The Core

I've been wondering if this isn't some elaborate double game.

Things might be very dangerous right now in NKorea if they are feeling cornered, and the latest leaks might effect the succession - I keep wondering if that is the intent.

A few years ago several larger countries like France and Germany were talking about launching national competitor SE's to Google out of just these fears, but nothing ever came of it.

Frankly, if I were a great power I'd feel nervous about a foreign company being the gate-keeper to the internet.  Maybe they ought to dust off those plans again?

>>dangerous animals act

Ahh that explains it.  We had similar.  Back in the early 60's a family in our neighborhood kept a mountain lion in a large pen.  Looking back I'm amazed that nobody thought much of it at the time. Once in awhile we'd hear the yowl of the beast several blocks away and everyone would pause for a minute and then just carry on, once we had identified what the sound was. Not the kind of sound you expect in Indiana.  Eventually keeping large cats was outlawed and I remember my mother saying she was glad because keeping them in a small pen was cruel. 

Strange times back then. I suppose some were released into the wild.

http://us.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/11/30/fcc.net.neutrality/index.html?

What I have read is that each update to the iPhone OS then unjailbreaks the phone.  Not sure what the ramifications are when that happens.  I assume you have to re-jailbreak it.  Cat - mouse game.

My iPhone is my only phone so I'm too chicken to mess with it.

>>US Cellular

Actually has an Android phone, at least in the Chicagoland market.  All their plans have a 5GB data cap.  Don't know how fast their 3G pipes are tho.

>>T-Mobile

I had the same conclusion, that they would probably be about as good as ATT. My neighbor likes them but that is a pretty small data set. Heh.  Looked at Twitter for "tmobile" last night and today: lots of negativity.  T-Mobile would be cheaper then ATT or Verizon plus they even have no contract plans if you want to pay full price for your phone.

>>Verizon
Coverage around here is better than ATT.  With current plans it looks like it will cost me more than ATT.  Twitter: everyone talking about iphone arrival. 


>>Sprint
At times Spotty coverage locally.  No sign they are even interested in iPhone. Twitter: quiet

Darkest Iowa Test:

Using the coverage maps I went to a small town I know in western Iowa which is about 30 miles from nearest interstate.  All corn and soybeans. Only Verizon claims to have both voice and 3G data there.  Rest: maybe roaming partner for voice. Data: don't hold your breath.

Still all that is on paper, nice to find real world experience.

I'm starting my research early, my ATT smartphone contract won't come up until June but I'm trying to get a feel for the other telecom companies in the US.  I have been unable to travel for the last 4 years so I could not really test my cellphone and data reception outside of my little patch.

So for the American users here: how has been your experience with your telecom carrier: Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon or ATT both with data and voice? Also how has the company been to deal with for support, billing etc.?

The gist of the article is that if the US gov't can seize a bit torrent search engine, why can't/won't they seize Google or Bing which can produce the same search results?

http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/101127-010659?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sewblog+%28Search+Engine+Watch+Blog%29

They at least got a proper court order to seize same first.