OldGeezer 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: France Passes Copyright Law Demanding Royalties For Every Image Search Engines Index Online

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 26 Aug, 2016 @ 03:52pm

    What the hell are they thinking?

    Do they really believe that Google will not shut down parts if not all their services in France? I can already hear the French government wailing like babies how unfair Google is for doing exactly what any business would do when facing extortion. Fuck them Google, throw the switch!

  • On the post: Tempting Fate: Pittsburgh Election Officials Insist Their E-Voting Machines Can't Be Hacked

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 25 Aug, 2016 @ 08:44am

    Years ago after the Tylenol tampering scare and other cases the decision was made to call the protections implemented "tamper resistant" rather than "tamper proof" because they felt the latter would be perceived as a challenge. Hackers who would otherwise ignore things just love accepting a dare.

  • On the post: The EFF Calls Out Microsoft's Ongoing Bullshit On Windows 10 Privacy Concerns

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2016 @ 11:12am

    Re: No tinfoil - just facts from research...

    "Do not login to Windows 10 with your live account/apps."

    I have not upgraded to 10 but I have read a lot about it. They make it appear during installation that you have no choice but to log on to your account except Microsoft online. You have to go through extra steps to use a local account. If you click everything "recommended" they will hijack your browser, search engine and other apps to their products. The button to keep your defaults is small and easy to miss. They make it difficult to change back your defaults. Any new programs from them will require 10 and they will probably pressure third party software companies to do the same. Updates from programs will make them incompatible with 7 and 8.1. Programs you have paid for that phone home will deactivate unless you upgrade. They tried to shove 10 down our throats and now about 20% are using it. Eventually 7 and 8.1 will be as useless as 98 and 10 will cost you a couple hundred. Hopefully by then there will be a trusted add on firewall or app that blocks everything except the minimum they need to update security and bugs.

  • On the post: The EFF Calls Out Microsoft's Ongoing Bullshit On Windows 10 Privacy Concerns

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2016 @ 06:54am

    Re: Re: Poison the well?

    They recently did that in Windows 7. At least they defeated removeWAT and this time reapplying it did not work. Microsoft will not sell you a 7 key any more. I put in an old key I found from a machine I no longer use and it worked. My virtual machine is now genuine.

  • On the post: The EFF Calls Out Microsoft's Ongoing Bullshit On Windows 10 Privacy Concerns

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2016 @ 06:24am

    Re: Re: Coming to Windows 7 in Oct

    That looks like a good option but I will have to research it to make sure it is not malware. It's hard to know who you can trust any more. A lot of spyware and even ransomware are programs disguised as security programs.

  • On the post: And Just Like That, The Dumbest Trademark Suit Over Saying 'Thank You' Disappears

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2016 @ 05:42am

    Re:

    I haven't seen that idiot commenting for a long time. Guess he finally gave up. He left that same stupid comment no matter what the article was about.

  • On the post: And Just Like That, The Dumbest Trademark Suit Over Saying 'Thank You' Disappears

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2016 @ 05:35am

    Re:

    NewEgg's refusal to settle with trolls is one of the reasons they are my first choice for electronics. They also provide a shipping label for their 30 day return policy. I have had other sellers expect me to pay to return a DOA. One guy on Amazon sold me a hard drive that was supposed to be new that had 6,000 hours and bad sectors. I had to threaten to report him to get free shipping and a new drive.

  • On the post: The EFF Calls Out Microsoft's Ongoing Bullshit On Windows 10 Privacy Concerns

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2016 @ 06:42am

    Am I the only one ready for the tinfoil hat?

    How do we know that Microsoft isn't under some secret government mandate to get full access to everyone's computers? The 13 privacy screens in 10 could just be a facade and no matter what you think you turned off your microphone and webcam are still on. The NSA doesn't need that new mega complex in Utah to store metadata. You could keep metadata on millions of users with only a few terabytes.

  • On the post: And Just Like That, The Dumbest Trademark Suit Over Saying 'Thank You' Disappears

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2016 @ 03:28pm

    I wonder if I could get a trademark for the phrase "fuck you" and sue anyone that uses it? Makes just about as much sense!

  • On the post: New Jersey Man Files Lawsuit Over Pokemon Go After A Few Players Politely Knocked On His Door

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 08:07am

    Interesting article along these lines in this morning's paper. Some Pokemon Go players were responsible for finding a stolen guitar. It had great sentimental value to the owner and she thought she had lost it for good. These kids did the right thing and posted about it on Facebook. The owner had also posted and someone made the connection.
    http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article93621797.html#emlnl=Morning_Headlines

  • On the post: Canadian Judge Tosses Case After Finding Law Enforcement Entrapped Supposed Terrorists

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 05:47am

    Not all cases where the government goes undercover to catch terrorists are complete entrapment. Last year the FBI monitored a web site where a maintenance worker at the Wichita airport expressed a willingness be a suicide bomber and he had access to the gates. He said he could take out several planes while they where boarding. He had bomb making knowledge and about the only thing the agents did was supply him with fake C4. He was arrested after driving the van through the security gate to the tarmac. Had this man made contact with real terrorists he could have pulled it off. I know probably most stings like this are total bullshit but I think in this case they got one right.

  • On the post: New Jersey Man Files Lawsuit Over Pokemon Go After A Few Players Politely Knocked On His Door

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 08:35am

    Every year my city has a week long celebration called Riverfest. Part of it is a treasure hunt for a hidden medallion for a cash prize. Clues are released daily in cryptic poems. The rules clearly state that it is hidden on public property such as a park or the zoo. Warnings are given about trespassing but every year some idiots ignore that. I agree this lawsuit is pointless but you can't fix stupid.

  • On the post: Donald Trump Threatens 'Art Of The Deal' Ghostwriter, Claiming His 'Disloyalty' Somehow Amounts To Defamation

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 23 Jul, 2016 @ 02:09pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What will it take for his campaign to implode?

    No trial was necessary. If I am charged with a crime I committed and the prosecutor decides not to pursue it doesn't mean I'm any less guilty. I just won't go to court and have a conviction. A prospective employer cannot ask if I have ever been arrested, only if I have been convicted. The end result is no different than an absolution.

  • On the post: Donald Trump Threatens 'Art Of The Deal' Ghostwriter, Claiming His 'Disloyalty' Somehow Amounts To Defamation

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 23 Jul, 2016 @ 01:53pm

    Re: Hillary's absolution

    It's called the golden rule. Whoever has the gold makes the rules.

  • On the post: Donald Trump Threatens 'Art Of The Deal' Ghostwriter, Claiming His 'Disloyalty' Somehow Amounts To Defamation

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 23 Jul, 2016 @ 12:51am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What will it take for his campaign to implode?

    They haven't been resolved. Hillary was absolved.

  • On the post: Donald Trump Threatens 'Art Of The Deal' Ghostwriter, Claiming His 'Disloyalty' Somehow Amounts To Defamation

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 22 Jul, 2016 @ 10:03am

    Re: Re: What will it take for his campaign to implode?

    They are both criminals. They both are liars. They both have crazy agendas. Where is Pat Paulsen when we need him? Everyone knew it was a gag when he threw his hat in the ring for several elections. Every time a surprising number of people would write him in as a protest vote. It is unfortunate that he is deceased. Enough voters are disgusted with both choices I think he could get elected this time. I think Trump has some serious psychiatric disorder. He can't possibly be as stupid as he appears. Hillary is very intelligent and that is what makes her dangerous.

  • On the post: Donald Trump Threatens 'Art Of The Deal' Ghostwriter, Claiming His 'Disloyalty' Somehow Amounts To Defamation

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 21 Jul, 2016 @ 01:57pm

    What will it take for his campaign to implode?

    History is littered with presidential hopefuls that end up with some scandal or just saying something stupid and the next thing you know there is a press conference with them giving some bullshit excuse for dropping out. Trump says something really stupid and rambling incoherently every time he opens his mouth. He has been exposed in numerous lies and his past is so checkered you have to wonder how he is even still a contender. This guy is so Teflon I think he could still be in the race if photos surfaced of him blowing a boy scout. The choice between him and Hillary is like deciding if you want to be executed in the chair or lethal injection.

  • On the post: New York Times Public Editor Scolded For Suggesting Websites Should Treat News Commenters Like Actual Human Beings

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2016 @ 09:57am

    Re: Re:

    A valid point. That still doesn't address the problem that some nut case could seek revenge because you disagree with him. I use my real name on Facebook. Even though there are anti stalker laws in place it's still not hard to track down just about anyone. What if my opinion opposes some policy of my employer? It would stifle my freedom of expression if I could not speak my opinion anonymously.

  • On the post: Pablo Escobar's Brother Demands One Billion Dollars From Netflix Over Narcos

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2016 @ 05:59am

    Hollywood has NEVER produced a film accurately portraying even well known historical figures or events. Even when a truthful portrayal would be just as interesting as the pure fiction and non existent characters they seem obligated to include. It is outrageous that a relative of a notorious murderous drug kingpin would make a complaint like this. If they were so concerned with their family's reputation why didn't they do everything in their power to help the authorities bring Pablo to justice?

  • On the post: New York Times Public Editor Scolded For Suggesting Websites Should Treat News Commenters Like Actual Human Beings

    OldGeezer ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2016 @ 03:19am

    My local newspaper recently switched to Facebook for comments. Removing anonymity stifles free speech. I was a frequent participant before they did this. I found that very few comments were what anyone would consider inappropriate. I disagreed with some of them and was free to express opposing views. Posters were also given the opportunity to flag remarks just like on this forum but they deleted the comments and did not give the option to click to view them. Most of the readers were posting legitimate comments and were quick to flag posts that were racist or vulgar so there was very little work for the paper to screen them. If I post on Facebook under my real name what is to stop some nut case from tracking me down and doing me physical harm for disagreeing with them?

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