Sun Apr 24, 2005 07:39 EST (UTC -5)
Recently I read an article about an Internet phone service called Skype. It basically allows you to talk to other people like your phone, and it's free. The sound quality of PC-to-PC calls is supposed to be very good and depends only on the equipment you and the other person have.
They also have some interesting paid services. SkypeOut is a service for which you buy credit; it allows you to call real phones. The rates don't seem too bad, but I don't pay the phone bill. A lot of major countries, including Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Russia, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, the 48 United States, and U.S. mobile phones conveniently have the same rate, €0.017 per minute. On €10 you can call these countries for 9 hours and 48 minutes (actually there's a tax thrown in there, so probably less). The most expensive country, it seems, is East Timor at €1.345, including that tax thingy. That's awfully cheap for a small, remote, fledgling nation.
The SkypeIn service (€30 per year or €10 for three months) gives you a real phone number so real phones can call you. With it comes the ability to send and receive voice mail for free (it's pretty much a necessity if you're going to have people calling you who don't know if you're online or not). But you can get voice mail by itself for €15 a year or €5 for three months.
I'm thinking that Skype could be the next AIM if more people became aware of it. Besides speaking, it does have instant messaging, anyway. I want to get Skype, but I need a headset first. I think we have one lying around somewhere. Once I get one and start using it (mission: find someone who uses Skype) I'll let you all know how it is. (Hey, if you're a Skype user, let me know and maybe we can talk.) If anything, it would be good for talking to those distant relatives.
My sister was shocked yesterday to discover the following article on the web site of the local newspaper. It seems that a man who goes (went) to my church sexually abused some girl. I knew the guy, too. Well, I don't think I'd ever met him, but I would see him there every week and everyone knew who he was. He is (was) a Eucharistic minister (a lay person who distributes the Eucharist), I believe. I did know his daughter, who must be six or seven now.
Pompano Beach man, 44, arrested on child-sex charge
A community newspaper editor who works with youth groups was arrested this week after a 13-year-old girl said he molested her, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies arrested Scot Luft, 44, Wednesday on a charge of sexual battery and promoting the sexual performance of a child under 16. The teen told her teacher that the Pompano Beach man molested her on 15 occasions, Luft's arrest report says. Luft admitted he rubbed the girl's "back and buttocks" under her clothes and may have touched her genitals, the report says.
Luft, a Boy Scout leader and youth soccer and football coach in Pompano Beach, is also Bible school director at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church, Jim Leljedal, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said in a news release Friday. Church officials were not available Friday evening for comment and Scout leaders and volunteers contacted in the area did not recognize Luft's name.
Luft is employed as an editor and writer for the Forum Publishing Group, a subsidiary of the Sun-Sentinel Co., said Kevin Courtney, spokesman for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Courtney said Luft works on several weekly community publications including the Pompano Times, Deerfield Times and the EastSider weekly entertainment and lifestyle publication. Courtney said Luft is on personal leave and remains employed with the company.
Luft was being held in the Broward County jail without bond Friday. Detectives believe he may have abused other children, Leljedal said. Anyone with information should call the Sheriff's Office at 954-321-4240.
I wonder if I knew the girl who he allegedly abused. Probably not. That would be kind of scary, though.
Betcha they won't be mentioning this at church today.
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I read about Skype in a magazine. If I'm not mistaken, I think it was produced by the makers of Kazaa.
Todd — Sun Apr 24, 2005 14:23 EST
I believe that's right. But it has no adware or anything. It does, however, use P2P-like methods to use your system in transferring other people's calls and whatnot. Personally, I don't really care about that. It's better than having a centralized computer system, which could be subject to crashes or attacks. That's probably also a major reason that the program is free.
Jordon — Sun Apr 24, 2005 14:33 EST
Hey, I just was searching about SkypeIn and came across your post. I have Skype myself and recently got SkypeIn and have received a couple of calls.
Give me a ring sometime (my skype is jamuraa) if you want to try it out or chat.
Jamuraa — Mon Apr 25, 2005 11:58 EST
i think that mr. luft molested rachel luft, his daughter.
kristen — Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:49 EST
jeez kristen, don't post about it here, everyone can see -shakes head in disgrace-...
but yeah jordon, kristen is right.
kevin — Mon Apr 25, 2005 15:11 EST
Thanks Jamuraa, maybe I'll try it out with you once I get it going.
Just be sure, Kevin and Kristen, to say "allegedly." That's pretty much a legal covering for your arse. Allegedly allegedly allegedly. And if you're right, then it was just incest! That's not as scandalous of a story as we were promised by the news.
Jordon — Mon Apr 25, 2005 17:52 EST
Knowing Scot for 10+ years, he has alot more good about him than this made up charge from some 13 yr old girl that may have a reason accuse him when she doesnt get her way like how kids are toward their parents that try to set rules.
M — Wed May 04, 2005 00:33 EST
I worked with Scot at the Forum papers.. He was my supervisor.. He would bring in his kids all the time...he never acted wrong with them in any way at work. he seemed like an awesome person. I don't believe that he would do anything like this. Pray that this problem will resolve itselt
Becky — Fri May 06, 2005 09:50 EST
I grew up with her! Her family and mine are still very close. I think that she just deserves privacy right now.....I mean, just THINK how awful she feels right now.
I Love Rachel like a sister, and assumptions and allegations are all around the papers and news.....
Just support her...please:]:D....
Thanks so much
*~JeN~*
Jen — Fri May 06, 2005 14:40 EST
you know what you guys effing make me sick do you really freaking think that no one from his family would read this? yeah he molested me...and yes it is against the law fyi so you guys fucking just leave the matter alone!!!!! you guys are so fucking dumb im sorry
RACHEL LUFT — Mon May 01, 2006 22:00 EST
This post and discussion took place a whole year ago. We were discussing a then-current news story. It is not news anymore, and it is no longer worthy of discussion -- it's over and done with, as you will agree. This post and the 636 others on this site serve in part as records of current events and therefore will remain. It's not like we are (or were) talking about you behind your back or saying bad things about you that weren't true.
Jordon — Tue May 02, 2006 04:56 EST