The postings on the web at large following the story included queries about the retrieval of the mortified arm. One postulated the individual was wearing a Timex (or one was seeded later.) Remember the ad campaign " takes a licking and keeps on ticking? " Everytime something like this occures it becomes a race for book and movie rights before the 15 minutes of Andy Warhol fame fades. Lets take inventory; He lost an arm, has the spineless temerity to demand other's tongues and minds and doesn't have a leg to stand on. <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Do you have a solicitor? You will need it! You know how hard people will fight for money! I think it is fair to say that you have the full forums support and i'm sure we will all help in any way we can!

Mark

Sigh!
Once again trouble shows up at your door, Doug. I find it sad that people cant learn from bad examples like this "one armed bandit".
In my opinion you are doing a great job! Keep up the good work! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
/Stefan, Sweden.

We have a growing concern in the UK about the growth in 'American Style' writs over the stupidest things. After reading this post I'm not surprised.
The only good news is that one of the UKs largest peddlars of this crap went bust last week - seems we Brits might be making a stand after all.
BTW I loved your email reply to the lawyers - I take it you've read "How to win friends and influence people".
Give 'em hell Doug...

OK, so this is an urban emergency, let's see what is in our urban PSK to help - a quick dig and we might come up with a phone list - does it have our lawyers phone number? digging a bit further we find a phone card - is it charged with enought time to explain all of this to the lawyer an fax the relative documents and email the necessary emails off our laptop? Is there a PDA with a legal reference on-board or atleast in a compact flash card in the PDA case? Does our PDA have a few helpful "nicely worded" reply form emails and form letters that could be filled in with the appropriate names and addresses and sent off without us haveing to get our heart rate dangerously high while trying to respond? This is a true emergency! Less threatening things cause heart-attacks and death everyday! We must be equipped to survive! <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


Seems from the letter that the issue here is the commercial use of Aron Ralstons highly valuable name and has nothing to do with whether we considered him intelligent, brave, intrepid or just plain stupid. I am wondering if this case will set a precedent that will forbid anyone from useing anyone elses name or "personality" in making a point - This might be good for political debate in this country. We might finally be seeing the end of name calling and get down to the actual governing principles again! But at the cost of ETS - very sad indeed! <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Also quite a blow to the basic freedoms we all enjoy

Freedom of speech,
Freedom of the press,
and the liberty to think and communicate with our fellows as we see fit!

These are strange times!

If you go over to http://www.boselaw.com you'll see that Mr Elberger was big in 'Civil Liberties Unions'. Enough said...

Thanks to all for your expressions of support.

We do have a lawyer, who probably wishes I had passed the letter on to him first and is likley to chew me out sooner or later for being my usual smartass. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Oh well.............................

I would have never said this before reading the Cease and Desist Letter from Mr. Elberger but, perhaps Mr. Ralston is defending his "Intellectual Property" because he has discovered how tiny his lot is.
Please keep us posted,
Biscuits

At least yoiu got some personal staisfaction from it, i bet you felt so much better when you replied!

Mark