Nick 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (37) comment rss

  • On the post: Canadian TSA's Non-Apology Apology To 82-Year-Old Woman

    Nick ( profile ), 19 Jan, 2011 @ 01:24am

    OHhhhh...

  • On the post: Patrick Leahy Says TSA Scanners Are Invasive; Will Investigate Them

    Nick ( profile ), 17 Jan, 2011 @ 04:29pm

    Canned responces.

    As a Vermonter 'Writing my senator' meant Writing Sen. Leahy. Here is the reply I received.
    Thank you for contacting me about the use of body scanners in airports and new security screening procedures. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue, and understand your concerns.
    After September 11, 2001, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implemented a pilot program to test whole-body scanners in airports before they were put into widespread use. In October 2009, the TSA ordered 150 whole-body scanners to be deployed in airports across the nation, and in March 2010, the TSA purchased an additional 450 scanners that are currently being deployed nationwide. In the wake of this deployment, many Americans have expressed concerns over personal privacy as the whole-body scanners are used to screen passengers, and the security of those captured images.
    On October 28, 2010, the TSA announced that it would begin to utilize new pat-down techniques at airport security checkpoints for persons who refuse to be screened by airport scanners, and for those who trigger the scanners while they are screened. I have seen news reports describing the pat-down searches and heard from numerous Vermonters who oppose such procedures. I am also troubled by these more stringent and invasive pat-downs, and believe that while the TSA must effectively ensure airline and passenger safety, it must not sacrifice our privacy.
    I have also heard from Vermonters who are concerned over the potential radiation hazards that may be posed by widespread implementation of whole-body scanners. While the risks associated with radiation from these machines are said to be minute, I believe that we need to ensure that public health is not put in jeopardy with the deployment of any screening technology.
    As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I intend to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is held accountable for ensuring that we are successful in protecting both passenger safety and privacy. I believe that we can successfully accomplish this goal without sacrificing either. You can be sure that I will keep your thoughts in mind when the Judiciary Committee holds its next oversight hearing of the Department of Homeland Security and continue to closely monitor this issue.

  • On the post: Press Realizing That Treatment Of Bradley Manning Is Indefensible

    Nick ( profile ), 11 Jan, 2011 @ 10:44pm

    Re: Re: It's On Purpose

    Do you mean 1984?

  • On the post: Photographer Sues State Of Texas For Using Image From His Photograph On Auto Inspection Stickers

    Nick ( profile ), 10 Nov, 2010 @ 02:08pm

    Hey!

    He'll be able to hold the suit in east texas! and we all know how favorable they are to the ip holders!

  • On the post: If Even The Best Legal Minds Don't Read Boilerplate Contracts… Why Are They Considered Binding?

    Nick ( profile ), 15 Oct, 2010 @ 01:39am

    Re: Re: Boilerplate contracts

    It's not designed to keep outsiders at a disadvantage anymore then HTML is. 'Legalese' is nothing more than a coding launguage for human legal interactions. It has scripts, basic librarys, and commands. The only difference is legalese has been in use for an extremly long time. With few patches and minimal rewrites. The system needs an overhaul. Imagine if instead of doing away with it, people still used BASIC. Just adding more code for every new feature. Eventually you'd be looking at millions of lines of code, and you'd need an eight year degree to understand it.
    Every programing launguage has life span, I don't know what would replace it, but a new Legal launguage needs to but created. (L++ maybe?)

  • On the post: Microsoft Sues Motorola For Patent Infringement… Over Android

    Nick ( profile ), 01 Oct, 2010 @ 06:09pm

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but obvious ideas aren't suposed to be patentable.
    From MS's blog post:
    " Indeed, our patents relate to key features that users have come to expect from every smartphone. The ability to send and receive email on-the-go has driven smartphone adoption. Nowadays, everyone expects to receive e-mail from multiple services in real time, to read it on their phones, and to reply or send new messages out – in continuous and seamless synchronization with their email services. "

    Common, expected from every smartphone, everyone... All words that, to me, impley that an adverage person in the field would think of these things.

    With the rapid pace of change in the IT industry, maybe patent the apply to Software, and computing in general should have shorter life spans. Patents last 20 years. In tech terms that's 10-20 generations! By the time a patent expires the industry will have completely changed. I'm all for giving inventers a head start in the market, but this is like saying no one else could make gas cars without paying ford since 1890.

  • On the post: Google And Verizon Announce… Um… Something That Appears To Mean Nothing

    Nick ( profile ), 09 Aug, 2010 @ 05:34pm

    Logical tiers?

    I believe that what Google and Verizon are trying to lay out is certain packets, like those for phone calls, should be prioritized over things SMS and data packets. This would be a simple way of dealing with the issues AT&T has been having with Iphone data crippling their network. As it stands, the cell network already prioritizes communications by emergency workers.

  • On the post: Motorola Does Openness Wrong; Bricks Your Droid X If You Tamper

    Nick ( profile ), 15 Jul, 2010 @ 02:14pm

    Re:

    Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii all use Efuses. Not that I like it.

  • On the post: Motorola Does Openness Wrong; Bricks Your Droid X If You Tamper

    Nick ( profile ), 15 Jul, 2010 @ 01:31pm

    Logic

    "When we do deviate from our normal practice, such as we did with the DROID, there is a specific business reason for doing so."

    Oh! You mean that reason why people started saying the droid was better then the iPhone? The reason why people started looking at Motorola like they might become a contender again? That reason?

    If your normal practice is losing market share, I'd think some deviation would be welcome.

  • On the post: Apple Sued For Copyright Infringement Because Third Party App Has Someone Else's Bird Sounds

    Nick ( profile ), 25 Jun, 2010 @ 04:11am

    Re:

    I agree, the app store isn't a dumb pipe like say, youtube. With the amount of control they force, they should be liable. They review all apps for approval, they approved it, they are infringing as well.

  • On the post: Official Twilight T-Shirt Contest Won't Let You Use Anything From Twilight

    Nick ( profile ), 18 Jun, 2010 @ 08:56pm

    winning Idea

    black shirt, white text:
    "I wanted to enter a contest, but all I was legally allowed to make was this lousy T-shirt."

    Actually, Tech dirt could make that.

  • On the post: Can We Please Put The 'Amateur Brain Surgeon' Strawman To Rest?

    Nick ( profile ), 21 May, 2010 @ 02:52pm

    Re:

    I know I only let trained military personnel touch my brain or teeth.

  • On the post: Ubisoft's Despised DRM Continues To Annoy, Fail

    Nick ( profile ), 22 Apr, 2010 @ 05:38pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    http://consumerist.com/2007/08/researchers-hack-remote-keyless-car-entry-devices.html

    They can already hack your car lock, it's just impractical to do so. 1-takes a few hours to do so. 2-it works once and the code resets. your car and key tell each other a new code each press of the button.

  • On the post: Can You Patent Pretending To Let Customers Know Their Online Ordered Pizza Is In The Oven?

    Nick ( profile ), 07 Apr, 2010 @ 05:48pm

    Re: I'll give them this...

    I'd disagree. UPS, Fedex, DHL, and even the USPS (though poorly) allow you to track a package. And really that's all delivery pizza is: A parcel bought to you by a delivery guy. The fact the they make the package (pizza) is irrelevant.

  • On the post: Is Amazon Blocking Reviews Of Assassin's Creed Over DRM Issues? [Update]

    Nick ( profile ), 08 Mar, 2010 @ 01:07pm

    Re: Re:

    I think it's cause it's not out yet. The UK site has a bunch of 1 stars and a 5 star from a guy that loves the
    drm...
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/UBI-Soft-Assassins-Creed-II/dp/B001TK3DO0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

  • On the post: EA Giving Out Reasons To Buy: Tries Deluxe Box Set Versions Of Games

    Nick ( profile ), 14 Aug, 2009 @ 07:51pm

    Common

    Right now I've got Batman: Arkham Asylum and Modern Warfare 2 preordered. They come with a batarang and night-vision goggles respectively. Metal cases and dvds are pretty lame too tell the truth.

  • On the post: The Borderless Internet And Jurisdictional Disputes: A Growing Problem

    Nick ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2009 @ 06:36pm

    International waters

    The entire net should fall under UN law, and only UN law.