Why is it then, that you better be Christian if you hope to attain any position of power in the good 'ol USA? Talk about superficial secularity.

If you're using a mac, you can press and hold the "o" key and it will pop up as an option. I'm sure there's some FOSS out there that does the same thing too. Windows folks, well, go learn some alt codes.

That's not what he's claiming, he says that now that people know about the nsa shenanigans they won't buy "USA made" it goods. Nowhere does he say that other governments don't spy, but as long as we don't know for sure they look like the better deal over the USA.

I've actually seen Verizon in much higher usage in that realm than AT&T. I'm sure there's a similar arrangement with them.

You realize that a lot of people who make decisions don't actually like to use electronic methods of transmitting information, right? That's why rolodexes still sell, as do personal planners. A salesman isn't psychic, so he's going to cover his bases about what your possible preferences could be. It isn't "making you their secretary." You could just say no thanks instead of making a show about how "above" business cards you are. Have you actually asked them to send their contact information via email? Also, yes, sales guys can be annoying, especially bad ones. But if you actually treat them like human beings, which they are, they can also be one of your greatest assets in the technical world. I have my current job, which more than doubled my salary, because of a sales guy who informed me of an opening. It pays not to be a jerk. They're just another person doing their job, just like you, whether or not you appreciate their career.

Really? You make it a point to throw it out in front of them? Because it's that important that you prove how superior you think you are, and how arrogant and immature you actually are? It sounds like you're doing them a favor. Especially considering that you refer to someone doing their job as a "sales drone."

Well, meditation is really about focusing on one task and one task only with every spare cycle your brain can spare. I didn't read that in the combination of posts but your mileage varied :)

You forgot the "windows genuine advantage" checks every half second, because God forbid someone go 2 seconds without verifying their software's legitimacy.

Or they know you exist, but they can't pin anything on you. Sort of like how we know China is sponsoring the hacking of American assets, but we can't pin anything directly on them.

Especially considering that to get into "cyber command" you have to have a squeaky clean background (which usually means you lack some of the rogue-ish characteristics that often make the best security experts), and most of the offensive security firms, well, let's just say that they will find you. You don't apply to them.

You know, if we put that out there to the US' population as a whole, I bet we could improve our country's average IQ by around 40 points.

Awesome! So where can people from the USA sign up?

Kids bypassing security is a total failure for this program? Come onnnn. If anything it's giving them a reason to want to use them more and learn a little something about technology and security. But I guess they're not satisfied unless they have properly trained obedient creatures, not humans with the ability to think for themselves.

I still don't get one thing: if it's legal there's still the problem of an addict getting enough money to fuel their raging addiction. I a lot of the stories I hear about addicts it's usually that that drives them to crime and prostitution. I'm all for legalising drugs but I think legalising drugs like these would result in more crimes being committed to get the now legal stuff. Also heroin is one of those drugs where it's way to easy to develop a crippling addiction unlike say marihuana. IMHO there's more to it being illegal then the usual rhetoric.

Out of interest : what band would that be?