…is that all 75 or so of those Tea Party 501(c)(4) applicants were approved anyway.
May you come to the attention of those in authority
If you’re doing something that is likely to lead to questions from law enforcement, maybe you shouldn’t be using a cellphone or other device to conduct your nefarious business.
Which leads to my First Principle of Criminality: They only catch the stupid and the slow.
Declan McCullagh: Apple deluged by police demands to decrypt iPhones (via Daring Fireball)
Amazon’s Latest Hustle
Hus•tle. \ˈhə-səl\ 1. n., the unique partner dance done in ballrooms and nightclubs to disco music.; 2. v., to sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity.
Scrip. /skrip/ n., a certificate to be exchanged for goods, as at a company store.
Amazon.com, like Microsoft before them with Microsoft Points, have rediscovered Company Scrip. We usually just call these schemes “gift cards” or “gift certificates,” but this one is different. Per the Terms of Use, the value is subject to change, there are no refunds, and it isn’t transferrable. So it is actually worse than scrip.
The lock-in continues. Amazon.com have announced a program called “Amazon Coins,” whereby you give them money and they give you credit to use to purchase apps and games. They haven’t included books and other goods in the program, but I’m sure that is only a matter of time.
This seems like a hustle to me. Then again, if you are using an Android device, you are used to being hustled.
I’ve provided two definitions for the word “hustle” at the top of this entry. Deciding which definition is appropriate for Amazon Coins is left as an exercise for the reader.