Archive for the ‘internet/free speech’ Category

A classic example of the traits of Sullivan’s Syndrome aka Bloggers Alzheimer’s

Posted: November 9, 2009 by datechguy in internet/free speech, opinion/news
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You might recall in my dissertation on Bloggers Alzheimer’s I said the following:

Like regular Alzheimer patients some brief periods of lucidity may emerge (re Iran) but when exposed to the “external threat” again (re: Palin) the syndrome re-asserts itself. And the patient will often make an object of adoration of any opponent of the external threat.

Andrew proves both points, the first to his credit:

I’ve noticed a few right-of-center blogs complaining of double standards on the left, in the denunciations of extremist rhetoric and imagery of the Tea Party marches. Ed Driscoll has a good point. The extremes of the anti-war left before Iraq were every bit as inflammatory and loopy as the Tea Partiers today. Now, they were opposing a war that turned out to be a catastrophe for all involved, while the Tea Partiers are just opposing the working poor having a chance to buy health insurance. But if Godwin’s Law is the point, many (but not all) on the left currently do not have a leg to stand on.

Full marks to Sullivan for backing up Ed Driscoll and others who have not thrown the left’s marches down the memory hole.

Those brief moments of lucidity are precious to those who deal with Bloggers Alzheimer’s and it is welcome, but when the trigger returns so does the disease:

Some remaining questions: When exactly did Todd find out about the pregnancy? And when did he discover that his son had Down Syndrome? Or were those two pieces of news delivered simultaneously? Why did the Palins make no attempt to prepare their other children for Trig’s special needs when they had so long to do so? Why on earth did Palin believe that the mere fact of her pregnancy would elicit criticism and disdain – “Oh, the criticism that I knew was coming” – when it would obviously actually redound to her credit as a working mom and governor?

I’m taking a risk with this link and quote but I’m an old hand with Sullivan’s syndrome so don’t try this at home, remember the warning:

No current treatment is known for Sullivan’s syndrome but readers are advised to avoid prolonged exposure to the subject as the syndrome can spread to the point where the infected person can become the trigger for the syndrome in others.

So be careful.

Q: How is Sarah Palin more effective than Joe Biden?

Posted: November 2, 2009 by datechguy in elections, internet/free speech
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A: Biden speaks to a “whopping crowd” of media but can’t draw a crowd. Palin is able to answer him via facebook to millions from her keyboard.

The vice president’s extreme opposition to domestic energy development goes all the way back to 1973 when he opposed the Alaska pipeline bill. As Ann Coulter pointed out, “Biden cast one of only five votes against the pipeline that has produced more than 15 billion barrels of oil, supplied nearly 20 percent of this nation’s oil, created tens of thousands of jobs, added hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and reduced money transfers to the nation’s enemies by about the same amount.”

This nonsensical opposition to American domestic energy development continues to this day. Apparently the Obama-Biden administration only approves of offshore drilling in Brazil, where it will provide security and jobs for Brazilians. This election is about American security and American jobs.

There’s one way to tell Vice President Biden that we’re tired of folks in Washington distorting our message and hampering our nation’s progress: Hoffman, Baby, Hoffman!

I like it. Hoffman Baby Hoffman!

Update: The story is at the Hill here. Gateway Pundit comments:

It’s important to remember that the Obama-Biden energy plan is a non-energy plan. It consists of cutting off domestic production of oil and coal causing prices to skyrocket and implementing costly solar and wind programs that absolutely will not meet America’s energy demands.

The Obama Administration approved funding for the Soros-linked Brazilian oil drilling project this year but banned oil and nuclear energy development in the United States.

With unemployment near 10% this is not a winning way to go.

Update 2: Hotair Headline It’s on.

It really pains me that this story is necessary…

Posted: November 2, 2009 by datechguy in internet/free speech, tech
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…but there are still people out that who don’t understand just how public a public wi-fi hotspot is:

Here’s what you need to know: Public hot-spots are — especially those that are open and don’t require a password — are, by design, insecure. Sure, they may be easy and convenient to hop on from your computer, but that very openness is also what allows anyone, particularly hacking criminals, to just walk in and sign on. In other words, when you’re signed on to a public Wi-Fi hotspot (or at an unsecured hotspot at your or someone’s private home), it’s entirely possible for someone to come along and snatch your data, literally out of the air.

If you are using important passwords or signing onto financial sites at open hotspots you are begging someone to steal your data. Don’t DO IT. It’s one thing to surf the web to catch up on sports and news but that is not meant for secure information.

And if you are still using WEP at home. STOP THAT. WEP was cracked almost 5 years ago!

I’ve been preaching this for years and years, if you won’t believe me then please believe this article. The time and expense you will save is all your own!

I can’t even escape via Doctor Who!

Posted: November 1, 2009 by datechguy in doctor who, internet/free speech, opinion/news, war
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If you are a Doctor Who fan (and if you’re not you should be) you should check out the web site Life Doctor Who and Combom. It is one of the better sites on the web that covers the news of the series.

Yesterday he lined to a wired article by Scott Brown that apparently he didn’t realize was available online not online (he scanned it in) concerning can us Yanks appreciate Doctor Who? As his commentators noted it appears we have been watching two different series than the writer Mr. Brown, that was a slight annoyance to a Who vet like me but this bit just clinched it:

Sound familiar, America? Oh, I can hear the teabaggers now: This is defeatist talk! Doesn’t sound like your cup of Tetley, eh, Glenn Beck? Fair enough: Enjoy your Transformers and the baby-faced club kids of the new Enterprise.

I vented my spleen in comments there. My sons and I just want to enjoy our Doctor Who but I can’t due to another as Jay Nordlinger has called it safe zone violation, but I promised a longer response so here it is…

Memo to Brown I’ve been watching the show for 30 years, I have (and have reviewed) many of the Big Finish audios. I know the series very well and if anything it is an illustration of the value of action rather than non-action.

I will happily stipulate that whenever possible the Doctor will use a scientific solution rather than a violent one but they come at a cost. And that doesn’t preclude violence and guns (No matter what Sarah Jane says) if needed, let review:

In Planet of the Dead Unit kills the two creatures that come through the wormhole instead of the Doctor noveling them somehow.

In The Next Doctor Miss Hartigan’s Brain is fried by the Doctor’s action to save the city.

In the three part finish to last season (Stolen Earth, Journey’s End) the Doctor scolds his twin for destroying the Dalek fleet even though he knows that millions will die if it is allowed to live, his primary plan to stop Davros from slaughtering the universe is…to beg him not to.

In Turn Left the world is saved by Donna Noble killing herself

In Midnight the Doctor is saved by the Hostess killing the Ms. Sylvertry and taking herself with her.

In Unicorn and the Wasp Donna saves the day by drowning the wasp against the Doctor’s desire

In the Sontaran Stratagem and the Poison Sky the Doctor’s solution is to destroy the Sontaran ship killing them, only the fact that someone else did it prevented him killing them himself.

In Planet of the Ood the doctor actually…doesn’t do anything. Ood sigma and the friends of the earth solve the issue and it was because of , wait for it. Bloody Revolution.

In the Fires of Pompeii he kills the Pyroviles.

And lets take a quick peek at what happens when he refuses to kill The family of Blood?, How many people die because the Doctor isn’t willing to kill the four aliens in season 3’s The four humans they take over, the vet at the door, the two teachers, those who were shelled, the family of the little girl etc etc etc…

And you can go back to the primary series, The Invisible Enemy, The Invasion of time, The Sontaran Experiment, Terror of the Verviods, Snakedance, Monster of Peladon to see the Doctor do what has to be done to save the day.

Granted he does hold back, he does wait he tries every other method he can but in the end when talk can’t solve the problem he acts, and during the times when he just can’t pull the trigger and is about to be killed, (particularly in his 9th incarnation) someone else does it (Rose, The parting of the Ways).

One note about the 9th incarnation, his unwillingness to kill in part of the plot and the psychological injury of the Time War so it can be excused to some degree but even in that season he can do what needs to be done, (World War III).

So PLEASE don’t give me that pap about “Glen Beck” types etc. We who recognize that there are times when you have to act rather than talk know the cost and we recognize the cost of inaction is often even higher. Or as Ronald Reagan said:

Let’s set the record straight. There is no argument over the choice between peace and war, but there is only one guaranteed way you can have peace–and you can have it in the next second–surrender.

Admittedly there is a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson in history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement, and this is the specter our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face–that their policy of accommodation is appeasement, and it gives no choice between peace and war, only between fight and surrender. If we continue to accommodate, continue to back and retreat, eventually we have to face the final demand–the ultimatum. And what then?

For a long time our friends worldwide on the left had the privilege to tell us how primitive we where and less enlighten because they lived under the umbrella of our protection. As our current administration dithers on said protection others will have to make the choice to give in or stand up. To quote Mark (Dr. Who gay mafia) Steyn from his book America Alone:

A while back, I was struck by the words of Oscar van den Boogaard, a Dutch gay humanist (which is pretty much the trifecta of Eurocool). Reflecting on the Continent’s accelerating Islamification, he concluded that the jig was up for the Europe he loved, but what could he do? “I am not a warrior, but who is?” he shrugged. “I have never learned to fight for my freedom. I was only good at enjoying it.”

The close of his speech at Hillsdale College says it all:

General Stark knew that. Mr. van den Boogard’s words are an epitaph for Europe. Whereas New Hampshire’s motto—”Live free or die!”—is still the greatest rallying cry for this state or any other. About a year ago, there was a picture in the papers of Iranian students demonstrating in Tehran and waving placards. And what they’d written on those placards was: “Live free or die!” They understand the power of those words; so should we.

It’s is a shame that I have to write this post, I just want to enjoy my Doctor Who and the adventures in time and space, but the more enlightened won’t allow it. I say to them you would make a good Castellan Kelner.

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