Yes. But that doesn't stop internal attacks.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Microsoft is saying that because, by default, Windows firewall does not allow any listening services, the client is safe?

So anyone running Windows XP should not have any listening services. I just realized that, by default in our enterprise environment, the Windows firewall on our desktops are shut off (not my decision). This probably isn't a good thing.

This is exactly how government jobs are structured. It's no wonder so many people tend to hold a negative view of government workers as there really is no incentive to produce more.

From http://kb.mozillazine.org/Disabling_autocomplete_-_Firefox To prevent entries from History or bookmarked items from appearing but show those that you have specifically typed into the Location Bar (url bar), use about:config to toggle browser.urlbar.matchonlytyped to true. To completely disable the Location Bar autocomplete function in Firefox 3, modify the preference browser.urlbar.maxRichResults to 0 (zero). [1]

http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2009-08/0174.html

My insurance company isn't bankrupt?

And when I say accept payment, I mean at time of service..not when the client feels like paying me and issues an ETF or whatever.

What I want, as a business owner, is a free way to accept payment that isn't cash. That is a check. I always have to "worry" about the authenticity of payment, even cash. Checks are still very useful in a variety of situations.

If I take a check a customer has given me to the bank, the bank, depending on the amount, usually credits me the money, then collects the money, using the check, from the drawing bank. There is no free loan there. Even if they hold the bank until funds are collected...that's just it..funds aren't collected, so again, no free loan.

Debit processing costs money as well. Giro, not available in the US, is really just the reverse of the payee presenting the check. It's not feasible for, say, pizza delivery. But in my business, it would work.

The only other major option, besides cash, is credit card processing which costs businesses money. I run a small hosting business for local clients and prefer a check versus paying a fee to the credit card company just to get a payment, although I offer both. I would be very disappointed if checks disappeared.

California is talking about taxing marijuana at 50$ per ounce:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/deadlineusa/2009/feb/24/california-marijuana-legalisation-legislation

"The bill by San Francisco representative Tom Ammiano, would legalise the cultivation, possession and sale of marijuana by people 21 and older. It would charge growers and wholesalers a $5,000 (£3,400) initial franchise fee and a $2,500 annual renewal fee, and would levy a $50 per ounce fee on retailers." So, no, it will not be $10 per ounce. And, once this becomes a cash cow, the government will *still* need to enforce it's regulations on growing, cultivating, and selling.

Marijuana is a weed and very easy to grow and cultivate. The government would only legalize something like this to make money, and they won't make money if I'm getting it for the cost of electricity and soil.

I never said there would be an up tick in use. My statement was, if you try to limit someone's supply, or limit the type of drug supplied, you will still have the same problems with cartels and crime.

My primary concern would be meth, our number one drug problem in my opinion. I did not see that mentioned in the article you referenced.