Police State

People have legal ways of defeating internet surveillance. Use encryption, VPNs, Tor, etc. They have ways of defeating cell phone surveillance. Use encryption and take battery out of your phone. But people have no legal way of defeating license plate camera tracking.

FBI blocks release of autopsy of man associated with Boston Marathon bombing suspects who was killed by an FBI agent during questioning.

"Although the autopsy on Ibragim Todashev was completed July 8 and "ready for release," the FBI "has informed this office that the case is still under active investigation and thus not to release the document," Tony Miranda, forensic records coordinator for Orange and Osceola counties, wrote in a statement Tuesday. The statement cites a Florida statute that bars the release of autopsy reports during criminal investigations.
The ME's office said it would contact the FBI every month for authority to release the report.
An FBI agent killed 27-year-old Todashev in his Orlando apartment during questioning related to the bombings and an unsolved triple murder in Waltham, Mass., two years ago. The agency and the Justice Department are conducting an internal investigation."

The killers are investigating themselves. More like they're figuring out how to cover up their murder. It seems to me the Orlando police should be investigating this as a murder.

Great analysis of Snowden's impact on the world.

Here's a good response to people who criticize Snowden for the countries he entertains as protectors.

"If you were drowning, and someone jumped in the water to save you, and that someone turned out to be a person whose moral integrity was less than stellar, would you stop him (or her) before being lifted out of harm’s way in order to harangue them with a stern lecture?"

The man is running for his life. Any port in a storm.

"In short, from a historical perspective, Russia is moving in the direction of more freedom. Contrast this with the US and Britain, both of which are moving away from their own liberal political tradition and toward a more authoritarian model. "

China is also moving towards freedom.

"A final note: I wouldn’t assume the Russians will grant Snowden’s asylum bid: indeed, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Putin got tired of the whole airport show, and decided to hand him over to the Americans in exchange for some favor. In that case, I wonder if those who are now caviling over Snowden’s Russian sojourn will hold the American government to the same high civil libertarian standards they insisted on applying to Snowden. Here, after all, is the leader of the so-called "Free World" employing the assistance of an alleged autocracy in apprehending Snowden and delivering him into the waiting arms of the FBI. Indeed, the reputed "leader" of the "Free World" personally called Putin, and asked for his assistance in returning the famed whistleblower to the US. Oh, but that kind of collaboration with tyrants is just fine and dandy, because …"

Because hypocrisy.

Small town in Colorado will vote on allowing hunters to shoot down drones.

"“’A six-page petition circulated by a resident says that the threat of surveillance from drones — regardless of who is piloting them — is a threat to ‘traditional American ideas of Liberty and Freedom’ enjoyed by Deer Trail’s ‘ranchers, farmers, cowboys and Indians, as well as contemporary citizens.’ Therefore, drone incursions are to be seen as acts of war.” Oh, indeed! And even better, “the Town Clerk Kim Oldfield … [said] that [Phillip] Steel[, who created the petition,] collected ‘way more’ than the signatures needed to bring the idea to a vote in a special election…”"

I hope it passes.