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Politech is the oldest Internet resource devoted to politics and technology. Launched in 1994, the Politech mailing list has chronicled the growing intersection of law, culture, technology, and politics. Since 2000, so has the Politech web site.

Politech offline -- thank you, Apple Computer

Dear Politech subscribers,

If you've been wondering why the list has been basically silent since the weekend of August 7, there's a good reason: Apple Computer.

I switched from a Sony Vaio to a Powerbook 15" G4 laptop in February, and love it. Even though an OS X machine is tricky to use with CNET's Windows environment, the struggle has been worth it. (I've had a Mac off and on since a 512K "Fat Mac" in 1985 or so, and a NeXT in the early 1990s, but have been buying PCs for the last 7 years.)

Then my Powerbook died three weeks ago. I dropped it off at the Apple store in Clarendon on August 8. Apple has had it since then -- 19 days and counting -- with no end in sight.

Today's not-very-helpful report is that the Powerbook needs a new logic board, which is "on a ship somewhere," according to Apple. They have no idea when it'll arrive. Given that the Pacific Ocean is a large place, I'm hardly hopeful.

Having a computer out of service for three weeks is unacceptable. Sony typically provided me with 5-10 day turnaround time. (And yes, I did buy AppleCare, though the computer would still be under warranty without it.)

Making the lack of a laptop especially acute is that I've been on the road constantly: in Aspen for the last 8 days and leaving Monday for over a week in Palo Alto and San Francisco and then South Africa (I'm happy to meet up with Politech folks during either trip).

If Apple wants to be taken seriously in the business world, then it has to get serious about technical support. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's having these problems.

Posted at 2004-08-27 12:08:19 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "politech" (Permalink)


Homeless have no right to Post Office boxes

From a 9th Circuit opinion dated August 12, 2004...

CARL A. CURRIER; DAVID BAR; WILLARD JOHNSON; SEATTLE HOUSING AND RESOURCE EFFORT, a Washington non-profit corporation, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. JOHN E. POTTER,* Postmaster General of the United States, individually and in his official capacity; DALE E. ZINSER, Seattle District Manager of the United States Postal Service, individually and in his official capacity; UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, Defendants-Appellees.

These homeless persons experienced various difficulties when they attempted to take advantage of these services. The Postal Service denied Bar and Currier's request for postal box rental because they lacked physical addresses. Even after Currier submitted an identification card issued by a homeless shelter, he was still not permitted to rent a box. Johnson was allowed to rent a box after providing his driver's license. They were all told that they were ineligible for no-fee postal boxes and that they could receive general delivery service only at the Main Post Office...

Currier challenges the Postal Service's general delivery and no-fee postal box regulations on First Amendment and equal protection grounds. He asserts that the Service's provision of general delivery mail service at only Seattle's Main Post Office--rather than at the 32 branch offices in the greater Seattle area--violates homeless persons' First Amendment right to receive mail...

Because we conclude that the challenged regulations are reationally justified and thus do not violate equal protection, we are satisfied that the Service has also not breached its statutory mandate.

Posted at 2004-08-17 08:28:08 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "freespeech" (Permalink)


Florida court rules on disclosing SSN violates state constitution

Here's an excerpt from a recent court opinion from the Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District (Case No. 2D02-4018):

FRED A. THOMAS and JOY S. THOMAS, Appellants, v. JIM SMITH, in his capacity as Property Appraiser of Pinellas County, Florida; DIANE NELSON, in her capacity as Tax Collector of Pinellas County, Florida; and JIM ZINGALE, in his capacity as Executive Director of the State of Florida, Department of Revenue, Appellees.

August 13, 2004, Opinion Filed

Fred A. Thomas and Joy S. Thomas (the Taxpayers) appeal the circuit court's order dismissing their fifth amended complaint with prejudice. The Taxpayers argue that section 196.011(1)(b), Florida Statutes [*2] (1997), which requires disclosure of the Taxpayers' social security numbers as a condition of obtaining a homestead tax exemption for their residence, violates their right to privacy under the Florida Constitution, the Privacy Act of 1974 (the federal Privacy Act), and the Equal Protection Clauses of the Florida and the United States Constitutions. We conclude that the circuit court's dismissal of the Privacy Act and equal protection claims is supported by the record, and we affirm the circuit court's order without further discussion to the extent that it dismissed those claims with prejudice. However, we agree with the Taxpayers that the circuit court erred in dismissing with prejudice their claim for an alleged violation of their right to privacy under the Florida Constitution. Therefore, we reverse the dismissal of the Taxpayers' fifth amended complaint in part, and we remand this case for further proceedings. [...remainder snipped...]

Posted at 2004-08-17 08:08:04 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "privacy" (Permalink)


Is Buffy the Vampire Slayer "indecent?" FCC decides...

An excerpt:

The November 20, 2001 episode involves a scene depicting Buffy kissing and straddling Spike shortly after fighting with him. Based upon our review of the scene, we did not find that it is sufficiently graphic or explicit to be deemed indecent. Given the non-explicit nature of the scene, we cannot conclude that it was calculated to pander to, titillate or shock the audience. Consequently, we conclude that the material is not patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium.

The link:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/atta...

Posted at 2004-08-17 08:00:05 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "freespeech" (Permalink)


Mexican cops get themselves chipped

Read the full Politech article here:
http://www.politechbot.com/2004/08/16/mexi...

Posted at 2004-08-16 00:00:00 by Declan McCullagh
(Permalink)


ACLU denounces FBI plans to spy on, harass political protesters

Read the full Politech article here:
http://www.politechbot.com/2004/08/16/aclu...

Posted at 2004-08-16 00:00:00 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "free-speech" (Permalink)


Photograph a bridge, get interrogated by Feds

Read the full Politech article here:
http://www.politechbot.com/2004/08/12/phot...

Posted at 2004-08-12 00:00:00 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "free-speech" (Permalink)


Australian ISP employee on booting customers for infringements

Read the full Politech article here:
http://www.politechbot.com/2004/08/12/aust...

Posted at 2004-08-12 00:00:00 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "intellectual-property" (Permalink)


Mark Kernes of AVN on recent obscenity case

Read the full Politech article here:
http://www.politechbot.com/2004/08/12/mark...

Posted at 2004-08-12 00:00:00 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "free-speech" (Permalink)


An odd reply to Politech post on church linking lawsuit

Read the full Politech article here:
http://www.politechbot.com/2004/08/12/an-o...

Posted at 2004-08-12 00:00:00 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "free-speech" (Permalink)


Ontario cities can install redlight cams, keep $$$

Read the full Politech article here:
http://www.politechbot.com/2004/08/12/onta...

Posted at 2004-08-12 00:00:00 by Declan McCullagh
in Politech category "privacy" (Permalink)


Was GAO study on court system removed from the web?

Read the full Politech article here:
http://www.politechbot.com/2004/08/12/was-...

Posted at 2004-08-12 00:00:00 by Declan McCullagh
(Permalink)


Older Politech articles

Three replies on Big Brother chatting with your doctor
posted at 2004-08-12 00:00:00 in category privacy

DOJ steps up obscenity prosecutions with "Susie's Corral" case
posted at 2004-08-11 00:00:00 in category free-speech

Wiretap-happy Verizon "sorry" to lose privacy-conscious customer
posted at 2004-08-11 00:00:00 in category privacy

Irwin Schiff's PayNoIncomeTax.com gets no help from 9th Circuit
posted at 2004-08-10 00:00:00 in category free-speech

Big Brother is now talking to your doctor?
posted at 2004-08-10 00:00:00 in category privacy

ACLU report on the "surveillance-industrial complex" released
posted at 2004-08-10 00:00:00 in category privacy

Canada's RIAA wants to force Internet providers to boot pirates
posted at 2004-08-10 00:00:00 in category intellectual-property

Update on church linking case: Gag order reportedly issued
posted at 2004-08-10 00:00:00 in category free-speech

Latex clothes website runs afoul of Paypal prudishness
posted at 2004-08-10 00:00:00 in category free-speech

FCC votes 5-0 for Internet wiretapping; Verizon applauds
posted at 2004-08-10 00:00:00 in category privacy