The Virginia Supreme Court has upheld the first felony conviction for spam email. Spam is not protected as a constitutional right to free speech. The spammer was convicted to a nine year prison sentence.
“…Prosecutors presented evidence of 53,000 illegal e-mails Jaynes sent over three days in July 2003. But authorities believe he was responsible for spewing 10 million e-mails a day in an enterprise that grossed up to $750,000 per month.”
This felon was not thinking of exercising his constitutional rights to free speech when these spam emails were being broadcasted. It is to the court’s credit that it recognized a planned, malevolent scheme for profit and did not let lawyers invoke constitutional protection for this electronic trash.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations FlyingHamster
It has been a year since Chris Pirillo invited me to post in this space. In that time, I have tried to contribute regularly and daily. For the most part, posts on this DogReader space have been daily, when the computer gremlins have been kind. Since it has been a year, I would ask the readers to give me some feedback (you too Chris). What are your likes and dislikes? How can this space be improved? What suggestions do you have?
You can write to me, care of a link on my site, FlyingHamster. The email address is in the index, located in the right hand column. Thanks for your time and any comments. It would be appreciated - and I promise to send a note back.
Catherine
[tag]dogreader, feedback, chris pirillo, one year[/tag]
If Rasheed Wallace’s name instantly came to mind, you would be wrong. At this point in the 2007-2008 NBA season, the leader in technical fouls is Kobe Bryant.
This may be the only criticism of a MVP-like season. Kobe Bryant certainly will stand consideration for Most Valuable Player votes. However, with five more technical fouls during regular season play, Kobe Bryant will face a one game suspension. The magic number is sixteen (16). Sixteen technical fouls merits a one game suspension. And for those keeping count of how many technicals Rasheed Wallace has at the moment, it is only a measly nine (9). Perhaps Rasheed has mellowed…
I am fortunate to have the support of a group of local geeks who attend LAN parties. This group has convinced me to attend one of these gatherings and it was amazing. There were computers as far as the eye could see. There were hundreds of participants.
If there was an Olympic event in setting up and tearing down a computer set up, each person in this group would have a world class ranking. It is like a choreographed routine. The system is up and running in minutes. There is super organization. And from these friends, I learned an excellent organizational technique.
They have had me label each cord, power pack, extension hook up… everything. Some use tags that go on airport luggage. There is space to fill in that such and such cord goes with this specific piece of equipment. It saves so much time and eliminates so much searching. Eventually, things will become separated or land in some desk drawer, with the best of intentions. Then, perhaps months later, a piece of equipment is found and it becomes a guessing game as to where it belongs. This sort of guessing is eliminated, if everything is tagged initially. No more guessing necessary. It is an inexpensive way to becoming organized with all the gadgets and accessories. And, if you ever have to move, this method of keeping things sorted is absolutely terrific.
I am fortunate to have the support of a group of local geeks who attend LAN parties. This group has convinced me to attend one of these gatherings and it was amazing. There were computers as far as the eye could see. There were hundreds of participants.
If there was an Olympic event in setting up and tearing down a computer set up, each person in this group would have a world class ranking. It is like a choreographed routine. The system is up and running in minutes. There is super organization. And from these friends, I learned an excellent organizational technique.
They have had me label each cord, power pack, extension hook up… everything. Some use tags that go on airport luggage. There is space to fill in that such and such cord goes with this specific piece of equipment. It saves so much time and eliminates so much searching. Eventually, things will become separated or land in some desk drawer, with the best of intentions. Then, perhaps months later, a piece of equipment is found and it becomes a guessing game as to where it belongs. This sort of guessing is eliminated, if everything is tagged initially. No more guessing necessary. It is an inexpensive way to becoming organized with all the gadgets and accessories. And, if you ever have to move, this method of keeping things sorted is absolutely terrific.
The news items cross the service and, for a brief moment, there is doubt. There is the ‘they wouldn’t do that’ moment. And then more and more news services carry the story. And all one can do is shake one’s head:
“Microsoft executives believed there were serious problems with Vista’s driver support when the OS launched, according to internal emails unearthed during a court case.”
Microsoft people, at the highest level of management, knew that Vista had a problem. And yet the product was launched. This is knowing that people would spend money, install an insufficient product and have a whole load of computer problems.
“Righto” … as Steve Ballmer would say.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
[tag]microsoft, vista, problems, launch, steve ballmer[/tag]
Three or four times a year, Nike (or some other athletic shoe company) really really annoys me. I am a recreational runner and I usually run at least four times a week. Usually, this is on paved roads so the soles of my running shoes do not last very long. I have learned to monitor the wear on the soles very carefully. It was a painful lesson to learn. I had a muscle tear, that was problematic for over a year, because of the sole of one shoe was causing a repetitive stress problem. So, I do check the soles for wear and replace the shoe promptly when the sole wear reaches a certain measure.
Replacing a shoe is where the problem repeats itself. If a certain model of shoe fits and becomes a favorite, it is almost impossible to find that particular shoe again. In three or four months, the ‘latest and greatest’ product line is in the stores and the old favorite disappears. And, no, it is not easy to find a supplier online that has it in stock. - It also depends on the month when new shoes are needed. At certain points in the year, recently purchased shoes are ‘old’ in a few days or in a few weeks. The new season product line reaches the retailers.
Furthermore, there is a risk of buying and using a new product line. Not all running footwear is the same, even if it is from the same company. The running shoe companies wants the consumer to spend on a current model. It is expensive, of course; and there is always the risk that the shoe is not being suitable. Walking around the store in the shoes is far different that being on the roads and running.
It seems that the stores cannot place a special order for the old model. It is no longer made. And it is difficult to find old stock. If an online store, by chance, happens to have the old line, it may be out of the specific size. And it is a risk to order internationally because the sizing varies just enough to be a problem.
The sales people in various stores have suggested that I buy in bulk. That is, if I find a shoe that I like, I should return and buy as many as I can. It is a valid suggestion, if one had hundreds and hundreds of dollars to spend in an effort to stockpile footwear. - Currently, I am using a Nike product. The sole wear is approaching the measure that indicates that it has to be replaced. I will go looking for the same shoe and I will not find it in stock. It has been almost four months since my last purchase. Nike will assume that I want their latest development.
It is going to be so annoying.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
[tag]nike, footwear, replacement, new product lines[/tag]
Three or four times a year, Nike (or some other athletic shoe company) really really annoys me. I am a recreational runner and I usually run at least four times a week. Usually, this is on paved roads so the soles of my running shoes do not last very long. I have learned to monitor the wear on the soles very carefully. It was a painful lesson to learn. I had a muscle tear, that was problematic for over a year, because of the sole of one shoe was causing a repetitive stress problem. So, I do check the soles for wear and replace the shoe promptly when the sole wear reaches a certain measure.
Replacing a shoe is where the problem repeats itself. If a certain model of shoe fits and becomes a favorite, it is almost impossible to find that particular shoe again. In three or four months, the ‘latest and greatest’ product line is in the stores and the old favorite disappears. And, no, it is not easy to find a supplier online that has it in stock. - It also depends on the month when new shoes are needed. At certain points in the year, recently purchased shoes are ‘old’ in a few days or in a few weeks. The new season product line reaches the retailers.
Furthermore, there is a risk of buying and using a new product line. Not all running footwear is the same, even if it is from the same company. The running shoe companies wants the consumer to spend on a current model. It is expensive, of course; and there is always the risk that the shoe is not being suitable. Walking around the store in the shoes is far different that being on the roads and running.
It seems that the stores cannot place a special order for the old model. It is no longer made. And it is difficult to find old stock. If an online store, by chance, happens to have the old line, it may be out of the specific size. And it is a risk to order internationally because the sizing varies just enough to be a problem.
The sales people in various stores have suggested that I buy in bulk. That is, if I find a shoe that I like, I should return and buy as many as I can. It is a valid suggestion, if one had hundreds and hundreds of dollars to spend in an effort to stockpile footwear. - Currently, I am using a Nike product. The sole wear is approaching the measure that indicates that it has to be replaced. I will go looking for the same shoe and I will not find it in stock. It has been almost four months since my last purchase. Nike will assume that I want their latest development.
