Wiz, as off topic as your anti-Bush/US comments were could you also take them elsewhere?
Cmon, Department of HS taking on the defication of a kids computer as Bio warfare? || The Dept of HS taking on a prank phone call?
Get real....
So in your own words can we get back on topic??
<snip>
kamel5547 wrote
[/quote]Did ya see this article about a 14 year old being interogated by the Secret Service because she was a potential "threat" to the president? Its not so far fetched that someone might just go after you far a harmless joke...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/16/teen_myspace_protest/
Edit
This edit is made on Thursday, October 19, 2006
To the good readership here and most especially Ches111:
On Monday night of this week, I made the post below. It includes a bunch of comments that are a personal attack on Ches111. I most humbly appologize to both Ches111 and the good readership for the inappropriate and seriously over-the-top personal remarks that I made. I cannot un-say them, but I do retract them.
At the time, I was (as I still am) dealing with a situation that has made me angrier than I have been in an extremely long time. I was so angry at the time that I was literally on the edge of throwing up - and had been in this state for several days.
I bring this up for one reason only - to illustrate my folly and stupidity in getting into a "debate" about any topic when one is under severe emotional strain. There is no excuse, mitigation or "explanation" for my performance on Monday night. Especially since I not only DO know better, but I have criticized similar behaviour in others in the past.
I can only hope that the rest of the community will accept my appology and not stop taking me seriously.
As an asside to DaSickNinja: You may have thought I was joking when I said that I mess up from time to time (in the "what we need to remeber thread). Here is unequivicle proof I wasn't.
End edit
To all other members of the good readership here, please note: unfortunately large amount of required background stuff follows. Sorry for the delay, but it is required.
RE: ches111
Nothing I have said here has been off topic. The originator of the thread/discussion has given me de-facto permission. See earlier posts for details.
Your comment that I am Anti US/Bush is pure crap, serving no other purpose than to attempt to intimidate me. Sadly, I am not scared. Given that I was stating a cold, hard fact (albiet an ugly one) where do you get off saying I am anti US? Unfortunately for you and your ilk, I use logic and reason.
I am absolutely and utterly horrified by what is happening in/to the US these days. What I see is a complete abondonment of the concepts and principles your country was based on; the complete betrayal of your constitution in the name of paranoia and corprorate greed, and the triumph of stupidity and anti-intellectualism over rational thinking and reality.
I am definitely anti-Bush, but since I am not a US citizen and can't vote there, this is irrelevaent. Tragically, GWB and gang are a real threat to their immediatee neighbours and the rest of the world. I wish there was something I could legitimately do about him.
Anti-US: not effing likely - I truly grieve and weep for the situation I observe there.
Please explain to the good readership here how being opposed to the current administration is "Anti-US" - especially in terms and context of the First Ammendment. Which has something to do with "Freedom of Speech", as I recall. Which, as a "Good Ole US Boy", you support, don't you? You do support and believe in your own constitution, don't you?
You may be a supporter of Mr. Bush (a clear indication, IMHO, of stupidity sufficient to be a very strong Darwin Award contender) - that is your prerogative , but that does not give you
any right to ignore cold, hard reality.
Now, you wouldn't be trying to prevent one from excercising their constitutional rights, would you? By way of spurious intimidation and so on? I am bleakly amused by how often the supporters of GWB and gang are so willing to ignore the reality they so vehemently claim to revere. And how willing they are to use lies and FUD tactics to subvert and suppress the US Constitution. Funny that. GD hypocites and liars.
There have been numerous, documented examples of DHS negligence, incompetence and malfeasence. See the reference in the kamel5547 post (among other examples). As I recall (I could be wrong), it is DHS that creates and administers the "No-Fly" list. And I also recall that Senator Kennedy somehow ended up on the list and experienced "difficulties" when attempting to travel from Boston to Washington DC. Strange how the fact that Sen. Kennedy is a Democrat is never addressed.
The comments about DHS and recent legislation are, in fact, on topic. When you assemble the following - oh so trivial - points: warrantless NSA "surveilance" of assorted communications of US residents including the internet; the demand that search engine providers (Google, Yahoo etc.) turn over their databases to DHS, which were mostly complied with; the recent security breaches at AOL (and others); the proposed two-tier internet access legislation (which seriously favours the expensive and large ISPs and web-sites and marginalizes the independant sites - the technical term is "net freedom"), etc - it is not unreasonable to ask: WTF?.
The very recent bill re "interrogation techniques" that I referenced in a previous post also eliminates the concept of "habeus corpus" and any requirement that the state provide the "defendant" with any of the "evidence" against them. Innocent Until Proven Guilty" no longer applies. OOPS!!? Just exactly what is it that you, ches111, actually support in your own constitution? And what, exactly, is the concept of the US all about? Let's add the general attitude of GWB and coterie to the pot, and any rational observer will concede that we have a very big problem. The issue of "pranks", extremely dubious legislation, and DHS is no longer an "off-topic" or "esoteric" question, is it? Espcially when you factor in the combination of illegal beaviour, and known security organization paraniod delusional thinking.
Given your own government's (and hero's) penchant to break its own laws, ignore and attempt to subvert its own constitution, consistently use FUD, outright lies and support of negligence and incompetence ("you're doing a heck of a job, Brownie"), not to mention failures to comply with treaties it has initiated, signed and ratified to justify and support absolutely unnaceptable behaviour, where exactly do you get off accusing me (or anyon else) of being "Anti-US"? Any rational observer would be correct in suggesting that people who are US Citizens, who think as you do, of being not only "anti-US", but traitors as well. As I recall, DaSickNinja quoted the First Ammendment in one of his/her posts on one of the discussion threads I have been following. This person has a far better grasp of the constitution than you do.
All of the above has been on topic because what you say on-line is also free spech, as in the First Ammendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. And yet your "constitutional rights" do have legitimate limits. For instance, your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose. Or your right to free speech ends at the right to yell "fire" in a theater when there is no fire. Or, can you say "slander", "libel" or "defamation of character"? Neverthelaess, there are clearly-defined limits on the state's right and ability to observe and intercept your communications. This includes the internet. GWB and clique don't think the constitution applies. Nor do his supporters. Funny how this bunch wrap themselves in the flag (and constitution, by implication).
Unfortunately, paranoia and social/political cretins like ches111, create a socio-political environment where bragging about/admitting to, questionable actions one has done in the past leave one open to persecution by the state. The specific issues I raised in this post (and earlier) about (illegal) surveillance, etc., and examples of concerns, shall we say, about questionable behaviour by government orgs are reasonable and on topic.
The specific starting topic of this thread was "Worst PC Build Screw Ups", not "Assorted Computer Pranks I Have Pulled". Becuase DaSickNinja has explicitely stated that "pranks" are OK, the issues and observations I have raised are also OK.
Like it or not, given the legislative and "legal" environment re surveillance of communications, etc. in the US, the socio-political and legal situation there is now fair comment. Since admitting to "dubious things one has done in the past to others (as opposed to myself- very big legal difference between the two) is OK, commenting on legal/politcal ramifications is also OK. Particularly since the majority of the posters are apparantly US citizens/residents. Earlier comments re circumspection remain apropos and correct.
When one considers the legislation re "enemy combatants", "interrogatin", etc., passed recently, combined with NSA and CIA surveillance of communications and internet surveillance, those of you living in the US should be paranoid.
Final comment to ches111 (and this is as passionate and heartfelt as can possibly be - and off topic, but relevant):
You, your foul ilk, and what you stand for, are the filth that my mother's cousin was killed fighting against - to wit - NAZI and SOVIET tyranny in my parent's native country. It absolutely terrifies me to hear my father, who saw both the NAZI's and Soviets in action, say that the US is now a police state. And you have the gall to call me anti-US. As you explicitely declare your support for "Dubya" and all his actions. Who here is "anti-US"? You third-rate (on your very best day) punk REMF traitor. From the heart of my bottom: slither back under your rock and FOAD. And take your friends with you.