:Lobo Santo's Favorite Techdirt Articles of the Week
This week’s favorites of the week post comes from :Lobo Santo.
It first bears mentioning my very favorite article every week since its inception is “Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt”. Primarily because I’m always hoping to ‘place’ on it again. Even without my nigh-lackluster comments, it’s nice to see what the ‘wisdom of the masses’ pushed into the most insightful and funniest categories.
That having been said, on to the main enchilada! As luck would have it, my rapid perusal of the week’s articles yielded exactly ten results which stuck in my mind for a variety of reasons, and so we’ll do a top-ten style countdown (please don’t sue me if you work for the “Late Show”.)
Number 10. Success! Sita Sings the Blues Once Again Viewable on German Youtube
Nina’s video is once again availble in Germany. Never knew Nina was cute in a Texas-soccermon kinda way. Also, her comics are particularly illustrative of certain issues and have a style quite their own. Though, I myself am more of an XKCD and SMBC kinda guy.
Number 9. Court Refuses To Issue Injunction Stopping Secret Web Spycams From Running On Rental Laptops
Can you believe the court says ‘possible spying’ is no harm? Kinda like saying “so yeah, this guy installed cameras in your sisters bedroom and bathroom–but that doesn’t mean he’s watching them. Come to court when you can prove he’s watching.” This line of stories strikes me; primarily due to the absurdity of the result–also, why aren’t these people just formatting the laptop and installing a nice free operating system like Ubuntu or Mint? That would fix ’em in a jiffy.
Number 8. Kevin Smith Shows The Importance Of Building A Brand As A Part Of CwF+RtB
Once again the notable quotable Kevin Smith is in the news for taking actions to go directly to his fans–an amazing phenomenon for a film-maker (name two others who do that). The new site is worth checking–if only to see the “made with love” sticker. This is, of course, in addition to his podcast, iPhone app, and other offerings that I’m not taking the time to list. I’ve got a weak spot for Kevin Smith. He’s an amazing public speaker, makes quite good movies, and if he wasn’t such an ecstatic sports fan I’d still be following him on Twitter.
Children of America trying to make money, police and politicians trying to take money. An illustrative tale of absurdities in our legal system, but I guess it’s never too early to start beating the “obey or else” mantra into the minds of the young.
Number 6. Can Google Get Past The Big Faceless White Monolith Stage?
An insightful look at the changing nature of Google with a particular commentary on the nature and quality of their customer service. I’ve been a fan of Google since the time when people used to say “Google, what’s that?” Being somebody with an engineering mindset, I’ve usually found everything they made to be pretty much the way I would have made it. I’ll miss their ‘awkward engineer’ larval stage–but I look forward to when they finish this cocoon stage and then move on towards founding the ‘Federation of Planets.’
Number 5. The Greatest Trick The NYTimes Ever Pulled Was Convincing The World Its Paywall Exists
How many digital subrscribers does the NYTimes really have? This is a tale of cognitive dissonance and spin. Does the NYTimes really have the numbers? All I know is whoever took the money to build the paywall, convincing the NY Times they were a competent contractor, should have a job in sales instead–and never ever code any stupid thing ever again.
Number 4. Arresting People Associated With Anonymous Unlikely To Have The Impact The Feds Expect
Pretty much everything you need to know about this story is right there in the headline. This punny headline might have as well have read: FBI arrests random people, expects “internet problem” to get better. “Members of Anonymous” always cracks me up too. Did anybody check their membership cards?
Number 3. Man Made Famous Over 2006 Arrest For Videotaping Police… Arrested Again While Videotaping Police
This illustrative article is a harrowing tale of laws being stretched to abuse the populace, and in this case one particular man. Evil is perpetrated thru the inaction of good men. This guy without doubt has some problems, but at least he’s doing something. Besides, when’s the last time you saw a protagonist with the same name as a Legend of Zelda boss?
Convincing fake Apple stores in China! Sure look like real iPads they’re selling. If only they’d called it the ‘Snapple’ store, they could’ve been in an entirely different mess. The sheer chutzpah, gall, and inventiveness of makers of fake products is a smiling reminder of the unquashable spirit of humans.
And finally…
Number 1. Phoenix DA Decides Not To File Charges Against Woman Accused Of Groping TSA Agent
I like this story–someone who gave a little tit-for-tat (no pun) to the TSA and will not be absurdly punished for it. Though sadly, she’s saved by a technicality rather than the morality of the District Attorney.
Remember: some people are like slinkies. They’re pretty much good for nothing, but still bring a smile to your face when they fall down the stairs.
Have a good night everybody.
Random Insight on Law, Intents, Good, and Evil
(sorry, mildly grand title) It occurs to me, that on paper, good and bad governance could look much the same--laws lauded with phrases like "for the children," "for the greater good," "in support of our people's rights," or "in defense of our nation," and so on. Perhaps a great deal of how good or bad a nation is comes down to the aggregate of who uses the laws, literally "for what and how" are the laws used? Is it possible that a nation which appears a utopian democracy (if one looks shallowly at the laws) could actually be a fascist feudalism, with secret police stealing anything they like and breaking into peoples' houses in the middle of the night with impunity, and lords and baron living in comfor while their serfs struggle to survive? And perhaps laws which should make a country looks like a socialist/communist backwater may result in a place with the highest average happiness on the planet? I ponder if perhaps the issue isn't laws, but people and culture. There's no order but what we make. No justice, just us.
- The Late Reply -
Let us think for a moment on last century's media paradigm:
A first-class lane for content "streamed" in full-color to the home--cable tv
and a second-class lane for people to use to contact their equals and "betters"--telephone.
Now, contrast with the internet: Everybody has a voice.
Any citizen can speak out on any available platform and be seen by very nearly the entirely world. Or at least, a majority of our countrymen.
In this context, let us ask again, why would politicians (or those behind them) want to put an end to Section 230 for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?
To quote Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality: "To understand the object of an obscure plot, observe its consequences and ask who might have intended them."
In my opinion, somebody is playing a long game in an attempt to return to the status quo of the few having the power to broadcast, and the many having only what little they are allowed.
All the best
Allow me to reply with an honest and heartfelt rebuttal based upon decades of experience and interaction with Bethesda products:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha he he ha ha!! Snort giggle tee-hee oh gawd, my sides... I can't breathe...
Thank you, that is all.
Re: AC (hearts) old comments.
Business Opportunity!!
(insert money sound here).
I wonder, if somebody were to pick a given court, pay the fee to download every docket/page, and then offer them up on a website with good search and a reasonable monthly fee, could they turn a profit on the endeavor?
Inverted Lists
Wouldn't it be faster and easier to list the people who're aren't critical of Trump?
Salutatory for Satellits.
So, yes, there's an opportunity cost to putting up a great number of low-orbiting satellites.
That said, it's looking like SpaceX may actually pull it off. There's people beta testing their satellite internet presently.
We all know the broadband space is in desperate need of disruption, and if a satellite internet provider can do so, I'd like to say "more power to them!"
Even better, we've got more than one competitor in the space (no pun)!
In the future, I expect using satellites for astronomic observation will become more common, which completely ameliorates the ground-level photography issue. On top of that, there's a ton of cpu-drive techniques for getting non-static objects out of images.
We have so much to gain, and ready solutions to every complaint. We should be going full-steam ahead on satellite internet, in my opinion.
What's that sound?
Oh yes, it's a slap on the wrist.
Re: "Who cares about a fire, I've got a data plan to sell!"
If ever there were something to rally public support of Net Neutrality around, this may very well be it.
"Verizon cares more about money than lives".
or perhaps:
"Verizon would be fine with watching you burn to death unless you pay(?)"
Many, the hatchet piece which could be written based upon this...!
Re: This should be easy to crowdsource
Since this is likely going to be a recurring problem, make it a question on the decennial census.
Re: Except is nothing like your phrase. -- Just more predictive FUD.
Yes! Anonymous Coward is right! Surely, having slid in the tip, there's no way the cable companies (see: ISPs) will then continue to see how far they can stretch your money-orifice all while having no concern as to your discomfort. Certainly, there's no way we'll ever end up with bullshit like having hundreds of channels, all "packaged", and all filled with garbage content--for the low low price of over $120 per month, in a handy non-negotiable package. Plus, AC in his comparison to religions and tornados and volcanos... wow! He's right! After huge events, people will die and we'll abandon our faith but maybe after a few generations, the PTSD will have tapered off to the point where we believe our post-volcanic world is "normal". Damn, AC, you're some kind of philosopher-king! Have you thought about running for Parliament in Zurich? You'd be great!
Re: What a #&*#$&#!! mess...
One wonders at what point it becomes more economical to simply deny service to certain countries with overly silly laws...
I think we're becoming Cardassia...
(a fictional planet & race from Star Trek: Deep Space 9)
I specifically remember a scene where the Doctor says to Garak, "I'm sick of these Cardassian mystery novels. There's no mystery, everybody is always guilty!".
Garak replies: "Of course, Doctor, the mystery is: who is guilty of what?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Can you imagine the world we'll create if this becomes common and normal? Nobody will start a new internet business unless they can already afford cutting-edge censorship techniques and an army of lawyers.
More Better!
Rather than a law, we should enshrine something like this into the United States Constitution via Amendment.
Re: Re:
Also, Factorio (in case you haven't tried it).
The blunder
If I ever accidentally manage to win one of those mega-jackpots, I'm going to start a new hobby of making companies that charge reasonable fees for service, just so I can fooking eat the lunch of companies that do this shyte.
Even if the stupid overcharging assholes match prices with me for a time (until I can be gotten rid of), there will at least be a fair price for a while.
Overwatch
I wonder if anybody has seriously put forward that data (internet) should be regulated in the same manner as water and electricity.
With Apologies
I'm going to have to go against the flow on this one. If you are armed and shoot somebody in self-defense, then you've done nothing illegal.
Under modern precedent, you may, in defense of somebody else's life, take any action you would take in defense of your own life.
QED: The officer shot a person who seemed to present a danger to the life and limb of another person. What they did in this situation would have been legal for anybody to do.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not the whole story -- now includes ZOMBIES!
Thanks!
Had a desk job back then. These days I lurk and listen to the podcast. Glad you're still busy advocating for sense.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not the whole story -- now includes ZOMBIES!
Nope, just been busy.
Thanks though, I haven't been called an AI before!
Is this one of those "takes on to know one" things?
Are you an AI?