Posts by TimeMaster T

Police slam internet justice - then use it themselves

Title!

Might actually end up being more of a Criminal Justice System than the Criminal Legal System we have in place now.

I would rather have my case heard by a dispassionate, unemotional, uninvolved, unbiased machine that looks at facts rather than a Human, biased, emotional Judge who has had a bad day or didn't get any the night before.

I know of several cases where the defendants were found guilty due to emotional bias on the part of the jurors and judge, and a prosecutor with his own agenda, only to be cleared years later (one case 20 years later) when someone actually looked at the hard evidence in the case and saw there was no way the defendants could be guilty of what they had been charged with.

Disney sued for spying on kids with 'zombie cookies'

Seamonkey

works with Seamonkey too.

(Seamonkey is a full web suite (Firefox+Thunderbird+HTML Composer) from Mozilla)

Man sentenced for DIY gift-card cloning

Not suprised

Not surprised the stores don't want to co-operate. Makes gift cards look bad. And really they were not the ones robbed, it was the people who were given the cards as gifts or bought them for their children that are out the money. Best Buy, et al haven't lost a cent.

16-year-old makes £1m selling ads

Title!

As much as I am green with envy I have to give him a Thumbs Up. He worked at it and has earned his money. Good show and good luck.

Police told terror ads too terrifying offensive

"Night vision" vs. Thermal Imaging

Unless the tech has changed drastically in the last few years normal "Night Vision" or "Light amplification" equipment like goggles and scopes cant see beyond the IR wavelengths that are very close to visible light. You can see "near IR" sources like IR lasers and LEDs but not longer wavelength heat signatures like in Predator.

For that kind of imaging you need to use a different rig altogether. The "Thermal Imaging" cameras are the ones that they use to find heat anomalies on buildings, like those caused by grow lights left on 24/7. Both types see in infra-red/heat but the wavelengths and hardware are very different.

Turkish groom accidentally sprays wedding guests with bullets

Correction

Semi-auto is single fire.

The AK-47 only has two modes, safe or Full-auto (semi-auto on the civilian version).

Only a few assault rifles have the three round "burst" option.

No

If it had been Darwin the groom would have shot himself. Those he removed form the gene pool had already bred and now he will probably want to have some extra kids now so he can name one after each of the dead.

Mines the one made of Kevlar.

Actually ...

As I understand it was a combination of a blank and a slug that killed Brandon Lee.

In an earlier scene they had used dummy cartridges (no powder but still had a live primer) to show the gun being loaded, then someone pulled the trigger. The primer in the "blank" dummies still had enough power to push the slug out of the drum and into the barrel of the revolver. When the same prop gun was used with true black powder blanks for the "Bang, Bang" there was enough pressure to shoot the slug in the barrel with enough force to kill.

for full details; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Lee#Death

Extreme porn law on the ropes

Title

Then I guess he should be glade he wasn't accused of being a pedo.

But your right about this following him around for the rest of his life.

ISS cooling pump refuses to come quietly

Good one!

I wonder how many people will get the reference.

Clue to the clueless, it relates to a US Apollo in teh '70s.

Carnivorous plague mice 'wiping out towns' in US Midwest

Title!

You have a strange definition of "fun". While I agree the guns used are very cool, killing for sport has never sat very well with me. To each their own I guess, to a point.

Wikileaks publishes encrypted 'insurance' file

Yeah...

So says another AC.

Council's school-snoop-op ruled illegal

Title!

On that subject. I read an article once, sorry no link available, that stated that the total number of Federal laws in the USA was "over 10,000", an exact number being impossible to determine because many laws will reference other laws or treaties.

Then add in State, County and City laws/regulations and it becomes almost impossible to NOT be guilty of something.

I have noticed a trend lately, 20 years ago when a Police officer walked into a cafe people would smile, maybe node a welcome to them, the conversation would get a little louder as people relaxed. Because they felt safer with an Officer around.

Now when an Officer walks in the conversation gets a little softer, people smile a little less and people's body language shows a bit of unease.

Ask someone what worries them more, an Arab getting on the plane with them or the police car that pulls in behind them at the light?

Title

So have acting Ministers ...

Title!

When used for the right reasons and in the right cases, with warrants duly issued by the proper authorities and with proper oversight, I agree with you.

In the case you cite the above provisions were followed, and the thousands who have died to ensure that those protections are in place were honored.

Those who truly value their Freedom are willing to accept that they may die as a result of action by an enemy abusing those same Freedoms.

I don't know about you but I consider it better to be secure in my home and communications than have to constantly worry about saying the wrong thing on the phone or talking to the wrong person lest I be called a "Terrorist" by association.

I may have nothing to fear, but I, as we all, have things I would prefer to keep hidden.

Satnav leaves family stranded in Outback for three days

Signs

Not to mention that when you don't blindly trust your GPS navigator you are more likely to pay attention to "Road Closed" signs.

My two pence; bill them for the rescue costs.

Mines the one with the map, compass and sextant in the pocket.

MS preps emergency patch for Windows shortcut peril

Title

Your right!

An alternative to Windows is needed. Maybe we could get some sort of programing community based effort to create something that would work on the same hardware as Windows, hell maybe others could create applications the would be compatible with MS apps like Office.

If only ...

Couple charged over hybrid car industrial espionage plot

Any bets

On whether China already has this info?

These two sound more like they thought they could have a cushy retirement if they grabbed some data from GM and sold it to China.

I would lay good odds on China already having that data. Collected by that quiet, hard working, never miss a day, too useful to lay off engineer, you know the one that never attracts any attention or makes waves.

The spies who get caught are the dumb ones, the smart ones don't set up a company and try to sell the stolen data to a foreign company.

Airline ejects passenger for being hungry

Title!

Just don't be surprised that no one speaks up for YOU when its your turn.

If you "Don't want to get involved" just remember the line about "When they came for the ..." and remember it when they throw you off for wearing a T-shirt that gets stewardess mad.

Fire, because that is how it will end.

Title!

Just keep in mind that the crew have their own portable air masks so you would only be affecting innocent civilians.

Mines the one with the gas mask and boarding pass in the pocket.

Malaysia bans 'satanic' Man Utd kit

What?

"Surely they realise that this is no way to act in a shrinking international world."

Apparently not.

Cross-dresser shags mutt at historic castle

Well ...

That might explain a lot about her son, L. Ron.

As much sense as ..

the US laws;

Shag a dog==5 years

drug and shag a 13 year old==90 days "psychiatric evaluation"

Steve Jobs denies Judas Phone antenna problems

Viewpoint

Ever use a magnifying glass? Know how to calculate the refraction based its index value?

Just because someone knows what an antenna is does not mean they know how to build and test one.

The reg is an IT site, not a site for Ham radio enthusiasts.

India to place $11bn order for AIP hi-tech submarines

Title!

FYI, they only get the 72 virgins if they die a Martyrs death, ie, a suicide attack. Using a missile from 400km away doesn't qualify.

TLA!

For future reference;

Not everyone knows what all the acronyms mean.

There are many people who read TheReg who are not Navel Technology buffs. Like me.

Title!

The MHD will NEVER be used in a military sub.

MHD systems use massive magnetic fields.

Think about it.

The magnetic signature of a sub using normal propulsion systems can be detected at great range, I've heard that some LOE satellites can do it. A sub with a MHD drive would be tactically useless. Despite what they said in "Hunt for Red October".

How do I know? I asked a guy who worked on stealth for subs.

MHD tech has its place, just not in a sub.

'Bitter' priest blows $1.3m of church funds

Maybe ...

They just didn't consider it big enough with everything else they kept finding. The hush money to keep things out of the papers, the out of court settlements, etc..

Mines the one with the copy of "Going to Hell, and loving it" in the pocket.

New dinosaur dubbed 'Mojoceratops' - 'over a few beers'

Power Puff

First Mojo Jo Jo, now Mojoceratops.

I can see him now ...

Mines the one with the Power Puff Girls DVD in the pocket

El Reg marks Steve Jobs for termination

But ...

Maybe that is just what he WANTS you to think.

Drop some "local" references to give people the impression your from somewhere when your not.

Mines the one with the Foil lining and matching cap.

SCO rises from the dead (again)

Title!

Better to take off and nuke them from orbit. Its the only way to be sure.

'The internet's completely over', declares petulant Prince

Maybe ...

More like 8=

New surveillance-CSI method: Beverage hair-isotope trail

Title!

Just remember, there is hair on the rest of your body, not just your head.

Mines the one with the industrial sized bottle of Nair in the pocket.

WRONG!

EPIC FAIL!

That was Goldfinger, who didn't own a cat. The leader of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. has the cat.

Now go watch all the films again till you get it right.

There will be a test afterward, right next to the shark tank so study hard.

Two infosec blunders that betrayed the Russian spy ring

Title!

From what I've picked up the reason the FBI moved now was because Ms. Chapman had been tipped off that her cover had been compromised and was leaving the country, they had to move or lose the chance to get her.

Why Tux? Why not?

US authorities shutdown websites accused of movie piracy

Just a heads up

If your going to buy any DVDs distributed in a foreign country be sure that your DVD player is region 0 and can handle translation between PAL and NTSC video formats. Otherwise you end up with very expensive coasters.

Region code, yet another way the market is controlled by greedy people.

Long live Jon J.!

Microsoft sees spike in attacks targeting 0day Windows bug

Title!

Amen to that.

The only reason I read articles about windows exploits is to first keep up with the IT world for work, and second to have a good laugh after morning coffee.

Russian spy ring bust uncovers tech toolkit

re: #1

in this case the obvious is less obvious.

If some super encrypted non standard ad-hoc Wi-Fi network popped up every time two people get within 200 ft of each other it would stand out like a nuke at midnight.

However, using a USB Wi-Fi dongle for this, and only this, application would have been a better plan, or at least changing the MAC to a random/different value for the "secret" communications and then resetting it when done to avoid this kind of tracking. Using a one time MAC address predetermined according to a cipher key from another communications channel, like a FaceBook status message or other chat forum with a set of keywords and then the pass phrase would be even better.

Remember, the really smart ones never get caught.

Mine's the one with the USB dongle in the pocket. Hurry please, I need to get a cup of coffee in 20 minutes.

Secret ancient code, basis of all modern civilisation, cracked

Yet later entry

"Tried to tell the lads something deeply meaningful, only Judas got it."

(The Gospel of Judas is a very interesting read)

Oklahoma granny sues cops over tasering

Title!

It wont stop.

Best we can hope for is to jump when it slows down for a curve.

Remember to tuck and roll.

Mines the one with the extra padding.

Council of Europe condemns teen-bothering Mosquito

Teachers

I've already heard about students using this tone as a ring-tone on their phones when in a classroom.

Windows 7 Backup gets users' backs up

Joke?

I know its meant to be funny but at my last job the guy they replaced me with REALLY believed that if the drives are mirrored (I forget the raid level) then regular backups are less important. I'm just hope they get a good IT admin before a drive fails or somebody needs a file that they deleted last week.

Tux, 'cus Linux ROCKS!

Man charged with malware 'sextortion' plot

Title!

Un F'ing believable.

A guy in Idaho got twenty years for having some cartoon images that looked like depictions of "underage persons" and this guy may only get two years?!

FSA: Of course customers don't read contracts

Rethink

Don't you think 90 is a bit high?

no joke icon because I'm not.

DoS attack stuffs Turkey's internet censors

How its been

For a long time Turkey was just like that thanks to Ataturk, there was strict separation of government from religion. IIRCC there have even been times when the military has stepped in to prevent/overturn one BS law or another that tried to apply Islamic religious law to general government policy.

Last I heard the Islamic conservatives in the Government have been slowly moving appointing/promoting their own pro-Islamic people into positions of rank and control of the Military. I don't expect Turkey to last long against that kind of tactic. It is happening elsewhere in the world currently and has happened in the past, and the results have never been good.

It is sad that a country that has been used as an example of a progressive and forward moving country, issues with the Kurdish population not withstanding, for the rest of the Muslim world is falling into the same trap as the rest of the Middle East.

I likely have some details wrong so if you know better please chime in with the needed corrections.

Killer piranha stalk Folkestone pond

Title!

But what kind of Piranha where they?

Many are primarily vegetarian believe it or not, meat is a bonus but not their main food stuff. If the ones in the tank had been of the more aggressive carnivorous variety it may have had a different outcome.

One thing about Piranha, they are great in a chowder. Also believed by some locals of the Amazon to have "enhancing" effects.

I'll have a pint and a bowl of chowder please.

Lightning bolt smites 60ft Jesus statue

Title!

Yep, this Paul Wright is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

The lightning hit a STATUE, not what ever God he claims to worship, or was he worshiping the idol that went up in flames and not the concept behind it? Maybe that was the message from "God".

Fire, cause a Burning bush was once seen as a visit from God.

Ubuntu-based Windows XP looker freshens up

Icons

With the exception of the "Start" button everything looks like its using the default icons for the F/OSS software installed. No copyright issues involved.

I'll have to check it out, I know a few people who are Linux phobic that might just like this.

US Senator wants Internet seizure rights

Title!

That is what the last generation said.

The world is in for a revolution. Hopefully it will be bloodless, but since those with power will do anything to keep that power I'm not going to bet on it.

Emperor: "How will it end?"

Kosh: "In Fire."

Bullfighter cuffed for lack of cojones

Guts?

What takes more cajones:

A: killing an animal for the entertainment of screaming mob because you don't want to be called weak?

or

B: Being true to yourself and admitting you don't the cajones to kill an animal for the entertainment of screaming mob?

I would buy that man a drink, I know I couldn't walk into a ring to torture and kill an animal to a bunch of bloodthirsty drunks.

A kill should be quick, clean (as possible), spare the target suffering, and it should not be for "the fun of it".