I believe that we have made the point enough times that copyright infringement does not equal theft. Please try to remember.

On Tuesday afternoon, GMT-6, I could do exactly zero of my job functions, as none of my remote server connections would stay up for longer than 5-7 seconds. Not knowing what was happening, I did hours of troubleshooting on my own connection, before finally just calling it quits for the day.

I was about ready to just walk away out of frustration before things just seemed to magically fix themselves the following morning. So yes, I think this did affect parts of the internet as a whole, and not others. I am not surprised by this.

That sounds like a debit card, and not a credit card. Don't send money to the credit card company for fraudulent transactions. They are liable, not you, other than a few hundred bucks, which most CC companies waive for customers.

Apple isn't a private company. It is subject to its shareholders. Though I suppose it is private in the "private vs. government" sense...
They have always gone the route of killing off anything that I, personally, might find useful to purchase. Looks like they are keeping the streak alive.

I am a huge fan of online automatic backups. Things like Backblaze, Crashplan, etc are neat. If, in many years, technology is changing to make your file types obsolete, you will have everything available to convert during that time. If your backup company of choice goes out of business, then choose a new one. As long as you keep something current, you will be set. I bought backblaze for all of my family members for Christmas last year. It sure does feel good to not have to worry about grabbing my PC if my house is on fire....just my wife.

"a 17" macbook"
..."so I don't buy a piece of garbage."
Too late!

So I have read through a lot of the decision, and I have come out of it with some video game "recommendations" from the Supreme Court:

Not Safe For Work, most likely:

15 Lah, “RapeLay” Video Game Goes Viral Amid Outrage, CNN (Mar. 30, 2010), http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-30/world/japan.video. game.rape_1_game-teenage-girl-japanese-government?_s=PM:WORLD.
16 Graham, Custer May be Shot Down Again in a Battle of the Sexes Over X-Rated Video Games, People, Nov. 15, 1982, pp. 110, 115.
17 Scheeres, Games Elevate Hate to Next Level, Wired (Feb. 20, 2002), http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2002/02/50523.
18 Thompson, A View to a Kill: JFK Reloaded is Just Plain Creepy, Slate (Nov. 22, 2004), http://www.slate.com/id/2110034

Have fun!

Don't forget the Denon AKDL1 Dedicated Link Cable. It will guarantee everlasting life. http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-Dedicated-Link-Cable/dp/B000I1X6PM

You are missing the point. For many poor people, a cellphone is the only access point they have for the Internet outside of public computers in public buildings, with often-restrictive operating hours. (Libraries, etc.)

Not everyone can afford to have home computers and internet connections. Get a little perspective.

I have been using Backblaze for the last year or so, and it has increased my calm by a lot. It is cheap, unlimited, and doesn't require me to think about files.

As I am not a shill, Carbonite and Spideroak offer similar plans at similar prices. I am just a HUGE fan of encrypted (private key) offsite backup.

I have only had to recover a file once or twice, but it is so nice to know that all my stuff is available if "something bad" happens. I have actually removed my tower from my "Things to grab if the house is on fire" list. I haven't told my fiance that she was #2 on the list before I had my offsite backup set up....

I live in Denver. According to the news, I am getting 37 crapjillion times more radiation than a "regular" person. Also, it appears that I may be gaining super-powers, although slowly.

I had already selected the 1-3 radio button before I saw the last option on the poll. I think I have a TI-34 in my desk. It sits next to my TI-86, which was my favorite calculator ever.

Yay for outdoor birthday party at the end of January, and snowboarding the next day with a 1.25 hour drive. I love Denver.

Concerning this new patent request, I'll see you in court! It's on like Donkey Kong®!!!

I did a quick search on this thread, and did not see a single "loose" post. On a subject like this one, where people are often talking about losing weight, I expected to see many mistakes. Everyone that has posted here has made my day. Thank you all!