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.