information rights in the "cloud"

Cloud file saving is at an all time high. It provides simple and easy access to stored information from all your devices but there are lingering problems with the cloud. More and more people are becoming concerned with their privacy and right to information stored on the cloud. Even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak “I think it’s going to be horrendous. I think there are going to be horrible problems in the next five years,” he opined on a trip to Washington. “With the cloud, you don’t own anything. You already signed it away… the more we transfer everything onto the web, onto the cloud, the less we’re going to have control over it.”  Critcism of the cloud isn't new Back in 2008, the founder of the Free Software Foundation, Richard Stallman, called the adoption of cloud-based systems “worse than stupidity… a marketing hype campaign.” By uploading information to cloud servers you essentially give up all right to the information In the words of Douglas Heaven, writing in New Scientist, “a digital file exists as a state of matter… rather than matter itself.” Your information is not a piece of property in any legal sense. There are some ways to avoid the cloud while still having a backup to your files. The service SocialSafe currently offers is the automatic copying of all your cloud content to your own computer – to be held by you no matter what happens online, and browsed or analysed at your own convenience. The service covers the gamut of social media, from Twitter to Facebook via Instagram and LinkedIn. But by the end of next year, it plans to cover categories of data ranging from purchase histories and utility bills to financial and health data 

Senate votes to end some filibusters on presidential nominees

This thursday the senate voted to weaken filibusters and make it harder for Republicans to block confirmation of the president's nominees for judges and other top posts. The vote ended up 52-48 and took a shot at the system of checks and balances that enables the minority party to hold nominations made by the president they don't see as qualified. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was quoted saying that Republican gridlock has prevented the chamber from functioning. Which is quite humorous coming from the leader of the senate who has yet to pass a budget in 6 years. Blaming a minority party for the lack of anything productive being done just to enable a consolidation of power is not what America was founded for. 

scientist kill oldest known animal.

Ming, an ocean quahog from the species Arctica islandica, was initially thought to be a record-setting 402 years old. But scientist who found it on a seabed by Iceland say after further analysis it was actually an astounding 507 years old. The researchers, who didn't realize how old Ming was when they first found it, opened the ancient clam up to judge its age by counting growth rings inside its hinge ligaments. scientist Paul Butler attempted to justify this by saying the rings on the inside should were better "protected" as it turned out the on the inside were so close together they had to count the ones on the outside to be accurate anyways so they killed the oldest known animal for no reason. 

I thought I was having a bad week until I read about Toronto's Mayor

Rob Ford the mayor of Toronto has recently admitted to cocaine and marijuana use and drunk driving while mayor. As well as an obscene outburst in an interview about the drug use and an alleged sexual harassment issue. Toronto city council voted to take his control of the Toronto budget process and requested him to step down but have no power to remove him. Ford says he is now getting help form medical professionals and has maintained he will not resign and will run for re-election in October 2014. This is a story you couldn't even make up its so ridiculous. There is absolutely no reason he should be able to hold office.

6 tons of ivory crushed as Government outsmarts itself

On thursday U.S. officials crushed 6 tons of ivory tusk, jewelry and carvings seized at ports and border crossings over the past 25 years. These stockpiles of ivory fuel the demand. We need to crush the stores of ivory worldwide," said agency director Dan Ashe. One thing i would ask Mr.Ashe is how does ivory held by the The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in any way fuel demand for more poached ivory? Also what exactly does crushing the ivory do to stop poaching compared to selling the already poached ivory for 50 cents on the dollar to under cut demand and pricing for the new ivory being poached every day? Then using that money to start a reserve in Asia or Africa to protect more elephants. Seems like a lot of back patting by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for them not actually doing any thing constructive to protect the living elephants and walrus being poached. 

Big ten Legends division title race

The race for the chance to be the Legends representative for the Big ten championship is heating up as there are only three teams left. Michigan state is in the drivers seat as they are undefeated so far in conference play. Nebraska is second right now with one conference loss but have a huge opportunity to take control with a win at home next saturday vs. the spartans. In third is Minnesota who is a long shot with 2 conferences losses already but do hold the tie breaker over Nebraska and end the regular season with a game against Michigan st. If they win out and Nebraska or Michgan st stumble in one of their three reaming games they could be playing to win their first big ten title since 1967. I think Michigan st is the favorite even though they face a tough road game against Nebraska who they have lost to the previous two seasons because even if they lose there, Nebraska still faces Penn st on the road and hosts Iowa on Black Friday both of which will be difficult games for the cornhuskers.

Pollution catching up to China

According to figures published by state run  Xinhua news agency, lung cancer cases are up 50% over the past decade in the Capital city Beijing. They still say smoking is the leading cause for this increase but did admit that significant air pollution likely played a role as well. I believe it played a major role in lung cancer as well as other respiratory related diseases. It doesn't take a scientist to realize that when air pollution is thick enough to look like a fog its not good to breath that in. In just about any other industrialized country outside of India, there are strict laws on air pollution that are heavily enforced. This does not seem to be the case in China where it seems economic growth and  and industrialization have pushed the well being of many Chinese citizens into the back seat which is unfortunate.