I have commented before that blogs and RSS feeds are about to hit the mainstream as IE7 has a built in RSS reader. Until now, a 3rd party plug in was required to do that. Setting up RSS feeds in IE7 is simple. Here’s how.

Go to a blog that you want to follow, such as mine at www.canton.elegal.ca

There is an RSS symbol in the upper right of Explorer that looks like this:

If it is orange, there is an RSS feed on that page.

Click on that logo – then click on “subscribe to this feed” that appears near the top of the content.

Click on “subscribe” in the box that comes up, and you are done.

To view new entries in the blogs you have subscribed to, click on the star symbol at the top left of Explorer, then on the blog you want to look at.

If you don’t have IE7 yet, just run windows update.

ITBusiness.ca has an article that states RCMP and Microsoft officials say product piracy is not limited to wayward resellers or small stores that don’t know any better. And software is by no means the only thing being pirated.

The comments come from an anti-counterfeiting conference. It points out that the nature of counterfeit products is very broad – including medication, clothing, toys, and computers. And sales are not limited to the usual street vendors. Major retailers sometimes unknowingly sell counterfeit products.

For more detail see the ITBusiness.ca article

The Federal Privacy Commissioner just released a decision about using GPS in company vehicles and the privacy implications for the employees driving those vehicles. The Commissioner also issued a press release about the decision, which is not often done.

The Commissioner stated: Systematically using GPS to check up on workers and try to determine how well they are doing their jobs would be going too far.

David Fraser point out that there is a real issue regarding PIPEDA in the workplace and the notion of implied consent. Hopefully that will be addresed in the upcoming PIPEDA reform.

Another issue to note is that PIPEDA only applies to employees for Federally regulated businesses. In provinces like Ontario that do not have their own private sector privacy legislation, employees do not have the benefit of any privacy legislation.

Read Davis Fraser’s post for details of the decision and the consent problem

David Canton – for the London Free Press – December 2, 2006

Read this on Canoe

The federal government has announced plans to create a Canadian no-fly list. The screening program, Passenger Protect, would create a watchlist of individuals to be denied entry to aircraft.

According to Transport Canada, inclusion on the list would be based on a decision the person poses an immediate threat to aviation security should they board an aircraft.

Air carriers must immediately inform Transport Canada when an individual presents identification matching those of a “specified person.” The Minister of Transport may then issue an emergency direction denying boarding to the individual.

Inclusion on the no-fly list will be according to Transport Canada guidelines. Those added to the list may include:

- An individual who is or has been involved in a terrorist group, and who, it can reasonably be suspected, will endanger the security of any aircraft or aerodrome or the safety of the public, passengers or crew.

- An individual who has been convicted of one or more serious and life-threatening crimes against aviation security.

- An individual who has been convicted of one or more serious and life-threatening offences and who may attack or harm an air carrier, passengers, or crew members.

Asked by the Privacy Commissioner what criteria would be used to add names to the list, Transport Canada replied that “There is no automatic inclusion or exclusion to the list based on a single factor or combination of factors.”

As stated to the Privacy Commissioner, factors such as a criminal record or outstanding warrant alone will not constitute grounds for inclusion on the list. Rather, decisions will be based on the vague classification as an immediate threat to aviation security. Transport Canada says each name on the list will be reviewed at least every 30 days to ensure the information is accurate and up-to-date.

A Transport Canada-led advisory group will review information brought forward by CSIS and the RCMP on a case-by-case basis and make recommendations on who to include on the list. Such information may include that received from foreign intelligence and law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Government or Interpol.

An office of reconsideration will be set up to receive requests for reconsideration from individuals denied boarding under the program.

Details of individuals will be given to air carriers. Transport Canada may disclose information received to government authorities and persons designated by the RCMP or CSIS.

Many feel that patents are often granted when the innovation is too obvious, and not worthy of patent protection.

The US Supreme court is considering that issue now. The KSR v Teleflex case is worth watching to see if it raises the threshold required for protection.

Details of the case can be found on the Patently O blog.