Software Soapbox

Albert Snyder vs Westboro Baptist Church - the answer is in the facts, or lack thereof

For those of you who haven't heard, there's a small group of protesters jostling for attention at many military funerals these days.  And the protests are attention-getting in the worst way - on the surface the wording of the placards they carry appear to be celebrating military deaths.  This video sums up the situation well.

Of course there's the obvious reaction from any sane person - that these people claim to be Christians, but that Jesus, even the non-religious historical Jesus, was a celebrator of life, and by all accounts saddened by any unnecessary or untimely death.    And let's put aside the way that these people are preying on their undeserving victims in what has to be the darkest days of their lives. 

For now, let's focus on the legal case.

Here's a bit of a taste of what the sentiment was in the courtroom today and what the justices are wrestling with.  I'll get to my ideas for a solution on the other side:

The difficulty of the constitutional issue was palpable in the courtroom as the justices weighed the case of Albert Snyder. His son died in Iraq in 2006, and members of a family-dominated church in Topeka, Kan., protested at the funeral to express their view that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are God's punishment for American immorality and tolerance of homosexuality and abortion.

Margie Phelps, arguing the case for her family's Westboro Baptist Church, said the message of the protests at military funerals and elsewhere is, "Nation, hear this little church. If you want them to stop dying, stop sinning."

via news.yahoo.com

Of course I'm not a lawyer, but these very well-qualified lawyers seem to have some issues with this, so I'll add my .02 - Let's see proof!

How about if the Westboro Baptist Church is guilty and has to accept the lower court's verdicts, unless they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that god hates America and the killing would stop if we stop sinning.  Perhaps, for example, there was a time or place in history when people were without sin or nobody innocent died?  If so, let's see the verifiable facts, and Westboro is off the hook.

Otherwise, if these people are spreading hateful speech (and lower courts have already decided they are) and harming the families of recently deceased veterans with allegations that they can not prove, then I don't think that free speech should be a viable defense.  Freedom, with responsibility is the way I like my America....

Private Medical Insurers make the case for Public Health Care in the USA

A rate hike for the few — until it's you - Yahoo! News.

WellPoint defended the hike as a response to the economy. More consumers are tight on money and, as a result, those who are younger and healthier are dropping out or taking on pass on individual insurance, leaving a pool of less healthy people requiring more costly care. Without younger, healthier consumers, Anthem said, the remaining customers had to shoulder the costs of their own care.

Mozilla Removes Two Malicious Firefox Add-Ons

via InformationWeek.

The malicious add-ons have been identified as version 4.0 of Sothink Web Video Downloader and all versions of Master Filer. According to AMO's blog post, Sothink Web Video Downloader 4.0 included malware known as Win32.LdPinch.gen, while Master Filer included malware known as Win32.Bifrose.32.Bifrose Trojan.

How to stop a Kidde 1276 smoke detector from chirping

After replacing the battery and trying all the steps I could find online, here's what worked:

1) Separate the plug from the smoke alarm unit. 
2) Remove the battery
3) Throw the alarm unit against a hard surface as hard as you can.
4) Dispose of the unit in a soundproof container
4) Go to your local hardware store and buy a new unit, install. 

If you're stupid enough to buy a replacement Kidde unit, keep a second unit on hand for when this unit fails and starts chirping, usually within 30-60 days, and always in the middle of the night.. 

If it's another brand, just replacing the backup battery will probably fix the problem.

Kindly Revert

In my inbox today....I get a few of these a week:

Greetings to you...

Looking out for Lotus Notes Professionals with Exchange Server – 5+ years!!!

This position is open with one of the CMM Level 5 Companies

Kindly revert with your word resume if you are keen in this opportunity as it is a very challenging position.

Thank you

Too late!  I reverted yesterday.

I can't think of anything I've EVER seen that's more ripe for a parody.....

This is truly amazing. Is IBM marketing working for Microsoft now? Speechless....

I predict this to rapidly become the most parodied video in YouTube history.,...It's the only way to deal with the pain of actually watching it all the way to the end.  I couldn't.

XBRL Job Spam - Candidate must be able to take a beating while typing 140 WPM

Lots of XBRL Job Spam today - probably 30 posts for the same job in Houston on the boards.

This jumped out at me:

** Contractors will be required to work 7 days a week. 12 hours Monday * Friday and 8 hours Saturday and Sunday until August 14th.  There is potential for the project to be extended 90 days.

They forgot to add "should you survive the first 2 weeks"...

I've often worked this schedule, but as an exception, to get the job done, not the rule. 

XBRL Consultant jobs - Dice.com.

** The client is looking for 3 XBRL Consultants to build, edit and identify, and address issues with XBRL Taxonomies. ** All candidates must be experienced with XBRL computer code and building and edit taxonomies. ** Looking for candidates with 3 * 5 years experience. ** Candidates must be CPAs ** Contractors needed to start ASAP and available until August 14th. There is potential for the project to be extended 90 days. ** Contractors will be required to work 7 days a week. 12 hours Monday * Friday and 8 hours Saturday and Sunday until August 14th. ** Candidates must be local to Houston, TX

Amazon applies for patent on 1-click customer forfeiture

TechCrunch Chronicles why Amazons deletion of books from the Kindle without the purchaser's consent  may not just be an Amazon issue....and BTW, great publicity for this "feature", which seems tailor-made for hackers.....

This remote deletion issue is an increasingly interesting one. Last year, Apple CEO Steve Jobs confirmed that the company has a remote “kill switch” to remove apps from your device if it thinks that is necessary.

Family to recover body of killed Canadian boxer

via Yahoo! News.

Gatti, born in Italy but raised in Montreal and a naturalized Canadian citizen, lived in the United States with his wife and son.

Note to Air Canada - It's not good to spam your customers

Recently, I booked a couple of tickets to Montreal on aircanada.com.  Basic internet booking stuff, select flights, pay, select seats, email me a confirmation.

Except I never did get a confirmation.  Or my seat selection email, as promised. 

I know the email works and they have the right address, because a few days later I get this:

Brian Benz,

Thank you for your recent flight purchase at aircanada.com.

Want to stay informed about the latest travel news and special deals? Watch for these popular emails, sent to the address you provided at the time of purchase

Note the wording there - "Watch for these popular emails, sent to the address you provided at the time of purchase" - nothing about me agreeing to these "popular emails". 

Note to Air Canada - spam is not "popular" with me, or anybody I know. 

And I'm still waiting for my confirmation emails, as promised.