* Posts by Mark 85

12880 publicly visible posts • joined 22 Nov 2012

EU Digital Commish: Ja, we should have done more about NSA spying

Mark 85

@Doc Syntax -- Re: They still don't get it.

Clarity is there: don't send personal data to somewhere where you can't trust the government.

Actually it probably is deeper than that, or maybe it should:

1) Don't send your data anywhere.. ever.

2) Even if you don't send it, governments (and not just the US) will get it.

Let's be real.. it's not just the NSA involved in this... it's basically every country.

Cyberwar rules of engagement: Military, law bods mull update

Mark 85

Re: A thought

I believe they could be: Furthermore hackers-for-hire are like mercenaries who "do not enjoy combat immunity or prisoner of war status,”

Which would mean that the US CyberCommand has a problem since they're looking for mercenaries...err... contractors.

China wants international peace pact online and under water

Mark 85

Nice speech....

Although, it's as seriously honest as if it had been given by any head of state from the West. But still.. it's a nice idea. Getting everyone (including the 5-Eyes, Russia, China, et al to play nice together and actually embrace those ideas is a different thing.

Man goes to collect stolen-car court docs found in stolen car in stolen car

Mark 85

Re: What a maroon....

Nah.... see definition #2. Obviously you missed out as a child.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=maroon

Mark 85
Facepalm

What a maroon....

<see title>

Top boffin Freeman Dyson on climate change, interstellar travel, fusion, and more

Mark 85

Re: Scientists

I guess it depends if someone writes a book about him... or makes a movie or... Until now, I hadn't heard of him and I find he's impressive. Been doing some Googling since I read the article :)

Kudos to El Reg for this article.

Google's .bro file format changed to .br after gender bother

Mark 85
Unhappy

Oh FFS....

Is there no end to political correctness and "being offended"? Playmobil and now this are two latest examples. I grieve for our so-called civilization.

Neuroboffins use supercomputer to partially build DIGITAL RAT BRAIN

Mark 85

Re: A section of rat brain

Thanks for the concise education on this. Yes, we're having fun at politician's expense (below this) but this is some seriously impressive work going on. Fascinating stuff...

Mark 85

Re: Politician brain

For a politician's brain, they probably could have used a Raspberry PI. Rat brains actually think....

How long does it take an NHS doctor to turn on a computer?

Mark 85

Re: In fairness...

I will always rather help the "I don't know, can you fix it?" types as opposed to "here's the problem and the fix but I don't have permissions to do it" types. We had one guy in Customer Service who "knew everything there was to know"... finally manglement sent out an email telling everyone to ignore his advice as 100% of the time it was flat wrong and caused more problems when people followed that advice. Funny... he still works here and still spouts his garbage. Did I mention, he's a gamer (Xbox) and knows all about this IT stuff?

Pitchforks, torches, and awful quotes – we read what Cisco's CEO said

Mark 85

Re: Artificial Time Constraints are bad.

But he's also screwing up the budgeting and design and build process. What he's saying is that his scheduling "changes' are random. If' this week it's "do a 12 month project in 6 months", next week he say "do it 7" or "do it in 5" because it "feels good". Sorry that's not a valid way of planning and execution. It might please Wall Street, but in a year or so when projects fail to work or are chock full of errors and patches and the buyers are wary and look somewhere else, the stock will fall hard.

Mark 85

I thought that was "normal" for projected time anyway. You know you can do something in say, 4 weeks. You factor in Murphy and assorted reviewers... ah.. for lack of better words... gold-plating and idiocy. You end up doubling the time. If only takes 7 weeks, you're now a hero of the moment. If it goes over, everyone is ok with that. With the 'cut the time because it feels good' manglement, one needs to pad it a bit more.

BLABBERGEDDON! Old Twitter chief becomes new Twitter chief to axe staff – report

Mark 85

Nice idea but corporates don't work that way... maybe someday </wishful thinking mode>

Top VW exec blames car pollution cheatware scandal on 'a couple of software engineers'

Mark 85

Re: Either your entire organization is incompetent when it comes to intellectual property,

I don't think the ones who can fix this read the comments....

Send an email to: webmaster@theregister.co.uk with the problem and any screenshots. I've done this when I've had issues and they have responded pretty quickly.

Mark 85

Or, Bosch knew that VW was going to activate the test mode memo was merely a CYA memo.. The thing is, why wasn't the test mode deleted from the delivered code if it was "illegal"..?

Mark 85

I sort of doubt that you'll find his or any high level execs signature or name on a sign-off sheet or anywhere else. Now it's possible that those "rogue engineers" might have made some interesting comments in the code.

China cuffs hackers at US request to stave off sanctions

Mark 85
Meh

Re: China Now?

Not in this case... it's pure eyewash for the masses. They say they've made arrests and the US is happy now and will not do any sanctions. Of course, these aren't the ones who did the deed to OPM or any other big profile attack. But hey.... the media will be dutifully informed and they will inform the populace and all will be well.

FBI boss: No encryption backdoor law (but give us backdoors anyway)

Mark 85
Devil

Re: Let's make a deal!

Obama's busy with other stuff right now... he'll slip something to the TLA's soon but it may not be what we want.

Biz founded by Chris 'I hack airplanes' Roberts files for bankruptcy

Mark 85

Well... if he had backed up his claim say be getting an airline to let him prove it, maybe his company might just still be around. Credibility. One can make all the claims they want.. but BS walks.

EU justice ministers agree on police data-sharing law

Mark 85
Joke

Since what is in your system is the ultimate in personal data, who knows. but since it's "cookies" there might be some legal question as to intent and definition of said cookie. .

I'll use the joke icon since I'm pretty sure you were making one also.

World's oldest person scoffs daily ration of bacon

Mark 85

Re: Bad timing

American "biscuits" not British "biscuits"... There's a big difference much like the difference between American bacon and British bacon. FTR, I happen to like and enjoy both kinds of biscuits and bacon.

Mark 85

Anecdotal but....

Everyone I've ever met over the age of 80 eats bacon. Come to think of it, most of those are now in their 90's. Not research, not proof... but I am eating my bacon sarnies guilt free.

Playmobil cops broadside for 'racist' pirate slave

Mark 85

Re: Its ok

I'm a Merikin also. The only thing that offended me was your spelling it "Merkin". Ok... the mom and the NAACP offended me with their blatant stupidity. I'm waiting for Al Sharpton and Obama to chime in.. then the offense will be lifted to new heights.

Mark 85

Re: Interesting complaint

There were indeed a very mixed crew on the English ships (and all other nations) at that time. I have book about the Billy Ruffian that discusses one of the Captains surveying his crew. The mix of nationalities and races is quite eye-opening. The author believed that this was the norm for all navies of the period.

Hey, Facebook – these are the new Like buttons you should have used

Mark 85
Facepalm

@Drew11

The label is "D'oh!"... ----------------------------------------->

Dell seeking $40bn to buy EMC next week say reports

Mark 85

Why in the F*ing world do shareholders have to come first? Why can't it be the customers and technology?

Because Elliot Management and the rest of the vultures (sorry El Reg, no slam at you) cry, toss hissy fits and lawsuits about. That's probably one reason the stock suddenly went up is that Elliot has a lackey (or two.. I think) on the board which might be interesting if the SEC has a look at why the stock was suddenly jumping.

Maker–NOT: 3D printer upstart Makerbot jams, cuts extra 20% of staff

Mark 85
WTF?

So they're laying of the R&D types and other worker bees and reshuffling manglement? Why do companies actually think this will work?

The old saying: "The purpose of manglement is to protect manglement... everyone else can go to hell" is still in all the corporate's playbooks I guess.

Now even EUROPE is slapping down ICANN in internet power struggle

Mark 85

ICANN in a death spiral then?

Watching ICANN is like watching an airplane spiral (or maybe more like a flat spin) into the ground... pretty damn sad and stupid on the part of the board.

VW offices, employees' homes raided by German prosecutors

Mark 85

The Airbus crash, IIRC, was that the ground crew left the ECU in the "maintenance" setting which allows connection to the various components and also allows testing. It's a manual setting not an automatic one like VW used.

Mark 85
Headmaster

Diesel-gate?

Really El-Reg... I have higher expectations from you than to add the "-gate" catch-all word like the yellow-journals scandal-rags. How about calling it what it is: VW Smog Fraud.? There has to be something catchier and less cliché-ish than "-gate".

Understand 'Safe Harbor', Schrems v Facebook in under 300 words

Mark 85

There's the protection (supposedly) that affect corporates and the outrage over the agencies. But what about the "sharing" aspect by the TLA's and FLA's? The backdoor of one agency sending data to another such that certain agencies can't slurp their own citizens but get the data from another agency not of that country. Will that sharing be addressed?

Assange™ offered 'plans for escape by flying fox to Harrods'

Mark 85
Devil

On the other hand, I'm a bit surprised that no one has sent him a birthday cake laced with something the might require a trip to a hospital for a "check up". Nothing dangerous, just something to make him sick enough (physically) to seek help. Unless he has embassy credentials the cops could nab him, and end this game.

Israeli lander FOUND ON MOON (in 2017)

Mark 85

Almost obligatory

I'll catch hell from someone... but Mel Brooks seems somewhat appropriate.

Jews in Space

White House 'deeply disappointed' by Europe outlawing Silicon Valley

Mark 85

That won't work since the big tech companies (and their advertising paymasters) thrive on personal data... even if it's a picture of dinner with a comment like "look what I had last nights". For that, they nailed with ads for restaurants and markets.

Mark 85

Re: Pritzkers statement

Has she never heard of the NSA, Snowden and Prism ? ? ?

Or 5-Eyes, or BND or everyone else? Everyone has been slurping on everyone and if they can't slurp their own citizens, they "trade" with someone who can. Safe Harbor has been a sham for a long time. But with elections coming up, I'm sure we here in the States will hear a lot of pontificating and BS about what it does for "us".

Verizon now owns AOL, so AOL now owns your web browsing habits, other personal info

Mark 85

The concept of "more valuable"

"The combination will help make the ads you see more valuable across the different devices and services you use."

Ah... more valuable to Verizon/AOHell then... not the consumer/user. Got it you scummy bastards.

As a long time AOHell user, I'll keep my HOSTS file updated and Adblocker. Also aggressive anti-spam measures that I've been using since day 1. I've had this account since way back when and it's only used for relatives and old-friends. If the flood of shitte gets beyond my tolerance (rather low at this point), I'll go somewhere else. The problem is that unless I set up my own mail server with all the headaches that brings, where else is there that doesn't target you like the Allies carpet bombing Dresden? Targeted my ass....

US Treasury: How did ISIS get your trucks? Toyota: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mark 85
Devil

That might be the hidden agenda... Now where's my tinfoil hat?

Alleged Anonymous-aiding journo's brief tells jury nowt's been proven

Mark 85

Re: Wow...

I'll add to your comments. When you do move, leave any grudges at the door of the old place. It's not worth the stress or resentment.

US Cyber Command floats $460m contract to outsource most of itself

Mark 85

Contracting?

Ok.. so they contract it to a corporation (one of the Defense Industry types) who in turn, looks at the contract, pockets some profit and hires a subcontractor who promptly pockets some profit and off-shores it. So the Cyber Command ends up with 5 Indians and two Pakistanis as the defense/offensive capability and they're working from home. <facepalm>

This isn't going to end well, is it?

What's bugging me is that just recently they said they were staffing up with "top people" who are in the military already and to finish their TO, recruitment and training was well underway to bring the Command up to full strength. What changed? Lobbyists? A mass resignation of the troops? Profit?

Rights groups: Darn you Facebook with your 'government names'

Mark 85

Re: I think we need to

It would be a hell of a week since many wouldn't get their cat pictures, memes, fake news stories that they believe are real, and .. oh yeah.... pictures of people getting drunk and pictures of their half-eaten dinner. Nice idea though. Companies would love the extra productivity from their staff.

Mark 85

Real Names?

So all the <ahem> celebs in Hollywood who have a made up name will have to change their FB account now? Or various musicians who use a stage name? They can either apply it across the board with no exceptions or forget about the rule. Where is Marion Morrison when we need him (yeah.. I know, he's dead but I'm making a point)?

Safe Harbour ruled INVALID: Facebook 'n' pals' data slurp at risk

Mark 85

Re: Mark 85 Does this mean

You missed my last sentence I take it... There's some implications here in this whole charade over "Safe Harbor" which isn't safe and never was.

I quite agree with you. Everyone and his brother slurps and shares. The politicians will now get involved and stir things up and it might be that some companies will have refuse business. We're owned... and not just by the likes of Google, et al, and TLA's.

Mark 85

Re: Does this mean

It could also mean that Facebook, etc. will have to segregate their data such that a person in, say, the UK couldn't see a profile from someone in the US and vice versa. Or that someone in the EU couldn't order something online from a country outside the EU. There's some implications here in this whole charade over "Safe Harbor" which isn't safe and never was.

Scary Trans-Pacific Partnership trade treaty signed off

Mark 85

Re: Of All The Things...

Go read the political news websites. The Repubs approving this is certainly NOT a sure thing. I pointed out earlier... some are saying it didn't go far enough and others are saying it went too far. The difference in opinion can probably be traced to whatever lobbyist has them in their pocket be it carmakers, banks, movie studios, music industry, dairy, etc.

Mark 85

The articles are starting to come out in the mainstream media and this thing isn't boding well for anyone... Tariffs on everything from dairy products to autos, IP, copyright, and slew of other things including patents on tech and pharmaceuticals. Here in the States it's being predicted at this early stage that it's not going to happen. Some Repubs say it didn't go far enough and the others say it went too far. The Dems at the moment, are strangely quiet.

I'm not holding my breath in this. From what's been released, it looks like people, but not the corporations, world round will be screwed one way or the other.

Miss Brittany dethroned for posting 'nude' Facebook pics

Mark 85

Re: Metronews website

The 'Merikins haven't heard about this yet as they ignore the French news. On the other hand, it's boobs... the vote could go either way.

Edward Snowden denies making a deal with the Russian secret service

Mark 85

Re: Asylum for Snowden

Fair enough, now what about every other free country on the planet?

Can you define "free country"? I've not located any yet... Every country that calls itself "free" isn't. Them that don't, don't even make a pretense of it.

THIS is MASSIVE! Less-Masslessness neutrino boffins bag Physics Nobel

Mark 85

Re: That detector . . .

Could be.... I was thinking Obama but Blair as a guinea pig will work.

If the Internet of Things scares you now: Cisco's CEO is bent on hooking up robots, everything

Mark 85

Living in an Ivory Tower?

He's got his head in the clouds or maybe it's somewhere else. In reality, there's no such critter as "totally secure". This will not turn out well.

US tries one last time to sway EU court on data-slurping deal

Mark 85

Ah... but the lunatics in the TLA's have the government behind them. Where's there's power, there's abuse.