Below The Beltway

I believe in the free speech that liberals used to believe in, the economic freedom that conservatives used to believe in, and the personal freedom that America used to believe in.

Archive for February, 2009

Facebook Responds To The TOS Uproar

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, February 17th, 2009. Filed under Facebook, Internet, Technology

The controversy I wrote about yesterday has led to this response from Facebook:
A couple of weeks ago, we updated our terms of use to clarify a few points for our users. A number of people have raised questions about our changes, so I’d like to address those here. I’ll also take the opportunity to explain [...]

Another Reason Getting A Tax Refund Isn’t A Good Thing

by Doug Mataconis @ Tuesday, February 17th, 2009. Filed under Economics, Politics

The government might just decide to delay your payment:
TOPEKA – Income tax refunds and state employee paychecks could be late after Republican leaders and the Democratic governor clashed Monday over how to solve a cash-flow problem.
Payments to Medicaid providers and schools also could be delayed.
“We are out of cash, in essence,” state budget director Duane [...]

All Your Facebook Belongs To Us

by Doug Mataconis @ Monday, February 16th, 2009. Filed under Facebook, Internet, Technology

There’s quite a storm brewing over recent changes to Facebook’s Terms of Service:
Facebook’s terms of service (TOS) used to say that when you closed an account on their network, any rights they claimed to the original content you uploaded would expire. Not anymore.
Now, anything you upload to Facebook can be used by Facebook in any [...]

Tonight On 24: Clash Of The Techno-Babes

by Doug Mataconis @ Monday, February 16th, 2009. Filed under 24, Television

In addition to the return of Aaron Pierce, it looks like tonight will finally see Chloe and Janis meeting face-to-face:
In most offices, having even one sarcastic, socially artless computer expert is barely tolerable. But on “24,” the Fox action serial, the collision of two acerbic, tech-savvy employees played by Janeane Garofalo and Mary Lynn Rajskub [...]

Now Auto Dealers Are Asking For A Bailout

by Doug Mataconis @ Monday, February 16th, 2009. Filed under Auto Industry, Business, Economics, Politics, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Auto dealers in Virginia and several other states are seeking protection from the state that would make the task of reforming America’s auto industry far more difficult and expensive:
WASHINGTON — Auto dealers in 13 states are pushing for new laws that manufacturers say would raise their costs for killing brands by billions of dollars.
Michigan is [...]

Michael Phelps Escapes Criminal Charges In Bong-Gate

by Doug Mataconis @ Monday, February 16th, 2009. Filed under Celebrities, Sports

It looks like Michael Phelps won’t be charged in connection with the now-famous photograph of him smoking from a marijuana pipe:
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina sheriff said Monday he was not going to charge swimmer Michael Phelps after a photo of the 14-time gold medalist showed him smoking from a marijuana pipe.
Richland County [...]

Most Americans Don’t Support Bringing Back The Fairness Doctrine

by Doug Mataconis @ Monday, February 16th, 2009. Filed under Barack Obama, Fairness Doctrine, Freedom of Speech, Individual Liberty, Politics

It’s difficult what to make of all the talk about the Fairness Doctrine these days.
On the one hand, we’ve got fairly emphatic statements from Obama and other prominent Democrats that they do not support bringing back this relic of 1970s era content regulation.
On the other, we’ve got statements from a number of top Democrats including [...]

The Most Paranoid Political Ad Ever

by Doug Mataconis @ Monday, February 16th, 2009. Filed under Dumbasses, Gay Marriage, Politics

This comes from a group trying to get an anti-gay marriage referndum on West Virginia’s ballot this year, and it’s just chock full of what can only be described as paranoid delusions about the so-called threat of same-sex marriage.
The ad takes a truly psychotic turn, though, at the 1:00 mark.

A Sign Of Just How Bad Things Are

by Doug Mataconis @ Monday, February 16th, 2009. Filed under Economics, Politics

You’ve got to admit that the world has turned upside down when Vladimir Putin is warning the West about trying the failed experiment his country is still dealing with:
Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister, launched a swingeing attack on Western financial rescue packages yesterday, calling for a new world order to reverse the financial crisis.
On [...]

Instead Of A Car Czar, We’ll Have A Car Politburo

by Doug Mataconis @ Monday, February 16th, 2009. Filed under Auto Industry, Business, Economics, Hillary Clinton, Politics

President Obama has apparently decided to forgo the Imperial Russian model for the Soviet one when it comes to the crisis impacting America’s auto companies:
WASHINGTON – It will take more than one “car czar” to help get the embattled U.S. auto industry back on track, President Barack Obama has decided. Instead, his administration is establishing [...]

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