FReeper Canteen ~ Tech Tuesday: Email Tax ~ Would you pay for email guarantees? ~ 07 March 2006

EFF.org | The Canteen Crew

[MoJo2001]

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Technology Tuesday
 

GummyIII will return next week (if possible), but she's busy saving the world from a chocolate shortage! It's an important job we wouldn't trust to just anyone. Definitely not something for MoJo.

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Since many of our Troops use AOL, we wanted to know what you thought about AOL's plans for folks to pay for GoodMail. Is it something worth fretting over, a new enterprising an idea, or another way for which companies can milk money out of consumers already using free email services?

 

What's This About?
In February 2006, AOL announced that it would accept payment for incoming emails. For these certified emails, it would skip its usual anti-spam filters and guarantee delivery for cash. Our coalition believes that the free passage of email between Internet users is a vital part of what makes the Internet work. When ISPs demand a cut of "pay-to-send" email, they're raising tollbooths on the open Net, interfering with the passage of data by demanding protection money at the gates of their customers' computers. Read More
 

 

What's this controversy all about?

AOL has proposed the adoption of a system called CertifiedEmail, provided by Goodmail Systems. Under this pay-to-send system, affluent mass-emailers who are willing to pay AOL the equivalent of an "email tax" would get to bypass AOL's spam filters and get guaranteed delivery to the inboxes of AOL customers.

Everyone who can't afford to pay AOL's "email tax" - including charities, small businesses, civic organizations, and even families with mailing lists - will have no guarantee that their emails will be delivered. If other companies follow AOL in adopting pay-to-send systems, the Internet will become permanently divided into two classes of users - those who can afford to pay for guaranteed delivery and everyone else left behind with unreliable service.

Though billed in the media as an anti-spam and anti-phishing measure, AOL's pay-to-send system will fail on both scores.

AOL's "email tax" will cause great harm to the free and open Internet that many of us take for granted. The Internet is a revolutionary force for free speech, civic organizing, and economic innovation specifically because it is open and accessible to all Internet users. With a free and open Internet, small ideas can become big ideas overnight. AOL's move to introduce a pay-to-send system is a danger to this openness, and we urge them to reconsider.

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Which brings us to the next question: Is this something to get hyper over? Or is it a real concern? Would you pay for the service?

 

What say you?

 

 

Disclaimer:
Do you ever wonder why companies always put disclaimers at the bottom of their pages? And then they expect you to read the *fine print* as well? Well, this is done for a reason. It allows them to make up a bunch of unecessary rules and BS that no one will read nor thinks about reading. As a matter of fact, the disclaimers are really *Dating Ads* that those anonymous computer geeks put out to the general public. It's a way to get them a date via their disclaimers. It's risk free and also a sure way to ensure that their name will appear in the ad somewhere. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then you totally understand the ideas about disclaimers. They're useless for the most part.

 

 

[luvie]

Good evening....I'm running very late.

[trussell]

Did you still need someone to ping E.G.C. for you?

[trussell]

Thank you both. :)

[MS.BEHAVIN]

No thanks sweetie!
It El Gran that I wanted to Ping!
but thank you!
*HUG*
Ms.B

[luvie]

She wanted EGS...El Gran...the computer guru! ;o)

[luvie]

You're very welcome. How are you this fine evening?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Dat's pretty darned good!
Thanks Sissy!
*HUG*
Ms.B

[luvie]

I haven't seen him around lately, but that doesn't mean he isn't lurking. ;o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

As first lady Laura Bush looks on, President Bush hugs Candace Pierson of Auburndale, Fla., after her son, Marine Cpl. Jordan S. Pierson, was presented the Purple Heart for injuries suffered while serving in Iraq. The ceremony took place Dec. 21, 2005, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Also in the room are Cpl. Pierson's fiancee, Kirstin Martin (right), and sister Rachel Pierson. White House photo by Paul Morse

Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating (right), commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., praises Marine Cpl. Jordan Pierson (far left), as Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau; Pierson's mother, Candace (center); and his older sister, Emily, look on at the National Guard Youth Foundation's first Challenge Champions dinner Feb. 28 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore

Marine Continues To March Forward Despite Loss of Left Leg

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2006 – Cpl. Jordan S. Pierson, 22, is an unquestionably loyal and determined Marine. Despite the loss of his left leg due to combat injuries sustained in Iraq Dec. 7, Pierson is set upon returning to active duty.

"I just re-enlisted on Jan. 7. I'm ready to get back to the fleet and start working," Pierson told American Forces Press Service during a recent National Guard Youth Foundation-sponsored dinner here.

Pierson has served three tours of duty in Iraq. During his most recent deployment there, his convoy was returning from an operation near Ramadi when it was attacked with two roadside bombs. The second explosion mangled both of Pierson's legs, killed a comrade and severely wounded several other Marines.

Pierson's left leg was so damaged it had to be amputated in Iraq. His Iraq tour with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, had ended. The stricken Marine was sent stateside -- first to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for about a month and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center here -- to heal.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush visited Pierson during his stay at Bethesda shortly before Christmas. The president presented the Marine with the Purple Heart Medal, as Pierson's mother, Candace, and his fiancee, Kirstin, watched.

The rest of the story

God bless Cpl Pierson, and speed his recovery.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

I hope we didn't alarm him!
LOL
Ms.B

[trussell]

Did you get someone to ping him for you yet?

[luvie]

((((hugs))))...how are you this evening? I am running late. Was visiting a friend.

[trussell]

I think I'm better. Trying anyway.

[Fawnn]

Mentioning an oreo to somebody on low carb constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, imo!


Brad's Gramma!!! #150!!!

[BIGLOOK]

Never too late for Luv!

Am watching 24 and slow to reply.

[StarCMC]

Good evening all!! Posting to the wrong thread! Argh -- I've been busy! LOL

 

The Knight bowed his head and in reverence said
''I'll do thy bidding, good King
With my friends by my side evil cannot hide
For true love will cast is aside.

Now lead me, kind sir, to see the cur,
The offspring of Morgan LeFey
That I may in one glance discover perchance
If he knows where Paul is this day.''

The King and the Knight descended the flight
Of stairs that led to the prison.
The pair found LeFey staring their way
And in complete disdain he'd not risen.

His devilish eyes like his mothers despised
No soul looked out from inside them
For young LeFey was an inhuman knave
And would sooner have killed than help them.

''I've seen all I need, I'll go find my steed
And gather my companions at once
We'll set forth this day and be on our way
We'll not give up 'til we find your dear Prince.

But one simple thing I ask you, my King
May I but for one moment pray
In the chapel of yours for the strength of our Lord
I need to petition this day.''

''This one simple task, is all that you ask?
Take but a moment to pray.
Then go forth and prevail - save my son without fail
The kingdom in your hands I lay.''

So for a moment of time the Knight did incline
And raised high his beautiful sword
Then he shouldered the load and took to the road
A new adventure his reward.

They chose a slight detour in the journey to explore
And find the Fairie Queen at the Lake
The Lady'd restored her and the others adored her
For in the fight she agreed to partake.

 

The Knight and the Wrenn and the Archer and friends
Traveled until the light waned
And they found with delight - what a beautiful sight!
The Ladies who they had saved!

The ones they called by their names enthralled
And I repeat them to you here:
Mistress Constance and Luv and Fawnn Antoinette
And the ladies Jag and Gummy fair

Princess Noose, Miss Marlow, Geebee
Fatima and Meek
Along with Miss Meg and Miss Mozart.
The maker of Music!

Lady of Tasmania, DivaBetsy and Seven,
Princess Niner and Lady Du
And of course Esmeralda was there
To round out the beautiful crew!

The ladies brought food and brightened the mood
As they cared for the friends' every need
Then kept the fires burning and watched till the morning
And bid the heroes Godspeed....

Sarge....
 

[luvie]

I just hope he shows up...I've been that worried about him anyhow!

[luvie]

I pray that you're not ill! You were puny last night, too! (((hugs))))....you need to take some vitimins?

[StarCMC]

I don't know that I'm getting hyper yet -- I think the aol scheme is doomed to flop. Add to that, if I was a customer used to a certain level of spam protection, and spammers could pay money to bypass the filters, I'd be pretty honked off!!! :o)

[luvie]

Awwwww...what a very sweet thing to say. That is a beautiful picture of Paradise, sir! What colors! Don't you still just marvel as you make your way 'round the island at how beautiful it is?