cb.blog

Author: Chip Bennett

  • Facebook, Beacon, and Privacy Rights

    Recently, social networking site Facebook has undergone intense scrutiny and backlash for the implementation of its third-party advertising system called Beacon.

    For those unaware of the Beacon application, here’s a brief primer. Beacon is a JavaScript application used by third-party web sites (such as epicurious, travelocity, blockbuster, etc.) in conjunction with Facebook. The third-party website implements JavaScript code that sends certain data to Facebook. These data may include movies rented at Blockbuster, recipes searched at epicurious, or travel plans booked on travelocity. The websites send these data to Facebook, and if the user of the third-party website can be identified as a Facebook user, the data are published in that user’s update feed.

    Without re-hashing the explanations given elsewhere, see here for more technical details of the application. Others have listed the third-party websites that have implemented Beacon.

    You may be asking yourself why you should care; well, here’s why: these third-party websites are sending your personally identifiable user data to Facebook – whether or not you are a Facebook member (as is demonstrated by the previous link explaining the technical details).

    It appears that much of the scrutiny has been on Facebook’s implementation of the application, and the site’s publishing of user-identifiable data. That scrutiny was much-deserved, and Facebook has made significant changes both to the implementation of Beacon and to their privacy policy. In fact, Facebook users can now opt-out of the application entirely – at least on the Facebook side.

    However, it appears to me that a lot of heat has been placed on Facebook, and not enough on the third-party websites. While it is somewhat more comforting to know that Facebook will not publish user-identifiable information without my approval, the fact remains that all those data are still sent from the third-party websites to Facebook. If those data are tied to a user who has opted out of the application, Facebook has simply indicated that it will discard, not save, and not publish those data.

    While I think Facebook has handled the implementation of Beacon poorly, I have a far greater problem with the third-party websites, who have implemented the Beacon application without any notice to or prior approval from its users. (In fact, one lawyer has speculated that Blockbuster is in clear violation of a law that prohibits the release of movie rental data.)

    Facebook would certainly be in the wrong for publishing such data without user permission; however, the third-party websites that gather and send those data to Facebook have committed a far more egregious wrong. Sending to a third party data about my purchases and other activities without my permission has to be a clear violation of any worthwhile privacy policy.

    Personally, I don’t have a problem with the Beacon application; I only oppose its current implementation. Websites should be free to implement the application, but it should be done openly, and in an opt-in manner. If BrandNameWebsite wants to implement Beagle, and send data about my purchases to Facebook, it should give prior notice to its users, update its privacy policy, and require users to opt-in to having their data collected and sent.

    Fortunately, you have options to control your experience with the Beagle application. As mentioned previously, you can opt-out entirely on the Facebook side. You can also use various browser plug-ins to notify you of websites using the Beagle application and to block the application altogether. (Websites that use the application put a few lines of JavaScript code into their website. That code makes a remote call to a known directory on the Facebook website. The plugins work by detecting and/or blocking the URL for the JavaScript code on the Facebook website.)

  • Winter Storm – Water Main Break

    How’s everyone dealing with the little winter storm that is coming through the midwest? We’re expected to see a total of 6-8 inches of snow.

    Oh, and we have no water.

    We apparently had a water main break here at the apartment complex. I called the emergency maintenance number about an hour and a half ago to report a sharp decrease in water pressure. I was told that I would get a call back from maintenance, but never did. So, I just called back, and was told about the water main break, and that it would take maintenance 8-10 hours to fix.

    Good thing we keep plenty of water in the apartment. Of course, I really don’t appreciate not getting a call-back on the issue, considering the winter storm we’re undergoing.

    UPDATE: Our water has been restored.

  • Representative Julia Carson (D-IN) Dies

    The Indianapolis Star is reporting that Democrat Julia Carson, US Representative for the Indianapolis area, has died, mere weeks after announcing that she would not seek re-election due to her failing health, including apparently terminal lung cancer. Rep. Carson was 69.

    While I believe that the people of Indianapolis would be better-served by a representative less staunchly liberal, I would never have wished ill will or ill health on Rep. Carson. May she rest in peace, and may God be with her family in this time of loss.

  • Grandma Carrie, Rest in Peace

    I received some very unexpected news this week, when my mom emailed me to say that my Grandma Carrie had passed away.

    Carrie Pilant wasn’t my biological grandmother, but she was, in my mother’s words, the only real mother that my mother knew. Some of my oldest memories are of visits to see Grandma Carrie and Papaw Wayne “down on the farm” – from my dad’s hunting trips (even the ones he let me go with him), to playing in the fields with my “cousins”, to Sundays – with church service at Friendly Grove, a big Sunday dinner back at the house, and an afternoon nap.

    Grandma Carrie had suffered through various health issues in recent years, but from all accounts, her passing was unexpected. Unfortunately, it was so sudden that I was unable to coordinate the time off from work to attend her funeral, which took place Thursday.

    I don’t know what more to say right now, other than that I haven’t really lost my grandma; she has just gone home. If anyone loved the Lord, she did; and now she is with Him for eternity. I sympathize the most with those in her family on whom she had such a profound impact.

    Rest in Peace, Grandma Carrie.

  • Fascist Nanny State in Nebraska

    Unbelievable:

    Rush talked about the atrocity committed in Nebraska, in which the State removed a five-week-old baby from the home of his parents for a week, in order for the baby to undergo state-mandated blood tests. The parents objected to the testing on religious grounds, so the state prosecutors went to a judge and then sent armed sheriff’s deputies to the house to remove the baby.

    The baby, still nursing from his mother, was placed in foster care not only for the blood to be drawn, but also to await the return of the results of the bloodwork.

    Hey, Nebraska: do you remember the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States?

    Such blatant disregard for the First Amendment is the very reason we have the Second Amendment.

  • Haunted Fraternity House

    Here’s one for my mother-in-law: the fraternity house in which I lived while in college is haunted. The Terre Haute Trib-Star writes about it every so often; here’s the latest. Here’s a little background from the article:

    [The] fraternity house was part of a several-building complex for the former Vigo County Home for Dependent Children, which was also known as the Glenn Home. The orphanage was created in 1903, though the “main building” was constructed in 1896, and still survives, a Web site dedicated to the Glenn Home’s history reports.

    Several buildings were replaced through the orphanage’s tenure, which lasted more than 75 years. It finally closed in 1979, and many of the buildings later became part of Pi Kappa Alpha’s property.

    And then the legends began.

    Here is the Glenn Home History website.

  • Colts-Pats Analysis After Week 7

    (Or: Shutting Up Tony Cornhole)

    So, are the Pats really dominating more than any other team in the league? From listening to the sycophants analysts, one would think so. However, that analysis may not be true.

    Using the team-offense and team-defense stats available on NFL.com, I compared how each team has performed relative to their opponents.

    Patriots Through Week 7

    The Pats are ranked 1 in scoring offense at 39.9 ppg, and 10 in scoring defense at 17.1 ppg.

    The Pats’ opponents have a combined record of 17-28 (average record of 2.4-4), their offenses score an average 23.8 ppg, and their defenses give up an average 26.7 ppg.

    Discounting each team’s game against the Pats, those teams have a combined record of 17-21 (average record of 2.4-3), their offenses average 24.6 ppg, and their defenses give up an average of 23.9 ppg. This “composite” team would rank 8 in offensive scoring and 24 in defensive scoring.

    Against the Pats, these teams scored an average of 17.1 ppg and their defenses gave up an average of 39.9 ppg.

    Thus, relative to their opponents, the Pats have held their opponents to 7.5 ppg less than their average, while scoring 16 ppg more than their other average.

    Colts Through Week 7

    So how do the Colts compare?

    The Colts are ranked 3 in scoring offense at 32.2 ppg, and 6 in scoring defense at 15.8 ppg.

    The Colts’ opponents have a combined record of 20-18 (average record of 3.3-3), their offenses score an average 19.4 ppg, and their defenses give up an average 20.9 ppg.

    Discounting each team’s game against the Colts, those teams have a combined record of 20-12 (average record 3.3-2), their offenses average 20.2 ppg, and their defenses give up an average of 19.0 ppg. This “composite” team would rank 18 in offensive scoring and 14 in defensive scoring.

    Against the Colts, these teams scored an average of 15.8 ppg and their defenses gave up an average of 32.2 ppg.

    Thus, relative to their opponents, the Colts have held their opponents to 4.4 ppg less than their other average, while scoring 13.2 ppg more than their average.

    Conclusion?

    The Pats have played teams with good offenses and horrible defenses. Against these teams, they hold them to 7.5 ppg less than their average, while scoring 16 ppg more than their average.

    The Colts have played teams with both average offense and an average defense. Against these teams, they hold them to 4.4 ppg less than their average, while scoring 13.2 ppg more than their average.

    Thus, the Pats’ defense is clearly playing well against good offenses, while their offense is feasting on atrocious offenses. Meanwhile, the Colts’ defense is outplaying average offenses, while their offense is clearly dominating average defenses.

    The Pats’ defense is a bit more impressive against good offenses than the Colts’ defense is against average offenses; however, The Colts’ offense against average defenses is performing on par with the Pats’ offense against terrible defenses.

    In other words, anyone who, at this point in the season, crowns the Pats’ offense as head-and-shoulders above everyone else is simply ignorant of the facts. This Colts offense is demonstrably as good as the Pats offense.

    (My calculations can be found in this (.ods format) spreadsheet: Colts Pats Comparison 2007 Week 7.)

  • Fred Thompson at the Washington Briefing

    Fred Thompson apparently takes one to the house Manning-to-Harrison style at the Washington Briefing. (H/T RedState. More here.)

    Some interesting quotes:

    “Our people have shed more blood for the liberty of other people than another other group of people on earth.”

    As President of the United States, no legislation that supports [abortion] will pass my desk without my veto.”

    On fiscal responsibility: “Those who are yet to be born do not have a seat at the table as we kick the can down the road for someone else to deal with. We have to blow the whistle on this irresponsibility.”

    On not knowing what he would do during his first 100 days as President, but knowing what he would do in his first hour: “I would go in the Oval Office and close the door, and pray for the wisdom to know what was right.”

    (P.S. – Unlike the left’s “Anyone But Bush” anti-enthusiasm in 2000 and especially in 2004 that led to Kerry’s nomination, while we on the right detest the thought of a Hilary presidency, we have a few good choices for our presidential nominee. While my first choice is Fred, I would gladly vote for Giuliani – who also impressed at the Washington Briefing – should he ultimately win the nomination.)

  • Get Hunter “The Punter” Smith’s Autograph!

    To all my Colts-fan friends: here’s an easy way to get an autograph from Colts punter Hunter Smith. His band, Connersvine, is releasing an album October 23, 2007. Pre-order the album, and it will come with an autographed insert. See the official web site for details.

    Oh, and for those of you in Indy, you might be interested to know that Connersvine will be having a CD release party at Trader’s Point Christian Church, on the far northwest side.

  • Watching The Game With Lily

    Today we had the rare pleasure of getting to watch the Colts game (not often aired in the St. Louis market). Lily wore her Colts cheerleader outfit, and we cheered on the Colts’ 38-20 victory over Denver.