Is FREE WiFi really FREE?

In the last several months that has been an increasing number of arrests across the U.S. of people using FREE WiFi services. Many of them have been people using it from their cars instead of entering the place of business where the service is being offered from, but something still seems strange to arrest someone for using an advertised FREE service.

I sort of understand how the law is written why they can arrest them, under the piggyback clause which basically constitutes an illegal entry onto another network that you do not have permission to use. But again, the service is advertised as FREE with no stipulations to purchase or use a particular product or service offered by the entity that is providing the FREE WiFi service.

My opinion: If you are going to offer FREE Wifi service and advertise it, and you do NOT want people using it that are not a patron of your establishment, then create some sort of security clearance. Create a login page that requires some credentials to be entered. If they need to purchase or check out something from you then put the credentials on the receipt. They could be unique for each and every receipt and it would make it much more difficult to “hack” or piggyback your system. And if you caught anyone using it without the proper credentials then their certainly would be grounds for legal action. Otherwise, tough!

The same goes for home WiFi access. If you are going to put a WiFi point in your home, and you are not going to take even basic measures to secure it, then you essentially are saying to the world. You are more than welcome to come and use my internet service free of charge.

That’s my soapbox speech for today. What are your thoughts?

adn.com | alaska : Using free wireless at library described as theft

Michigan man arrested for using cafe’s free WiFi from his car

Fed up station owner shuts off gas pumps

Kudos to this man/ station for taking a pro-active stand concerning the ridiculous state of gasoline prices.  Granted it may not make much of a difference, but it is certainly good to know that there are still people in this country who are willing to do something like this to prove a point.

To all the gas and oil companies::

As a result of your greed and increasing your record profit margins my wife and I have decided to stay home this Memorial Day weekend to save money.  And for the foreseeable future all our driving journeys will be at the discretion of the prices you are setting at the pumps.  I do not blame the local stations or their owners for this but you and you alone.  I will purchase gas for our car when I absolutely need to at the cheapest price I can find, but I highly doubt we will be making any joyriding trips cross-country this year.

I also hope that you are enjoying your fancy cars, that probably get horrible gas mileage, while the rest of try to figure out how much gas we can actually afford to put in our cars each week.  And by the way, I don’t believe that all the BS in the media concerning shortages and supply/ demand is actually accurate.  That is what we are supposed to believe, but we also know that you are willing to close down oil production when the surpluses hit a certain point so that the supply and demand will then allow you to raise your prices AGAIN! It is ridiculous!

There should NEVER be any so-called shortages, your facilities should NEVER shut down unless there are actual physical reasons to do so.  If the utility companies decided at random to just quit working and shut down their facilities, everyone, including yourselves would be severely ticked off.  And if you say otherwise then I challenge ALL the utility companies that service your homes to, at random, begin shutting off your services multiple times during the year.

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Now I am by no means one who is a ‘conservationist at all costs’, but I try to not be wasteful, though I am fully aware that I fail at that from time to time.  However right now with the stranglehold the oil companies have on our entire economy and industries (beyond gas and oil production, to all the everyday products we buy) we need to push harder than ever to annihilate our dependence on oil.  If for no other reason that to put the oil overlords in their place.

There have been emails and other online articles concerning a boycott of a major oil company’s gas to attempt to lower gas prices.  I have also seen counter articles stating that these boycott attempts have been pushed for years with little to no success.  But quite honestly gas prices have never been as high and as difficult to muster than in the past 12-18 months.

I believe there is enough resentment of the oil companies over these high prices that if the research is done to show which gasoline companies purchase their product from Exxon Mobil, and it is published, then this theory might actually hold water.  To pull it off and make it work it would take a vast majority of drivers across this country to agree to hold to it.  It may even require paying a few cents more per gallon down the street at first, but given a period of time it will begin to hurt the bottom line for the said major oil company.

I am all for it and I will begin to do the research myself.  If anyone else can provide information on this we may just be able to make a difference in this massive price gouging of the American people.

Fed up station owner shuts off gas pumps – CNN.com

Elder Wisdom Circle. Advice From Those Who Care.

Have you ever tried to make a decision about life or even your finances and you were just unclear as to what was best?  People say that years add to your wisdom of life, which is why Grandparents and those who have graced this earth for many years often have some of the best advice.

Well the Elder Wisdom Circle has brought several people who much experience behind them and put them on the internet.  The group is made up of older adults in smaller groups all across the country.  The company is based in San Francisco and offer advice on a wide-variety of topics.  If you have a specific question you can submit it and you will receive a personal response about it.

Those who participate in the Elder groups are put through a thorough screening process and are committed to helping the younger generations make wise choices in life.

A unique and refreshing breeze across the internet.  It is a good thing to see cross-generational involvement in something that is predominately thought of as a teens to middle-aged adults venue.

Elder Wisdom Circle. Advice From Those Who Care.

Jobs Blasts Teachers Unions

OK. This is a hot topic, at least on the internet. What I want to know is, was Steve Jobs off-base or out-of-line with his comments. So please before reading the rest of this blog post, I would strongly ask that you read the article on his speech given to a teachers group in Austin, TX. 

Home Zone Beta 4

 Home Zone is really cool software that simply lets you “program” your computer to perform certain functions based on the presence, or lack thereof, a particular wireless network or Bluetooth device.

He has made significant changes to the software already, even in its infancy.  You can do certain things such as Enable/ Disable Screensaver password on entering or leaving of a device or Wireless Access Point (WAP).  You can also now have the system enable your screensaver as well.

A pretty cool piece of software. And still in Beta, pretty nifty stuff.  Kudos to the creator.  Keep up the good work.

Home Zone Beta 4 – metaquark.de blog

Did Bill Gates’ Lies Cause Apple’s New TV Ads?

Mr Gates has so graciously added to the fodder the Mac community can use to taunt him with.  In a recent interview Gates was questioned on his new operating system, Windows Vista, as well his biggest rival Apple, Inc’s current operating system, Tiger, and the to-be -released version of Mac OS X, Leopard (10.5), which is due in late March.

He apparently got flustered in the interview and just fed up with it all and started spouting information wasn’t entirely accurate. Many are now speculating that these claims were part of what prompted the latest string of Apple ads, jabbing at the new version of Windows and its “features”.

Check it out here.

War Of Words: Bill Gates Attacks Apple, Macs.

Mac360 – Did Bill Gates’ Lies Cause Apple’s New TV Ads?

Vista confusion may aid Mac OS X

So Microsoft has put yet another thorn in their side with the release of Vista. Their new and shiny is appearing to get a lot of hype in the media. But in reality the whole hullaballoo is turning into a circus.

Microsoft chose to release a total of 10 versions of Windows Vista at launch, confusing customers and experts alike about the differences between the various editions. Upgrade versions of Vista are “poison,” according to Digit, because the requirements for each edition vary and demand an existing installation of Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Users hoping to reinstall Windows Vista on a freshly-formatted hard drive are forced to install Windows twice, and future hardware configurations may fail to support Windows XP to render the Vista upgrade versions useless.

So once you have spent weeks trying to figure out which version of Vista you need to purchase, then you will have to purchase another computer to run it. Then you will have to upgrade that NEW computer with more RAM and a better Video Card, just to be able to run the OS and get all the “new and shiny” features to run properly. Tell me how this is a viable model for a software company?

Analyst: Vista to Have Short-term Negative Impact on Apple || The Mac Observer

Even analysts are saying that Vista really isn’t much competition for Apple.  The copycat isn’t going to hold too much over on the Big Cat.

So are you still confused about Vista? Here is your simply answer. Wait until April… and buy a brand new and shiny from Apple that will be sporting a new Leopard print OS.

Then all your cares will just float away…

MacNN | Vista confusion may aid Mac OS X

States Challenge Natl Drivers License

 Apparently there is some new legislation being tossed around that would nationalize the driver’s license databases from every state.

WASHINGTON (AP) – A revolt against a national driver’s license, begun in Maine last month, is quickly spreading to other states.

The Maine Legislature on Jan. 26 overwhelmingly passed a resolution objecting to the Real ID Act of 2005. The federal law sets a national standard for driver’s licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases.

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“It’s the whole privacy thing,” said Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures. “A lot of legislators are concerned about privacy issues

What I don’t understand is why this has anything to do about privacy.  If the Feds want your data or information about you, not having a National database isn’t going to stop it and sure as anything won’t slow them down much. And quite honestly what information is on your Driver’s License is mostly public record anyway.  So quit your whining.

And the whole Big Brother thing, give me a break.  If you’re not doing anything illegal, they’re not watching you anyway.  They are only watching people that are of interest for illegal activity or ties.  So why do you care, honestly?

I can’t imagine that they have nothing else better to do than spend the time and money watching you in your backyard from a satellite, or worse listening in to phone calls to your mother.

My Way News – States Challenge Natl Drivers License

How to get a soccer partner

Granted, this method will take some time. But this kid knows more than he lets on.

YouTube – How to get a soccer partner

Microsoft warns of counterfeit dangers

Microsoft recently released a very well produced still animated video short about using pirated software.  The quality is really good, especially for Microsoft, however, the fact they spent that much money and time to produce is rather amusing.

It took how long to get Vista on the streets, and still with too many issues looming to count.  And yet they can produced a high quality video short talking about piracy??  Curious…

GSI-Counterfeit_Confidential_WideScreen.wvx video/x-ms-wvx Object

iPhone Ringtone Remixed

Did you watch the Macworld 2007 Keynote? Did you see the iPhone demo? If so, I’m sure you heard the iPhone’s ringtone during the phone call exchange between Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller.So did you like it? Good, now you can download it here. Check out this link.

iPhone Ringtone Remixed Into 90’s RPG Soundtrack: Listen Here – Gizmodo

Steve Ballmer laughs off the iPhone

A brief interview of Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corp. on the recently announced Apple iPhone.  According to Ballmer the new phone device is the “most expensive” and not suitable for the business market, which is who Microsoft caters to.

My only comment to that is… that makes the Mac/ PC ads all the more accurate.   Thanks Stevie B, you just confirmed that the Microsoft market is strictly business.  Now my question is, since you are so geared towards business, what they heck is up with Vista.  It looks like a bubblegum machine exploded on my machine.  And quite honestly, most of it is eerily similar to Mac OS X.  Do you have a response to any of this??

Steve Ballmer laughs off the iPhone, deems it “most expensive” in the marketplace – Engadget

Graphics Animation : Pencil-Test

This video short was done over 16 years ago on a computer that had a 16 MHz processor and only 8 MB RAM.  The quality of this video still rivals some of what is produced today on what could comparatively be considered “supercomputers”.  The best part of this little graphics test… is it was done on a Macintosh II.

YouTube – Pencil-Test

Mac Purchase Safety Dates

Macworld Keynote Purchase Safety Dates – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Santa Claus does not exist school tells stunned kids

Santa Claus does not exist school tells stunned kids | News | This is London

Giant tent to be built over city in Astana

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Giant tent to be built in Astana

Progressive groups call for Wal-Mart to pull Left Behind video game

Progressive groups call for Wal-Mart to pull Left Behind video game

RFID tagging coming to hotel guests in Ohio

RFID tagging coming to hotel guests in Ohio – The Wireless Report

The 9/11 Truth Movement’s Dangers, Nation: Dishonest Government Leads To Cynical Theorists – CBS News

The 9/11 Truth Movement’s Dangers, Nation: Dishonest Government Leads To Cynical Theorists – CBS News

Vista ad

YouTube – Vista ad

Christian vs. Christ-follower

Think Christian » Blog Archive » Christian vs. Christ-follower

Girl, 13, charged as sex offender and victim

DenverPost.com – Girl, 13, charged as sex offender and victim

Would you trade your child for a PS3?

Would you trade your child for a PS3? – Engadget

Mac users aren’t ‘real people with real jobs’

Mac users aren’t ‘real people with real jobs’ at The Apple Blog

iPods Best Sellers from Amazon.com

Amazon’s bestsellers list for MP3 Players shows that Apple’s iPods hold ten (10) of the top twelve (12) spots on the list.

Amazon.com Bestsellers