You're way more eloquent than I. Thank you.

I was downtown for 9/11 and the last big blackout.

I can tell you from experience that the cell towers overloaded or had lost power within an hour of the planes hitting and almost again instantly when the power went off in the big blackout. During the blackout some cell tower installs were powered from building generators, but there was no where near enough to handle the volume.

Hell, sometimes they're hard pressed to even get in position, let alone operate. Hams have the advantage (if you want to call it that) of more than likely already having hot-damn eager people in place and ready to rock and roll.

StinkyPad is probably non-tech but interested in geeky stuff and doesn't have the background or exposure to be aware of this sort of stuff.

F---ing A.

You may think so, but I assure you that your impression of amateur radio's place in the scheme of things is sadly wrong. Think of them more like rabid Maker's hooked on radios instead of Arduinos and 3D printers. They aren't random people yelling breaker, breaker into a CB. It's a very technical hobby. Some might have just a transceiver and an antenna. But others have setups that look more like a satellite comm center. The people who dive into emergency comms do so with as much seriousness dedication as any EMT, fireman, or policeman. They're more like the guys who chase tornadoes. They go _to_ the trouble.

But don't misunderstand their purpose. They don't do this just for emergencies. Radio is a way of life for many of them.

Sure, "the communicate by any means" is still there. However, amateur radio operators provide vital communications to coordinate rescue and relief efforts all over the world, way more than just providing "I'm alive" messages. They've been doing it for over 1000 years. Ham operators happen to be sprinkled around all over the world, so they might already be there when bad shit happens. The operators have networks, procedures, and contact in place for emergency situations.

Ham radio's activity in this regard is officially recognized in the US and most other countries.

In the US, MARS (DoD program), ARES (civilian org, "ARRL"), and RACES (DHS program). All three deal deal with the use of amateur radio to provide emergency/disaster services.

Lobbying is a polite name for bribery and coercion.

Fuck politeness.

If you have sufficient funds, you can buy any law you want.

Yeah, sorry for that.

I have developed a great deal of animosity towards Google.

Which fucking planet are you on?

You've been around long enough that you can not claim to never have heard or seen those foaming-at-the-mouth televangelists or heard the American politicians pandering to the so-called bible belt. They point to "God's word" as being the law every fucking day.

Nope. Not at all.

Anyone who thinks that Islaam is sweetness and light and peace and is willing to coexist with other religions should open a fucking history book.

Google is reaping the rewards of their hubris.

Fuck your real names.
Fuck your forced G+ membership to comment in Play store.
Fuck your forced G+ membership to comment in YouTube.
Fuck your forced G+ membership to Login with Google Credentials.
Fuck your bullshit.
Fuck you.

Snowden did not create a hostile environment for governments and intelligence agencies. The actions of governments accomplished that entirely on their own.

Mr. Rowley make's his statement based on a 1950's mindset where "the government is your friend and can be trusted" was a common theme. Well, unfortunately, that illusion was dispelled many, many years ago after repeated episodes of government scandals, outright lies, and law breaking.

“If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. -Abraham Lincoln, Speech at Clinton, Illinois, September 8, 1854.”

Governments and their intel organizations fucked away the public's trust long ago.

The remainder of Mr's Rowley's statement is yet another poke intended to plant an idea that the public should support laws against the civilian use of encryption for data and communications.

Don't let that 1984 supporter bullshit you.

Snowden has created an environment where some technology companies are less comfortable working with law reinforcement and intelligence agencies and the bad guys are better informed. We all love the benefit of the internet and all the rest of it, but we need their support in making sure that they're doing everything possible to stop their technology being exploited by terrorists. I'm saying that needs to be front and center of their thinking and for some it is and some it isn't."

I want more shows like Rake (the Australian version), The Fall (UK), and Wire in the Blood.

There's already plenty of sweetness and light and pre-digested pap for the masses who only want something to fill their mind between stuffing their faces and going to bed.

They can no more remove the means for suicide than they can legislate a person's desire to live or what makes them horny.

It's a complete waste of time and money to even attempt to banning the items a person could use to suicide.

It's time for the fucking politicians to actually rectify a serious problem instead of dicking around with time wasting subjects and endless re-iterations of old laws to appear that they're actually working.

Facebook is only taking steps to ensure a steady revenue stream. They must prolong the agony of people who don't want to be here anymore so that there is plenty of drama to suck in the feeble minded. If there's no drama to pull in the tabloid mentality, who's gong to click those ads and spend money?

With a GB connection, what the hell? Add a decent VPN service to the router and let ATT whistle for your browsing habits.

So much bullshitting around whining about who can see what you browse to. Get a clue.