But can we have the wide-eyed, crazy-looking Palin thumbnails back? The Flintstone one was good, but the wink picture is way too tame.. I want the one with the crazy look and crazy hair..

What firewalls were they using? Microsoft's ICF ?

why not post an conspiracy theory reply? okay go ahead. this "foreign government" referenced by the feds: Any chance it's the feds? Some shadow group not in the media feed? okay, there. that's outta my system.

No doubt it was the Chinese!!!!

They're really just making up an excuse for having crap security. It's common practice to talk up the competency and technology used in a successful attack - and not just in the IT world, either. It makes the "victim" (read: clueless person/organisation) appear less at fault, if they can persuade the media that they were subject to technologies that the CIA or NSA would be bamboozled by.

The follow-up statement, then goes something like "we've never seen any attack like this". Which can be interpreted as meaning that the 16 year-old work experience kiddy, who's left in charge of the servers (on the basis that he/she has heard of AVG - which in our eyes makes them an expert) didn't know what was going on. Of course, when it's said by a grey-haired CIO in a £1000 suit, it sounds much more credible.

As it turns out, the election's over. No-one cares any more.

No point in them investigating this. The CIA will have covered their tracks far too well.

Who want to bet that it was not the present DODgy Administration ....Cheney Command and Control?

Or if you would prefer, Privatised Special Forces for Elite Abuse and MisUse.

Of course, the only information which they will have gathered [from a Presidential Team worth the Trust of Nations], is that which has been fed to them to have them chasing Red Herrings and their Lost Cause.

Who said they weren't using Macs? Are you a presidential candidate? If not why would anyone want to steal files from you? 'Nuf said.

Right. Had enough. Language is fluid. Get over it. Just because you know one fact dosen't meen you have to force it on people. That use of number/amount is perfectly acceptable.

From the OED:

Number, n.

1. a. The precise sum or aggregate of a collection of individual things or persons; the quantity or AMOUNT.

You sound like I did when I was 12, a right little smart arse shit. I bet your lots of fun at parties, telling people wonderous facts such as how the host keeps making such fun mistakes as using a red wine glass for white wine, of serving heavy German larger in a tall glass rather than a short stem beer glass.

...checking to see how each candidate would affect their plans for world domination.

Paul, it's only fluid by the lack of application of rigour.

And the fluidity can cause problems.

Imagine being an old Eton-schooled man visiting the everglades. You're very happy at your lovely holiday and wish to let people know. So you tell them you're having a gay old time in their lovely country.

Uh oh.