Just because the founders were ignorant of the technological standards that would exist a couple of centuries later by no means indicates that they were excluding different formats from their rules. Hell, they didn't say cuneiform clay tablets, but you can damn well bet that they would have raised holy hell if someone were using that particular medium of recording information and some dumbass tried to snoop into them because they aren't made from dead trees.

The fact that it made it to the state supreme court means their lawyers weren't willing to give in until all possible means of making it go away were exhausted.

Agreed. However, it is unfortunate that the ones that should arrest them are the police, and the police won't arrest the police unless they have no choice.
On top of that, at this current juncture they'll do the whole "but I thought it was legal" argument, and because they are police, it will be hand-waved away.

I do hope you all understand that if your phone is actually turned off, if won't be transmitting any kind of GPS data. Heck, it won't even be receiving & processing the GPS signals. If you don't know if your phone is really off, or suspect you're being tricked by simulate the off software, then pull the battery. If you have a sealed phone that doesn't have a removable battery and are still that paranoid, you need a different phone.

There is at least one judge that is known to keep signed warrents there for them to take and fill out as they desire, as he can't be bothered to do his job of providing oversight.

Tasers and nightsticks usually aren't that lethal, unless of course you mean that they'll be using the tasers or nightsticks on you if you comply, otherwise it's something nastier, like 6 bullets to the brain, or flamethrower to the face or something.

Your patented IP is essentially part of your resume. If you wish to mention it to showcase your skill, you are welcome to it. That of course in no means makes it available to the potential employer without them paying for or licensing it just like everybody else. No more than someone working as a bartender at a different bar would be expected to share their tips with the new bar.

However, keep an eye on the details of any contract you sign as I've heard that some companies like to slip evil little lines in them that give them rights to anything you make, or work on during the time period you are employed by them. I've heard that some even make claims on things made afterwards. It wouldn't surprise me if some unscrupulous companies also tried to claim prior creations as well.
Obviously, you want to refuse to sign anything with that kind of bogus IP looting involved. Definitely have it removed first, and be suspicious of anyone that would try it in the first place. Since most people don't speak legalese, make sure you have a lawyer go over the papers to make sure there's nothing obfuscated and lurking in there to bite your backside.

(ianal)

I think that's called a "Graft", not a "Hoax". But don't say it around any congressmen, they get rather pissie about the term.

Edison was an ego-maniacal self promoter, while Tesla wasn't that interested in whipping up the public over trivia.
If you want more, read the book the previous two posters mention, I hear it does a pretty good job of explaining that stuff, though I haven't read it myself.

The NSA is the NSA. They were there before the president, and will be there many more presidents to come. They don't care about the president because he's only there for 4 years, maybe 8 at the most. Really, do you think any president "controls" the NSA? The best they can hope to do is reign in their worst activities on a good day.

Sorry I can't remember it, but a few years back I used a method that obfuscates the site you are going to so the ISP doesn't "optimize" the speed test.
With the well known test sites, clear speeds vs obfuscated speeds were widely different. (Obfuscated was much lower.)
To try and make sure the obfuscation wasn't causing the issue, I also checked with several, at that time, barely known speed test sites as well. Of course, both clear addresses, and obfuscated addresses again. With the little known sites, both clear and obfuscated results were the same as the major sites obfuscated results.
That made it pretty clear that that the ISP was juicing the speed test sites when they could recognize it as one.

Shield Flying Car.

http://marvel.wikia.com/S.H.I.E.L.D._Flying_Car

Except the person was still alive, and not a fictional character. Of course, the stupid and illegal actions of the police might have gotten her killed without any warning to her of any possible threat, so there's that too.

Don't forget copyright infringement as the cops sure as hell didn't have the rights to those pics.
Hey, it's got the highest possible penalties of all of them and applies, so might as well have it on the list.

This pic is pretty much accurate...
http://cdn-www.i-am-bored.com/media/7125_piratemoviechart.jpg