31 Years of the Digest ... founded August 21, 1981
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The Telecom Digest for March 9, 2013
Volume 32 : Issue 60 : "text" Format
====== 31 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ======
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Telecom and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Digest for the
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are definitely unwelcome.
We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we
are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because
we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands
against crime. - Geoffrey Welsh
See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details
and the name of our lawyer, and other stuff of interest.
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Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 06:02:12 +0000 (UTC)
From: John Levine <johnl@iecc.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: FTC vs. phone text-spam. Maybe
Message-ID: <khbut4$2cu8$1@leila.iecc.com>
>Are there computerized phone/sms/SIMcard thingees? I've
>never seen one but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
Yes, of course. Do a search for GSM SMS gateway and you'll find
plenty of them, some with what looks like a SIM jukebox.
> That being said, it should be trivial for any legit cellco
> to rate-limit a subscriber's SMS throughput.
You'd think so, wouldn't you? But remember that they get paid for
each SMS.
--
Regards,
John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies",
Please consider the environment before reading this e-mail.
http://jl.ly
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 07:42:04 +0000 (UTC)
From: wollman@bimajority.org (Garrett Wollman)
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: FTC vs. phone text-spam. Maybe
Message-ID: <khc4oc$1fv1$1@grapevine.csail.mit.edu>
In article <Pine.NEB.4.64.1303072341410.7423@panix3.panix.com>,
danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com> wrote:
>- I'm wondering about that for a couple of reasons. First is
> that you'd (the spammer, that is) still have to type in
> each msg into the phone. That kind of limits it to a
> hundred or so per hour.
>
>- Now that's a big number, but it ain't a BIG number.
>
>Are there computerized phone/sms/SIMcard thingees? I've
>never seen one but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
You bet. Any cellular modem can do it: AT+CMGS="NPANXXXXXX" followed
by CR, message, and control-Z. Multi-Tech seems to be the biggest
maker of stand-alone cellular modems these days; they are sold mainly
into the integrator market, where they end up in fleet-management
systems, security systems, and similar devices. We have one at work
(for Verizon's IS-95/IS-2000 network) that runs our emergency paging
system; it's driven by a Python script called from Nagios. Having
one ensures that we can get alerted when our Internet connection goes
down -- which wouldn't work if we used PagerDuty or sent email
directory to carrier SMS-Email gateways. (Having a distinctive number
is also necessary on some phones for distinctive alert tones -- on my
phone I have a recording of an old Motorola pager that is triggered
when there's an incoming SMS from our number.)
-GAWollman
(writing, just this once, as the network administrator of MIT Computer
Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, the host institution
of TELECOM Digest for nearly two decades)
--
Garrett A. Wollman | What intellectual phenomenon can be older, or more oft
wollman@bimajority.org| repeated, than the story of a large research program
Opinions not shared by| that impaled itself upon a false central assumption
my employers. | accepted by all practitioners? - S.J. Gould, 1993
Date: Thu, 7 Mar 2013 23:35:03 -0700
From: Fred Atkinson <fatkinson.remove-this@and-this-too.mishmash.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Re: Smart Phones
Message-ID: <272FBDE5-860F-4BF4-869F-9C3DA77661F5@mishmash.com>
Bill,
Some corrections.
First, [the movie] "Atlas Shrugged" was written in three parts.
Not only is Part I available on video, Part II is also
available on video (I have both of them). Part II hit the theaters
shortly before the election, by the way. I thought both of them were
terrific.
Part III, I understand, is scheduled to hit the theaters in the
summer of 2014. It is the finale.
The time setting was unclear in the novel. But it was a time
when fuel was selling for over thirty dollars a gallon which made air
travel less than economical. So the trains were taking over again as
the major source of transportation.
Poverty ran rampant because the government was turning the
nation into a socialist economy and regulating the great entrepreneurs
out of business. Social welfare programs were taking over the
management of people's lives. That could never happen in America, or
could it? Does that sound like anything we know about?
All the great people in society kept disappearing. When they
would disappear, there would always be the question of, "Who is John
Galt?".
John Galt is the mystery man whose identity and purpose does
not become clear until you get well into Part III of the novel (I
don't want to spoil the mystery for you). Every time he shows up in
Parts I & II in the theater, he is in silhouette.
By the way, I've been told that Dagny Taggart and Ayn Rand are
one and the same as Ayn Rand used her own traits to create the
character of Dagny Taggart. I wonder if that is really true?
I second your recommendation of the novel. After I saw Part I
at the theater, I went straight to B&N and purchased a copy of Atlas
Shrugged. I was so fascinated with reading it that I devoured that
entire novel in less than two weeks (I work full time so that was an
accomplishment). You'll shriek when you see how many pages it has.
I couldn't wait for Part II to hit the theater. Now I can
hardly wait for Part III.
So I've met John Galt and I've been to Atlantis.
By the way, you can view Atlas Shrugged Part I on Netflix.
I don't consider Dagny Taggart a feminist. She had no
political agenda. Running her railroad and achieving great things was
her focus. She steered clear of politics.
She was a brilliant entrepreneur. There was nothing she could
not achieve though her vision and her leadership. And she partnered
with other great minds. She did not care for the political games and
the sleaze they associated with to take down the great entrepreneurs
so that the non-productive could survive in the market place.
Check out the movie's Web site:
http://www.atlasshruggedmovie.com
You are right. You could substitute AT&T for Taggart Transcontinental Railroad.
Could Wesley Mouch be Harry Reid or Obama? I think they have similarities.
Regards,
Fred
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 10:00:38 -0500
From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Smart Phones
Message-ID: <20130308150038.GA14313@telecom.csail.mit.edu>
On Thu, Mar 07, 2013 at 11:35:03PM -0700, Fred Atkinson wrote:
> Bill,
>
> Some corrections.
>
> First, [the movie] "Atlas Shrugged" was written in three parts.
Noted, thanks.
> The time setting was unclear in the novel. But it was a time
> when fuel was selling for over thirty dollars a gallon which made air
> travel less than economical. So the trains were taking over again as
> the major source of transportation.
>
> Poverty ran rampant because the government was turning the
> nation into a socialist economy and regulating the great entrepreneurs
> out of business. Social welfare programs were taking over the
> management of people's lives. That could never happen in America, or
> could it? Does that sound like anything we know about?
If you ever find a socialist economy, let me know and I'll be glad to
look at it further. AFAICT, all the governments that call themselves
"Socialist" are really something else.
> All the great people in society kept disappearing. When they
> would disappear, there would always be the question of, "Who is John
> Galt?".
Where do they disappear to in real world? Dubai? London? Sri Lanka?
> John Galt is the mystery man whose identity and purpose does
> not become clear until you get well into Part III of the novel (I
> don't want to spoil the mystery for you). Every time he shows up in
> Parts I & II in the theater, he is in silhouette.
John Galt is the personification of the common sense and ambition we
all have in our hearts: the knowledge that out fate is in our own
hands, no matter what the "powers that be" might say.
> By the way, I've been told that Dagny Taggart and Ayn Rand are
> one and the same as Ayn Rand used her own traits to create the
> character of Dagny Taggart. I wonder if that is really true?
I'd bet that Dagny was more of what Rand admired, and less of whatever
faults Rand had. The author's privilege is to remake her life in prose.
> I second your recommendation of the novel. After I saw Part I
> at the theater, I went straight to B&N and purchased a copy of Atlas
> Shrugged. I was so fascinated with reading it that I devoured that
> entire novel in less than two weeks (I work full time so that was an
> accomplishment). You'll shriek when you see how many pages it has.
I read it over thirty years ago: it's not a lightweight book, in any sense.
> I don't consider Dagny Taggart a feminist. She had no
> political agenda. Running her railroad and achieving great things was
> her focus. She steered clear of politics.
Quod erat demonstrandum.
It is the curse of prophets never to be honored in their own time.
Ayn Rand wasn't perfect, but she did create a timeless warning about a
world where the best and brightest of society are so fed up with
leeches draining their lifeblood that they simply leave. (1)
"Atlas Shrugged" may not be a completely realistic portrayal of
America, but it's not something that can be tossed aside, either.
Whitaker Chambers' criticism of the book is the canonical example of a
liberal viewpoint crashing against a revolutionary polemic: Chambers
couldn't imagine a world where movers and shakers were able to abandon
both the establishment and their government, apparently forgetting the
international journeys which other Friends had taken in the eighteenth
century. I never thought taht Atlas Shrugged was devoid of love, or
generosity; only of the mawkish sentimentality that passed for
literature in my school, and of the arrogated duties imposed by those
I was told I must look up to.
I've heard it said that Rand was obviously abused as a child, and that
her novels were a reflection of that past. I've heard others speculate
that her writings were a reflection of the evils of Bolshevik
Russia. No matter: even if only as parable, Rand's book stands the
test of time. It's a work of art that will always make a reader
think, and for that alone, worthy of praise.
Sometimes, you have to tell Atlas to shrug.
Bill
1.) It was easy to dismiss Atlas Shrugged in the 1950's, when America
was always right, but not so easy now: according to a story at
zerohedge.com, the number of U.S. citizens renouncing their
citizenship every year has trippled since the tax laws changed in
2008. Whether this is an anomaly or the first wave of a storm, only
time will tell.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-03/tax-changes-drive-surge-americans-recouncing-citizenship
--
Bill Horne
(Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly)
They didn't get what I was meaning, 'til I stopped meaning too much
They didn't know what I was dreaming, 'til they were cold to the touch
- John Gorka
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 10:58:19 -0800 (PST)
From: "Ken \(kc7rad\)" <kc7rad@remove-this.gmail.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Rural NPANXX or LATAs?
Message-ID: <f0db562a-9765-43e9-9390-e2d3db3bb679@googlegroups.com>
Hi all,
Just poking around & trying to find a way to determine whether an
NPANXX or LATA is considered 'rural' or not. I have full access to
the LERG data but nothing in the docs indicate where to look.
Thoughts?
[Thank you, and best regards]
Ken (KC7RAD)
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 17:03:50 -0800 (PST)
From: HAncock4 <withheld@invalid.telecom-digest.org>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Rural NPANXX or LATAs?
Message-ID: <891e5a4f-a642-4994-9ea6-3ec346b9269a@c6g2000yqh.googlegroups.com>
On Mar 8, 1:58 pm, "Ken \(kc7rad\)" <kc7...@remove-this.gmail.com>
wrote:
> Just poking around & trying to find a way to determine whether an
> NPANXX or LATA is considered 'rural' or not. I have full access to
> the LERG data but nothing in the docs indicate where to look.
What does it mean if an NXX classified as "rural"? Are they different
rates? Different rules? Can an entire LATA be classified as rural?
Thanks.
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 10:34:31 -0700
From: fatkinson.remove-this@and-this-too.mishmash.com
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Re: Smart Phones (Atlas Shrugged)
Message-ID: <c91773670191277ffc3dbb2d64f141c5.squirrel@webmail.mishmash.org>
>> Bill,
>>
>> Some corrections.
>>
>> First, [the movie] "Atlas Shrugged" was written in three parts.
>
>Noted, thanks.
No, Bill. You incorrectly edited my comment. The novel was
written in three parts. Each part of the novel corresponds to one
of the three movies. Check this out if you don't believe me.
[OK, my mistake, jeeez ... bh]
> On Thu, Mar 07, 2013 at 11:35:03PM -0700, Fred Atkinson wrote:
> If you ever find a socialist economy, let me know and I'll be glad to
> look at it further. AFAICT, all the governments that call themselves
> "Socialist" are really something else.
Really? I guess socialist is a word that means different things to
different people.
To me, it means that the government provides for you and runs your
life, just the opposite of freedom.
> Where do they disappear to in real world? Dubai? London? Sri Lanka?
Good point.
> John Galt is the personification of the common sense and ambition we
> all have in our hearts: the knowledge that out fate is in our own
> hands, no matter what the "powers that be" might say.
A very good way to describe him. But he is so much more than that.
> I'd bet that Dagny was more of what Rand admired, and less of whatever
> faults Rand had. The author's privilege is to remake her life in prose.
I'd say so, too. But I think she admired John Galt even more than
Dagny.
> I read it over thirty years ago: it's not a lightweight book, in any
> sense.
I had never even heard of it until I heard a news report about Atlas
Shrugged Part I hitting the theaters. It sounded like a fascinating
movie. So I decided to go see it.
After all of the junk literature they made me read in undergraduate
programs, I don't understand why they didn't require this as reading.
They would have been doing society a big favor. Even if you don't agree
with its philosophy, it raises some very important and provocative issues.
> Quod erat demonstrandum.
>
> It is the curse of prophets never to be honored in their own time.
> Ayn Rand wasn't perfect, but she did create a timeless warning about a
> world where the best and brightest of society are so fed up with
> leeches draining their lifeblood that they simply leave. (1)
And it seems that we may be at that point today.
All of the liberal left (who have a lot to lose if we adopt an
attitude as described in Atlas Shrugged) are constantly berating Ayn
Rand's ideas. They'd have to actually work to make a living if we
lived in that kind of society (a society that awards achievement and
doesn't penalize those who achieve).
> "Atlas Shrugged" may not be a completely realistic portrayal of
> America, but it's not something that can be tossed aside, either.
> Whitaker Chambers' criticism of the book is the canonical example of a
> liberal viewpoint crashing against a revolutionary polemic: Chambers
> couldn't imagine a world where movers and shakers were able to abandon
> both the establishment and their government, apparently forgetting the
> international journeys which other Friends had taken in the eighteenth
> century. I never thought taht Atlas Shrugged was devoid of love, or
> generosity; only of the mawkish sentimentality that passed for
> literature in my school, and of the arrogated duties imposed by those
> I was told I must look up to.
What literary work is a completely realistic portrayal of anything?
> I've heard it said that Rand was obviously abused as a child, and that
> her novels were a reflection of that past. I've heard others speculate
> that her writings were a reflection of the evils of Bolshevik
> Russia. No matter: even if only as parable, Rand's book stands the
> test of time. It's a work of art that will always make a reader
> think, and for that alone, worthy of praise.
Most of that comes from the far left who are terrified by the
message of Atlas Shrugged.
> Sometimes, you have to tell Atlas to shrug.
And sometimes, it's a great thing for Atlas to shrug. Perhaps
industry should shrug now.
> 1.) It was easy to dismiss Atlas Shrugged in the 1950's, when America
> was always right, but not so easy now: according to a story at
> zerohedge.com, the number of U.S. citizens renouncing their
> citizenship every year has trippled since the tax laws changed in
> 2008. Whether this is an anomaly or the first wave of a storm, only
> time will tell.
It's only the first wave of a storm. It is not a trend.
And it is not a storm that will go away any time in the near future.
Until we stop penalizing the achievers, American achievement will
continue to be on the decline.
And when there is no more achievement, where will the looters get
their loot?
Fred
TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly to telecom-
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