Off The Hook - 2001-06-19

[00:01.240 --> 00:09.980]  [SPEAKER_01]: The fact that they're being done the way they are and the fact that they're being done by people who really care about what's going on in America is, I believe, is going to make a difference.
[00:10.700 --> 00:15.340]  [SPEAKER_01]: And it's not a small thing that's happening there, and I'm very happy to see it happen.
[00:15.340 --> 00:19.120]  [SPEAKER_24]: That was Neil Adams speaking on an early episode of Nuff Said.
[00:19.460 --> 00:25.880]  [SPEAKER_24]: To hear thought-provoking and entertaining discussion on the subject of comics, tune in every Tuesday night at 10 p.m.
[00:26.240 --> 00:31.260]  [SPEAKER_24]: for Nuff Said, here on WBAI New York, 99.5 FM.
[00:31.680 --> 00:36.020]  [SPEAKER_24]: And visit our website, nuffsaid.net, for our upcoming schedule of guests.
[00:36.600 --> 00:37.500]  [SPEAKER_24]: See you there.
[00:40.120 --> 00:43.680]  [SPEAKER_02]: Miss Richards, do you remember the first time you tried cocaine?
[00:43.680 --> 00:44.960]  [SPEAKER_18]: I don't remember exactly.
[00:45.680 --> 00:47.500]  [SPEAKER_18]: Oh, yeah, it was that night.
[00:47.740 --> 00:48.900]  [SPEAKER_18]: He offered me a line of blow.
[00:49.100 --> 00:49.480]  [SPEAKER_02]: You want some blow?
[00:49.760 --> 00:54.240]  [SPEAKER_18]: Well, I'd never done it before, just pot, but that night I felt like going farther.
[00:54.660 --> 00:55.140]  [SPEAKER_18]: Why not?
[00:55.320 --> 00:56.260]  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, why not?
[00:56.500 --> 00:58.780]  [SPEAKER_02]: Now tell me, when did it start to be a regular thing?
[00:58.940 --> 01:01.160]  [SPEAKER_18]: Well, I began to do it during the week.
[01:01.560 --> 01:02.480]  [SPEAKER_18]: How about you and me?
[01:02.640 --> 01:03.820]  [SPEAKER_18]: Next Tuesday, for dinner?
[01:04.120 --> 01:06.000]  [SPEAKER_02]: Had you ever done drugs at work?
[01:06.120 --> 01:07.640]  [SPEAKER_18]: No, not at this point, but later.
[01:08.180 --> 01:10.140]  [SPEAKER_18]: I had some coke the other day at work, you know.
[01:10.140 --> 01:13.840]  [SPEAKER_18]: It was Friday before the weekend, and, well, work was so much easier.
[01:14.200 --> 01:14.560]  [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, really?
[01:14.780 --> 01:15.920]  [SPEAKER_02]: I think that's it last week.
[01:16.140 --> 01:17.020]  [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, why not?
[01:17.180 --> 01:18.180]  [SPEAKER_02]: To make the day nicer.
[01:18.780 --> 01:19.740]  [SPEAKER_02]: It isn't like heroin.
[01:19.900 --> 01:20.820]  [SPEAKER_18]: Yeah, that's whack.
[01:20.960 --> 01:21.800]  [SPEAKER_18]: That stuff kills you.
[01:21.960 --> 01:24.460]  [SPEAKER_02]: When did you realize you had to become addicted to cocaine?
[01:24.720 --> 01:25.700]  [SPEAKER_18]: I woke up that day.
[01:26.200 --> 01:26.560]  [SPEAKER_18]: David?
[01:26.900 --> 01:27.500]  [SPEAKER_02]: Yes, Amy?
[01:27.680 --> 01:28.500]  [SPEAKER_18]: Do you have some coke?
[01:28.680 --> 01:30.680]  [SPEAKER_18]: I couldn't get any yesterday, and I've got to go to work.
[01:31.800 --> 01:35.160]  [SPEAKER_18]: Don't remember how it started, but I wish it never did.
[01:35.840 --> 01:37.000]  [SPEAKER_02]: Don't kid yourself.
[01:37.420 --> 01:41.880]  [SPEAKER_02]: Remember that pot, cocaine, heroin, and crack, they all take you places.
[01:42.520 --> 01:43.400]  [SPEAKER_02]: The morgue.
[01:48.530 --> 01:49.950]  [SPEAKER_03]: What the hell was that?
[01:51.230 --> 01:53.050]  [SPEAKER_03]: Did we just air commercial or something?
[01:53.590 --> 01:55.710]  [SPEAKER_03]: Did you ever hear anything like that on these airways before?
[01:56.390 --> 01:57.330]  [SPEAKER_03]: On these airways?
[01:57.330 --> 01:58.570]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, my God, I'm putting this over here.
[01:59.150 --> 02:00.790]  [SPEAKER_03]: In the archive pile.
[02:00.990 --> 02:01.630]  [SPEAKER_03]: My God.
[02:01.850 --> 02:03.770]  [SPEAKER_03]: Put that under history for a big mistake.
[02:05.410 --> 02:09.570]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's 8 o'clock, and in case you didn't realize it, you're listening to WBAI New York.
[02:09.690 --> 02:10.450]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's time for Off the Hook.
[02:10.710 --> 02:21.310]  [SPEAKER_23]: The telephone keeps ringing So I ripped it off the wall I cut myself while shaving Now I can't make a cough But
[02:24.480 --> 02:32.140]  [SPEAKER_23]: if they could, they would Bum-dilly-bum But the best, expect the worst I hope that's understood Bum-dilly-bum
[04:30.490 --> 04:31.650]  [SPEAKER_03]: And a very good evening to everybody.
[04:31.750 --> 04:32.470]  [SPEAKER_03]: The program is Off the Hook.
[04:32.550 --> 04:41.070]  [SPEAKER_03]: Emmanuel Goldstein here with you on this bright Tuesday night along with Isaac and various other people floating around in the studio of 120 Wall Street.
[04:41.730 --> 04:42.310]  [SPEAKER_03]: What's new?
[04:42.610 --> 04:43.330]  [SPEAKER_03]: Not all that fun.
[04:43.330 --> 04:45.070]  [SPEAKER_03]: How's the Exploit Witness show going?
[04:45.250 --> 04:47.270]  [SPEAKER_04]: Oh, the Exploit Witness show is doing pretty well.
[04:47.930 --> 04:49.190]  [SPEAKER_03]: Witness anything recently?
[04:49.610 --> 04:50.330]  [SPEAKER_03]: Notice anything?
[04:50.470 --> 04:51.730]  [SPEAKER_03]: Have you witnessed anything recently?
[04:51.970 --> 04:52.730]  [SPEAKER_04]: Oh, expertly.
[04:52.870 --> 04:54.650]  [SPEAKER_03]: You've got to pay special attention.
[04:54.910 --> 04:55.410]  [SPEAKER_04]: I do.
[04:55.530 --> 04:56.850]  [SPEAKER_04]: I need to be the expert witness.
[04:57.390 --> 04:57.930]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, boy.
[04:58.550 --> 05:00.230]  [SPEAKER_04]: That was actually recorded some time ago.
[05:00.670 --> 05:01.410]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I noticed.
[05:01.650 --> 05:03.910]  [SPEAKER_03]: They were referring to Timmy Timothy Faye as if he was still alive.
[05:04.190 --> 05:06.350]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know if that was wishful thinking or...
[05:06.350 --> 05:08.290]  [SPEAKER_04]: Figured I'd fill you in on that one in case you missed it.
[05:08.630 --> 05:08.870]  [SPEAKER_04]: Wow.
[05:09.890 --> 05:16.190]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, anyway, I'm sorry for blowing up at the public service announcement before but that just struck me as a bit odd for this place.
[05:16.570 --> 05:17.210]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know.
[05:17.470 --> 05:19.110]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm very sensitive to that kind of a thing.
[05:19.790 --> 05:21.150]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's not the anti-drunk message.
[05:21.310 --> 05:23.390]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, I'm perfectly in favor of alternative views.
[05:23.550 --> 05:27.610]  [SPEAKER_03]: But it's the, you know, it's the way in which it's presented.
[05:27.810 --> 05:30.550]  [SPEAKER_03]: It sounds like, you know, the high compression type of thing.
[05:30.610 --> 05:30.970]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know what I mean?
[05:31.650 --> 05:34.870]  [SPEAKER_04]: It's a 65-second spot, which is kind of uncanny.
[05:35.730 --> 05:36.670]  [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, it doesn't mean...
[05:36.670 --> 05:38.490]  [SPEAKER_04]: How much that would cost on a commercial station?
[05:38.510 --> 05:39.730]  [SPEAKER_03]: Somebody press the button late.
[05:39.870 --> 05:40.410]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's what it means.
[05:40.550 --> 05:41.430]  [SPEAKER_03]: Probably 58.
[05:41.710 --> 05:42.110]  [SPEAKER_03]: 58.
[05:42.110 --> 05:44.010]  [SPEAKER_03]: With a slow fade or whatever.
[05:44.270 --> 05:44.670]  [SPEAKER_03]: Very good.
[05:45.270 --> 05:48.070]  [SPEAKER_03]: Anyway, the theme tonight is rip-offs.
[05:49.190 --> 05:49.930]  [SPEAKER_03]: Rip-offs.
[05:50.110 --> 05:50.890]  [SPEAKER_03]: What are we ripping off?
[05:50.990 --> 05:52.150]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, we're not ripping off.
[05:52.270 --> 05:53.490]  [SPEAKER_03]: We are the ripped-off.
[05:54.470 --> 05:55.490]  [SPEAKER_03]: We always are the ripped-off.
[05:55.710 --> 06:03.210]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, the term rip-off can apply to many situations and I'm sure our listeners will use their imagination and come up with all kinds of applications for that term.
[06:04.070 --> 06:07.890]  [SPEAKER_03]: What I'm going to be talking about here relates to several issues.
[06:08.250 --> 06:13.070]  [SPEAKER_03]: And listeners are, of course, welcome to join in later on with any instances of their own they'd like to contribute.
[06:15.050 --> 06:16.370]  [SPEAKER_03]: But where do I start?
[06:16.530 --> 06:17.510]  [SPEAKER_03]: I recognize that logo.
[06:17.870 --> 06:18.410]  [SPEAKER_03]: Where do I start?
[06:18.530 --> 06:19.450]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, yeah, you sure do.
[06:20.610 --> 06:21.090]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
[06:21.450 --> 06:22.750]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's start with Sprint.
[06:23.350 --> 06:24.590]  [SPEAKER_03]: My favorite company.
[06:25.390 --> 06:26.870]  [SPEAKER_03]: My all-time favorite company.
[06:27.950 --> 06:28.530]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
[06:29.590 --> 06:32.570]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know that I've had a Sprint phone now for a few years.
[06:32.570 --> 06:34.690]  [SPEAKER_03]: Actually, what's wrong about that statement, Isaac?
[06:35.970 --> 06:36.930]  [SPEAKER_03]: Only a few years?
[06:37.110 --> 06:37.650]  [SPEAKER_03]: No, no.
[06:37.650 --> 06:39.390]  [SPEAKER_03]: I've had a Sprint phone for a few years.
[06:40.530 --> 06:44.370]  [SPEAKER_03]: I guess the sound of it turning off now so some wide-taker doesn't call me on the show.
[06:44.930 --> 06:47.190]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, you're turning off a second phone if that's kind of a new one.
[06:47.190 --> 06:50.270]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's the voice stream phone going off today so I'm completely unreachable now.
[06:50.950 --> 06:52.230]  [SPEAKER_04]: You kind of caught me off guard.
[06:52.350 --> 06:53.050]  [SPEAKER_04]: What are we looking for?
[06:53.170 --> 06:57.130]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, basically the trick is that I've owned many Sprint phones over the years.
[06:57.230 --> 06:57.530]  [SPEAKER_04]: That's true.
[06:57.650 --> 06:58.890]  [SPEAKER_04]: The hardware you've owned.
[06:58.950 --> 07:00.590]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, why do I keep owning Sprint phones?
[07:01.630 --> 07:05.770]  [SPEAKER_04]: In various instances, they've been thrown around vehicles, crushed under things.
[07:05.770 --> 07:08.070]  [SPEAKER_03]: They've been thrown at walls, they've been thrown at people on one occasion.
[07:09.230 --> 07:09.630]  [SPEAKER_03]: They've...
[07:09.630 --> 07:10.510]  [SPEAKER_03]: Dropped out of windows.
[07:10.710 --> 07:11.050]  [SPEAKER_03]: They've dropped out...
[07:11.050 --> 07:13.990]  [SPEAKER_03]: But that's just the instances where I've done things to them.
[07:14.070 --> 07:15.150]  [SPEAKER_03]: There are all kinds of other instances...
[07:15.150 --> 07:16.150]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, they fell on their own, too.
[07:16.150 --> 07:17.250]  [SPEAKER_03]: Where, yeah, they...
[07:17.250 --> 07:22.750]  [SPEAKER_03]: The battery, like, you know, starts lasting maybe about 30 minutes total without even talking on it.
[07:23.610 --> 07:27.510]  [SPEAKER_03]: Along with all kinds of other, let's say, service shortfalls.
[07:27.810 --> 07:29.470]  [SPEAKER_03]: I guess that's the polite way to say it.
[07:31.010 --> 07:33.410]  [SPEAKER_03]: So, I have to keep changing my phone every now and then.
[07:33.530 --> 07:34.630]  [SPEAKER_03]: And I'd say maybe...
[07:34.630 --> 07:39.050]  [SPEAKER_03]: Maybe 10% of the time it's my fault just because I've abused the phone in some way.
[07:39.150 --> 07:41.850]  [SPEAKER_03]: But the rest of the time it's because the phone sucks.
[07:42.090 --> 07:43.010]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's an awful phone.
[07:43.010 --> 07:46.310]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, recently, I went to the Sprint store.
[07:46.530 --> 07:48.210]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, the Sprint store up in 42nd Street?
[07:48.510 --> 07:48.630]  [SPEAKER_04]: Right.
[07:49.050 --> 07:49.930]  [SPEAKER_04]: You ever visit that place?
[07:50.290 --> 07:51.510]  [SPEAKER_04]: It's absolutely packed.
[07:51.510 --> 07:53.930]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let me tell you about the primates who run that place, all right?
[07:53.990 --> 07:56.750]  [SPEAKER_03]: They are the most moronic people I think I've ever met.
[07:56.770 --> 07:57.590]  [SPEAKER_03]: And I don't mean this.
[07:57.670 --> 07:58.790]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean this with all due respect.
[07:59.830 --> 08:05.370]  [SPEAKER_03]: But what I'm trying to say is that there are certain people there who simply do not know how to treat customers.
[08:06.050 --> 08:07.890]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, first of all, when you walk into the place...
[08:07.890 --> 08:10.150]  [SPEAKER_04]: I honestly don't think they realize they have customers.
[08:10.750 --> 08:12.650]  [SPEAKER_03]: No, I don't think they care one way or the other.
[08:12.650 --> 08:14.810]  [SPEAKER_03]: I went in there because I had a problem with my phone.
[08:15.110 --> 08:15.990]  [SPEAKER_03]: It was dying very quickly.
[08:16.050 --> 08:17.370]  [SPEAKER_03]: I needed to know if there was something wrong with it.
[08:17.950 --> 08:28.890]  [SPEAKER_03]: The people at the nice Sprint store who are powerless to do anything told me to go up there because they had a programming update for my phone that would allow me to somehow extend my battery life.
[08:28.990 --> 08:34.510]  [SPEAKER_03]: The way the Sprint person on the phone explained it was that my phone was trying to talk to a tower in California.
[08:35.270 --> 08:35.630]  [SPEAKER_03]: What?
[08:35.930 --> 08:39.430]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, they had to change the software so that I would talk to a local cell tower.
[08:39.430 --> 08:41.950]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, that's better than the El Nino thing.
[08:42.230 --> 08:47.510]  [SPEAKER_03]: They explained it so that I understand very well, you know, very, very easily because, you know, I'm not very technical in the mind.
[08:48.170 --> 08:52.770]  [SPEAKER_03]: So I went over to the place and, you know, for the place that was, I guess, for service.
[08:53.190 --> 09:00.910]  [SPEAKER_03]: You walk in and on the left-hand side it says, pay your bill here and there's a bunch of angry people waiting online to pay their bill in person and then there's equipment to the right.
[09:01.090 --> 09:03.550]  [SPEAKER_03]: For which, are they still charging you the fee to pay your bill?
[09:03.690 --> 09:04.330]  [SPEAKER_03]: 45 minutes.
[09:04.450 --> 09:05.030]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I think they do.
[09:05.030 --> 09:07.110]  [SPEAKER_03]: They charge you a fee to pay the bill in person.
[09:07.410 --> 09:09.170]  [SPEAKER_03]: 45 minutes I had to wait for equipment.
[09:09.490 --> 09:10.750]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, there's no line there.
[09:10.970 --> 09:17.470]  [SPEAKER_03]: Basically, you pick the representative you think looks the most competent and you queue up behind that person and there's about six or seven different people there.
[09:17.830 --> 09:18.310]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right?
[09:18.410 --> 09:19.730]  [SPEAKER_03]: And everybody has their favorites.
[09:19.850 --> 09:21.570]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's kind of like going to Aqueduct or something.
[09:21.750 --> 09:24.870]  [SPEAKER_03]: You place bets and who's the most competent who's going to actually give you what you want.
[09:25.370 --> 09:32.490]  [SPEAKER_03]: So after 45 minutes of that, I finally get to my person who tells me that, no, you have to go to where the service is.
[09:32.490 --> 09:33.550]  [SPEAKER_03]: So I said, where's the service?
[09:33.790 --> 09:35.350]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's behind where you pay the bill.
[09:35.510 --> 09:37.250]  [SPEAKER_03]: You can't see it when you get off the staircase.
[09:37.250 --> 09:41.130]  [SPEAKER_03]: You have to walk into paying your bill and then you see all these other people waiting on line.
[09:41.190 --> 09:42.050]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's like Eastern Europe.
[09:43.850 --> 09:46.870]  [SPEAKER_03]: So I think it was about close to an hour on that line.
[09:47.030 --> 09:51.530]  [SPEAKER_03]: I was talking to people on my phone too while I was there telling them how awful this was.
[09:52.050 --> 09:55.790]  [SPEAKER_03]: The guy in front of me was a Sprint employee who was bitching at the people there.
[09:55.890 --> 09:58.410]  [SPEAKER_03]: He said, how could you penalize me for this?
[09:58.990 --> 10:02.350]  [SPEAKER_03]: I didn't do anything wrong with my phone and you're charging me extra.
[10:02.490 --> 10:04.230]  [SPEAKER_03]: And he had a Sprint uniform on.
[10:04.610 --> 10:06.110]  [SPEAKER_03]: He was yelling at the Sprint people.
[10:06.250 --> 10:07.150]  [SPEAKER_03]: It was the most incredible thing.
[10:07.570 --> 10:08.990]  [SPEAKER_03]: Anyway, finally I get to the people.
[10:09.090 --> 10:14.010]  [SPEAKER_03]: They did a little software upgrade but I want the battery, the extended battery that doesn't extend.
[10:14.370 --> 10:16.830]  [SPEAKER_03]: I wanted that to be looked at to see if there was a problem with that.
[10:16.910 --> 10:17.910]  [SPEAKER_03]: And they wouldn't look at it.
[10:17.990 --> 10:19.330]  [SPEAKER_03]: They said, you have to go into equipment to do that.
[10:19.970 --> 10:20.990]  [SPEAKER_04]: Which is where you were before.
[10:21.070 --> 10:21.910]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, so I went into equipment.
[10:22.030 --> 10:23.250]  [SPEAKER_03]: They said, we've never even seen this before.
[10:23.290 --> 10:23.910]  [SPEAKER_03]: We can't look at this.
[10:23.990 --> 10:24.690]  [SPEAKER_03]: You have to go back there.
[10:24.850 --> 10:26.330]  [SPEAKER_03]: And by that time they're closed.
[10:27.350 --> 10:30.070]  [SPEAKER_03]: So I had quite a lot of things to say to these people.
[10:32.490 --> 10:34.530]  [SPEAKER_03]: I got completely fed up because the phone didn't do any better.
[10:34.670 --> 10:37.010]  [SPEAKER_03]: Apparently it was still trying to talk to the tower in California somewhere.
[10:37.970 --> 10:39.510]  [SPEAKER_03]: So I had to buy a new phone.
[10:40.270 --> 10:42.870]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, my phone has been discontinued.
[10:43.010 --> 10:43.990]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's the flat phone.
[10:44.270 --> 10:44.890]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know if you've seen it.
[10:45.090 --> 10:45.690]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's kind of a cool looking phone.
[10:45.690 --> 10:47.810]  [SPEAKER_03]: The little Qualcomm really skinny one.
[10:48.030 --> 10:53.670]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it's a nice phone except it doesn't really work very well for me.
[10:53.790 --> 10:54.970]  [SPEAKER_03]: So I got another one.
[10:55.070 --> 10:59.270]  [SPEAKER_03]: But I had to search long and hard for it and I finally found one in like a staples for like 40 bucks.
[10:59.870 --> 11:03.190]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, lo and behold, I got my latest sprint bill.
[11:03.190 --> 11:03.570]  [SPEAKER_03]: New or refurb?
[11:03.930 --> 11:04.570]  [SPEAKER_03]: No, it was new.
[11:04.870 --> 11:05.810]  [SPEAKER_03]: They'd forgotten about it.
[11:05.910 --> 11:06.250]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's good.
[11:06.370 --> 11:12.250]  [SPEAKER_03]: I got my latest sprint bill and on the sprint bill is this little this little charge.
[11:13.410 --> 11:15.990]  [SPEAKER_03]: $34.99 phone activation fee.
[11:16.850 --> 11:17.490]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh no.
[11:17.870 --> 11:18.990]  [SPEAKER_03]: Phone activation fee.
[11:19.090 --> 11:20.010]  [SPEAKER_03]: Can you believe this?
[11:20.190 --> 11:24.450]  [SPEAKER_03]: So I called them up and I said, where do you come off charging me to activate a phone?
[11:24.630 --> 11:28.450]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, I had to buy another phone because the first one I bought was defective.
[11:28.850 --> 11:31.430]  [SPEAKER_03]: So now you're charging me a penalty because I had to buy another phone?
[11:31.530 --> 11:33.050]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's as much as the phone costs.
[11:33.090 --> 11:33.930]  [SPEAKER_03]: How could you charge me this?
[11:34.330 --> 11:36.850]  [SPEAKER_03]: And of course, their computers were down at the time so they couldn't even look at my bill.
[11:37.470 --> 11:45.710]  [SPEAKER_03]: So basically, the person on the phone who I'm convinced works in that same store, just all she could say was, sir, I'm sorry for the inconvenience but that is our policy.
[11:46.950 --> 11:48.290]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm like, what is your policy?
[11:48.410 --> 11:55.530]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, if I buy a phone from you and it breaks the next day, I've got to pay a penalty to get another phone?
[11:55.530 --> 11:56.910]  [SPEAKER_03]: And no, she had an answer for that.
[11:57.070 --> 11:57.610]  [SPEAKER_03]: She had an answer for that.
[11:57.690 --> 12:01.670]  [SPEAKER_03]: She said, no, if you sign up for our protection plan, that won't happen.
[12:01.870 --> 12:03.650]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, the magical protection plan.
[12:03.710 --> 12:04.650]  [SPEAKER_03]: This is thievery.
[12:04.930 --> 12:06.430]  [SPEAKER_03]: This is utter theft.
[12:06.650 --> 12:09.090]  [SPEAKER_03]: This is reaching into your pocket and stealing money.
[12:09.230 --> 12:10.070]  [SPEAKER_03]: It really is.
[12:10.130 --> 12:13.610]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, I'm going to do a little demonstration here.
[12:13.790 --> 12:14.010]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
[12:15.410 --> 12:16.190]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's get a phone.
[12:16.630 --> 12:17.130]  [SPEAKER_03]: Phone line.
[12:17.190 --> 12:17.510]  [SPEAKER_03]: There we go.
[12:18.570 --> 12:23.450]  [SPEAKER_03]: We're going to see and this is unrehearsed, obviously, because it's live and I can prove it.
[12:23.690 --> 12:25.410]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's 8-10 on Tuesday, June.
[12:26.450 --> 12:27.130]  [SPEAKER_03]: What's today's date?
[12:27.570 --> 12:27.890]  [SPEAKER_03]: 19.
[12:27.970 --> 12:28.490]  [SPEAKER_03]: 19, thank you.
[12:29.190 --> 12:30.610]  [SPEAKER_03]: So, this is obviously very, very live.
[12:31.030 --> 12:35.210]  [SPEAKER_03]: Federal government killed another person today, so, you know, it's not on tape.
[12:35.450 --> 12:38.810]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, we can't give you the photo of the New York Times from today, so it won't work either.
[12:39.970 --> 12:41.170]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, we can describe what's on it.
[12:41.190 --> 12:41.870]  [SPEAKER_04]: We could read it, yeah.
[12:42.550 --> 12:43.610]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right, we're calling Sprint now.
[12:43.710 --> 12:46.510]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's see how quickly we can get an answer to this question, if this is indeed their policy.
[12:54.540 --> 12:58.540]  [SPEAKER_11]: Welcome to Sprint PCS, the clear alternative to cellular.
[12:58.840 --> 12:59.180]  [SPEAKER_11]: Yeah, yeah.
[12:59.210 --> 13:00.260]  [SPEAKER_11]: Please listen carefully.
[13:00.580 --> 13:01.730]  [SPEAKER_11]: The options have changed.
[13:02.180 --> 13:04.380]  [SPEAKER_11]: If you have a Sprint PCS phone...
[13:04.380 --> 13:05.640]  [SPEAKER_11]: Okay, let's just get an operator quickly.
[13:05.760 --> 13:06.040]  [SPEAKER_11]: We'll hit zero.
[13:06.840 --> 13:07.580]  [SPEAKER_11]: We're sorry.
[13:07.780 --> 13:09.660]  [SPEAKER_11]: The digits you entered are invalid.
[13:10.060 --> 13:10.560]  [SPEAKER_11]: You will be...
[13:10.560 --> 13:11.660]  [SPEAKER_11]: Zero is not a number.
[13:12.080 --> 13:15.860]  [SPEAKER_11]: Welcome to Sprint PCS, the clear alternative to cellular.
[13:15.860 --> 13:16.880]  [SPEAKER_11]: Okay, we have to sit through this.
[13:16.880 --> 13:17.700]  [SPEAKER_11]: Listen carefully.
[13:18.020 --> 13:19.080]  [SPEAKER_11]: The options have changed.
[13:19.490 --> 13:24.060]  [SPEAKER_11]: If you have a Sprint PCS phone and you have a question, please press one.
[13:24.730 --> 13:27.080]  [SPEAKER_11]: To purchase Sprint PCS products and services...
[13:27.460 --> 13:27.620]  [SPEAKER_11]: Is that right?
[13:27.730 --> 13:28.540]  [SPEAKER_11]: Okay, I've got a question.
[13:28.940 --> 13:31.520]  [SPEAKER_11]: If you need to activate your Sprint PCS phone...
[13:31.520 --> 13:32.780]  [SPEAKER_11]: Did it hear my one or is it continuing?
[13:33.120 --> 13:34.710]  [SPEAKER_11]: If you have questions...
[13:34.710 --> 13:35.080]  [SPEAKER_11]: One is zero.
[13:35.120 --> 13:35.600]  [SPEAKER_11]: I'm sorry.
[13:35.780 --> 13:37.710]  [SPEAKER_11]: The digits you entered are invalid.
[13:37.960 --> 13:39.960]  [SPEAKER_11]: You will be prompted to try again.
[13:40.580 --> 13:41.780]  [SPEAKER_11]: Doesn't that sound like a threat?
[13:41.900 --> 13:42.540]  [SPEAKER_11]: You will be prompted.
[13:42.540 --> 13:43.100]  [SPEAKER_11]: You will be prompted.
[13:43.710 --> 13:46.760]  [SPEAKER_11]: If you have questions regarding your phone
[13:55.850 --> 13:57.180]  [SPEAKER_11]: Should I try zero again?
[13:57.640 --> 13:58.660]  [SPEAKER_04]: No, it's not worth it.
[13:58.730 --> 14:00.710]  [SPEAKER_11]: Don't refer me to a website!
[14:05.900 --> 14:09.230]  [SPEAKER_11]: Okay, here we go.
[14:11.230 --> 14:16.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: No, you see, I'm not falling for that, because A, you're not going to find out who I am, and B, I'm not a new customer.
[14:16.760 --> 14:19.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right, I'm a new customer, and I want to find out this is your policy.
[14:19.490 --> 14:21.490]  [SPEAKER_11]: The number you have entered is not valid.
[14:21.760 --> 14:23.710]  [SPEAKER_11]: You will be prompted to re-enter.
[14:23.970 --> 14:24.920]  [SPEAKER_11]: You will be prompted.
[14:25.420 --> 14:26.860]  [SPEAKER_11]: This is like a torture chamber.
[14:27.020 --> 14:28.140]  [SPEAKER_11]: Including area code.
[14:28.360 --> 14:31.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm just going to stay on until a human comes on, because I don't have a Touch-Tone phone, how about that?
[14:32.210 --> 14:33.140]  [SPEAKER_03]: Do you have an answer for that one?
[14:34.160 --> 14:35.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Haha, I didn't think so.
[14:35.260 --> 14:36.710]  [SPEAKER_11]: The number you have entered is not valid.
[14:37.080 --> 14:38.990]  [SPEAKER_11]: You will be prompted to re-enter.
[14:39.060 --> 14:40.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: How many times can you possibly prompt me?
[14:42.440 --> 14:44.230]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, the prompting has stopped.
[14:46.200 --> 14:47.760]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, maybe we'll get a person this time.
[14:47.960 --> 14:50.180]  [SPEAKER_11]: Please hold, while we connect your call.
[14:50.880 --> 14:51.840]  [SPEAKER_04]: That's what you got to do.
[14:51.940 --> 14:52.860]  [SPEAKER_04]: They don't tell you to where.
[14:53.100 --> 14:54.230]  [SPEAKER_04]: They're just connecting your call.
[14:54.840 --> 14:54.940]  Yeah.
[14:55.600 --> 14:56.230]  [SPEAKER_04]: All right.
[14:56.460 --> 14:57.210]  [SPEAKER_04]: Welcome to Sprint PCS.
[14:57.210 --> 14:57.780]  [SPEAKER_04]: Here we go again.
[14:58.620 --> 15:03.710]  [SPEAKER_11]: To hear airtime usage, account balance, or make a payment, press 1.
[15:04.020 --> 15:10.080]  [SPEAKER_11]: For pricing information, billing questions, or to change or disconnect your service, press 2.
[15:10.080 --> 15:13.880]  [SPEAKER_11]: For help with voicemail, dropped calls, wireless web, or...
[15:13.880 --> 15:15.640]  [SPEAKER_03]: They couldn't get one person to record the whole prompt.
[15:15.940 --> 15:16.380]  [SPEAKER_11]: Press 3.
[15:16.660 --> 15:21.620]  [SPEAKER_11]: For information on your handset features or store locations, press 4.
[15:21.840 --> 15:23.920]  [SPEAKER_11]: Para Español, presione 5.
[15:24.340 --> 15:26.490]  [SPEAKER_03]: I might have a better chance in a foreign language.
[15:28.440 --> 15:30.730]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm just going to sit here and wait.
[15:30.940 --> 15:31.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's what we're going to do.
[15:33.520 --> 15:38.600]  [SPEAKER_11]: To hear airtime usage, account balance, or make a payment, press 1.
[15:38.600 --> 15:44.880]  [SPEAKER_11]: For pricing information, billing questions, or to change or disconnect your service, press 2.
[15:45.580 --> 15:46.730]  [SPEAKER_11]: I think I should press 2.
[15:46.960 --> 15:47.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: To disconnect the service?
[15:48.020 --> 15:48.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
[15:48.260 --> 15:48.730]  [SPEAKER_03]: So that's a good idea.
[15:49.260 --> 15:50.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: I would disconnect their service.
[15:51.160 --> 15:54.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's move on to the second ripoff while we're waiting on hold to deal with the first ripoff.
[15:55.900 --> 15:59.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: Guess what happened to me on my Verizon bill.
[15:59.640 --> 16:00.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, no.
[16:00.460 --> 16:02.360]  [SPEAKER_04]: Me, the person who's aware of this scam.
[16:03.780 --> 16:06.400]  [SPEAKER_04]: Carrier access charge, some bizarre charge.
[16:06.560 --> 16:06.840]  [SPEAKER_04]: No?
[16:07.340 --> 16:07.620]  [SPEAKER_04]: No.
[16:08.540 --> 16:09.230]  [SPEAKER_11]: Equipment rental?
[16:09.520 --> 16:09.990]  [SPEAKER_04]: No, no.
[16:10.540 --> 16:12.520]  [SPEAKER_11]: To repeat these choices, press 8.
[16:14.120 --> 16:15.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't want to repeat the choices.
[16:15.380 --> 16:15.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: I want a human.
[16:20.030 --> 16:21.170]  [SPEAKER_03]: You think we're ever going to get a human?
[16:21.450 --> 16:22.010]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know.
[16:22.210 --> 16:24.090]  [SPEAKER_11]: Thank you for calling Sprint PCS.
[16:24.210 --> 16:25.530]  [SPEAKER_11]: We appreciate your business.
[16:25.710 --> 16:25.850]  [SPEAKER_11]: Okay, do.
[16:26.130 --> 16:30.070]  [SPEAKER_11]: Please stay on the line for the next available Sprint PCS representative.
[16:30.250 --> 16:31.530]  [SPEAKER_04]: Okay, how long did that take?
[16:31.870 --> 16:33.230]  [SPEAKER_04]: We're on the way to our person.
[16:33.470 --> 16:34.210]  [SPEAKER_04]: Okay, musical hall.
[16:34.210 --> 16:39.610]  [SPEAKER_11]: Your wait time to reach a Sprint PCS representative is over 20 minutes.
[16:39.750 --> 16:41.010]  [SPEAKER_11]: $3 a month.
[16:41.430 --> 16:47.630]  [SPEAKER_11]: There is a $35 deductible per claim, and you can have up to two claims in a 12-month period.
[16:47.630 --> 16:48.130]  [SPEAKER_11]: What's this?
[16:48.330 --> 16:53.170]  [SPEAKER_11]: You may add equipment replacement through Sprint PCS when you activate your phone.
[16:53.530 --> 17:06.330]  [SPEAKER_11]: However, if your phone is already activated, you must enroll in equipment replacement to the Wireless Insurance Service Center by calling 1-800-584-3666.
[17:07.050 --> 17:10.050]  [SPEAKER_11]: Ask your Sprint PCS representative for details.
[17:11.310 --> 17:12.350]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, all right, I'll bite.
[17:12.570 --> 17:17.210]  [SPEAKER_03]: That seems to be exactly what we were asking about in the first place, so maybe we'll get an answer to the question by default.
[17:21.590 --> 17:22.450]  [SPEAKER_03]: Somehow I doubt it.
[17:22.530 --> 17:24.070]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm sure we'll get another runaround here.
[17:24.610 --> 17:25.010]  [SPEAKER_03]: Insurance.
[17:25.150 --> 17:26.150]  [SPEAKER_03]: You have to sign up for insurance.
[17:30.520 --> 17:34.520]  [SPEAKER_14]: Thank you for calling the Sprint PCS Equipment Replacement Program.
[17:35.120 --> 17:36.820]  [SPEAKER_14]: Please press 1 for English.
[17:37.760 --> 17:43.040]  [SPEAKER_14]: Gracias por llamar el programa de equipos reemplazar para Sprint PCS.
[17:43.240 --> 17:45.300]  [SPEAKER_04]: I'm going to try to press 0 for operator.
[17:46.220 --> 17:55.400]  [SPEAKER_13]: If you are calling to file a claim for a malfunctioning phone or a phone with a mechanical failure, and you purchased your new phone less than one year ago, please press 1.
[17:55.740 --> 17:58.520]  [SPEAKER_13]: If you wish to file a claim, please press 2.
[17:58.900 --> 18:05.120]  [SPEAKER_13]: If you have questions regarding the Equipment Replacement Program, or would like to enroll in this program, please press 3.
[18:06.960 --> 18:16.340]  [SPEAKER_13]: If you are trying to reach Sprint PCS Customer Care, please call 888-211-4727, or start 2 from your PCS phone.
[18:16.500 --> 18:17.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: Just let me talk to a human.
[18:17.320 --> 18:22.620]  [SPEAKER_13]: If you wish to file a claim for a lost or stolen phone, you will be asked to provide a police report number.
[18:23.180 --> 18:23.960]  [SPEAKER_13]: Police report.
[18:24.100 --> 18:26.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: I should have a police report for this kind of abuse.
[18:28.020 --> 18:29.460]  [SPEAKER_05]: Thank you for calling me, GF.
[18:29.460 --> 18:29.980]  [SPEAKER_05]: How can I help you?
[18:30.100 --> 18:32.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yes, I just have a very basic question concerning equipment.
[18:33.340 --> 18:38.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: I understand Sprint's policy, if I replace my phone to charge me $35, is that right?
[18:38.300 --> 18:38.960]  [SPEAKER_05]: Yes, that's correct.
[18:39.260 --> 18:40.400]  [SPEAKER_03]: How do I avoid that?
[18:41.100 --> 18:50.980]  [SPEAKER_05]: I do apologize, sir, but if you wish to go to the insurance company to receive a phone, there will be a $35 non-refundable deductible each time you call in to file a claim.
[18:51.960 --> 18:55.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: So, what if I buy a phone, I don't like the phone, I want to get a different phone?
[18:56.280 --> 18:58.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: I have to pay for the phone, but I have to pay Sprint again?
[18:59.020 --> 19:00.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: Is that how it works?
[19:00.840 --> 19:07.200]  [SPEAKER_05]: Well, through the insurance company, sir, say if your phone was lost, stolen, or damaged, we would only replace it with the same make and model.
[19:07.660 --> 19:09.140]  [SPEAKER_05]: We would not be able to do...
[19:09.500 --> 19:11.880]  [SPEAKER_05]: If you didn't like the phone, we wouldn't be able to switch it out for you.
[19:11.900 --> 19:13.220]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, I'm not asking you to replace the phone.
[19:13.300 --> 19:20.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm simply saying if I buy a phone, and I decide to, say, upgrade to a different phone, do I always have to pay a $35 fee every time I upgrade?
[19:20.980 --> 19:22.060]  [SPEAKER_05]: That is weird.
[19:22.240 --> 19:23.860]  [SPEAKER_05]: This is only through the insurance company, sir.
[19:24.260 --> 19:27.860]  [SPEAKER_05]: I'm not exactly sure what Sprint PCS, how much they would charge for an upgrade.
[19:28.080 --> 19:29.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: So you're not actually Sprint PCS?
[19:29.680 --> 19:30.040]  [SPEAKER_05]: No, sir.
[19:30.080 --> 19:30.960]  [SPEAKER_05]: We are separate from that.
[19:31.080 --> 19:31.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: I see.
[19:31.760 --> 19:32.000]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[19:32.560 --> 19:32.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
[19:32.960 --> 19:33.940]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, thanks for...
[19:33.940 --> 19:34.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: Do you have their number?
[19:34.520 --> 19:35.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: I have their number.
[19:35.660 --> 19:36.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: Thank you.
[19:36.220 --> 19:36.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: Thank you very much.
[19:37.140 --> 19:38.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: I really do have their number.
[19:40.220 --> 19:43.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, if anyone has a way around that little fiasco, please let me know about it.
[19:44.420 --> 19:51.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: And the thing is, when I bought the phone, there was not a single person who told me, oh, yeah, we're going to charge you a penalty for daring to buy a second phone.
[19:51.860 --> 19:52.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know?
[19:53.180 --> 19:57.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's unbelievable, the incredible ripoff that Sprint is engaged in here.
[19:59.140 --> 19:59.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know.
[19:59.740 --> 20:01.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know what to do, you know?
[20:01.700 --> 20:02.400]  [SPEAKER_03]: I can tell you this.
[20:02.420 --> 20:06.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm never going to buy another phone again because I'm not going to pay another fee on top of buying the phone.
[20:06.800 --> 20:07.220]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
[20:07.460 --> 20:09.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: We only have a limited amount of time, so let's move on to the second ripoff.
[20:10.020 --> 20:10.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: Verizon.
[20:10.860 --> 20:12.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yes, what did I fall for?
[20:12.440 --> 20:14.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: The three-way calling fiasco.
[20:14.360 --> 20:15.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, okay.
[20:15.820 --> 20:16.220]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
[20:16.400 --> 20:30.200]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, this is the thing where if you hang up too quickly and pick up a second call and you don't notice that you're actually getting a stutter dial tone, let's say you're a quick dialer, for instance, it will kick in three-way calling.
[20:30.380 --> 20:36.700]  [SPEAKER_03]: And even though you've hung up the first call, it'll treat the second call as if it was a three-way call and it'll charge you 75 cents per call.
[20:37.740 --> 20:45.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: What Verizon has done is what phone companies around the country have done as another way to literally rip you off, take money out of your pocket.
[20:45.740 --> 20:55.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: They simply, without your asking, put it on every single phone line so that if you pick up and hang up too quickly, you incur this extra charge, which you'll likely, you won't even see on your film bill.
[20:55.920 --> 20:57.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: It'll just be hidden in there someplace.
[20:58.440 --> 21:01.920]  [SPEAKER_03]: So I'm going to call them, get that taken off, but how many people actually notice?
[21:02.440 --> 21:03.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, that's a thing that...
[21:03.500 --> 21:03.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: Very few.
[21:04.580 --> 21:05.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it's upsetting.
[21:05.840 --> 21:06.220]  [SPEAKER_03]: It really is.
[21:06.360 --> 21:08.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, now, more ripoffs.
[21:08.460 --> 21:09.700]  [SPEAKER_03]: We've got quite a few here.
[21:11.420 --> 21:16.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: I got this junk mail in the mail today, addressed to me personally, from Network Solutions.
[21:17.720 --> 21:31.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: Dear Emmanuel, the response for .biz domain name requests has been overwhelming and we're just days away from submitting these requests to NewLevel, N-E-U-L-E-V-E-L, the .biz registry.
[21:31.680 --> 21:35.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: But before we submit your request, we need you to take one last step.
[21:36.280 --> 21:40.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: NewLevel is requiring a processing fee for each .biz domain name application.
[21:40.340 --> 21:50.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: So, you need to go online to our account manager and verify your credit card information, then select the domain names for which you would like to submit an application.
[21:50.500 --> 21:55.400]  [SPEAKER_03]: We will then apply a minimal $5 per domain name application fee to your credit card.
[21:55.520 --> 21:57.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, keep in mind, you're not getting the domain.
[21:58.080 --> 21:59.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: This is the application fee.
[21:59.320 --> 22:01.620]  [SPEAKER_03]: $5 application fee for a .biz domain.
[22:02.280 --> 22:12.020]  [SPEAKER_03]: Be sure to have ready the account number and password you were provided with when you first submitted your request, then all kinds of things if you forget your password.
[22:14.040 --> 22:18.060]  [SPEAKER_03]: NewLevel is treating the random registrant selection process like a lottery.
[22:18.660 --> 22:25.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: The more applications you submit for a domain name, the better your chances will be of registering that name.
[22:25.480 --> 22:26.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: At $5 a pop.
[22:26.760 --> 22:33.220]  [SPEAKER_03]: So, what Network Solutions is trying to get you to do is register for this same domain name as many times as possible so that you'll get it.
[22:33.320 --> 22:36.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: Like, let's say you want business.biz, or your stupid name like that.
[22:36.900 --> 22:46.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: If you register that a thousand times with Network Solutions, pay $5 each time, $5,000, you have a better chance than the other poor idiot who's doing the same thing across town.
[22:46.840 --> 22:50.760]  [SPEAKER_04]: But some guy who just put one application in with $5 may be able to get it as well.
[22:50.760 --> 22:53.600]  [SPEAKER_03]: The point is you don't have to put any applications in for any dollars.
[22:53.960 --> 22:58.140]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, the way network registration works is you register for...
[22:58.140 --> 22:59.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: There's no pre-registration.
[22:59.380 --> 23:00.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: You register for the domain name.
[23:00.680 --> 23:02.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: And if you get there first, you get there first.
[23:02.360 --> 23:09.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: What they're trying to do is heighten people's paranoia and get them to spend all this money they don't have to spend.
[23:09.940 --> 23:10.920]  [SPEAKER_03]: They offer a discount.
[23:11.040 --> 23:14.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: A hundred plus domains is only $3 per domain name application.
[23:15.360 --> 23:19.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: Finalize your request today and you'll automatically get the 40% discount we promised.
[23:19.420 --> 23:20.240]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's unbelievable.
[23:20.860 --> 23:26.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: But to see network solutions, the people who are supposedly the ones that are the most trusted doing this.
[23:26.360 --> 23:30.580]  [SPEAKER_04]: I'm actually wondering, does this violate some sort of federal gambling law?
[23:31.680 --> 23:32.600]  [SPEAKER_04]: Maybe it does.
[23:32.960 --> 23:33.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: Maybe it does.
[23:33.580 --> 23:34.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: You want to pursue that?
[23:34.720 --> 23:37.040]  [SPEAKER_04]: Because we're doing interstate conversation.
[23:37.740 --> 23:38.440]  [SPEAKER_16]: That's another thing.
[23:38.560 --> 23:39.300]  [SPEAKER_16]: I've seen their ads.
[23:39.460 --> 23:41.160]  [SPEAKER_16]: About a month ago, they had full-page ads.
[23:41.280 --> 23:43.640]  [SPEAKER_16]: The Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today.
[23:44.280 --> 23:52.860]  [SPEAKER_16]: And as far as I could see, on these ads, if you don't put in the application fee, there's no way to just apply.
[23:54.900 --> 24:00.820]  [SPEAKER_16]: So what's to stop them for you submitting something like, oh, let's say 2600.biz.
[24:00.900 --> 24:02.560]  [SPEAKER_16]: You are the only person that submits it.
[24:02.680 --> 24:05.180]  [SPEAKER_16]: And they say, hey, that's a great name.
[24:05.360 --> 24:05.940]  [SPEAKER_16]: Hey, Joe.
[24:06.100 --> 24:06.740]  [SPEAKER_16]: Joe in shipping.
[24:06.940 --> 24:09.140]  [SPEAKER_16]: Why don't you submit 40 of these applications?
[24:10.740 --> 24:13.100]  [SPEAKER_16]: They give Joe 200 bucks under the table.
[24:13.260 --> 24:14.160]  [SPEAKER_16]: He gives it back to him.
[24:14.240 --> 24:15.520]  [SPEAKER_16]: He submits 40 applications.
[24:16.080 --> 24:16.160]  [SPEAKER_16]: Right.
[24:16.940 --> 24:18.560]  [SPEAKER_16]: They run it fair at that point.
[24:19.420 --> 24:24.280]  [SPEAKER_16]: Joe has a 40 out of 41 percent, not percent, 40 out of 41 shot of getting it.
[24:24.400 --> 24:25.640]  [SPEAKER_16]: You've got one out of 41.
[24:26.060 --> 24:26.960]  [SPEAKER_04]: Joe gets it.
[24:27.200 --> 24:27.380]  [SPEAKER_04]: Mm-hmm.
[24:27.760 --> 24:28.080]  [SPEAKER_04]: Ba-dump.
[24:28.460 --> 24:28.580]  [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.
[24:28.760 --> 24:30.440]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, what about the IP implications here?
[24:30.520 --> 24:39.280]  [SPEAKER_04]: I mean, these people have been jumping up and down, settling all these lawsuits with, like, McDonald's suing, you know, Allen McDonald's Plumbing Company over McDonald's.com.
[24:39.440 --> 24:45.660]  [SPEAKER_04]: What's going to happen when, you know, CNN puts in $5,000 worth of these applications?
[24:45.660 --> 24:55.520]  [SPEAKER_04]: Some guy manages to, some guy by the name of Charles Nicholson manages to get it for his $5 application.
[24:55.520 --> 24:57.420]  [SPEAKER_04]: Is CNN going to turn around and sue this guy?
[24:57.800 --> 25:00.880]  [SPEAKER_04]: I mean, there's something very wrong here.
[25:01.100 --> 25:01.280]  [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.
[25:01.500 --> 25:03.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: I think that's the gist of it.
[25:03.120 --> 25:04.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: But I figure people should know about this.
[25:05.340 --> 25:08.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: In addition, we have another NSI thing here.
[25:08.680 --> 25:09.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: This person wrote in.
[25:09.860 --> 25:12.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm writing with a rant about my recent issue with Network Solutions, Inc.
[25:12.500 --> 25:17.860]  [SPEAKER_03]: I've come to find in my quest to register a previously owned domain name that NSI is squatting on domain names.
[25:17.980 --> 25:21.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: They're actually not updating Whois directories with info that a domain name is free.
[25:21.760 --> 25:26.280]  [SPEAKER_03]: Even after the customary 30-day slide they give companies, organizations to renew registrations.
[25:26.660 --> 25:36.520]  [SPEAKER_03]: In fact, in my particular case, I had the guys at NSI check, and they said that the previous owner actually waived their rights to renew, and NSI has made no effort to update their info on a domain name through Whois.
[25:37.140 --> 25:38.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: And here's the kicker.
[25:38.100 --> 25:42.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: I asked what their policy is for deletion of unpaid domains, and they said they don't know.
[25:43.420 --> 25:44.700]  [SPEAKER_03]: They don't have a clue.
[25:44.820 --> 25:46.480]  [SPEAKER_04]: It's basically when they get around to it, you know.
[25:47.160 --> 25:47.980]  [SPEAKER_04]: Oh, it's spring.
[25:48.140 --> 25:49.160]  [SPEAKER_04]: Let's clean out the database.
[25:49.440 --> 25:49.620]  [SPEAKER_10]: Yeah.
[25:50.000 --> 25:56.600]  [SPEAKER_04]: And then they wind up cleaning out people that should actually be in the database, and then you have three days worth of no service, and then you try to call them, and they don't know what's going on.
[25:56.680 --> 25:58.140]  [SPEAKER_04]: You think I've been through this a couple of times?
[25:59.180 --> 25:59.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
[25:59.680 --> 26:00.060]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know.
[26:01.040 --> 26:01.360]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[26:01.360 --> 26:01.860]  [SPEAKER_03]: What else?
[26:04.720 --> 26:05.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[26:05.220 --> 26:06.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: Here's more of the mail.
[26:06.720 --> 26:09.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: Do you know if you've sent the tapes out from the February fundraiser yet?
[26:10.660 --> 26:16.620]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, we're not part of the ripoff, hopefully, and we expect to be able to send that information out.
[26:16.740 --> 26:17.280]  [SPEAKER_03]: Do we have the list?
[26:17.440 --> 26:18.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: We have the list.
[26:18.240 --> 26:19.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: Thank you so much.
[26:20.140 --> 26:21.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: How did you get the list?
[26:21.320 --> 26:24.240]  [SPEAKER_04]: It was handed to me by the person who left for safekeeping.
[26:24.500 --> 26:24.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: Excellent.
[26:25.440 --> 26:30.700]  [SPEAKER_03]: I was going to say that I have every faith that I'm going to get the list before I leave the station, but this is great.
[26:30.780 --> 26:31.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: We have the list.
[26:31.400 --> 26:33.860]  [SPEAKER_03]: That means we're going to ship out the February fundraiser.
[26:34.060 --> 26:39.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: The videotapes cost us a small fortune to do it, and give our mailman a hernia, but it'll be worth it.
[26:40.160 --> 26:42.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: So that's going out, hopefully, by the end of the week.
[26:42.720 --> 26:44.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: We'll certainly have an update on that next week.
[26:44.160 --> 26:53.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: As for the CDs, we're still trying to get the CDs from Alternative Tentacles, the Jello Biafra from the fall fundraiser, but we are working hard to do this, and hopefully that'll come in really soon as well.
[26:53.420 --> 26:54.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: There are mainstream tentacles?
[26:55.560 --> 26:57.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, there are mainstream tentacles.
[26:57.560 --> 26:58.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: Bernie S., how are you doing?
[26:59.280 --> 27:00.340]  [SPEAKER_15]: It's a ripoff.
[27:00.560 --> 27:00.840]  [SPEAKER_15]: Bernie!
[27:01.000 --> 27:01.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it certainly is.
[27:01.860 --> 27:06.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to turn into one of these angry senior citizens that's red-faced with rage and pounding his fist on the table.
[27:07.200 --> 27:08.980]  [SPEAKER_15]: I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it.
[27:09.100 --> 27:09.300]  [SPEAKER_15]: I don't care anymore!
[27:09.620 --> 27:10.140]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, yeah.
[27:10.300 --> 27:11.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm beyond mad as hell.
[27:11.540 --> 27:12.000]  [SPEAKER_03]: I really am.
[27:12.780 --> 27:13.520]  [SPEAKER_15]: Well, now, we've got...
[27:13.520 --> 27:21.160]  [SPEAKER_15]: I've had my own experience with this for PCS, and I do have personal experience with their, quote, insurance policy, end quote.
[27:21.280 --> 27:21.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: Really?
[27:21.880 --> 27:29.440]  [SPEAKER_15]: Yeah, I actually subscribed to this, or decided to fork over the $4 a month, or whatever it is for that, about almost a year ago.
[27:29.980 --> 27:34.180]  [SPEAKER_15]: And just about three weeks ago, yes, my handset was stolen.
[27:35.600 --> 27:37.960]  [SPEAKER_15]: And so I started a claim.
[27:38.200 --> 27:42.140]  [SPEAKER_03]: Just out of curiosity, Bernie, were you putting little quotation marks when you said stolen just now?
[27:42.820 --> 27:44.160]  [SPEAKER_15]: No, it literally was stolen.
[27:44.180 --> 27:44.440]  [SPEAKER_15]: Oh, okay.
[27:44.460 --> 27:45.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: It was literally stolen.
[27:45.260 --> 27:45.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
[27:45.380 --> 28:02.800]  [SPEAKER_15]: Not only was stolen, but a friend of mine tried to call me about an hour after it was stolen, and some woman answered and told this female friend who was calling me that she was my wife and had two children by me, and why are you calling...
[28:02.800 --> 28:04.340]  [SPEAKER_15]: Why are you calling him?
[28:05.100 --> 28:06.940]  [SPEAKER_03]: There should be insurance against that kind of thing.
[28:07.020 --> 28:07.820]  [SPEAKER_15]: There should be.
[28:07.940 --> 28:10.700]  [SPEAKER_15]: But anyhow, it took some explaining to get that result.
[28:11.200 --> 28:16.220]  [SPEAKER_15]: Anyway, anyone who knows me would realize how ludicrous that scenario might be.
[28:16.360 --> 28:19.000]  [SPEAKER_15]: But anyway, so you pay $4 a month for this.
[28:19.120 --> 28:20.300]  [SPEAKER_15]: So I submitted my claim.
[28:20.300 --> 28:27.160]  [SPEAKER_15]: They did waive the police report requirement because I asked them, like, well, I could do it, but it was, you know, whatever.
[28:27.360 --> 28:29.000]  [SPEAKER_15]: They waived that, so that was nice.
[28:29.900 --> 28:33.520]  [SPEAKER_15]: Then they said, well, your phone is now unavailable.
[28:33.740 --> 28:37.200]  [SPEAKER_15]: I have the Sprint dual-band touchpoint.
[28:37.200 --> 28:39.060]  [SPEAKER_15]: Actually, it's made by a company called Denso.
[28:39.640 --> 28:40.760]  [SPEAKER_15]: I think they're in Canada.
[28:40.980 --> 28:42.380]  [SPEAKER_15]: It's actually a very nice handset.
[28:43.620 --> 28:46.940]  [SPEAKER_15]: It's got the joystick in the middle of it.
[28:47.340 --> 28:49.380]  [SPEAKER_15]: It's got a pretty large screen.
[28:49.380 --> 28:51.980]  [SPEAKER_04]: That was one of the first web-enabled phones, right?
[28:51.980 --> 28:58.720]  [SPEAKER_15]: It was, in fact, the first one with the micro-browser, the phone.com browser.
[28:58.880 --> 28:59.460]  [SPEAKER_04]: That's a lot of fun.
[28:59.540 --> 29:00.140]  [SPEAKER_15]: The first one.
[29:00.200 --> 29:08.980]  [SPEAKER_15]: In fact, I beta-tested that handset for the local Sprint PCS VP, who happened to be a hammer operator, and I made his acquaintance.
[29:09.120 --> 29:13.740]  [SPEAKER_15]: Anyway, so I got the beta-tested thing and so forth before the data services were generally available.
[29:20.280 --> 29:22.360]  [SPEAKER_15]: And they said, well, that phone's not available.
[29:22.540 --> 29:34.380]  [SPEAKER_15]: And if you look at your contract, it says that we decide what phones are available, and if it's not available, we will supply you with a comparable phone.
[29:35.160 --> 29:35.740]  [SPEAKER_10]: Mm-hmm.
[29:36.820 --> 29:50.640]  [SPEAKER_15]: And I'm like, well, there's no phone that's comparable to this, because I also have purchased the software and the special cable that lets you connect it to the serial port of your PC and back up your phone database, which I do in a regular base, because you never know what's going to happen.
[29:50.680 --> 29:53.180]  [SPEAKER_15]: And I've got, like, hundreds of phone numbers stored in it and so forth.
[29:53.180 --> 29:56.880]  [SPEAKER_15]: And they said, well, if it makes and receives calls, then it's comparable.
[29:57.360 --> 29:59.160]  [SPEAKER_15]: I said, well, I beg to differ.
[29:59.580 --> 30:02.740]  [SPEAKER_15]: What is your definition of comparable as defined in the contract?
[30:03.020 --> 30:06.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's like Sprint thinking they're comparable to another phone company because they answered a phone.
[30:06.740 --> 30:07.440]  [SPEAKER_15]: I'll tell you.
[30:07.700 --> 30:20.100]  [SPEAKER_15]: Well, it's funny, because what I ended up doing is I ended up buying one of the same handsets at a Sprint PCS store here in Philadelphia with the full intention of returning it within 30 days, which I believed was their return policy.
[30:20.280 --> 30:24.420]  [SPEAKER_15]: But unbeknownst to me, they used to be 30 days, but then they changed it to 14 days.
[30:24.500 --> 30:25.740]  [SPEAKER_15]: That was a whole other nightmare.
[30:25.980 --> 30:26.300]  [SPEAKER_15]: But anyhow.
[30:27.700 --> 30:35.180]  [SPEAKER_15]: Meanwhile, I went through several supervisors at Lockton Insurance Corporation, which is the company that contracts with Sprint.
[30:35.320 --> 30:36.900]  [SPEAKER_15]: The folks you were talking to earlier, Emmanuel?
[30:37.080 --> 30:38.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: Bernie, you've got to wrap this up in 30 seconds.
[30:38.860 --> 30:39.160]  [SPEAKER_15]: Okay.
[30:39.300 --> 30:42.020]  [SPEAKER_15]: Anyhow, I had to yell at a bunch of people.
[30:42.120 --> 30:43.540]  [SPEAKER_15]: And they finally sent me the right phone.
[30:43.900 --> 30:44.700]  [SPEAKER_15]: And guess what?
[30:44.800 --> 30:45.540]  [SPEAKER_15]: There's a problem with it.
[30:45.560 --> 30:47.160]  [SPEAKER_15]: It drains my batteries in about three hours.
[30:47.760 --> 30:47.900]  [SPEAKER_10]: Great.
[30:47.960 --> 30:49.340]  [SPEAKER_15]: Well, I'm still using that phone now.
[30:49.580 --> 30:52.940]  [SPEAKER_15]: And then I returned the other phone, and they gave me a hard time.
[30:53.040 --> 30:54.040]  [SPEAKER_15]: But I finally got it returned.
[30:54.380 --> 30:54.840]  [SPEAKER_10]: Well, okay.
[30:54.920 --> 30:57.920]  [SPEAKER_15]: Yeah, bottom line is Sprint PCS really sucks.
[30:58.080 --> 31:01.800]  [SPEAKER_15]: Oh, and the store where I tried to return the phone, they said, oh, this is a small store.
[31:01.940 --> 31:03.760]  [SPEAKER_15]: We don't have customer service here.
[31:04.060 --> 31:09.320]  [SPEAKER_15]: I'm like, well, that's the most honest statement I've ever heard from a Sprint PCS employee.
[31:09.500 --> 31:10.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it is.
[31:10.360 --> 31:12.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: It also means we don't have customers here as well.
[31:12.840 --> 31:15.060]  [SPEAKER_03]: Hopefully, that's how it will be interpreted.
[31:15.060 --> 31:19.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: Anyway, Bernie, we have a bit of a ripoff of our own to deal with.
[31:19.080 --> 31:25.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: That came down last week with the shapeshifter case having to do with the bail being returned.
[31:25.900 --> 31:28.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: Do you want to very quickly tell us what happened with that?
[31:29.300 --> 31:30.240]  [SPEAKER_15]: Serious ripoff.
[31:30.400 --> 31:32.840]  [SPEAKER_15]: This is a government ripoff if I've ever encountered one.
[31:33.540 --> 31:54.040]  [SPEAKER_15]: Folks who've listened to this program for a year or so may remember that our graphic layout artist, the 2600 shapeshifter, was arrested on completely bogus charges of possessing an instrument of crime and other subversive activities along those lines of walking down the sidewalk with a cell phone during the Republican National Convention here in Philadelphia last summer.
[31:54.580 --> 32:01.500]  [SPEAKER_15]: Anyhow, we all knew the 2600 of these charges were bogus, so some of us scrambled to raise the...
[32:01.500 --> 32:28.240]  [SPEAKER_15]: Well, first the bail was half a million dollars, if you recall, and shapeshifter languished in prison for about a week until a bail reduction hearing got it knocked down to a measly $100,000, 10% of which in cash was adequate surety according to the city bail agency here in Philly to spring him and guarantee his appearance at trial.
[32:28.800 --> 32:36.900]  [SPEAKER_15]: So some 2600 staffers scrambled to raise the $10,000 and forked that over to the city of Philadelphia.
[32:37.420 --> 32:40.060]  [SPEAKER_15]: And over the past, what has it been, 10 months now?
[32:40.220 --> 32:40.680]  [SPEAKER_15]: Mm-hmm.
[32:43.560 --> 32:57.900]  [SPEAKER_15]: Since Terrence was thrown in prison, some of the charges were dropped, and finally the judge granted a motion to dismiss the remaining charge, which he said he had serious doubts as to whether there was any criminal activity whatsoever.
[32:58.460 --> 33:06.800]  [SPEAKER_15]: And, of course, we all knew that in the first place, but it took 10 months of the arduous legal process to get that resolved.
[33:06.940 --> 33:07.060]  [SPEAKER_15]: Mm-hmm.
[33:07.060 --> 33:13.600]  [SPEAKER_15]: So we figured, all right, the $10,000 should finally be returned since Terrence did indeed show up for all these hearings.
[33:13.720 --> 33:14.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: 10 seconds, Bernie, 10 seconds.
[33:15.320 --> 33:21.960]  [SPEAKER_15]: The city of Philadelphia decided they were going to keep $750 for administration fees.
[33:22.520 --> 33:23.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: Unbelievable.
[33:23.240 --> 33:24.280]  [SPEAKER_15]: Because of their trouble.
[33:24.620 --> 33:27.280]  [SPEAKER_03]: This is for somebody who was found completely innocent of everything.
[33:27.280 --> 33:27.500]  [SPEAKER_15]: Absolutely.
[33:27.620 --> 33:36.320]  [SPEAKER_15]: The judge himself apologized to everyone in the courtroom for this unnecessary hassle that was caused by everybody by the city of Philadelphia.
[33:36.680 --> 33:50.880]  [SPEAKER_15]: And $750 still remains unrefunded to Terrence, who took this check for $9,250 to the bank, and we went there and took the bank 45 minutes.
[33:51.420 --> 33:55.660]  [SPEAKER_15]: First Union Bank, which here in Philadelphia goes by the initials FDU.
[33:56.040 --> 33:59.840]  [SPEAKER_15]: It took 45 minutes to cash this check.
[33:59.980 --> 34:01.200]  [SPEAKER_15]: They made numerous phone calls.
[34:01.400 --> 34:09.220]  [SPEAKER_15]: The teller next to ours mentioned that she'd never seen a bail refund check so big.
[34:10.620 --> 34:14.060]  [SPEAKER_15]: And that Terrence was very lucky to get out of jail.
[34:14.060 --> 34:17.160]  [SPEAKER_15]: I said, well, he's fortunate to have a lot of friends.
[34:17.160 --> 34:19.880]  [SPEAKER_15]: And she said, well, it wasn't his friends who got him out of jail.
[34:19.880 --> 34:22.700]  [SPEAKER_15]: It was God who got him out of jail.
[34:22.800 --> 34:27.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, maybe God should pay the $750 then, because his friends don't think that's very fair.
[34:28.360 --> 34:32.460]  [SPEAKER_15]: Anyway, so anyhow, I guess this isn't the end of the story.
[34:32.460 --> 34:37.240]  [SPEAKER_15]: I think there may be some other legal actions on the horizon to get this and other...
[34:37.240 --> 34:37.460]  [SPEAKER_15]: I hope so.
[34:37.460 --> 34:39.200]  [SPEAKER_15]: However, his cell phones were returned.
[34:39.580 --> 34:40.940]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, well, that's nice, too.
[34:41.000 --> 34:42.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, it was equipment that was taken from him.
[34:42.600 --> 34:51.000]  [SPEAKER_03]: But, you know, I think this is something that should be pursued, because it's indicative of a problem that goes well beyond the problem of our layout artists.
[34:51.120 --> 34:56.640]  [SPEAKER_03]: But basically, when people are arrested in this country, apparently, if they're found innocent, they still have to pay a penalty.
[34:56.840 --> 34:58.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: And that just strikes me as a bit bizarre.
[34:59.100 --> 34:59.840]  [SPEAKER_03]: Did you know about this, Isaac?
[35:00.060 --> 35:02.080]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, only from the show.
[35:02.080 --> 35:05.100]  [SPEAKER_04]: I mean, I recognized, hey, you should be getting this money back.
[35:05.260 --> 35:06.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, maybe like an apology or something.
[35:06.960 --> 35:08.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, sorry, you were innocent.
[35:08.760 --> 35:08.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: It should be an apology.
[35:09.200 --> 35:09.960]  [SPEAKER_04]: Just you're innocent.
[35:10.100 --> 35:11.240]  [SPEAKER_04]: Here's your bail money back.
[35:11.440 --> 35:13.420]  [SPEAKER_04]: We shouldn't have put you in prison in the first place.
[35:13.580 --> 35:14.260]  [SPEAKER_04]: You know, here's your money back.
[35:14.300 --> 35:14.860]  [SPEAKER_04]: How about the interest?
[35:15.540 --> 35:16.000]  [SPEAKER_04]: I wouldn't...
[35:16.000 --> 35:17.400]  [SPEAKER_04]: They've been earning interest on it all this time.
[35:18.000 --> 35:18.640]  [SPEAKER_04]: I thought...
[35:18.640 --> 35:21.200]  [SPEAKER_04]: I think you could push for interest, but I wouldn't be interested in that.
[35:21.300 --> 35:25.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: I thought we would get the money back when the trial came.
[35:25.820 --> 35:27.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: Because bail is supposed to make you come to trial.
[35:28.020 --> 35:29.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's what I always thought it was for.
[35:29.240 --> 35:33.240]  [SPEAKER_03]: So the trial happened, the appeal happened, And then, you know, we still haven't gotten the money back.
[35:33.360 --> 35:37.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: And then finally we got it back, but minus $750 for administrative costs.
[35:37.440 --> 35:44.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, something else which kind of distressed me about this, and we're going to open up the phone lines, the weird acting phone lines at 212-209-2900.
[35:44.420 --> 35:46.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: While I was talking, I was performing some tests on it as well.
[35:46.760 --> 35:51.020]  [SPEAKER_03]: And I noticed that it does hang up on you after a while, which it didn't used to do before.
[35:51.200 --> 35:52.900]  [SPEAKER_04]: When you're ringing or when you're actually talking?
[35:52.920 --> 35:56.860]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, but it also bounces all over the place on the switchboard.
[35:56.960 --> 35:57.780]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's the Whack-A-Motel?
[35:57.780 --> 35:58.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: But it does go through.
[35:59.000 --> 36:02.920]  [SPEAKER_03]: So if you call in, 212-209-2900, you will get through.
[36:03.000 --> 36:03.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: So please try.
[36:03.800 --> 36:10.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: And also, the more people who call in, the more we can test out and see just what exactly is going on with this switchboard, because it's acting kind of weird.
[36:11.860 --> 36:13.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: We've been getting a lot of mail about this.
[36:13.740 --> 36:16.000]  [SPEAKER_03]: Most people, of course, see the injustice, but...
[36:16.000 --> 36:16.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: The telephone?
[36:16.840 --> 36:19.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: No, not about the telephone, about the bail hearing.
[36:19.200 --> 36:19.980]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, oh, oh, oh.
[36:21.360 --> 36:31.440]  [SPEAKER_03]: So basically, I'm going to skip over all the support because we're preaching to the converted here, but I want to show what some people say and maybe focus a little attention on what's disturbing about this.
[36:33.660 --> 36:36.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, this person says, Well, I know this might sound a bit strange.
[36:36.680 --> 36:38.640]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's only 750 bucks, man.
[36:38.900 --> 36:39.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: Be glad he is free.
[36:40.080 --> 36:44.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, how would you like it if you were a judge and the cost for you granting freedom to someone was a mere 750 bucks?
[36:44.960 --> 36:45.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, it is the government.
[36:45.960 --> 36:48.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: They could have held it all for what we know.
[36:48.160 --> 36:51.200]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm not saying they were right, just that it's such a petty amount to quarrel over.
[36:51.420 --> 36:54.640]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, the court secretary and the bailiff and everyone else in there have to get paid somehow.
[36:55.900 --> 36:56.000]  [SPEAKER_03]: Beautiful.
[36:56.120 --> 37:00.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: They have to get paid somehow, but not by stealing money from innocent people.
[37:00.520 --> 37:03.940]  [SPEAKER_04]: I imagine that it should be coming from the police department for wrongful prosecution.
[37:04.260 --> 37:04.620]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
[37:04.880 --> 37:05.200]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
[37:05.360 --> 37:05.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely.
[37:05.900 --> 37:06.920]  [SPEAKER_03]: I can't believe you said that, Isaac.
[37:07.920 --> 37:08.560]  [SPEAKER_04]: Say it again.
[37:08.860 --> 37:12.320]  [SPEAKER_04]: I believe that should be coming from the police department for wrongful prosecution.
[37:12.360 --> 37:14.240]  [SPEAKER_04]: This isn't, you know, a left-right issue.
[37:14.340 --> 37:14.820]  [SPEAKER_04]: No, no, no.
[37:14.900 --> 37:15.100]  [SPEAKER_04]: It's not.
[37:15.260 --> 37:16.100]  [SPEAKER_15]: It still may be.
[37:16.760 --> 37:16.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
[37:17.760 --> 37:18.280]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's good.
[37:18.440 --> 37:18.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's good.
[37:18.760 --> 37:22.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: Would you say the same thing of the New York City police department if they were to do something like this?
[37:22.460 --> 37:22.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: Probably.
[37:23.260 --> 37:23.620]  [SPEAKER_03]: Probably.
[37:23.620 --> 37:24.640]  [SPEAKER_04]: In fact, I would say yes.
[37:24.640 --> 37:24.980]  [SPEAKER_04]: Okay.
[37:25.400 --> 37:25.760]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's good.
[37:25.920 --> 37:26.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's good.
[37:26.400 --> 37:27.400]  [SPEAKER_03]: My hat's off to you.
[37:28.200 --> 37:29.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: Here's another person, a bit angrier.
[37:29.780 --> 37:32.540]  [SPEAKER_03]: I must have done it a half dozen times in the past couple of years.
[37:32.660 --> 37:34.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: I never get one response back.
[37:35.220 --> 37:35.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: This person...
[37:35.900 --> 37:38.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, emailing you is a waste of time is the subject.
[37:38.340 --> 37:41.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: Apparently, this person feels that we must reply to every piece of email we get.
[37:42.380 --> 37:42.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: We try.
[37:42.920 --> 37:45.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: We get about 3,000 pieces of email a day.
[37:45.720 --> 37:46.760]  [SPEAKER_03]: And that's, you know, in various...
[37:47.160 --> 37:50.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: from off the hook, personal, webmaster, all kinds of things that we have.
[37:50.380 --> 37:51.300]  [SPEAKER_04]: Let's examine the alternative.
[37:51.500 --> 37:54.800]  [SPEAKER_04]: Would you prefer to get an automated reply that is so impersonal as to be aggravating?
[37:54.800 --> 37:55.160]  [SPEAKER_04]: No.
[37:55.160 --> 38:00.600]  [SPEAKER_03]: We have people who get into arguments with the automated replies that, you know, there are some mailboxes that send out replies.
[38:00.600 --> 38:01.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: Have automated replies?
[38:01.120 --> 38:10.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: If you have one information, for instance, it sends out an automatic reply and then they ask a question of the automatic thing or they compliment it for replying so quickly they think somebody sat down and type three pages just for them.
[38:10.720 --> 38:17.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: But anyway, this person, this person says, I never get one response back ever even when asking for your simple guidance.
[38:17.500 --> 38:21.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now I read about poor Shapeshifter losing 750 bucks due to court costs.
[38:21.740 --> 38:25.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: I am truly sick and tired of listening to you guys whine and bitch about every little thing.
[38:25.460 --> 38:28.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: Come on already, you sound like a bunch of teenagers who don't know how the system works.
[38:28.520 --> 38:32.520]  [SPEAKER_03]: If Shapeshifter didn't want to be screwed with and possibly arrested then he shouldn't have been where he was.
[38:32.660 --> 38:41.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: He should have known better since he works for and with you that the government doesn't play fair and if they know who you are and that you are a troublemaker according to them then they are going to get messed with.
[38:42.060 --> 38:43.760]  [SPEAKER_03]: Geez, grow up already signed William.
[38:44.020 --> 39:00.200]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, I find this to be a very common sentiment among angry people who feel that if you get arrested you have to have done something to arouse the ire of the arresting people in the first place and you deserve whatever you get even if you're completely innocent.
[39:00.500 --> 39:01.240]  [SPEAKER_03]: You shouldn't have been there.
[39:01.320 --> 39:02.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: You could have avoided it.
[39:02.340 --> 39:10.640]  [SPEAKER_03]: And I find that extends to hackers in general people who ask questions in general we're just troublemakers by default whether we're guilty or not.
[39:10.920 --> 39:20.400]  [SPEAKER_04]: But they do have a point there which is basically if you're going to be in that place expect a mistake to be made and expect that this kind of thing may happen.
[39:20.540 --> 39:21.320]  [SPEAKER_04]: Okay, we expect it.
[39:21.660 --> 39:26.540]  [SPEAKER_04]: Don't walk through the middle of a firefight and say oh my god I got shot who would have thought?
[39:27.080 --> 39:32.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Fine, but we're not saying we want reality to change so that this never happened.
[39:32.340 --> 39:33.980]  [SPEAKER_03]: Obviously it happened and we're dealing with it.
[39:33.980 --> 39:43.220]  [SPEAKER_03]: what we want is justice after it happened and you know now the things are being straightened out the appropriate people to you know pay whatever penalty is necessary for the injustice.
[39:44.380 --> 39:52.920]  [SPEAKER_03]: So yes, Mr. Ohm you're here in person talking to the microphone You usually call up the radio show but here you're in person now so speak into that thing.
[39:53.740 --> 39:53.980]  [SPEAKER_03]: What's up?
[39:54.960 --> 39:56.760]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, you were saying something before I thought you wanted to say something.
[39:56.960 --> 40:18.020]  [SPEAKER_19]: Well, I just basically want to say that the gentleman who wrote in is incorrect that just because if the system doesn't play fair doesn't mean you can't complain about it because if you expect them to treat you badly you can still complain about it it doesn't mean like oh,
[40:18.100 --> 40:21.220]  [SPEAKER_19]: they're going to treat me badly I can just sit down and shut up about it.
[40:21.260 --> 40:21.440]  [SPEAKER_03]: Right.
[40:22.860 --> 40:29.700]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's what it's all about is being able to criticize the system and get justice for injustices and things like that.
[40:29.960 --> 40:33.640]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, let's recognize that criticizing the system has the goal of improving it.
[40:33.780 --> 40:37.500]  [SPEAKER_04]: If you're just going to criticize the system for the sake of criticizing the system you're not helping in any way.
[40:37.560 --> 40:42.600]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's what a lot of people seem to forget is that criticism of all types is there to make something better.
[40:42.880 --> 40:52.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: I hear people who are accused of saying bad things about the radio station, for instance, of being against the radio station.
[40:52.120 --> 40:52.640]  [SPEAKER_03]: They're for the radio.
[40:52.720 --> 40:53.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: They want to make it better.
[40:53.640 --> 40:54.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, they care.
[40:54.940 --> 40:56.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's an important thing.
[40:56.140 --> 41:04.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: And I think, you know, we shouldn't fall into the same trap that, you know, a lot of authority figures have fallen into where, you know, they say, you know, anyone who criticizes us is against us.
[41:04.580 --> 41:05.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: No, it's not true at all.
[41:05.320 --> 41:07.940]  [SPEAKER_03]: Probably the people who criticize you are your biggest allies.
[41:08.260 --> 41:09.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: They're the hope, you know?
[41:10.020 --> 41:10.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: Anyway.
[41:10.580 --> 41:11.000]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good answer.
[41:11.220 --> 41:11.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: Thank you.
[41:12.120 --> 41:12.860]  [SPEAKER_03]: Bernie, you still there?
[41:13.340 --> 41:14.140]  [SPEAKER_15]: I'm still here.
[41:14.140 --> 41:15.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right, we're going to take some phone calls.
[41:15.420 --> 41:16.920]  [SPEAKER_03]: 2-1-2-2-0-9-2-900.
[41:17.260 --> 41:19.680]  [SPEAKER_15]: I should add, I should add, this isn't just $750.
[41:20.240 --> 41:23.000]  [SPEAKER_15]: It's $10,000 that's submitted for 10 months.
[41:23.140 --> 41:23.300]  [SPEAKER_07]: Right.
[41:23.560 --> 41:33.540]  [SPEAKER_15]: If you put that in a standard money market account bearing 5% interest over the past years, which is the standard rate of return, that would have been over $400 of additional interest accrued.
[41:33.700 --> 41:42.300]  [SPEAKER_15]: Now, the city is stealing, the city of Philadelphia is stealing $750 from Shapeshifter in addition to stealing over $400 in accrued interest.
[41:42.300 --> 41:43.660]  [SPEAKER_15]: So it's really, what?
[41:44.980 --> 41:51.940]  [SPEAKER_15]: $1,100, $1,150 of money that, you know, what right does the city have to take this money?
[41:52.400 --> 41:52.760]  [SPEAKER_03]: Right.
[41:53.040 --> 41:55.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: Plus, we had to fight to get it down to that level in the first place.
[41:55.780 --> 42:00.620]  [SPEAKER_03]: At first, he was being held on $500,000 bail, which basically means that you have to raise $50,000 in cash.
[42:01.880 --> 42:06.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: So because of that incredible high bail, you had to spend a whole week in prison.
[42:06.600 --> 42:10.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: And that, you know, there's got to be a price to pay for that, too.
[42:11.080 --> 42:12.520]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's a wrong way to treat people.
[42:13.020 --> 42:13.400]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
[42:13.460 --> 42:14.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's go to the phones.
[42:14.540 --> 42:17.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: 212-209-2900, whatever is on your mind this week.
[42:18.200 --> 42:22.620]  [SPEAKER_03]: And hopefully these phones will work long enough for us to actually talk to people.
[42:22.720 --> 42:22.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good evening.
[42:23.040 --> 42:23.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: You're on the air.
[42:23.560 --> 42:24.060]  [SPEAKER_20]: Yes.
[42:24.300 --> 42:25.040]  [SPEAKER_20]: I was listening.
[42:25.240 --> 42:32.540]  [SPEAKER_20]: I had something happen to me that had to do this arbitrary proliferation of charging fees and robbing people.
[42:32.860 --> 42:41.580]  [SPEAKER_20]: The other day, I went into the bank, and they said, you're being charged $15 because your bank statement got sent back to us, meaning the bank, right?
[42:41.980 --> 42:45.000]  [SPEAKER_20]: And I said, well, why was it sent back?
[42:45.180 --> 42:46.020]  [SPEAKER_20]: And they handed it to me.
[42:46.160 --> 42:50.860]  [SPEAKER_20]: And it was the post office just arbitrarily stamped on, you know, wrong address.
[42:51.060 --> 42:53.320]  [SPEAKER_20]: And it was the address they had on their computer.
[42:53.320 --> 42:55.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: They charge you if it comes back in the mail now?
[42:55.960 --> 42:56.180]  [SPEAKER_20]: Yeah.
[42:56.400 --> 43:01.760]  [SPEAKER_20]: And I called them and went through a similar process to, like, what you were going through over the phones.
[43:01.980 --> 43:04.180]  [SPEAKER_20]: And eventually, I got to talk to a human being.
[43:04.400 --> 43:09.960]  [SPEAKER_20]: And then, eventually, she said, this person said... I'm trying to think of the crazy word she is.
[43:10.080 --> 43:21.460]  [SPEAKER_20]: It was this condescending language that was of, as a courtesy from Bowery Bank, we will waive the fee.
[43:21.460 --> 43:22.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, how nice.
[43:22.960 --> 43:25.460]  [SPEAKER_20]: But it was done after, like, a lot of torture.
[43:25.800 --> 43:29.360]  [SPEAKER_20]: And I don't know whether it's been done yet or not.
[43:29.460 --> 43:41.860]  [SPEAKER_20]: But just the fact that they could see on their equipment that the address that it got sent back from was the right address, too, was... Because, I mean, the very fact they're doing it is crazy.
[43:42.060 --> 43:42.240]  [SPEAKER_20]: Right.
[43:42.280 --> 43:50.040]  [SPEAKER_20]: But then they can see that they're wrong, because it's just too crazy to be even talked about in all its convolutions of madness.
[43:50.360 --> 43:52.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: I want a constitutional amendment, Isaac.
[43:52.860 --> 43:53.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: Maybe you can help me with this.
[43:53.580 --> 43:54.200]  [SPEAKER_20]: Which constitution?
[43:54.760 --> 43:56.200]  [SPEAKER_03]: For the United States Constitution.
[43:56.420 --> 43:58.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: It gives me the right to impose fees as I see fit.
[43:59.140 --> 44:01.520]  [SPEAKER_04]: I mean, these companies... You already have that right.
[44:01.600 --> 44:06.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: I want to be able to charge a bank when they upset me, like, upset this last caller, you know?
[44:06.360 --> 44:07.880]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, let's go back.
[44:08.000 --> 44:09.760]  [SPEAKER_04]: The Constitution does not grant you rights.
[44:09.860 --> 44:11.880]  [SPEAKER_04]: The Constitution grants powers to the United States.
[44:11.940 --> 44:12.400]  [SPEAKER_04]: Okay, fine.
[44:12.520 --> 44:14.260]  [SPEAKER_04]: So you don't need the Constitution to do that.
[44:14.360 --> 44:22.820]  [SPEAKER_04]: In fact, I believe we should start charging callers a $3 fee for connection, plus a $5 courtesy fee for even putting them on the air.
[44:23.160 --> 44:24.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: You believe that, huh?
[44:24.240 --> 44:24.420]  [SPEAKER_04]: Yes.
[44:24.640 --> 44:24.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: Wow.
[44:25.460 --> 44:26.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, Isaac, I got to say this.
[44:26.540 --> 44:29.300]  [SPEAKER_04]: You know, there's a lot of... But we'll waive that fee today, because we're your friends.
[44:29.400 --> 44:31.780]  [SPEAKER_03]: A lot of warring factions around here, as you know.
[44:32.020 --> 44:37.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, people at each other's throats about all kinds of things, you know, and that debating the feature of the radio station, that kind of stuff.
[44:38.520 --> 44:44.860]  [SPEAKER_03]: I think if we put you in the room with this whole group of people, they'd all find a common... That would be the focal point to their rage.
[44:45.060 --> 44:47.980]  [SPEAKER_03]: They'd find a common bond, and everybody would walk out of their friends.
[44:48.140 --> 44:51.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: Of course, you might not walk out of there, but the point is, you know, it's...
[44:51.680 --> 44:57.800]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, traditionally, the two great uniting forces of humanity have been a common enemy and vast exploration.
[44:58.160 --> 44:58.460]  [SPEAKER_16]: Yes.
[44:58.580 --> 44:58.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yes, Jim.
[44:59.260 --> 45:06.720]  [SPEAKER_16]: I just want to point out, that fee is not waived if your alias starts with R, and your conversation starts with, did you ever notice?
[45:07.440 --> 45:09.540]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, thank you for that insight there.
[45:09.780 --> 45:13.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: Speaking of banks, my bank pulled a really good one on me the last couple of weeks.
[45:13.580 --> 45:18.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: They sent me this letter saying, they had really good news for me, and that always makes me worry when they say they have really, really good news.
[45:19.280 --> 45:23.200]  [SPEAKER_03]: There's going to be a more convenient way for me to look at my statement, and they always do this.
[45:23.300 --> 45:27.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: They always completely rearrange the way the statement looks, and then they say it's because of my input that they did it.
[45:27.820 --> 45:29.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: Like, it's my fault that it looks like crap now.
[45:30.320 --> 45:38.760]  [SPEAKER_03]: So this time they said that they're giving me a A three-ring binder, and they're punching holes in my statements from now on, so I can put it in the three-ring binder they're giving me.
[45:38.840 --> 45:40.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's like, okay, that's nice, I guess.
[45:40.340 --> 45:41.340]  [SPEAKER_03]: But what else are they doing?
[45:41.620 --> 45:46.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, they're attaching little photocopies of my checks so that I can have those easily accessible, too.
[45:46.880 --> 45:48.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: Do they include the actual checks?
[45:48.680 --> 45:52.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: What they did not say is that they are no longer going to be sending me my checks back.
[45:52.620 --> 45:53.840]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's what they're really trying to say.
[45:53.840 --> 45:55.220]  [SPEAKER_03]: They stopped sending me my checks back.
[45:55.280 --> 46:02.140]  [SPEAKER_03]: In fact, they even had a question, an FAQ in the thing, where one of the questions was, does this mean you won't be sending back the checks anymore?
[46:02.140 --> 46:05.780]  [SPEAKER_03]: And the answer was, actually, we'll be sending the checks in a different way.
[46:06.900 --> 46:07.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, okay.
[46:07.860 --> 46:08.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: Talk about condescending.
[46:08.800 --> 46:09.320]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, let's see.
[46:09.380 --> 46:12.920]  [SPEAKER_04]: Which of these documents is able to be submitted as evidence in a court of law?
[46:13.040 --> 46:17.540]  [SPEAKER_04]: A Xerox copy of the front and back, or the actual document with the cancellation stamp?
[46:17.960 --> 46:19.300]  [SPEAKER_04]: I would like to see this at some point.
[46:19.300 --> 46:19.520]  [SPEAKER_04]: Exactly.
[46:19.700 --> 46:21.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, you don't see the back of the check anymore.
[46:21.500 --> 46:23.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: It has all that little writing information on it.
[46:23.520 --> 46:25.220]  [SPEAKER_04]: You can't read it in this stupid photocopies.
[46:25.220 --> 46:28.060]  [SPEAKER_03]: That should be a $200 fee right there that I can impose in my bank.
[46:28.580 --> 46:29.240]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I should.
[46:29.380 --> 46:29.520]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm serious.
[46:29.660 --> 46:30.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: How do I do that, though?
[46:30.540 --> 46:31.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: How do I charge them a bill?
[46:31.680 --> 46:33.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, $200 inconvenience fee.
[46:33.760 --> 46:35.580]  [SPEAKER_03]: We'll see how that flies.
[46:36.120 --> 46:36.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good evening.
[46:36.880 --> 46:37.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: You're on the air.
[46:37.760 --> 46:38.960]  [SPEAKER_12]: Yes, I wanted to find out.
[46:40.240 --> 46:57.520]  [SPEAKER_12]: A friend of mine had made a call to Europe, and I just wondered, is there a way that by holding, being held on the air for, on the radio, on the phone for a long time, that people can usurp your services or anything like that through a long-distance call?
[46:57.520 --> 47:05.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: Just by making you make a long-distance call in the first place, maybe they're convincing you to call a number that's actually like a 900 number?
[47:05.600 --> 47:06.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: Is that what you're referring to?
[47:06.620 --> 47:07.540]  [SPEAKER_12]: No, it was a friend.
[47:07.800 --> 47:08.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: Uh-huh.
[47:08.340 --> 47:08.600]  [SPEAKER_12]: Okay.
[47:08.700 --> 47:13.700]  [SPEAKER_12]: He says that this girl called him from Europe, and he called her back.
[47:13.920 --> 47:14.360]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[47:14.480 --> 47:16.500]  [SPEAKER_12]: And she held him on the phone for hours.
[47:17.180 --> 47:18.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: She's a friend of his?
[47:18.400 --> 47:18.960]  [SPEAKER_12]: Well, yeah.
[47:19.220 --> 47:21.540]  [SPEAKER_12]: Supposedly, somebody he knows or somebody he met.
[47:21.760 --> 47:21.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[47:22.240 --> 47:26.300]  [SPEAKER_12]: I just wondered, can the people steal your service by holding you on the phone?
[47:26.300 --> 47:31.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: They can't steal your service, but what they can do is rack up an incredible bill that might be going to some...
[47:31.480 --> 47:39.060]  [SPEAKER_03]: Like, for instance, if you look in the back of the Voice or the press, you'll see ads for various sex numbers in different countries.
[47:39.420 --> 47:42.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: And they're not 900 numbers, and they get around the 900 number block.
[47:43.160 --> 47:54.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: But what happens is they go to various Caribbean islands and other countries in various parts of the world, and they charge a tremendous amount of money, like $4 a minute, to connect to what looks like a normal phone number.
[47:54.380 --> 47:58.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: What happens is these companies split the profits with the phone company.
[47:58.800 --> 47:59.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: Uh-oh.
[47:59.600 --> 48:12.600]  [SPEAKER_03]: And that's, you know, I don't know if that's what happened in this case, but, you know, when someone keeps you on the phone for a long time, they're either robbing your house while you're not looking or racking up a huge phone bill with the same basic logic in mind.
[48:12.940 --> 48:13.620]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's take another phone call.
[48:13.740 --> 48:14.020]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good evening.
[48:14.120 --> 48:14.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: You're on the air.
[48:15.200 --> 48:15.440]  [SPEAKER_07]: Hi.
[48:15.520 --> 48:15.820]  [SPEAKER_07]: Good evening.
[48:16.000 --> 48:16.360]  [SPEAKER_07]: A quick thing.
[48:16.560 --> 48:20.880]  [SPEAKER_07]: You mentioned earlier your problems with getting through to SPCS customer service.
[48:20.960 --> 48:21.160]  [SPEAKER_04]: Yes.
[48:21.500 --> 48:26.920]  [SPEAKER_07]: I know that one of their competitors, I won't mention their name, but they were just put up by a German company.
[48:27.840 --> 48:28.560]  [SPEAKER_07]: Same situation.
[48:28.560 --> 48:29.260]  [SPEAKER_04]: I wonder.
[48:30.140 --> 48:30.500]  [SPEAKER_07]: Okay.
[48:30.840 --> 48:32.800]  [SPEAKER_07]: They used to have a parrot when they were here in New York.
[48:34.100 --> 48:44.220]  [SPEAKER_07]: Anyway, I have found that hitting zero repeatedly, you hit it the first time you get the same type of recording that you had got in saying, sorry, no good, try again.
[48:44.400 --> 48:44.520]  [SPEAKER_10]: Yeah.
[48:44.940 --> 48:49.860]  [SPEAKER_07]: But when you hit it three times, in this case, you do, in fact, get kicked into customer service.
[48:49.980 --> 48:50.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: Interesting.
[48:50.520 --> 48:56.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's just like with American Airlines, where I would scream at the top of my lungs to their voice-activated nonsense, sense, I want a bleeping operator.
[48:56.620 --> 48:57.600]  [SPEAKER_03]: You get an operator.
[48:57.860 --> 48:58.400]  [SPEAKER_03]: Really?
[48:58.540 --> 48:59.060]  [SPEAKER_03]: It works.
[48:59.320 --> 48:59.860]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's incredible.
[49:00.080 --> 49:01.540]  [SPEAKER_04]: It's got a little angry flag on there?
[49:01.600 --> 49:02.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: It must.
[49:02.600 --> 49:02.780]  [SPEAKER_07]: Yeah.
[49:02.820 --> 49:09.460]  [SPEAKER_07]: The other thing is, you mentioned the various porn-related long-distance international phone numbers and such.
[49:09.600 --> 49:18.720]  [SPEAKER_07]: It actually turns out that more calls and more money gets sent to the various tele-psychic type people than to porn.
[49:18.860 --> 49:20.760]  [SPEAKER_07]: I was surprised when I read that, but I saw the figures.
[49:21.460 --> 49:24.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: I kind of lumped them all together, you know, just the 900 crowd.
[49:24.860 --> 49:25.440]  [SPEAKER_07]: Close enough.
[49:25.740 --> 49:26.260]  [SPEAKER_07]: Anyway, take care.
[49:26.440 --> 49:26.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
[49:26.700 --> 49:27.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Thanks for calling.
[49:28.300 --> 49:28.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good evening.
[49:28.900 --> 49:29.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: You're on the air.
[49:30.720 --> 49:31.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: Speak up.
[49:31.660 --> 49:32.180]  [SPEAKER_21]: Hey, are you there?
[49:32.360 --> 49:32.840]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yes, go ahead.
[49:33.040 --> 49:35.860]  [SPEAKER_21]: Hey, I wanted to mention real quick something about the banks.
[49:36.220 --> 49:39.260]  [SPEAKER_21]: I'm here in Cleveland, and we have KeyBank out here.
[49:39.320 --> 49:40.120]  [SPEAKER_21]: It used to be Society.
[49:40.660 --> 49:41.000]  [SPEAKER_10]: Okay.
[49:41.000 --> 49:48.420]  [SPEAKER_21]: They have a free checking account, which I have, but they charge me $5 every time I make a transaction, inside the bank.
[49:48.640 --> 49:49.020]  [SPEAKER_04]: Really?
[49:49.140 --> 49:50.740]  [SPEAKER_04]: So you make a deposit, they charge you $5?
[49:51.000 --> 49:56.200]  [SPEAKER_21]: Anything that you do that's not at the ATM or through debit card, they charge you $5 per transaction.
[49:56.200 --> 50:01.620]  [SPEAKER_21]: If I want to go and make a deposit or pull some money out inside the bank, they charge me $5 every time.
[50:01.680 --> 50:02.120]  [SPEAKER_04]: Oh, I'll tell you what you do.
[50:02.240 --> 50:07.880]  [SPEAKER_04]: You make one very large withdrawal, your entire account in cash from the manager's office, and make them count it four times.
[50:08.460 --> 50:09.700]  [SPEAKER_04]: That's an excellent idea.
[50:10.300 --> 50:13.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: Or just bring a whole bunch of pennies and have them sort that, too.
[50:13.040 --> 50:18.940]  [SPEAKER_04]: Well, that's how you give them their $5 fee and rolls of pennies, which, you know, unfortunately break all over the floor as you're on your way out.
[50:19.240 --> 50:19.280]  [SPEAKER_04]: Exactly.
[50:19.360 --> 50:22.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, at one point do they charge you when they get your account number?
[50:22.260 --> 50:31.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: So what if you make this huge deposit or withdrawal or something like that, and there's one bit of information that's wrong, and you can't figure out what it is, and you waste about 20 minutes of their time, and then you say, oh, you know what, just forget it.
[50:32.020 --> 50:32.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: I'll do it at the ATM.
[50:32.980 --> 50:33.220]  [SPEAKER_21]: Right.
[50:33.300 --> 50:36.980]  [SPEAKER_21]: And then they can't charge you the $5, but you've wasted a ton of their time.
[50:37.020 --> 50:37.920]  [SPEAKER_21]: That's an excellent idea.
[50:38.020 --> 50:41.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, they can borrow you from the building from then on, but that's why they have many branches.
[50:41.080 --> 50:48.840]  [SPEAKER_04]: No, but the real answer is take your money way out of there, and the bank will eventually wise up once they realize, oh, gee, maybe we can't do business like this.
[50:48.940 --> 50:53.380]  [SPEAKER_21]: Well, I'm just curious if all these banks that are offering free checking accounts are doing the same thing.
[50:54.100 --> 50:54.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: Possibly.
[50:54.580 --> 50:55.360]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's very likely.
[50:55.520 --> 50:59.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: Banks tend to engage in rip-off activities together, just like phone companies do.
[51:00.040 --> 51:03.860]  [SPEAKER_03]: I remember, you know, as a kid, you could put money in a bank, and it would grow.
[51:04.100 --> 51:05.240]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, there wouldn't be fees.
[51:05.400 --> 51:10.240]  [SPEAKER_03]: There wouldn't be, like, you know, various minimal balances and things like that that you had to maintain.
[51:10.640 --> 51:15.780]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, if you put 20 bucks in an account, you came back a year later and there were maybe like $25 or something, I don't know.
[51:16.260 --> 51:18.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: But it's not like that anymore.
[51:18.260 --> 51:20.020]  [SPEAKER_03]: They charge you to give them money.
[51:20.200 --> 51:21.040]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's insane.
[51:21.300 --> 51:23.520]  [SPEAKER_03]: Same thing with credit cards, you know, credit card companies.
[51:23.660 --> 51:27.280]  [SPEAKER_03]: They charge you a late fee in addition to the finance charge.
[51:27.460 --> 51:29.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: And they all started doing this at the same time, you know?
[51:30.060 --> 51:31.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's crazy.
[51:31.980 --> 51:32.440]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good evening.
[51:32.540 --> 51:32.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: You're on the air.
[51:35.640 --> 51:36.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't want to hear me.
[51:38.160 --> 51:38.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: Hello?
[51:38.740 --> 51:38.940]  [SPEAKER_08]: Hello?
[51:39.080 --> 51:39.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: Go ahead.
[51:39.420 --> 51:40.240]  [SPEAKER_03]: You're obviously on the Internet.
[51:40.680 --> 51:40.960]  [SPEAKER_08]: Yes.
[51:41.160 --> 51:41.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[51:41.500 --> 51:42.160]  [SPEAKER_03]: Where are you calling from?
[51:42.260 --> 51:42.860]  [SPEAKER_08]: How did you know that?
[51:42.940 --> 51:44.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: Because we had a long delay.
[51:44.680 --> 51:45.300]  [SPEAKER_08]: Oh, I'm sorry.
[51:45.540 --> 51:47.440]  [SPEAKER_08]: From my job.
[51:47.840 --> 51:48.140]  [SPEAKER_03]: Ah.
[51:48.140 --> 51:48.800]  [SPEAKER_08]: Woodbridge, New Jersey.
[51:49.160 --> 51:49.600]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, cool.
[51:49.720 --> 51:50.540]  [SPEAKER_03]: So what's on your mind?
[51:50.880 --> 51:54.060]  [SPEAKER_08]: Actually, I just wanted to bring up the fact that I sometimes I listen to you.
[51:54.300 --> 51:55.600]  [SPEAKER_08]: Well, I listen to you a lot, actually.
[51:56.060 --> 51:59.260]  [SPEAKER_08]: But you seem so surprised about a lot of things that go on.
[51:59.640 --> 52:04.680]  [SPEAKER_08]: And think about the people who were wrongfully jailed for, like, 20 years and they just let them out.
[52:04.780 --> 52:07.280]  [SPEAKER_08]: And I would not even thank you with $20 in their pocket.
[52:07.480 --> 52:07.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: Mm-hmm.
[52:07.860 --> 52:10.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, attention needs to be called to those things as well.
[52:10.540 --> 52:10.640]  [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely.
[52:10.920 --> 52:15.540]  [SPEAKER_03]: The reason I act surprised is because this is affecting me personally and I'm seeing the immediacy of it.
[52:15.580 --> 52:19.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I'm always aware that there are injustices going on all over the place.
[52:19.220 --> 52:22.440]  [SPEAKER_03]: But you kind of get dull to the concept of it until it happens to somebody that you know.
[52:22.600 --> 52:27.980]  [SPEAKER_08]: Yeah, I think it's unfortunate that we all, like, don't realize or even act upon it until it happens to us or someone that we know.
[52:28.120 --> 52:28.260]  [SPEAKER_08]: Yeah.
[52:28.340 --> 52:28.760]  [SPEAKER_08]: That's bad.
[52:29.100 --> 52:33.820]  [SPEAKER_08]: But also, to bring up the issue about the banks, I, someone else had called up before on the radio station.
[52:33.880 --> 52:35.240]  [SPEAKER_08]: I don't know what program they had called on.
[52:35.300 --> 52:37.080]  [SPEAKER_08]: They said that this was happening and they fought it.
[52:37.500 --> 52:40.880]  [SPEAKER_08]: And I thought the banks or their particular bank had stopped doing that.
[52:41.100 --> 52:46.780]  [SPEAKER_08]: So I'm not sure if it's something that if you get a group of people together to write in and say that, because they're supposed to return your checks to you.
[52:47.300 --> 52:47.560]  [SPEAKER_03]: Mm-hmm.
[52:47.860 --> 52:49.940]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, you know, maybe, maybe we could do something like that.
[52:50.100 --> 52:50.240]  [SPEAKER_08]: Yeah.
[52:51.780 --> 52:52.100]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[52:52.340 --> 52:53.120]  [SPEAKER_03]: Thanks for the call.
[52:53.860 --> 52:54.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: Bernie, you still there?
[52:55.000 --> 52:55.320]  [SPEAKER_15]: Yes.
[52:55.460 --> 52:55.580]  [SPEAKER_15]: Okay.
[52:55.580 --> 52:59.180]  [SPEAKER_15]: In fact, I made an issue about that check, check thing with my, my bank.
[52:59.360 --> 52:59.480]  [SPEAKER_10]: Mm-hmm.
[53:00.360 --> 53:01.080]  [SPEAKER_15]: And I called them.
[53:01.140 --> 53:10.440]  [SPEAKER_15]: I said, listen, I want my actual checks back, the original documents, not some lame photocopy that I can't, is not admissible as evidence in the court, Pennsylvania court.
[53:11.040 --> 53:14.460]  [SPEAKER_15]: And I finally got them and they're sending me my original checks back.
[53:14.640 --> 53:17.080]  [SPEAKER_15]: But I had to really go through like several supervisors and managers.
[53:17.080 --> 53:18.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: Do they do it every, every month they send them to you?
[53:19.260 --> 53:19.460]  [SPEAKER_15]: Yep.
[53:19.640 --> 53:22.880]  [SPEAKER_15]: Well, I don't write that many checks, but when I write them, I now get them back.
[53:23.060 --> 53:25.980]  [SPEAKER_15]: But I had to really, really like turn some tables to get that to happen.
[53:26.100 --> 53:27.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, do they charge you an extra fee?
[53:27.800 --> 53:28.140]  [SPEAKER_15]: No.
[53:28.320 --> 53:28.560]  [SPEAKER_15]: Okay.
[53:28.600 --> 53:31.180]  [SPEAKER_15]: I would have screamed, like, oh, I just would have threatened to move my account.
[53:31.280 --> 53:32.000]  [SPEAKER_15]: They don't want that.
[53:32.500 --> 53:38.320]  [SPEAKER_15]: But yeah, you really have to scream bloody murder to get even a semblance of customer service anymore.
[53:38.380 --> 53:39.500]  [SPEAKER_15]: It's really insane.
[53:39.860 --> 53:40.360]  [SPEAKER_03]: It is.
[53:40.460 --> 53:46.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: And there are so fewer people who are, who are working in customer service because you have all the computers that have put them out of work.
[53:46.820 --> 53:49.800]  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, I mean, you can simply go back in history.
[53:50.120 --> 53:50.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's not that hard to do.
[53:51.060 --> 53:55.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: On the Internet, on the off-the-hook site, on 2600.com, you'll see some of our earlier shows.
[53:55.800 --> 54:02.440]  [SPEAKER_03]: And you'll, you'll see when we called operators back in the late 80s and early 90s, even then, it was dramatically different than it is now.
[54:02.780 --> 54:07.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, you know, you would call information, you'd instantly get somebody, and they'd give you the, the information you needed.
[54:07.880 --> 54:09.380]  [SPEAKER_03]: And if you had another question, they'd answer it.
[54:09.620 --> 54:11.080]  [SPEAKER_03]: Here, it's, it's completely automated.
[54:11.260 --> 54:15.820]  [SPEAKER_03]: And if you dare to ask a question of a human, they're very abrupt with you because they're not supposed to be talking to you in the first place.
[54:16.220 --> 54:17.520]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's really, really sad.
[54:17.960 --> 54:18.520]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's take another phone call.
[54:18.600 --> 54:18.880]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good evening.
[54:19.200 --> 54:19.780]  [SPEAKER_03]: You're on the air.
[54:19.960 --> 54:20.280]  [SPEAKER_06]: Oh, yes.
[54:20.360 --> 54:20.540]  [SPEAKER_06]: Hi.
[54:20.760 --> 54:21.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: What's up?
[54:21.380 --> 54:35.620]  [SPEAKER_06]: Well, what's on my mind tonight is that I'm just fed up, frankly, with listening to info commercials for entrenched interests who are hogging the WBAI microphones.
[54:35.940 --> 54:36.480]  [SPEAKER_03]: Am I one of them?
[54:37.000 --> 54:38.040]  [SPEAKER_06]: No, you are not.
[54:38.160 --> 54:38.680]  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, okay.
[54:38.800 --> 54:38.920]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good.
[54:39.660 --> 54:45.940]  [SPEAKER_06]: Assassinating the characters of beloved WBAI producers, like Bernard White.
[54:46.220 --> 54:48.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, let's, let's just keep the personalities out of it, okay?
[54:48.440 --> 54:50.000]  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, we can, we can talk about, yes, go ahead.
[54:50.160 --> 54:50.160]  Question.
[54:51.640 --> 55:02.380]  [SPEAKER_06]: Uh, formerly at WBAI, the gag rule only applied to people working at the station, staff members.
[55:02.640 --> 55:02.960]  [SPEAKER_10]: Mm-hmm.
[55:03.480 --> 55:09.400]  [SPEAKER_06]: It seems that when you told me, you advised me to keep the personalities out of it.
[55:09.800 --> 55:16.980]  [SPEAKER_06]: It seems now on, that the gag rule has been extended to the listenership.
[55:17.140 --> 55:17.900]  [SPEAKER_03]: No, not at all.
[55:18.020 --> 55:18.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: Not at all.
[55:18.420 --> 55:20.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let me, let me explain my interpretation of it.
[55:20.360 --> 55:22.780]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't have this, uh, you know, in writing.
[55:22.940 --> 55:25.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: It's, it's something that we all pretty much have to interpret on our own.
[55:25.380 --> 55:27.020]  [SPEAKER_03]: I have my standards of broadcasting.
[55:27.360 --> 55:31.460]  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't like to, uh, assassinate any character, even if they're completely wrong.
[55:31.660 --> 55:36.060]  [SPEAKER_03]: Even if I completely disagree with somebody, I believe in treating people with a certain modicum of respect.
[55:36.740 --> 55:39.540]  [SPEAKER_03]: And, uh, you know, that's just the way that I do my particular program.
[55:39.680 --> 55:44.600]  [SPEAKER_03]: I know other people don't subscribe to the same philosophy, and that's, that's unfortunate, but that's, that's their decision.
[55:44.940 --> 55:50.300]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, as far as, as what we discuss, what we don't discuss, there are some things that are of interest and some things that are not of interest.
[55:50.480 --> 55:57.740]  [SPEAKER_03]: It, for instance, is not of interest if somebody is, is sticking their junk mail in my mailbox, and I'm really upset by that, and I want to talk about that and complain over the air.
[55:57.920 --> 56:03.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: That's, that's internal, uh, you know, internal politics of a kind that I don't think is appropriate for the airways.
[56:03.640 --> 56:08.540]  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, if you want to talk about the future of the station and your concerns and your input as a listener, yes.
[56:08.800 --> 56:14.420]  [SPEAKER_03]: I think that's very much on target, something that you should be discussing and something I think you have an obligation to discuss.
[56:14.860 --> 56:21.920]  [SPEAKER_03]: But again, as a programmer, I insist that we not result in personal attacks.
[56:21.920 --> 56:23.380]  [SPEAKER_06]: The individuals who are no longer with us.
[56:23.940 --> 56:45.160]  [SPEAKER_06]: And I would like to say that if the concept, in fact, by both sides, by both the dissidents and management, is to enlarge the listenership, I think no one would disagree that if we could enlarge the listenership, that would be a good thing.
[56:45.160 --> 56:58.600]  [SPEAKER_06]: And I would say, in my opinion, that the listenership could instantly be electrified and enlarged by doing one simple thing.
[56:59.040 --> 57:11.540]  [SPEAKER_06]: And that is, in the old tradition of WBAI, opening up the microphones for the purpose of exchanging points of view.
[57:13.700 --> 57:16.320]  [SPEAKER_06]: This... amongst the warring factions.
[57:16.720 --> 57:18.140]  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, I happen to agree with you on that.
[57:18.240 --> 57:19.320]  [SPEAKER_03]: Unfortunately, we're out of time.
[57:19.460 --> 57:23.260]  [SPEAKER_03]: I wish you had called earlier and hopefully you'll call next week and we can discuss that some more.
[57:24.040 --> 57:25.980]  [SPEAKER_03]: But we are out of time for this week.
[57:26.380 --> 57:33.660]  [SPEAKER_03]: And we'll be back next week hopefully talking about these issues and other issues that pertain to technology, telephones, and all kinds of other things.
[57:34.420 --> 57:38.060]  [SPEAKER_03]: Until then, it's Emmanuel Goldstein for Isaac and everybody else.
[57:38.580 --> 57:39.500]  [SPEAKER_03]: Have yourselves a good night.
[57:39.640 --> 57:39.980]  [SPEAKER_03]: Stay awake.
[57:40.100 --> 57:40.960]  [SPEAKER_03]: Beware of rip-offs.
[57:41.700 --> 57:42.840]  [SPEAKER_03]: Keep listening to the radio station.
[57:43.020 --> 57:44.620]  [SPEAKER_03]: Keep caring about the radio station.
[57:45.020 --> 57:46.180]  [SPEAKER_03]: Let us know that you're out there.
[57:47.260 --> 57:48.200]  [SPEAKER_03]: We want to hear from you.
[57:48.500 --> 57:48.720]  [SPEAKER_03]: Good night.