From RCR:

The GSM Association (GSMA) announced plans to upgrade the system they use to track stolen GSM cell phones. Each GSM phone has a unique IMEI number (akin to a NIC card’s MAC address.)

When carriers get a report of a stolen phone, they can feed the information into this DB, which is available to all other carriers. They can then deny service to a phone which has been blacklisted.

Pretty much all cell phone makers support the plan and teh system. On the thieves side are LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics.

If you plan to get a GSM phone, go with another carrier listed in the article. That way we can help put a stop to theft of phones. There’s no incentive to steal a phone that can’t be used or sold…

Damn comment spammers.

I pretty much have things locked down so that comment spammers can’t get their crap through. Unfortunately, they are still clogging my system (and email as well since I have it set to email comments so I can catch when they DO get through) with their posts.

In the interest of coming up with a better system, I have temporarily closed all threads for commenting until I get the time to come up with a better solution.

I didn’t want to do this, because I don’t want my blog to be a one way street, I want community based conversation. But moderating comment spam is too much work right now…

I’ll be taking a look for a WP hack that requires commenters to register (and requires an admin to approve said registration) before being able to post. I still anticipate problems with even this.

How have you solved this issue on YOUR WP installation?? Is there anything like a central WP known good commenters central DB that one can point to?

Sorry, thanks, and have a good weekend.

myko AT NOSPAMPLEASE DOT blueneedle DOT com

ShutterStock recently changed their TOS to require a minimum of $75 payout, EVEN if you close your account with them. If you have less than that and leave for any reason (most likely to become exclusive somewhere else’s) then you lose ANY royalties made.

If you disagree with this policy (and I most ceratinly do) then you have time. A quote from Jon at ShutterStock on DPChallenge at this forum thread says:

“For the next 2 weeks (until 12/21/04 EST) you can remove your photos and request a clearout of your account. “

If you have a ShutterStock account, I highly suggest you go over, disable your images, cancel your account and request payout while you still can.

iStockPhoto (where I am a member) may not be the choice for you, but I think ShutterStock is clearly not the choice to make.