I promise not to be naughty

[andygates]

Believe it or not, this is an actual slab of boilerplate I have to agree to.  For what edgy, hardcore product?  Biospoo synthesis?  Quant codebases?  HEAP guns?

A backup driver. 

Srsly.

By using this server, I hereby certify that I am not a citizen, national or resident of, and am not under the control of, the government of: Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria, nor any other country to which the United States has prohibited export. I will not download or otherwise export or re-export the Programs, directly or indirectly, to the above mentioned countries nor to citizens, nationals or residents of those countries. I am not listed on the United States Department of Treasury lists of Specially Designated Nationals, Specially Designated Terrorists, and Specially Designated Narcotic Traffickers, nor am I listed on the United States Department of Commerce Table of Denial Orders. I will not download or otherwise export or re-export the Programs, directly or indirectly, to persons on the above mentioned lists. I will not use the Programs for, and will not allow the Programs to be used for, any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, for the development, design, manufacture or production of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction.

Comments

[jarkman.livejournal.com]

I wonder if it is actually possible to know the answer. For example, how can you tell if you or any of your co-workers are on the list of Specially Designated Nationals ?

[andygates.livejournal.com]

The easiest device I could make working at a hospital is a radiological dispersal device - raid the LINAC bunker for anything with hazard stickers, stuff it in a Will It Blend? blender and wrap around some home-made kaboom.

That's not covered! Its not nuclear! So I'm safe - once I get out of Paddington Green in 42 days (assuming no rendition via Chivenor, Keflavik and Somegodforsakenland for a little happy not-torture) - once I get out of that, I'll be safe from punitive suits against me by my backup provider.

Madness.

[jarkman.livejournal.com]

Actually, there is a simpler way.

If I read the boilerplate properly, they have not asked you to promise not to give the backup software to persons who are under the control of the Axis of Backup. As long as they aren't citizens, nationals, or residents, of course. Seems like a bit of a loophole.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, that story. Lots of ways to interpret stats, and the Daily Mail is a classic contrarian rag.

That "expensive shoes are bad" meme is a popular one (thick with self-righteous conspiracy goodies and nuggets of smugness); a similar study of British squaddies showed that there was no relation between price, but there was a relation between *age* of a running shoe. Modern shoes are designed for about 500 miles, so they're a consumable that doesn't last more than a year. If you have expensive shoes and aren't wealthy, it's tempting to keep 'em longer.

The fivefingers are lots of fun. In fact, I'm off for a first training run in 'em tonight...

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

How do you know if you're not under the control of a prohibited country? They might have brainwashed you! You might be an involuntary sleeper agent!

[andygates.livejournal.com]

ZzzzzZZZZZzzzzzkillmaimzzzzzZZzzzz....

[jarkman.livejournal.com]

Oh - this may entertain you in a fivefingery way:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html