Competition actually would be great. If it existed. Right now, most markets experience competition solely based on having two different sets of wires going into their business/residence. Generally, one company has exclusivity on phone/DSL lines and another company has exclusivity on the coax lines, and the service companies associated with each of them offer dissimilar services, so there isn't a direct correlation to compete against. Essentially, this creates local monopolies that can pretty much do whatever they want. I love my FiOS connection, and I would consider their rates to be reasonable, but it is unavailable in the house we're moving to. Not because of cabling in the neighborhood, but because exclusivity is granted to AT&T for phone service and related passthrough in that area. And AT&T is so shady that I have to turn to my only other option for internet: Charter communications. And then you have to consider that if you're specifically eyeing U-verse or FiOS, they tie into your coax infrastructure to prevent you from using one service for cable and another for high-speed internet. It's all collusion and corporate price fixing. The only real way to combat it is to actually be able to walk away from whatever company or industry that is doing it.

Never good to see condescending asses anywhere in the world. I hope you're not in the USA.

I think sycodon's point was that the bureaucracy of the FDA will add testing, regulation, certification and licensing fees to the "simple solution" such that it is no longer simple or cost effective. In fact, if there's a $10k machine that does this already, the manufacturers of said machine will probably lobby for just such onerous regulations.

I don't know if you'd call it the "same" rules. I'm no fan of the RIAA, and I think they might just pee their collective pants - and unfortunately pick up a few tricks - when they start trying to steamroll more senior criminals that aren't afraid to take out a hit on someone who annoys them slightly too much.

obviously, you have not heard of Fallen Earth. Haven't played it, myself. at debut, it was considered a spiritual offspring of FO for the MMO world when the real FO:OL was vaporware (and may still be). There are several MMOs in development with a PA setting. Afterfall seems the most ambitious after Fallen Earth. And there are dev videos available on YouTube. For reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Post-apocalyptic_video_games it would be nice if this list broke it out by SP/MP/MMO

we bought mobile data like we buy hardline data in this country. the service would (relatively) constantly improve, and come down in price with no caps or bandwidth throttling and (relatively) no restrictions on content. This business model has proven to work for the past decade and more, and it has benefited both providers and consumers. But probably not with the 100% profit margin that the providers grubby little hands would like it to. So, now one of the principal reasons for these companies trying to enact the pay-as-you-go model is SURELY to apply it to their landline business, as well. They're already trying it with the throttling, and I know there've been a few attempts at putting download caps on things, which would be a regression to the early AOL and dial-up ISP days.

you would think that would be a red flag to all the Obama/Pelosi supporters, huh?

other than blatantly restricting the kid's computer, this sounds like the safest option. unless you have an IT person that can find the script and trace it back to you, report it to the owner, who will then fire you. Being open about it will help you assess the situation, and if logic does not prevail, a new job should.