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In at least half of my weekly columns I've talked about hackers and those who release viruses, and my anger has not been hidden. I have long suggested that these computer hooligans be treated in a rather harsh manner -- direct injury to certain body parts was often advocated. With our recent crisis, I may finally get my wish. Under a new U.S. anti-terrorism act, hacking could rank right up there with setting bombs, and net the hacker a lifetime of bread, water and plenty of new friends with names like Angel, Face Rake and Roadhouse.

Civil Libertarians are already whining about possible injustices. Little Billy's keyboard fingers get a little wild, and next thing you know he's getting cell-house tattoos from a converted Bic pen. I see the bleeding heart's point, but I'm far too upset about computer crime to care.

There is too much at stake to take hacking casually. I wouldn't call most acts of hacking terrorism, but I would treat them as theft and destruction of property. And when it compromises a military system, treason would not be an unreasonable charge. Hacking has never been a victimless crime. It is time to end this scourge.

It is obvious that today's laws just don't cut it. The Dutch moron who wrote the Kournikova virus was hunted down at considerable cost and effort, then prosecuted. His sentence? One hundred and fifty hours of community service. This jerk, apparently upset by all that work, is considering an appeal. How about 150 hours of pure flogging?

But Jerry Can't Program

While the legislature appears ready to treat hackers as terrorists, the still-alive Walter Cronkite thinks another person deserves that label. Who could it be? Osama? McVeigh? Try Jerry. Jerry Falwell, by initially blaming the terrorist strikes on "Pagans, abortionists, feminists, homosexuals and the ACLU," stepped over the line as far as Walt is concerned. He called Falwell's comments (later retracted, sort of) "the most abominable thing I've heard."

Telecom History Is Being Made

In the really old days, all telecom was controlled by AT&T, be it local or long distance. Then Judge Greene created eight local phone monopolies and gave AT&T the first shot at the long-distance biz. It didn't take long for the eight local monopolies to start merging and going after AT&T's long-distance franchise.

Now AT&T wants revenge. It is reportedly angling to buy Bell South. And get this: The proposal is a merger of equals. My how things have changed!