TheResidentSkeptic’s Techdirt Profile

On the post: A Google Tax Isn't Going To Give Publishers The Payout They Think It Will

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2017 @ 07:12am

The math is irrelevant

As reality doesn't enter their picture of the world, neither does the math matter.

Each country (yes, I know there are 195... that's the point) will just tax Google 4% of their annual revenue (not profit).

This will cause google to go bankrupt and out of business.

And as we all know, google *is* the internet, so that will shut it down, and people will go back to reading the newspaper every morning.

Problem solved.

/ in their dreams /

On the post: 'Smart' Lock Vendor Locks Hundreds Out Of Their Home With Bungled Firmware Update

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 18 Aug, 2017 @ 06:34am

New Advertising Campaign from LockSmiths Union

When you get "Bricked Out", we get you Back In! And we can replace your locks on the spot!

On the post: Broadband ISP Cox Will Now Charge You $50 More To Avoid Usage Caps, Overage Fees

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 15 Aug, 2017 @ 09:35am

I wonder...

... how much they charge to not use their service at all?

On the post: Disney Pulls Content From Netflix As Users Face An Annoying, Confusing Rise In Streaming Exclusivity Silos

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 09 Aug, 2017 @ 12:23pm

Hollywood Accounting at its finest

"Well, people are cutting cable because they don't want to pay $100 (or more) a month for 500 channels".

"Well, how about we only charge them $5 per month for each one of our 100 channels?"

"Yeah! That works!!! DO IT!"

On the post: Deputy Attorney General Walks Back Attorney General's Threat To Journalists

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 07 Aug, 2017 @ 10:07am

First, get them to define

what they currently mean by "Journalist".

On the post: ACLU To Court: It's Legal To Tell Bob To Eat Shit

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 02 Aug, 2017 @ 09:39am

Dear Bob

When you realize that you are in the process of digging yourself into a hole, there are 2 approaches to consider.

1) STOP DIGGING
This is known as the "sensible" approach, and is recommended.

2) DIG HARDER, DIG FASTER, DIG DEEPER
This is known as the "Carreon" approach, and we request that you refrain from using it as we are nearly out of popcorn.

Thank you.

On the post: FCC Won't Release Data To Support Its Claim A DDOS Attack, Not John Oliver, Brought Down The Agency's Website

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 21 Jul, 2017 @ 09:01am

Wait a sec...

... are we saying the Federal COMMUNICATIONS commission doesn't know how internet COMMUNICATIONS works? Or how it is tracked? Or who watches the COMMUNICATIONS traffic?

Ironic or Moronic... not sure which is in play here..

On the post: Massachusetts Lawmaker Wants To Make It A Felony To Have Secret Compartments In Your Car

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 20 Jul, 2017 @ 01:48pm

I lose everything but my Harley

My RV has a hidden floor safe for valuables; my car has a hidden gun safe (and hidden NOS, but that doesn't count).

So does that make me a major criminal enterprise now?

But on the "good news" front, there are going to be a LOT of vehicles for sale at the next police auction...

On the post: DOJ Boss Promises The Return Of Everything That Didn't Work During The Last 40 Years Of Drug Warring

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 20 Jul, 2017 @ 08:34am

Colorado Disagrees

Seems like making $500 Million taxing marijuana sales beats the hell out of spending $500 million incarcerating people.

On the post: Appeals Court Agrees Government Can Tell NSL Recipients To STFU Indefinitely

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 18 Jul, 2017 @ 01:59pm

Then again, it is easy to figure out.

Simple math here... 322 million US Citizens - 21 million work for federal/state/local government; therefore 301 million NSLs have been or will be issued as soon as they can be.

On the post: House Budget Proposal Includes The Creation Of The United States Space Corps.

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2017 @ 05:54am

Guess Again

This is just creating an un-classified branch so we quit looking for the classified ones...

If you really think this hasn't existed from day one, you just don't understand the "Black Budget" and what it pays for.

Tell me again - what is the X37B used for?

On the post: 50 Million US Homes Can't Get 25 Mbps From More Than One ISP

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 10 Jul, 2017 @ 07:45am

Conflict of Interest (pun intended)

As many government agencies and programs are reliant on extra income from trust funds and major investments, it is not in their best interest to foster competition which might reduce profits thereby reducing stock gains and dividends. Keep profits up, keep "free money" flowing into their hidden agenda projects.

And it is only the proletariat who are getting screwed here, so it doesn't matter to those in power. Any way of getting more money out of us without it looking like a new tax...

On the post: AT&T Claims Forced Arbitration Isn't Forced… Because You Can Choose Not To Have Broadband

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 06 Jul, 2017 @ 07:06am

I don't have "broadband"

Since it was defined as 25MB+, and the best I can get is 20MB bonded DSL.

On the post: DHS To Expand Foreign Laptop Ban If Overseas Airlines Won't Make Their Security More Theatrical

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 30 Jun, 2017 @ 05:37am

This should drive a lot of innovation...

... in the Video Conference world. Lots of new software and hardware to eliminate the need to travel to the US...

On the post: To Keep The Skies Safe, The TSA Wants To Know What You're Reading

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 26 Jun, 2017 @ 06:56am

Take stuff they have never read...

... you know.... The Constitution, The Bill Of Rights...

On the post: Wall Street Is Starting To Get Very Nervous About Cable TV Cord Cutting

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 23 Jun, 2017 @ 07:10am

Ignoring Facts to make it worse

So, 80% of the cutters are doing so as it has gotten too expensive - response is to raise rates to keep Wall Street happy with Profits and Growth.

And that makes more people join the cutters who can't afford it...

And the rates are raised again to cover those losses...

This business plan won't work for long - but the charts will certainly have a pretty curve on them...Hyperbolic maybe?

On the post: Sheriff Defends Deputies' Lies In Court By Saying Officers Didn't Know They Were Supposed To Tell The Truth

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 21 Jun, 2017 @ 03:13pm

And in related news...

... the innocence project is in need of about 2500 new lawyers to handle the influx of cases.

I agree - EVERY case these guys have EVER testified in is now suspect. Any case decided or swayed by their testimony should be overturned.

So we've uncovered massive fraud in Lab Testing and now lying by the very people sworn to uphold the law.

I'm putting away my TD popcorn and getting out the TD Scotch.

On the post: Oversight Report Shows NSA Failed To Secure Its Systems Following The Snowden Leaks

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 20 Jun, 2017 @ 05:44am

But it was just easier..

... to threaten leakers with espionage charges than to fix leaks...

On the post: 80% Of Cord Cutters Leave Because Of High Cable TV Prices, But The Industry Still Refuses To Compete On Price

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 19 Jun, 2017 @ 05:49am

Tom may be correct...

... if by "move them in the right direction" he meant "towards the exit"

On the post: May And Macron's Ridiculous Adventure In Censoring The Internet

TheResidentSkeptic ( profile ), 14 Jun, 2017 @ 11:10am

Re: Re: Re:

now that would be funny - maybe hire one of our favorite "reputation management" trolls to file LOTS of DMCA and "libel orders" for them...take downs for CNN and BBC for reporting on them...take downs for CIA and NSA for gathering data on them...

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