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2010-12-09 --Tech & Moderator Notes

A repeat post from Fred yesterday.... --- I, too, wish there were a meter, to cheer Rantburgers on. But, he doesn't. So know this, he needs a thousand more than is currently in his account. And now, AP has gone the route of Rfhvn...... so if you can't do without Rantburg... well, you know what to do.
I reached agreement with Righthaven the beginning of October. I've been waiting for the paperwork since then. Squire Cingold called me to see how it was going and I told him, and he called them for me to see what was up. In the course of the resulting poopstorm they said they sent me the papers by email the day I talked to them, plus a followup. Never saw any of them -- presumably eaten by Gmail's spam filters, even though I got their latest holler.

Anyway, I'm not supposed to disclose the amount of the settlement by the terms of the agreement, but it's more than is currently in the Rantburg bank (or in my checkbook after paying for a new HVAC system in October...) So if you've got spare change, please kick in. By this point it's easier to spend four digits to make it go away than to spend five digits defending it, which is what they count on.

Posted by MOD for Fred 2010-12-09 01:28|| || Front Page|| [11140 views ] Top

#1 I have contributed.

Question: as I understand it, these scumbags are using a loophole. There was something about registering as a news organization and a small fee to some govt org. I remember no details.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2010-12-09 06:58|| 2010-12-09 06:58|| Front Page Top

#2 It's extortion plain and simple.

Posted by newc 2010-12-09 08:29|| 2010-12-09 08:29|| Front Page Top

#3 I don't like it in principle either, but I'm in, Fred.

Posted by Frank G 2010-12-09 08:59|| 2010-12-09 08:59|| Front Page Top

#4 I hit the tip jar, too. It may be extortion, but unless Fred has a d*mn good pro-bono lawyer and is willing to sit on his thumbs waiting for the wheels of justice (sometimes for years), I believe he did what he needed to do to get this behind him.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2010-12-09 09:19|| 2010-12-09 09:19|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm hoping that at some point down the pike EFF or somebody like them will put together a class action and hit Rgthvn and the deep pockets behind them for large dollars, perhaps even a few bucks for those of us victimized.

Barratry & maintenance, yes.

RICO, yes (but doesn't fall a under tort law).

Extortion, yes.

Abuse of the legal system, yes.

A couple dozen things that don't spring to my aging mind immediately, yes.

Posted by Fred 2010-12-09 10:30|| 2010-12-09 10:30|| Front Page Top

#6 Fred---I can contribute on the 15th. Will it help on that date?

Posted by Alaska Paul 2010-12-09 11:53|| 2010-12-09 11:53|| Front Page Top

#7 It always helps. Anything not made up here comes out of my pay check.

Posted by Fred 2010-12-09 13:40|| 2010-12-09 13:40|| Front Page Top

#8 http://is.gd/isbiU

They have just announced they are going to sue Matt Drudge.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-12-09 14:10|| 2010-12-09 14:10|| Front Page Top

#9 Fred, I'll be sending a check on the 15th - hope that's OK.

"They have just announced they are going to sue Matt Drudge."

They may find they've bitten off a little more than they can chew there.... :-D

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2010-12-09 15:32|| 2010-12-09 15:32|| Front Page Top

#10 Wish it could of been more...

Posted by jay-dubya 2010-12-09 15:35|| 2010-12-09 15:35|| Front Page Top

#11 On the waaaaay.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2010-12-09 16:44|| 2010-12-09 16:44|| Front Page Top

#12 Done. I hope that the swine all come down with a nasty case of sepsis this year.

Posted by remoteman 2010-12-09 17:00|| 2010-12-09 17:00|| Front Page Top

#13 pitched a tad into the kitty... drudge will shine the light into the crevices where these roaches live

Posted by abu do you love 2010-12-09 17:23|| 2010-12-09 17:23|| Front Page Top

#14 There was something about registering as a news organization and a small fee to some govt org. I remember no details.

Whiskey Mike, since this started Fred did register with the government and pay his $100+ fee (I don't remember exactly how much). Before, it had seemed an extravagance for a hobby site that costs him out of pocket rather than bringing in income.

For those of you who are hobby bloggers, contact Fred and he'll tell you what to do. Until Rthvn is vanquished, you all are at risk.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-12-09 21:00|| 2010-12-09 21:00|| Front Page Top

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