Y'know.. I remember a day when we had to have an actual understanding of network protocols, operating systems and applications... and write our own "tools" to exploit system weaknesses "for fun".
Apparently these days all you need to be cool is a freshest copy of MetaSploit and no life.... and if m'Sploit can't get you in, just DoS the target and claim responsibility for being so skilled.
For the OP's intended use, HF just isn't as practical as a combination as a VHF/UHF HT and a SPOT type device.
First there's the weight / bulk issue... even an 817 with battery, antenna, microphone. etc , as small as it may be, is a few pounds (about as heavy as 5 or 6 HT's).. that's a considerable amount of weight for most hikers.. and a fair amount of space in a daypack.
Then there's frequency.. where in the vast HF spectrum would he call where someone who can actually help *might* be listening to hear him? During the day 20 meters is generally open and with a modest antenna and a few watts it's easy to make a contact hundreds or thousands of miles away. In the early morning or late evening 75/80 meters might open up, but a small antenna and a few watts won't do much there.
And what if he needs help on a Saturday afternoon when there's half a dozen QSO Parties going on and the bands are full of over-processed kilowatts shouting "Contest Contest" and "You're 59.. gimme your call again... again? again?"
Don't get me wrong... I'm a big fan of mobile / portable HF and I play with both regularly, but it really doesn't sound like the right choice for a mountain hiker's first application of ham radio. Perhaps once he gets "the fever" he might choose to spend the extra money and carry the extra hardware for those mountain-top DXpeditions:)
1) Talk to someone in a local ham club. They will let you know what kind of VHF/UHF repeater coverage there is in the areas you're interested in hiking. They can also help you with test study material and direct you towards the Volunteer Examiners near you. Go ahead and get at least a Technician class license. The test is relatively easy and the exam is less that 20 bucks.
2) Get yourself a basic hand-held VHF/UHF radio. You can find them used for cheap money or you can spend the bucks on a new one. There's a Chinese dual-bander that very popular, FCC approved for commercial use (if that's of any use to you) and can be had for under $125.00 delivered to your door with battery, desk charger, antenna, etc. The quality is actually pretty good.. in fact I own more two of them (in addition to several other brands)
3) Go ahead and get yourself a SPOT satellite locator and pack that along as well
Now... if you find yourself in trouble and you're within range of an amateur radio repeater, then you can call for help that way. If you're not able to reach a repeater, then send for help using your SPOT device with a pre-programmed message that includes a simplex (non-repeater) frequency on which you will be listening. Now when the SAR teams, which quite often include hams, get near you (or fly over you) you can communicate directly with the folks that are coming to help.
If nothing else, getting a ham radio license will introduce you to a wonderful hobby that can involve anything from casual conversations with other hams in your area (or around the world) to participation in emergency communications with a local ARES team. There are on-air contests if you're interested in things like that, or you can just use it when you're hiking. What you do with it is up to you.
I've been a ham for 30 years, I'm the Emergency Coordinator for my counties ARES / RACES / CERT team working directly with county & state EMA, I'm a volunteer examiner and have had the pleasure of helping hundreds of new hams get started. I've spoken with hams in more than 150 countries from my SUV just while commuting to and from the office. I've met some of my dearest friends through ham radio and I wouldn't trade it for anything.... so don't pay any attention to those who would tell you it's a waste of time, because they apparently just don't get it.
... LucasFilms has issued a Cease and Desist order against all criminals, past, present and future, to prevent the unlawful acquisition of monetary gains while portraying characters that are the intellectual property of George Lucas.
George has also contacted the NY criminal demanding royalties for this recent public performance...
First of all, you comparison of "disconnecting" spammers (either by cutting their net connection or pooching their PC's) with Siberian deathcamps is way off the map... just stop it.
(for the record, I agree that breaking someone's PC is wrong... but nuking their ISP account is right)
Should we make everyone with a compromised PC pay $100 to some PFY to re-install an OS? No.. I don't think so. Should we expect an ISP to maintain the account of some douchebag who doesn't give a shit if he/she is spewing out SPAM for v1@gra and pr0n? Hell no. ISPs have AUP's and if you violate them and/or fail to respect the desire of other account holders to NOT be inundated by SPAM, then your account should be disabled. Internet access is NOT a right just because you can pay your bill, it is a privilege with a fee associated with the delivery infrastructure.
The same applies to upstream providers, plain and simple.
Botnets are around for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons they are as prevalent as they are, is because the average PC user is either (a) uneducated in the plethora of Internet hazards or (2) simply doesn't give a shit.
For column (A), let's try to educate them, if that doesn't then they're most likely in column (2), in which case I lean towards that memorable phrase from Eddie Albert in the movie Head Office:
I'm with Smertrios on this one.. IT policy is just that.. a corporate policy. It's not subject to end-user interpretation, it's a definition of how IT resources are to be deployed and utilized. The written policy itself is what gives the company the "teeth" to discipline employees who choose to make their own interpretations and NOT comply.
Now back on topic: Whole disk encryption? For removable / transportable media, ABSOLUTELY! For enterprise data backups, ABSOLUTLEY! For live data on active servers, meh.. not as critical. If your data center employs appropriate physical, network and host security, your data is reasonably safe. If someone compromises your network -> system security, they've got your data.. encrypted or not. It's wonderful that your IT department has the desire to achieve the highest level of security possible, but there is always a balance that needs to be struck between the holy grail of ultimate security and the ability to do business. The OP needs to help everyone find that balance. A good place to start would be his local neighborhood HIPAA expert to make sure that no "business needs" prevent the company from maintaining regulatory compliance. Once the specific requirements for his continues compliance have been identified, then anything beyond that becomes somewhat negotiable.
... just one of the MANY reasons I DRIVE when ever possible. If my destination is in the continental US, I schedule sufficient time and saddle my fat ass into my nice comfy truck, where I can carry ANY of my transportable possessions without having to squeeze my liquids into a ziploc baggie.
Inconvenient? Perhaps... but at least I'm not patronizing the overly restrictive, power mad TSA and the airlines that allow them to terrorize their customers.
No.. he has been, and always will be "MafiaBitch" a whiny little brat who downloaded someone else's work to DoS some other whiny little brats.. and then he simply found bigger targets.. and now he's a fscking celebrity. I suppose that if I had been busted for shoplifting that Snickers (tm) bar when I was 15 years old, I could have turned that into a lucrative career in physical retail security and written a book... perhaps I could have titled it "Snatching Snacks" (followed by the pr0n version: "Snacking Snatches")
First, record a.wav file that says, in a firm and official sounding voice, "This is a stolen computer and is equipped with a tracking system that can not be disabled. Through your use of this computer, your identity and location is now known and this information has been recorded as evidence. You may still avoid prosecution by returning this computer immediately... etc.. If you do not comply, you may expect to be contacted by your local authorities tomorrow."
Then set the.wav file to play every time the computer boots.. and schedule it to play every 5 minutes after that.
Even if they ignore the warning and drop the computer in the lake, they will certainly need to change their underwear.
Tech school == no media studies / communications majors. no MS/Communications majors == fewer parties. fewer parties == less drinking. less drinking == less drinking. hmmmm.. what was the question again?
Oh yeah. Tech vs Liberal Arts... Look at it this way: pretty much any technical career path you choose will involve more than just technical responsibilities. You'll need to communicate with customers of some sort as well as management-types. To do this effectively, you'll need more than calculus and C++/Java programming skills. As for successfully interviewing with a prospective employer, being self-confident, well spoken, motivated and eager to learn new things will go farther than a high GPA. We've got plenty of non-degreed employees that are fabulous corporate assets and just as many multiple-degree employees that should really consider a career in either the food service or housekeeping areas. A piece of paper might get you a better interview, but a good attitude, well rounded experience and who you are will get you a better future. (IMHO)
"When all else fails"... four words that really sum up what amateur radio brings to the community at large. Many people hear the term "Ham Radio" and can only imagine a long-bearded nerd wearing headphones and shouting "CQ" into a vintage microphone. While that may be an accurate description of some hams, it's but the tip of the iceberg. I personally know hams ranging in age from 6 to over 100, and the individual interests cover the entire spectrum of available operation modes... CW (morse code), RTTY, PSK-31, Packet, SSTV, AM, FM, SSB, the list goes on and on. There are hams in just about every profession imaginable.. students, lawyers, physicians, truck drivers, programmers, home makers, teachers... again, the list seems to never end. Much, if not most, of the communication technology that is taken for granted these days can be traced back to amateur radio and/or amateur radio operators who've applied the knowledge they've developed as hams. Equipment in use today ranges from single vacuum tube transmitters, to microprocessor controlled marvels.. my own shack has a transmitter from the 50's beside a receiver from the 40's, beside a Kenwood TS2000X that covers amateur radio bands from 1.6 MHZ up to 1.2GHz on all modes... about the size of two stacked laptops. Vintage or state-of-the-art, there's plenty of enjoyment to be had. With less than 100 watts of power, I've talked with hams in more than 130 countries from my SUV. No matter where I am, I can communicate with friends and family anywhere in the world... even where there's no power, no cell towers, no visible satellites (oh yes.. there are ham satellites too... and plenty of 'em).
The ability to communicate globally without commercial infrastructure is the key to amateur radio's real value to the world community. When large scale disasters occur, the commercial infrastructure is often impacted. Power is lost, phone lines go down, cell circuits are jammed (until their backup power fails.. then they disappear), simply checking on the welfare of friends and family in the affected areas could be impossible if it were not for amateur radio and the hams that diligently maintain equipment and train to become proficient communicators. From a Red Cross shelter that needs supplies, to a sailboat taking on water hundreds of miles off shore... ham radio has saved the day countless times.
Ok... now that I've spit-shined ham radio, it's only fair to acknowledge the other side of the coin. Ham radio operators are human beings... and as a result of that, there are hams that truly deserve to wear the "Ass Hat" on a daily basis. I've run across foul language, bad attitudes, malicious interference, complete lack of respect and all of the other unfortunate manifestations of today's society. There's no escaping this in ham radio, CB, the Internet, the local pub, school, work... it's a part of living and interacting with other human beings. For these situations I can only offer the suggestion of changing frequency... there's plenty of spectrum for everyone if you're a little patient.
I'm in my late 40's now and have been a ham since my high school days (give or take a year or two). I've tested for technical knowledge, morse code proficiency and operating regulations... I hold an Extra class license... I'm the Emergency Coordinator for my county affiliated with ARES, RACES and County EMA, I'm an ARRL VE and I help proctor license examinations every month. I've had the pleasure of checking the "PASSED" box for new hams as young as 6 years old as well as for folks more than twice my age. My significant other is a coded general class ham and she loves everything about amateur radio. It really has so good much to offer that the bad things pale in comparison. I have no problem with the elimination of the morse code requirements.. most of the new hams that have been able to pass the test as a result are fine operators and contribute immensely to the community (some fall into that other category.. remember... humans) and while I encourage them all to learn mors
No dude... it's gonna happen... they're gonna wire up a bunch of pale mutants and float them in a big hot tub... and THEY will know what you're thinking and what you're gonna do.
If you're thinking of mis-behaving, Tom Cruise is going to jump out of the air and bust your sorry ass... I've seen it on TV so it MUST be real!
... while difficult to classify as a gadget, a towel is the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker (or international backpacker) can have...
Just think of the potential uses......you can wrap a towel around you for warmth......you can lie on a towel......you can sleep under a towel......you can use a towel to sail a miniature raft......you can wrap a towel around your head to ward off noxious fumes......you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal......you can dry yourself with a towel (if it's still clean enough)...
More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value... The possession of a towel gives the casual observer an impression that you are on your way to some place in which they imagine one might need a towel. They may assume you initially set out with other items as well, and may be more inclined to allow one to "borrow" said items, since they are under the impression that you probably left home with said items and have momentarily misplaced them. You do not appear to the casual observer to be someone who is incompetent and unprepared for what life has to offer. Instead of appearing to be a leech on society, you appear to be a responsible adventurer who may occasionally merely fall upon hard times. The uninformed is more prone to assist you after first glance. In fact, waving a towel about can be almost as advantageous an act for a male hitchhiker as flashing a nice set of legs can be for a female hitchhiker.
It can be said that anyone 'will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the [world], rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.'
And whatever happens... Don't Panic!
-- Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
1) We all know the RIAA is scum.. they represent themselves, not the musical talent upon whom they feed (damn vampires).
2) The thought of guys running into a building wearing jackets with RIAA emblazoned across the back just makes me laugh.... loudly! (I bet they all have shiny gold RIAA badges too!)
3) If these RIAA douche bags would take just a portion of the money and time they spend persecuting music consumers and would put it towards treating the TALENT with more due respect, they *might* just gain a little respect of their own... but alas.. it was not to be.
4) At some point their actions are going to cause a point of critical mass... at which time they might finally realize that they're starting a war that they are destined to lose. Such has been the destiny of self-serving totalitarians throughout history.
5)::sigh:: you're NOT still reading this.. are you?
Slashdot Mirror
Y'know.. I remember a day when we had to have an actual understanding of network protocols, operating systems and applications... and write our own "tools" to exploit system weaknesses "for fun".
Apparently these days all you need to be cool is a freshest copy of MetaSploit and no life.... and if m'Sploit can't get you in, just DoS the target and claim responsibility for being so skilled.
Shouldn't you kids be outside playing?
For the OP's intended use, HF just isn't as practical as a combination as a VHF/UHF HT and a SPOT type device.
First there's the weight / bulk issue... even an 817 with battery, antenna, microphone. etc , as small as it may be, is a few pounds (about as heavy as 5 or 6 HT's).. that's a considerable amount of weight for most hikers .. and a fair amount of space in a daypack.
Then there's frequency.. where in the vast HF spectrum would he call where someone who can actually help *might* be listening to hear him? During the day 20 meters is generally open and with a modest antenna and a few watts it's easy to make a contact hundreds or thousands of miles away. In the early morning or late evening 75/80 meters might open up, but a small antenna and a few watts won't do much there.
And what if he needs help on a Saturday afternoon when there's half a dozen QSO Parties going on and the bands are full of over-processed kilowatts shouting "Contest Contest" and "You're 59.. gimme your call again... again? again?"
Don't get me wrong... I'm a big fan of mobile / portable HF and I play with both regularly, but it really doesn't sound like the right choice for a mountain hiker's first application of ham radio. Perhaps once he gets "the fever" he might choose to spend the extra money and carry the extra hardware for those mountain-top DXpeditions :)
Hey man... fancy meeting you here :)
-- WA1RB
1) Talk to someone in a local ham club. They will let you know what kind of VHF/UHF repeater coverage there is in the areas you're interested in hiking. They can also help you with test study material and direct you towards the Volunteer Examiners near you. Go ahead and get at least a Technician class license. The test is relatively easy and the exam is less that 20 bucks.
2) Get yourself a basic hand-held VHF/UHF radio. You can find them used for cheap money or you can spend the bucks on a new one. There's a Chinese dual-bander that very popular, FCC approved for commercial use (if that's of any use to you) and can be had for under $125.00 delivered to your door with battery, desk charger, antenna, etc. The quality is actually pretty good.. in fact I own more two of them (in addition to several other brands)
3) Go ahead and get yourself a SPOT satellite locator and pack that along as well
Now... if you find yourself in trouble and you're within range of an amateur radio repeater, then you can call for help that way.
If you're not able to reach a repeater, then send for help using your SPOT device with a pre-programmed message that includes a simplex (non-repeater) frequency on which you will be listening. Now when the SAR teams, which quite often include hams, get near you (or fly over you) you can communicate directly with the folks that are coming to help.
If nothing else, getting a ham radio license will introduce you to a wonderful hobby that can involve anything from casual conversations with other hams in your area (or around the world) to participation in emergency communications with a local ARES team. There are on-air contests if you're interested in things like that, or you can just use it when you're hiking. What you do with it is up to you.
I've been a ham for 30 years, I'm the Emergency Coordinator for my counties ARES / RACES / CERT team working directly with county & state EMA, I'm a volunteer examiner and have had the pleasure of helping hundreds of new hams get started. I've spoken with hams in more than 150 countries from my SUV just while commuting to and from the office. I've met some of my dearest friends through ham radio and I wouldn't trade it for anything.... so don't pay any attention to those who would tell you it's a waste of time, because they apparently just don't get it.
Cheers and best of luck to you.
... LucasFilms has issued a Cease and Desist order against all criminals, past, present and future, to prevent the unlawful acquisition of monetary gains while portraying characters that are the intellectual property of George Lucas.
George has also contacted the NY criminal demanding royalties for this recent public performance...
So.... NYC cell providers point their panels at apartment buildings... I guess that explains why AT&T's service in Manhattan is so poor these days.
I suppose I might lean towards giving my business to a non-AOL.com addressed resource if there was a choice....
Either way, it's better than something like "whoppo@BigButtSheep.com" - oh... wait.... that's my address. ::sigh::
.... You've got questions.... We've got cellphones!
I believe that would be the ever elusive (except that one time in the Delta Flyer) Warp 10.
Another name for the roster of lost crew members. :-(
Oh man... you really need to take a pill.
First of all, you comparison of "disconnecting" spammers (either by cutting their net connection or pooching their PC's) with Siberian deathcamps is way off the map... just stop it.
(for the record, I agree that breaking someone's PC is wrong... but nuking their ISP account is right)
Should we make everyone with a compromised PC pay $100 to some PFY to re-install an OS? No.. I don't think so. Should we expect an ISP to maintain the account of some douchebag who doesn't give a shit if he/she is spewing out SPAM for v1@gra and pr0n? Hell no. ISPs have AUP's and if you violate them and/or fail to respect the desire of other account holders to NOT be inundated by SPAM, then your account should be disabled. Internet access is NOT a right just because you can pay your bill, it is a privilege with a fee associated with the delivery infrastructure.
The same applies to upstream providers, plain and simple.
Botnets are around for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons they are as prevalent as they are, is because the average PC user is either (a) uneducated in the plethora of Internet hazards or (2) simply doesn't give a shit.
For column (A), let's try to educate them, if that doesn't then they're most likely in column (2), in which case I lean towards that memorable phrase from Eddie Albert in the movie Head Office:
Dis-co-nect !!
I'm with Smertrios on this one.. IT policy is just that.. a corporate policy. It's not subject to end-user interpretation, it's a definition of how IT resources are to be deployed and utilized. The written policy itself is what gives the company the "teeth" to discipline employees who choose to make their own interpretations and NOT comply.
Now back on topic: Whole disk encryption? For removable / transportable media, ABSOLUTELY! For enterprise data backups, ABSOLUTLEY! For live data on active servers, meh.. not as critical. If your data center employs appropriate physical, network and host security, your data is reasonably safe. If someone compromises your network -> system security, they've got your data.. encrypted or not. It's wonderful that your IT department has the desire to achieve the highest level of security possible, but there is always a balance that needs to be struck between the holy grail of ultimate security and the ability to do business. The OP needs to help everyone find that balance. A good place to start would be his local neighborhood HIPAA expert to make sure that no "business needs" prevent the company from maintaining regulatory compliance. Once the specific requirements for his continues compliance have been identified, then anything beyond that becomes somewhat negotiable.
Yeah... but you do have Brit and Jerome.. that's cool :)
heh... if they have their way...
http://blog.aclu.org/2008/08/01/taser-bracelets-really/
... just one of the MANY reasons I DRIVE when ever possible. If my destination is in the continental US, I schedule sufficient time and saddle my fat ass into my nice comfy truck, where I can carry ANY of my transportable possessions without having to squeeze my liquids into a ziploc baggie.
Inconvenient? Perhaps... but at least I'm not patronizing the overly restrictive, power mad TSA and the airlines that allow them to terrorize their customers.
Yes ladies and gents... the terrorists have won.
Does this now make him, Mafiaman?
No.. he has been, and always will be "MafiaBitch" a whiny little brat who downloaded someone else's work to DoS some other whiny little brats.. and then he simply found bigger targets.. and now he's a fscking celebrity. I suppose that if I had been busted for shoplifting that Snickers (tm) bar when I was 15 years old, I could have turned that into a lucrative career in physical retail security and written a book... perhaps I could have titled it "Snatching Snacks" (followed by the pr0n version: "Snacking Snatches")
I, for one, welcome our new potato gun banning overlo... oh wait... someone already did this one.
First, record a .wav file that says, in a firm and official sounding voice, "This is a stolen computer and is equipped with a tracking system that can not be disabled. Through your use of this computer, your identity and location is now known and this information has been recorded as evidence. You may still avoid prosecution by returning this computer immediately... etc.. If you do not comply, you may expect to be contacted by your local authorities tomorrow."
Then set the .wav file to play every time the computer boots.. and schedule it to play every 5 minutes after that.
Even if they ignore the warning and drop the computer in the lake, they will certainly need to change their underwear.
.... just keep 'em out of my beer.
Tech school == no media studies / communications majors.
no MS/Communications majors == fewer parties.
fewer parties == less drinking.
less drinking == less drinking.
hmmmm.. what was the question again?
Oh yeah. Tech vs Liberal Arts...
Look at it this way: pretty much any technical career path you choose will involve more than just technical responsibilities. You'll need to communicate with customers of some sort as well as management-types. To do this effectively, you'll need more than calculus and C++/Java programming skills. As for successfully interviewing with a prospective employer, being self-confident, well spoken, motivated and eager to learn new things will go farther than a high GPA. We've got plenty of non-degreed employees that are fabulous corporate assets and just as many multiple-degree employees that should really consider a career in either the food service or housekeeping areas. A piece of paper might get you a better interview, but a good attitude, well rounded experience and who you are will get you a better future. (IMHO)
... and they are us. :::sigh:::
yeah yeah.. we know.. it's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum... and he's all outta gum...
Yawn.
"When all else fails"... four words that really sum up what amateur radio brings to the community at large.
Many people hear the term "Ham Radio" and can only imagine a long-bearded nerd wearing headphones and shouting "CQ" into a vintage microphone. While that may be an accurate description of some hams, it's but the tip of the iceberg. I personally know hams ranging in age from 6 to over 100, and the individual interests cover the entire spectrum of available operation modes... CW (morse code), RTTY, PSK-31, Packet, SSTV, AM, FM, SSB, the list goes on and on. There are hams in just about every profession imaginable.. students, lawyers, physicians, truck drivers, programmers, home makers, teachers... again, the list seems to never end. Much, if not most, of the communication technology that is taken for granted these days can be traced back to amateur radio and/or amateur radio operators who've applied the knowledge they've developed as hams. Equipment in use today ranges from single vacuum tube transmitters, to microprocessor controlled marvels.. my own shack has a transmitter from the 50's beside a receiver from the 40's, beside a Kenwood TS2000X that covers amateur radio bands from 1.6 MHZ up to 1.2GHz on all modes... about the size of two stacked laptops. Vintage or state-of-the-art, there's plenty of enjoyment to be had. With less than 100 watts of power, I've talked with hams in more than 130 countries from my SUV. No matter where I am, I can communicate with friends and family anywhere in the world... even where there's no power, no cell towers, no visible satellites (oh yes.. there are ham satellites too... and plenty of 'em).
The ability to communicate globally without commercial infrastructure is the key to amateur radio's real value to the world community. When large scale disasters occur, the commercial infrastructure is often impacted. Power is lost, phone lines go down, cell circuits are jammed (until their backup power fails.. then they disappear), simply checking on the welfare of friends and family in the affected areas could be impossible if it were not for amateur radio and the hams that diligently maintain equipment and train to become proficient communicators. From a Red Cross shelter that needs supplies, to a sailboat taking on water hundreds of miles off shore... ham radio has saved the day countless times.
Ok... now that I've spit-shined ham radio, it's only fair to acknowledge the other side of the coin. Ham radio operators are human beings... and as a result of that, there are hams that truly deserve to wear the "Ass Hat" on a daily basis. I've run across foul language, bad attitudes, malicious interference, complete lack of respect and all of the other unfortunate manifestations of today's society. There's no escaping this in ham radio, CB, the Internet, the local pub, school, work... it's a part of living and interacting with other human beings. For these situations I can only offer the suggestion of changing frequency... there's plenty of spectrum for everyone if you're a little patient.
I'm in my late 40's now and have been a ham since my high school days (give or take a year or two). I've tested for technical knowledge, morse code proficiency and operating regulations... I hold an Extra class license... I'm the Emergency Coordinator for my county affiliated with ARES, RACES and County EMA, I'm an ARRL VE and I help proctor license examinations every month. I've had the pleasure of checking the "PASSED" box for new hams as young as 6 years old as well as for folks more than twice my age. My significant other is a coded general class ham and she loves everything about amateur radio. It really has so good much to offer that the bad things pale in comparison. I have no problem with the elimination of the morse code requirements.. most of the new hams that have been able to pass the test as a result are fine operators and contribute immensely to the community (some fall into that other category.. remember... humans) and while I encourage them all to learn mors
No dude... it's gonna happen... they're gonna wire up a bunch of pale mutants and float them in a big hot tub... and THEY will know what you're thinking and what you're gonna do.
If you're thinking of mis-behaving, Tom Cruise is going to jump out of the air and bust your sorry ass... I've seen it on TV so it MUST be real!
... while difficult to classify as a gadget, a towel is the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker (or international backpacker) can have...
...you can wrap a towel around you for warmth... ...you can lie on a towel... ...you can sleep under a towel... ...you can use a towel to sail a miniature raft... ...you can wrap a towel around your head to ward off noxious fumes... ...you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal... ...you can dry yourself with a towel (if it's still clean enough)...
Just think of the potential uses...
More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value... The possession of a towel gives the casual observer an impression that you are on your way to some place in which they imagine one might need a towel. They may assume you initially set out with other items as well, and may be more inclined to allow one to "borrow" said items, since they are under the impression that you probably left home with said items and have momentarily misplaced them. You do not appear to the casual observer to be someone who is incompetent and unprepared for what life has to offer. Instead of appearing to be a leech on society, you appear to be a responsible adventurer who may occasionally merely fall upon hard times. The uninformed is more prone to assist you after first glance. In fact, waving a towel about can be almost as advantageous an act for a male hitchhiker as flashing a nice set of legs can be for a female hitchhiker.
It can be said that anyone 'will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the [world], rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.'
And whatever happens... Don't Panic!
-- Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
1) We all know the RIAA is scum.. they represent themselves, not the musical talent upon whom they feed (damn vampires).
::sigh:: you're NOT still reading this.. are you?
2) The thought of guys running into a building wearing jackets with RIAA emblazoned across the back just makes me laugh.... loudly! (I bet they all have shiny gold RIAA badges too!)
3) If these RIAA douche bags would take just a portion of the money and time they spend persecuting music consumers and would put it towards treating the TALENT with more due respect, they *might* just gain a little respect of their own... but alas.. it was not to be.
4) At some point their actions are going to cause a point of critical mass... at which time they might finally realize that they're starting a war that they are destined to lose. Such has been the destiny of self-serving totalitarians throughout history.
5)