Gator CPO at the Department of Homeland Security 846
pcidevel writes "D. Reed Freeman, the "Chief Privacy Officer" of Claria Networks (formerly Gator), the creators of the pervasive spyware package GAIN, has been appointed to the Department of Homeland Security's "Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee"."
EULA (Score:5, Funny)
CNET News.com (Score:5, Informative)
Here's CNET News.com's version of the story:
Adware maker joins federal privacy board
Published: February 23, 2005, 5:19 PM PST
By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
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An executive from Claria, formerly called Gator, will be one of 20 members of the committee, the department said Wednesday.
"This committee will provide the department with important recommendations on how to further the department's mission while protecting the privacy of personally identifiable information of citizens and visitors of the United States," Nuala O'Connor Kelly, the department's chief privacy officer, said in a statement.
Claria bundles its pop-up advertising software with ad-supported networks such as Kazaa. Recently, the privately held company has been trying to seek credibility by following stricter privacy guidelines and offering behavioral profiling services to its partners.
In an e-mail message to CNET News.com, Kelly defended the inclusion of a Claria representative on the committee. "I am proud of, supportive of and grateful for those individuals in the public and private sector who are willing to take on the hard tasks, fight the good fight, and who surprise us with creative, fresh and unconventional thinking, and who make change where change is needed through their hard work and personal dedication," Kelly said.
In the past, Claria's pop-up ad software has riled some users who claimed it was annoying, installed without permission, and not easy to delete. Publishers also were irked about pop-up ads for a rival's product appearing next to their own Web sites. Catalog retailer L.L. Bean sued Gator for alleged trademark infringement.
Claria's representative on the Homeland Security privacy board is company Vice President D. Reed Freeman, a former Federal Trade Commission staff attorney. Other members include executives from Intel, Computer Associates International, IBM, Oracle and the Cato Institute.
Kelly said Freeman will "bring his courage and conviction to the board, and will contribute productively--and constructively--to the board's and the public's dialogue on privacy and homeland security."
The committee is tasked with providing "external expert advice to the secretary and the chief privacy officer on programmatic, policy, operational and technological issues that affect privacy, data integrity and data interoperability."
In February 2003, Gator settled a high-profile case brought by The Washington Post, The New York Times, Dow Jones and other media companies. Terms of that deal were quiet, but Claria appears to have stopped delivering pop-ups to those publishers' sites.
Claria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CNET News.com's Stefanie Olsen contributed to this report.
Re:CNET News.com (Score:4, Insightful)
Oh please grow up.
It may come as a complete shock to some people here, but some companies have to make a living somehow. And some of those companies, like Salon.com, have been struggling for quite a while and are not hyper-rich media conglomerates who can afford to not try whatever they can to make an honest living.
You do not have a God-given right to free content provided at the expense of the work of others. (And no I don't care if Salon.com didn't write the original article, they provide plenty of home brewed articles and opinion which I think are totally worth it.) Deal with it.
Nice Troll (Score:4, Interesting)
I will grant the right of Slaon to supply content under terms of their own choosing. I will grant that if we dislike those terms we are free to go elsewhere instead - as in fact I do.
However I do not enjoy registration pages, and see no reason I should be required to enjoy them. Nor do I see any reason why any of us should be required or even expected to approve of a business model that is based upon supplying personal information to spammers, mass-marketers and other spies.
The issue of "hyper rich media congolmerates" is a red herring. there are many sites that provide qualiy content without requiring registration. Others (the New York Times springs to mind) undoubtedly fall into that cateory and yet still collect such information. I do wonder why anyone would spread such FUD. I can only assume that given the topic of the OP, the shills and astroturfers are out in force today.
To summarise: I don't like registration screens, I am never going to like registration screens, and I shall continue to publicly disapprove of them as I see fit.
Maybe you should learn to deal with it.
Re:CNET News.com (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:CNET News.com (Score:3, Insightful)
But they do have the right to not be your slaves. If they produce something, and set the terms by which they're willing to let you use it, they do have the right to expect you to honor those terms. If you think the content is important enough, you'll respect them. If you won't respect them, then hopefully you have enough personal integrity to not steal the content.
No one has a right to profit. They have the r
Re:CNET News.com (Score:5, Insightful)
Would the author of this post, and everyone who modded him "Interesting," please look up at the top of your browser window and tell me what you see?
Re:CNET News.com (Score:5, Funny)
nothing [mozdev.org]
Re:CNET News.com (Score:5, Insightful)
Thank you to you and all the other clever people who bragged about your ad-blocking software. Please remember that the poster I quoted said he "wouldn't care if all the ad-supported content left the internet." The mere fact that there are ads there for your oh-so-marvelous Firefox to block means that Slashdot is, in fact, "ad-supported content." Hence the poster, and those who agreed with him, wouldn't mind if Slashdot disappeared. But they like it enough to read it and post here.
Re:CNET News.com (Score:4, Informative)
It's a kleptocracy!! (Score:5, Insightful)
"I am proud of, supportive of and grateful for those individuals in the public and private sector who are willing to take on the hard tasks, fight the good fight, and who surprise us with creative, fresh and unconventional thinking, and who make change where change is needed through their hard work and personal dedication," Kelly said. Kelly said Freeman will "bring his courage and conviction to the board, and will contribute productively--and constructively--to the board's and the public's dialogue on privacy and homeland security."
What I find most outrageous is such talk typical of this administration to lie, and lie, and lie; So now a software that installed itself without permission, was not easy to delete, and annoyed the hell out of people is something to be praised for and proud of as testimony of "courage and conviction", "willingness to take on the hard tasks", "willingness to fight the good fight", "creative, fresh and unconventional thinking"?
What about thieves? They're pretty much the same; are we going to admire trespassers and looters?
Damn this kleptocracy; damn it!
It's not so bad (Score:3, Insightful)
and in other news (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:and in other news (Score:5, Insightful)
I disagree. They just haven't been shut down yet.
To wit: Let's say I call up a particularly dim secretary at IBM. I claim to be with a consulting firm, and need access to certain files. This person gives me the password to his or her boss' account. I log in and copy everything I can get my hands on.
When tried, I explain that I had permission from a company representative to take those files. This would probably not go over well.
Claria uses similar tactics, taking advantage of stupid people by making vague statements, in order to gain access to private information. In my mind, there's little difference. EULAs require a greater level of literacy than many computer users possess; taking advantage of this fact is, in my opinion, not a legal method of doing business.
Its all perfectly clear. (Score:3, Funny)
its all done for your own good! for freedom! [popealien.com]
actual freedom may not be exactly as shown. privacy not included.
Re:EULA (Score:5, Insightful)
The Onion (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The Onion (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:The Onion (Score:4, Insightful)
While I agree that the appointment is disturbing, it doesn't mean that the government is going to install spyware onto every machine and start doing as they see fit. How many of you use some technology (Norton, AdBlock) to limit the amount of advertisements and popups you receive during the day? How many people do you think sniff the traffic coming off of their machine and make sure it's all as expected?
The instant that something appears on your PC someone else will know about it and there will be an endless number of FAQs on how to make it benign.
Remember that we're in the US, but PCs are global. You may find yourself feeling grateful to the hacker/cracker/crypto community at large for the work they'll be doing in the future to protect your privacy.
Death of the anti-spyware laws (Score:3, Insightful)
Now I understand what the government meant by increasing the data they gather.
Linux probably WILL become illegal soon, as it's very nature means you could remove the government back doors if you wanted to.
I'm not sure The Shrub could have come up with a more effective way of announcing what he thinks of privacy concerns without installing two way TV sets in every home and declaring himse
Re:The Onion (Score:4, Informative)
on the beefier 3.0 mil copper skullcap w/ground)
And what makes you think that the great bargain
that MSFT got from the Ashcroft DoJ didn't already
have secret provisions for a law enforcement back-
door into their OS(es)? When the regime changed
hands in 2001, MSFT got off with a slap on the
wrist that they practically wrote themselves. And
when the DHS was formed, MSFT was rewarded with
a huge contract with DHS (in spite of warnings
from independent security experts to the contrary).
The appointment of the Gator CPO to their (DHS)
security commission merely underlines the melding
of government and corporate America into the same
mindset - spy on everyone, colate data, and share
all datasets between government and industry.
CARNIVORE has (reportedly) gone away, replaced
with COTS software (from where?). Dubya and the
"neo-cons" in Congress have repeatedly supported
large corporate interests over "free enterprise",
as well as the greater public good. The United
States Supreme Court basically overturned the
USA's democratic (by/of/for the people) republic
in 2000 in favor of corporate interests - its
called Corporate National Socialism (by/of the
corporation, for the people).
A new revolution at the voting booth (presuming
they're not all Diebold electronic voting
machines by the time the people wake up to the
danger), is the only way to turn this "ship of
state" back on course.
But I'm not particularly hopeful.
Meehh! (adjusts anti-DHS 3 mil copper skullcap
to fit the original tinfoil hat on top...)
In other news (Score:5, Funny)
M
Re:In other news (Score:5, Funny)
Re:In other news (Score:3, Funny)
Punch a Monkey (Score:5, Funny)
Re:In other news (Score:3, Funny)
And people wonder why... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:And people wonder why... (Score:3, Insightful)
Today's real headlines are better than anything HST or Onion can possibly come up with. He achieved his life's work: when the going got weird, the weird turned pro.
Look for the upcoming Dan Goldin autobiography HUBBLE: Fear and Loathing in Low Earth Orbit, coming soon.
Re:In other news (Score:3, Funny)
I only hope that our new Drug Czar and DEA director, Mr. Cheech and Mr. Chong, will be as successful in their fight against those scummy potheads.
Hmm... I've an analogy for this... (Score:5, Insightful)
Honestly... DHS doesn't need to be worrying about this sort of tripe- they've got bigger fish to fry. Why in the HELL are they bothering with this when the things they're doing right at the moment wouldn't have done a damn thing to prevent 9/11 from occuring and wouldn't prevent a repeat?
Re:Hmm... I've an analogy for this... (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm sure you'll appreciate the opportunity to abandon 'community' for 'market', once you see the incredible opportunity it affords for profits! Besides, we have already managed the deal for you!
Re:Hmm... I've an analogy for this... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Always one 'tard in the crowd... (Score:3, Funny)
what a joke! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:what a joke! (Score:5, Funny)
RMS might be helpful (Score:5, Insightful)
Unfortunately, I think quite a lot of patent applications cover ideas that any expert can think of in three hours but were never used before because no one apart from the applicant bothered to use them, which means they probably have no prior art. A patent examiner cannot do much more than an ordinary citizen when the problem lies in the law itself rather than its enforcement.
Re:what a joke! (Score:3, Insightful)
Exactly.
That's why I can actually see the wisdom in this. While I do think it's an awful thing, I believe that no committee making these kinds of decisions should be one-sided.
The question is, what are the leanings of the other members of the committee? One post seems to imply that 'we' should be happy with them.
In other words, the fox should advise on the security of the hen-house s
In other news... (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, wait...
Makes sense (in a sick sort of way) (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Makes sense (in a sick sort of way) (Score:5, Insightful)
On the other hand, the people who go into the field of marketing have one well defined goal: to manipulate and deceive consumers for profit. I have studied alongside these people when I made the huge mistake of wanting to take some marketing courses. The ideas I learned and people I met literally made me sick to my stomach.
I do not know a single marketing person who is in it for academic interest -- those people tend to be psychologists. Marketers are business oriented and highly profit motivated to the extent where everything else (privacy, ethics, environment, culture) take back seat. These people sell their souls in pursuit of money.
You might think I'm exaggerating. But look at the specific people in question. Who works at DoubleClick or Gator, unless they have a genuine professional interest in the wide reaching manipulation of the public for profit sake? I really have zero confidence in these people's s ability to make an honest, well meaning effort towards the rights and privacy of consumers and citizens.
talk about oxymoron (Score:5, Insightful)
"War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."
Re:talk about oxymoron (Score:3, Informative)
oh and they do also have a section on modern newspeak not only the Orwell version.
Re:talk about oxymoron (Score:3, Insightful)
But That is awefully surprising from such a 'spiritual' administration. I would think they would value what is in someones heart over what is in his head. If he means bad, he will figure out a way to do bad. It does not matter what job you put him in...
Tell me this is a joke (Score:5, Interesting)
I recently listened to a documentary on CBC radio [www.cbc.ca] about pervasive irony in today's world. It was an interesting program because they were suggesting that the political scene these days is like a living satire. It's just too weird... and this news about a spyware marketer being appointed to a privacy committee is just insane. I see four fingers!
Re:Tell me this is a joke (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Tell me this is a joke (Score:3, Insightful)
There's No Bottom (Score:5, Insightful)
These days, I am no longer surprised at no longer being surprised by the ghastly things this Administration routinely does.
Re:There's No Bottom (Score:3, Insightful)
I couldn't make up a story this ridiculous, yet it's true. Go world, go.
Re:There's No Bottom (Score:5, Insightful)
We have oil execs writing our energy policy, privacy invaders writing our privacy laws. Drug companies writing our drug-company laws... It's absolute madness.
Are there any bushies out there who can defend this and tell me why I shouldn't be having a fit?
Re:There's No Bottom (Score:5, Funny)
Well, the reasons are very complicated. First of all it is a good strategy because -
Hey look over there, gays undermining the biblical foundation of marriage!
Re:There's No Bottom (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:There's No Bottom (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe (Score:3, Interesting)
Claria has a Chief Privacy Officer? (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually, "Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee" sounds much more like Ministry of Truth.
Re:Claria has a Chief Privacy Officer? (Score:5, Insightful)
Only in America (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously, though, I can almost see the logic in this appointment. One thing spyware companies know is computer security. They defeat it all the time. I'm surprised the fine folks from Cool Web Search weren't appointed.
On the other hand, the more cynical side of me sees how reminiscent this is of early 20th century American politics, when the government appointed Big Business leaders to commitees on workers' rights. Money and connections will buy you anything.
Re:Only in America (Score:4, Insightful)
Reference the rhetoric from great Britain this week. They are in the run up to an election and Blair is fighting for his life. Blair apparently took some pages out of the Bush play book and it makes it so transparent when you see another government doing exactly the same thing the Republican's just did, stoke massive fear right before an election to win reelection.
- Tony Blair quotes: "Nothing must stand in the way of protecting the security of our people."
- They are trying to ram through yet another variant of the Patriot act "The Bill introduces "control orders" which will enable the Home Secretary to stop terror suspects travelling or using phones and the internet - without the need for a trial.". It may allow indefinite home detention of anyone the Home Secretary unilaterally decides is a threat to security.
- Before the House of Commons Blair said: Britain was facing "terrorism without limit" and "those considerations of national security have to come before civil liberties however important they are".
The cynics in the crowd suspect Blair's party is doing the same thing the Republican's did with he Patriot act to the Dems, they have to vote for it no matter how onerous it is or Blair's party will accuse them of being soft on terrorism. So either the party in power gets sweeping new powers or they make their opponents look weak and take a potential bath in the election.
Its amazing this works because me, given a clear choice, I'd vote for the party protecting my civil liberties over ineffective security laws.
It's official now. (Score:5, Funny)
do something about it... (Score:5, Insightful)
It's a sad day seeing this article exist, but it will be an even sadder day when 90% of these comments are scored "Funny" and we are doomed to sit idly by our world is taken away from us... thanks guys, i appreciate it.
Re:do something about it... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:do something about it... (Score:5, Insightful)
Campaign contributions mean that political representation goes to those with the most money to donate. Democracy died long ago.
Re:do something about it... (Score:5, Insightful)
With all the wierd shit going down, I really don't get why there hasn't been more demonstrations or even a revolution across the pond...
Re:do something about it... (Score:3, Insightful)
That ended with the Civil War (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:do something about it... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:do something about it... (Score:4, Insightful)
Because 90% of us are mindless sheep. Doing exactly what our leader tells us.
Americans on average are the stupidest population center on this planet. We send our kids to schools that are ineffective, graduate young adults that can not read, we have a 68% return rate on our "rehabilitated criminals" and the typical american is driven into a furvor of fear and convinced that driving an unsafe huge vehicle makes us safer.
We are complete and utter MORONS. I hang my head in disgust every day at what I see my fellow americans say and do.
What makes you think that this nation of very stupid sheep that takes what is fed to them as 100% truth would have the guts and desire to rise up and force change??
we are too comfortable with our 8mpg SUV's out 2500+sq foot houses and our 300 channel cable tv telling how scary it is outside and we should stay in where it is safe.
The governemtn is protecting us, why should we question them?
I'm going to go puke....
Re:do something about it... (Score:4, Interesting)
The following countries have lower average IQs than that of the US (which is 98):
Canada 97 Czech Republic 97 Finland 97 Spain 97 Argentina 96 Russia 96 Slovakia 96 Uruguay 96 Portugal 95 Slovenia 95 Israel 94 Romania 94 Bulgaria 93 Ireland 93 Greece 92 Malaysia 92 Thailand 91 Croatia 90 Peru 90 Turkey 90 Colombia 89 Indonesia 89 Suriname 89 Brazil 87 Iraq 87 Mexico 87 Samoa (Western) 87 Tonga 87 Lebanon 86 Philippines 86 Cuba 85 Morocco 85 Fiji 84 Iran 84 Marshall Islands 84 Puerto Rico 84 Egypt 83 India 81 Ecuador 80 Guatemala 79 Barbados 78 Nepal 78 Qatar 78 Zambia 77 Congo (Brazz) 73 Uganda 73 Jamaica 72 Kenya 72 South Africa 72 Sudan 72 Tanzania 72 Ghana 71 Nigeria 67 Guinea 66 Zimbabwe 66 Congo (Zaire) 65 Sierra Leone 64 Ethiopia 63 Equatorial Guinea 59
You can also see from mathematics tests [bc.edu] that the US is not the stupidest population, but above the international average for mathematics achievement as well.
Of course, the US may still be stupid, but it isn't like there are a lot of people less stupid outside of the US.
Some European countries may have higher IQs and Math scores than the US, but they have real problems in understading basic economics
Re:do something about it... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:do something about it... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:do something about it... (Score:5, Interesting)
But (assuming the election weren't rigged), the American people voted this administration into power again. The American people chose for things like this to happen to them (all of these things have been crafted by the current administration, and I somehow doubt things would be going down the same, or half as badly, if the election had gone the other way - remember that none of these things are necessarily "inevitable", they're highly dependent on who is in power, there have been many similar 'low points' during the previous century and it is possible to come out of them if you're not so complacent that you just accept things as inevitable). I think most people are simply uninformed, and don't care that they're uninformed. Thus one must conclucde that the root cause of the problems here is that majority of the American public are not competent enough to choose their leaders properly.
Dare to be a doubting bastard (Score:3, Insightful)
At the very least, stand up and make them spend a little more money and work a little harder. Don't whine, find a way to stick a thumb in their eye when they're leading you to the gallows.
The gre
Donations? (Score:3, Interesting)
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos (Score:3, Interesting)
As outrageous as this is, it's not nearly as bad as the prescription drug bill that prevents them from pushing the pharmaceutical companies for better prices.
I hope the story is big enough to be spun by the talk radio crowd. I'd love to hear how they'd defend it.
This is a good fit (Score:4, Funny)
Mr freeman probably thinks he's arrived in heaven. he gets to keep on doing what he's best at, the spyware business, but this time it's for the government, so no more hassles from all those pathetic anti-spyware whiners.
Re:This is a good fit (Score:3, Interesting)
My second thought was "Unless they intend to load up every computer in the world with CIA approved spyware that is..."
What the heck is going on at homeland security. (Score:5, Interesting)
Normally I'd have no problems with a deputy CIO not having a degree but apparently the dept of homeland security did not check out their deputy CIO carefully enough and now they had to "put her on leave".
Now we find out they are putting the fox in charge of the hen house.
Something is seriously askew at this dept. How can we trust these guys to safeguard our country when they have shown such awful judgement?
Re:What the heck is going on at homeland security. (Score:4, Interesting)
Where do you think Osama is hiding? (Score:3, Interesting)
What they're not mentioing... (Score:3, Funny)
Committee member list (Score:5, Informative)
Members appointed for the inaugural term of the DHS Privacy Advisory Committee are:
Joseph Alhadeff, Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer, Oracle Corporation, Washington, DC
Ramon Barquin, President, Barquin International, Bethesda, MD
J. Howard Beales, Associate Professor, The George Washington University, Arlington, VA
D. Reed Freeman, Chief Privacy Officer and Vice President, Claria Corporation, Arlington, VA
James W. Harper, Editor/Executive Director, Privacilla.org & Director of Information Policy Studies, Cato Institute, Washington, DC
Kirk Herath, Chief Privacy Officer & Associate General Counsel, Nationwide, Columbus, OH
David A. Hoffman, Group Counsel and Director of Privacy, Intel Corporation, Hillsboro, OR
Lance Hoffman, Distinguished Research Professor, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
Tara Lemmey, Chief Executive Officer, Lens Ventures, San Francisco, CA
Joseph Leo, Vice President, SAIC, Vienna, VA
John Marsh, Distinguished Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law, Winchester, VA
Joanne McNabb, Chief, Office of Privacy Protection, California Department of Consumer Affairs, Sacramento, CA
Charles Palmer, Department Group Manager, Security, Networking & Privacy, IBM Corporation, Yorktown Heights, NY
Richard Purcell, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Privacy Group, Nordland, WA
Paul Samuel Rosenzweig, Senior Legal Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC
John Thomas Sabo, Manager, Security, Privacy, and Trust Initiatives, Computer Associates, Herndon, VA
James Sheehan, General Counsel, Milton Hershey School, Hershey, PA
Lisa Sotto, Partner, Head of Regulatory Privacy & Information Management Practice Group, Hunton & Williams, New York, NY
Michael Turner, President and Senior Scholar, Information Policy Institute, New York, NY
Samuel Wright, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Cendant Corporation, Washington, DC
I can't say I like Freeman being on the committee, but a quick glance at the rest of the list makes me feel a lot better.
Re:Committee member list (Score:5, Insightful)
Greetings, Ice
HOW DARE THEY DUB THEE SPYWARE! (Score:3, Funny)
Of course Gator isn't "spyware!!!" It is a perfectly fine way of business. Excuse me, I'm off to break into homes, hide, and pop up out of nowhere to sell viagra and insurance. Maybe I'll bug some phones for marketing information while I'm there.
I get it (Score:5, Insightful)
Do something? (Score:5, Informative)
This makes sense. (Score:3, Interesting)
For instance... People with Philosophy degrees are often hired as "Ethicists" for corporations. Their job is to interpret ethics for the company. In some cases, this means keeping the company on the right side of the line. However, for some companies, it simply means finding ways to justify what the company wants to do to begin with. Guidance, or spin.
So, take a look at the Department of Homeland Security. Do you think this is the kind of honest-natured ministry that wants to make sure it does the right thing regarding our privacy? Or the kind of Orwellian agency that wants to have a way to say it respects privacy, and does whatever it wants?
Guidance, or spin?
This guy is there to help teach the feds how to lie to us about how much our privacy is respected in this country. All of the sudden, it makes sense.
Write your Congressman NOW (Score:3, Interesting)
Dear Congressman Pearce;
I came across the article at http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2005/02/23
I find this of extreme concern for the security of the citizens of our country. It is also a concern that the 'privacy officer' for the DHS is a former minion of Doubleclick which is also a spyware company. This is like appointing David Duke to a committee on minority rights, Mike Tyson appointed to a committee on womans right, Michael Jackson appointed to a committee on childrens rights, or the proverbial fox being in charge of the henhouse. Can we now expect DHS to craft sofware that installs itself on our machines without or knowledge? Can we expect our data privacy to be safe from unlawfull government search? This is a real and present concern. The last thing the citizenry needs is for people with a known track record of being involved in privacy violations to be in such positions. The very fact that these people are where they are now within the DHS points to the process being broken, and perhaps it can also be said that the DHS has been infiltrated by persons without the citizens best interests in mind. In advance, your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Contact DHS, here's the URL (Score:4, Informative)
If all the Slashdot readers called or filled out a form, we might make a difference. Even if nothing changes, at least DHS will know people are aware of this ridiculous act.
Agreed. (Score:3)
Nuala O'Connor Kelly? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:uh.. (Score:5, Funny)
My suggestions:
Hannibal Lecter for the national food and agriculture comission.
Osama Bin Laden for air transport dept.
Saddam Hussein for human rights jury.
Michael Jackson for child abuse prevention network CEO.
And of course Bill Gates for president of ISO.
Re:uh.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:uh.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Why, that would be like appointing a Torture Advocate to Attorney General...oh wait...Alberto Gonazales
That would be iike appointing a person that misadvised a Nation to start a war that broke down International Relations to a postion that requires her to Strengthen International Relations...oh wait...Condeleeza Rice
That would be like having a former CEO of company that derives it's revenue from war be elected to a political office that can Strongly influence War Power making decisions...oh wait...Dick Cheney
To answer your question, no they aren't shitting you. They are shitting ON you. All of us, actually.
Rewarding incompetence, as usual (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Rewarding incompetence, as usual (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Rewarding incompetence, as usual (Score:5, Insightful)
Regardless of his motives you can let the results speak for themselves. We've spent 300 billion on a war they told us would cost 50 billion at the most, supposedly for WMD's but there weren't any. And we're still sinking 4 billion a month into that hole with no end in sight. The No Child Left Behind act was based on the Houston Miracle, which later turned out to be faked data. Since Bush took office we've seen our government go into massive debt, seen more American jobs shipped overseas than any other time in the history of the country, we've watched our personal liberties and freedoms disappear and watched our relationship with foreign allies and our position in the world deteriorate.
For those who claim the mantel of Christianity this administration certainly has no love of the truth. They lie because they're being true to their character when they do so.
Perhaps it's you who should think about re-examining your committment to the truth.
didn't you get the memo? (Score:4, Insightful)
Seriously, this country is so fucked. There are so many people, mostly pretty extreme religious folk, who listen to anything Bush says as long as he sprinkles his speaches with the words "God," "Faith," etc. Oh, and don't forget, "crusade!"
It doesn't matter that he's lied. It doesn't matter that the VP's former company is given illegal no-bid contracts. It doesn't matter that the new AG is a supports the use of torture. There is nothing they can do that is evil enough to make the religious right turn away.
Re:First Post (Score:5, Funny)
Re:First Post (Score:5, Insightful)
Claria Corporation, www.claria.com, today announced that D. Reed Freeman, Jr. will assume the position of Chief Privacy Officer and Vice President of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for the company. Mr. Freeman, a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm Collier Shannon Scott, PLLC, will spearhead Claria's continued commitment to industry-leading online advertising privacy practices. He will also represent Claria's interests both in Washington and internationally, coordinating Claria's efforts on policy matters.
In other words, he's a lobbyist. He knows fuck all about the inner workings of spyware software, and this isn't at all analogous to hiring an ex-hacker to evaluate your security.
Re:DON'T SHUT UP!!! (Score:4, Funny)
Mod1: Hey Phil, you see that post from the guy telling Americans to rise up?
Mod2: Yeah, I was just about to mark it "Flamebait."
Mod1: And I was gonna mark it "Troll." But check it out: it says "Note to Mods: NOT A FLAME, NOT A TROLL!!!!!!"
Mod2: Yeah, in all caps.
Mod1: And with no less than six exclamation points.
Mod2: And when you've been on the internets as long as we have, you know that anyone who uses all caps and multiple exclamation points just has to be sincere.
Mod1: You certainly do, Phil.
Mod2: I'm marking this one "Informative."
Mod1: And I'm marking it "Insightful."
Mod2: It's a good thing he told us how to moderate his own post, or we could have made a huge mistake.
Mod1: You're certainly right about that, Phil.
Mod2: I think I'll start using heroin.
Mod1: Courtney Love said it makes you cool and moody.
Mod2: She certainly did. (Dies of overdose.)
Re:This is NOT funny... (Score:4, Insightful)
The Ukraine?
I have news for you. The Ukraine election was rigged by the US to put its puppet in charge to further its goals of forcing Russia and China back into a Cold War with the US.
No, I'm not joking. Read up on the Ukrainian challenger and who his supporters were and their connections to the US and Russian oligarchs.
There is NOTHING US citizens can do about the US government - unless they're prepared to pick up a gun - which they're not because they're too brainwashed and submissive after two centuries of bullshit about "American democracy". The state is the state and this is the way all states behave.
You want to do something about it. Advance the rate of technological progress - especially nanotech - so I can obtain the tools I need to provide a Final Solution to these morons.