Hey Burrell, I'm sorry I missed you this AM. I had a minor panic attack related to work that I can't seem to finish. I was set to go and then I realized I needed to make copies of 175 copies of 2 8 page stories as well as 3 posters. Not to mention the papers.

By October, maybe I'll have a handle on things? And we can have dinner then?

Happy birthday, erika!

Allyson, what you probably missed was me prattling on endlessly. Because that's charming and attractive, isn't it?

Don't mind me -- threw my back out on the trip, and that was made very clear at krav today, so I'm beyond sulky, and also on much Aleve and the one Flexoril.

If you have a wifi thingy-do, does it hurt you/cost you anything/harm you in some other way for other people to use it?

If they do illegal things, it'll be traceable back to you through your ISP. Also, you're sharing the maximum bandwidth, so they could be eating it up and make you slow.

And it's rude.

If they do illegal things, it'll be traceable back to you through your ISP. Also, you're sharing the maximum bandwidth, so they could be eating it up and make you slow.

I hadn't thought of the illegal things, but I was wondering about the slowness thing.

The rudeness, I don't know. To me it seems like the kind of thing that you (the subscriber) can prevent, so if you don't, it's a free-for-all. I mean, right? If I leave my stuff on the sidewalk, of course someone's going to pick it up and take it.

If I leave my stuff on the sidewalk, of course someone's going to pick it up and take it.

What about if you leave your door unlocked? Is it okay for me to come in and take your stuff then?

If I leave my stuff on the sidewalk, of course someone's going to pick it up and take it.

That just makes someone coming along and picking it up predictable, not un-rude.

It's not OK, but much of the fault is mine. But that is why I was asking the question -- I was wondering if you do lose anything. If it's more like you taking my CDs or like you listening to my music.

much of the fault is mine

I think some of the fault is yours. But the law is squarely on your side. It's a crime, pure and simple.

I think it is simply rude, because taking something of someone's without asking (even if they won't miss it) is rude. Them having left it in arm's reach doesn't make it less so, to me.

Of course, I recently got pissy with someone who kept reaching for my food, tearing off a bit, and then saying "but you didn't want it, did you?" Just ask. Even if I do want it, I might share. If you don't ask, and you haven't established the dynamic, it's rude.

If I leave my stuff on the sidewalk, of course someone's going to pick it up and take it.

What about if you leave your door unlocked? Is it okay for me to come in and take your stuff then?

You would make such a good lawyer. Sigh.

You would make such a good lawyer. Sigh.

Instead, I use my powers for ... for ... okay, I don't really use them.

Hey! I was quoted on kfmonkey. Who needs powers?

What I do need are pants. I'm not quite sulky enough to flash these undies at the pizza guy.

I tend to assume that an unsecured network has been left that way on purpose (since it's hard to set one up without being told by your router that you should protect it), and is therefore being offered up for sharing. Obviously it's not a foolproof assumption, but it's the one I go by.

Still, I'm pretty sure I'm breaking Earthlink's rules by sharing mine, and I'd slap on a password if I ever noticed a major decline in speed.