http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c531 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:43:25 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c531 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c529 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:42:22 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c529 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/07515923527/leaseweb-deletes-megauploads-servers-without-warning-destroying-key-evidence.shtml#c970 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:40:45 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/07515923527/leaseweb-deletes-megauploads-servers-without-warning-destroying-key-evidence.shtml#c970 Now what?

Now I suggest you brush up on some legal text because you have no idea what you are talking about.

First and foremost, the government didn't seize anything. If they had seized the servers then they would be in the governments custody, not LeaseWebs.

In this case the government is attempting to destroy evidence by preventing a defendant from maintaining said evidence. If this goes to trial I presume the DOJ will try to use an argument along the lines of "we never seized their equipment and therefore had no obligation to preserve it for trial" they would then try to pull out copies of some of the data and say "we were able to secure THIS evidence before the defendant destroyed the originals."

Personally I find it very unlikely that any judge will allow that evidence to be used at trial as the government does not have the originals and will have no way to prove that the copy wasn't tampered with.

It seems the DOJ has no interest in actually bringing this to trial. Instead they are using the legal system to administer the punishment without the conviction.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/10395523531/next-time-someone-says-twitter-is-killing-deep-thinking-with-short-quick-messages-show-them-this.shtml#c19 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:40:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/10395523531/next-time-someone-says-twitter-is-killing-deep-thinking-with-short-quick-messages-show-them-this.shtml#c19 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1313 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:40:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1313

So, you think that writers here should make more than twice the average income in the US? You aren't even on the same continent as reasonableness

Unlike you, I don't simply talk out of my ass. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

2010 Median Pay $55,420 per year
$26.64 per hour
Entry-Level Education Bachelor]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c806 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:37:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c806 You mean Mao?

Mow is the absolute dictator of my yard on Saturday mornings, so.....]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1312 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:33:48 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1312
If you're full time, in-house employee, perhaps. I'm neither. Nor are most of the other writers here. Could we agree that for part timey work, that number should be about half?

"Then most companies contribute modestly toward health insurance, so call that $4,000."

You said you assumed I'm independent, which I am. Therefore benefits aren't included and I wouldn't need them even if they were, so I'm glad they aren't.

" Assuming the writer worked 40 hours per week to produce those articles, I'd say a minimum of $3200/moth for an inexperienced writer and double that for an experienced one."

You're not very good at math. You started at $30k/year, or $2500/month. Benefits are moot since I'm an independent contractor and we can cut your expectations in half since I'm part time, not full time. Payroll taxes are meaningless as well, since the only thing that matters is gross salary (for the purposes of payment discussions, I mean). What you arrive at is your suggestion, essentially, that a writer like me should make roughly $1250/month here.

Let me assure you, my payment meets your expectations. Glad you agree I'm compensated appropriately. Can we move on now?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c143 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:31:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c143
Thats a pretty good idea. i think i will patent it.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c800 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:31:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c800 Only 25% of the United States is the richest nation in the world

Good point, but still. The immorality of the health care situation is staggering.

To your point, I recently learned that my own income is in the top 10% of the income range in the US. This struck me as deeply disturbing because I'm not anything like wealthy. I'm not poor, but I don't get to snort coke off of the asses of strippers or anything, either.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c522 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:29:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c522 I'm sitting at my desk reading your comment]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c777 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:27:20 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c777 Or the Ford Motor Company. As in, what's good for them is good for America.

That was GM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_General_Motors#Post-war_growth]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c506 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:26:58 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c506 I'll bet my left one that they will use them to watch the borders for illegals, Chase bank robbers, Watch known drug houses, etc etc.

It is the "etc. etc." that concerns any rational person...mainly because that is the same description of the extent to which their surveillance is limited.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1294 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:26:19 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1294
Sometimes, I enjoy reading the troll's posts. Sometimes, I just want to hear the sane people talking.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c494 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:25:16 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c494
Counter-conspiracy-theory: Blue actually works for Google, who have hired him as a paid shill to discredit legitimate people seeking to expose their nefarious deeds.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c763 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:24:15 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c763 Pretty good point, but how would you avoid this unless you completely give up on any kind of secret services or armies?... Sure the court was not secret

I think you hit on a big point right there. If this were not all handled through a court that by default makes everything secret, it would be a better situation. These things should go through regular federal courts where they might get examined with a critical eye rather than rubber stamped.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1273 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:21:28 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1273 I'd say a minimum of $3200/moth for an inexperienced writer and double that for an experienced one.

So, you think that writers here should make more than twice the average income in the US? You aren't even on the same continent as reasonableness.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c469 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:20:27 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c469
We've only pissed off half the country, so perfect balance!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/01031623524/more-details-emerge-as-states-attorneys-general-seek-to-hold-back-innovation-internet.shtml#c19 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:17:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/01031623524/more-details-emerge-as-states-attorneys-general-seek-to-hold-back-innovation-internet.shtml#c19
The actual criminals breaking the law.

Why bother trying to investigate and find some rogue pharmacy? That sounds like hard work! Once you get Google to pay up, and the AG gets to do his song and dance in front of the press, the case is over, and the people running that pharmacy got off scott-free.

That's what would happen in practice, and anyone who can read between the lines sees it.

So who is the one really standing up for the rule of law?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c449 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:17:00 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c449 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/07515923527/leaseweb-deletes-megauploads-servers-without-warning-destroying-key-evidence.shtml#c963 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:16:54 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/07515923527/leaseweb-deletes-megauploads-servers-without-warning-destroying-key-evidence.shtml#c963