Robin Hoover 's BestNetTech Comments

Latest Comments (228) comment rss

  • On the post: As Expected, USA Freedom Act Aims To Stop Worst NSA Abuses

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 29 Oct, 2013 @ 01:16pm

    Oversight This, Examine That

    A huge exercise in bs: nowhere does the legislation mention unscrewing the backbone taps or reducing the flow.

    I see lots of chatter regarding oversight, advocates, protection blah blah blah.

    As Ed Snowden rightly pointed out, Section 215 authority is on it's way out, but that doesn't sweat the NSA. It's collection prowess happens under Section 702, which will *not* be curtailed under this legislation, just supervised.

  • On the post: NSA Defenders Need To Learn: Trust Is Something You Earn, Not Legislate

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 01 Oct, 2013 @ 08:29am

    Strawman

    As for the second point, the whole "we're not listening to your calls with your mother" line is a total strawman.


    Total strawman, but for some totally false as well: to wit if your mom lives overseas, it's been demonstrated that such calls are being listened to. Which means my calls to my mom.

  • On the post: Who Will Take The Privacy Seppuku Pledge?

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 17 Aug, 2013 @ 04:22am

    Not So Easy

    This is all 1s and 0s, remember? You don't have to demolish a car manufacturing plant, after all -- you're just wiping some VMs and reincorporating elsewhere. Lease new machines. Call it "lavabutt" on the new corporate docs, in Andorra. Sign on to the Privacy Seppuku pledge, as lavabutt, again. Off you go


    Levison said in an interview that he could not just do that, for as a U.S. citizen, he is still subject to the nation's laws, regardless of where the company is inocrporated and it's servers are located.

  • On the post: The Unintended Consequences Of The Copyright Alerts System

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 29 Jan, 2013 @ 12:34pm

    It's Already Begun

    http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/01/28/1645252/how-proxied-torrents-could-end-isp-subpoenas

    While still theory at this point, my bet is with some very clever developers. The Comcasts and Warner Bros. of the world have yet to out-manoeuvre them.

  • On the post: The Unintended Consequences Of The Copyright Alerts System

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 29 Jan, 2013 @ 12:33pm

    It's Already Begun

    http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/01/28/1645252/how-proxied-torrents-could-end-isp-subpoenas

    While still theory at this point, my bet is with some very clever developers. The Comcasts and Warner Bros. of the world have yet to out-manoeuvre them.

  • On the post: Google's Copyright Crackdown Punishes Author For Torrenting His Own Book

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 27 Sep, 2012 @ 02:55pm

    Re: Happened to my own site

    Apologies, but I cannot agree with your thesis.

    Google's business is the long-tail: fractions of fractions of a penny transactions spread over untold number of sites. equals billions of dollars every fiscal quarter.

    Is Mike's thesis more grounded? Hard to say but to me it appears sounder.

  • On the post: This Is Not Transparency: TPP Delegates Refuses To Reveal Text, Refuse To Discuss Leaked Text

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 17 Sep, 2012 @ 04:19pm

    Re:

    You refuse to discuss publicly and openly your personal beliefs about copyright and piracy


    Reading comprehension skills can lead to lower blood pressure and a more fulfilling lifestyle.

    Just saying....

  • On the post: Crime Inc. Produces Thoughtful, Nuanced Episode About Piracy (Haha, Just Kidding! Cue Scary Music)

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 30 Aug, 2012 @ 03:36pm

    Re: I'm a media professional too!

    Thank you, +1.

    I've always suspected this, from the outside looking in.

    Just makes the bosses anti-piracy lobbying even more hypocritical than I've always seen it as.

  • On the post: Seven Reasons Why Google Is Making A Mistake In Filtering Searches Based On DMCA Notices

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 13 Aug, 2012 @ 01:20pm

    Re: Wrong, this is in the best interests of many users!

    You immediately jump to the conclusion that every user wants their results filled with crappy pirate sites.


    Wrong'Em Bobo. Those looking for free content want their results filled thusly. Or as Mike wrote in English above:

    For content searches, the searches that Google will be demoting actually might be the ones that the consumer does want


    I know some very effective ESL classes, please contect me off-list & I'll hook you up! From there, reading comprehension will power you to greatness.

  • On the post: Dear Lamar Smith & House Judiciary: Have You Learned Nothing From SOPA?

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2012 @ 03:12pm

    Re:

    ...it is a bit difficult to see how a provision such as this raises such ire here...


    Regulatory capture is your answer.

    Yes, the mass realizations regarding censorship and security was what helped tip the fight against SOPA/PIPA, the discussion round here was, for quite a long time, far more wide-ranging.

    The "ire" is actually quite consistent.

  • On the post: Peter Sunde, The Pirate Bay Spokesperson, Details Why His Conviction Was A Farce

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 09 Jul, 2012 @ 12:31pm

    Re:

    Is that you Mr. Godwin? Indeed a pleasure to meet someone who's so right so often.

  • On the post: US Gov't And Hollywood Have Turned Kim Dotcom Into A Beloved Cult Hero

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 05 Jul, 2012 @ 03:32pm

    Re: Re: This can only mean one thing

    +1 for the frightening similarities. thank you sir.

    btw, 1976: the ramones in camden, nj :). amazing show, even remember the drive home it was so thrilling!

    2012: sadness at the corruption of the american experiment by mpaa/riaa.

  • On the post: Senator Leahy Wants To Give At Least $5 Million To State Department To 'Combat Piracy'

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 29 May, 2012 @ 09:56am

    Re: Re:

    Also unfortunately he did enough early in his career (before Entertainment industry funding) to help the elderly / medicare / and farms. because of that Seniors and farm owners love him and will always vote for him... no matter what he does to "those computer thing-a-ma-jigs" He's been in office since 1974... and until either the seniors expire or he does, it doesn't look good for replacing him anytime soon.


    my state as well, pretty much sums up the situation. really just an embarassment to us all, The Senator For Big Content, what a legacy.

  • On the post: In Which I Debate A Media Mogul Who Insists It's Crazy To Give Content Away For Free

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 15 May, 2012 @ 06:14pm

    Re: Journalism?

    ...how others can jump in...


    Think laterally imho:

    http://stdout.be/2012/05/04/fungible/#summary

    In this period of disruption and transition, it's not absolutely written that 'journalism' is writing news stories.

    Information that's useful to me comes from wherever I find it, thus it is serving an old purpose: keeping me informed, interested, buying, voting, discussing, thinking, etc etc.

    At a not unadvanced age, I'm well informed, buy constantly yet subscribe to no journals.

    If I am well served, attended to and enticed, your business's bank account is well served, but I believe that you (the business not you Pjerky :) ) must convince me. Efforts to coerce me will end in fail.

  • On the post: Why Search Engines Can't Just 'Fix' Search Results The Way The MPAA/RIAA Want

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 05 Mar, 2012 @ 12:05pm

    Re: They misunderstand how Google works

    ...the results top Google because those are the sites people visit...


    +1

    Here's an idea for a great article for Mike, a sort of Search Results Primer for the Content Distributors (RIAA, MPAA):

    The algorithms rank stuff based on how people react to a proffered link: the more clicks, the higher in the list it goes. Which is a simple description, as there's about, AFAIK, over 137 signals Google calculates in ranking a link.

    Combine that with Mike's thesis that the offered link suggestions are an editorial decision, and you've got a well-researched article telling the dinosaurs to go stuff it!

  • On the post: The Pirate Bay Press Release On SOPA: We Are The New Hollywood

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 23 Jan, 2012 @ 05:09am

    Re:

    Everything old is new again, as Prof. Adrian Johns once wrote:

    http://amzn.to/wnTnRu

    "Piracy: The Intellectual Property Wars from Gutenberg to Gates":

    goes through, in painfully dry academic prose, the exact same, repeated time and again, pattern as we are now witnessing with the Hollywood movie industry vs. its new competition.

  • On the post: Senate Minority Leader McConnell Tells Reid/Leahy To Kill PIPA

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 19 Jan, 2012 @ 03:08pm

    Maybe Celebrate, But Keep On Keepin' On

    Things are certainly moving fast:

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71672.html

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid won't whip Democratic votes for an online anti-piracy bill, according to sources familiar with his plans.


    i.e. call your Sens tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday to re-enforce that they need to listen to their constituents FIRST.

    And beware the weasel words:

    http://www.publicknowledge.org/blog/fake-promises-vote-no-sopa-and-pipa

    ?I hear your concerns and will ensure that critical changes are made.?

    ?I will not vote for PIPA in its current form.?

    ?I will work to make important changes.?

    ?I will vote against the bill as currently written.?

  • On the post: An Updated Analysis: Why SOPA & PIPA Are A Bad Idea, Dangerous & Unnecessary

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 18 Jan, 2012 @ 08:13am

    Re: The History of Anti Innovative legislation

    ...is the history against "piracy", and there's nothing new about it.

    Incumbents have been fighting competition for centuries with laws. This book is very thorough, if not rather academically dry:

    http://amzn.to/y8UKL5

    Entitled "Piracy: The Intellectual Property Wars from Gutenberg to Gates" by University of Chicago professor Adrian Johns.

  • On the post: PIPA's Own Sponsors Backing Off Bill; Ask Senate To Hold Off On Voting [Updated!]

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 13 Jan, 2012 @ 06:04pm

    Re: leahy

    As a fellow Vermonter, that's a lllooooonnggggg wait, about 5 more years.

    IMHO, more useful to call his offices, both in Burlington and DC, to present your message that removing DNS blocking does not mollify your (our) opposition to this legislation (1st amendment concerns, 4th amendment concerns, private right of action concerns, etc).

    In fact, Burlington was a great call, really friendly and asked specific questions in response to my message for Senator Leahy. He's on edge about this thing now, after all how many Hollywood studios are based here in VT, and another call is worth it's weight in gold! Go.

  • On the post: Senator Leahy Hopes To Rush Through PIPA By Promising To Study DNS Blocking… Later?!?

    Robin Hoover ( profile ), 12 Jan, 2012 @ 05:39pm

    Call Call Call Post Post Post

    That said, the fact that he's "heard from a number of Vermonters on this important issue"


    Like me :). Seriously, at least a dozen calls and emails, to the point where the receptionist almost recognizes my voice.

    This though, caught him off-guard: http://t.co/piSwyzXt. Nearly 100 comments on the VPR page (of all things) for his lame interview, with a 99.99% opposing view on his authorship of PIPA. This explains his empty response imho (remember how small this state is!).

    As a Vermonter, I'll ask this community, keep posting polite opposition to PIPA and web censorship on this page, his staff is watching, very closely.

    'Tween you me and the gatepost, I agree with The Pirate Mike :), this statement is dirty pool and a stain on this state's history.

Next >>