While I agree whole-heartedly with the principle and the idea...
I'm afraid it is wayyyyy too late for 99% of the US population to opt out of anything.
There are entire companies in the US that make all of their income by selling/trading your personal information.
In some States (like mine) you have to opt out of the bloody Registry of Motor Vehicles selling your name/address--I just did that 2 days ago...:(
Credit-card companies (especially STORE-cards like JC Penney/Sears)
Magazine subscriptions-- EVERYBODY sells lists to EVERYBODY ELSE.
These companies provide mailing lists/phone number lists/email lists...
they are broken down by any criteria you want.
Geographical area/ age/sex / number of rug rats/veteran/cancer survivor/ charity donor/ ANYTHING THEY WANT.
Lists are generated electronically-- or hard-copied-- or burned to disc.
If you want a list of all the left-handed/myopic/sewer-workers/who are Korean War veterans in the Metro-Chicago area-- it takes about 15 seconds (if that)
Only trouble with that is...the authorities would question their motive for waiting to file a complaint.
They WON'T be drawn into divorce battles-- tampering with the mail is a Felony offense... but they are not anyone's "tool".
Of course not--email is like broadcasting-- anyone between you & the intended recipient can read it anytime they like. Is not even hard to do-- any 3rd grader could probably figure it out.
Unless it is encrypted before it's sent.
That is a crime-- but rarely enforced.
The Post Office makes a lame, half-assed attempt to "verify" the order via a pair of "confirmation letters" which is about as effective as screen doors on a submarine...
The victim can and should complain to the Postal Inspection Service.
Oh I just can't believe it (took this long)
So call me a cynical bastard....
Can you say J Edgar Hoover? Check out some of the crap THAT guy got away with.
Well,Duhhh.
How obvious does it have to be before the Government figures it out?
Something as important as election results put into a format that is subject to instantaneous and permanent data-loss?
I was amazed that it was ever even considered... much less used
The thing is... the RIAA stance is ridiculous because it is almost totally unenforcable...and when they try--they alienate a lot of potential customers. I agree with you that music sharing will actually increase business in the long-run. They are so blinded by the immediate "bottom line mentality" that they can't see past their noses. I know that I have actually heard songs for the 1st time-- done by cover-bands/became interested/heard the original/bought the CD. Some things just cannot be totally regulated-- people are far too passionate about music. They just won't stand for it. Irregardless of consequences. The whole idea of a lot of music-- is to thumb one's nose at authority. That's what it's for
Politics = sleaze... it is inherent in trying to please everyone so you can get re-elected.
Basically, with our system-- it's like trying to drive a car with damaged steering on a curvy road. You have to steer (vote) one way, then the opposite, to keep the line-of-travel SOMEWHERE on the road, hoping you don't hit too many bumps. I cannot support all of either "main" party's views, and independents don't seem to be able to wade through the maze of polarized views in this country to garner enough support/cash, yet. REAL campaign-finance reform is needed -- so anyone can run-- but since the current mess is so ingrained in our society, it would probably take a constitutional amendment to force the issue. Neither of the 'ruling factions' have any real motivation to change their cash cow.
I certainly have no desire to "upgrade" my OS (xp sp2)-- while I know that -eventually- support for XP will not be offered, I think it'll be years away. I am already in the process of learning other systems... Firefox, Linux,etc, for precisely that reason. I will NOT continue to line Bill Gate$ pockets forever.
My PC itself will be upgradable for a longtime to come-- so total replacement will not be needed for a long time-- by the time I NEED an upgrade, today's tech will be antique, at best. I just don't need a "bleeding edge" machine. I have tons of RAM/Huge HD's/and a P4-- more power than I really need... and "spares" of a couple of items--from when I was learning to build the hardware. If they make everything 'proprietary' I'll move to open source-- I use some of their stuff now. 2-3 hundred dollars for an Operating System is ridiculous-- especially one that is less-than-secure/sucks up so many resources. I may be dense- but eventually I learn.
I have Zone Alarm 6-- which CLAIMS Instant Message monitoring...As I don't IM... I've never had occasion to test the claim. Just curious if you or anyone has any knowledge of whether it works --or not-- and if so, how well?
All those of us who DO know security can do is try to make as many people as you can AWARE of the risks --try to explain some of the possible consequences of NOT practicing basic security measures. I personally have everyone I know come to me --if they are having computer problems (popups/slow performance,etc) so I can help. It's a pain,sometimes trying to get across the fact that what they are experiencing is PREVENTABLE with a few, largely free, software programs & some basic maintenance. Once they discover that they can fix it themselves --if they try just a little-- they usually figure out just how much help is available. It is usually self-sustaining from that point... especially when I stress that EVERYONE is SAFER if we all do just a little bit of daily housecleaning. Most people don't want to be a problem-- they just need a little "push" in the right direction. I, in fact have a 'standard first email' that I send to everyone I know who is just getting into the internet, containing links to pages/organizations/security software/newsgroups that I think are helpful & honest.
Yeah... we all know that no Republican would EVER lie under oath, or do anything else dishonest. God FORBID.
You act as if Clinton was the first guy to get his rocks off in the White House while in office --which is far from true. While I absolutely do not condone his actions-- nor do I believe he was our best President... this holier-than-thou shit is not going to wash with me. EVER.
Unfortunately this will do little... Phishing even works (still) via snail mail-- a couple around here were just taken by the Nigerian Scam letter for $1700.00
I couldn't imagine that there were people actually taken by that nonsense-- until it was on the front page of the local paper.
Slashdot Mirror
Surpluscenter carries a lot of different types of bearings/couplings/gearsets...etc, at pretty cheap prices-- ship everywhere. I've done business with them-- good company http://www.surpluscenter.com/powerTrans.asp?UID=2008102308171619&catname=powerTrans
While I agree whole-heartedly with the principle and the idea... I'm afraid it is wayyyyy too late for 99% of the US population to opt out of anything. There are entire companies in the US that make all of their income by selling/trading your personal information. In some States (like mine) you have to opt out of the bloody Registry of Motor Vehicles selling your name/address--I just did that 2 days ago... :(
Credit-card companies (especially STORE-cards like JC Penney/Sears)
Magazine subscriptions-- EVERYBODY sells lists to EVERYBODY ELSE.
These companies provide mailing lists/phone number lists/email lists ...
they are broken down by any criteria you want.
Geographical area/ age/sex / number of rug rats /veteran/cancer survivor/ charity donor/ ANYTHING THEY WANT.
Lists are generated electronically-- or hard-copied-- or burned to disc.
If you want a list of all the left-handed/myopic/sewer-workers/who are Korean War veterans in the Metro-Chicago area-- it takes about 15 seconds (if that)
Only trouble with that is...the authorities would question their motive for waiting to file a complaint. They WON'T be drawn into divorce battles-- tampering with the mail is a Felony offense... but they are not anyone's "tool".
Of course not--email is like broadcasting-- anyone between you & the intended recipient can read it anytime they like. Is not even hard to do-- any 3rd grader could probably figure it out. Unless it is encrypted before it's sent.
That is a crime-- but rarely enforced. The Post Office makes a lame, half-assed attempt to "verify" the order via a pair of "confirmation letters" which is about as effective as screen doors on a submarine... The victim can and should complain to the Postal Inspection Service.
any dog under 14 inches is a mutant rat... not a dog.
Not necessarily true -- I communicate via email with my reps all the time... and actually get answers-- though maybe dictated ones
Even the Olympics won't use Vista-- XP for 2008
Oh I just can't believe it (took this long) So call me a cynical bastard.... Can you say J Edgar Hoover? Check out some of the crap THAT guy got away with.
Well,Duhhh. How obvious does it have to be before the Government figures it out? Something as important as election results put into a format that is subject to instantaneous and permanent data-loss? I was amazed that it was ever even considered... much less used
The thing is... the RIAA stance is ridiculous because it is almost totally unenforcable...and when they try--they alienate a lot of potential customers. I agree with you that music sharing will actually increase business in the long-run. They are so blinded by the immediate "bottom line mentality" that they can't see past their noses. I know that I have actually heard songs for the 1st time-- done by cover-bands/became interested/heard the original/bought the CD. Some things just cannot be totally regulated-- people are far too passionate about music. They just won't stand for it. Irregardless of consequences. The whole idea of a lot of music-- is to thumb one's nose at authority. That's what it's for
Walmart is using it to track inventory... read on http://www.spychips.com/
So every "cover band" in the history of mankind is in violation ? Ridiculous.
Politics = sleaze... it is inherent in trying to please everyone so you can get re-elected. Basically, with our system-- it's like trying to drive a car with damaged steering on a curvy road. You have to steer (vote) one way, then the opposite, to keep the line-of-travel SOMEWHERE on the road, hoping you don't hit too many bumps. I cannot support all of either "main" party's views, and independents don't seem to be able to wade through the maze of polarized views in this country to garner enough support/cash, yet. REAL campaign-finance reform is needed -- so anyone can run-- but since the current mess is so ingrained in our society, it would probably take a constitutional amendment to force the issue. Neither of the 'ruling factions' have any real motivation to change their cash cow.
I certainly have no desire to "upgrade" my OS (xp sp2)-- while I know that -eventually- support for XP will not be offered, I think it'll be years away. I am already in the process of learning other systems... Firefox, Linux,etc, for precisely that reason. I will NOT continue to line Bill Gate$ pockets forever. My PC itself will be upgradable for a longtime to come-- so total replacement will not be needed for a long time-- by the time I NEED an upgrade, today's tech will be antique, at best. I just don't need a "bleeding edge" machine. I have tons of RAM/Huge HD's/and a P4-- more power than I really need ... and "spares" of a couple of items--from when I was learning to build the hardware. If they make everything 'proprietary' I'll move to open source-- I use some of their stuff now. 2-3 hundred dollars for an Operating System is ridiculous-- especially one that is less-than-secure/sucks up so many resources. I may be dense- but eventually I learn.
I have Zone Alarm 6-- which CLAIMS Instant Message monitoring...As I don't IM... I've never had occasion to test the claim. Just curious if you or anyone has any knowledge of whether it works --or not-- and if so, how well?
All those of us who DO know security can do is try to make as many people as you can AWARE of the risks --try to explain some of the possible consequences of NOT practicing basic security measures. I personally have everyone I know come to me --if they are having computer problems (popups/slow performance,etc) so I can help. It's a pain,sometimes trying to get across the fact that what they are experiencing is PREVENTABLE with a few, largely free, software programs & some basic maintenance. Once they discover that they can fix it themselves --if they try just a little-- they usually figure out just how much help is available. It is usually self-sustaining from that point... especially when I stress that EVERYONE is SAFER if we all do just a little bit of daily housecleaning. Most people don't want to be a problem-- they just need a little "push" in the right direction. I, in fact have a 'standard first email' that I send to everyone I know who is just getting into the internet, containing links to pages/organizations/security software/newsgroups that I think are helpful & honest.
Yeah... we all know that no Republican would EVER lie under oath, or do anything else dishonest. God FORBID. You act as if Clinton was the first guy to get his rocks off in the White House while in office --which is far from true. While I absolutely do not condone his actions-- nor do I believe he was our best President... this holier-than-thou shit is not going to wash with me. EVER.
Unfortunately this will do little...
Phishing even works (still) via snail mail-- a couple around here were just taken by the Nigerian Scam letter for $1700.00
I couldn't imagine that there were people actually taken by that nonsense-- until it was on the front page of the local paper.