Normal phone calls via the internet…
Well we are all looking cheap long distance phone calls to call those we know that are not au fait with things like iChat AV and other VoIP computer solutions. Well ViaTalk that acts like having a normal full service phone company is availabel online via a company called Viatalk who currently offer $16 a month for unlimited local and long distance calls (their VT Unlimited plan) in two-thousand two-hundred and twenty major markets in all 50 states. They seemed to be pleased with themselves for being debt free in their business operations. I am not quite sure why we would actually care they have no debt.
It is interesting to see companies trying to introduce everyday people to what many of us online have been using for a long time ie VoIP. There are quite a few people who have a problem with using the mic and headphone combo when taking over broadband prefering to just use their “normal” phone. Many of us used to playing games, recording audio on their computers and other such things chating in front of a screen is not exactly a big thing. And some of us could ask whether or not having everyone on VoIP is necessarily a good thing.
Frum gets it right…
Piss off your base get hammered. I wonder if David Cameron is listening? Alas, I rather doubt it. The Tory establishment still think they can rubbish their own base and have them vote for the next time round by trashing UKIP as the reasonable face of the BNP and claiming that those who support tax cuts are “far-right”. While the urbanites in certain parts of London and other cities in UK adore Cameroonies prattling their base in their core constituencies are getting fed up.
Comments are off for this postTV on your computer?
Web TV is the coming thing for those who are frustrated by the lack of choice and quality of the program available on their local terrestrial, cable or satillite channels. Most people are getting sick of watching TV that is dictated by some television program wonk in the New York City who could care less about your individual taste.. Well Tvadio is a new piece of software in public beta that aims to help you put your internet sourced tv and videos in one easy place.
It is in beta so the normal caveats apply and it looks to me that there is no version for a Mac. The website is sparce and doesn’t actually tell the user much about the program. I tried to find what the requirements are for the software and was unable to do so. The site and program aims to be one stop place for you to find all that you want find online, no need to search all over the place for what you want to view. They aim to have high quality programming, not amateur rubbish video.
It is very early days for the software but if you are an early adopter it might be something to check out.
1 comment18 Doughty adventure…
Well my appearance on 18 Doughty Street went without a hitch. I had the pleasure of replacing Iain on the couch for a lively discussion on lots of things in the papers. They do not have it up but will soon have it on watch again function on the site. I would like to thank them for making me feel welcome and making for an enjoyable time despite the late hour.
Comments are off for this postD_AD MAN _ALK_NG
One of Saddam Hussein’s official hangmen is speaking to the media for the first time – offering a firsthand account of some of the torture techniques he used on Saddam’s orders.Recalling his time working at Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison, Abu Hussein [last name withheld] recalled that a new batch of political prisoners was brought in – without being charged with a crime – every week.
Deserters from Iraq’s war with Iran faced the firing squad, the hangman told Reuters, while prisoners who had insulted Saddam were hanged because it was more cruel.
Kind of ironic, what? Best get your kicks in playing Saddam Hangman, because I don’t think he’s going to swing.
I’m starting to smell something in the air, and it isn’t because I forgot to shower again:
CBS:
(AP) BAGHDAD Saddam Hussein’s former second in command, now a fugitive with a $10 million bounty on his head, has ordered Baath party bosses still in Iraq to cease attacks, according to government and parliamentary officials who claimed knowledge of the developments.Four officials in the Iraqi government and parliament, each in a position to hear about largely secret efforts to reach accord with members of the Sunni insurgency, said former Iraqi vice president Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri has ordered Baath party bosses still in Iraq to end attacks within the past two days.
[...]
The reported al-Douri order coincided as well with talks currently taking place in Jordan between Americans and insurgent groups, including Baath Party officials, according to several of Iraq’s Sunni lawmakers and government officials.
One Sunni lawmaker said the Baathists told U.S. officials they realized they could not take back control of government but that the fighting could not stop without their agreement. The parliament member suggested that Baathists were trying to strike a deal for amnesty or leniency.
My bet is that Saddam and his cohorts go into exile to a Sunni-majority country (Saudi Arabia comes to mind) in exchange for the Baathist militias standing down, backed by American guarantees of security. The Iraqi Army and Shia militias with American air and Special Forces support are then free to turn their considerable wrath upon al-Qaeda’s remnants and other (Syrian and Iranian, mainly) adventurers.
Is it worth releasing one monster to bring an end to the sectarian violence and give the Iraqis time to cobble together a political solution? I’ve been a firm supporter of the US efforts to liberate the country, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it should cost as few as possible more American and innocent Iraqi lives.
Comments are off for this postPeer to Peer…loans
There is new type of online investment out there for those of you wanting to get a decent return on your money. Its involves peer-to-peer loans using the internet and thus eliminating the middle-man. Avoid the hassle and the expense of having a middle-man involved generally mucking things up for you. Invest some money for Zopa and help to continue the new trend of peer-to-peer lending. This is currently working well in the UK, no doubt to get people out of the vile slow mostly dishonest UK banking system, and it will soon launch in the US. Anything that makes loans easier, cheaper and more efficient sounds good to me.
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