Re: PMMIT/Havenco/Seamail/KATZ Global Gordon, In the interest of our courteous relationship, let's just agree to disagree on the Sealand issue. In the end, we both want the same: Protect our respective clients' privacies and not judge them for what they believe or do.
That said, there are two items you must have misunderstood: I said, whe gov contacts us with questions, we provide as much information as we "must". And that normally means that we provide the email address we have on file. I do not see why maintaining a good relationship with law enforcement would make us a "roll over"? On the contrary, it did happen that a possibly unjust complaint of a user did lead to a visit from the local sheriff, inquiring about our customer. The fact that they knew us as straight forward meant that us promising to look into it was enough for them to leave things be. We got an explanation from our client and the case was closed. In simple terms, user A said our client X ripped him off, client X said it's not true, we told the sheriff we believe client X and that was the end of it. If you ask me, this system certainly beats playing tough and asking for warrants, etc. Did I mention that nobody ever asked us for the personal details of client X? Anyway, you obviously have a dislike of government while we only distrust them. At the same time, we allow for the human factor and for the fact that not all government employees are inherently bad and born evil. I homestly can not say if I am ready to protect a potential fraudster because the person from law enforcement doesn't have a warrant when he or she contacts us. By the same token, we don't support fishing operations and want to know what it is about before we decide which level of cooperation we are willing to offer. And that means, being a HYIP or games site is not enough of a reason for us to provide anything but the contact email - which is usually a freemail address anyway. I believe you judge your clients the same way? After all, if a site is likely to be a fraud, you would have booted them off the server just the same way we do. Hence, if law enforcement then contacts you and you provide the contact email, you are not doing anything wrong, because the client is in breach of your TOS/AUP and an investigation is then likely to be warranted anyway. ------------------------------- George, Yes and no. Our backups are off-site and off-shore ;o) And to shut down the US operation is a matter of a call to an accountant to send off the pre-arranged pink slips, and remote administration access involving a series of 'format' commands. If we have enough notice, clients would bearly notice that they are hosted elsewhere now. After all, I have been pretty vocal about recent American policies and how they affect our business in the US (namely, cyfrocash.com and by association also aim.info). Given that I'm the sort of person who not only bitches around but also acts, I had my finger on the kill switch more than once. But, the US location does have inherent advantages and having the venture registered there is one of the main reasons we are getting many American clients. CyberFrontier Corp is first and foremost an online venture and vocal supporter of free markets and the US constitution secondly. Moving clients who dislike the shape things are taking to another location is a matter of minutes. But why would I throw away the business of those clients who don't care what patches and spy-ware big business wants us to install on our servers? A wise man once said, that every people has the government it deserves, and I am a merchant in the original sense. I have no prejudice against anyone's money. Hence, if the majority of American clients host with us because we are good and cheap and 'American', so be it. If some host with us because my personal views of what is wrong in the world match theirs, then that is great and I will take special care of them, but it's not a condition. On a different note, you do not really believe the plastic knife tale, do you? Think 'Reichstag Fire' in Berlin. Alternatively, if you haven't done so yet, read Machiavelli's 'The Prince' and consider how much recent history fits in previously designed - and published - road maps of American (Republican) policies for the 21st century. When something smells like fish, it might be chicken, but it sure as hell ain't steak, no matter what the label says. Cheers, Robert. budget & privacy website hosting http://www.cyberica.net budget & privacy domain registrations + mail http://www.u2planet.com/cfdomaintrust.html --- You are currently subscribed to e-gold-list as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use e-gold's Secure Randomized Keyboard (SRK) when accessing your e-gold account(s) via the web and shopping cart interfaces to help thwart keystroke loggers and common viruses.