These days, however, telemarketers have it tough. Not only can they get fined for contravening the DNC list, but they have to contend with a new trend – these days most people have cell phones, not land lines. Sure, you could screen the call using Caller ID, but here’s something better: once you have the number of a telemarketer, program an entry in your directory. I use the moniker "Do Not Answer". I then set the customized ringer to "Do not ring". I haven’t had to speak to a telemarketer in five years. And because I’m feeling generous, I’ve decided to share my sacred list with you.

Now, bear in mind that this list is only valid if you live in Canada – and the 604 numbers are only valid for the Vancouver area. However, I’ve confirmed that all these numbers are telemarketers of the most heinous kind. Do yourself a favour and block ‘em all. So, here’s a little list of my own – a Do Not Answer list:

866-428-1656
800-837-9531
604-270-7289
416-915-7933
866-428-1469
800-566-8064
866-629-7707
866-701-8375
416-581-1076
877-666-6339

And if you haven’t signed up for the DNC list, what are you waiting for?

Fortunately, there are anonymous proxies that you can use to redirect your traffic through servers in ‘safe’ countries. One piece of software that does this extremely well is Ultrasurf 8 by Ultrareach Internet Corp. Ultrasurf was designed specifically to provide surfing freedom and anonymity to the Chinese. The beauty of this software is that is searches for the fastest US proxies in the background while encrypting Internet Explorer so that you will never be hounded by the Chinese Internet police. Plugins like Firefox’s ProxySwitch, or ad-supported software like Hotspot Shield are not nearly as good.

The benefits for Canadians of using this software is that you can get around copyright restrictions on streaming your favourite US TV shows from network sites, or streaming music on pandora. I do not endorse engaging in these sorts of activities, of course, but thought you should be aware of the possibilities.

Well, this is good news indeed. I already find it cheaper to buy blank CDs in the States and would hate to cross the border to buy electronic goods as well. I’m also glad the government isn’t treating us all like a bunch of mp3 pirates who are intent on downloading every Celine Dion and Bryan Adams album we can lay our thieving hands on (because we all know how much Canadian music rocks). 

The Copyright Board has approved the collective’s proposal and the government is promising new legislation that may be implemented before Christmas.

Here’s what you very likely will be paying:

• Extra $5 on devices with up to one gigabyte (GB) of memory
• Extra $25 for one to 10 GB
• Extra $50 for between 10 GB and 30 GB
• Extra $75 for over 30 GB

Holy smokes! Run out and get your 160 Gig iPod while you can…

Electronic rights for authors seems a fair deal, but lets be honest – These guys are making a lot more money than writers outside of the film industry. I wonder if editors have ever gone on strike?

In 2005, Chinese journalist Shi Tao was convicted by his government for divulging “state secrets”. Shi Tao had forwarded an email from the Communist Party warning the media not to observe the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 2004. Yahoo provided information to the government which helped identify Shi Tao as a dissident. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

In 2006, Michael Callahan, Yahoo’s executive vice-president and general counsel told the congressional panel that he did not know why the Chinese government wanted Shi Tao. In the November 6 hearing, it was revealed that this testimony was false—Yahoo officials had in fact received a document outlining the nature of the investigation.

At the hearing, house foreign affairs committee chairman Tom Lantos delivered a statement where he said that “Yahoo claims that this is just one big misunderstanding. Let me be clear — this was no misunderstanding. This was inexcusably negligent behaviour at best and deliberately deceptive behaviour at worst.”

Either Yahoo has some major internal communication problems or they’re so desperate for a piece of the Chinese Internet market that they’re willing to jump into bed with an oppressive Communist government no matter what the cost. I really hope for their sake that it’s the former.  

A Vancouver police officer actually had the balls to impersonate a newspaper reporter (from 24-Hours) and arrange an “interview” with David at a mall, whereupon he was promptly arrested. Give me a break. Have the Vancouver police no integrity whatsoever? The editor-in-chief of 24-Hours is rightly miffed, according to this article, where he says that these sorts of ploys undermine trust in the media and destroy credibility. What was that cop thinking? He obviously thought 24-Hours doesn’t have enough independent clout to adopt an anti-police stance in their editorial, and he’s probably right. But that doesn’t mean other media aren’t going to have a field day with this one. Naughty, naughty Mr. Policeman.