House holds hearing on/in Second Life

The House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing Thursday on virtual worlds which was simulcast in Second Life. There were all sorts of ridiculous questions posed, particularly those that focused on how Second Life was policing its site from terrorists. Despite their apparent ignorance on the subject, several committee members took the [...]

Telecoms spending big on Capitol Hill

In an obvious development, it turns out the telecom industry has been quite generous to members of Congress these past few years. One could make the case that this compromises Congress’ objectivity in regards to FISA extensions — the so-called ‘Protect America Act — with telecom immunity.
The 68 senators who voted “yes” on the legislation [...]

FISA: It’s the emails

It is now official: the fight over FISA extensions is not about phone conversations — it’s about internet data.
At a Monday breakfast sponsored by the American Bar Association, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Kenneth Wainstein remarked that the fight over the eavesdropping bill actually centers on US interception of email.
“In response to a [...]

Are We Rome?

The following is a timely passage from the book Are We Rome? by Cullen Murphy.

In 68 B.C. a pirate attack on Rome’s port of Ostia prompted the terrified Romans to cede far-reaching powers to one man, Pompey. There would be no turning back. The need to act boldly and react quickly; to ferret out enemy [...]