Re: fbi, crypto, and defcon
At 8:50 8/2/96, Paul J. Bell wrote:
i, for one, and perhaps others on the list as well, would be interested in hearing what you mean when you say, "At&t, Microsoft, etc) who are ripping people off on a daily basis".
for example, in what way is AT&T ripping people off? and what about microsoft?
Its up to you what you call it, but here is an interesting example: An international phone call costs about 2 cents/min to produce. The average rate paid for by the consumer is 62 cents. That's means the carriers mark up this particular product by an amazing 3000%. Can you name another business that has comparable mark-ups? -- Lucky Green <mailto:shamrock@netcom.com> PGP encrypted mail preferred. Defeat the Demopublican Unity Party. Vote no on Clinton/Dole in November. Vote Harry Browne for President.
On Fri, 2 Aug 1996, Lucky Green wrote:
At 8:50 8/2/96, Paul J. Bell wrote:
i, for one, and perhaps others on the list as well, would be interested in hearing what you mean when you say, "At&t, Microsoft, etc) who are ripping people off on a daily basis". for example, in what way is AT&T ripping people off? and what about microsoft? Its up to you what you call it, but here is an interesting example: An international phone call costs about 2 cents/min to produce. The average rate paid for by the consumer is 62 cents. That's means the carriers mark up this particular product by an amazing 3000%. Can you name another business that has comparable mark-ups?
Drug (LSD) dealers. Petro, Christopher C. petro@suba.com <prefered for any non-list stuff> snow@smoke.suba.com
Lucky Green opines:
An international phone call costs about 2 cents/min to produce. The average rate paid for by the consumer is 62 cents. That's means the carriers mark up this particular product by an amazing 3000%.
Can you name another business that has comparable mark-ups?
Well, software comes to mind. In the international telephone case, you are paying 2 cents for the call, and 60 cents for being able to place the call when you want to. It's time for a story: Once upon a time, Westinghouse's chief turbine engineer was called to a power plant to diagnose a problem. He walked around the turbine for a while, listened to it, thought for a bit, then took out a piece of chalk and drew an X on the housing. "There is a bad bearing here; replace it." Westinghouse sent a bill for $10,000 for the diagnosis. The power plant objected to the sum and asked for an itemized invoice. Westinghouse sent: $0.05 for the chalk, $9999.95 for knowing where to put the chalk. Martin.
participants (3)
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Martin Minow -
shamrock＠netcom.com -
snow