krellor's recent activity
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Comment on TikTok makes app unavailable for US users ahead of ban in ~tech
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Comment on TikTok makes app unavailable for US users ahead of ban in ~tech
krellor Link ParentThat's a question, not a claim. Nor is it rhetorical. Those are all things that TikTok has done, which I supported with a link above. You mentioned League of Legends and others are just like...Interesting how you talk about supporting data while making this claim:
That's a question, not a claim. Nor is it rhetorical. Those are all things that TikTok has done, which I supported with a link above. You mentioned League of Legends and others are just like TikTok. I asked if they had these same issues.
I can find a driver license leak from the Israeli company they used for verification (also used by Uber, Lyft, and many others) not to "Chinese platforms" and nothing about SSNs.
Are you talking about league of Legends? If so, what's the point? That it is different from the TikTok situation? Because that was my point.
Well, yes, that's my point. Treatment should be consistent. I am arguing that the treatment is inconsistent and inspired in part by free speech suppression.
What data do you have to support or corroborate the claim that free speech suppression is the goal? What data do you have that there isn't a compelling public interest rooted in national security?
Perhaps other companies aren't being targeted because the scale and depth of data harvesting by TikTok, and the level of data leakage, truly is unique from other cases.
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Comment on TikTok makes app unavailable for US users ahead of ban in ~tech
krellor Link ParentPure speculation without supporting data. If you want to compare and contrast you need to pick one so we can see if there is a difference that makes a difference. Off the top of my head, I would...So, yes, it's on solid legal footing because of the data collection aspect, but it's merely an excuse.
Pure speculation without supporting data.
If you want to compare and contrast you need to pick one so we can see if there is a difference that makes a difference. Off the top of my head, I would look at scope, e.g. US player count, data collection practices, differences in privacy policy, weird behavior around obfuscated code, and past incidents of leaking sensitive data.
Has league of Legends been caught leaking US drivers licenses, SSN's, and alleged CSAM to Chinese platforms?
If a close look at these other companies shows they have the same concerning patterns of data collection, leaking, and obfuscation, then it seems as much as argument to force divestiture on them as well, as much as it is an argument against the TikTok ban.
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Comment on TikTok makes app unavailable for US users ahead of ban in ~tech
krellor Link ParentThe supreme Court rejected the governments argument around content manipulation. The large driving force of the law, and the grounds on which it was upheld in court, was to prevent the collection...The only thing I've heard people talk about are wild hypotheticals that are based around a direct conflict, or examples like yours which boil down to boosting content that says China isn't a nightmare dystopia.
The supreme Court rejected the governments argument around content manipulation. The large driving force of the law, and the grounds on which it was upheld in court, was to prevent the collection of data on Americans by a hostile adversary. The discussed scenarios included potential blackmail of future government officials who are currently in their teens.
Given that this is the country that sets up secret foreign police stations to police those of Chinese ethnicity like in NYC, in addition to numerous other abuses abroad, it feels like there is a difference between data being collected by Meta vs TikTok. It's also damning that the lead attorney for TikTok never disputed that the CCP could ask for the data.
All the show around housing the operations here are moot if the company still follows orders from ownership in China. And given that ByteDance has a shared services corporate model, TikTok very much is a Chinese company, unless it was completely spun out, which I haven't seen reported. And TikTok has a bad history already of leaking US data to their Chinese based platforms. This isn't a company that has demonstrated the kind of rigorous controls that could be trusted to withstand CCP pressure.
The law also only bans ownership by foreign adversaries:
(1) PROHIBITION OF FOREIGN ADVERSARY CONTROLLED APPLICATIONS.—It shall be unlawful for an entity to distribute, maintain, or update (or enable the distribution, maintenance, or updating of) a foreign adversary controlled application by carrying out, within the land or maritime borders of the United States
Those adversaries are defined as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela
China is a dangerous actor if you cross it. Treating the CCP like the threat they are seems reasonable in a national security context.
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Comment on It's official: My back is shot in ~talk
krellor (edited )LinkBest of luck. No exercise suggestions other than listen to your doctors, to a point anyway. I've been seriously injured a few times, and doctors have told me to be careful. I spent 18 months in...Best of luck. No exercise suggestions other than listen to your doctors, to a point anyway.
I've been seriously injured a few times, and doctors have told me to be careful. I spent 18 months in and out of crutches and wheelchair when I was younger with serious knee issues. I've had many other breaks, sprains, and orthopedic issues. I competed in open martial arts tournaments and did a lot of climbing and mountaineering without being careful of my joints like I should have. I also injured my back rowing master crew. Ah, youth.
After the surgeries, losing weight and regular, non-exacerbating exercise has kept me going ever since. I figured out what activities I can do without hurting my injuries, including the ones that hurt me in the first place. You can do quite a bit if you can control the movements, and keep yourself fit so the stabilizing muscles protect everything. Now, if I stop exercising the pain comes back, especially the back and knee pain.
So hang in there. Just because doctors are telling you something doesn't mean you can't find a way to manage your fitness and health to do the things you enjoy.
That said, being deliberate about what you enjoy, what you are capable of, and what choices maximizes your joy in life is part of aging gracefully. If you really can't do something without hurting yourself further, find a new joy that you can.
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Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech
krellor Link ParentWell, we will see! It will be an interesting world on Monday.Well, we will see! It will be an interesting world on Monday.
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Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech
krellor Link ParentIt would require getting 31 Republican senators plus a handful of Democrats to change their vote. But the house would be even more of a challenge I think given the number of votes that would need...It would require getting 31 Republican senators plus a handful of Democrats to change their vote. But the house would be even more of a challenge I think given the number of votes that would need to change there.
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Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech
krellor Link ParentSubjective assessment, so take it for what's that's worth. It's hard to get anything through Congress, so inaction isn't a bad starting bet. The bill has good bipartisan support. Trump may have...Subjective assessment, so take it for what's that's worth.
- It's hard to get anything through Congress, so inaction isn't a bad starting bet.
- The bill has good bipartisan support. Trump may have changed his mind, but that is different than thinking it is important enough to make a legislative priority and displace other actions.
- It happened on Biden's watch, so even if it gets unpopular, it's a useful tool to blame the Democrats with.
- Trump has already alienated a number of Republican legislators, including the now former chair of the house intelligence committee, and the margins are razor thin.
My eight ball says unlikely, unless the Republicans think it will become a midterm issue. That would be enough to get them all lock step, even the ones Trump has pissed off. Trump's remarks today also seemed cagey, giving him time to see where the wind from the fallout blows.
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Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech
krellor Link ParentThat would require Congress to amend the law. Which may happen, but I'm doubtful.That would require Congress to amend the law. Which may happen, but I'm doubtful.
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Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech
krellor Link ParentThe statue of limitations for civil infractions of the law is five years with a penalty of $5,000 per user. Even if Trump said that enforcement would be suspended, the next president could enforce...The statue of limitations for civil infractions of the law is five years with a penalty of $5,000 per user. Even if Trump said that enforcement would be suspended, the next president could enforce those penalties. I don't see Apple or Google taking that risk. I suspect the app will stay removed, and the platform dark in the US until the law is changed (if the law is changed).
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Comment on Kids at-home science experiments (of the less tame variety) in ~science
krellor LinkI used to do science experiments with scouts when my kids were younger. The favorite was always the calcium carbide balloons. Order a small jar of calcium carbide, which will come in small pieces....I used to do science experiments with scouts when my kids were younger. The favorite was always the calcium carbide balloons. Order a small jar of calcium carbide, which will come in small pieces. Put a piece inside a balloon, add a little water, and quickly tie the balloon shut.
The water and calcium carbide create an exothermic reaction that produces acetylene gas. The kids can hear the hissing of the reaction, feel the warmth of it through the balloon, and see the balloon inflate. Then, holding the balloon stem with tongs, hold the balloon over a candle at arms length to create a small fireball as the acetylene gas ignites.
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Comment on I need some help with the sciency bit of my short story in ~creative
krellor Link ParentIn that case it would likely first be noticed as it made small impacts to the orbits of comets and planetoids at the outer shell of the solar system. Good luck with the book!In that case it would likely first be noticed as it made small impacts to the orbits of comets and planetoids at the outer shell of the solar system.
Good luck with the book!
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Comment on I need some help with the sciency bit of my short story in ~creative
krellor LinkTo make a short answer out of a long one, it depends on how fast the ship is. If faster than light, so not based on real physics, then it can be detected once it stops moving at light speed, plus...To make a short answer out of a long one, it depends on how fast the ship is. If faster than light, so not based on real physics, then it can be detected once it stops moving at light speed, plus the time it takes light to travel from that point to earth.
If less than light speed, then once it is close enough for its gravity to have affected something we monitor, like an outer planet or planetoid. Gravity effects will propagate forward from the ship at the speed of light. So I would suggest in this scenario, that the first sign of it is from detected anomalies in the orbits of distant planetoids around the sun.
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Comment on Ohio woman sues hospital, medical staff, city, and police after being arrested for miscarriage in ~society
krellor LinkUnfortunately, it isn't an uncommon problem for women to be reported for drugs administered by hospitals. Hospitals Gave Patients Meds During Childbirth, Then Reported Them For Positive Drug Tests...Unfortunately, it isn't an uncommon problem for women to be reported for drugs administered by hospitals.
Hospitals Gave Patients Meds During Childbirth, Then Reported Them For Positive Drug Tests
However, this case seems to have a more personal and conspiratorial element to it. I can certainly see how a "I'm just doing my job" mentality by hospital staff and a lack of coordination between the left hand and the right could lead to a standard after-care chart review that reports on a drug screen. Which is bad.
But this Ohio case makes it sound like there is some sort of personal element here. Unfortunately, with my past work as a child advocate, I saw a lot of ugly behavior in hospitals and small minded people. Not sure what set things in motion here but if this goes to court I bet I could predict some of the testimony from the nurse in question.
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Comment on New York starts enforcing $15 broadband law that ISPs tried to kill in ~tech
krellor Link ParentHey, I learned something new! Back when I was a system programmer on z/OS mainframes we used octet and byte because of different platform implementations, but I've not seem octet used outside of...Hey, I learned something new! Back when I was a system programmer on z/OS mainframes we used octet and byte because of different platform implementations, but I've not seem octet used outside of that.
Thanks for sharing!
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Comment on New York starts enforcing $15 broadband law that ISPs tried to kill in ~tech
krellor Link ParentDid you mean Mb/s? I don't know an Mo/s, and I ran network engineering teams for years. Honestly, oif I was going to tweak how things are presented to the public, it would be to standardize on...The only unit anyone is going to see when using any piece of software is Mo/s, so why keep this annoying way to speak about it ?
Did you mean Mb/s? I don't know an Mo/s, and I ran network engineering teams for years.
Honestly, oif I was going to tweak how things are presented to the public, it would be to standardize on MB/s not Mb/s. Giving customers the rate in byte's puts it in the same scheme as they are used to with disk space. Expecting the public to even know to adjust by a factor of 8 is crazy.
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Comment on Prospect Medical Holdings files for bankruptcy in US after owners took hundreds of millions in payouts in ~health
krellor Link ParentPrivate equity is one of those things where you really only hear the horror stories. Private equity helps a lot of good businesses, but that isn't a story. So we only read about the vultures.Private equity is one of those things where you really only hear the horror stories. Private equity helps a lot of good businesses, but that isn't a story. So we only read about the vultures.
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Comment on Spain plans 100% tax for homes bought by non-EU residents in ~society
krellor (edited )LinkI'll be curious to see how it unfolds. I wonder if they will structure it to prevent an outside party from locally incorporating. If forming the Spanish equivalent of an LLC is as easy to do as in...I'll be curious to see how it unfolds. I wonder if they will structure it to prevent an outside party from locally incorporating. If forming the Spanish equivalent of an LLC is as easy to do as in the US, then anyone with the means to buy foreign properties for income could easily form a local LLC to collect rent and pay taxes, and shield the owner. Structuring it to enforce taxes on purchases made by non-EU owned local business could become difficult to enforce.
Enforcing the taxes for all non-primary residences or for any property intended to be rented would be simpler to enforce, but would rile up local owners. I.e., voters and bloc partners.
Edit: changes foreign to non-EU.
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Comment on Prospect Medical Holdings files for bankruptcy in US after owners took hundreds of millions in payouts in ~health
krellor LinkI know the bar to do so is quite high, but someday I'm going to get the satisfaction of seeing the court pierce the corporate veil and make a private equity owner liable for business debts...I know the bar to do so is quite high, but someday I'm going to get the satisfaction of seeing the court pierce the corporate veil and make a private equity owner liable for business debts following a takeover and cash extraction. In this case since the hospitals will continue to operate under chapter 11 and this will just allow an orderly restructuring of debt, there is little need to do so. But someday one of these owners will step too far and under capitalize the business enough to make it happen.
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Comment on There is no safe word: How the best-selling fantasy author Neil Gaiman hid the darkest parts of himself for decades in ~books
krellor LinkThis was a fairly icky read all things considered. I don't follow celebrities personal lives, so wasn't aware of Gaiman's background as a child within scientology. It sounds like he may have...This was a fairly icky read all things considered. I don't follow celebrities personal lives, so wasn't aware of Gaiman's background as a child within scientology. It sounds like he may have internalized some unhealthy things and gone on to abuse others, enabled by his celebrity and money. But who knows.
I wish the best for the victims of abuse and hope they get to a healthy point in life.
I read through the links, and I'm sure there are some lawmakers who dislike TikTok for many reasons, including their perceptions of it serving up biased information on the Israel Hamas war. Your links show that just fine.
That doesn't make it the explanatory reason for why national security staffers pushed this effort for years, starting before the war in the middle east. Additionally, it is now Trump who is looking for a way to create an extension for the sale of the platform, a Republican.
So I agree that the reasons for individual lawmakers is varied, and includes reasons I would disagree with. But those bad justifications don't undo the national security argument or explain the past decisions of TikTok and the corporate structure of ByteDance.
Cheers!