What irony: The pope was given last rights today after having a feeding tube installed days before. Terri Schiavo dies after having her feeding tube removed. Just put me down when the time comes. I don't want a feeding tube, nor do I want people to debate on whether I should live or die. If I cannot put food in my own mouth then let the evolutional fate consume me.

On a more positive note...some RAM came in the mail for me. That should make my WS03-Enterprise box a little faster. I am hoping to obtain my MCSE certification within the next year so this is an expense that can be justified.

My brother sent this to me in mail today:

The Internet is just beginning to change the way we live, learn, play, and do business, so now is not the time to impose major new tax burdens on the American consumers who are driving Internet growth.

Background:

In 1998, the U.S. Congress recognized the importance of the Internet by banning new taxes on Internet access, the monthly fee you pay your Internet service provider.
In 2001, Congress extended this moratorium to November 2003.

Today, the moratorium has been allowed to expire, because a handful of Senators doubt the merits of protecting American consumers from new taxes. Now that the ban is off, some states are poised to impose new taxes on your Internet access.
Take Action Now.

You can make a difference -- act now to prevent Internet taxes. Tell your U.S. Senators to reject amendments and pass S.150, "The Internet Non-Discrimination Act." Below please find links to help you email your House and Senate Representatives. Please click below and when you write, consider using this suggested message below to start your own message:

Dear Senator,

The Senate is working to pass legislation that is critical to the continued growth of the Internet and e-commerce. S. 150, the Internet Non-Discrimination Act, will permanently extend the current Internet access tax moratorium.

Unfortunately, advocates of new Internet taxes want to weaken or defeat S.150. If these Senators are successful in killing the bill, states and localities will begin taxing everything that is available online, including e-mail, goods and services, and even parental filtering software.

With the old moratorium already expired, there is no time to waste. Act now to prevent Internet taxes. Please reject amendments to S.150 and pass the bill immediately.

Sincerely,

Other Useful Links
http://www.house.gov/writerep/ -- find out who your Member of Congress is and contact them!
http://www.senate.gov/ -- find out who your US Senator is and contact them!

This is not a hoax, I checked it out. My opinion on this issue is that I do not believe that we should have taxes on Internet access or Purchases at this time. I would like to see internet access become more wide spread then it is now, even to the point of free access. I believe that it will only help educate Americans which in turn will keep us the great nation that we are now. So for that reason I believe this bill should pass.

I am concerned about the extending the moratorium indefinitely on state taxes on purchasing items. My concern is: what happens in the future if 90% of transactions happen online? I think that this is the way we are heading and I see it as detrimental if state taxes are not allowed in the future. I, of course think paying taxes sucks, but I am reasonable enough to say that I think some taxes are needed.

I think that the solution is to extend the moratorium for 10 years not indefinitely. But then again that is just my opinion.