In which we compare CISPA to Rick Astley

Wherever you click, either CISPA or Rick Astley is there…

I’m studying up on CISPA for a segment on our webshow.  Even though you’ve heard CISPA and SOPA and PIPA and online privacy so many times it’s like an audible, political Rickroll….even so, you should give a great big rat’s ass.

Here is the cliff’s notes version of why:

1. The constitution says your stuff can’t be searched or taken by the government, without a proper warrant.
2. That’s good, because even if you’re an angel, your life shouldn’t be subject to scrutiny at a whim. Privacy matters.
3. As it stands, CISPA would not only allow, but ENCOURAGE, private companies to give all your data to the government.
4. The international intelligence agency side of the government, included.
5. And with very few (if any) restrictions, or even definitions.
6. That’s bad.
7. Go* to https://cyberspying.eff.org/ and take a couple of clicks to email your representatives.

*Feel free to read up more, first.

Want to read more about it?

Here are some outstanding sources:

• Abine: CISPA simply explained, and how it may affect your online life
• PCMag: Top 5 Biggest Concerns About CISPA
• ACLU: CISPA Explainer
• White House: Statement of Administration Policy on HR 6624
• USConstitution.net: The Fourth Amendment
• EFF: Action station

Happy days,
Jen McCown
http://www.MidnightDBA.com/Jen

P.S. Related Sinfest comic.

Remembering Alan Weber, @Aauugold

We lost someone this week. We lost a fellow SQL-ite, a Twitterer, a DBAs@Midnight chatroom live chatter. We lost someone smart and funny, and I’m not remotely qualified to write his tribute…I only met him once or twice.

Last week, we saw Alan enter the chatroom mid-show, and we said our usual “aaaaauuuuGOLD!”  He said he’d been out for surgery, and we all chatted about that a bit, and then went on with the show. Today we heard online, from folk in his user group, that he’d died. It’s just like that, sometimes.

We didn’t know Alan well, like I said. We were always happy to see him Friday nights. I know that somewhere, people are missing him. I’m sorry he’s gone. I’m sorry for their loss. Ours, too.

We’ll hold a small tribute in the preshow tonight at webshow.MidnightDBA.com. If you want, come by at 10:30 Central time and join us.

-Jen

The New MidnightDBA.com is live!

GUYS! GUYS! GUYS!!!  We’ve finally completed the MidnightDBA.com facelift that many of you have been begging (nagging, pining, etc.) for, for the last few years quite some time now.  The site is in early version, “just get it working right” mode. But you will notice:

• You can view MidnightDBA.com successfully in more than one version of more than one browser.
• MidnightDBA.com now works on mobile devices.
• Menus don’t play hide-and-go-click any more.

As Sean put it: we’re not sitting on our laurels, either. We’ve got some really cool stuff planned for the coming weeks.

Definitely check it out, let us know if you see anything major (or minor) wrong. And hey, why not tell us what you like, as long as you’re there?

Happy, happy days,
Jen McCown
http://www.MidnightDBA.com/Jen