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Wizards and Hobbits
By Bob Abooey (Fri May 12, 2006 at 07:07:03 AM EST) Lunch, Data Mining, music, underpants, CD burning, All this and much much more! (all tags)
Special Friday wrap-up diary

  • My friend downloaded a song called "East West" by the Paul ButterField Blues Band and woooo nelly, let me tell you, it's the schiznit. Well, if you like old skool bluesy music anyways. It's got this whole southern blues thing happening, complete with a blues harp and the whole 9 yards, then it changes over to this kinda 60's bluesy oriental zen kinda thing (hence the name East West heh) which sorta puts you in a trance. Damn, I sure picked the wrong day to quit taking LSD.

  • I fixed my audio CD burning problem by ratcheting down the speed of the burner. I set it to 8x which is probably too slow, but you know what they say, better safe than sorry. She works like an illegal Mexican immigrant at 8X so I'm gong to leave it there. Thanks be to God.

  • I just remembered that I got a bill from the regional tax collection agency and plum forgot to pay it. Rats. Now those pig fuckers will probably stick me with some outrageous penalty. I'm not real sure why I should be paying local taxes anyways, I thought it was only the land owners who were supposed to do that. The fucking serfs get screwed every time.

  • I'm having a lunch quandary. I'll probably end up getting the rigatoni stuff even I'm not real hungry for it. I could go to SubWaytm but I think I want something hot. Maybe a bowl of soup too. Hmmmm, I wonder what the soup de jour of the day is. Last week they had chicken noodle which was pretty good, even though the noodles were probably bad for me. Bah. Update [2006-5-12 12:25:14 by Bob Abooey]: - Chicken Gumbo is the soup del la day!! Woooo!! Chicken Gumbo!!! I'm soooooo there!!

  • Is anyone really surprised that the government is data-mining? I mean, really. The one thing I take umbrage with is Bush's statement that they've (The Man) prevented another terra attack since 9/11. It's a little known fact that I've been wearing the same pair of "terra repellent" underpants since 9/11 which means that I have been successful in stopping another attack, not the government, thanks be to God.

  • That's a wrap.
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You throw like a girl | 33 comments (33 topical, 0 hidden)
Is it surprising? by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #1 Fri May 12, 2006 at 07:14:05 AM EST
No...is it right?

I know I'm switching to QWest.

Interesting fact: if a company gives your records to the government without a warrant, it can be fined $1000. Per record.
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[ucblockhead is] useless and subhuman

What counts as a record? by DesiredUsername (2.00 / 0) #4 Fri May 12, 2006 at 07:31:21 AM EST
Is my entire file a record or is each phone call one? And can I get a cut of that fine?

I think the best of this whole story was CNN's headline yesterday: "Bush: YHNBT".

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Now accepting suggestions for a new sigline

[ Parent ]
My guess is that they're sending switch records by lm (4.00 / 1) #6 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:07:47 AM EST
Which would mean that everytime your phone sends a communication to the switch (a request for a dialtone, receiving a busy signal, hanging up, etc.) the government is getting the data. These are the records that most providers use for billing. I'd say that there is a small chance that they're using a consortium format (such as CIBER) which providers use to send call records back and forth to each other, but I'd bet that the feds prefer the raw switch data and to do the conversions themselves. Unless things have changed since I've last worked with CIBER records, (2000 or so) they're fixed width fields and lost a lot of information that would be interesting to the feds.

If I'm correct, it means that the feds also know everytime you started to dial a number and didn't finish because each of those dtmf tones hits the switch individually.

I used to work for a mobile device billing software. When software testing was my primarily responsibility I wrote some perl scripts to find call records that met the criteria that we needed to test. There is quite a bit of data in those records that many people don't realize at first. For example, the records identify the switch that created the record. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to search through the data and approximate not only who you were talking to on the phone but where you were when you were doing so.

I also heard a comp sci guy on the radio yesterday afternoon that the real value to the feds will come from building a network of individuals assocaited with ``bad'' numbers. You could, for example, build a list of everyone that regularly calls the NYC Democratic Club headquarters and all of the people that they regular call who've never called the headquarters but who are in regular phone contact with with more than one person who does.

The biggest concern for me is if the providers are also providing billing information. This would allow the feds to correlate addresses along with phone numbers.

I don't think that most people really understand the magnitude of this project.

Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]
I heard that same guy by DesiredUsername (2.00 / 0) #7 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:11:31 AM EST
I couldn't help but think what a fun problem it would be to work on, too.

Phone number to address correlation can already be done by existing databases.

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Now accepting suggestions for a new sigline

[ Parent ]
WIth regards to public records, yes by lm (2.00 / 0) #9 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:23:47 AM EST
But I'm specifically thinking correlating mobile phones to both billing addresses via subscriber records and actual addresses via switch locations which are in turn correlated with other numbers in the same location.
Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]
Number to address by ad hoc (2.00 / 0) #10 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:27:01 AM EST
you can already do that. You can by CDs with that information. Or just go to http://www.anywho.com/rl.html and do a reverse lookup. It's the same database.
--
Close friendships and a private room can offer most of the things love does.
[ Parent ]
For listed landlines, sure by lm (2.00 / 0) #12 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:29:22 AM EST
But public reverse lookups don't normally carry mobile phone billing addresses or unlisted numbers.
Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]
True, but those databases exist by ad hoc (2.00 / 0) #13 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:30:13 AM EST
and they aren't hard to get.
--
Close friendships and a private room can offer most of the things love does.
[ Parent ]
Worse than that by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #11 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:29:07 AM EST
Let say the guy who runs the 7/11 store, Addul, gets a call from his second cousin in Syria, Rachmani, who happens to have roomed with a member of Al Quidea while at the uni. So he's on the terra list.

The feds look at this and they then look at who Abdul called, and they then look at the list of who those people called etc etc, which could be you or me, even though we're in no way connected with the terra-ists. This could then lead to the Feds putting us on a "suspicious" list and possibly even monitoring our lives.

I would really like to know how they're weeding out who is a bad guy from who isn't from that list.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

[ Parent ]
I don't think that's worse by lm (2.00 / 0) #14 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:30:51 AM EST
But only because I imagine that it will happen with far less frequency. There are relatively few people suspected of terrorism, but the president's enemies are legion.
Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]
Actually, that doesn't worry me too much by DesiredUsername (2.00 / 0) #15 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:40:30 AM EST
I'm sure the traffic analysis guys get more evidence than "made a single phone to $X" before they put you into the suspicious pool. (although whether the political guys wait for evidence, particularly if they are under pressure to turn up some "guilty" parties, is another story)

I'm more or less ignoring the question of if the system is effective. Even if it is catching all and only terrorists, it is still illegal and the reason it is illegal is it will be abused even if it isn't now (sha, as though).

Once again, the question to the brainwashed nutjobs that would support Bush if he ate a live baby on TV is: "When Hillary Clinton is President, will she have the 'inherent authority' to track you and your fellow church members?"

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Now accepting suggestions for a new sigline

[ Parent ]
Right... That's the crux by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #16 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:48:31 AM EST
Politicians tend to focus on today, as opposed to what makes good sense in the long run. I was just thinking last night about how the right-wing would be reacting right now if William J Clinton was doing this instead of Bush. I'll give you dollars to donuts they'd be revving up the impeachment machine again.

What we really need is for someone to get wronged by this so we can take it to the courts. Ah, well, then again with all the Bush judges that may not even be a good thing.

re: I'm not so sure about the single-call theory. These terra guys who are in cells don't communicate with other cells on a regular basis (or so I understand, I have no first hand knowledge), so maybe one call out of the blue is just as important a metric as calling three times a week.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

[ Parent ]
Well apparently by DesiredUsername (2.00 / 0) #18 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:50:34 AM EST
Either they don't call either other at all or there are no terrorists in the US, because in 5 years how many vast terror plots have been uncovered?

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Now accepting suggestions for a new sigline
[ Parent ]
That's because they're short on translators by lm (4.00 / 2) #19 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:54:10 AM EST
If only they were able to translate the numbers that were dialed on those calls from Arabic to English, then they could have foiled 9/11.
Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]
Let me tighten that up a bit for you by DesiredUsername (2.00 / 0) #20 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:04:16 AM EST
"If only they were able to translate the numerals that were dialed on those calls from Arabic to Roman, then they could have voided IX/XI."

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Now accepting suggestions for a new sigline
[ Parent ]
Almost by lm (2.00 / 0) #21 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:07:58 AM EST
It's VIIII/XI.

The Romans never used the convention of using one of a lesser digit prior to a greater digit rather than four consecutive lesser digits. That was a modern innovation.

Aside from that, you're spoiling a perfectly good joke. You're supposed to play along, not get pedantic.

Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]
No, I'm making it funny by DesiredUsername (2.00 / 0) #22 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:15:25 AM EST
Also, I've heard of this supposed rule but irregardless "VIIII" is dumb.

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Now accepting suggestions for a new sigline
[ Parent ]
You only think that is dumb ... by lm (2.00 / 0) #23 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:16:30 AM EST
Because you're too dense to understand Nietzsche.
Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]
They're uncovering plots on a daily basis by Bob Abooey (4.00 / 1) #24 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:18:51 AM EST
That's why we haven't been attached since 2001.

They just don't tell us about it because it would be a risk to national security.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

[ Parent ]
Is that also why by DesiredUsername (4.00 / 1) #26 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:24:11 AM EST
you haven't told us about your terra repellent underpants until now?

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Now accepting suggestions for a new sigline
[ Parent ]
Wronged by ad hoc (2.00 / 0) #28 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:30:55 AM EST
It wouldn't make any difference. Just look at Wen Ho Lee.
--
Close friendships and a private room can offer most of the things love does.
[ Parent ]
The point being by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #30 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:44:35 AM EST
They can't test the legality of it in courts unless someone claims to have been wronged by it. At least that's my limited understanding based upon stuff I hear on NPR.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

[ Parent ]
But he's fighting TARISTS by ad hoc (2.00 / 0) #32 Fri May 12, 2006 at 10:25:01 AM EST
don't shackle The Man with things like legalities.

All's fair in love and war and by god, this is war!
--
Close friendships and a private room can offer most of the things love does.

[ Parent ]
Makes you wonder by Bob Abooey (4.00 / 2) #5 Fri May 12, 2006 at 07:33:45 AM EST
If the whole thing is leagal, taking phone records without a warrant that is, then why would they let Qwest say no??? Makes no sense.

History will not smile on these pig fuckers, or the right-wing nutjob rubes who voted them into office.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

[ Parent ]
Unfortunately by blixco (4.00 / 1) #8 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:21:58 AM EST
the threat of history rarely persuades evil men to change.  And it is hollow vindication at best.
---------------------------------
Taken out of context I must seem so strange - Ani DiFranco
[ Parent ]
helloooo SHAMROCK by LinDze (4.00 / 1) #33 Fri May 12, 2006 at 03:37:21 PM EST
Dosnt anyone remember the whole congressional hearing fiasco after SHAMROCK/MINARET came to light? Congress reiterated that the NSA isnt allowed to even look at a US Citizen without congressional approval. Furthermore the NSA isnt allowed to even cooperate with any domestic agency without congressional oversight.

The standing NSA rules are (were?) if either end point is in US territory they can not touch it. If either end point is suspected or plausibly a US citizen they cant touch it. So im real curious here as to what legislation slipped by me in the past few years that changed these rules. My guess is either A) nothing or B) a classified Executive Order.

Any, the kicker to all the statements is "and associates". This means theyre tracking anyone with any plausible connection to a previous suspect. So Mr Queda read K5 once? Now youre all "associates".

-Lin Dze
Arbeit Macht Frei

[ Parent ]
Indians by jayhawk88 (2.00 / 0) #2 Fri May 12, 2006 at 07:24:12 AM EST
So the Royals already a fifth of the way to 100 losses means I'm not paying a whole lot of attention to the AL Central yet this year, but are the Tribe really as bad as that Royals sweep would suggest, or was it just a fluke? I mean I know that probably no one is going to touch the White Sox this year, but I was under the impression that Cleveland had a decent shot at 2nd place at least?

We've got a few issues by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #3 Fri May 12, 2006 at 07:30:49 AM EST
We're scoring runs like a crack-head on payday (leading the league with 6 runs per game) but the pitching has yet to, uh, gel, as it were. Losing three to the Royales was a real blow. The fans have been going completely apeshit over the whole thing. Mass suicides, etc etc., it's been a tough week.

I think they'll get it worked out enough to finish in 2nd but the damn ChiSox look pretty tough again this year so 1st is out of reach. I'm upgrading the ChiSox from "possible fluke" to "likely the real deal" as they're not slowing down at all. Bastards.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

[ Parent ]
how long by LilFlightTest (2.00 / 0) #17 Fri May 12, 2006 at 08:49:21 AM EST
has it been since you've been to subway? they have this concept called the "toasted" sub...i dont know how they blast-heat those things, but they come out delicious.
Send me to Austria!
I went there on Monday by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #25 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:21:37 AM EST
Sometimes I go for the toasted bun thing and sometimes I pass. It depends how much of a hurry I'm in. Plus I hate having to stand there and look at the goofy Subway worker for 30 seconds while the blast furnace is toasting my food.

But yeah, it does seem to amplify the flavour.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

[ Parent ]
i just wondered by LilFlightTest (2.00 / 0) #27 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:26:38 AM EST
because you said you wanted something hot...
Send me to Austria!
[ Parent ]
Don't worry, Mr. Abooey... by superdiva (2.00 / 0) #29 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:41:31 AM EST
Cleveland Indians play Detroit Tigers tonight, and I'm positive Cleveland will get a win off Detroit.  Unfortunately the NBA is a different story.

_________________________________________________


For we are many....
The Tigres are better this year by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #31 Fri May 12, 2006 at 09:45:59 AM EST
Lots better.

Plus it's supposed to rain tonight so the game may be rained out.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob

[ Parent ]
You throw like a girl | 33 comments (33 topical, 0 hidden)

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