* Posts by Intractable Potsherd

4159 publicly visible posts • joined 10 Jun 2009

Hey, FBI. Wanna track someone by cellphone? Get a proper warrant, says US appeals court

Intractable Potsherd

Proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt?

It would be interesting to know what other evidence was presented to the jury* other than "Look! Technical stuff and some statistics!" Assuming all the States have the requirement of innocent unless proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt, then the simple correlation of phones near incidents needs a lot more filling out** to outweigh the reasonable doubt in this case - simply being in the area at unfortunate times shouldn't be enough to get to prosecution, let alone conviction.

Oh, yes - the topic: There should definitely be a warrant for this sort of search.

* Assuming the two blokes didn't plead guilty and then try to appeal

** E.g. evidence that the phones two of only few in a place where not many people go. Being in the vicinity of three crimes in downtown $CITY would be very different from the phones showing up in the same area as three out-of-town offences, for instance.

German spooks want to charge journalists with TREASON for publishing spy plans

Intractable Potsherd

Tosser.

Bloke cuffed for blowing low-flying camera drone to bits with shotgun

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Nutjob?

In an area where many people own guns, it is indeed a perfectly rational response.

Intractable Potsherd

"in case you didn't read the article, this was OUTSIDE." I think in most common law jurisdictions, "Home" begins at the boundary of the property occupied by the owner/occupier. The garden would be classed as "home", with permission (express or implied) required to enter the property. I have always had the impression that the mailboxes on the edge of the boundary in the USA were recognition of this (thought I could be wrong on that).

Intractable Potsherd

"A damaged quad could crash anywhere in battery range and poses a significant risk of injury, damage and fire."

This is the real issue here. Regardless of what method used (lead shot, nylon and rubber chain shot, water, radio interference), there is a strong possibility of the incapacitated drone falling uncontrolled from a significant height. The "uncontrolled" aspect means there is a risk of injury or damage to property, regardless of how "safe" the method of bringing it down is. Liability is then going to spread far and wide without clear laws on this.

Note: I don't really defend either party here. The drone operators behaved badly, but so did the man with the gun. However, my wife would insist on me finding a way to bring down a drone hovering over the garden, and I'd e classed as "useless" if I didn't - regardless of how little I would care in most situations.

SPACESUIT, once FOUND ON MOON: Crowd action saves it for the public

Intractable Potsherd

Me too! Looking forward to my tee-shirt being delivered :-)

Antitrust this! EU Commish goes after HOLLYWOOD’s big guns

Intractable Potsherd

AO is probably working on it right now. We should see it in a couple of days.

The Wilson Doctrine isn't legally binding, MPs CAN be spied on, says QC

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Welcome to the National Security State

So theocracy is a better bet than anything else?? Sorry, but that's bollocks.

Global drug-dealing cyber crime web was centred on ... Aberdovey

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Therin lies the problem @AC OP

If he'd actually done anything serious, I might agree with you, AC. However, he hasn't, and I think the sentence is far too strong.

Intractable Potsherd
Coffee/keyboard

Re: Bah!

New keyboard, please!

Vive le Act Patriotique: Liberté, égalité, fraternité, pick any two. No, not those

Intractable Potsherd

Re: "Dutch MEP Sophie in ’t Veld"

I'm originally from Yorkshire, and my wife (originally from another European country) has never been able to understand that when I say "Yeah, it's alright", that is the highest praise I can give. When she forces the issue, "Yes, it is wonderful" sounds sarcastic, and that's when the argument starts ...

US State of Georgia sues 'terrorist' for publishing its own laws ... on the internet

Intractable Potsherd

To an extent, I see your argument. However, the important bit is that judges use them to decide what the law is. This means that they are either a) being used wrongly by the judges because they are not official, and should be entered as evidence so that everyone knows what the decisions are being based on, or b) they are part of the law and not copyrightable under the relevant US federal laws. Either way, people subject to the law need to know them.

On an aside, this is exactly the way it should be in the UK - anything relied on by judges in coming to a decision should be in evidence or copyright-free. However, it isn't.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: It's very simple

It is the usual AC posting by one of the copyright organisations who writes the same drivel every time. There has been a change in the writing style - this one doesn't use "perp" - but the source is clear: just another troll.

Blessed are the cheesemakers, for they have defined the smidge

Intractable Potsherd

Re: "........ consider how to translate 0.15625ml to a dry measure of furikake"

Why not just a "level/heaped smidge"? That would be easy with the wee spoons in the photo.

Cyber poltergeist threat discovered in Internet of Stuff hubs

Intractable Potsherd

Re: What's depressing....

I'm sure "Rory Cellan-Jones" is Welsh for "I'm a Know-nothing Tosser".

Contactless card fraud? Easy. All you need is an off-the-shelf scanner

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Who's laughing now??? @Annihilator

Apart from handing my passport to border control and (depending on airport) the check-in staff, I do not let my passport leave my pocket/hand, and my cards stay in my pocket too. There is no way on earth I'm putting them in the tray. I'd be pissed off if my wallet/ebook/phone went missing, but they are all insured and easily replaceable - not so my passport and cards.

US Census Bureau IT systems hacked, data leaked by Anonymous

Intractable Potsherd

Re: This is precisely why... @ AC

Would you care to be more specific about what there is in this particular trivial incident that makes you cut and paste your usual crap??

Help! Our Virgin Media TiVo boxes are stuck in a loop! Help! Our Virgin..

Intractable Potsherd

Re: SOP for VM

I'd be interested in the process for doing that too ... though my neighbours are all a bit far away for easy connection, it might be useful one day.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Have you tried turning it off and on again?

Citroen produced 'special editions' of their C15 Visa-based van called "Van Blanc" and "Van Rouge" in the 1980s. Perhaps it was those you saw. More details at http://www.citroenet.org.uk/utilities/c15/c15-2.html.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: London time?? @tirk

Give the rest of us a referendum to separate from the south-east, and I suspect you'd be on your own by Christmas. There'd be a reduction of support for Scottish Independence from the reduced rUK too, since most of the dissatisfaction up here is with you lot down there hogging all the pies.

NSPCC: Two nonces nailed by cops every day

Intractable Potsherd

I take it you are a supporter of No2NP as well as me? http://no2np.org/ for anyone who wants to have a look at the opposition to this dreadful legislation.

The Register's resident space boffin: All you need to know about the Pluto mission

Intractable Potsherd

@ Kubla and Loyal

Kubla - I have to agree. That "Sky at Night" special showed that the BBC can and will drag everything down to "Horizon" standards (I will not refer to it as "New Horizon" for obvious reasons!) Who were those dribbling baboons presenting, and did all those really tired scientists think they were being interviewed for childrens' television? Thanks for nothing, BBC.

Loyal - It is, and always will be, Charon with a "K" to me, regardless of what the discoverer, no matter how clever, thinking with his prick thought he was doing.

UK.gov makes total pig's ear of attempt to legalise home CD ripping

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Fair use...

Hi, AC - wondered where you were. I was nearly tricked by the lack of the use "perp", but your bosses at the PRS/MPA/BPI must have told you to stop using such a fatuous word. They haven't stopped you using a fatuous argument, though. Quite simply, if I have bought it, it is mine. Alternatively, if I have a licence to listen to it, I can listen to it how I want. Most people in this country believe that to be the case, and would be appalled to hear your argument. Law should reflect the views of the people, not the views of industry (I know - naive, huh?), and so you are on a hiding to nothing. Get your bosses to accept that the world has changed, they no longer call the shots, and it is time to look at their business models to reflect reality.

Oh, and IAAL (academic).

Your gadget batteries endanger planes, says Boeing

Intractable Potsherd

"... you probably shouldn't be checking delicate electronics into the hold anyway."

This was going to be my response. Why on Earth would you leave your electronics to the mercy of <del>those honest, careful members of airport staff who take every care to ensure that your luggage arrives undamaged</del> airport baggage handlers??

High Court smacks down 'emergency' UK spy bill as UNLAWFUL

Intractable Potsherd

Re: No big deal

Sorry to disappoint you, AC, but no legislation is going to stop death. It can badly affect the way people live though.

There are several countries where personal liberties mean little, and you should be happy there. They tend to get warm in the summer, though - oh, and they tend to be a bit violent.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Called it :) @ PassingStrange

Well said! If I could give you more upvotes, I would.

Ford's 400,000-car recall could be the tip of an auto security iceberg

Intractable Potsherd

Re: The more of this I read @ James Hughes 1

"... they go wrong less."

At least while they are new. Just wait until the electronic components start to die.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: The more of this I read

"Because then you can't have remote start."

And the problem is ....?

It's all Uber! France ends its love affair with ride-sharing app

Intractable Potsherd

Re: It is all a bit of a mess @ Trevor

Thanks, Trevor - that comprehensively answers the question. It is good to see law in action - there is an observed problem, and the least restrictive solution is put into place.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: It is all a bit of a mess @ Trevor

Trevor, that is one of the weirdest and most disturbing things you have ever posted! Why on earth would anyone make hitch-hiking illegal? And, based on what the OP was saying, would the organisation of a lift via a notice-board be covered - i.e. what are the limits on "hitch-hiking" in your jurisdiction?

Rampaging fox terrorises rural sports club, victim sustains ‘tweaked groin’

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Police Target Practice

Don't forget the highly dangerous cow that required helicopters and the entire Northumbrian armed constabulary ...

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Foxes generaly don't chase people @ J G I

For some reason (possibly his years in the Army), my dad used to refer to corned beef as "corned dog" - which I now do. Is it such a long stretch to "corned fox"?

Goodbye Vulcan: Blighty's nuclear bomber retires for the last time

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Childhood Memories

*That's* what I remember! Thanks, kmac - I thought I'd been imagining that (or it was part of a movie I'd seen). Yes, truly wonderful ...

Who wants a classic ThinkPad with whizzy new hardware? Lenovo would just love to know

Intractable Potsherd

Re: I'm gonna get flamed for this...

I've been using ThinkPads as my main machines for so long that the Ctrl on a "standard" keyboard is in the wrong place ... :-)

Intractable Potsherd

@ Gritzwally

All the above plus the absolutely wonderful page back/forwards buttons (they are either side of the up arrow, making the direction key pad a full 3x2 grid). So few people mention these, but I don't know of any other keyboard that has them. If I could find one, I'd have one for the desktop too - it means you don't need to use the backspace key for going back one webpage, and there is a key for going forward to one already visited without going for the mouse.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: ME! Oh ME! MeohmeohmeohMEEEE!

All the above plus the extremely useful page back/forwards buttons flanking the up arrow. These are soooo useful for browsing without needing to change to the mouse.

(Currently using X61 almost exclusively for all work and pleasure purposes.)

How swearing at your coworker via WhatsApp could cost you $68,000

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Retroactive

"It's like justice, only different." Just like the prosecution having the right to appeal a sentence for being too lenient (and yes, I know we have it here too - it doesn't make it any more just).

Grumpy EU ministers agree shaky pact on new data protection law

Intractable Potsherd

How hard would it be ...

... to say that all data about an individual belongs to that individual, and use (defined as analysis and action based upon it) of that data can only be done:

a) Where the individual gives full and free informed consent

b) Where primary legislation allows for it (primary legislation so that it is debated openly in the legislature) or

c) Where a warrant obtained from one - or some situations, more than one - judge?

Seems straight-forward to me - just needs some moral backbone from our supposed representatives (OK, so the Council of Ministers here consists of each Member State's Minister for the Home or Justice Department, meaning that the likes of Twathead May are there, so the current "compromise" is completely expected). The European Parliament, though, are starting to realise that they do have real power, so maybe we can pin our hopes on them.

'Snowden risked lives' fearfest story prompts sceptical sneers

Intractable Potsherd

Re: So Snowden, an NSA subbie bagged a copy of the MI6 agents in place ...

I thought my tinnitus was worse this morning, but it probably just the sound of lots of bullshit detectors going off (though, depressingly, not as many as there ought to be ...)

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Snowden is an arse clown @AC

Without evidence, you are to be assumed to be spouting utter shite.

That is all.

Use snooped data in court? Nah, says UK.gov - folk might be cleared

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Thinking the powers that be have missed the point

The police still think that they are part of the prosecution process (from the days before the CPS when criminal prosecutions were brought by the police). Now the CPS exists, the police should be merely investigatory, working for neither side. Getting rid of targets based on crimes solved should be high on any government's list, and then realigning the police as an arm of the courts, with dispassionate investigation at their core.

'Nothing to see here', says ECJ as Safe Harbour opinion delayed

Intractable Potsherd

Would that be TTIP, by any chance? From the point of view of the individual, there is absolutely fuck all about that abomination which is any good.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Not surprised about delays..

I'd been thinking the same re: universities I work for, which both use Microsoft products for their cloudy stuff. There is a lot at stake here, and the true leaders* of the USA need to put pressure on before business evaporates.

* Big business

The Martian: Matt Damon sciences the sh*t out of the red planet

Intractable Potsherd

Re: xkcd

If only it didn't have Matt "One-expression" Damon as the lead, and Ridley "Prometheus" Scott* helming ...

* I know, he has done some great stuff, but "Prometheus" (and, let's be honest, "GI Jane", Gladiator", "Robin Hood" and "Exodus") suggests his time is well in the past.

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Done before

"Welcome to Mars" by James Blish also covered this ground (though, if I remember correctly (it has been a while), he also fell back on indigenous Martian life to plug some plot-holes).

Indie review of UK surveillance laws: As you were, GCHQ

Intractable Potsherd

Re: The good news about Theresa May is...

Much as I loath Theresa May (and everyone else who has had the Home Secretary title for the last 30 years), it is clear that it is the Snivel Serpents in the Home Office who are behind all this. Previously sane(-ish) people like Jack Straw became indistinguishable from loons like David Blunkett and Theresa May. And here is the problem - get rid of the current holder of this sinecure, and the next one will be exactly the same. Any plans for changing this situation gratfully received.

Cops turn Download Festival into an ORWELLIAN SPY PARADISE

Intractable Potsherd

Re: So Download Festival are trying to go bankrupt?

"WTF would anyone even consider attending this any festival with this level of surveillance ever?*

* Genuinely sorry to those who go to festivals, but I have an absolute horror of these things. I cannot understand what the fun is is in standing in a crowd of unwashed, off-their-heads people in the cold and wet whilst someone pisses on your tent. Standing in the cold and wet is only to be done when rally cars are involved :-)

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Eugh

"The Number of the Beast!" Of course it is - it's a dog-tag!

Screw you, ISPs: Net neutrality switches on THIS FRIDAY – US court

Intractable Potsherd

Re: We need the FCC involved.

No no no - it's all a plot by Google! Dr Stephen Jones says so!

Intractable Potsherd

Re: Have your little dance now, children!

Stephen - you are to Google what Eadon (wherever he might be now) was to Microsoft, but without the humorous aspect. Unfortunately, that means you just produce noise.