Blackhacker

In case you hadn’t heard yet.

USATODAY.com - NSA has massive database of Americans’ phone calls
The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren’t suspected of any crime. This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews.

I understand that this kind of data mining (and that is what it is, in spite of what the President says. He either doesn’t really understand what data mining is or is lying) is necessary to uncover and apprehend loosely couple decentralized organization like Al Qaeda, but there was NO OVERSITE. Where was the check? Where was the balance? The President says, “I can do This cause that is how I interpret the constitution. I Don’t have to do that ’cause that’s how I interpret the constitution. ”

Well Mr. Bush, IT AINT YOUR JOB TO INTERPRET THE CONSTIUTION. THAT IS THE JOB OF THE COURTS.

Kudos to QUEST for telling the government NO. Thanks for having a spine.

Market Pulse: Verizon offering ‘naked DSL’ in Northeast
Monday April 18, 1:04 pm ET
By Jeffry Bartash

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Verizon Communications said Monday that it will now allow customers in the Northeast who already gets its phone and high-speed Internet service to drop or switch the voice service but keep their DSL. Customers could rely on wireless or Internet-calling plans — supplied by Verizon or its rivals — for their local phone service. Standalone high-speed Internet service, known as “naked DSL,” will not be available right away to Verizon customers outside the old Nynex and Bell Atlantic territories, the company said. Eventually, naked DSL will be expanded to all of Verizon’s territory to all potential subscribers, regardless of whether they are a current customer, the company said.

Verizon sees the hand writing on the wall. Local phone service is see much competition from VOIP, and cellular which the just can not compete on price. People will start to abandon traditional phone service all together. But at least this way Verizon has a chance to stay in the mix.

Update:
FYI

Telecommunications giant Verizon has been forced to break some bad news to customers - they cannot simply drop their phone service while keeping Verizon DSL. Instead, subscribers can port their number to another telephone service provider.