Unsmart Investments in Smartcards

"...how he was able to break Taiwan's smartcard-based transportation-payment system, which was expanded this year to be a larger citywide payment system, using a $40 smartcard reader and a few hours of time."

...which explains why Mr. Welte shops exclusively at chain stores that dispense their own gift cards.

PLEASE! Just a joke! I am certain Mr. Welte is above board, an upstanding and productive member of society. The whole thing sure makes me wonder... are these gift cards exempt or immune from such pirating? Most gift cards do not store the value on the card (as is the case for the transit payment cards), but some do (some did store the value on-card, anyway).