The fact is that with a super computer on your desktop, and the programing languages, compilers, and education - something that hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Americans have now - "Big Content" (Warner, Sony, Disney...) can not block content from you and still keep the blocking simple enough to work on any old consumer gadget. So, in order to block you from "illegally" seeing a cartoon, "THE SYSTEM" is willing to dumb down society. Yea - I'm starting to understand this "Occupy xxx" movement. Mickey Mouse is willing to keep me from studying math, or astronomy, or population statistics - ON MY OWN, in MY way - so that he can protect his billion Dollar year end bonus. EVIL.

They don't want to enforce laws, bust people that steal intellectual property. No, if you want to use a Taliban analogy: Cut the hands off everyone and we won't have thieves.

Unfortunately, "I" can't really make my own computer - "I" soldered an Altair, but without Intel's chip - nothing. So if "Big Content" makes a deal with "Big Chip" - the party is over. Most folks will be happy getting on FaceBook using their i-pad, even think they are "computing" - but they are NOT.

Keep your books on your Kindle, where Amazon has ALREADY taken books back (once, I think). Why take up all that room for a bookshelf?

Keep your data on their cloud. Where THEIR computers can study your journal, book collection, date book, letters. Their "cloud" will be used to generate content. Yes. You don't think the "FBI" wouldn't want to study all that personal data?
NOW I CAN use a real computer to totally encrypt what I put on their cloud.
Try THAT on an "i-dummy" that has been filled with epoxy to, ah, make it more reliable. ...cm

 

I agree - it's all those video cameras. I predict two things: 1). Video cameras (functioning) will be made illegal. 2). OK, we give in - USING video to capture "sources and methods"... Well, gee, that has worked for other federal agencies - why not us in the TSA? Because they are "Thousands Sanding Around" They are NOT COPS. They are as far down the food chain as algae. They are not medical people. They are actors in the "Theatre of Security" - we are the props. Really - WE ARE THE SHAREHOLDERS and should get rid of whatever idiot created this theatre - and hired actors that do not have the medical training to poke around in places, that if *I* did it would get me free room and board at the State B&B. (I speak of congress-critters - we need a new bunch) In KCI I was run through the magnetometer 3 times - did I get wanded? NO! A huge idiot tells me I will be groped. My wife was distracted so she could not see what was going on - NOTE PEOPLE - tell your travel mates to video the testicle (breast) exam and tell anyone that gets in their way to MOVE. What was the problem? Snaps on suspenders! A fast wanding would have discovered this, but I got something just short of a prostate exam. [The TSA with the McJob asked me if I had "anything sensitive" in my genital area.] I told him "only the usual male anatomy". He offered to take me in the "Privacy Room" - I told him I preferred witnesses. That caused McFeel to inform me this was not a joking matter. (Who did this idiot think was joking?) My main witness [wife] was intentionally blocked visually and distracted. Don't let it happen to you! I DO think the "privacy room" is a good idea [Adult Diapers, Colostomy Bags - uhg don't want to think about it - BUT TAKE A WITNESS! This too, will pass - but we have to do it. Occupy the USA!!

"I don't know who exactly, needs to step in and say "YOU DID NOT INVENT REMINDING PEOPLE TO DO STUFF!" " The USPTO (They are in charge of patents). But oh no, if you go to enough "schooling" you can get a license to be a professional lier (did I mean lawyer?). They like to talk of "professional ethics" - but they will use a mouse while writing a patent for a mouse - and the patent examiner will use a mouse while granting the patent. Then the little guy trying to sell a computer with a mouse can pay $5 each for use of "mouse" - or buy himself a better lawyer than (corporation with BIG bucks). I have a VERY OLD GPS that I have set up to beep every time I pass the grocery store, remembering eggs involves a phone call to wife ;-)

Anyone care to pay for a GOOD Open VPN? There are sneaky SOBs that offer free trials on pptp account (requires you run their binaries) (HA- HA-HA) and THEN there are openvpn accounts. They cost a little, and the good ones change your DNS - so your ISP has no IDEA what you are up to. You connect via IP number, and the rest is hidden - all of it. ...cm