Monthly Archives: April 2006

Tales From Support Hell

Posted on April 4, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

We’ve all been there, and if we haven’t been there, it’s only a matter of time:

The Trademark Blog: True Story Re My Phone Service:

Me: This is the fourth day my firm hasn’t had dial tone.

Customer Service: Yes sir, because of the urgency we’ve elevated it to Business Class Support.

Me: What does that mean?

Customer Service: The Business Class Support tech will handle your trouble ticket. Unfortunately, he’s out today, however he’ll get to it first thing tomorrow morning.

Me: Wait, because you’ve elevated it, you can’t get to it today?

Customer Service: No sir.

Me: Can you lower its urgency, so you can get to it sooner?

Customer Service: Sir?

Me: Never mind.

(apologies for quoting the whole thing, but it’s just too perfect).

Posted in Shopping | 2 Comments

Great Internship Available

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

If you are a 3rd year (or LLM) student at UM who is bilingual (English/Spanish) and has an interest in technology law or IP please contact Janet Stearns for information about a really really good 12-month internship opportunity.

Posted in U.Miami | Comments Off on Great Internship Available

Strike Teach-in Wedneday 6pm

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Wednesday, April 5th, from 6-8pm in the Wilder Auditorium, Knight Physics Building there will be a teach-in “covering the legal, sociological, historical and economic context of the strike.” The announcement promises that “professors will speak and then engage in discussion with the audience.”

Speakers:
Evelina Galang (English) [Moderator]
Elizabeth Aranda (Sociology)
Robin Bachin (History)
Ken Casebeer (Law)
Bruce Nissen (Center for Labor Relations, FIU)

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Neutrinos Have Mass?

Posted on April 2, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

The BBC reports (March 31, not April 1) on findings that neutrinos have mass! If correct (the data seem to be at the edge of our ability to measure) then that is double plus ungood for the Standard Model, helpfully summarized by the BBC in this little chart:

In other science news, evidence that cell phones do cause cancer.

Posted in Science/Medicine | 3 Comments

SEIU Takes a Gloomy View of the Talks

Posted on April 2, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Renee Asher of the SEIU is distributing the following statement which takes a gloomy view of the otherwise secret talks going on at UM:

Statement of Clara Vargas
Janitor Representative, University of Miami
Friday, March 31, 2006

LET US DECIDE

I am disappointed today that we did not make more progress. I had high hopes for a settlement when the meeting was set.

But I knew we were in for a tough time today before I ever stepped into the meeting. UNICCO’s combative post this morning on their campaign web site universitytruth.com made it clear that they are not interested in listening to us, or what we have to say. Our message is clear, “Let us Decide,” what kind of vote to have.

There are more than 168 of us on strike now, and we are more committed than ever. By joining together we have already won a safer workplace, health benefits and better pay, and a seat at the table with the university and UNICCO.

I hope that when we meet again Tuesday, UNICCO will be prepared to hear us, and the university will be prepared to back us.

Anyone who thought one meeting was going to resolve this was dreaming…

Meanwhile, the talks will continue this week. Can’t hurt.

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EFF Blocked From Making Public Evidence of NSA Domestic Monitoring

Posted on April 1, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

This is dated March 31, so it’s not an April Fool’s joke:

EFF: Breaking News: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in its class-action lawsuit against AT&T today. However, much of the evidence that was to be included in the motion—as well as the legal arguments based on that evidence—was held back temporarily at the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ). While the government is not a party to the case, DOJ attorneys told EFF that even providing the evidence under seal to the court—a well-established procedure that prohibits public access and permits only the judge and the litigants to see the evidence—might not be sufficient security.

EFF’s motion seeks to stop AT&T from violating the law and the privacy of its customers by disclosing to the government the contents of its customers’ communications, as part of the National Security Agency’s (NSA’s) massive and illegal program to wiretap and data-mine Americans’ communications. The motion was supported by a number of internal AT&T documents that the government now claims might include classified information.

(This is.)

Posted in Civil Liberties | 2 Comments