* Posts by Mark 85

12880 publicly visible posts • joined 22 Nov 2012

NSA dragnet mostly slurped innocents' traffic

Mark 85

Re: Too numb to care any longer ...

Actually, they won't have to strip off the 'non"s. They'll just assume that since you're denying everything and doing it publically, you have something to hide.

Mark 85
Facepalm

They didn't need to slurp data <I> en masse </I> for this

Quote: it's hardly surprising that the documents Snowden worked through with the Post included men showing off their physiques and images in which “women model lingerie, leaning suggestively into a webcam or striking risque poses in shorts and bikini tops

Hell... letting the NSA play on Facebook would have been cheaper and probably have let them have the same pics. Ok. Maybe not.. add Tumblr and Reddit...etc.... and only slurp Snapchat via the backdoor.

Star Wars: These are the 'unknown' actors we were looking for

Mark 85

Re: "Disney and Lucasfilm are, of course, saying nothing about the plot"

Sure there's a plot... make a movie, lots of special effects, bring back some old characters, start a new round of toys, etc. PROFIT!!!!!

Oh.. you meant a plot in the movie...er... nevermind.

Boeing to start work on most powerful rocket ... EVER!

Mark 85

Re: Scary stuff...

Which begs the question.... why didn't they go with the F1? That thing worked.

Mark 85

Scary stuff...

Shuttle engines and solid boosters. Yikes on the solids. I thought lately, that solids would prevent the beast from being man-rated.

It's real pity that there's no copy of the Saturn V engine prints. One would think there should be a set somewhere but back then, I guess terms of a contract were not ignored for "just in case" reasons. It was even more surprising that none went to the National Archives.

USA to insist on pre-flight mobe power probe

Mark 85
WTF?

New???

Seems they were doing that at least 5 years ago for domestic flights. I was always asked to turn on the cell phone and laptop to verify they worked. So Stateside, we were doing something that wasn't done outside the States? Another case of left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? Or was it that domestic terrorists were smarter than non-domestic terrorists????

Enquiring minds and all that.....

PANDA chomps through Spotify's DRM

Mark 85

There's a conflict here....

The article is about how to bypass/break the DRM in Spotify, yet the Uni types who developed it say they don't condone piracy. And apparently the USAF is involved. So what exactly is going on? If it's some kind of DRM breaker for the USAF, I would have expected some sort of lockdown on releasing the info....

Is there too much sex and violence on TV?

Mark 85
Coat

And that's just the news shows....

Mark 85

Re: Kicking the bucket?

I suspect you are closer to the truth than you know. Most of these types of stats never seem to take that into account. As the whiners leave the pool... who fills their place? Does anyone fill their place? Hell, I haven't had the TV on in 5 years.

Royal Navy parks 470 double-decker buses on Queen Elizabeth

Mark 85

Re: Bust-up

Given the nature of things, not one of those buses will be going anywhere close to where you want to go. That's the route of #471.

Google spares founders from TERMINATORS, but not Eric Schmidt

Mark 85

Re: Um...

Ah... so Eric Schmidt is expendable then? As are the rest of the Oompa Loompas?

NSA man says agency can track you through POWER LINES

Mark 85

Once upon a time

Back in the bad old days of the Cold War, computers and other similar items that were used by certain government agencies had TEMPEST protection to prevent keystrokes from being read on the grid. Problem was, the tap had to be at the main input to the building for it to be effective and also the more keyboards being used, the more problematic it was to read the info.

I'm not sure as I've been out of that field for sometime but I remember hearing that TEMPEST protection (and it's cost) wasn't needed as the amount on noise on the grid was too high to be able read this info. I suspect that the same thing applies to this. There's just too much background noise from all electronic devices for this technology to work with any degree of accuracy.

Windows 7, XP and even Vista GAIN market share again

Mark 85

I don't see the mystery.

After all the mis-steps in designing and releasing Win8, people simply either hate or don't want mess with it. For most, it's too different to be comfortable with. I daresay that as far as home users, those I know who have bought a new PC have "upgraded" to Win7. Win7 is reasonably mature and self-contained. No mumbo-jumbo about cloud based apps or any of the other hype that MS is shoveling.

I suspect many businesses feel the same way as a certain amount of retraining the troops and even then, some not grasping it present problems. As well as the software issues. Again all the hype and BS coming from MS about the cloud.

People don't want mumbo-jumbo about stuff they've not had experience with. They simply want things to work and work in a way they're comfortable with. I supposed the Apple kids would feel the same way if the OS suddenly changed and caused the same feelings of uncomfortableness.

Yes, I smell downvotes, but this just an opinion based on observation. Non-scientific and purely anecdotal based.

Twitter takes on GOOGLE, swallows wannabe YouTube firm

Mark 85

Maybe good thing..

Not a word about cat videos. Maybe there is hope for the human race after all.

VC who wants to split California REVEALED as Silk Road Bitcoin slurper

Mark 85

Very puzzling and disturbing.

These are bitcoins held by Silk Road for the customers/users? Not his personal bitcoins. So by a bit of a stretch, if the CEO of Paypal were charged with similar crimes, Paypal could be shut down and all assets or at least accounts could be seized???

IANAL, but something just doesn't feel right about this. There has (wishful thinking maybe) to be some innocents who are now collateral damage.

ISPs haul GCHQ into COURT over dragnet interwebs snooping

Mark 85

What is it about the Brits?

Over here in the States, the NSA revelations stir an outrage among the commentard denizens. The GCHQ revelations seems to stir some people but mostly it's very restrained, almost accepting of the deeds and mis-deeds. Is it a cultural thing?

Not a troll... I find this most curious.

NASA: Satellite which will end man-made CO2 debate in orbit at last

Mark 85

Blame Game Anyone?

Since one of its purposes is to locate sources of CO2, I'm guessing certain politicians will be watching so they can blame other countries/locales.

Golf bloke to Richard Branson: Get on board the future bus, where there's 'NO WEATHER'

Mark 85

I've been mislead...

I thought Timothy Leary was dead.

FTC: T-Mobile USA took '$100s of millions' in bogus txt charges

Mark 85

And just when T-Mobile was looking at a merger too, which might have given Verizon and possibly AT&T new headaches. This might just put that merger on hold.

Oh.. and let's not forget his "Those other guys f***ing hate you. They don't love you customers the way we do." speech recently. I guess he didn't love us either?

New NSA boss plays down impact of Snowden leaks

Mark 85

Re: Change over.

I think you're right. However, I'll toss in the Nixon/Ford Syndrome. Nixon resigned and no one believed or trusted Ford. I think that's part of what's happening here. Even if Rogers is most unique NSA boss ever, he will have to fight the image of his predecessor plus there's still things coming out on his watch. Probably, the next guy will have a better shot at winning the public trust.

But then again... this is NSA we're speaking of. They've had 62 years of growth and basically unhampered activity.

Mark 85

Re: Why Should I Believe Anything You Say?

You only think it was a nicer place... let's have a look at then and now...

Orwell wrote his book and it was published in 1949. What could he possibly have learned or experienced that would lead him to write what he did...?? It was a nicer time, right? Yet, he managed to see how politics, PR, and technology could merge.

But, once upon a time, SIGINT wasn't a big thing except as a tactical item. The technology really didn't exist to gather information electronically. It's only as we've build technology that this has become an issue. Before then, Intelligence was gathered manually by the guy on the ground. Microfilm, code ciphers, secret meetings face to face. One assumed the operator was listening in to phone calls.

Also, once a upon a time, it was governments spying on each other. Terrorist organizations were around but disjointed. Again, communications was an issue. Arafat's group caused major problems but intelligence was hard pressed to get any info on them.

So, while bombs were going off, people being killed by assorted groups (PLO, IRA, etc.), intelligence was stuck. The media didn't publish much on it as they really had no info. News stories had to be shipped by plane or ship (for film) or long distance phone calls, teletype, etc.

Was it nicer? Probably not, just different. We just didn't hear about it because there was no instant communications and the technology wasn't there. As reminder, how many people knew about the Japanese Interment Camps, the Stalin Purges, or even as late as the 70's, the Mao Purges?

New Russian law punishes online 'extremism'

Mark 85

Vacations for everyone?

The are wonderful places in Siberia awaiting you.

I guess things have been too quiet and unemployment is high around the old camps lately... and, let's face it, Mr. "I'm a stud" Putin doesn't like anyone questioning him.

(Oh... I'm being extreme? Ok... Gitmo or Siberia? Send me to Gitmo, I can't handle the cold. )

British and European data cops probe Facebook user-manipulation scandal

Mark 85

One has to wonder....

How many of those were fake profiles and so how much of their valuable insight was skewed? bwahahahaha

Mark 85

You're right up to a point. That point being popular TV shows. They're so-called reality that are filled with drama and disaster (maybe "disaster" is too harsh a word since no one's died). Folks also like to think they're better off than other people.

SPACE: The FINAL FRONTIER. These are the TEN-YEAR images of star probe Cassini

Mark 85
Pint

A hearty well-done to NASA and Cassini.

10 years on orbit and 7 years getting there and it still has another couple of years to go. Here's one me NASA --->

I hope that whatever they decide to do for an end game will be excellent... maybe a fly-through the rings?

Remaining Snowden docs will be released to avert 'unspecified US war' – ‪Cryptome‬

Mark 85

Every answer begats more questions....

So the "last" of the archive is being released soon....

I would have assumed that Snowden would have a rather large hole-card somewhere that will never be played unless some action were taken towards him. I do have to wonder if his hole-card is about Putin since that's his safe harbor.

Avert a war? Unless there's something very specific and fairly recent, I can't think of anything that would prevent a war. Cause a few maybe... but then again, I'm not the most creative "outside the box" thinker.

BTW, Mr. Pott... the idea (unless you're of a certain religious persuasion and want your 72 virgins) is to not die for your country/belief but to make the other guy die for his. Ok.. bad attempt at humor but it's been a tenet of the US Marines for as long as there been US Marines.

Samsung admits its Chinese supply chain still has labour-rights and safety problems

Mark 85

Re: Well...

Yes, it's all wishful thinking in may ways that no one really wants to address except to pay lip service to. Just my $.02 (US).. if it's made in China for export or by contract, it's crap and workers who manufacturer the item are exploited.

A couple of points:

If those folks in the US who holler about exploitation in the US workplace actually paid attention, they'd know how well off they are.

Price? I'd rather pay more for something that a) lasted longer than a few months, b) was in spec. A lot of what I buy for personal use, I look hard to find it manufactured somewhere other than China just for those two reasons.

Lastly, let's talk piracy. If you hand them a set of blueprints to build a widget, expect said widget to be sold by either the same or a "different" (same manufacturer, different name) manufacturer. Since it wasn't copyrighted/patented by a Chinese national, it can't be copyrighted/patented there and is now fair game.

Yeah.. capitalism and communism are about the same in many ways... exploit workers and consumers for profit and power. Meh.... <./rant>

Foxconn CEO: 'Suicides weren't our fault'

Mark 85

Should we assume...

that any signs saying that "the beatings will continue until morale improves" have been removed?

NASA pulls FLYING SAUCER out of Pacific ocean

Mark 85

Not quite the "worked as expected"...

Many news sources are reporting that the parachute failed to deploy properly. But the engineers said it was a good test so they could see what went wrong.

Surprise! NSA's first ever 'transparency' 'report' is anything but

Mark 85

Is someone lying then or just not reporting?

Last year federal authorities issued 19,212 national security letters and 38,832 requests for information. That's a colossal amount of penmanship, and also slightly concerning, given the limited data we've had from firms like Google and Apple.

Cupertino and Mountain View reported getting between zero and 999 national security letters in their latest transparency reports. That suggests there are an awful lot of firms getting served with these secretive orders

Something smells rotten.. or are we missing stuff like Amazon's Cloud? Yahoo!? Microsoft? and they make the bulk?

Spanish struggle to control spelling of 'WhatsApp'

Mark 85
Pint

Friday.... to hell with it.

dos cervezas por favor

Today in IT news: iPad Fleshlight a reality

Mark 85

So this is what???

I guess the new generations don't believe in actual contact with another human-being?

Yahoo!: Yes you, YouTube content-maker. GET IN MAH BELLY!

Mark 85

And another company is about to hit the toilet/loo

Seems that everything Yahoo! touches goes to hell.

Intel, Ford: Project Mobii will harpoon unsafe, unauthorized drivers

Mark 85

Hmmm... gesture control?

So the single finger salute will control what? The blood pressure of anyone watching?

MPAA, meet the Streisand effect: Picture ass. slaps Reddit with takedown

Mark 85

I guess the MPAA forgot.

There's no such thing as bad publicity.

Black hole three-way: Supermassive trio are 'rippling' space

Mark 85

Re: To put 300 times the speed of sound

So wizzing on interstellar terms

That's a real pisser, galactically speaking...

Google pries open YOUR mailbox, invites developer partners

Mark 85

CRUD?

I think that pretty much sums it up... and not the acronym either.

Aaah, what's that smell, Nook? Yes, it's death: Barnes & Noble to jettison e-book biz

Mark 85

Ah.. buzzwords meaning something else...

"We have determined that these businesses will have the best chance of optimizing shareholder value if they are capitalized and operated separately," CEO Michael Huseby said.

Ah.. translation: "The Nook is losing money and costing a fortune on my stock options."

Warrantless snooping on American man was LEGAL in terrorism case, rules US judge

Mark 85

Re: Now THAT is what surveillance is for

Don,

INAL, but I think part of the problem with the fake bomb trick is that it's necessary to get a conviction. I recall some cases years ago where "intent" was never proved even though there was a ton of evidence (legally obtained). Handing the guy a fake bomb and letting him press the trigger shows "intent".

I'm wishing I could provide citations, etc., but this was back in the late 60's/early 70's and I don't recollect who or where this was. I just remember reading it in the paper and the some lawyer type saying if they'd only done this (being hand the guy a fake weapon), they would have had a conviction.

Mark 85

Hmm... reading the article and betwixt the lines....

I think the line is there... per the judge: “When I balance the intrusion on the individual’s interest in privacy, namely the incidental collection of US persons’ communications, against these special needs when the government targets a non-US person believed to be outside the United States, I conclude the foreign intelligence exception applies and no warrant is required.”

Ok.. they were targeting non-US persons and this guy became a person of interest because of his communications. That's fine. I think the big stink about NSA is the blanket Hoovering up of comms of all citizens, foreign and domestic. One is targeting (allowed by law). One is trawling with a large net.

“Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Google Glass gets 2GB of RAM. Think about this. Two gigs of RAM

Mark 85

Re: Voice commands

Since the less well-mannered use their cellphones in these places anyway, why would you think they would Glass any different? Will the RAM upgrade increase their intelligence or situational awareness?

I went to a funeral recently and the minister had to ask everyone to turn off their cellphones. A couple of idiots were texting away and ignored him. Meh....

Mark 85

Re: Glassholes

I guess maybe "fanboi" is better than "glasshole"?

You can call me Ray, you can call me Jay, but you doesnt have to call me Johnson ...

Unexpected Termination Error at Year of Code: Chief dumps venture for other UK.gov riches

Mark 85

Ah.. hypocrites feeding at the public trough..

And after the professing of "think of the children", they abandon ship for more taxpayer money. So much for staying around and working for what they supposedly believe in.

Study of Brit students finds TXTING doesn't ruin your writing

Mark 85

I tend to disagree with the study

Purely anecdotal but too many of the younger IT types and user types do not seem to recognize the difference and when it's appropriate. Emails and chat messages in a chat forum (work related) all say otherwise. Even then there's the yahoos who think using l33t in their text and emails makes them smarter. What it does is causes confusion instead of the supposed clarity they should be using. Sorry. </rant>

Snowden defends mega spy blab: 'Public affairs have to be known by the public'

Mark 85
Black Helicopters

Questions still unanswered.... yet hinted at.

Yes, he's whistleblower/traitor/rat fink. He's also confirmed what many (but not all) have suspected for a long time and which the average FB user won't care. There's also revelations in industry that are just as troubling (credential stealing, tracking by Google etc., and security of information in general).

He (Snowden) claims that the West is no worse than the Russians and the Chinese in their information gathering from citizens and foreign powers alike.

Does all this make any one of us safer? Does it make any one of us more or less of a target by either government, business, or miscreant? Posting AC... you really think that's safer?

The founding fathers of the US were very explicit in their fears of government and society. Perhaps too explicit as the courts take things very literally without looking ahead and seeing the implications from way technology is going. Maybe they should. But the people still have the real power even if they waste it on politicians full of BS, corruption, greed, and stupidity.

Sadly, Jefferson was right. People generally get the government they deserve. And that applies world-wide. Not just to the US.

Longer flights burning more fuel can cut planes' climate impact

Mark 85

Re: stupid question...

Your plan is too simple and there's nothing there for the Greens, Climate Scientists, or politicians to make a bit of money from. Ok.. the Greens might go for it....

Mark 85

For larger aircraft, the alternative route could still be preferable, but only if it added less than 60 miles to the journey

<60 Miles? Really? I'd love to see the plotted route vs the standard route. My guess is that someone ran the numbers without ever looking out a window or actually checking with the real world on air routes.

One amazing reason why NASA boffins are celebrating Curiosity's 687th day on Mars

Mark 85

Re: A very lonely birthday party

One can wish but I suspect that those joining it will be from another nation than the one who launched it. A very sad state of affairs when it comes to NASA funding.

Dutch firm passes the world's first e-spliff to the left hand side

Mark 85
Meh

Not really new...

Vaping weed has been around for at least 5 years. The re-fillable e-cigs and liquid C have been around for awhile but, at least here in the States, it's been an underground type of thing unless there was a medical reason (along with prescription and appropriate ID).

Someone close to me had a medical condition and tried these things. What's new I guess is the e-cig being promoted for this????