Even though I was only a temporary victim in the Excite@Home debacle (Mediacom claims they were cut off from @home "by mistake" -- it was only down for about 10 hours -- do I believe them? no), it occurs to me that the wrong people are making the decisions. Those of us who actually make technology work are ones who need to take charge, rather than the politicians, lawyers, and judges who seem bent only on destruction. Why do we keep letting them get away with it? It would seem to me that since Judge Thomas Carlson of the Ninth Circuit decided that consumers come last in the @Home mess, he should understand what the real effect is. He says that, "While the cessation of customers' Internet access is regrettable, it does not jeopardize public health or safety." Regrettable? I'm guessing he would find it very regrettable indeed if he didn't have internet access himself. I'm sure he and his staff depend on it as much as we do and I believe if he takes our access away, his should be removed as well, along with that of all the bondholders (apparently there is no list of them anywhere) and other vultures who have forced this issue.
These days, it seems to me that there are five main enemies of technology: the RIAA, the MPAA, the telcos and cable companies who have fought open access every step of the way, publishers who think their so-called intellectual property is more important than the Constitution, and the monopolists who want to control all technology. To further their aims, they have hijacked our own government and turned it against us. Just as guilty are the members of Congress who were bought and paid for by these special interests and the members of the judiciary who consistently rule against any online rights for anyone outside these special groups. Let's track down the individuals who are leading this assault on the technology we create and our freedom to use it.
How long do you think these organizations would be able to continue without the technology we make for them? If you are an ISP, I believe you should cut off these people altogether and refuse them service altogether. (Wouldn't it be ironic if the judge's service were cut off by one of the very companies in the case he just ruled on?) If you make software or web pages for these people, quit; there are other companies and organizations that do have some integrity to work for. If you're a hosting company for these people, cancel their contracts and remove their websites. "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone." Let's pull the plug. It has to be done honestly and openly, but let's pull the plug.
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Even though I was only a temporary victim in the Excite@Home debacle (Mediacom claims they were cut off from @home "by mistake" -- it was only down for about 10 hours -- do I believe them? no), it occurs to me that the wrong people are making the decisions. Those of us who actually make technology work are ones who need to take charge, rather than the politicians, lawyers, and judges who seem bent only on destruction. Why do we keep letting them get away with it? It would seem to me that since Judge Thomas Carlson of the Ninth Circuit decided that consumers come last in the @Home mess, he should understand what the real effect is. He says that, "While the cessation of customers' Internet access is regrettable, it does not jeopardize public health or safety." Regrettable? I'm guessing he would find it very regrettable indeed if he didn't have internet access himself. I'm sure he and his staff depend on it as much as we do and I believe if he takes our access away, his should be removed as well, along with that of all the bondholders (apparently there is no list of them anywhere) and other vultures who have forced this issue. These days, it seems to me that there are five main enemies of technology: the RIAA, the MPAA, the telcos and cable companies who have fought open access every step of the way, publishers who think their so-called intellectual property is more important than the Constitution, and the monopolists who want to control all technology. To further their aims, they have hijacked our own government and turned it against us. Just as guilty are the members of Congress who were bought and paid for by these special interests and the members of the judiciary who consistently rule against any online rights for anyone outside these special groups. Let's track down the individuals who are leading this assault on the technology we create and our freedom to use it. How long do you think these organizations would be able to continue without the technology we make for them? If you are an ISP, I believe you should cut off these people altogether and refuse them service altogether. (Wouldn't it be ironic if the judge's service were cut off by one of the very companies in the case he just ruled on?) If you make software or web pages for these people, quit; there are other companies and organizations that do have some integrity to work for. If you're a hosting company for these people, cancel their contracts and remove their websites. "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone." Let's pull the plug. It has to be done honestly and openly, but let's pull the plug.