Roger Strong 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Every Website Needs To Re-register With The Copyright Office, Who Can't Build A Functioning System

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 02 Dec, 2016 @ 11:17am

    A New Reputation Managment Fraud Vector?

    Does the site do anything to confirm that you really are the "DMCA agent" for the site being registered?

    Or could a typical "Reputation Management" fraudster register a sock puppet as the DMCA agent if the real site owner is unable to, and use that to remove safe harbor protections? Even if the real site owner DOES register, could the fraudster then register the forum subdomain or individual pages? How does it handle SECOND person trying to register a given site, fraudster or real owner?

    You might want to test this. (I'm not in the US.)

  • On the post: After Zero Rating Backlash, Facebook Returns With New, Somewhat Murky 'Express WiFi' Initiative

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2016 @ 03:05pm

    Re:

    Relax. There are ways for Zuckerberg to turn this into something positive without hurting your alt-right sensibilities.

    Think of god-games like Populous, where you have an overhead view and control the population by applying manna in subtle ways. Combine it with FaceBook's Farmville-type games. Add gaming clans / factions / guilds like in Eve Online and other online multi-player games.

    Each guild would adopt a real village, and then compete with other guilds to grow their village and its power and influence faster.

    Individual in-app purchases may buy a single textbook or water filter or malaria shot, gaining more points for the player. Or an in-app charge may go towards the guild's group purchase of a one-room school, generator, digging a well, etc. If a guild gains enough members, they might attract corporate sponsors. Soon a guild would be buying clinics and cell phone towers. FaceBook would retain control of internet infrastructure. Connect your village to a power grid, and FaceBook would put an XBox One with a Kinect camera in every home for a more Sims Online style experience.

    FaceBook would get a small cut of each transaction, and would supply overhead drone or satellite views and "character bios" of the NSNPCs (Not So Non Player Characters.) Real life random events would provide, er, random events. Instead of the usual MMORPG villagers asking you to go kill the trolls that have been attacking them, FaceBook would serve up real-life tragedies, emergencies, homes and dreams for your guild to tackle. With FaceBook's all-powerful data collection you could even crowd-source crime solving, Boston bombing and illegal voting style.

    It would certainly put a spotlight on the sort of corruption that holds back many 3rd world countries. A corrupt local official pocketing aid isn't news, so little is done. But when 5000 1st-world players see their investment pocketed by a corrupt 3rd world local official - THEY will be heard. It'll be posted to Techdirt and a hundred blogs, and mainstream media may pick it up. FaceBook will have to flex some muscle to keep its games honest, probably using all that collected data to put pressure on the government.

    If successful the technology used and lessons learned would go into the next generation game, set in first world countries. The 1% would use the 99% for their own god game. Just like Trump and his new cabinet!

  • On the post: Border Patrol Stops Journalist From Heading To Dakota Pipeline Protests, Searches All Of His Electronic Devices

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2016 @ 12:56pm

    Re: Re: Not news

    With limits.

    For example a decade ago, running out of space on its side of the Peace Bridge, America's Homeland Security decided to move its screening process to the Canadian side. And then demanded that the Canadian government allow it to fingerprint anyone turned away.

    The Canadian government refused. In Canada no-one can be fingerprinted without giving permission, unless that person is being charged with a criminal offence.

    I have to wonder how much the Canadian journalist's treatment required a false assumption of American authority over him. If he figured out early that he wouldn't be allowed into the US, I suspect that he could have simply ended any interrogation or search (assuming that he still had his phones by that point) by simply walking away.

  • On the post: Border Patrol Stops Journalist From Heading To Dakota Pipeline Protests, Searches All Of His Electronic Devices

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2016 @ 12:31pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Not news

    so why should I not run over to say... the UK and express my 2nd Amendment rights to keep and bare arms right out in public?
    You'd still get the legal protections given to UK citizens.
    they have different laws and rights are GIVEN over there and not considered sacred like they are here
    Nonsense. Laws and rights are at least as sacred in the UK as in America.
    Go and try peddling that shit in Syria in front of the Royalty and see how far that bullshit gets you!
    So you don't think that America should hold itself to a higher standard than the Syrian dictatorship? In any case I'm talking about the more than 100 people America kidnapped from EU soil, not from some 3rd world hellhole. Those treaties and agreements exist, and were ignored. If Italy or Germany or the UK kidnaps an American off an American street, and tortures and holds him indefinitely without trial, should THAT country be allowed to dismiss it with "the American doesn't get to claim rights secured only to OUR citizens?"

  • On the post: Border Patrol Stops Journalist From Heading To Dakota Pipeline Protests, Searches All Of His Electronic Devices

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2016 @ 11:51am

    Re: Re: US Border Crossing 101

    You disease carrying CANADIAN SOCIALISTS!!!
    There's a joke from back in 2008 when the Republicans were nationalizing all the Wall Street investment banks, bailing out a great many other banks, and bailing out the auto makers: The Conservatives in Canada are roughly equivalent to the more liberal Democrats in the US. The Liberal Party is further to the left. MUCH further to the left we have the have the unabashedly socialist NDP. They want to do things like spending huge amounts of public money to manipulate the national economy, and nationalize or take a large financial stake in banks and some large corporations. This makes them roughly equivalent to the Republican Party.

  • On the post: Border Patrol Stops Journalist From Heading To Dakota Pipeline Protests, Searches All Of His Electronic Devices

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2016 @ 11:31am

    Re: Re: Not news

    This can be rephrased as "Why should any other country afford protections to visiting US citizens?

  • On the post: Border Patrol Stops Journalist From Heading To Dakota Pipeline Protests, Searches All Of His Electronic Devices

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2016 @ 10:39am

    Re: Re: Serious Questions...

    If you're asking that question, then you should consider the question in the context of "turnabout is fair play." That is, should Americans have any rights when visiting other countries? If mere vague suspicions lead to Americans experiencing anything from having their electronics searched or seized to being shipped to a third country for months of torture, should America have any right to complain? More importantly, what of Americans in America? In the couple years after 9/11 the US kidnapped over 100 people on EU soil alone, shipped them to other countries, and tortured many of them. Releasing many years later with an "er, never mind." If another country kidnaps an American off an American street and ships them overseas for torture, should America have any right to complain? If it's claimed that the American was suspected of ties to crime or terrorism or the company that made the drones they object to flying over their country - and a decade later there's still no trial - should America be able to say anything other than "You're right; that's how WE handle it?"

  • On the post: Border Patrol Stops Journalist From Heading To Dakota Pipeline Protests, Searches All Of His Electronic Devices

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2016 @ 09:27am

    Re: US Border Crossing 101

    Similarly do not carry any large amount of cash if at all possible
    Also don't bring your bank cards. As Techdirt has reported, if American police decide to suspect you of some type of crime, they're no longer limited to seizing any cash or goods on hand. They're now equipped with ERAD, or Electronic Recovery and Access to Data machine, which allows them to seize money in your bank account or on prepaid cards right at the roadside. Of course the INS has demonstrated that a Canadian showing up at the border can be kidnapped to third country for 11 months of torture - just to check out vague suspicions - so robbing bank accounts at badgepoint is pretty minor stuff.

  • On the post: Wall Street Is Dreaming Of Megamergers Under Trump — Including A Verizon-Comcast Super Union

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2016 @ 07:32am

    Re: Re: Re: And...

    Trump is more honest about what he wants to do.
    Don't mind me. I'm just experimenting to see if I get flagged as abusive for quoting your own words back to you as if you honestly believe that.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 10:08pm

    Re: Re:

    Obama has issued executive orders at a lower rate than any President in the last 100 years. Yes, the left listened. That's why they speak to people who make your claim in the tone of voice of a condescending aunt to a retarded four-year-old.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 02:45pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Now Trump is a book burner?

    No, that's normal. The RNC and DNC are private organizations and can rig their primaries however they want. Lord knows the RNC set plenty of precedent in rigging the election against McCain in 2000, and later against Ron Paul. And trying to rig it against Trump, but too late.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 02:36pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    At the same time, Canada did little if anything to fight for Keystone XL when it was held up on the US side. Nothing more than a politician's usual expression of deep personal concern over whatever the current issue.

    Probably because sending the oil to either coast and on to other markets is better for Canadian sovereignty.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 02:05pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    In that case they're replacing an existing pipeline built in the 1960s.

    Sure, the replacement will have a higher capacity. But rather than a new pipeline (or in the BC case twinning a pipeline), it's in the realm of what really should be mandatory maintenance.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 01:45pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Now Trump is a book burner?

    Trump's words may be meaningless, but there's still his actions. No less than the American Bar Association has declared Trump to be "libel bully" who has filed many meritless suits attacking his opponents.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 01:42pm

    Re:

    It does shelter you if you set up a different organization to run it. That organization could ignore US government and court orders.

    In any case, Canada isn't "under the US's thumb." In recent years it (officially, at least) stayed out of Iraq. It passed on ballistic missile defense. It passed on "shared" control of it's port and border security. There are passport controls and other obstacles on the border for the first time ever.

    Trade has given the US too much influence. But from wheat to lumber to trucking to livestock to manufactured goods, the US refuses to honor NAFTA. And so Canada has been signing free trade and investment deals with other counties left and right, including now one with the EU. Yesterday it approved the major expansion of a pipeline taking Alberta crude to the left coast for export to Asia, rather than south to the US.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 01:28pm

    Re: Re: Re: Now Trump is a book burner?

    Yes, Obama has gone more into drone strikes. But he shut down the kidnapping and torture. He's repeatedly tried to shut down Guantanamo, but even still I think it's a shocking lack of leadership that he hasn't succeeded.

    Being investigated means nothing; not when one is cleared. Especially when - on email handling alone - there were/are similar investigations for the entire previous White House, the last two Secretaries of state, Mitt Romney, and 2016 candidates Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal.

    Expand that criteria beyond email servers and into outright fraud, and you can include Trump.

    Your "selling influence through their foundation" claim is no more than an accusation, the sort that could be made about any prominent candidate in either party.

    Your Benghazi fantasy is pure wingnuttery. Really. C'mon; people have had time to look it up.

    So there are lots of good reasons to archive the archive, and Trump is a big one. Based on both his promises and his actions.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 12:49pm

    Re: Re: Re: Now Trump is a book burner?

    But how many has he actually followed through with or won?
    You're missing the point. No less than the American Bar Association has declared Trump to be "libel bully" who had filed many meritless suits attacking his opponents and had never won in court. It's not about "winning in court." It's about bulling them into shutting up or facing bankruptcy. And he's bragged about it. As a presidential candidate he expanded that into highly publicized personal insults and smears to the extent that those on the receiving end regularly received death threats and more. As President he'll have even more power to do so.

  • On the post: Ahead Of President Trump, The Web's One And Only Backup Wants To Make A Backup Of Itself (In Canada)

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 12:35pm

    Re: Now Trump is a book burner?

    This is getting so crazy it is becoming comical. Do you guys sleep under your beds in fear now? I guess it will come as a big surprise to the left when the world does not end on January 20.
    a) It would have been "so crazy it is becoming comical" to suggest that President-elect Bush II would turn the country into a mass torture state. Or kidnap people by the hundreds from around the world - over 100 from EU soil alone - and hold them for years - some now halfway through their second decade - without trial. Or launch a pre-emptive war. That would last over a decade and only make things worse. Or that he'd do away with habeas corpus. b) It would have been "so crazy it is becoming comical" to suggest that many of the very people responsible for a), would be telling people that the NEXT winning candidate from their own party was an unstable loose cannon. c) It would have been "so crazy it is becoming comical" to imagine a winning candidate having openly bragged how he would punish the media for "negative" - meaning accurate - reporting. Openly and regularly pointing at the media during his rallies and declaring them the enemy and worse. d) It would have been "so crazy it is becoming comical" to imagine a winning candidate choosing the leader of a white supremacist fake news site to be his new Karl Rove. Nevertheless, here we are. With c) especially in mind, you're saying that it's "so crazy it is becoming comical" to take Trump at his word and based on his actions.

  • On the post: In His Final Days, Obama Quietly Expands War Powers Before Handing Them Off To Trump

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 11:28am

    Re: Re: Re:

    You probably also find yourself saying "but it's just a different point of view" a lot.

  • On the post: Your Earbuds Can Be Made Into Microphones With Just A Bit Of Malware

    Roger Strong ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2016 @ 08:55am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Obviously the tech industry needs to do a better job of catering to the needs of the paranoid. To understand them better it should spend some time observing them. Following them around. Writing down notes.

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