tom 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (374)

• On the post: Inspector General Report Shows DEA Covering Up Its Role In A Shooting That Left Four Foreign Citizens Dead

  

  tom ( profile ), 02 Jun, 2017 @ 05:34am

  Considering that the same "Justice Department"'s botched Fast and Furious plan sold thousands of high power weapons to known bad guys with the result of hundreds of people killed by the same weapons resulted in no meaningful punishment to those involved, what's four more deaths going to matter at this point anyway?

• On the post: Appeals Court Pretty Sure DOJ Use-Of-Force Guidelines Don't Violate Police Officers' 2nd And 4th Amendment Rights

  

  tom ( profile ), 17 May, 2017 @ 03:56pm

  The Right to Self Defense is IMO, granted by the Creator, see the Declaration of Independence, and is one of those unlisted rights the 9th Amendment refers to. I think the court got that part wrong.
  
  As a Law Enforcement Officer, a position voluntarily held by all Officers in the US, you agree to abide by the Policies and Procedures set down by the hiring jurisdiction, and further modified by applicable State and Federal standards. Those P&P may limit the Officer's use of force and other actions as the hiring jurisdiction sees fit. Like any job, if you don't like the rules, find another occupation.

• On the post: Tough Mudder Threatens Local Rotary Club Over 'Significant Use Of The Color Orange'

  

  tom ( profile ), 12 May, 2017 @ 12:59pm

  There are a few NCAA institutions that use Orange as part of their official school colors and they also do sports. Given the number of TM and (c) type marks on the various NCAA school logos and publications, Mudder had better watch out or they may get dog piled by school lawyers. Competitive obstacle course running for profit might be close enough to a sport to be a TM violation.

• On the post: Latest Attack On A Free Press: Reporter Arrested For Asking Questions To Trump Administration Officials

  

  tom ( profile ), 11 May, 2017 @ 02:42pm

  If I read TFA correctly, the reporter, Mr Heyman asked a question of Mr Price as he walked by with other people,(assuming this was in a public space in the building, well within his rights to ask the question.) Mr Price declined to answer, also well with his rights. Mr Heyman, not content with the non-answer, pursued Mr Price and party, continuing to ask his question(s).
  
  Sounds like the real issue here is whether Mr Heymen's pursuit of asking his questions crossed the line of proper behavior and into the area of becoming a public disturbance. Sounds like some law enforcement thought so.
  
  Hopefully, there is some video of the incident prior to the arrest that can be viewed to see if Mr Heyman's actions in any way were a public disturbance.

• On the post: How Moral Panics Can Turn Into Therapeutic Tools: The Dungeons And Dragons Edition

  

  tom ( profile ), 06 May, 2017 @ 04:15pm

  If the DM or GM is good, the game teaches creative problem solving skills. The "How do we..." questions can lead to some very inventive answers. Along with "What happens if.." questions leading to preparing for things going wrong.
  
  Both useful skills in real life.
  
  I still have a few folks mention the D&D = Satan thing when discussing the game.

• On the post: Police Union Sues Toy Gun Maker For Not Doing Enough To Keep Cleveland Cops From Killing 12-Year-Old Boys

  

  tom ( profile ), 06 May, 2017 @ 04:01pm

  The original caller told the 911 operator that the gun was probably a toy. Presumably they were a lot further away then the officers were when they decided the object was a real gun.
  The officers should be subjected to the following reviews:
  
  Eyesight: Could not identify a child with toy at close range.
  
  Situational awareness: Small person in a park with a suspicious object. No reports of gun shots. No reports of injuries. No one running away in terror. No screams of horror.
  
  Tactical training: Had no plan other then charging in with shooting as only option.

• On the post: Personal Security Takes A Hit With Public Release Of NSA's Hacking Toolkit

  

  tom ( profile ), 02 May, 2017 @ 07:31pm

  Re: Always running the latest

  Microsoft burned a lot of folks with their near forced 'update' from Win non 10 to Win 10 via Windows Update. The same Windows Update that should be delivering security updates. Microsoft shouldn't hold security updates hostage in order to encourage you to update to Win 10.
  
  Their recent move to the new take all or non updates doesn't help either.
  
  And the lack of privacy controls in Win 10 Creators make it very clear that Microsoft intends to monitor what you do and view with your PC and feed you Ads based on that. NO option for most to opt out.

• On the post: Want To Promote Breastfeeding? That's A Trade Barrier, Says US Trade Rep

  

  tom ( profile ), 28 Apr, 2017 @ 03:40pm

  Re:

  It is very likely that this report is a normal annual report that is based on policies put in place by previous administrations. Mr Gresser, the lead name on the document, was hired during the Obama years.
  
  Wonder if other countries consider the US limits on import of prescription drugs a trade barrier?
  
  Do agree that on the surface this seems like a rather stupid position to take given the amount of medical studies on the benefits of breast milk.

• On the post: Sketchy Bogus Crowdfunding Campaigns To 'Buy' Congress's Private Web Browsing… Only Now Realize That's Impossible

  

  tom ( profile ), 28 Apr, 2017 @ 03:31pm

  Not available YET.
  
  https://www.rt.com/viral/385064-google-hire-browsing-history/
  
  While Google has issued updates that claim they only release the stuff the folks signing up say they can, does anyone think that Google doesn't have the ability to store and sell complete browsing histories?

• On the post: ESPN Axes Long-Standing Reporters, But Not The Execs That Failed To See Cord Cutting Coming

  

  tom ( profile ), 28 Apr, 2017 @ 09:14am

  Doubt that Disney would agree to a buyout. Now spinning off ESPN while it still looks profitable to someone like Verizon seems more likely. Disney has used the massive profits from ESPN to purchase other IP. Star Wars is becoming a cash cow and looks to continue for many years to come. Managing IP is something Disney has excelled at for decades.

• On the post: Prosecutors Overturn More Than 21,000 Drug Convictions In Wake Of Massive Drug Lab Misconduct

  

  tom ( profile ), 26 Apr, 2017 @ 05:53am

  Assuming she makes one, wonder if the state will defend a claim of 'Qualified Immunity' when folks start suing Ms Dookhan for false imprisonment damages.
  
  Given the footdraging by the DA's office, a case might be made for stripping them of Immunity.
  
  Unless QI is stripped, the sad thing is that the bad guys in this won't bear the cost, it will be the folks paying taxes so these DA's could brag about their conviction rates.

• On the post: Legislators, School Administrators Back Off Cellphone Search Bill After Running Into ACLU Opposition

  

  tom ( profile ), 25 Apr, 2017 @ 09:47am

  If the phones are the problem, just ban them from school grounds.
  
  As far as searching the phones, a better approach might be to task a set of judges to be on call to issue warrants based on requests from school administrators. That way, student's rights are preserved.

• On the post: Senate ID Cards Use A Photo Of A Chip Rather Than An Actual Smart Chip

  

  tom ( profile ), 25 Apr, 2017 @ 09:37am

  Sad but not surprising. When I asked my Representative about implementing Cyber Security standards for the average citizen, I got a Deer in the Headlight look, followed by a suggestion to 'hold a seminar'.
  
  Also, of the two factor methods mentioned, the ID card with a WORKING smart chip as Something you Have is the best. A high percentage of smartphones have malware/spyware installed and a USB device means you have to allow USB devices to be plugged into your secured computer. And USB is a known attack vector.

• On the post: Taser Seeking To Lock Down Body Camera Market With 'Free' Camera Offer To Law Enforcement Agencies

  

  tom ( profile ), 13 Apr, 2017 @ 05:28pm

  Not much different then Apple providing low cost Apple computers to schools decades ago. Or Microsoft basically giving away Office when Wordperfect and Lotus had the majority of those markets. Didn't work so well for Apple and worked to perfection for Microsoft.
  
  The thing to watch is what happens if Axon's play works well. If the prices then jump due to them taking advantage of a monopoly, will any regulatory agency have the guts to challenge a "Friend of Cops"?

• On the post: Legal Threat From Creator Of Wall St. Bull Statue Even More Full Of Bull Than Expected

  

  tom ( profile ), 13 Apr, 2017 @ 05:21pm

  Since the bull was abandoned by the artist and ownership assumed by some NYC entity, it would seem that the owner of the statue can display it however they seem fit. Ownership still has some benefits. Of course, some companies and artists are working to minimize ownership, think Deere, Apple and this artist as examples. If the owner of the bull wants to put a small statue of a young female nearby, should be their right. If they want to cut the bull in half, should be their right. They own the thing. Now if they wanted to start selling copies either of the bull alone or of the bull and girl together, that would be a different issue.

• On the post: Appeals Court Says Right To Bear Arms Isn't A Right If Cops Are Banging On Your Door In The Middle Of The Night

  

  tom ( profile ), 27 Mar, 2017 @ 05:40pm

  11th circuit covers 3 states. Lesson learned is if someone knocks on the door after acceptable hours, dial 911 and report unidentified person banging on door, leave call open, activate one or more recording devices, and silently wait with your semi auto rifle pointed at the door. If the door flies open, empty 30 round magazine. Send copy of recording(s) to lawyer asap.

• On the post: The Ad Industry Is Really Excited About Plans To Gut Broadband Privacy Protections

  

  tom ( profile ), 22 Mar, 2017 @ 11:06am

  Most of these Congress critters have no clue about tech stuff. The Republicans are just doing the scorched Obama policies that their voters are demanding. Actual knowledge of the policies and side effects not required. Not much different then what happened when Obama came in and many Bush policies got trashed.

• On the post: Should You Have Any 4th Amendment Rights In An Airport?

  

  tom ( profile ), 22 Mar, 2017 @ 11:02am

  Still trying to understand why having gun parts in checked baggage justified a search in the first place. You are allowed to carry declared fully operational firearms in checked baggage provided they are in a locked container. Sounds like the govt. was on shaky ground for the first search and used the 'border exception' excuse to allow the search.

• On the post: Research Shows ATF's Bogus Stash House Stings Target Poor Minorities, Do Almost Nothing To Slow Flow Of Drugs And Guns

  

  tom ( profile ), 15 Mar, 2017 @ 07:00am

  IMO, ATF/DOJ lost all credibility when they screwed up the "Fast and Furious" gun sales sting by loosing track of thousands of high power weapons that ATF told gun stores to sell to known criminals. Many murders and injuries have been traced to these weapons. The harshest penalty that any of the employees involved received was re-assignment to a different job at the same or higher pay. I have no doubt that if a gun maker had conspired with a gun store to sell to known criminals, that CEO and other corporate officials would be serving long jail terms and all of the assets would have been seized.
  
  If Trump wants to "Drain the Swamp", ATF would be a good agency to completely flush out of existence.

• On the post: ESPN On-Air Talent About To Care About The Cord-Cutters The Execs Aren't Concerned About

  

  tom ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2017 @ 05:08pm

  Couple the declining subscribers to ESPN with the falling ratings for the NFL and the picture looks even worse. If the NFL starts cutting back on commercial slots, ESPN's revenue will take a sharp hit. MLB is trying things to shorten games as well to stem fan losses. Fewer commercial slots is one of the few things left that can really shorten games.

Next >>