Mike's Daily Lockup

Get us a C-17, we're Moving

That's right folks, MDLU has officially set up shop over at Typepad. The new link is: mikesdailylockup.blogs.com (I'll work on shortening the domain) - Mike

You Don't Own Squat

Well, here we go, it's finally official, the media cartels have finally decided that we don't own a thing. Microsoft announced today that they have decided to remove "my" before system folders on the next version of Windows (AKA ~~Longwait~~ Longhorn). In another case, a record company has created a new technology that neuters your cd recording capabilities when it comes to music CD's. The technology prevents the user from making multiple copies of a CD; if you do make a copy it inserts information on the disk which only allows you the ability to make WMA files (I hate that stinking format!!!). Online music services, such as Napster, will allow you the ability to download all of the music that you want, but the moment you cancel your service, you loose access to all of the music you downloaded. This has even extended to Television shows which have been already broadcasted over the public airwaves. Bitorrent (a great source for TV shows when you can get to your TiVo) has been under constant attack from the MPAA and other media Associations. I could see how posting a copy of Star Wars Episode III can be considered illegal (It's shown in a movie theater, presented on a screen owned by the theater, and you have to purchase a ticket to see the film thus constituting your right to access/and or see the performance [sort of a EULA or contract between the theater and the viewer]). Television shows fail to fall under this breakdown, unless the viewer is paying a subscription fee for access to the show (channels such as HBO) as they are sent out over a terrestrial signal (which could be intercepted by any number of ways) and used for the private viewing of a home (thus the warning during all major sporting events which only allow for private viewing). Forget it, the ownership society is dead, corporations dictate what you can do and will leave you promptly empty handed when you run out of money. Scary as it is, micro payments may pave the way for the economy of the future. If you want to read the paper, pay your monthly subscription fee then pay addition charges to read each column in the paper. If you want to reread the paper, that is an extra fee. Music, pay to play will soon become the new mantra in the record industry and thus the reason why I have not purchased some of the latest albums.

The Three Amigos

The Three Amigos, originally uploaded by wdr's not so interesting pictures.

Gotta love this shot.

Agnostic/Atheist

You scored as agnosticism. You are an agnostic. Though it is generally taken that agnostics neither believe nor disbelieve in God, it is possible to be a theist or atheist in addition to an agnostic. Agnostics don't believe it is possible to prove the existence of God (nor lack thereof). Agnosticism is a philosophy that God's existence cannot be proven. Some say it is possible to be agnostic and follow a religion; however, one cannot be a devout believer if he or she does not truly believe.

Which religion is the right one for you? (new version)
created with QuizFarm.com

"Encryption is Not a Crime"

(I wrote this in agreement with this post by Sean Bonner, but I couldn't get it to post) The decision by the judge in this case is a simple misunderstanding of technology. By saying that, I'm in no way justifying the courts decision. Unfortunately, when the courts have no understanding of technology (such as in cases of P2P) the ability to innovate and our rights will suffer. From a criminal justice perspective, the failure of the courts to understand emerging technologies and to create reasonably policing strategies (and not fear them) will continue to harm our constitutional protections in regards to Search and Seizure. I can perfectly understand laws that prevent electronic trespass (even that definition is a bit sketchy at times) but the presence of encryption software should not be a sign of malicious intent. Maybe someone should go prosecute the Pentagon and some Fortune 500 companies because they use encryption to protect national and corporate information? Even a simple Google search on PGP and Law showed various websites on how attorneys use PGP to encrypt private communications to safeguard Attorney-Client communications. P.S: I'm in no way related to the Appeals Judge in the ruling, no one in my family is that illiterate in Tech.