If they're fingerprinting such a small amount of source material, then they'll generate *mostly* false positives. Of course, that won't stop them from sending takedowns and auto-suits based on just the supposed match. You just can't get a very unique fingerprint with so few input bits.
I hope everyone is prepared for the massive flood of notices this is going to generate...
Panic can be delayed, if the need is great enough. Several years ago, my 5-yo son had a big chunk of his forehead ripped off by a neighbor's dog that got through their fence. Blood everywhere (heads wounds do that). It was serious, but not immediately life-threatening, and an ambulance would take too long. So we applied pressure, bundled him into car, and drove quickly (but safely) the short dstance to the E.R.
The medical people kept telling us how calm we were, with our bloody child laying on the gurney. Well, we HAD to be. Mindless panic wouldn't have helped him, and could have caused harm to others. You *can* remain in control in stressful situations, with a little discipline.
Of course, the adrenaline rush wore off a few hours later, and I had a headache for 2 days afterwards... I just hate when that happens.
Over at HP, Mark Hurd is reported to have said that he was sent the reports of batteries exploding, but he hadn't read them. Patricia Dunn is quoted as saying "I thought laptops burst into flames all the time. I still don't see anything wrong with it."
Spokespersons at HP defended the batteries, saying that laptop batteries routinely exploded in use: "It's a standard industry practice".
HP's stock rose on analysts predictions that sales of replacement laptops would surge following the wave of melted hardware. "They were going to have to buy all new laptops to run Vista anyway.", said one. "This way, the customers can stick it to their insurance companies."
It's a quality-vs-quantity issue. In the normal course of things, they're not going to go after a small-scale violator. They don't have the resources, and most people don't really care about some faceless data broker getting their hand slapped.
But, this case is extremely high-profile. Add the targeting of journalists and others not even connected to the leaks, and you've got a story with some legs. That translates into attention being focused on the AG, and *that* will tend to push them into prosecuting. Someone - probably at the PI outfit.
I think "unlikely" is going to become "probably" in this case. Abd it needs to be - to warn off other companies that want to do the same thing.
In an earlier age, a CEO in Dunn's place would accept responsibility for the unethical behavior of their subordinates (especially since she was the instigator of such behavior). But we've grown beyond that - it's everyone for themselves these days.
How about this, from a CNET interview with the Calif. AG Bill Lockyer:
"Q: What is covered under California law with regard to pretexting? Lockyer: There are two relevant statutes that may provide for criminal liability to someone who does pretexting. There's an identity theft statute, and there's a law that was designed to mostly address computer hackers, but it's getting information illegally from someone's computer system. Essentially it's pretending you're some other person to get a business that has a lot of personal information about a customer, to get that information disclosed by pretending you're that customer.
This practice is not illegal under federal law with respect to telephone records, correct? But from what I understand, that's not the case in California. Lockyer: Yes, we have a stronger California law than the federal statute."
Sooo, the AG believes that the pretexting, while not specifically addressed by statue, may fall under these other state laws. That'll be fun to watch in court, if it ever gets there.
Then there's the matter of the all-but-fraadulent SEC report on Perkin's resignation. HP just left out one or two minor details - such as the reason for his departure. Details that are *required* in an 8-K. All they said was:
"On May 18, 2006, Thomas J. Perkins announced his resignation as a director of Hewlett-Packard Company ("HP"), effective immediately. The text of HP's press release relating to Mr. Perkins' resignation is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.1." (link)
That's all.
So HP's in a bit of a fix with the State of CA, *and* with the SEC. Not to mention their customers, who've noticed the decline in product and support quality over the last decade. Sad really - they used to be great.
Yes, but without the charm and style. Lets face it, there's a certain grace and elegance to a roughly spherical, ruddy-orange member of the vegetable kingdom sailing a goodly distance in a perfect ballistic trajectory. Not to mention the spectacular landings...
>The Earth's magnetic field has decayed about 10-15% over the last 150 years, so I wouldn't count on that as a long-term source of free energy anyway.
So you mean my plan to circle the Earth with big coils of wire and generate free electricity won't work for long? Just don't tell my potential investors...
That would turn out like Capt. Kirk arguing with a computer (i.e. Lanrdu, Nomad, etc.). The flood of inconsistency and and contradiction would have poor cyc rolling over and giving up in microseconds.
Unless they built in a strong rationalization subsystem, that is... that's humanity's greatest advantage against the AI'S:-)
Slashdot Mirror
No, that's a Segway. They were a big thing back in 2003 or so...
and we're stuck in this big black tunnel...
If they're fingerprinting such a small amount of source material, then they'll generate *mostly* false positives. Of course, that won't stop them from sending takedowns and auto-suits based on just the supposed match. You just can't get a very unique fingerprint with so few input bits.
I hope everyone is prepared for the massive flood of notices this is going to generate...
They shouldn't have tried hosting it on "eine kleine webserver...."
>There is no such thing is boxen.
Yes there is - I just saw a boxen match on TV....
>Most fancy goldfish should have several tens of gallons of water per fish and a MASSIVE filtration system...
:-)
Not if you swallow them while they're still fresh from the store....
Panic can be delayed, if the need is great enough. Several years ago, my 5-yo son had a big chunk of his forehead ripped off by a neighbor's dog that got through their fence. Blood everywhere (heads wounds do that). It was serious, but not immediately life-threatening, and an ambulance would take too long. So we applied pressure, bundled him into car, and drove quickly (but safely) the short dstance to the E.R.
The medical people kept telling us how calm we were, with our bloody child laying on the gurney. Well, we HAD to be. Mindless panic wouldn't have helped him, and could have caused harm to others. You *can* remain in control in stressful situations, with a little discipline.
Of course, the adrenaline rush wore off a few hours later, and I had a headache for 2 days afterwards... I just hate when that happens.
sorry....
If they would just RTFM, they'd grok the TLAs.
:-)
Lu5er5...
Howard, is that you?
Oh, you did mention "ducks..."
Over at HP, Mark Hurd is reported to have said that he was sent the reports of batteries exploding, but he hadn't read them. Patricia Dunn is quoted as saying "I thought laptops burst into flames all the time. I still don't see anything wrong with it."
Spokespersons at HP defended the batteries, saying that laptop batteries routinely exploded in use: "It's a standard industry practice".
HP's stock rose on analysts predictions that sales of replacement laptops would surge following the wave of melted hardware. "They were going to have to buy all new laptops to run Vista anyway.", said one. "This way, the customers can stick it to their insurance companies."
Then they would have to name it the "Hentaium" processor...
Especially after the first two countries sank into the swamp...
But the third one - *that* one stayed up. Until now...
or is ATI all wet?
for Talk Like A Python Day....
.... never mind.
oh wait,
I though it was so they could match the transplant patients to the correct pris^h^h^h^h donor....
For what those people are payng, they want the best match possible.
It's a quality-vs-quantity issue. In the normal course of things, they're not going to go after a small-scale violator. They don't have the resources, and most people don't really care about some faceless data broker getting their hand slapped.
But, this case is extremely high-profile. Add the targeting of journalists and others not even connected to the leaks, and you've got a story with some legs. That translates into attention being focused on the AG, and *that* will tend to push them into prosecuting. Someone - probably at the PI outfit.
I think "unlikely" is going to become "probably" in this case. Abd it needs to be - to warn off other companies that want to do the same thing.
In an earlier age, a CEO in Dunn's place would accept responsibility for the unethical behavior of their subordinates (especially since she was the instigator of such behavior). But we've grown beyond that - it's everyone for themselves these days.
Oh, and one other thing. If Patricia Dunn weighs the same as a duck, then she *is* a witch, and the hunt was justified. You all know what to do.... :-)
How about this, from a CNET interview with the Calif. AG Bill Lockyer:
"Q: What is covered under California law with regard to pretexting?
Lockyer: There are two relevant statutes that may provide for criminal liability to someone who does pretexting. There's an identity theft statute, and there's a law that was designed to mostly address computer hackers, but it's getting information illegally from someone's computer system. Essentially it's pretending you're some other person to get a business that has a lot of personal information about a customer, to get that information disclosed by pretending you're that customer.
This practice is not illegal under federal law with respect to telephone records, correct? But from what I understand, that's not the case in California.
Lockyer: Yes, we have a stronger California law than the federal statute."
(probably this section)
Sooo, the AG believes that the pretexting, while not specifically addressed by statue, may fall under these other state laws. That'll be fun to watch in court, if it ever gets there.
Then there's the matter of the all-but-fraadulent SEC report on Perkin's resignation. HP just left out one or two minor details - such as the reason for his departure. Details that are *required* in an 8-K. All they said was:
"On May 18, 2006, Thomas J. Perkins announced his resignation as a director of Hewlett-Packard Company ("HP"), effective immediately. The text of HP's press release relating to Mr. Perkins' resignation is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.1." (link)
That's all.
So HP's in a bit of a fix with the State of CA, *and* with the SEC. Not to mention their customers, who've noticed the decline in product and support quality over the last decade. Sad really - they used to be great.
Here's what's on my /. page right under this article summary:
:-)
Ask Slashdot: Cheap Bulk Eraser for Hard Disks? 70 of 90 comments
I suggest that the plasma arc would make a dandy bulk disk eraser... with no worries about forensic data recovery - ever!
Yes, but without the charm and style. Lets face it, there's a certain grace and elegance to a roughly spherical, ruddy-orange member of the vegetable kingdom sailing a goodly distance in a perfect ballistic trajectory. Not to mention the spectacular landings...
Brings tears to my eyes.
Just try that with a stodgy old boot...
>The Earth's magnetic field has decayed about 10-15% over the last 150 years, so I wouldn't count on that as a long-term source of free energy anyway.
So you mean my plan to circle the Earth with big coils of wire and generate free electricity won't work for long? Just don't tell my potential investors...
That would turn out like Capt. Kirk arguing with a computer (i.e. Lanrdu, Nomad, etc.). The flood of inconsistency and and contradiction would have poor cyc rolling over and giving up in microseconds.
:-)
Unless they built in a strong rationalization subsystem, that is... that's humanity's greatest advantage against the AI'S
>And what does "steak and cheese" suggest?
Philadelphia?
You mean the giant Slug boss... this is Portland, after all...