TechnoMage 's Techdirt Comments
Latest Comments (134)
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On the post: New York Saxophonist Latest To Sue Fortnite Developers For Supposedly Ripping Off His… 'Likeness'
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On the post: Chris Dodd 'Stepping Down' From MPAA
TechnoMage ( profile ), 01 May, 2017 @ 03:18pmGood riddance. He became one of the most annoying talking pieces on TV whenever he showed up. He was annoying as a congressperson but turned it to 11 when shilling for Anti-Consumer group's policies.
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On the post: Apple Says Nebraska Will Become A 'Mecca For Hackers' If Right To Repair Bill Passes
TechnoMage ( profile ), 21 Feb, 2017 @ 08:44amRe:
I'm pretty sure your local river hasn't caught on fire recently unless there was an oil spill. That used to be a thing because of much crud/oil/etc was in the rivers... You might have heard of the Mahoning River and let alone the Cuyahoga River that only caught fire 8 or so times before the EPA, clean air, & clean water acts were passed... Edit before submission: Wiki says at least 13 -fires- on the river Simplistic views of "Regulations" like some 10th grader who just for the first time both read Ayn Rand and got high... is as stupid now as it ever was. (I won't say which party is worse for this in the US for this POV, because both have Corporatists in them that spew this nonsense b/c of legalized bribes campaign donations to try and make more money for the Corps... but that is another issue entirely) But just like the 'concept' of "government regulations that set a -max- quality of steel to be used in the railroads", most concepts about "how 'pure evil' regulations are" are based on false pretenses. People holding signs in the "tea party" era saying: "keep your government hands off my medicare" are perfect examples of uneducated viewpoints like yours.
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On the post: Trump Campaign Wants To Trademark 'Keep America Great'
TechnoMage ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2017 @ 12:53amRe: Re:
I'm sorry, but "being great" is NOT subjective. Just ask the number of children going hungry in the US, or the number of of people with lead in their drinking water... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q49NOyJ8fNA
The Newsroom "America is not the greatest country in the world anymore" 2012 TV series -
On the post: Did The FISA Court Finally Reject The FBI's Advances?
TechnoMage ( profile ), 13 Jan, 2017 @ 10:09amNope
FBI agents didn't get FISA court approval ... but 'why'...
I would agree that it is more likely that the FBI agents 'slow walked' the warrants... by purposely writing them so poorly that they got denied (for what counts as what... over 10% of the total denials...??)
I have no proof of this... but from my time working in an office... I would be willing to bet you it has more to do with THIS than anything to do with FISA court growing a conscience -
On the post: YouTuber Jailed In Singapore For Criticizing The Government Seeks Asylum In The US
TechnoMage ( profile ), 29 Dec, 2016 @ 06:50pmDo we?
"that the US still does believe in promoting freedom of expression around the globe."
Do we?... Honestly, I'm not being Hyperbolic... but President Electoral Trump has said that he wants to crack down on free speech and introduce UK-like libel laws...
So I'm not sure if your statement has much validity to it... or will here soon. (I'm not a huge fan of Obama, but at least he hasn't taken -that- step (yet)) -
On the post: Cameroonian Government Calls Social Media A 'New Form Of Terrorism'
TechnoMage ( profile ), 29 Nov, 2016 @ 01:36pmThe problem is....
...They are kinda right...
"Social Media" is kinda a cesspool...
Just mentioning "YouTube Comment Section" is enough to make anyone with enough experience with it cringe.
Twitter... Lets not even get started with that one...
Facebook, etc. Don't have a problem with "Fake News", they have a more fundamental problem that they don't have a product to sell other than users, their data, and their attention. "Fake News" is only a symptom, not the sickness. (Not like 'I' know how to fix it, I can just recognize the problem)
Hell look at TechDirt, it lets idiots like me post... ;)
All of this being said... Governments trying to crack down on one of the few areas where people can -actually- have freedom of speech is nothing more than a power grab. -
On the post: After All That, E-Voting Experts Suggest Voting Machines May Have Been Hacked For Trump
TechnoMage ( profile ), 23 Nov, 2016 @ 04:07amIf the EFF ever needed to put "Broken by Design" stickers on something...
I hate to sound like a 'truther' conspiracy theorist... but I have my masters in CS focusing on Hybrid & Embedded systems...
And I can pretty much guarantee that if someone with enough money and motivation wanted to... they could steal an election on the state level. Several states (PA is one of them IIRC, I know TN is one too but it matters less for this election since it isn't a 'swing state' ) to this day have e-voting machines that have -0- paper trail, and so once you vote... you have no idea what bits are being flipped inside the machine...
XKCD got this right years and years ago... if your voting machine needs to run anti-virus... that is like your kindergarten teacher telling you he always wears a condom while teaching... "sure... its 'additional safety'... but he should NEVER EVER NEED IT"... https://xkcd.com/463/
2004 Ohio had voting 'irregularities' existed where the DEEPEST BLUE areas voted for the most liberal judge in living memory... and Bush on the same ballots... Hell, 2 voting officials went to jail in Cleveland for 'mishandling of voting material' or w/e the 'exact' charge was https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/25/294599/-
But in ohio that year... none or almost none of the voting machines had paper trails.. (I know because I was the head elections official for my local precinct on election day)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_United_States_election_voting_controversies
Everyone (except those who are: 1) paid to think otherwise, 2) job requires them to not think so) 'knows' this is a possibility/threat to Democracy... but when one political party gains an advantage from anything that suppresses voter turnout, and screams all the time about "Voter Fraud" ... Any talk bringing up Voting machines and "Election Fraud"(completely different than voter fraud, and much more dangerous) becomes politically tainted... -
On the post: Dear Eric Trump: Do Not Be Shamed Into Deleting Your Free Speech By A Dumb New York State Law
TechnoMage ( profile ), 08 Nov, 2016 @ 12:46pmRe: Re:
"Surely if such a law is on the frontlines of preventing vote buying, then we'd see much more evidence of vote buying in the 21 states where ballot selfies are legal, no?"
As a former Head Elections Official for my precinct I can tell you that you being either naive or disingenuous. There are very good reasons why ballots are secret (Unless the person themselves invites in someone else to assist them with the ballot, depending on state). The reason is because we HAD voter -intimidation- rackets in the past, and that is why the system is setup the way it is now.
Simple Example:
If you work at a local coal mine and your boss tells you that you 'must' vote for candidate A... then he can fire you for 'being rude' or whatever BS made up excuse he uses when he finds out you voted candidate B...
"Vote buying" really isn't the reason this law exists(Even if that is the reason why it was 'extended' to include selfies in the ballot box)... it exists to protect those who are vulnerable to out-sized influence from those who can impact their lives. (The poor, minorities, single parents, etc. (yes can overlap)).
I specifically asked a lot of these questions when I was undergoing my election day training... to the point where I ended up having to go ask a local political science/history professor.
I'd say voter/vote/election protection outweighs this 'single' form of 'speech' (which we all know has limits on it already, such as 'fire in theater' or promoting violence, or even 'talking about assassinating POTUS', etc.) -
On the post: Thai Government Demands Popular Chat App Reveal Any Time Any User Insults The King
TechnoMage ( profile ), 02 Nov, 2016 @ 05:59pm"why is it asking the Thai government to use diplomatic channels to make an official request?"
Easy. To get help from their home country, and to show that they aren't a Thai company. -
On the post: Australian Teen With Wacky Mullet Sues The Media For Making A Meme Out Of His Haircut
TechnoMage ( profile ), 28 Oct, 2016 @ 07:09amAm I the only one....?
Who thinks this picture actually helps his reputation... because look at that girl he is dancing with...
If he can still get a girl like that with that stupid haircut, it means he has a LOT going for him other than just physical appearance...
*shrugs* -
On the post: China's Manufacturers Now Producing Copies Before Original Products Are Even Launched
TechnoMage ( profile ), 21 Oct, 2016 @ 01:43amRe: Are we even reading the same article here?
Agreed, I'm glad someone pointed out this part since in my comment I decided to approach it from the other end of the article with his blanket statement about it 'being good for consumers' w/o any supporting evidence, etc.
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On the post: China's Manufacturers Now Producing Copies Before Original Products Are Even Launched
TechnoMage ( profile ), 21 Oct, 2016 @ 01:40amStatement without supporting evidence
"That's good for customers" This statement doesn't have any supporting evidence for it.
"Companies dealing in the creation of physical goods now must make products that are impossible to copy exactly from the get go, by focusing on a special feature they can protect, ..."
Actually I don't know if that -is- good for customers. I'd think that the owner of Stikbox (which did R&D a novel idea) would be less likely to invest a lot of money into further R&D if they have a lesser expectation of ROI. What about inventors who invent something that -is- revolutionary, but -is- easy to copy... (An example of that would be the lightning rod (which yes, I know Ben Franklin didn't patent it so as to save more lives, but still...)).
Brand loyalty is fine, but requiring inventors to make 'needlessly complex' parts/etc. just for the sake of preventing cheap knock-off Chinese clones (for a short time) I'd argue is ANTI-Consumer. In many ways... Hurts R&D, also hurts people's ability to fix their own products. And, it potentially hurts aftermarket accessories/etc. -
On the post: After Massive Cable Industry Lobbying And Disinformation Effort, The FCC Is Forced To Weaken Its Cable Box Reform Plan
TechnoMage ( profile ), 08 Sep, 2016 @ 07:18am'Via Apps' means NOTHING TO ME
As someone who teaches Android development... I can pretty much guarantee that they won't make an Android App.
The APK (binary) would be ripped out of the device (whatever it is) so fast... de-compiled... and then inspected SOO FAST that it would make the cable installer's head spin.
Then those new APKs would be able to be 'upgraded' with functionality that Comcast/etc. want you to pay for otherwise... such as recording shows...(or whatever they come up with), etc.
Uhh... you know what...
Nevermnid... I mean an Android App would be ideal, it would be perfectly secure, no one would abuse it, and it would let you put whatever restrictions you want on it... I promise... -
On the post: Mark Harrill's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week
TechnoMage ( profile ), 27 Oct, 2013 @ 06:36pmHow I read this on the RSS feed....
I read it as
"mark-hamills-favorite-techdirt-posts-week"
Am I the only one? I was disappointed that Luke wasn't the author ;) -
On the post: DailyDirt: Smarter Cars On The Way (Not Smarter Drivers)
TechnoMage ( profile ), 16 Oct, 2013 @ 08:03pmRe:
as long as the car is made by Telsa I think you meant... ;)
But, honestly, I'd take a self driving car with GOOG software, from pretty much any manf.
Especially when they start to realize that people such as myself just want a car from point A to point B , and not about all the other bells and whistles, if the car has AC/heat and a set of speakers with an audio jack input, then I don't care if it is bright pink and shaped like tear drop.
I don't care about a sun roof, power windows, power seats, XM radio, or anything else like that...
....Though I would like a refit to be able to lay completely flat and sleep while it drives me to go see family 9 hours away, that way I can just go to sleep (maybe having to wake up to get gas) and then wake up at 'home' , etc.
but normally, I just want to be able to get myself and one other person and some 'stuff'(groceries, or w/e) to where I want to go, which is most of the time, me from work and back. -
On the post: Yahoo! Fought Back Against PRISM, Lost In Secret Ruling
TechnoMage ( profile ), 14 Jun, 2013 @ 12:56pmXBOX One ... aka.. Xbox (D)One
So the key line in this for gamers and people interested in the new video game consoles.. is:
"Of course, it appears that some companies, like Microsoft and the telcos are much more comfortable with providing info to the government. "
Yeah... Microsoft... Try convincing people that you should be trusted with 1080p HD cameras in people's living rooms/bedrooms with highly sensitive microphones that are REQUIRED to online... I don't care what you say about "wanting to protect my privacy", I don't care what you say... at all... Because you didn't... fight for my rights when it mattered...
Just imagine how quickly the DOJ or DAs will ask for the courts to allow wiretapping the video/audio of xbox one(s)... Is going to happen immediately. How amazing would that be for police to WATCH the suspect in 1080p HD camera... that THE SUSPECT put in his own house...
*doesn't want to be paranoid... but geeze... buying this system is just asking for trouble....* And all this news coming out the week before/of E3, the largest video game conference there is... is HORRIBLE timing for MS. -
On the post: If The Government Needs To Step In To Help Your Business Model, You Shouldn't Be In Business
TechnoMage ( profile ), 01 Aug, 2012 @ 10:32amRe: Another thing
I agree with your statement, but there is false dichotomy that I feel is being created with Mike's and your statements.
It is very true that other industries shouldn't be forced to help prop up other industries... But that doesn't mean that that "if government needs to step [in] to help your business model you shouldn't be in business". There are some very evident business industries that the gov't _should_ be assisting. (and potentially levying taxes on other industries or activities to pay for such assistance.)
1) renewable energies: Solar (thermal/PV/whatever else)
2) geo-thermal
3) fusion
4) wind
... etc.
Because "profit" to a nation or a state can be measured in more ways than just purely instant $. A government ranging from township to federal helping a company in any of the above industries which aren't yet profitable, but will be in the future(and even if they aren't we as a society will need those technologies for self-sufficiently) , and therefore is an investment for the future.
This is kinda a rant, but it feels like it needed saying. -
On the post: If You Go To The Olympics, You Can Bring Your iPhone Or Android Phone… But You Better Not Tether
TechnoMage ( profile ), 25 Jul, 2012 @ 05:20pmRe: Whut
The reason is that this "law/rule/whatever" is NOT meant to be enforced, but to be there in the grab bag of "we don't like what you are doing, so we can kick you out/arrest you because of...."
This is how laws that seem "silly" work, they aren't meant to be enforced _unless_ you piss off a police officer, or a person who can call a police officer.
So this rule won't be enforced... unless NBC thinks you are recording video and streaming it online. And then they will say you are tethering to your camera... or w/e. -
On the post: Apple Store Refuses To Sell To American Citizens Speaking Farsi In Case They Might Send iPhone To Iran
TechnoMage ( profile ), 21 Jun, 2012 @ 01:00amRe: Re: ITARded
I would say "yes silly you", but perhaps I wasn't clear, the banned items are of any thing that can be used by their military that has a dual use(so in this case, the ipad/iphone for its encryption capabilities, or perhaps its 3d modeling/rendering capabilities ( I don't know or care really)
But to explain why this is important:
Two words: Manhattan Project
Think about what would have happened if that information had been given to Germany in 1944.
The idea of giving either science/technology/goods to nations that are hostile towards you is not a good idea. The level of threat an ipad has is much lower than the secrets of the a-bomb... but still, you don't purposely allow your enemy nations to get your goods/knowledge.
There are exceptions for NGO humanitarian organizations to give them basic medical services, such as the Red Cross (Red Crescent in Islamic nations)... But the only people who know/care about that are the NGOs and medical manfs.
No idea who was 'first', but this seems relevant...
Just ran across this on twitter... and is basically same damn thing, but amusingly to me... less annoying than either above...
Again, no idea the timing on who was first or w/e... but as far as I know... US doesn't allow copyright of dance moves... so this entire thing is still silly and fortnight shouldn't be doing this... and should give token amounts to people just to earn good PR at this point if nothing else...
https://twitter.com/mattwhitlockPM/status/1172364612836237312