I'm getting a bit firmer on this as time goes on and told him that ISN will not provide a service for free to persons who cannot get those same services from their provider at any price.

Frankly, I'm sick and tired of listening to the complaints of Island Tel customers who insist that I should fix their problems because the whole Internet works better when they have their problem solved (this was NOT the position of said gentleman, but it's a very common one). In fact the gentleman who called was very pleasant and ~seemed~ to accept the reasonablness inherent in my refusing to assist him for free; I felt he did anyway.

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(Completely off topic, but precious nonetheless: Around 4 years ago, a soft-bodied chap who has frequented a few dozen IT functions over the past few years presented me with an 11 page resume and references explaining that, "I've been a fan of ISN's since the beginning. You should be really proud of what you've achieved. I think ISN blaa blaa...." until he felt my ass was full (enough) of smoke following which he released for a breath.

With some hesitation -- not knowing if I had enough smoke -- I mumbled "jxd@isn.net" (or something), as my finger fell to the extra bolded underlined "jodoe@pei.simpatico.pe.ca." which was centered just above a diminutive "RESUME" line. I smiled with an unspoken, "if that's all true then what's this?". Mr Doe then informed me, being completely taken up by his own cleverness to the point where it chuckled and spurted out, "Well ha ha, you know one sure way of [chuckle] changing that address. Permanently too! ha ha.

I couldn't resist: "You are willing to make a $25.00 committment to ISN every month if ISN makes a Thirty Thousand Dollar committment to you every year?"

He was surprised that I didn't wait for his 11 page answer. I regret that I threw out the resume; I should have framed it.

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WiFi

I had opened the WiFi node purely for my own use and had to shut it down the moment I discovered it had been mentioned here. I would be unable to insure my equipment if I were to leave it open.

It is my opinion that as we move closer toward the fascist end of the spectrum down south that open WiFi nodes will be legislated out of existence (to the extent that legislation can do so). What this means (if I'm correct) is that only those with nothing to lose will be able to play WiFi the way it's being done now.

I'm working on a solution which will keep geeks and 'fascists' (er, State Department Security Managers) happy. It involves a number of technologies (some new) working along with WiFi to deliver what you need and in a way that allows a business to particpate (any business, not just mine).

I really wish I didn't have to unplug the repeater for now but it's unavoidable. Highly experienced users who make a specific request will be given conditional access to the new (and slightly more secure) ISN WiFi node until my better solution comes along at which time it will be open once again.

Kevin

Highly experienced would include: those who can describe in detail (in their own words) the difference between 11 and 22 megabit 802.11