True. His death isn't what brought about the end an "optimistic era." The government butchering NASA's budget had already accomplished that. Curious what his thoughts were on what has become of the agency.
All of those may be true but not the first. Look through he 9/11 report and intelligence folks who were in the business when it happened. His senior _military_ advisors said (a) they couldn't confirm there were no civilians, but more so (b) they didn't think he would still be there when the missiles reached the target. Everyone blames him for "not taking the shot." The people who he relies on to advise him on when to pull the trigger said not to. (And btw, let's not forget it was a Dem who ultimately did get him.)
> you can't even call your Christmas holidays "Christmas holidays".
Of course you can, if you're talking about your Christmas holidays. If you're talking about Hanukkah holidays or Kwanza holidays and you call them your "Christmas holidays" then at best you're being incorrect and at worst you're being a fool.
Exactly. There doesn't need to be a sticker on your phone saying the police can track you. Does the contract you sign when you get the phone say the information won't be turned over to law enforcement? Probably not. Has there been enough precedence over the years to give you a reasonable expectation that if law enforcement approaches a TELCO provider with whatever authorization is required they will turn it over? I'd say yes. Now, the converse is true: If the government is allowed to do this stuff in the pursuit of apprehending people under investigation in "crimes in progress" (in this case smuggling) then if they are not actively pursuing a person for a crime in progress (i.e. the "passive" recording of license plates by those devices they mount on the back of squad cars, etc.) then they should be legally bound to (a) come public with their data retention rules and (b) destroy the data after X amount of time. And checking passing cars on the off chance that the driver is involved in something isn't a crime in progress. It's fishing.
Too bad it's become increasingly apparent they just don't give a crap.
I'm curious if NBC saw a traffic spike (and how big of one) when they stopped broadcasting the closing ceremony live and switched to streaming it while they switched to whatever the sitcom was.
Not sure you picked the right examples: I'd say gay rights and abortion more than just touch on privacy issues. For example, look at Associate Justice Blackmun's disenting comments in Bowers v. Hardwick.
I think the problem is that most people don't see the link between things like that case and the government's downslide away from respecting our privacy. There should (in a magical world filled with puppy tears and unicorn farts) be a direct correlation where every time a government entity loses a case that deals with some aspect of privacy it acts as a wakeup call reminding them the issue is actually Privacy - with a capital P - with respect to Our Right To It Everywhere, vice privacy - with a lowercase p - with our right to it as it relates to that one particular instance.
Outstanding ideas. Once our cell service with Verizon ends we're dropping them. I'm not sufficiently in love with my iPhone to keep it. I think we'er going to switch to CREDO mobile. All I care about is a phone with a really good camera, ability to handle music and some apps I use for running. Siri is neat, but unnecessary.
For us, setting aside cell service (which also get from Verizon, but mostly because we're idiots and are still under contract) we pay around $140/month. That includes the VoIP landline. Cell service in our area ain't great so we can't ditch a landline of some sort and stick with the mobile phones. Dropping the TV portion of the FIOS service and sticking with the same speed connection is $80/mth. So if we go with just that and get some sort of VoIP replacement, I think that adds another $15-$20/mth. Netflix adds around $9/mth (we looked at Hulu+ but it didn't add that much that we wanted.) So we end up saving around $30/mth; it's not a huge amount but it adds up to a lot of diapers and baby food. I just wish iTunes or Amazon was cheaper for renting individual episodes of shows. Going piecemeal ends up being more expensive than just sticking with cable.
I'm sorry, but I shouldn't have to RTFA just to understand the key word in the summary ("memristor"). It's sloppy writing not to explain it. It's like a newspaper headline - it's supposed to draw in your interest to read the article. I have no f'ing idea what a memristor is so no idea if I give a rat's poop about it.
Except if you're going to a company that provides a product that might be of interest to the company. If you find yourself in the position of being a vendor approaching your former employer for business, having left after boosting their ego is VERY good for sales.
No TheGratefulNet, obviously not (although you'd be surprised at just what the local law enforcement can get away with if there's a "friendly" judge). But a lot of times locally elected politicians move up to higher-level positions, either in state politics or even at the national level. Remember the whole "Think global, act local" concept. You've got to start somewhere.
Mitreya - As do I. I'm not saying I do it for every cause, but there are some that I set aside some time to do it. I can't do it at work either but the representative's offices seem to be open late enough (EST) for me to reach someone and leave a message. I just make a point of following up when they call back (and I think I've only ever had two not call back over the years.)
Then you're not holding them accountable. Clicking on an email petition adding your name to a list of countless other people does little. Call their offices, ask to speak to their press secretaries or general council. Ask them with which groups they meet when they say they've met with "subject matter experts" to understand the issues. Then check on those experts. Call them. Then call the senator/congresswoman/city councilman/whatever back and give them feedback on the group. Offer your services (if you really are qualified) as an expert.
Look folks - I know there are some memes on/. that show up everyday, not the least of which is the "impending death of America" (or, more often, "America is already dead"). The reality is that no, it's not. Do politicians listen to corporations that line their pockets? Yup. But they do listen to you, if you actually present an argument. And if they don't, vote them out of office. (And I don't want to hear the whole "there's only two parties" etc. etc. At the local level third-parties CAN get elected.) Democracy isn't easy. I don't think it's supposed to be. It takes more than just clicking on a link from MoveOn, PublicCitizen, etc. to get a point across.
Slashdot Mirror
> Why is some part of Florida not underwater?
Bad luck, I suppose.
And apparently when my dad was my age and learning it it was a long steep curve, uphill, both ways, in the snow.
Problem is, you'd have to explain it to them. The concept of security theater is obviously lost on the agency's leadership.
>> Obviously, I can't see the future
You can if you subscribe
Dammit. This is one of those posts I wish I had thought of. Nicely done :)
> E-mails ... continued to bounce back
;)
GoDaddy strike again.
I normally don't respond to an AC comment, but many thanks for this. I had wondered his thoughts (but never thought to check Wikipedia).
True. His death isn't what brought about the end an "optimistic era." The government butchering NASA's budget had already accomplished that. Curious what his thoughts were on what has become of the agency.
All of those may be true but not the first. Look through he 9/11 report and intelligence folks who were in the business when it happened. His senior _military_ advisors said (a) they couldn't confirm there were no civilians, but more so (b) they didn't think he would still be there when the missiles reached the target. Everyone blames him for "not taking the shot." The people who he relies on to advise him on when to pull the trigger said not to. (And btw, let's not forget it was a Dem who ultimately did get him.)
> Where on Earth is your PR team?
Well, they were having a virtual meeting to come up with a plan when all of the sudden their connection was broken...
> you can't even call your Christmas holidays "Christmas holidays".
Of course you can, if you're talking about your Christmas holidays. If you're talking about Hanukkah holidays or Kwanza holidays and you call them your "Christmas holidays" then at best you're being incorrect and at worst you're being a fool.
Exactly. There doesn't need to be a sticker on your phone saying the police can track you. Does the contract you sign when you get the phone say the information won't be turned over to law enforcement? Probably not. Has there been enough precedence over the years to give you a reasonable expectation that if law enforcement approaches a TELCO provider with whatever authorization is required they will turn it over? I'd say yes. Now, the converse is true: If the government is allowed to do this stuff in the pursuit of apprehending people under investigation in "crimes in progress" (in this case smuggling) then if they are not actively pursuing a person for a crime in progress (i.e. the "passive" recording of license plates by those devices they mount on the back of squad cars, etc.) then they should be legally bound to (a) come public with their data retention rules and (b) destroy the data after X amount of time. And checking passing cars on the off chance that the driver is involved in something isn't a crime in progress. It's fishing.
Too bad it's become increasingly apparent they just don't give a crap.
Yeah, but do you know how many clicks you need to go through to get to Heather Nauert? ;)
I'm curious if NBC saw a traffic spike (and how big of one) when they stopped broadcasting the closing ceremony live and switched to streaming it while they switched to whatever the sitcom was.
Not sure you picked the right examples: I'd say gay rights and abortion more than just touch on privacy issues. For example, look at Associate Justice Blackmun's disenting comments in Bowers v. Hardwick.
I think the problem is that most people don't see the link between things like that case and the government's downslide away from respecting our privacy. There should (in a magical world filled with puppy tears and unicorn farts) be a direct correlation where every time a government entity loses a case that deals with some aspect of privacy it acts as a wakeup call reminding them the issue is actually Privacy - with a capital P - with respect to Our Right To It Everywhere, vice privacy - with a lowercase p - with our right to it as it relates to that one particular instance.
We talking about Woz or a Congressman?
AFAIK The Koch Foundation isn't the same as the Koch Brothers (the folks who donate to conservative political candidates.)
Outstanding ideas. Once our cell service with Verizon ends we're dropping them. I'm not sufficiently in love with my iPhone to keep it. I think we'er going to switch to CREDO mobile. All I care about is a phone with a really good camera, ability to handle music and some apps I use for running. Siri is neat, but unnecessary.
For us, setting aside cell service (which also get from Verizon, but mostly because we're idiots and are still under contract) we pay around $140/month. That includes the VoIP landline. Cell service in our area ain't great so we can't ditch a landline of some sort and stick with the mobile phones. Dropping the TV portion of the FIOS service and sticking with the same speed connection is $80/mth. So if we go with just that and get some sort of VoIP replacement, I think that adds another $15-$20/mth. Netflix adds around $9/mth (we looked at Hulu+ but it didn't add that much that we wanted.) So we end up saving around $30/mth; it's not a huge amount but it adds up to a lot of diapers and baby food. I just wish iTunes or Amazon was cheaper for renting individual episodes of shows. Going piecemeal ends up being more expensive than just sticking with cable.
I'm sorry, but I shouldn't have to RTFA just to understand the key word in the summary ("memristor"). It's sloppy writing not to explain it. It's like a newspaper headline - it's supposed to draw in your interest to read the article. I have no f'ing idea what a memristor is so no idea if I give a rat's poop about it.
Except if you're going to a company that provides a product that might be of interest to the company. If you find yourself in the position of being a vendor approaching your former employer for business, having left after boosting their ego is VERY good for sales.
Best ... response ... ever. Very nicely said.
No TheGratefulNet, obviously not (although you'd be surprised at just what the local law enforcement can get away with if there's a "friendly" judge). But a lot of times locally elected politicians move up to higher-level positions, either in state politics or even at the national level. Remember the whole "Think global, act local" concept. You've got to start somewhere.
Mitreya - As do I. I'm not saying I do it for every cause, but there are some that I set aside some time to do it. I can't do it at work either but the representative's offices seem to be open late enough (EST) for me to reach someone and leave a message. I just make a point of following up when they call back (and I think I've only ever had two not call back over the years.)
Then you're not holding them accountable. Clicking on an email petition adding your name to a list of countless other people does little. Call their offices, ask to speak to their press secretaries or general council. Ask them with which groups they meet when they say they've met with "subject matter experts" to understand the issues. Then check on those experts. Call them. Then call the senator/congresswoman/city councilman/whatever back and give them feedback on the group. Offer your services (if you really are qualified) as an expert.
/. that show up everyday, not the least of which is the "impending death of America" (or, more often, "America is already dead"). The reality is that no, it's not. Do politicians listen to corporations that line their pockets? Yup. But they do listen to you, if you actually present an argument. And if they don't, vote them out of office. (And I don't want to hear the whole "there's only two parties" etc. etc. At the local level third-parties CAN get elected.) Democracy isn't easy. I don't think it's supposed to be. It takes more than just clicking on a link from MoveOn, PublicCitizen, etc. to get a point across.
Look folks - I know there are some memes on