Comment Re:Sadism. (Score 2) 209
In this case, it happened because placating the fears of public officials regarding their own ineptitude turned out to be increadibly lucerative:
http://www.businessinsider.com...
Comment Re:This is not a telephone conversation. (Score 1) 164
It is not difficult to see how posting in a Sasha Shulgin thread might have repercussions for American citizens. For instance, Mr. Opportunist, since both you and I posted in the same comment thread, even though I have no idea who you are and never will, our names are linked in some NSA database. How this can bite you in the ass (albeit, currently at a low probability level) is already public knowledge:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Comment Re:It's just sad... (Score 1) 164
Maybe it is the "stupid and reckless" get caught, but those who, for whatever reason, are inducted into the underground economy that supplies the "contributing members of society," that do the time.
Comment This is not a telephone conversation. (Score 1) 164
I'd post a comment in this thread, but my NSA file is getting heavy enough as it is. How sad that Sasha did not live to see a bit more sanity in this world.
Comment Impulse Control? (Score 1) 397
Must not get sucked into comments. Must stop wasting time on Slashdot.
OK, this comment does not count, and maybe I could read just one more story---it may expand my mind in unexpected ways, after all.
But I will get to work! I will close this tab and not post this comment.
Damn. Hey, I'm kind of hungry. Anyone up for going out to lunch?
Submission + - Warrantless wiretapping cases at the 9th Circuit (eff.org)
sunbird writes: The Electronic Frontier Foundation argued several critical cases yesterday before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Both Hepting v. AT&T and Jewel v. National Security Agency raise important questions regarding whether the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program (pdf summary of evidence) disclosed by whistleblower Mark Klein and implemented by AT&T and other telecoms, violates the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The full text of the Klein declaration and redacted exhibits are publicly available (pdf). This issue has been previously discussed here (1 2 3 4). The Klein evidence establishes that AT&T cut into the fiber optic cables in San Francisco to route a complete copy of internet and phone traffic to the "SG3" secure room operated by the NSA. The trial court dismissed the Hepting lawsuit (pdf order) based on the 2008 Congressional grant of immunity to telecoms. Similarly, the trial court in Jewel dismissed (pdf order) the lawsuit against the government agencies and officials based on the state secrets privilege. Both cases were argued together before the same panel of judges. The audio of the oral argument will be available after 12noon PT today.
Comment Re:Oh, the irony (Score 1) 153
I wish I had your problems, then, because mine not only never got solved quickly, but never got solved. As for my attitude being "dated," well, it's dated exactly two weeks ago, which was the last time I was foolish enough to try to get support from Microsoft.
Comment Oh, the irony (Score 0) 153
"users shall soon be able to turn to Microsoft when asking questions of Skype's sometimes-spotty service.""
Because if there is one company that knows all about crappy service, it's Microsoft.
So long, Skype. You were good while you lasted.
Submission + - US Authorities GPS tagging duped Indian Students (indiatimes.com)
tanveer1979 writes: Indian students duped by the dodgy Tri-Valley university in California have been fitted with GPS radio collars by the immigration authorities.
Scores of Indian students were caught in a scam where the university violated immigration norms and illegally got the students F1 visa and immigration status. To keep a track on the movements of the students, the authorities put GPS radio tags. This is spiraling into a major diplomatic row between India and USA, with the former calling the practice inhuman and unwanted.
Scores of Indian students were caught in a scam where the university violated immigration norms and illegally got the students F1 visa and immigration status. To keep a track on the movements of the students, the authorities put GPS radio tags. This is spiraling into a major diplomatic row between India and USA, with the former calling the practice inhuman and unwanted.
Comment Re:Riiiiight (Score 2, Informative) 402
Luckily, we have numerous texts and hundreds of years of scholarship. There is good consensus on what is and what is not authentic. This is not some sort of code like in an Enigma machine; you don't need a decoder ring. RTFA.
Comment Wow! Historical, transformative (Score 1) 402
I would like to say that I was one of those who said that there must be something more there when reading Plato, but this news has me stunned. If this holds true, it will be an epochal discovery. Me, I can't remember the last time we had one of those in philosophy. Just hope it won't turn out to be cold fusion.
Comment Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score 2, Informative) 510
Sprint uses the very same CDMA towers as Verizon. Even if Verizon has more coverage, with Sprint's free roaming, I still have the exact same coverage as before I switched. Sprint, however, is cheaper, though arguably just as evil.
Judge Opens Hearing On RealDVD Legal Battle 164
FP writes "On Friday morning, lawyers urged a federal judge to bar RealNetworks from selling software that allows consumers to copy their DVDs to computer hard drives, arguing that the Seattle-based company's product is an illegal pirating tool. RealNetworks' lawyers countered later in the morning that its RealDVD product is equipped with piracy protections that limits a DVD owner to making a single copy and is a legitimate way to back up copies of movies legally purchased. This legal battle began with a restraining order last October which stopped the sale of RealDVD. More coverage is available at NPR. The same judge who shut down Napster is presiding over the three-day trial."
Reader IonOtter points out that later in the day, Judge Patel sealed the court after DVD Copy Control Association lawyers "argued that public testimony of aspects of the CSS copy-control technology would violate trade secrets."
Scientists Isolate and Treat Parasite Causing Decline in Honey Bee Population 182
In a recent report, a team of scientists from Spain claims to have isolated and treated the parasite causing honey bee depopulation syndrome. Their hope is to prevent the continued decline of honey bee populations in Europe and the US. "The loss of honey bees could have an enormous horticultural and economic impact worldwide. Honeybees are important pollinators of crops, fruit and wild flowers and are indispensable for a sustainable and profitable agriculture as well as for the maintenance of the non-agricultural ecosystem. Honeybees are attacked by numerous pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites."
Senate Bill Calls For Open Source Electronic Health Records 170
An anonymous reader optimistically writes that new legislation has been introduced in the Senate that would call for a nationwide adoption of electronic health records built on open source. The bill does not seek to supplant proprietary alternatives, but instead to either augment or offer a cost effective alternative. "'We need advancements in health information technology across the board to improve the quality of care Americans receive,' said Senator Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. 'To make this happen, we need universal access to affordable and interoperable health information technology — from small, rural health clinics to large, urban hospitals.'"
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