Year: 2006

Disappearing posts and Gremlins

picuture of the gremlinOh the mysteries of databases, the internet, and blogging. How can a post show up after you publish it and 12 hours later just be gone? I know it was there. I know it was published. It had a page id number, the page showed up on the search engines.

There were only 5 visits to this small unknown site between the publishing and the disappearance of the post. I have reposted the article and we shall see what happens this time . . .

I detest Gremlins. Perhaps they are not mystical creatures after all.

Is Your Internet Provider CALEA Compliant?

What is the Communications Assistance For Law Enforcement Act?
From the CALEA website:

In October 1994, Congress took action to protect public safety and national security by enacting CALEA. The law further defines the existing statutory obligation of telecommunications carriers to assist law enforcement in executing electronic surveillance pursuant to court order or other lawful authorization. CALEA is codified at 47 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1021.

History of the Act

On March 10, 2004, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) filed a joint petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting that CALEA’s be expanded to cover communications that travel over the Internet. Broadband providers would be required to rebuild their networks to make it easier for law enforcement to tap Internet “phone calls” that use Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications , and online “conversations” (Instant Messengers).

On August 9, 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to the Law Enforcement joint petition. It greatly expands the reach of CALEA by redefining what constitutes a “substantial replacement” of the telephone service, concluding that broadband Internet access providers and managed VoIP systems are subject to the requirements of CALEA

On August 5, 2005, the FCC announced a Final Rule, expanding CALEA to Internet broadband providers and certain Voice-over-IP (VoIP) providers.

Now you have an idea (if you did not already) what the Act is. I just want to know if this have an effect on my Xbox.

Catfish Needs New Hiking Boots

It is getting closer to hiking season. The problem is, Annie chewed up my set of boots. Little sisters can be such a pain. So, I am putting in my request for a new set. Here is a set I think would serve me well:

yellow muttluk boots

Last year I kept getting sap stuck up in the fur between my toes. The time it took my humom to remove it carefully using olive oil was not my idea of fun. It is bad enough that the stuff gets stuck in my coat, but, the feet are the worst.

Who’s Helping the NSA?

Who’s helping the NSA

Ever wonder if your IP is giving it up to the Bush administration. Here is a list from a CNET article on the subject.

CNET News.com asked telecommunications and Internet companies about cooperation with the Bush administration’s domestic eavesdropping scheme. We asked them: “Have you turned over information or opened up your networks to the NSA without being compelled by law

Here is the list of the companies and their responses:

Adelphia Communication Declined comment

AOL Time Warner No [1]
AT&T Declined comment
BellSouth Communications No
Cable & Wireless* No response
Cablevision Systems No
CenturyTel No
Charter Communications No [1]
Cingular Wireless No [2]
Citizens Communications No response
Cogent Communications* No [1]
Comcast No Cox Communications No
EarthLink No
Global Crossing* Inconclusive
Google Declined comment
Level 3* No response
Microsoft No [3]
NTT Communications* Inconclusive [4]
Qwest Communications No [2]
SAVVIS Communications* No response
Sprint Nextel No [2]
T-Mobile USA No [2]
United Online No response
Verizon Communications Inconclusive [5]
XO Communications* No [1]
Yahoo Declined comment

* = Not a company contacted by Rep. John Conyers.
[1] The answer did not explicitly address NSA but said that compliance happens only if required by law.
[2] Provided by a source with knowledge of what this company is telling Conyers. In the case of Sprint Nextel, the source was familiar with Nextel’s operations.
[3] As part of an answer to a closely related question for a different survey.
[4] The response was “NTT Communications respects the privacy rights of our customers and complies fully with law enforcement requests as permitted and required by law.”
[5] The response was “Verizon complies with applicable laws and does not comment on law enforcement or national security matters.”

The Article at CNet

By Declan McCullagh and Anne Broache Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: February 6, 2006, 4:00 AM PST