Posts made by soflsmurf

By Yinka Adegoke
Thu Aug 28, 10:20 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Comcast Corp, the largest U.S. cable operator, said on Thursday it will cap customers' Internet usage starting October 1, in a bid to ensure the best service for the vast majority of its subscribers.

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Comcast said it was setting a monthly data usage threshold of 250 gigabytes per account for all residential high-speed Internet customers, or the equivalent of 50 million e-mails or 124 standard-definition movies.

"If a customer exceeds more than 250 GB and is one of the heaviest data users who consume the most data on our high-speed Internet service, he or she may receive a call from Comcast's Customer Security Assurance (CSA) group to notify them of excessive use," according to the company's updated Frequently Asked Questions on Excessive Use.

Customers who top 250 GB in a month twice in a six-month timeframe could have service terminated for a year.

Comcast said up to 99 percent of its 14 million Internet subscribers would not be affected by the new threshold, which it said would help ensure the quality of Internet delivery is not degraded by a minority of heavy users.

U.S. Internet subscribers are typically not aware of any limit on their Internet usage once they sign up to pay a flat monthly fee to their service provider.

As Web usage has rocketed, driven by the popularity of watching online video, photo-sharing and music downloading services, cable and phone companies have been considering various techniques to limit or manage heavy usage.

But Comcast has come under fire from a variety of sources for its network management techniques.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission investigated complaints by consumer groups that it was blocking peer-to-peer applications like BitTorrent, and earlier this month ordered Comcast to modify its network management.

Comcast has said that by the end of the year it will change its network management practices to ensure all Web traffic is treated essentially the same, but has also been exploring other ways to prevent degradation of its Internet service delivery.

One consumer group said while Comcast's new 250 GB limit was "relatively high," it could eventually ensnare customers as technology progresses.

"If Comcast has oversold their network to the point of creating congestion problems, then well-disclosed caps for Internet use are a better short-term solution than Comcast's current practice of illegally blocking Internet traffic," said S Derek Turner of Free Press, a Washington, D.C.-based consumer advocacy group that filed a complaint about Comcast's network management practices earlier this year.

The Philadelphia-based company is not alone in trying to come up with ways to limit heavy Internet usage.

Time Warner Cable Inc, the second-largest U.S. cable operator, said in January it would run a trial of billing Internet subscribers based on usage rather than a flat fee.

Comcast spokesman Charlie Douglas said Comcast was also considering so-called consumption-based billing, but no decisions had been made.

hhmmm anybody who doesn't manage their e-mail properly (Open from known senders, manage spam list, etc) go ahead and open things like this all the time. It keeps the tech world in business. lol

@MaGicsPeeD:

So.. my own approach for the power user status is something like this:

1. At least 2 months registered member on the tracker.
2. At least 200GB download.
3. Ratio should be always >2 to keep the status.
4. Warned (not for ratio) users should have their status removed until the warning flag expires.

200 GB Downloaded? Anyone can download. Do you mean UPload perhaps? I do not think DOWNloading should have anything to do with what type of user you are at all- maybe a LEECHER and that's about it, lol.

Ratio- eh, that would be great for someone to have to make them as a power user (i think, too)- and then again world peace would be nice as well!

On another note, I think the types of users should be expanded to allow for different types of privileges. It does seem rather basic to really only have 2 types of users- regular and power really are the only type because really, who is going to graduate to be a "Founder"?

Examples:
Auto Approval could come with its current requirements, along with something else and have that be part of a type of user itself.

I think time based on activity should be a qualifier for a type of user as well, or define a certain user in combination of other things as well.

I would love assisting in the creation of a matrix for such qualifiers for types of users

@juancho:

it says, "there's no server in your area", then offered me to click the recommended server which belongs to a rival company!

weird.

??? ??? ???

doesn't mean it is weird because it is a "Rival" company- in the US lines are primarily owned by ATT (Copper / DSL / Analog) regardless of who your service provider is.

Also, it may just be a server that it can run a test to.

I have some doctors as clients, and I was told that yes this is true- your chances of developing prostate cancer are extremely low the more you jerk off, or jerk off regularly etc.

Did anybody know the reason why Graham Crackers were created?

• It was believed that if teenage boys ate them, it would hinder the craving to masturbate. Good thing I was not alive then… all hell would have broken lose.

Cute, I guess.

Yay

Well, I have over 12.TB of actual diskspace at current.

I would estimate that I have a total of about 1TB total of porn, most of which is already burned onto DVD as I am reorganizing etc.

Majorly organized….

Pics by category- solo, etc.
Series, then by studio, titles, etc.
Websites, which one, then if they are full dvd or clips, then the titles
I have a section just for realplayer clips (HATE realplayer, need to convert)
Section for quicktime (need to convert)

Other stuff as far as personal vids, and vids of others I know, and vids made with others, those are on secure DVD / safe on pc made with Steganos. Organized accordingly, of course- who, when, what.

I only have porn that includes younger guys under 30 so no need for extra organization there.
Nothing more cultural than maybe latin, rest is all okay with me being organized regularly- czech, white, etc.
No hairy daddies or leather/s&m, fetish, fisting or anything like that. I'm not into it- not going to waste the space just to have it.

@juancho:

i've never had problems with my ratio.

i've uploaded 21 so far and i've been waiting for an approval since a couple of hours ago.

Yea, your going to be waiting most likely more than 2 more hours, too. Takes a little bit- or it might.

I seem to possibly have more download power when I am seeding 17 torrents. lol

@Gr1zz:

Now, stop me if I've made a mistake here, aren't they saying that God is in Hell? For ever?

They also have praised such things as the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center, the death of just about everyone, including Fred "Mr." Rogers, Jerry Falwel and Heath Ledger, and thanked God for the great earthquake that caused heavy loss of life in China.

Perhaps they are actually Satanists, with the whole "God in Hell" thing.

Oh and the world KEEPS turning…. I am very impressed how you know about this group of idiots. Thank you for sharing the great links with everyone!

HHmmm I sense something exciting….

This MORON and his group of followers constantly do this. Or at least, they attempt.

In my old neighborhood, a High School started a GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance). They showed up and picketed on the opposite side of the street after a riot almost broke out when they were on the sidewalk of the school.

The obscenities they were yelling at these high schoolers were absurd!

If you live in the US, or neighboring countries, you should be very aware of this group and do what you can to stop there unorthodox practices. Showing up at a gay funeral is just wrong, where is the respect? They are a church organization- how they have not been dismembered is beyond me. We have the RIAA, MPAA fighting internet neutrality among many other insane things occurring like teens going to jail for kissing on public buses yet these banshees are allowed to continue these horrible, disrespectful acts.

One day, something will be done about this group- and I have a feeling it is not going to be pretty. Reminds me of how the founder of Cobra Videos was brutally murdered.

What comes around, goes around.

By 365gay Newscenter Staff
08.11.2008 9:29am EDT

(Winnipeg, Manitoba) Despite claims they had thwarted a government ban and had entered Canada, members of an anti-gay group that purports to be a church failed to show up for their threatened protest at the funeral of a man who was stabbed to death and beheaded aboard a Greyhound bus.

Members of Rev. Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., claimed they had successfully entered the country by removing material that referred to the “church” from their vehicles and shipped them by courier to Winnipeg after the material was used to blocked them from another crossing into Manitoba on Thursday.

A directive was sent to border guards last week by Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day to bar the group under Canada’s hate crime law, after Pat Martin, a New Democratic Party member of Parliament from Winnipeg, said he had received hundreds of complaints about the planned protest.

The Phelps group said it would protest at the weekend funeral of Tim McLean to show Canadians that murder was God’s response to liberal Canadian policies toward homosexuality.

A large police contingent was on hand to prevent trouble at the funeral.  Earlier in the day, more than 500 Winnipegers filled nearby streets determined to prevent any protest from being seen by mourners.

McLean, 22, was brutally attacked as he sat in his seat on a Greyhound bus traveling west of Winnipeg on July 30. A fellow passenger has been charged with murder.

The Phelps followers were no-shows at two other protests in Canada over the weekend. The group had threatened to demonstrate in Red Deer, Alberta where a local theater company was performing “The Laramie Project,” a play about the homophobic murder of college student Matthew Shepard.

The group also failed to make good on a threat to demonstrate in Toronto where a satirical play titled “The Pastor Phelps Project” is being performed.

Westboro Baptist members frequently demonstrate at funerals for American servicemembers killed in Iraq. The group claims the deaths are God’s punishment on America for being too pro-gay.

Westboro’s members are made up mostly of Phelps’ relatives. Although it professes to be Baptist, it is not affiliated with any national Baptist group.

Westboro operates Web sites including GodHatesFags and GodHatesAmerica and has been described as a cult.

Phelps and the church first came to national attention when he organized a protest by his followers outside the 1998 funeral for Matthew Shepherd.

By 365gay Newscenter Staff
08.11.2008 5:11pm EDT

(Amsterdam, Netherlands) The government of the Antilles is appealing a court ruling that it must recognize same-sex marriage.

"The appeal is unlikely to succeed."

The Antilles was once a Dutch colony, but is now an autonomous republic within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Dutch law requires the kingdom’s three parts - the Netherlands, Aruba and the Dutch Antilles - to recognize each other’s legal documents, including marriage certificates.

But the Antilles government contends the law also grants the island self-rule - and thus it should be permitted to ignore same-sex marriages from the Netherlands, which legalized such unions in 2001.

Last month, a court in the Antilles capital of Willenstad upheld the requirement that the government must recognized marriages performed in the Netherlands.

The Antilles government said the appeal was a matter of principle to determine just how far home-rule extends. Health Minister Omayra Leeflang said she fears the government couple also be forced to accept Dutch law regarding issues such as abortion and euthanasia.

The case that brought the issue to a head in the Antilles involved a woman who had been turned down by an insurance company when she tried to include her wife and one of her children in her health insurance policy.

The court ruled against the insurance company and ordered to insure the woman’s family, citing Netherlands law.

The Antilles government’s appeal to The Hague is unlikely to succeed, legal observers say, pointing to the failure of a similar case in 2005 that had been brought by the government of Aruba.

Lovely how therapy seems to be a possible "Cure" by some.

I find this part funny mainly because my first REAL lover at 16 had a similar experience. We were living in his house, sharing his bedroom- and bed for that matter. His parents chose not to see reality. His dad thought we should have "Bunk-beds" LOL.

After coming out in an argument with his dad (Yelling at the top of the stairs as his his dad was downstairs) "I'm Gay", then slamming his bedroom door they thought it best for him, too go to a therapist for this.

Oddly enough, the therapist turned out to be gay as well! I'll leave that at that, or perhaps start another topic about funny coming out stories etc.!

Anyways, When my mom got married for the second time, we were pretty sure our pastor was Gay. This was confirmed when he was invited to the reception- he was told he could "Bring a friend". Well, sure enough that friend was more flamboyant than him. Maybe they WERE just "Friends" lol. In more ways than one!

Nobody at our church seemed to really have any problem with his Lifestyle, so long as he performed his duties appropriately of course and did not get caught in some scandal.

This guy was not caught in any scandal, he didn't make out in front of the church or display any inappropriate behavior- why was he fired? Pure hatred, one's inability for acceptance, and ignorance.

Funny how when a minister, priest, etc. allegedly abuse an alter boy they get "Suspended with pay", or worse- Reduced pay pending an investigation- or even just "Re-assigned / relocated". This guy just gets fired from not lyeing about hearsay he was in a same-sex relationship.

Cases like this need a great lawyer. God knows there are enough of them! After all, it is the American way! lol Why not add one more lawsuit here along with the long list of pedophile minsters and such.

HHmmmm.
I actually wondered when I would start reading stories about Gay Divorce as soon as Gay Marriage was allowed.

This is a tricky, to say the least, controversial topic for many reasons obviously.

I actually do not believe in Gay marriage per se- I believe in the same rights, here in the US tax reasons, children etc. yes. However, in a church no- Christians, Catholics, etc. Have their beliefs etc. Gay Marriage goes against what those beliefs are. Now a religion such as pagan or wiccan on the other hand, with a proper ceremony, now you are talking fitting the bill.

A few years ago a Rabbi commenced a ceremony for 2 older friends of mine. His synagogue, and from what I know most of the Jewish religion, is not so against Gay Commitments. At least here in FL, as the Jewish Population seems to be rather extensive.

I hate when people say "Sexual Preference". Lifestyle is much more PC.

This is rediculous that this is happening- anywhere for that matter. Regardless of it being a hate crime or not, nonetheless it is a brutal crime if nothing else!

The fact that it IS a hate crime, persecution should be at greater lengths. In MASS, where I am from (New England / RI) but I went to school in MASS this guy would be put in jail and the key would be thrown away!

I am glad to see someone, somewhere fighting for this.

In the US if you are gay, as noted here, you can not donate- but you also cannot if you have a tattoo- or there may be a time limit I believe.

Even though I hate needles- and am not a fan of donating blood, it is nice to see someone fighting for what they believe in.

I wonder what this policy is actually if a loved one, non-relative, i.e. lover needs some blood if you can still donate it or not…

Several men broke into home, beat individual they say kidnapped two of their children
By Erin Alberty
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 08/07/2008 07:59:18 PM MDT

Posted: 7:58 PM- The story behind David Bell's kidnapping case varies dramatically depending on who tells it.

In one version, the South Salt Lake man stole into his neighbor's house early July 4 and removed two sleeping children, who later were found crying in his bedroom.

That's the version ascribed to by prosecutors, who charged Bell with burglary and two counts of first-degree felony child kidnapping.

But members of Bell's family - who said he is gay - claim he took the children in when they could not sleep because of an all-night party at their own house.

No one, however, disputes that following discovery of the children at Bell's home, near 400 East and Maxwell Lane (2890 South), several adults, including the children's father, broke in and severely beat Bell.

Bell's attorney, Roger Kraft, said events at that point "escalated into a hate crime." Kraft said Bell's assailants assumed that "because a person's gay, he's also a pedophile."

But the mother of one child, Lulu Latu, said Thursday that Bell's sexual preference was not a factor. She said the beating was sparked by anger and fear for the safety of the 2-year-old boy and 4-year-old girl.

"Imagine walking into your house and not being able to find your kids, then you find them in someone else's bedroom," Latu Said.

Bell, 30, was booked into the Salt Lake County jail, where he is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 21 in 3rd District Court.
The parents of the children have not been charged for allegedly assaulting Bell. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday there was "insufficient evidence" to file felony counts. South Salt Lake prosecutors are now screening for possible misdemeanor charges.

Bell's attorney said Latu had returned the children to their home by the time three to five adult neighbors kicked down Bell's door, broke his windows and assaulted Bell and his boyfriend.

Bell claimed the neighbors used the broken glass from his windows to cut his throat and his foot, according to Kraft. One toe was cut so deeply that Bell believes the intent was to sever it, Kraft said. Someone also grabbed him by the hair and swung his head onto the sidewalk, and Bell no longer can hear in his right ear, Kraft said.

Bell's partner, Dan Fair, was attacked just a brutally, Kraft said. At one point, someone lifted a large TV and threw it onto Fair's head, Kraft said.

"I know it's not right," Latu said Thursday of the violence. "But what if I hadn't caught it in time? It could have been a child-murder case, instead."

Bell's uncle, Joe Taylor, said it doesn't make sense that Bell - who had been partying at the children's home from about 2 a.m. to dawn - would turn kidnapper.

"It doesn't add up," Taylor said. "Kidnapping when you got a bunch of people in both houses? When you're right next door? What's that?"

BOSTON – Sometimes the joy of gay marriage is followed by the pain of gay divorce, but Peter Zupcofska is there to help.

In Boston, he has become known as "the master of gay divorce." And for a $25,000 retainer, he can lead couples through the intricacies of how to best break up. Zupcofska said divorces present gay couples with a new opportunity "to make things right" when a relationship ends.

"Divorce is a critical part of marriage," he said.

Gay divorces are bringing many new wrinkles to the field of family law, raising questions that are sure to be litigated for years to come. While no one tracks how many gay couples have divorced in Massachusetts, attorneys in the Boston area are competing for cases in the budding cottage industry.

The cases are complicated because of vast differences in state and federal law. In short, federal law trumps state law and can eliminate benefits that a state might want to extend.

Tax issues are a good example.

Gay marriages are not recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, meaning spouses cannot take advantage of federal tax breaks, including the basic deduction of a dependent.

Gay spouses are eligible for alimony and child support, but such payments cannot be deducted from federal taxes. Gay spouses must file federal tax returns as individuals, and only one of them can claim a child as a dependent.

And if a couple splits and one spouse wants to transfer a house to the other, it can result in a higher federal tax that wouldn't apply to divorcing heterosexual couples.

"If Peter were married to Paula, there would be no tax consequences," Zupcofska said. "With Peter married to Paul, you have a capital gains tax. And the capital gains tax is 15 percent." (That would result in a $75,000 tax on a $500,000 gain.)

Pension issues also get messy.

Because Massachusetts recognizes gay marriages, state workers can get their spouses covered by pensions. But gay federal employees aren't eligible for Social Security under their partner's plan, as heterosexual couples are. And any other retirement plan governed by federal law does not have to recognize a gay spouse.

Zupcofska, who is gay and married, doesn't like to leave things to chance: He has a prenuptial agreement with his spouse, and he advises his clients to do the same.

Zupcofska said the poorer spouse can suffer when a marriage breaks up if the issues aren't ironed out in advance. Without a prenuptial agreement, he said, the primary breadwinner can walk away with more money in his pocket, even if it has been a long-term relationship of 20 years or more.

Courts will also have to address issues involving the rights of parents and who's responsible for raising children.

For example, if two gays are married and both are recognized as the parents of a child in Massachusetts, that won't necessarily apply in a state that doesn't recognize gay marriage. Zupcofska said that raises questions regarding who would be legally liable for child support or what happens if children inherit money from their grandparents: Can someone be a grandchild in one state and not in another?

Getting divorced can also be tricky.

Two lesbians who married in Massachusetts moved to Rhode Island and tried to divorce there, but the Rhode Island Supreme Court wouldn't allow it because the state defines marriage as a union only between one man and one woman. As a result, one of the women had to move back to Massachusetts to establish residency and qualify for a divorce.

Lisa Cukier, another Boston attorney who handles divorce cases, said that legal issues stemming from gay divorces are now being handled on a case-by-case basis. But she predicted that at some point, a gay rights group will challenge the federal law against gay marriage and the Supreme Court will be forced to resolve the differences.

But Joyce Kauffman, a Cambridge attorney who represents divorcing gays and lesbians, said that most gay activists believe now is not the time to try to get a gay marriage case before the nation's highest court.

Many activists hope their chances will improve if Illinois Democratic Sen. Barack Obama wins the presidency and appoints more liberal justices who might view gay marriage more favorably.

In the meantime, Cukier said gays and lesbians who marry must be vigilant to protect their rights.