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Thread ID: 41151	2003-12-31 21:19:00	Probably OFF TOPIC - Forget Microsoft - fear the US government	Mike (15)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
204569	2003-12-31 21:19:00	:D On the same day the media was bogged down with images of Saddam Hussein being searched for head-lice, a new provision to the Patriot Act was signed into law by the President. Quietly tucked away in an intelligence spending bill, the changes broaden the ability for the FBI to obtain financial records from any number of sources with what opponent say is little accountability. - Under the Patriot Act, ISP's and network administrators can give the green light to government surveillance of computer networks without a judicial order, without informing the person monitored, without Judicial oversight, without reporting the tactics to congress; all while essentially eliminating many of the rights of the person being monitored. These controversial portions of the act aren't well discussed at the 'cheerleaderesque' website developed by the DOJ. Recent analysis of the website by the Center for Democracy and technology claims the website "provides misleading, incomplete and, in some cases, incorrect information." Among other statements, the DOJ claims that "Peaceful political organizations engaging in political advocacy cannot be considered terrorists under the PATRIOT Act's new definition of domestic terrorism." Not necessarily true, says the CDT, who notes that all someone needs to do to acquire the label of domestic terrorist is violate an existing law "involving risk of serious injury." That could include blocking traffic at a protest, or accidentally harming someone during a struggle. Like most hotly debated legislation, it's the loose wording of the Act, leading to potentially significant abuses, that gives privacy advocates cause for concern. Mike.	Mike (15)
204570	2004-01-02 12:27:00	The US of A is pulling out all bungs in reguards to the 11/11 thing. They are talking about having air marshalls onboard carrying weapons. All you need is some nutter to get that weapon off the marshall and all hell breaks loose. I am with the airline pilots in that it is better to have no weapons aboard. Most people don't realise how many freedoms they may loose because of this paranoia. I recently read a book by a retired CIA man (1997) and he puts the blame for the 11/11 squarely on the fact that just about all survailance is done these days using electronics whereas a man on the ground can give far more info.	mikebartnz (21)
204571	2004-01-02 20:08:00	Apart from the iniquities and mendacity of the US govt which we well know are multifarious, you give your location (no doubt the FBI, CIA et al have it recorded as well) as around Hairini near Tauranga. 37°43'27.9436S 176°10'03.1426E Most of us might superficially think we get this sort of thing from our GPS, but mine only gives 3 decimal places in the minutes, seemingly accurate to about 1.85 metres but fact only gives tolerable accurace to within about 8 metres (I don't think the WAAS satellite setup works in NZ). You give 4 decimal places in the seconds, which gives your position to within about 3mm, close enough for the CIA. Your desk probably moves by more than this from vibration when you start up your computer. Do you have a real real real accurate GPS, or a laser surveyor, or is it just to fool the CIA (or maybe Microsoft)? Or maybe it's just the man on the ground giving more info..............	rugila (214)
204572	2004-01-03 04:12:00	:D > Apart from the iniquities and mendacity of the US > govt which we well know are multifarious, you give > your location (no doubt the FBI, CIA et al I have nothing to fear of anybody but raving lunatics and reckless boy racers. I have nothing to hide. > have it recorded as well) as around Hairini near > Tauranga. If you could find a website that let you enter in more decimal places, you'd find the (approx - meaning I couldn't be bothered finding the exact) centre of my house. > 37°43'27.9436S > 176°10'03.1426E > Most of us might superficially think we get this sort > of thing from our GPS, but mine only gives 3 decimal > places in the minutes, seemingly accurate to about > 1.85 metres but fact only gives tolerable accurace to > within about 8 metres (I don't think the WAAS > satellite setup works in NZ). > You give 4 decimal places in the seconds, which gives > your position to within about 3mm, close enough for > the CIA. Your desk probably moves by more than this > from vibration when you start up your computer. Do > you have a real real real accurate GPS, or a laser > surveyor, or is it just to fool the CIA (or maybe > Microsoft)? rugila, if PressF1 would give us the option of displaying our occupation, you might understand a little more ;) And BTW, I do work for the Government (that is the government in NZ, not the US :p) The CIA can ask me whatever they want to know. They'll probably get the facts clearer if they did so... that is, if they could ever be bothered looking into a boring young fellow like myself. Microsoft couldn't care less. They make money out of me, enough not to worry... and not enough to worry ;) > Or maybe it's just the man on the ground giving more > info.............. Maybe it's just the man on the ground having a little more information to give ;) Mike.	Mike (15)
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