I have no comment, but I will smile for the hidden camera... (Mild paranoia is a symptom of technological ignorance.)
http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=20070725190731350
Appeals Court Clarifies: Government Spyware Not Protected in Ruling
Wednesday, July 25 2007 @ 07:07 PM CDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews News Section: In the Courts
Orin Kerr at the Volokh Conspiracy has been looking at whether the FBI can legally install its CIPAV spyware on your computer without a search warrant or wiretap order under a recent U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision. Today the 9th Circuit clarified: no, it can't.
The original July 6th opinion in U.S. v. Forrester upheld the DEA's limited monitoring of a suspect's internet use under the low "pen register" standard, which requires only that a law enforcement agency certify that the surveillance will be "relevant" to an investigation -- no probable cause or judicial fact finding needed.
Source - Threat Level (blog)
Read 'em and weep, Hollywood.
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/015553.html
July 25, 2007
Pew Internet Project's First Major Report on Online Video
Press release: "The growing adoption of broadband combined with a dramatic push by content providers to promote online video has helped to pave the way for mainstream audiences to embrace online video viewing. Fifty-seven percent of online adults have used the internet to watch or download video, and 19% do so on a typical day. Three-quarters of broadband users (74%) who enjoy high-speed connections at both home and work watch or download video online."
Never bite the hand that feeds you.
http://techdirt.com/articles/20070724/234444.shtml
LA Times Kills Editorial On How To Revitalize Both Music And Newspaper Industries To Avoid Pissing Off Both
from the how-dare-you-make-a-suggestion-that-will-help-us! dept
Last month, when the news first came out that Prince did a deal to have a UK newspaper give away a free copy of his latest CD with every paper, we noted that this showed a great way to increase the value for both the music industry and the newspaper industry in one single move. Apparently, I wasn't the only one to think so. A columnist for the LA Times, Patrick Goldstein, felt the same way as well -- and actually had some fantastic ideas to improve on Prince's experiment in a way that would add tremendous value to a bunch of musicians and the LA Times in a single move. Of course, the LA Times sometimes is known for catering to the incumbent established entertainment industry which so dominates LA -- and perhaps that's why the LA Times' new associate editor killed the column and refused to run it (found via Romenesko). Of course, in true Streisand Effect fashion, the column has leaked and it's hard to see any reason why the LA Times would spike it, other than it was afraid of pissing off the established recording industry.
You can read the whole spiked column at the link above, and it's a worthwhile read. The smart changes Goldstein proposed were that it be a regular series of free CDs distributed with the newspaper (encouraging more subscriptions and positioning the paper as a "tastemaker"). And rather than have the newspaper pay the musicians directly (which is how the Prince deal worked), have a sponsor pony up the money to be associated with the musician (this is exactly how much music is already created). Everyone wins in this deal... except stubborn record labels who don't understand that they should be in the music promotion business and think they're only in the business of selling plastic discs. The musicians get paid, get a lot more attention and are likely to make even more in terms of a wider audience willing to go to more shows, buy more merchandise and increase the amount future sponsors will be willing to pay. The newspaper gives people a fantastic new reason to subscribe and reinvents the role of the newspaper as a tastemaker. Sponsors get a great way to associate their brand with hot musicians. And, most importantly, everyone else benefits by getting access to more good music. Yet, in a town where the entertainment industry rules all, apparently, protecting obsolete business models is more important than publishing interesting columns with fantastic suggestions for creating a great new service.
Goldstein's final paragraph is too good not to repeat (especially since the LA Times doesn't think it's worth even printing once:
"Giving music away doesn't mean it has lost its value, just that its value is no longer moored to the price of a CD. Like it or not, the CD is dying, as is the culture of newsprint. People want their music -- and their news -- in new ways. It's time we embraced change instead of always worrying if some brash new idea -- like giving away music -- would tarnish our sober minded image. When businesses are faced with radical change, they are usually forced to ask -- is it a threat or an opportunity? Guess which choice is the right answer."
And we're not counting Congressmen (See the DC Madam story below)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/25/myspace_erases_offenders/
MySpace erases 29,000 sex offenders
By Lester Haines Published Wednesday 25th July 2007 08:51 GMT
MySpace yesterday announced it had "detected and deleted" 29,000 convicted sex offenders on the social networking site, Reuters reports.
The figure is considerably higher than the 7,000 it said it had identified back in May, after coming under strong pressure to tackle the sex offender menace. A coalition of Attorneys General led by Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal demanded it do more to protect minors and hand over details of known miscreants.
Following a stand-off during which the News Corporation-owned company refused (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/16/myspace_says_no_on_data/) to supply the requested information "because law enforcement officials hadn't followed the required legal process", MySpace eventually agreed to cough "the names, email addresses, and IP addresses of all convicted sex offenders who have set up a profile on the site".
Luddites or Libertarians?
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=71974&search_result=1&stid=1
Taxi Drivers Threaten To Strike Over GPS Proposal
July 25, 2007
Some taxi drivers are angry about a plan to install global positioning system devices in their yellow cabs and they are threatening to hang up their keys.
The New York Taxi Workers Alliance has long opposed the plan – claiming it is an invasion of drivers' privacy.
... The TLC says the new technology is intended to help cab drivers get around the city, reunite passengers with lost items, and help the police catch criminals preying on taxi drivers.
... Owusu says the devices, which would cost drivers at least an extra $40 a month, are just an extra expense they do not need.
... In a statement, the commissioner says, "I am puzzled that this group is not telling its members that drivers with the systems are making an average 18 percent more in tips."
It's probably not a student conspiracy...
http://www.killerstartups.com/eCommerce/uloop--The-Students-Craigslist/
ULoop.com - The Student's Craigslist
posted 5 Hours 4 Minutes ago by Siri
ULoop could be thought of as the young love child of Craigslist and Facebook; or one might say it’s just another online classifieds sites, with a special focus. It’s meant for students—to join you need an .edu email address. Once you’ve registered you can sell your books, trade your LP’s, search for an apartment or roommates, and promote your band—all without charge.
Ah! Summertime reading.
http://digg.com/general_sciences/The_Complete_Works_of_Friedrich_Nietzsche_Online
The Complete Works of Friedrich Nietzsche Online
This site contains an almost complete online version of the works of the famous philosopher/philologist Friedrich Nietzsche.
http://www.davemckay.co.uk/philosophy/nietzsche/
Madam, do you need assistance? (A Geek is helpful, loyal, clean...)
http://digg.com/politics/GoDaddy_Heps_Out_the_DC_Madam
GoDaddy Heps Out the DC Madam
“They came in and offered unlimited bandwidth forever and ever — they thought it was their patriotic duty,” Palfrey gushed.
http://thehill.com/under-the-dome/godaddy-others-pitch-in-2007-07-24.html
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