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Comment how to defeat debt collection scams? (Score 1) 497

well, you can log the calls and record any audio that you can. Then turn it over to the local police and also submit a copy to the FBI or US Secret Service. After that, change your phone number and go on with life. ALso, file a written complaint with your phone carrier and copy that to the relevant authorities. Now, I haven't been a target myself, but I know several people that have. They took the above actions and started having some peace and quiet in their lives afterward.

Comment reforming law (Score 1) 545

*THIS* is precisely why we need to reform copyright laws. I figure it this way: if a song is worth only $1.00 on itunes, the record companies can only sue for that sum on individual counts. thats means that they would only be able to sue for a small fortune (say $10 million in the largest cases). this would certainly reduce the incentive form them to file such ridiculous claims.

Comment his stupidity amazes me (Score 1) 176

I remember when he originally posted that video. about all I could do was /facedesk multiple times. I couldn't believe how someone of his obvious intelligence could be so incredibly stupid (not about the video or even posting it, but the fact that he actually endangered lives by his actions). It is people like him who give governments cause to intrude into our lives as much as they do.

Comment Re:guess I am in their lists (Score 1) 306

who is whipping themselves into an "idiot's frenzy" here? I expressed some concern and also pointed out how far private org's and the government will go.

anyway, I am expressing a concern here. I am not a programmer and I don't even have a PS3. I am only curious. does that make it a crime? there are some who would have you believe that it would.

Comment guess I am in their lists (Score 1) 306

hmmm, out of curiosity, I listened to the videos produced by GeoHot. doesn't matter that I was only curious as to what he was doing. I wouldn't be able to implement what he was doing anyway as I don't have a PS3 or the eyesight to use it. . so? does this mean the FBI might coming knocking on my door to ask questions or that sony might sue me just because I "viewed" the materials? IMHO, intellectual curiosity should not be considered a crime (which is what Sony and the government are trying to do).

Comment Good Luck Sony, you're gonna need it! (Score 1) 448

well, I wish Sony all the best of luck. Once information of this type gets out on the web, its nearly impossible to remove. The problem Sony has that "reverse engineering" isn't exactly illegal. Now, they have tried this before and look where it got them: case thrown out of court because the expert witness torpedoed their case.

They might have a case for copyright infringement but with as many copies as are floating around out there, its going to start costing them more than its worth to pursue all the possible litigants.

Perhaps Sony should open source their software and get a lot of "free help" improving it. That would not only earn them increased profits, but also loads better in Public Relations credibility.

Comment Re:religeous nutcases abound again (Score 1) 726

At this point, it no longer matters which sect or religion it is committing this. its still an attack upon reason.
most of the devout fail to realize that *if* god really wanted us to worship him without reason, he would not have given us the ability *to* reason to begin with.

Faith can be a powerful thing. it can also be self destructive without a little temperance from reason.

so, I posit this: *if* god created the heavens and the earth, does it not stand to reason that he also built all those system to evolve and grow beyond their former limits? Something interesting to think about.

Comment religeous nutcases abound again (Score 2) 726

If history has taught us one thing it is this:
those who seek control always play on ignorance. the roman catholic church of the 4th and 15th centuries knew this and it looks like their modern successors are trying to do it to us again.

I think Frederick Nietzsche sums it up best: "Any species that seeks destructive behavior for its own ends does not deserve to survive".

Comment From a t-mobile customer in the USA (Score 1) 364

I happen to be a blind t-mobile customer here in the US. I can see a very good reason that t-mobile would do this.
Their infrastructure was not designed for such high loads being placed on it. these loads may cause service problems
for anyone else on that cell node. also, bandwidth is not exactly cheap anywhere you go.

As a blind customer with a smartphone, I have no need to download videos. podcasts (audio only) are far smaller and can be transferred
from my mac at home to my phone easily. with 32 GB available on my micro SD card, I can store as much media as I will
need. Thus I am not using Bandwidth to transfer these on t-mobile's network and thus am not limiting another user's ability to use the service.

Frankly, its common sense. if you want to view a video on your phone, get it via broadband and watch it offline. it will cost you
a lot less and save the rest of us from having to pay higher fees for your hoggishness.

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