And good for you. This whole thing wouldn't be so much of a problem if there was more people coughing up and less people downloading.

When I started with torrents it was a few scoundrels ripping off a few films - now everyone and their dog is doing it. I wish we hadn't all shown our brothers and mothers how to do it, and made the clients so user friendly. It is now way too mainstream, and that is why governments are now involved.

Hopefully new legislation will reduce the numbers once again so that only those who are truly determined will be able to get around it. The government can then pat themselves on the back for reducing it by 70% and everyone is happy.

The EU has a larger economy than the US, and therefore it is not an amount of business that you would want to play games with.

All companies, public or otherwise follow a set of rules and standards when they do business in any country or state. Is this news to you?

I ate some Escolar on holiday in Poland. It is also known as butter fish or something like that. In Poland it wass omething like Maszlanka? I had two very large fillets (smoked) and was told nothing about any side effects. It was delicious - very soft meat and very meaty. I ate it all and then when I got up the next day (early) I got ready to go for a jog. I was wearing very small running shorts. Basically this fish causes a reddish oil to build up in your gut and it seems to be able to leak out whenever it wants. A small early morning fart whilst jogging is enough to empt about two egg cup fulls in one go. It has no smell luckily. I was running in the woods when this happened so I immediately got behind a tree and let the rest of it go, and then cleaned off my legs with some ferns. It lack of odour is quite surprising, given where it has been, and it comes out completely separate from other solids. I didn't know at that point that the fish was to blame. So I bought more on the last day at the Baltic, and took it pack to my in-laws house in Wroclaw. I had some for lunch the next day in their home. That night I was ready for bed, and was sitting naked on the bed, which had been lovingly made up by my mother in law (new white linen all round). My gut had been fine since that earlier incident and for a moment I forgot where I was and let out some gas that felt like it had been building up all day. I felt a dampness, and suddenly the world seemed to close in around me, as I realised what may have happened. I jumped to my feet and saw *loads* of bright red oil all over the white sheets. Sweat just literally started sprouting out of my head as I thought about what to do next... sleep in it? Go and wake the in-laws? At this point (three years ago) I wasn't yet married even, and I had to sleep separately from my (then) girlfriend. They were all asleep already. I ended up sleeping on the other side of the bed. I woke up late, to find my girlfiend standing next to the bed with a look of horror on her face. Why she later married me I have no idea. Needless to say, I haven't eaten any of that nasty but delicious fish ever since.

I love you AC

What has happened to the world? Why are people so soft now? People are living longer than ever they did before, and there are no great wars in the western world. Medicine helps to keep people alive that otherwise would have died from various defects. There is very little natural selection left in the developed world. We are trying to make it impossible to die. People aren't officially allowed to kill themselves even if they choose to. What's next? Perhaps manual gearboxes should be outlawed in case some retard isn't intelligent enough to shift and drive at the same time? Or should that dipshit just be allowed to kill himself? Yes, others may be involved, but that is better than the "if it saves even ONE precious life, we should all drive at 20mph ALL the time" mentality. It drives me up the wall. Must we eliminate every danger from the western world? Perhaps the only way to really be safe is to stay at home? Perhaps if it is under 4 degrees outside all driving should be banned? Sadly, as soon as anyone mentions a new law to make it illegal to do something whilst driving, there is a herd of nodding sadsacks lined up saying "yes, we SHOULD bad drivers from scratching their arses whist driving - think of the CHILDREN!" or "I for one APPLAUD THIS LAW - count me in - I don't hate children and want to kill them on the road". Why are we all so soft now? H&S is on another planet now. Last week I saw gardeners wearing life jackets. "Yes, but look over there" they chanted, "there is a sream running through the park - its for our own safety". People have become so risk averse that they are losing control on what is sensible and what is not.

I think you missed his point - the idea of being punished (by the state *or* financially) are both deterents.

Good Point. Unless we are "tubing up" so we don't need toilet breaks or food breaks, I would imagine that if it is so realistic that we can't distinguish the difference we would end up starving, dehydrated and having defocated all over ourselves. I used to wet the bed because I had dreams in which I went to the toilet.

I used to wet the bed because I had dreams in which I went to the toilet. In the dream I would stop beforehand and, knowing that I often had such problems, would try to decide if I was dreaming or awake. Sometimes I would clue up and sometimes i wouldn't. I also found myself questioning reality before using the toilet when I was awake, nervously staring to pee and half expecting my leg to start feeling wet.

Laugh all you want but having to question reality is a wierd feeling.

A review of this fantastic cable on Amazon:

"Me and my brother chose to listen chose Captain Beefhearts 'Trout Mask Replica' after setting up this cable with our Denon Home Theatre System. The results are truly horrific. The first few seconds of silence before track one we could hear the universe inhaling before we were pressed into our respective couches and mutli coloured tartan was projected upon all surfaces in our basement. Barely able to speak or move with our fingers ripping into our arm rests, I turned to see my brother age 20 years in 5 seconds and his feet expanded like a rubber band across the floor and up the opposing wall to reach the ceiling. Bear in mind all this happened before the twanging chords of Frownland had even kicked in - at which point I had noticed similar effects upon myself - I was suddenly wearing a 4 foot trout on each leg as trousers. Not only that but the walls of the basement had dissapeared and we were flying on our couches through what I can only describe as a burberry electrofunk acid poetry rift in time and space. The most horrific thing of all was that after having spent 300 years crawling to the system to unplug said cable, my brother was unable to control the sheer power of such a quality signal and like an ancient psychedelic Mr Miyagi struggling with a running fire hose, pointed the beam directly into his face. This was over 2 weeks ago - I am only now able to wield a keyboard, my finger nails having grown back. Since then my brother has randomly been appearing around our neighbourhood in a kind of mirror prison (like the one in the superman movie) only it's like he is trapped inside the album cover. (Trout Mask Replica) For now this cable will remain where my brother dropped it. The equipment and entire basement are off limits until we break him out of his transdimensional prison. Do not buy this cable. "

An Amazon review:

(one star) DISSAPPOINTED
"A caution to people buying these: if you do not follow the "directional markings" on the cables, your music will play backwards. Please check that before mentioning it in your reviews. "

That only works if you apply "intentions be damned". However, intentions (the kill, to cause harm etc) tend to be relevant in the eyes of the law. If I kill someone indirectly whilst trying to achieve something else, the law tends to be more lenient than if I hack off someones head with a cricket bat and then kick it around.

I am glad that mono has been brought up to 2.0.1 at last. Shame its not 2.4 but at least its an improvement.

Probably not high on everyone else's list though...

Nail em up I say... nail some sense into them.

I can make bees suffer.