If you are like me, the internet based communications service know as Skype is one of the key means by which you stay in touch with the world. Of course, because I am the kind of guy who wears a belt and braces (suspenders to Yankees), I also have Vonage VoIP phone service, BroadVoice VoIP Phone service, as well as the ubiquitous and ever popular Antel.
(I should mention one really cool feature of BroadVoice. With their Unlimited World Plus package they include unlimited free calls to 33 countries including land lines in Brazil and Argentina—which could be very useful here.) Check it out at: http://www.broadvoice.com/rateplans_unlimited_world+.html.
We use Skype for communications between our staff here and on other continents. We also use it for clients.
And now it has gone and died…well not exactly died, but it is pretty sick. The announcement on their website says that they have a “software” problem and that the engineers expect it to take 12 to 24 hours for it to start working again. I certainly hope those are “American” hours and NOT “Uruguayo” hours!
The conspiracy theorist among you, and you know who you are out on the coast there, will be certain that since E-Bay has bought Skype, they are using this time to install the bugging devices so that Uncle Sam can listen in to all the previously encrypted conversations. After all the Yankee Senate has passed a bill that would allow warrantless taps on all international calls and emails. Hmmm…
I am not sure I believe that; but just in case, we are testing out VoIP services that work well with Phil Zimmerman’s (the inventor of PGP encryption) Zphone which can be found at: http://zfoneproject.com/getstarted.html.
For those who are searching for alternatives, here are a few that are supposed to work with Zphone.:
http://www.sjlabs.com/sjp.html
I’m not sure you’re talking about me….but I see conspiracies everywhere!
First, the Skype thing is about Ebay trying to juice the top and bottom lines (ie higher rates.)
Second, they’re getting their palms greased by the Feds for no questions asked Surveillance privileges. This requires downtime for the software implant.
I’m mostly joking…………Naw!
That’s the real two part conspiracy.
Steve
www.coastaluruguay.com
Left by Steve Bowman on August 16th, 2007
“Of course, because I am the kind of guy who wears a belt and braces (suspenders to Yankees)”
WTF? Try to remember that there are some kids out there who may punch you in the face for using a term like Yankee. Seems like you should have spent your time brushing up on your grammar as opposed to studying racial epithets. Best of luck to ya.
>>>From the Southron:
Yankee is not a racial epithet. At worst it is a regional nickname. Do you think they call the New York Baseball Team Yankees as an insult? The only people I have ever know who object to being called Yankees are Southrons like myself. Perhaps you didn’t notice my pen name. After all I didn’t write damnyankee…
Not a lot of people have been able to punch me in the face, but if you are ever in the neighborhood, you are welcome to try. In the mean time I suggest you find another website on which you can vent your spleen. UruguayLiving is obviously not for you. I suggest Costa Rica, or maybe France instead.
Deo Vindice!
Best Regards,
David Finzer
–The Southron
PS: Proper grammar would dictate that you end your last sentence with you or y’all, not ya…
Left by wayupinya on August 18th, 2007