I have it on good authority that all claims are rejected the first time through.

Most big technology companies like IBM really aren't interested in enforcing patents like this. It costs them $25000 to patent something. It could cost millions should they develop a technology based on something that is already patented or that could be patented and have to fight a lawsuit. Most of the time they are just protecting themselves. They patent everything under the sun that they can get through the USPTO and use them defensively. They can't go searching through the patent database because if they do happen to find something that is similar to something they are working on the lawsuit could cost them millions more in punitive damages because they were aware of the patent. I feel like it would be a waste of time to pursue this patent. It feels like a kick in the nuts if they are truly infringing but really it probably won't amount to anything. On the other hand if they think there could be a serious legal challenge they are likely to settle quickly rather than make a big deal out of it.

Actually, the USA is the only country in the world where that isn't true. The patent can be granted to the first to file but in the USA there is a process to take the patent back if you were the first to invent it. Every other country in the world is first to file keeps the patent.

This is completely ridiculous. You are paying multiple times for multiple services. Plain and simple. If you really want to solve this problem get rid of all unlimited plans and charge per megabyte. You'll get exactly what you pay for.

I have, and I agree. It's totally disgusting.

Smoke all you want. They didn't say you can't smoke. They said the warranty is void.

I'm just annoyed that MS isn't using OVAL and XCCDF for their compliance XML.

Actually there are penguins that live in forests in New Zealand and some that live in caves on the equator.

That depends on your OS. Win + L in Windows XP and Windows 7 is the same as clicking on switch user.

When Spring gives summer a miss and goes straight into Autumn.

Hmm...I meant western mythology.

Tolkien just stole most of his stories from Eastern mythology anyway. You may join my elite group now.

If he was working for defense, then he was working for defense, regardless of whether he was on contract or an employee or if his company was selling goods that were considered to have possibly uses as a weapons(and even if they don't). Everything is subject to export control laws. Everything. http://www.bis.doc.gov/licensing/exportingbasics.htm
I work for a software security company. We have to watch training videos frequently to be reminded of the export control laws. You can't even talk about your products to foreign nationals without a permit. And yes, information is considered an export. In fact, just taking the laptop out of the country with that information was a violation.