Latest Techdirt Comments http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... Re: Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c489 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:13:23 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c489 did not reuse the same region of flash memory for something else
Wear leveling]]> Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/01321523153/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-infamous-samy-amy-if-they-talk-about-their-experience-show.shtml#c183 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:13:14 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/01321523153/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-infamous-samy-amy-if-they-talk-about-their-experience-show.shtml#c183
That's why some of them seem like they're there just to make a big enough fuss to get themselves on TV, because they are.]]> Re: Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c485 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:12:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c485 have to desolder the flash chip

Might have JTAG pins available. Most boards these days do. Needed for assembly-line QA.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c44 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:11:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c44
Perhaps they were jealous that they didn't think of it.]]> Maybe they're about to pull a "New Coke" http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c23 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:10:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c23
Maybe shut down the critics early, and decrease the drama later?]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c470 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:04:13 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c470 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130507/06201422976/chicago-blackhawks-fire-reporter-over-silly-old-youtube-videos.shtml#c683 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:04:01 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130507/06201422976/chicago-blackhawks-fire-reporter-over-silly-old-youtube-videos.shtml#c683
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0bOAyBtTBY.

The words 'Anti Semitic' are pretty powerful, irregardless of whether it's accurate or not (hint - it's not).]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130502/07475922914/why-even-good-hospitals-doctors-are-obstacle-to-better-cheaper-healthcare.shtml#c282 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:03:32 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130502/07475922914/why-even-good-hospitals-doctors-are-obstacle-to-better-cheaper-healthcare.shtml#c282 Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c467 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:03:13 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c467
And no matter which method, you are counting on being lucky that the phone's operating system did not reuse the same region of flash memory for something else. If it is deleted, the space occupied by the file is now fair game for reuse by the operating system.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/01321523153/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-infamous-samy-amy-if-they-talk-about-their-experience-show.shtml#c168 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:02:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/01321523153/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-infamous-samy-amy-if-they-talk-about-their-experience-show.shtml#c168
If they want they can talk about the show while NOT Disparaging the show, without issue.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c459 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:59:09 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c459 Someone should get rid of that "less-than-lethal" modifier attached to "Taser."

"Less-than-lethal" is likely a misquote/misunderstanding on the part of the author of that Courthouse News article. I'm pretty sure the actual official designation is "less-lethal" which is a subtle but important distinction.]]> Re: Wrong angle http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/18345423136/doj-dept-education-to-colleges-start-restricting-free-speech-campus-kiss-your-federal-funding-goodbye.shtml#c907 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:56:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/18345423136/doj-dept-education-to-colleges-start-restricting-free-speech-campus-kiss-your-federal-funding-goodbye.shtml#c907 the concern is effectively dealing with sexual assault

Fine, but just because their goal is reasonable does not mean their methods are.

Neither the DoJ nor the DoE is trying to curtail students' rights of free speech.


If that's the case, then write the rules in a way that doesn't allow these rights to be curtailed.]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c443 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:55:28 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c443
Did she violate the law? This is a yes or no question. If the answer is "no", they have ZERO grounds to confiscate her property or arrest her.

If the police officers can't deal with some cranky woman, they don't deserve to be police officers. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

This woman is doing us a favor. She is highlighting the police officers who don't deserve the badge.]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c420 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:54:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c420 Not that I support what the cops did, but it looks like they weren't paying any attention to her until she started being a bitch.

Sorry, but 'being a bitch' is covered by freedom of speech. John Adams was a total bitch, he was a mouthy bastard who was obnoxious and disliked even by his friends, but especially hated by the Loyalists and Tories who comprise TPTB. The mouthy bastards of the world are the best ones to make the world a better place because they are so angry at injustice that it kinda makes 'em crabby, so they do the work to make things better. This is an American tradition.

The cops are supposed to protect and serve even people who are bitches. They're supposed to know how to handle it, because they're professionals who have been trained in interfacing properly with the public, even members of the public who do not like the police (often for good reasons, such as being good citizens who keep getting targeted by racial profilers, which can be very frustrating.)

When the bitches are properly shut-the-fuck-up, the rest of us suffer.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c905 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:54:30 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c905
Really? I thought the military did that.

*BURN*]]> Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c933 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:53:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c933 "Any basic text on sexual urges will tell you that there is a big difference between pre and post pubescent desires."

I don't doubt it, but it's quite irrelevant. A book describing illegal sex with a minor is describing illegal conduct whether the minor is 6 or 16. One may be more disturbing than the other, but they're both works of fiction and no one is being hurt or forced to read the books.

Don't like it? Just close the book!]]> Re: Liability Slipery Slope http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c895 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:52:37 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c895
Somewhere, in Some Universe (not ours), in some possible space time continuum, You may have infringed on a Copyright (where in our universe the law has been expanded ever upward to cover all possible quantum possible uses, including differences in time, space, temporal mechanics, or other currently unknown quantum phenomenon).

Since you have been accused, by nature of quantum mechanics, therefor you are guilty, all your possessions are forfeit to the **AA, your children will be held as indentured servants to the **AA for 100 years past the current youngest child's death.. aka Death + 100 years, and all your IP will be assimilated by the **AA's.

Welcome to your future, now go get a job and start paying your debt to the **AA's (debt to society is a foreign concept, as we asked, but nobody from "society" bothered to respond... guess there weren't that many left).

This message brought to you by your friendly tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theorist...]]> Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c399 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:50:50 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c399 Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c393 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:50:07 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c393 NYPD's own Patrol Guide.
b. None of the following constitutes probable cause for arrest or detention of an onlooker unless the safety of officers or other persons is directly endangered or the officer reasonably believes they are endangered or the law is otherwise violated:

(1) Speech alone, even though crude and vulgar
(2) Requesting and making notes of shield numbers or names of officers
(3) Taking photographs, videotapes or tape recordings
(4) Remaining in the vicinity of the stop or arrest


You assert,]]> Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/01321523153/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-infamous-samy-amy-if-they-talk-about-their-experience-show.shtml#c153 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:49:45 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/01321523153/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-infamous-samy-amy-if-they-talk-about-their-experience-show.shtml#c153