Posted 10/15/2008 at 11:30:57am

When thinking about the potential benefactor in having a program, such as this, being added to our cell phones, I think it’s a smart idea. I think so because of the fact that it cannot only save hundreds if not thousands of dollars in car damages, but also save lives.

However, I also have to look at it from a personal standpoint here. This program will potentially block all incoming calls to a cell phone that are on the road and only prompting the driver if there is an emergency phone call. I feel that this time it is a company, rather than government, that is trying to make life safer while trying to restrict our freedom to exercise our right to use or not use a cell phone whenever we wish. Regardless of rather or not state or Federal law provides that a cell phone can or cannot be used while on the road.

All in all, I have mixed feelings about this new software because I see its potential in saving lives, but I also see it as a more personal threat to my freedom to choose when I can or cannot use a cell phone at my own leisure. Who’s to say that state or Federal law may someday require that this software be implemented and used while driving on the road, rather than have it be a choice between using it and not using it?

As long as this technology stays in the grey area that it is in now, then I see no harm in it and strongly encourage people to use it to not only save on money, but also help reduce the potential loss of life.

However, even if this quote is not the same thing, its meaning still means the same in a sense.

“No security without freedom.” –  unknown  

Posted 10/03/2008 at 04:41:59pm

I must admit that I myself am very pleased with Netflix’s service. First, I like how they won’t hold me responsible if the DVDs in the mail go missing while in route, or if they make a mistake. All I have to do is report the incident and they’ll fix the issue right up for me. The price they offer each month to rent unlimited DVDs far exceeds having to go to the video store, rent a movie for four bucks, and end up only getting four movies from the video store for $20 dollars, as compared to getting many more DVDs from Netflix for just the same amount of money.

At first, I was disappointed when I became a member and found out that their streaming service did not have up-to-date movie collections. Rather a collection of mostly 90’s and below T.V. and movie shows, but seeing as how they’ve been trying to change that and not increase the fee on me, it only makes me want to continue to be a loyal customer to them.

I really can’t believe it took me so long to move to Netflix, but like your relationship with Netflix, mines has been sweet, nice, and easy, too.

Finally, I can appreciate that Netflix tries to reward their customers by improving their services, keeping cost down for their customers, and much more. So long as they don’t try to pull a Blockbuster, or anything of the sort, I will remain a loyal customer.

Posted 09/20/2008 at 03:47:45pm

This is an okay start, in my opinion, for EA to make this move; however, I do feel that by continuing to put more and more restrictions on software, gaming and computer companies are only encouraging the development, spreading, and usage of online tools to break around such barriers. In effect, their goal to protect their software is ultimately backfiring on them, rather than giving them the edge they’re seeking to protect their investments. If EA truly wishes to see a more gradual decline on pirating of their software, in my opinion, then they must significantly ease back on their restrictions of their games. Pirating is always inevitably going to happen, but given the current situation with the game Spore, it only goes to show that the gaming community will not stand idly by and allow itself to be pushed around by bullies. Ultimately, the decision rest upon computer software makers, like EA, to make the choice about the path they wish to follow. They must consider, though, that the path they choose to walk will reflect their company, how their products are used, and finally the feedback they get from loyal customers and the likes.

Posted 09/13/2008 at 04:15:04pm

Stealing a game, under any circumstance, is certainly never right because you're taking away from the people who worked hard on the game to bring it to people like you; It's not their fault that EA decided that they would start putting DRM protection on their games. I believe, though, that because of EA's actions in using DRM, only serves to slap their loyal customers in the face. Therefore, in light of this, I think that people, rather than steal the video game, should buy the video game, then use various tools and hacks to rip the DRM protections off this video game. That way, it becomes a more fair and balanced environment. By stealing the video game and using hacks to rip off the DRM protection, you are just trading one evil for another evil, which isn't the right way to go at all. Buy it legit, then screw over EA's DRM.