Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Privacy Work-Around

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

From PogoWasRight.org:

In 2003, the chief librarian of the city of Santa Cruz, Calif., was able to warn her patrons about whether the FBI had served a National Security Letter (NSL) demanding information about who was reading what books. She managed that task despite specific provisions in the USA Patriot Act at the time that prohibited librarians or booksellers from revealing to anyone that they'd been issued an NSL.

So, how did the librarian get the word out? By regularly reporting to the library board that no NSL had been issued to any of the city's 10 branches, which was perfectly legal. Everyone knew that if the chief librarian failed to report that nothing had happened, then indeed an NSL had been served.

I like it. Better yet, it would be hard to legislate around this workaround…

Posted in Law: Privacy | 4 Comments

April 15 Approaches

Posted on April 12, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

tax woesI've been doing my taxes today. And undoubtedly tomorrow.

I believe that taxes are the price of civilization, but did they have to make TurboTax even less fun to use than it was last year?

I suppose I could offload the hassle to an accountant, but given that I'm fairly careful about claiming what I can claim — but don't believe in pushing the envelope — I can't believe one would save me enough money to justify the expense unless they went too far.

Posted in Econ & Money, Software | 2 Comments

But I Don’t Have Any Dumb Friends

Posted on April 11, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Scholars and Rogues, How to win the Iraq war debate against your dumb friends.

Recently I was arguing with one of my dumber friends about the Iraq war. He loves Bush and thinks bigger bombs is the answer in Iraq. I wasn’t gaining any ground in the argument until I used a simple analogy. I said, “Your solution is like shattering an expensive vase and then saying, ‘We need to keep smashing it until it’s fixed.’”

I stumped him. He was silent. So here’s a brief list of other analogies you can use on your dumb friends. And the truth is, I’ve seen similar ones work on some of the smartest political pundits.

Actually, I'm not sure if I know anyone who supports the war any more, although I know people with varying views about how one extricates from it. If they do support it, they're awful quiet about it. Statistically, you'd expect there would be a number in the student body, but then I don't spend that much time talking politics with students. Maybe I should?

Posted in Iraq | 4 Comments

Running the Tables

Posted on April 11, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

This may be the World's Most Amazing Trick Shot! at pool, although myself I had no idea that you could use giant dominoes and ramps, not to mention multiple tables. (Warning to Francophones: the effect is somewhat spoiled by the inane and sexist commentary).

(spotted via boing-boing)

Posted in Completely Different | Comments Off on Running the Tables

FISA: GOP Giving Up?

Posted on April 10, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Glenn Greenwald, Have Republicans given up on FISA and telecom amnesty?

This is the first time in a long time that right-wing fear-mongering on Terrorism hasn't succeeded. Given that virtually everyone (including me) assumed that the Congress would ultimately enact the new FISA bill demanded by Bush, it demonstrates that smart strategies combined with intense citizen activism can succeed, even when the Establishment — its lobbyists, Congressional representatives and pundits — lines up in bipartisan fashion behind their latest measure. And it removes the Democrats' principal excuse that they cannot resist Bush's Terrorism demands without suffering politically.

We won?

Incredible!

Posted in Law: Privacy | Comments Off on FISA: GOP Giving Up?

Berkeley Wants to Tell You Jokes

Posted on April 10, 2008 by Michael Froomkin

Inside UC Berkeley's joke recommendation system

Posted in Completely Different | Comments Off on Berkeley Wants to Tell You Jokes