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Comment Re:Why didn't they ask Myspace? (Score 1) 206

by reifman (#48263981) Attached to: Is the Outrage Over the FBI's Seattle Times Tactics a Knee-Jerk Reaction?
I've put a question into the FBI spokesperson about this. This is 2007 - so WiFi and laptop penetration was a bit less than it is today. But, theoretically, the CIPAV would leverage additional data from their laptop. But, agreed - this would have been a logical step - trying to confirm if/why they tried this.

Submission + - Outrage over FBI's online tactics highlights knee-jerk Internet culture (geekwire.com)

Submitted by reifman
reifman writes: The Internet's been abuzz the past 48 hours about reports the FBI distributed malware via a fake Seattle Times news website. What the agency actually did is more of an example of smart, precise law enforcement tactics; the outrage online is more an indictment of Twitter's tendency towards uninformed, knee-jerk reaction. In this age of unwarranted, unconstitutional blanket data collection by the NSA, the FBI's tactics from 2007 seem refreshing for their precision.

Submission + - Protesters Blockade Microsoft's Seattle Headquarters Over Tax Dodging (geekwire.com) 2

Submitted by reifman
reifman writes: A thousand unionized healthcare workers protested outside Microsoft's Seattle offices over its Nevada tax dodge on Friday. Microsoft shareholders have pocketed more than $5.34 billion in tax savings as Washington State social services and schools have taken huge cuts. In a hearing Wednesday, the Supreme Court suggested it may hold the Legislature in contempt and order it to repeal all tax breaks to restore proper funding to K-12 schools and universities.

Submission + - Install Four Do It Yourself Google Reader Alternatives (jeffreifman.com)

Submitted by reifman
reifman writes: I thought it might be a good time to revisit alternatives to now defunct Google Reader. Here, I walk through the installation of four newsreader apps: Selfoss, TinyRSS, GoRead and Fever. Of the four, two are free open source PHP-based readers (Selfoss and Tiny RSS), the third is an open source Python reader (GoRead) which runs easiest on Google App Engine and my favorite, Fever, whose PHP code costs $30 but can be easily self-hosted (no affiliation with the developer). All of them import OPML files — which is handy for migrating from another reader application. TinyRSS and GoRead offer an Android app client and there are third-party apps available for Fever.

Submission + - How to Respond to Internet Rage

Submitted by reifman
reifman writes: So, you’ve been attacked by trolls? Here’s what to expect: Your phone will vibrate incessantly with Twitter mentions. You’ll receive angry, obscenity filled emails and anonymous comments on your blog. Bloggers will take you out of context (a columnist at The Guardian compared me to a mass murderer—seriously). And maybe, you’ll receive an inappropriate package at your home as I did. Taming Internet rage may seem impossible, but there are good reasons to respond to critics and constructive ways to do so.

Submission + - Microsoft's Ballmer Accused of Manipulating High School Basketball (crosscut.com)

Submitted by reifman
reifman writes: Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is alleged to have 'attracted basketball talent to [his son's] wealthy school ... with ... a new basketball-focused nonprofit, cash for a coach, an unusual admissions process and weak enforcement of academic standards. One star player stayed at a $6 million mansion...' The report came after Ballmer purchased the NBA's Clippers and shortly before his withdrawal from Microsoft's Board of Directors. 'The school has an admirably diverse student body – nearly half (49 percent) are students of color – and has made outstanding efforts to connect with minorities and local students who are not from privileged backgrounds.' The school is also the alma mater and the meeting place of Microsoft's founder's Bill Gates & Paul Allen.

Submission + - Education Funding for Washington State is in the Hands of Microsoft Shareholders (crosscut.com)

Submitted by reifman
reifman writes: In June, the Washington State Supreme Court ordered the Legislature to appear on September 3rd to explain why it hasn't found the revenue to fully fund the education reforms required by its McCleary ruling, as much as $7.83 billion through 2019. One reason the state has such a huge shortfall is major tax breaks to corporations such as Boeing and Microsoft. In particular, Microsoft’s savings from lobbying and dodging the state royalty tax between 1997 and 2014 is $5.34 billion. Factoring in interest and the Department of Revenue’s typical 25 percent penalty on unpaid corporate taxes, that number jumps to $8.16 billion. In other words, the entire education shortfall which Microsoft's leaders regularly decry, would not likely exist if not for their tax practices, passing education dollars to its out of state and international shareholders.

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