Software piracy - it's a tricky issue.. On the one hand free software, on the other THESE PEOPLE ARE THIEVES.
So, it's worth pointing out this story about three guys from the renowned hack/crack group DrinkOrDie.
The fact they received harsher prison sentences than "real" criminals ie the kind who shoot/stab/kick you unconscious is something I'll bypass (unusual I know !!) what I want to draw attention to is some of the comments from the prosecutor.
In court, barrister Bruce Houlder, described the crackers as "sad individuals" who spent their lives in front of computers. He added: "They see themselves as stars, nighttime tappers of keyboards. You might feel that their lives are rather sad, living as they do for very large parts of their days and nights in a virtual world, in front of a computer monitor, cocooned from existence."
Well excuse me Mr fancy-pants, smart-arse, lawyer person but I resemble that remark! Nary a day goes by when I'm not still here till the wee hours hammering away at a keyboard with a wonky "d" in an effort to earn a crust. If you're going to point the thin, veiny finger of mockery, then point it at yourself you wig-wearing, frock modelling snot!
I think it's time the "nighttime tappers of keyboards" came round your house for a cup of Coke and a couple of Mars Bars with you and your missus and we'll show you how how it's done.
My wife always gives this piece of advice to her female friends: "Marry a geek, because they're loyal and you always know where they are (usually in front of afore mentioned keyboard".
The same cannot be said of lawyers, who delight in getting pissed in poncey wine bars with their shallow mates before nipping off for a good spanking and a spot of aggravated nipple torture from Mistress ButtPlug of East Grinstead. This is not speculation btw - I have a friend who's a Dominatrix in London and she gets all sorts through the door - (don't get me started on that one... blimey you'll never guess... and poking out the end was a boa constrictor etc etc)
Legal types are nearly as oily as Tax men (see previous postings for my love of all things Inland Revenue).
Anyways, at least one good thing came out of the DrinkOrDie case, according to Mr Houlder that bastion of personality Bill Gates was "enraged" by the goings on of DoD - he must have been gutted losing a couple of thousand dollars what with his billions in the Abbey National...
Actually, something just occurred to me - is it coincidence that the next version of Windows, Micro$oft want to flog to the Horny Net Geeks is called LongHorn ??? Makes you wonder if it doesn't open Internet Exploder with a cunning image of a large-chested Brazilian "performance artist" getting a reboot up her own operating system.
(btw Bill, first week of full-time Linux usage and it's running like a dream - count an extra one that won't be buying your next product, even if there are Brazilians involved !!)
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