Here's the story of Shannen Rossmiller, a woman from Montana who's spent considerable time and energy using the Internet to dig up information on terrorists and the radical Islamic movement. She did some good (read the link, it's inspiring), and is now under permanent security after she was required to testify in court in the bust of an American serviceman who was selling military secrets.
I call her a hero.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Non-Air War in Iraq
Some interesting statistics about the air war in Iraq. Or, as it would seem, the lack of one. Iraq is so unlike previous American wars in how it's being conducted that it doesn't seem like the same country fighting it.
Boing Boing - Yet Another Way To Avoid Prosecution
My golly, but Boing Boing just loves to show how to avoid criminal prosecution. This time, it's how to escape from plastic handcuffs.
How. to. escape. from. plastic. handcuffs. Because there are so many instances where perfectly law-abiding citizens might need to know such a trick.
How. to. escape. from. plastic. handcuffs. Because there are so many instances where perfectly law-abiding citizens might need to know such a trick.
Google Wants to Listen to Your Home
Speaking of privacy, it looks like Google wants to violate it as much as government, only not for quite the same reasons. And actually, comparatively speaking, this idea of listening to my surroundings as I use my computer and using that to direct ads and such seems far more damning than anything I've seen government want to do.
So far, I haven't seen any government proposals for placing microphones and video cameras in all of our homes. But, then again, I'm sure Google will make it an opt-in service, and easy to shut off. In which case, I see no problem with it.
So far, I haven't seen any government proposals for placing microphones and video cameras in all of our homes. But, then again, I'm sure Google will make it an opt-in service, and easy to shut off. In which case, I see no problem with it.
Tiny Yellow Dots Create Privacy Firestorm
There's a new brouhaha over the embedding of yellow dots in prints by certain color printers. It's not a new thing--having worked in the printer industry for a few years, I can say that this has been going on for some time, ever since color printing technology advanced to the point where it was possible to print passable currency. In a similar vein, some color copiers (particularly high-end units) will shut down if a user attempts to copy currency.
Personally, I don't see this as any sort of real privacy violation (which, along with the right to steal intellectual property, seems to be the only thing some people really care about). In spite of people's hatred of Bush, and the rampant conspiracy theories that surround him, I don't really believe that the checks and balances that have kept us relatively secure from oppression have entirely disappeared.
I see this as a viable method to provide evidence of wrongdoing, where technology has passed by other forms of evidence. Once, pages typed with old-style typewriters could be traced by the minute differences in how a given typewriter made each keystroke. Hasn't anyone ever watched a suspense movie where the ransom note was made from newspaper clippings? With laser and inkjet printing, that method of investigation is no longer available.
Finally, there are a thousand ways for government to trace you. While I don't trust my government completely, or in some ways at all, I don't really believe that it's out to get me.
And about the Secret Service visiting the guy who called his printer company to ask how to turn off the dots? Doesn't that sound like the Secret Service was just doing its job?
Personally, I don't see this as any sort of real privacy violation (which, along with the right to steal intellectual property, seems to be the only thing some people really care about). In spite of people's hatred of Bush, and the rampant conspiracy theories that surround him, I don't really believe that the checks and balances that have kept us relatively secure from oppression have entirely disappeared.
I see this as a viable method to provide evidence of wrongdoing, where technology has passed by other forms of evidence. Once, pages typed with old-style typewriters could be traced by the minute differences in how a given typewriter made each keystroke. Hasn't anyone ever watched a suspense movie where the ransom note was made from newspaper clippings? With laser and inkjet printing, that method of investigation is no longer available.
Finally, there are a thousand ways for government to trace you. While I don't trust my government completely, or in some ways at all, I don't really believe that it's out to get me.
And about the Secret Service visiting the guy who called his printer company to ask how to turn off the dots? Doesn't that sound like the Secret Service was just doing its job?
AllofMP3.com Wins Case Against Visa - ?
It's odd that the folks behind the Internet download site AllofMP3.com, which was recently shut down by the Russian government as a prerequisite for joining the WTO, has just won a judgement against Visa for the latter's refusing to do business with the illegal site. And, it means that Visa will now have to do business with the new site by the previous owners of AllofMP3.com, even though it follows the same business model (as far as I can see) and so is just as illegal.
Government Data Mining: Checks and Balances?
I'm all for our law enforcement and military agencies having all the tools they need to protect us from criminals and foreign threats. Data mining is one such tool, and ultimately I don't find it any different than any other form of investigation. It's just faster.
But, there do need to be the same checks and balances in place to make sure that any information that's mined is used for appropriate purposes. And frankly, I don't know if these checks and balances are in place. This story doesn't say.
Probably worth some investigation.
But, there do need to be the same checks and balances in place to make sure that any information that's mined is used for appropriate purposes. And frankly, I don't know if these checks and balances are in place. This story doesn't say.
Probably worth some investigation.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at a surprising 3947 Diggs (surprising both for a weekend and for such an insipid topic), is about a Japanese pool with a TRICK!
Yegads, but sometimes I fear for the future.
Yegads, but sometimes I fear for the future.
N. Korea Shuts Down Reactor - For Now
What's shut down can be easily started up again. North Korea gets what it wants, as in the past, and when that runs out... I give it six months, and we'll be right back where we started.
Ellison: Bush = Hitler
Little Green Footballs has a bit on Congressman Keith Ellison, who essentially compares Bush to Hitler. He backtracks a bit, but just a bit.
It's a bit outrageous, and I haven't said it in awhile: I hate politics.
It's a bit outrageous, and I haven't said it in awhile: I hate politics.
Bush Not Considering a Withdrawal?
It looks like earlier speculation that Bush might be considering withdrawing from Iraq may have been unfounded. I certainly hope so. Until we've accomplished something--anything--meaningful, and until the Iraqi government (and it better be a pro-American government) has some control over things, I don't think we can leave.
And, I should add, I don't think we should really ever leave. I think we need to build bases in Iraq, just as we do in Europe.
Finally, I should also point out: I consider Iraq a miserable failure and the wrong target in the first place. Our handling of the war--as a "liberation" as opposed to defeating an enemy state--has been appalling and has unecessarily sacrificed American lives. But again, at this point, the victory to our enemies would be so great were we to withdraw now that doing so is impossible. My first paragraph in this post shouldn't be taken to mean that I'm a supporter of the war in Iraq.
And, I should add, I don't think we should really ever leave. I think we need to build bases in Iraq, just as we do in Europe.
Finally, I should also point out: I consider Iraq a miserable failure and the wrong target in the first place. Our handling of the war--as a "liberation" as opposed to defeating an enemy state--has been appalling and has unecessarily sacrificed American lives. But again, at this point, the victory to our enemies would be so great were we to withdraw now that doing so is impossible. My first paragraph in this post shouldn't be taken to mean that I'm a supporter of the war in Iraq.
Congress Approval Ratings Lower than Bush's
Speaking of surveys, I find it fascinating (and just a bit hilarious) that Congress has a lower approval rating than Bush. I think people simply believe our government's incompetent (and, corrupt?) pretty much across the board.
Newsflash: Mainstream Media has Left-wing Bias
I've often commented on the Leftist leanings of the mainstream media, and a recent Rasmussen Report survey seems to bear this out. The money quote:
"By a 39% to 20% margin, American adults believe that the three major broadcast networks deliver news with a bias in favor of liberals. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 25% believe that ABC, CBS, and NBC deliver the news without any bias."
Pretty damning stuff. And, it's not the first such report I remember reading about.
"By a 39% to 20% margin, American adults believe that the three major broadcast networks deliver news with a bias in favor of liberals. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 25% believe that ABC, CBS, and NBC deliver the news without any bias."
Pretty damning stuff. And, it's not the first such report I remember reading about.
Iranian Rockets Aimed at American Forces
Iran continues to supply arms to Iraqi terrorists with impunity. Our continued evasion of this proxy war is likely the principle cause of our failure to secure Iraq and achieve some sort of rational objective.
As long as we continue to let Iran wage war against us without response, we're lost.
As long as we continue to let Iran wage war against us without response, we're lost.
Boing Boing: How to Violate Your Agreement with Microsoft
Once again, Boing Boing publishes a means for breaking the law, i.e., for removing the DRM from music clearly sold under the agreement that the DRM woul remain in place. Boing Boing simply has no compunctions about helping people break the law.
And on a simliar note, please everybody: Fair Use does not allow the copying of CDs and DVDs. It doesn't allow for the ripping of songs from CDs, or of video from DVDs. In fact, Fair Use has absolutely nothing to do with such things. Rather, it only allows for snippets of works to be used for such purposes as scholarly research. So, where Boing Boing says "To actualize fair use rights with the new IBX...," they're misusing such a basic aspect of intellectual property right law as to make them appear completely ignorant. Which they might be.
And on a simliar note, please everybody: Fair Use does not allow the copying of CDs and DVDs. It doesn't allow for the ripping of songs from CDs, or of video from DVDs. In fact, Fair Use has absolutely nothing to do with such things. Rather, it only allows for snippets of works to be used for such purposes as scholarly research. So, where Boing Boing says "To actualize fair use rights with the new IBX...," they're misusing such a basic aspect of intellectual property right law as to make them appear completely ignorant. Which they might be.
Healthcare is Not a Right
This is a bit of a read, but it's well worth it. The concept of healthcare as a "right" is a complete subversion of the very concept of "rights," and is central to discussions about national healthcare. This essay, written in 1993 by Leonard Peikoff of the Ayn Rand Institute and recently updated by Lin Zinzer, tackles the issue head-on.
If you care about healthcare, and about maintaining the uniquely American concept of rights, then take a few minutes and read this piece.
If you care about healthcare, and about maintaining the uniquely American concept of rights, then take a few minutes and read this piece.
Russia Withdraws from European Treaty
Russia has withdrawn from the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), meaning its now free to place as many tanks, troops, and other military equipment in the European theatre as it pleases. According to the Kremlin, the action was taken due to "extraordinary circumstances ... which affect the security of the Russian Federation and require immediate measures."
They've threatened this for quite some time now, always because of the European missile shield. Of course, they've also made all sorts of contradictory statements about accepting the shield, participating in it, and even providing the principal radar installations. And so, one wonders what "extraordinary circumstances...require immediate measures."
Things continue to get interesting. It's like the Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times." I'm afraid we do.
They've threatened this for quite some time now, always because of the European missile shield. Of course, they've also made all sorts of contradictory statements about accepting the shield, participating in it, and even providing the principal radar installations. And so, one wonders what "extraordinary circumstances...require immediate measures."
Things continue to get interesting. It's like the Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times." I'm afraid we do.
Farfour the Martyr Replaced by Nahoul the Bee
The religion of peace continues its indoctrination of children in "Islam, heroism, martyrdom, and the mujahadeen," a juxtaposition of messages that ties religion directly to violence. Farfour, the Mickey Mouse-like character who was martyred at the end of the season by an Israeli soldier, has been replaced by "Nahoul the Bee," who "vowed to continue in Farfour's path." There's a clip at the link.
Entire generations are being raised to hate the Jew and the West, and to prepare themselves for "martyrdom." A quote from Nahoul:
"I want to be in every episode with you on the Pioneers of Tomorrow show, just like Farfour. I want to continue in the path of Farfour – the path of Islam, of heroism, of martyrdom, and of the mujahideen. Me and my friends will follow in the footsteps of Farfour. We will take revenge upon the enemies of Allah, the killer of the prophets and of the innocent children, until we liberate Al-Aqsa from their impurity. We place our trust in Allah."
In case there's any doubt, that means destroying Israel and taking revenge against the Jews. Welcome, Nahoul!
Entire generations are being raised to hate the Jew and the West, and to prepare themselves for "martyrdom." A quote from Nahoul:
"I want to be in every episode with you on the Pioneers of Tomorrow show, just like Farfour. I want to continue in the path of Farfour – the path of Islam, of heroism, of martyrdom, and of the mujahideen. Me and my friends will follow in the footsteps of Farfour. We will take revenge upon the enemies of Allah, the killer of the prophets and of the innocent children, until we liberate Al-Aqsa from their impurity. We place our trust in Allah."
In case there's any doubt, that means destroying Israel and taking revenge against the Jews. Welcome, Nahoul!
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