One more try to modernize US surveillance laws for the Internet age:
You may think that your communications with other individuals over the Internet may be protected from unreasonable use by US law enforcement without subpoena and due process. The truth is, judges have been loosening the interpretation of a 1986 wiretapping law, almost pretending that it did apply to present circumstances. But perhaps the greatest problem with the current Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) lay with its definitions, which at one point appear to be applicable (after several stretches of logic) to the Internet...and then, upon further review, does not.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
who got kicked off dancing with the stars tonight
who got kicked off dancing with the stars tonight:
Erin and Maks performed a Foxtrot which had Bruno telling Erin that she was a natural adding that the dance had ease of movement. Len noted that the dance had fluid movement and Carrie Anncalled it a beautiful lyrical dance. Erin and Maks received a score of 34 for a total of 44 points.
On the Tuesday results show, which airs at 8pm, will feature the return of the Macy’s Stars of Dance, a performance by the Beach Boys, and the elimination of the first couple.
Erin and Maks performed a Foxtrot which had Bruno telling Erin that she was a natural adding that the dance had ease of movement. Len noted that the dance had fluid movement and Carrie Anncalled it a beautiful lyrical dance. Erin and Maks received a score of 34 for a total of 44 points.
On the Tuesday results show, which airs at 8pm, will feature the return of the Macy’s Stars of Dance, a performance by the Beach Boys, and the elimination of the first couple.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
SPOTLIGHT
Branson spacecraft completes test flightBritish billionaire Richard Branson's dream of space travel that thousands of people can afford took a leap toward reality with the maiden flight of the world's first commercial spacecraft over California's Mojave Desert.
Branson's company Virgin Galactic announced Monday that the VSS Enterprise had successfully completed what it called a captive carry flight attached to a carrier plane.
The spacecraft's developer called it a "momentous day."
"The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program," said Burt Rutan, founder of Scaled Composites, which built the spacecraft.
The spacecraft's developer called it a "momentous day."
"The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program," said Burt Rutan, founder of Scaled Composites, which built the spacecraft.
The VSS Enterprise remained attached to its carrier aircraft for the duration of the 2-hour, 54-minute flight, reaching an altitude of 45,000 feet, according to a statement from Virgin.
Eventually, the 60-foot long rocket plane will be taken 60,000 feet above the Earth by its carrier and fire rockets to propel itself into space.
The test-flight program is expected to continue through 2011, going first to a free glide and then to a powered flight before commercial flights begin.
"Seeing the finished spaceship in December was a major day for us but watching VSS Enterprise fly for the first time really brings home what beautiful, ground-breaking vehicles Burt and his team have developed for us," Branson said.
"Today was another major step along that road and a testament to U.S. engineering and innovation," he said.
Virgin Galactic has envisioned one flight a week, with six tourists aboard. Each will pay $200,000 for the ride and train for at least three days before going. About 80,000 people have placed their names on the waiting list for seats.
"What we want to be able to do is bring space travel down to a price range where hundreds of thousands of people would be able to experience space, and they never dreamed that [they] could," Branson said last year.
He has said he hopes the technology will lead to a new form of Earth travel, jetting people across oceans and continents faster through suborbital routes.
SPORTS
NFL changes overtime for playoff games
ORLANDO, Fla. — Losing the coin toss for overtime in the playoffs might be a little less painful next season.
Far more swiftly than anyone predicted, including the competition committee that made the recommendation, the NFL changed its overtime rules for postseason games Tuesday. Starting with the 2010 season, if a team wins the OT coin toss and then kicks a field goal, the other team gets the ball. If the game becomes tied again after that next series, play will continue under the current sudden-death rules.
If the team winning the toss immediately scores a touchdown, however, the game is over.
If the team winning the toss immediately scores a touchdown, however, the game is over.
Team owners voted 28-4 on Tuesday in favor of the proposal at the NFL meetings, with Minnesota, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Baltimore opposing the change.
"We knew it would be a hot-button issue when we got here," Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said.
"We knew it would be a hot-button issue when we got here," Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said.
Its passage was helped by commissioner Roger Goodell's support, and by a spate of statistics indicating the coin toss had become too prominent in determining OT winners.
Since 1994, the team that won the overtime coin toss won the game 34 percent of the time on the first possession. Overall, the team that correctly called the coin toss won overtime games nearly 60 percent of the time in the last 15 years, or since kickoffs were moved back 5 yards to the 30.
Minnesota lost last season's NFL championship game in overtime to New Orleans. The Saints won the toss, drove downfield and kicked a field goal to win.
"I really believe the more you talk about the issue and see the stats and the change in our game, the more you see need for a change (in overtime)," said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, co-chairman of the competition committee. McKay and Polian, a member of the committee, cited the improvement in accuracy and distance for kickers as a major reason for the statistical differences. "Modified sudden death is an opportunity to make a pretty good rule ... even better. Statistically, it needed to change. It wasn't producing the 'fairest result.'"
There was no consideration of ditching sudden-death for another OT system. And while the new rule applies only for postseason games, McKay said even that could change. Several owners expressed interest in further discussions at their May meetings in Dallas.
"Our thought is to take our time and study it a bit and make sure everyone understands the implications there would be for that," McKay said.
Neither McKay nor Polian believes the Vikings-Saints game had much of a role in the vote to modify the rule.
"That's interesting," McKay said. "One of the teams that voted against was in the game and, last I checked, I don't think they won."
McKay and Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, the other competition committee co-chairman, said coaches quickly began favoring the change once they learned the details. It became such an important issue that the owners' vote was taken one day earlier than expected.
One of those coaches, Jack Del Rio of Jacksonville, did not favor the alteration, but owner Wayne Weaver supported it.
"I think what you're seeing (at the end of games) is the proficiency of offenses and quarterbacks who take their team down, and whoever has the ball last wins the game," he said. "All you're doing is extending that to OT. I'm not sure that's a good thing."
But it's a done thing, which might annoy the players' union.
The NFLPA has said it believes any change in overtime needs to be collectively bargained. Of course, the contract between the league and players expires next March. While the competition committee briefly discussed potential OT changes with the union in February, it was not consulted this week.
Since 1994, the team that won the overtime coin toss won the game 34 percent of the time on the first possession. Overall, the team that correctly called the coin toss won overtime games nearly 60 percent of the time in the last 15 years, or since kickoffs were moved back 5 yards to the 30.
Minnesota lost last season's NFL championship game in overtime to New Orleans. The Saints won the toss, drove downfield and kicked a field goal to win.
"I really believe the more you talk about the issue and see the stats and the change in our game, the more you see need for a change (in overtime)," said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, co-chairman of the competition committee. McKay and Polian, a member of the committee, cited the improvement in accuracy and distance for kickers as a major reason for the statistical differences. "Modified sudden death is an opportunity to make a pretty good rule ... even better. Statistically, it needed to change. It wasn't producing the 'fairest result.'"
There was no consideration of ditching sudden-death for another OT system. And while the new rule applies only for postseason games, McKay said even that could change. Several owners expressed interest in further discussions at their May meetings in Dallas.
"Our thought is to take our time and study it a bit and make sure everyone understands the implications there would be for that," McKay said.
Neither McKay nor Polian believes the Vikings-Saints game had much of a role in the vote to modify the rule.
"That's interesting," McKay said. "One of the teams that voted against was in the game and, last I checked, I don't think they won."
McKay and Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, the other competition committee co-chairman, said coaches quickly began favoring the change once they learned the details. It became such an important issue that the owners' vote was taken one day earlier than expected.
One of those coaches, Jack Del Rio of Jacksonville, did not favor the alteration, but owner Wayne Weaver supported it.
"I think what you're seeing (at the end of games) is the proficiency of offenses and quarterbacks who take their team down, and whoever has the ball last wins the game," he said. "All you're doing is extending that to OT. I'm not sure that's a good thing."
But it's a done thing, which might annoy the players' union.
The NFLPA has said it believes any change in overtime needs to be collectively bargained. Of course, the contract between the league and players expires next March. While the competition committee briefly discussed potential OT changes with the union in February, it was not consulted this week.
ENTERTAIMNET
Sandra Bullock's Up and Down Days
Did Sandra Bullock have a
breakdown at a recent family
dinner?
HEALTH
Obama Signs Health Care Into Law, Declares ‘A New Season in America’Wednesday, March 24, 2010By Fred Lucas, Staff Writer
Washington (CNSNews.com) – The White House had the feel of a pep rally on Tuesday as House and Senate Democrats packed into the East Room for rousing ovations and chants before President Barack Obama signed the health care bill into law. Many lawmakers in attendance said that it was a historic day, and the president said the occasion marked “a new season in America.” When Obama and Vice President Joe Biden emerged, the Democrats began chanting “all fired up, ready to go,” reminiscent of the Obama campaign rallies in 2008. “History is made when a leader steps up, stays true to his values, and charts a fundamentally different course for the country,” Biden said. “History is made when a leader’s passion is matched with principle to set a new course. Well, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President, you are that leader.” The vice president continued, “Our children and our grandchildren, they’re going to grow up knowing that a man named Barack Obama put the final girder in the framework for a social network in this country to provide the single most important element of what people need -- and that is access to good health. And that every American from this day forward will be treated with simple fairness and basic justice.” Television cameras and the microphones picked up Biden embracing Obama and saying, “This is a big f---ing deal.” After it was reported that the vice president used the F-word, that same day, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Tweeted, “And yes, Mr. Vice President, you're right.” Democrats erupted in applause when Obama, celebrating the biggest legislative achievement of his presidency, came to the teleprompter. “It is fitting that Congress passed this historic legislation this week,” Obama said. “For as we mark the turning of spring, we also mark a new season in America. In a few moments, when I sign this bill, all of the overheated rhetoric over reform will finally confront the reality of reform.” The new $1-trillion law mandates that individuals purchase health insurance and that employers provide health insurance, or they will be penalized. It also establishes an exchange for consumers to choose from government-approved health insurance plans. The Internal Revenue Service is in charge of overseeing the mandates and collecting the financial penalties for non-compliance. Democrats say the new law will provide health coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans. The bill was signed into law over heavy public opposition. A CNN poll over the weekend showed 59 percent oppose the legislation.
SCI/TECH
Google faces backlash from China's state-run media
Google is facing a mounting backlash in China following its decision to shut down its Chinese search engine, with a fresh wave of crowing editorials from the country's state-controlled media denouncing the company.
The apparently orchestrated attacks against the San Francisco internet giant came as the US warned that Beijing should "carefully consider" the implications of the world's most recognisable brand refusing to operate in China.
However the English-language China Daily welcomed Google's departure, accusing it of spreading pornography and subversive content, adding defiantly that the Chinese web would "continue to grow in a cleaner and more peaceful environment" without google.cn.
The Global Times, a recently launched newspaper aimed at spreading China's soft power around the globe, said that Google had made a "huge strategic misstep" by pulling out of the Chinese market of 380m online users.
The People's Daily overseas edition went further, accusing Google of colluding with the US government security agencies and speculating whether the Google pullout wasn't the first round in a new US-sponsored internet war against China.
"For Chinese people, Google is not god, and even if it puts on a full-on show about politics and values, it is still not god," said a front-page commentary in the paper.
"In fact, Google is not a virgin when it comes to values. Its cooperation and collusion with the US intelligence and security agencies is well-known," it added.
"All this makes one wonder. Thinking about the United States' big efforts in recent years to engage in internet war, perhaps this could be an exploratory pre-dawn battle."
The editorials follow a similar series of nationalistic attacks last weekend apparently aimed at deflecting blame for the pullout away from China's draconian system of internet controls and onto the "arrogant" and futile attempt of the US company to impose its values on China.
The invective was in contrast to the Chinese government's less inflammatory official statements on Tuesday which promised not to let the row damage China-US relations, so long as the dispute was not politicised.
China had also still made no move so far to shut down Google's new search service – routed via an uncensored server in Hong Kong – choosing instead to censor unwanted search results through its Great Firewall.
The Obama administration said that while it opposed internet censorship it did not want to politicise Google's decision, reaffirming the value the US placed on its economic relationship with China after three decades of burgeoning trade.
"That said, were I China, I would seriously consider the implications when one of the most recognizable institutions has decided that it's too difficult to do business in China," added Philip Crowley, the US State Department spokesman.
Industry analysts are now watching closely to see whether Google's advertising, sales and mobile phone search business can thrive under the new Hong Kong arrangement.
At its China headquarters, where a few people laid flowers following the announcement of the pullout on Tuesday, Google said it was "business as usual", but admitted that staffing levels would have to be adjusted "according to business demand."
In the first sign of the difficulties that could lie ahead for Google, TOM Online, a provider of online and mobile services in China, said it would drop Google's search box from its site to avoid violating any Chinese laws, switching to homegrown search giant Baidu.com. Many analysts predicted that other Chinese companies could now shy away from dealing with Google to avoid being seen to support a company which has delivered such a public slap in the face to the Chinese government.
In the first sign of the difficulties that could lie ahead for Google, TOM Online, a provider of online and mobile services in China, said it would drop Google's search box from its site to avoid violating any Chinese laws, switching to homegrown search giant Baidu.com. Many analysts predicted that other Chinese companies could now shy away from dealing with Google to avoid being seen to support a company which has delivered such a public slap in the face to the Chinese government.
Google shares fell $8.50, or 1.5 per cent, to $549 on Tuesday, with the most pessimistic analysts predicting it could fall by as much as drop by as much as $50 - or about 10 per cent - in the coming weeks as the fallout from its China decision becomes clear.
BUSINESS
Google to phase out China search partnerships
BEIJING/HONG KONG: Two days after shutting its Chinese portal over censorship, Google Inc said it plans to phase out deals to provide filtered
search services to other online or mobile firms in China. It has already been shunned by at least one of those partner firms and was attacked by a state newspaper after pulling the plug on its mainland Chinese language portal Google.cn. It now reroutes searches to an unfiltered Hong Kong site. The Google dispute, which involves cyber attacks as well as Internet censorship, is one of many thorny trade, financial, political and security issues that are roiling US-China ties this year. On Wednesday, Google's search services remained erratic across Beijing, frustrating users unsure about the future of its other services -- from maps to music -- over two months after its bombshell announcement it may quit China. While Google is the world's top search engine, it held only an estimated 30 percent share of China's search market in 2009, compared with home-grown rival Baidu Inc's 60 per cent. Activists who gathered at Google's Beijing headquarters to show support appeared to be Google's only vocal allies in China. Google said it is not providing direct access to censored searches, but will fulfill existing contracts with other firms. "We have over a dozen syndication deals with partners in China. We obviously have contractual obligations to them, which we want to honour," a Singapore--based Google spokeswoman said. "Over time, we will not be syndicating censored search to partners in China. But we will of course fulfil our existing contractual obligations," she added. Google has already been taken off the popular tom.com portal, owned by Li Ka-shing, a Hong Kong billionaire who is one of the richest men in the world and has good ties to Beijing, according to Bloomberg. Many of Google's often well-educated, professional fan-base in China, who use the company's software for both work and play, said they were already suffering some fallout on Wednesday with erratic service. Several of Google's international search sites were failing to open, and when they could be accessed some users found that all searches, including for non-sensitive terms like "hello", were returning blank pages or error messages. Businesses, university students and people in private homes reported intermittent problems on the main Google.com site, the Google.co.uk site and Google.ca. "Google.com.hk is not currently being blocked, although it seems that some sensitive terms are. However, if you search for a sensitive term and trigger a government blockage, that may affect subsequent searches ... for a short period," Google said. ACTIVISTS SUPPORT Around 100 people, including human rights lawyers and other activists, gathered at Google's Beijing base late on Tuesday -- the day when news of the pullout reached China -- to pay tribute. After arguments with police, they approached the company's door to leave messages including "Google forever" and "Long live freedom!" at the company's door, said Teng Biao, a prominent activist who visited the building after a rights' meeting. "It will bring some inconvenience, but we really support this move by Google. They put freedom of expression ahead of business, and we hope that it will encourage more people to pay attention to human rights situation in China," Teng said on phone. But Google's move has angered the government, and on Wednesday an official Communist Party newspaper accused it of colluding with US spies, in China's latest blast at the company. "Google is not a virgin when it comes to values. Its cooperation and collusion with the US intelligence and security agencies is well-known," a front page commentary in the overseas edition of the People's Daily said. "All this makes one wonder. Thinking about the United States' big efforts in recent years to engage in Internet war, perhaps this could be an exploratory pre-dawn battle," the paper said.
search services to other online or mobile firms in China. It has already been shunned by at least one of those partner firms and was attacked by a state newspaper after pulling the plug on its mainland Chinese language portal Google.cn. It now reroutes searches to an unfiltered Hong Kong site. The Google dispute, which involves cyber attacks as well as Internet censorship, is one of many thorny trade, financial, political and security issues that are roiling US-China ties this year. On Wednesday, Google's search services remained erratic across Beijing, frustrating users unsure about the future of its other services -- from maps to music -- over two months after its bombshell announcement it may quit China. While Google is the world's top search engine, it held only an estimated 30 percent share of China's search market in 2009, compared with home-grown rival Baidu Inc's 60 per cent. Activists who gathered at Google's Beijing headquarters to show support appeared to be Google's only vocal allies in China. Google said it is not providing direct access to censored searches, but will fulfill existing contracts with other firms. "We have over a dozen syndication deals with partners in China. We obviously have contractual obligations to them, which we want to honour," a Singapore--based Google spokeswoman said. "Over time, we will not be syndicating censored search to partners in China. But we will of course fulfil our existing contractual obligations," she added. Google has already been taken off the popular tom.com portal, owned by Li Ka-shing, a Hong Kong billionaire who is one of the richest men in the world and has good ties to Beijing, according to Bloomberg. Many of Google's often well-educated, professional fan-base in China, who use the company's software for both work and play, said they were already suffering some fallout on Wednesday with erratic service. Several of Google's international search sites were failing to open, and when they could be accessed some users found that all searches, including for non-sensitive terms like "hello", were returning blank pages or error messages. Businesses, university students and people in private homes reported intermittent problems on the main Google.com site, the Google.co.uk site and Google.ca. "Google.com.hk is not currently being blocked, although it seems that some sensitive terms are. However, if you search for a sensitive term and trigger a government blockage, that may affect subsequent searches ... for a short period," Google said. ACTIVISTS SUPPORT Around 100 people, including human rights lawyers and other activists, gathered at Google's Beijing base late on Tuesday -- the day when news of the pullout reached China -- to pay tribute. After arguments with police, they approached the company's door to leave messages including "Google forever" and "Long live freedom!" at the company's door, said Teng Biao, a prominent activist who visited the building after a rights' meeting. "It will bring some inconvenience, but we really support this move by Google. They put freedom of expression ahead of business, and we hope that it will encourage more people to pay attention to human rights situation in China," Teng said on phone. But Google's move has angered the government, and on Wednesday an official Communist Party newspaper accused it of colluding with US spies, in China's latest blast at the company. "Google is not a virgin when it comes to values. Its cooperation and collusion with the US intelligence and security agencies is well-known," a front page commentary in the overseas edition of the People's Daily said. "All this makes one wonder. Thinking about the United States' big efforts in recent years to engage in Internet war, perhaps this could be an exploratory pre-dawn battle," the paper said.
NEWS,WORLD
David Miliband attacks 'intolerable' Israeli cloning of British passports
Relations with Israel are at a low after a Mossad spy was expelled from London over the ‘intolerable’ cloning of British passports during a plot to assassinate a senior Palestinian official.
David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said an investigation by the Serious Organised Crime Authority had concluded that there were “compelling reasons” to believe responsibility for the “misuse” of a dozen passports lay with the Israelis.
The passports were forged while their holders were passing through airports in the region, and the counterfeit documents used by a hit squad suspected of murdering a Hamas commander in Dubai.
In a statement to MPs, Mr Miliband said that he had asked the Israeli Embassy to send home a “senior diplomat,” widely believed to be a Mossad operative connected to the plot.
The Foreign Secretary refused to confirm the Mossad link, but added: “The request for an individual to leave, and the decision of the Israelis to accede to that, was made by us. It was linked ... to the investigations that have taken place.
“We’ve been very clear with the Israelis about the basis which we were asking the individual to leave.”
The passports were forged while their holders were passing through airports in the region, and the counterfeit documents used by a hit squad suspected of murdering a Hamas commander in Dubai.
In a statement to MPs, Mr Miliband said that he had asked the Israeli Embassy to send home a “senior diplomat,” widely believed to be a Mossad operative connected to the plot.
The Foreign Secretary refused to confirm the Mossad link, but added: “The request for an individual to leave, and the decision of the Israelis to accede to that, was made by us. It was linked ... to the investigations that have taken place.
“We’ve been very clear with the Israelis about the basis which we were asking the individual to leave.”
The expulsion was welcomed by Hamas officials in the Palestinian territories, but criticised by Israel, with some legislators accusing Britain of anti-Semitism.
Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, the founder of Hamas's military wing, was assassinated in his luxury hotel room in January by a team of killers who were captured on security cameras wearing fake beards, wigs and other disguises.
Dubai officials have said that they are "99 per cent certain" that Mossad agents were behind the murder but Israel has refused to confirm or deny the link.
Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, the founder of Hamas's military wing, was assassinated in his luxury hotel room in January by a team of killers who were captured on security cameras wearing fake beards, wigs and other disguises.
Dubai officials have said that they are "99 per cent certain" that Mossad agents were behind the murder but Israel has refused to confirm or deny the link.
Telling MPs that British sovereignty had been compromised by the operation, Mr Miliband revealed that he had demanded written confirmation from the Israeli government that the safety of UK citizens would never again be put at risk.
The Foreign Secretary confirmed that Britain had no advance knowledge of the operation to clone passports while their holders were travelling through Israel and other countries. Other passports were stolen from Irish, German, Australian and French citizens.
Describing the passport holders as “wholly innocent victims,” the Foreign Secretary said that the misuse of passports represented a: "hazard for the safety of British nationals in the region.
The Foreign Secretary confirmed that Britain had no advance knowledge of the operation to clone passports while their holders were travelling through Israel and other countries. Other passports were stolen from Irish, German, Australian and French citizens.
Describing the passport holders as “wholly innocent victims,” the Foreign Secretary said that the misuse of passports represented a: "hazard for the safety of British nationals in the region.
He added: "It also represents a profound disregard for the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.
"The fact that this was done by a country which is a friend, with significant diplomatic, cultural, business and personal ties to the UK, only adds insult to injury.”
A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry said: "The relationship between Israel and Britain is mutually important. We therefore regret the British decision."
Members of the Israeli parliament likened the British government to “anti-Semitic dogs” and demanded the expulsion of Britain’s military attaché in Tel Aviv.
"The fact that this was done by a country which is a friend, with significant diplomatic, cultural, business and personal ties to the UK, only adds insult to injury.”
A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry said: "The relationship between Israel and Britain is mutually important. We therefore regret the British decision."
Members of the Israeli parliament likened the British government to “anti-Semitic dogs” and demanded the expulsion of Britain’s military attaché in Tel Aviv.
“I think the British are being hypocritical, and I do not wish to insult dogs here, since some dogs show true loyalty, [but] who gave the British the right to judge us on the war on terror?" said Arieh Eldad, a right-wing member of the Knesset.
Michael Ben-Ari added: "We have learned that a dog must be called by its name. This is anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Zionism."
Michael Ben-Ari added: "We have learned that a dog must be called by its name. This is anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Zionism."
The expulsion was welcomed in Gaza, however. In a statement, Salah al-Bardawil, a senior Hamas official, said: "We in Hamas welcome the British position and the decision to expel the Mossad official in the Zionist embassy for his role in the criminal assassination. "
Mr Miliband disclosed that 11 of the 12 British citizens involved in the cloning operation had now received new, biometric passports.
The Foreign Office travel advice for Israel has been amended to highlight the risk to passports.
Mr Miliband disclosed that 11 of the 12 British citizens involved in the cloning operation had now received new, biometric passports.
The Foreign Office travel advice for Israel has been amended to highlight the risk to passports.
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