CNET NEWS.COM By Declan McCullagh – Antipiracy bill targets technology. A forthcoming bill in the U.S. Senate would, if passed, dramatically reshape copyright law by prohibiting file-trading networks and some consumer electronics devices on the grounds that they could be used for unlawful purposes. The proposal, called the Induce Act, says “whoever intentionally induces any… Continue reading NEWS.COM
Author: Vince Kimball
Another example
Another example of how our security establishment (including NASA) is riven by sweetheart backroom deals with companies run by former employees. No security “transformation” is possible without ending this process. Elon isn't the only person worried about this. Someone who worries about this is Elon Musk, a co-founder of PayPal, a highly successful online-payments firm, who… Continue reading Another example
Wired
Wired. DoD asks for domestic spying privileges. The DoD is working hard on a building capabilities that replicate many of the functions of the FBI and CIA (without much of the oversight). [John Robb's Weblog]
The Economist
The Economist does the best job I have seen analyzing the Whitehouse thinking on presidential powers during wartime. This comes near saying that the president is above the law when acting as commander-in-chief in wartime. No other president has made such a claim. [John Robb's Weblog]
Powell
Schizophrenic messages. Powell urges American's to stay in Saudi Arabia: “If they leave, then the terrorists have won,” Powell said in the interview shortly after news of Johnson's death in Riyadh. While at the same time, the State Department strongly urges all Americans to leave immediately. Another example of internal dissonance due to US psychological isolation.… Continue reading Powell
Dave says
Dave says I should have known that he'd do the right thing. I thought Dave would try to keep the sites up; that's why I was pretty surprised when he dropped the ball and just let them go offline. Dave doesn't cut philosophical corners, so when he says that people deserve access to their data, I… Continue reading Dave says
Baby Bells
Baby Bells quash competition A landmark 1886 telecommunications bill mandated that local telephone companies would have a chance to offer long-distance service in return for offering low access rates to competitors like AT&T, Sprint, and MCI so those companies could compete on local calling. The local companies, the so-called Baby Bells (Verizon, SDC, Bell South,… Continue reading Baby Bells
steady roll-up
A safe bet MGM Mirage can and will acquire Mandalay Resort Group (at least as far as the boards of the two companies are concerned). That leaves only antitrust approval for the largest gaming merger ever to take place, at around $8 billion in total assets. The acquisition will catapult MGM Mirage from being the #2 gaming… Continue reading steady roll-up
The Queen Mary 2, the World's Largest Floating IT Shop
The Queen Mary 2, the World's Largest Floating IT Shop. In this long article, CIO Magazine looks at how IT supports the Queen Mary 2, the most technologically advanced vessel on the ocean. The magazine describes the challenges and the technical aspects of the design and the implementation of IT onboard. But it also makes… Continue reading The Queen Mary 2, the World's Largest Floating IT Shop
Friedmann Summarizes New KM Survey
Friedmann Summarizes New KM Survey. Ron Friedman's conclusions from a Matthew Parson / Joy London survey of knowledge management among lawyers: UK firms are still far ahead of US firms For firms doing KM and reporting on growth, budgets and activity have increased for the most part and will continue to do so. Firms are… Continue reading Friedmann Summarizes New KM Survey