I understand there was big uptake on VPN services from the US to get around the poor coverage so folks could get the BBC if they wanted, though I don't see why it couldn't be offered as a paid service to offset our licence fee.

I'd have to say the coverage by the beeb was excellent and well worth the fee, and I'm not a sports fan!

It totally stinks that the high percentage of legitimate Megaupload customers are getting screwed 'cos of the US bully-boy tactics. What about shutting down the US Postal Service because of all the illegal activity that enables? People do bad things with telephones too. Hey, don't people use cars as getaway cars ... let's shut down Ford and GM while we're at it!

How about maintain two FB profiles, one for friends and one 'work safe' one with work colleagues on it. I know several of my friends kids maintain two profiles, one for friends and one for Mum & Dad and it works a treat!

Of course, you could just ask them to login too, and you can skim through their page(s) whilst they do the same to yours! As others have said, simply tell them you're not on FB (or any of the others) but you are willing to start one up if it is a requirement.

... and my personal favourite, ask them to send you a friend request and you'll consider their application!

What I don't get is why anyone thinks lobby groups buying legislation is the right way!

Possibly that might be the sensible thing to do, 'cos next time you land in the US you could find yourself arrested, but as other posters have said, it's not OUR fault the US has stupid laws and it's certainly not up to us to police them.

If I have a non-US gambling website and someone from the US wants to come spend their $$$'s then I say good luck to 'em 'cos it's none of my business where you are as long as what we're doing is legal where I am! It's the US citizen that's broken the law, not the website.

Really getting fed up with the US continually forgetting they're just ONE COUNTRY amongst many. You want to make online gambling illegal - go right ahead! Make Intelligent Design part of the science curriculum ... fill ya boots! Legislate Pi = 3 ... whatever! Just don't think you can bully the rest of the World into doing it too!

... and Rest Of The World: Wake UP and grow a pair! Tell the US to take a hike!

I am deeply saddened by that, but each to their own. I'd say he should be tried, and during that trial all the leaked documents should be examined and if it was in the public good that they be leaked (eg cover up of the gunning down of civilians) then they should count in the "plus" column. Ultimately, I think his bravery quite possibly warrants a medal. To stand up and be counted, to be the David to the US Goliath, to fight for Truth, Justice & The American Way!

If my government had been hiding evidence of the killing of innocent people (and Reuters reporters) I would want someone to blow the whistle on them. Not sure what Manning's reasons were (if, indeed, he was the leak :-) ), but whoever let it be known that the US covers up such atrocities is a hero in my book.

As I see it, you either agree with the cover up of the civilian massacre, or you think it's right that the video was leaked! I really can't see a third way!

... and that, in a nutshell, is pretty much why many UK citizens are unhappy with the extradition deal our bozo government signed us up to, because if we want someone from the US we have to show sufficient evidence to a US court, but the US just has to point and we bend over!

The old geezer who's just been shipped out is a case in point, and I've no idea if he's guilty or not, but surely if you ask for someone to be handed over you should show some evidence first.

Sure, but it's not like the US is France!

If they know, that implies they can prove it, and if they can prove it they don't need to decrypt it!

Word to the wise, don't let her hear you calling her your first wife!

Back in the dim and distant past when I last used windows ("XP" I think it was called?) I seem to recall a Double Click entailed clicking one button twice. Don't tell me they subsequently changed that to one click from each button!

Yep, they agreed to ditching almost all of their major policies in return for the referendum on voting. That was the one major item they couldn't, and wouldn't, budge on because they presumably felt that everything else was window dressing in comparison. Had the population not been such a bunch of Daily Mail readers and the referendum come down against FPTP then the Lib Dems could have hoped to get more seats in future elections and change our parliament from a two party system into a real three party system with a far better spread of representation in parliament. That would, IMHO, have been worth letting go on the other items they cared about. As I said, I'm not a Lib Dem supporter, but it would seem to me to have been a worthwhile gamble. Sadly, they didn't count on the vast reserves of apathy and ignorance this country can call on when the Red Tops wave the flag!

... and then whoops, they didn't win, so all bets are off! I'm not a Lib Dem supporter, but really, their election promises were for if they won the election and however you cut it, they didn't win!

I'm more annoyed about both Lib Dem and Con MPs who said they'd repeal the Digital Economy Act if they got into power and they haven't done so. That's a far more heinous crime because there was really nothing to stop them just cutting it dead in the water on day one after the Nu-Liebour unelected mandarin, and multi-expelled from government for sleaze, Lord Mandlemort rail-roaded it through at the last minute.

It will be interesting to see what the parties are willing to promise next time around, but of course we haven't actually held them to their word this time, so I guess we're just back to business as usual!

... and I guess we'd be in line for an eight day silence to mark our respect!

If we actually return to the moon, might a space elevator be more practical there? Could we do that now?
What about Mars ... how close are we to using a SE there?