn't hatch is it? ;P

The National Security Agency's "security-enhanced" Linux is an attempt to make Linux into a "trusted" computing platform, but that has NOTHING to do with DRM and other MPAA- and RIAA-borne stupidity.

Security researchers are putting a lot of effort into defining trust relationships and developing guidelines for applying the term "trusted" to software. Has the software design been verified? How about the code? Who verified the design and audited the code? Have there been security problems in the past? Is the concept fundamentally compatible with security?

Then along come the MPAA and RIAA, and they convince Microsoft (among others) to start talking about a totally fucking DIFFERENT definition of "trusted". Whereas the OLD definition of "trusted" involved concepts like integrity, secrecy, reliability, and auditability, the NEW meaning of "trusted" is essentially "crippled".

As somebody who studies security for a living, it irritates me to see the two concepts confused. Microsoft's DRM-enabled operating systems will NOT include the features I've outlined above, and a highly "trusted" operating system could very well include software that allows you to "rip, mix, and burn" just as people are accustomed to doing today.

Really, just who is "trusting" the DRM operating systems? Not the users-- I imagine there will be just as many viruses and exploits and bugs as before. Not software developers-- Microsoft hasn't really announced any plans to do things like, say, encrypt the swap space or integrate stack protection into their linkers, loaders, and compilers.

In fact, the only people who are really trusting the DRM operating systems are the content industry associations. Which makes sense, as Microsoft and company are essentially doing the whole "trusted computing" thing at the behest of the MPAA's congressional whore.

Please, folks, let's call a spade a spade: the DRM-enabled operating systems are NOT "trusted". They're "content-industry-friendly". They're "crippled". They're a lot of things, but they're not "trusted".

Let's start asking for some precision of language, here.

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech!

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech!

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech!

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech!

Don't just sit back and hope this law passes. Write to your Congressman and your Senators and ask them to co-sponsor, or, failing that, at least to vote for it.

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech!

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech!

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech!

to a concerned senator

His site does not mention the
destruction of personal computers.

Did he remove it?

As has been mentioned elsewhere on this thread: he was selling bad CDs on his site for 16 bucks. So yes it's commercial.

However, if you have a look at his site now, he's taken all that crap off: maybe he or his staff understood that they were getting a ton of hits and he realized what a piece of sh#t his site looked like (and that crass commercialization isn't what his constituents were looking for).

BTW his explanation as to why he made the comments,

âoeI made my comments at yesterdayâ(TM)s hearing because I think that industry is not doing enough to help us find effective ways to stop people from using computers to steal copyrighted, personal or sensitive materials. I do not favor extreme remedies â" unless no moderate remedies can be found. I asked the interested industries to help us find those moderate remedies.â

doesn't hold water. Does no one just say "Sorry I said something stupid" in government? So: since I can't find a moderate remedy for littering (people keep doing it even though I'm fining them) I should start killing them instead? Hmmmm.

Uh-oh, I smell a new tool for trolls ...

Do NOT click this link, you have been warned...

The senate has something interesting for you ...

Well then, we should be trying as hard as we can to destroy or disable the Governing Body that makes such stupid proposals.

It's REALLY the only way for our politicians to get a clue.

And please stop flogging the dead horse, hes/she did nothing to you. But politcians have ...

Is this Orrin after this slashdot post??

No individual identifying or personal information No individual identifying or personal information (such as your name) is automatically gathered when you visit any Senate web site. This web site does not use 'cookies' or other means to track your visit to our site in any way. To learn more about the Senate's Internet security and privacy policy online, please go to this address: http://www.senate.gov/security.html.

Instead, don't click it, tell your grandmother about it!

She will pay his site a visit and find out that he is helping her to get rid of all possible body part enlargement proposals - this time without destroying anyone's computers.

Google Cache as it seems the link has been taken off.

Direct link. NOT SAFE FOR WORK as the link automatically redirects to a porn site.

According to this software piracy information PDF made by the BSA in paragraph 4, the US Senate is liable for this unlicensed software:

"Many businesses, both large and small, face serious legal risks because
of software piracy. Under the law, a company can be held liable
for its employeesâ(TM) actions. If an employee is installing unauthorized
software copies on company computers or acquiring illegal software
through the Internet, the company can be sued for copyright
infringement. This is true even if the companyâ(TM)s management was
unaware of the employeeâ(TM)s actions."

could he possibly be kicked out when they find he is using his senate.gov site to push porn? does that bother mormans, I forget?

http://www.senate.gov/~hatch/index.cfm?Fuseaction= Students.Utah

if you click on My Utah Search icon -- don't be at work. wtf.

theory: a psychedelic and debilitant gas is bubbling up from under the salt flats and is making everything in Utah wierd. SCO: "We want a bazillion, make that a billion, five--- what were we saying again?" Hatch: "Here, porn!" Novel: "No, we own Unix! Ok, they own it, well, if they sue us for it", Hatch: "Hey, I have an idea... let IP holders destroy property!"

If this is happening... where do you think the highest concentration is... and are there any hotels nearby?

Not only that, if you click on the link that says "My Utah Search.com" on the right hand side of this page, you get to a page that advertises only big natural breasts! :)

(Oh got to thank the register for this).

http://www.senate.gov/~hatch/index.cfm?FuseAction= Biography.Home

He has been recognized by the National Taxpayers' Union for his fiscal responsibility and has been dubbed by others "Mr. Free Enterprise," "Guardian of Small Business," and "Mr. Constitution."

<sarcasim>hatch must know these things it says he's Mr. Consitution right there in his bio.</sarcasim>

He's also into porno...

Click on this and then click on "MyUtahSearch.com" on the right hand side.

(Not safe for work)

Holy crap:

The "My Utah Search" graphic here links to a porn site. This is beautiful.

...here's the URI to his website. Enjoy :D http://www.senate.gov/~hatch/

Go to Sen. Hatch's web site and click on the "MyUtahSearch.com" graphic on the right hand side of the page. It redirects you to a [not safe for work] pr0n site.

[Thanks to The Turd Report for pointing this out on K5.]

k.

Go to Sen. Hatch's web site and click on the "MyUtahSearch.com" graphic on the right hand side of the page. It redirects you to a [not safe for work] pr0n site.

[Thanks to The Turd Report for pointing this out on K5.]

k.

http://www.senate.gov/~hatch/index.cfm?Fuseaction= Students.Utah And click on the MyUtahSearch.com graphic...

Ready... aim... Fire! Slashdot him!

DAILY REMINDER: Hillary Clinton doesn't just stand by...she actively works to offshore American High-Tech!

http://www.senate.gov/~hatch/index.cfm?Fuseaction= '

Did you contact him with your question? Do let us know if you did, and what his answer is.

Here's his "contact me" web form.

http://www.senate.gov/~hatch/index.cfm?FuseAction= Offices.Contact

Be sure to include a copyright notice
in your message. You might want to
specify some restrictions like no
backups, no copies, no printouts,
no tape storage, no conversion, etc.

Email or fax your senators. Let them know that you don not approve of these ideas. Mailing Senator Hatch is useless unless you live in Utah.

Click here to find your senators

Here's what I mailed my senators:

Dear Sir,

Senator Orrin G. Hatch made statements about destroying computers belonging to suspected online file traders.

He said "Damaging someone's computer may be the only way you can teach somebody about copyrights."

He acknowledged Congress would have to enact an exemption for copyright owners from liability for damaging computers. He endorsed technology that would twice warn a computer user about illegal online behavior, then destroy their computer.

I feel that he needs to be reminded of the fact that we already have a system in place to handle issues like this. It's our justice system, and in our justice system, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. We can't have copyright owners destroying computers because they think their work may have been illegally obtained.

I just wanted to make sure you are aware of Senator Hatch's remarks and let you know that I am not in support of anything that would give copyright owners more power than our justice system.

Respectfully,

"He endorsed technology that would twice warn a computer user about illegal online behavior, "then destroy their computer."

2 warnings in fact.. how generous.

He looks kind of old, maybe he's just getting senile.

Gak! The e-mail address is wrong. He uses a web form at this address.

This could be rich. On Orrin Hatch's website he is using the Milonic DHTML menu script quite possibly in violation of copyright and terms of use. Milonic's conditions of use is explicit and includes a requisite link back if not paid for. Guess what kids, no link and in the coders comments is this line: /* i am the license for the menu (duh) */. Within mmenu_license.js there is no indication that this is a paid for version with only the standard language found. Same thing is true for the actual DHTML script, mmenu.js.

It would be quite embarrassing for the good Senaturd from Utah if it was actually found that he himself was a copyright violator, ripping off the hard work of Milonic Solutions Ltd., with all such made public in light of his recent comments. What choice would he have but to rig his own computers and pompous ass for detonation.

This could be rich. On Orrin Hatch's website he is using the Milonic DHTML menu script quite possibly in violation of copyright and terms of use. Milonic's conditions of use is explicit and includes a requisite link back if not paid for. Guess what kids, no link and in the coders comments is this line: /* i am the license for the menu (duh) */. Within mmenu_license.js there is no indication that this is a paid for version with only the standard language found. Same thing is true for the actual DHTML script, mmenu.js.

It would be quite embarrassing for the good Senaturd from Utah if it was actually found that he himself was a copyright violator, ripping off the hard work of Milonic Solutions Ltd., with all such made public in light of his recent comments. What choice would he have but to rig his own computers and pompous ass for detonation.

This could be rich. On Orrin Hatch's website he is using the Milonic DHTML menu script quite possibly in violation of copyright and terms of use. Milonic's conditions of use is explicit and includes a requisite link back if not paid for. Guess what kids, no link and in the coders comments is this line: /* i am the license for the menu (duh) */. Within mmenu_license.js there is no indication that this is a paid for version with only the standard language found. Same thing is true for the actual DHTML script, mmenu.js.

It would be quite embarrassing for the good Senaturd from Utah if it was actually found that he himself was a copyright violator, ripping off the hard work of Milonic Solutions Ltd., with all such made public in light of his recent comments. What choice would he have but to rig his own computers and pompous ass for detonation.

His own words from July 11, 2000 showed that only three years ago he at least seemed to be interested in protecting the consumer as well as the copyright holder without destroying the internet (and now computers?) and the "free flow of ideas" it facilitates:

As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I take it as a basic premise that our copyright laws must play a role â" a strong role â" in protecting creative works over the Internet. These protections, however, must be secured in a manner which is mindful of the impact related regulation can have on the free flow of ideas that a decentralized, open network like the Internet creates. We must protect the rights of the creator. But we cannot, in the name of copyright, unduly burden consumers and the promising technology the Internet presents to all of us.

Of course, he also takes credit for pushing upon us that hideous piece of legislation known as the DMCA in the very same statement...

This may or may not be true... what is your source? I'm sure this varies by individual senator more than anything else. Of course Hatch is obviously a total creep so I wouldn't be surprised.

I agree that the within state needs will definitely take priority though, so I suggest everyone's first stage of action be to write their senators to make sure they are aware of this issue and that they realize people are strongly oppossed to it (Hatch can't do this on his own). As you probably already know the best way to be sure your letter is read is to send a paper copy. I don't understand why, but I guess they think that people that send paper and buy a stamp are the only ones worth listening to (I almost always get a reponse to snail-mail, but hardly ever anything beyond automated responses to email). Since 99% of everyone reading this would probably feel weirded out touching a paper envelope (do you remember what they look like?), I suggest using automated websites like congress.org OR if you're feeling quasi ambitious you can get better results by writing an original letter to your senator.

Finally, go ahead and forward a copy to Hatch, sometimes it just takes one well written letter for these guys to realize their idiocy.

bleh! Yes, I live in Utah. In fact, I live about a mile from his Provo office. I generally don't mind him, but I think that the fact that he would consider supporting anything that suggests willful destruction of property is idiotic, not to mention pointless. I wonder how they even intend to distribute this software that destroys your computer. I suppose that if they embedded viral code in media files that spawns when the file is opened then that's one way to do it. If they name it to match the name of a copyrighted file, then you really aren't downloading copyrighted materials. That means you'd have to distribute the actual file to make it legal. As we all know, there's a way around everything. Someone could create a patch for Anti-Virus programs to search for the "destructive code" as a part of the virus definitions. That means we clean the file, and get the copyrighted materials. I dunno.. maybe they have some other grand plan. It's all pointless if you ask me. If they really do get their way, they'll kill the PC component industry since people will have no use for bigger hard drives, broadband, cd & dvd burners, recordable media, etc. The list goes on. Looks like it's back to the drawing boards Orrin.

I sent this via hatchie's web site:

Hello Mr. Hatch!

I am very concerned for your mental health! Judging from your comments which appeared on the Washington Post's web site today - concerning illegal downloading - it would seem you have, as so many elderly inevitable do, began the downward slide from senescence to senility.

When the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says that destroying someone's computer "may be the only way you can teach somebody about copyrights" it's time for the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to begin a nice cozy retirement in a sunny place with lots of lemonade and shuffle-board and high-fiber snacks.

You see - you are apparently insane. If the world worked according to the skewed logic you evidently employ, law enforcement would be obligated to develop ways to remotely destroy the cars of speeders. How else could they possibly learn??? Although, perhaps your logic has some redeeming qualities as it also implies technology should be developed to remotely destroy the yachts of white-collar criminals. I'll have to think about that one...

Anyway, given the recording industry's sordid history of price-fixing/collusion/gouging/corruption it is shameful, although not entirely surprising, that it is they with whom you choose to ally yourself.

Of course, maybe you were off your meds when you made your cyber-terror-advocacy comments...

-M.H.

Well, rather than waste your bytes on /., do as I did, go to Senator Hatch's website and send him a message complaining about his support for such an attrocity.

Here is a direct link to his feedback/email page: Contact Form