In a unanimous vote, the US Supreme Court decided that cell phones are protected from unreasonable search and seizure. The ruling underscores the privacy concerns of various organizations, groups, and individuals who brought the suit to the high court.
Law enforcement organizations will now be required to have a search warrant issued by a court before they can examine the data on an individual's cell phone. The Court acknowledged that a cell phone is more than a phone but also an individual's data bank and deserves protection from the prying eyes of police and the government.
This could be the first of many decisions related to personal computers and private record keeping technology that has become so pervasive in our society and the world in general. In light of the revelations of NSA data mining, the Court has taken steps to deal with advancements in personal electronic instruments and privacy.
Bravo Supremes
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Putin, the USA, and BNP Paribas Settlement
Old Vlad the Mad made some great comments this week, relative to the BNP settlement with the US Dept. of Justice. He claimed the US was trying to force France into reneging on the sale of the 2 new naval vessels to Russia. These two ships, amphibious craft capable of delivering men and equipment on any accessible shore, would expand Russia's reach in the Med, the Black Sea, and nearby locations(Levant).
By insisting that France/BNP pay up, perhaps the French would give up the ship transfer. Well, the bank paid, and the ships are still going to Russia. Obviously, the Pentagon gave the go ahead, figuring the Russians don't have a clue about amphibious warfare anyhow. It's a concept whose time has passed.
But Vlad, being mad, he likes to hear his comments and keep his name out there. He is trying to deflect scrutiny for his Crimean Adventures of Summer,2014. Russians like summers: no snow and they can move around, maybe go to the beach and take their tops off. Sochi? Odessa? Sevastopol?
Mean while, back in Ukraine
Petro Poroshenko has unleashed his troops. These Kiev fighters are learning the ropes of active combat. After a few weeks of ojt(on the job training), they'll be a much worthier opponent of the rabble of eastern Ukraine, those makeshift wannabes who depend on Vlad the Mad for support. Many would be Russians have left Ukraine for Russia, hoping to be met with open arms, lots of rubles, housing and school for little Rasputin.
You gotta love how Russians think.
By insisting that France/BNP pay up, perhaps the French would give up the ship transfer. Well, the bank paid, and the ships are still going to Russia. Obviously, the Pentagon gave the go ahead, figuring the Russians don't have a clue about amphibious warfare anyhow. It's a concept whose time has passed.
But Vlad, being mad, he likes to hear his comments and keep his name out there. He is trying to deflect scrutiny for his Crimean Adventures of Summer,2014. Russians like summers: no snow and they can move around, maybe go to the beach and take their tops off. Sochi? Odessa? Sevastopol?
Mean while, back in Ukraine
Petro Poroshenko has unleashed his troops. These Kiev fighters are learning the ropes of active combat. After a few weeks of ojt(on the job training), they'll be a much worthier opponent of the rabble of eastern Ukraine, those makeshift wannabes who depend on Vlad the Mad for support. Many would be Russians have left Ukraine for Russia, hoping to be met with open arms, lots of rubles, housing and school for little Rasputin.
You gotta love how Russians think.
Pancakes: Meeks Bay
Meeks Bay Fire Volunteers are holding their annual Pancake Breakfast this Saturday and Sunday. Held at the firehouse on Highway 89, it's a nice way to get out of cooking for a crowd. And, you can meet some neighbors and make some friends. And, proceeds go for a good cause.
Grill opens at 8am.
Grill opens at 8am.
Argentina: Pay Up or Else
After full page ads by the country's chief executive, Kristina Kirchner, financial gurus are trying to assess the Argentine's next move. 30 days from Monday(the cooling off window), Argentina will again default on international bond payments . The US court has ordered the country to pay holdout bond holders from the 2001 holdouts.
Try as she might to wiggle out of these payments, the bill is due and payable on her desk. Not an enviable position for someone with several years to go on her current term in office. Maybe if Lionel scores a few goals this weekend, the fans will look the other way for a week or so. Don't bet on it, given the current rate of inflation, running 25-50%/yr.
Populist Peronism: not so popular today, even among the city dwellers of Buenos Aries.
Try as she might to wiggle out of these payments, the bill is due and payable on her desk. Not an enviable position for someone with several years to go on her current term in office. Maybe if Lionel scores a few goals this weekend, the fans will look the other way for a week or so. Don't bet on it, given the current rate of inflation, running 25-50%/yr.
Populist Peronism: not so popular today, even among the city dwellers of Buenos Aries.
BNP Paribas: Update
BNP published a full page ad yesterday in the WSJ. In effect, we acknowledge the mistakes made, etc.etc.
Our Open letter in response to Jean Laurent Bonaffe,CEO.
We the citizens of the USA reject your public statements as nothing more than cheap banker's blather. As a key link in the global financial world, BNP Paibas has indicated that it places profit above ethics and moral fiber. Despite warnings, legal opinions, and plain common sense, your company did its best to hide significant business with sovereign nations sanctioned by iternational bodies and allied countries(USA).
The fine of 8.9 billions of dollars is a light slap on the wrist administered by weak-kneed bureaucrats in the US Dept of Justice and Treasury Dept. The fact that you will not have to add to reserves clearly indicates same.
Your actions discredit your nation. your citizens, and your international reputation. Coupled with your government's sale of 2 Mistral amphibious ships to Russia indicate that you, as a culture, actively flaunt world opinion, all for profit and status.
You have done nothing to enhance the standing of France anywhere in the Western world.
Our Open letter in response to Jean Laurent Bonaffe,CEO.
We the citizens of the USA reject your public statements as nothing more than cheap banker's blather. As a key link in the global financial world, BNP Paibas has indicated that it places profit above ethics and moral fiber. Despite warnings, legal opinions, and plain common sense, your company did its best to hide significant business with sovereign nations sanctioned by iternational bodies and allied countries(USA).
The fine of 8.9 billions of dollars is a light slap on the wrist administered by weak-kneed bureaucrats in the US Dept of Justice and Treasury Dept. The fact that you will not have to add to reserves clearly indicates same.
Your actions discredit your nation. your citizens, and your international reputation. Coupled with your government's sale of 2 Mistral amphibious ships to Russia indicate that you, as a culture, actively flaunt world opinion, all for profit and status.
You have done nothing to enhance the standing of France anywhere in the Western world.
Tahoma Now
The Beaches: Full . Campgrounds: full. Boat trailers:empty. Gelateria: waiting lines. Ahhhh, Summer.
The Mayor stopped at Tahoe House for a coffee at about 9:15am: madness-parking lot jammed, and worse, most baked goods were sold out!
But, we were able to get in and out of the market before the real crowds descended on Tahoe City.
NORFOLK HOTEL: Update
I talked with some workers who were hard at it on the job and they said the job is going silent after the weekend. The crew is returning to Placerville until October. This news was later confirmed by the project manager that I talked with while in TC. Then, I ran into the Meeks Bay FD office manager and she mentioned a possible permit oversight.
So, despite progress, a little speed bump. As an aside, the Norfolk sits across the county line: it resides in Placer county so the inspector(s) come from Auburn/Tahoe City and the fire inspector is from North Tahoe Fire(for sprinklers,etc.)
Sluchak Park
Saurday evening: Live music as part of the July live music series. Also, TCPUD informed the HOA that the park must comply with ADA access laws. Now the Tahoma Cedars property owners have a decision to make: buy it or not. Could be interesting.
The Mayor stopped at Tahoe House for a coffee at about 9:15am: madness-parking lot jammed, and worse, most baked goods were sold out!
But, we were able to get in and out of the market before the real crowds descended on Tahoe City.
NORFOLK HOTEL: Update
I talked with some workers who were hard at it on the job and they said the job is going silent after the weekend. The crew is returning to Placerville until October. This news was later confirmed by the project manager that I talked with while in TC. Then, I ran into the Meeks Bay FD office manager and she mentioned a possible permit oversight.
So, despite progress, a little speed bump. As an aside, the Norfolk sits across the county line: it resides in Placer county so the inspector(s) come from Auburn/Tahoe City and the fire inspector is from North Tahoe Fire(for sprinklers,etc.)
Sluchak Park
Saurday evening: Live music as part of the July live music series. Also, TCPUD informed the HOA that the park must comply with ADA access laws. Now the Tahoma Cedars property owners have a decision to make: buy it or not. Could be interesting.
USA: Sooooo close.
The World Cup ambitions of Team USA were dashed by the Belgium side Tuesday. The USA goalie, for 90 minutes, kept the Europeans scoreless. Then, in overtime, 2 goals were put up. The USA answered with only 1. Was it close? Of course. But the number of saves by the USA goalie speaks volumes. He set a record for a USA team in World Cup.
Jurgen Klinsmann can accept the results and maybe see a bright future. But, as the front page photo of team member Germaine Jones shows, it's not easy to accept defeat after training so hard, and playing so long on a foreign pitch in Brazil.
Maybe next time. This weekend, the 4th of July holiday weekend, there will be 4 great contests at the quarter final stage. Watch it.
Jurgen Klinsmann can accept the results and maybe see a bright future. But, as the front page photo of team member Germaine Jones shows, it's not easy to accept defeat after training so hard, and playing so long on a foreign pitch in Brazil.
Maybe next time. This weekend, the 4th of July holiday weekend, there will be 4 great contests at the quarter final stage. Watch it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)