Related Articles:
The Register
Quote from the article:
"Government's tendency to morph from blocking "child porn" to censoring discussion of all government censorship was illustrated this week when German Police raided the offices of Wikileaks Germany."
If you want to know what Wikileaks is about, visit the website here. A quote from their website:
"We are of assistance to peoples of all countries who wish to reveal unethical behavior in their governments and institutions."
Wikileaks has long been known to have many government documents uploaded to its site and I have used it before on here. It is the best example of how to keep powerful and crooked governments in their place. Of course, they don't like this so, logically, they will try to stop it. That is exactly what the German government did and they have no excuse.
Australia is also guilty of censorship. Australia has a system set up where they block access to sites in their nation based on "complaints" from citizens and based on a list of sites "citizens" think should be blocked. That is a load of bull. Australia doesn't want its country to know what sites it is blocking. Their list of blacklisted sites was leaked to Wikileaks and they went and blocked Wikileaks. I guess they aren't just blocking sites that the citizens want then since they should already know about it? And how do web services know what sites to block then if the list is classified? Never let the government tell you they are doing something in your best interest and just let them go. The same thing happens in America all the time.
This type of censorship is not far off in America. Once the government takes over national cyber-security, as it is trying to do right now, censorhip will be imminent.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Interesting Fact #1
Related Articles:
Science Daily
I thought it would be a cool idea to start doing some posts about interesting facts I may stumble across once in awhile, sort of like the Snapple caps but not exactly. It can't hurt to expand our knowledge of other subjects a little bit.
This article pretty much explains why I see so well. Playing action video games can increase the efficiency of the processing of visual information by your brain. A few years ago I used to play Unreal Tournament 2004 all the time; it is coincidental that it is mentioned in the article as one of the games used in testing.
Science Daily
I thought it would be a cool idea to start doing some posts about interesting facts I may stumble across once in awhile, sort of like the Snapple caps but not exactly. It can't hurt to expand our knowledge of other subjects a little bit.
This article pretty much explains why I see so well. Playing action video games can increase the efficiency of the processing of visual information by your brain. A few years ago I used to play Unreal Tournament 2004 all the time; it is coincidental that it is mentioned in the article as one of the games used in testing.
Banning Things Doesn't Work
Related Articles:
CNN
I don't know how many times I will say it, but I'm sure you will see it a lot on this blog: banning things does not work.
Here we have another example of how slow the government is to react to something. Background information: owners of pet Burmese pythons have been releasing them into the Everglades for some time now, whether it be because they didn't realize just how huge they get or they just got bored of them. The species has taken hold in the Everglades and is breeding in the wild. Its population is thought to be over 30,000 individuals in the Everglades. First the good news: there is a python patrol in the Florida Keys trying to keep Burmese pythons from spreading there via the Everglades. The bad news, it is way too late and I have a few problems with trying to ban the importation of Burmese pythons (they are trying to do it):
1. When you ban something its value skyrockets, thus creating another criminal opportunity. Let responsible people own these snakes if they want. Instead of banning them, make a registration system so that when people buy one you know who is supposed to own them and who isn't. Create a penalty under the law for releasing them into the wild and hold people accountable. Don't take away the freedoms of all because of a few idiots.
2. If there are over 30,000 Burmese pythons currently in the Everglades and there has been evidence found that they are breeding in the wild, there is nothing we can do about it at this point. That is a foothold in the ecosystem that we cannot break. If you were going to do something about the population of Burmese pythons in the Everglades it should have been done years ago when we first knew about this. Of course, the government never reacts until it is too late.
3. The bill introduced by Florida Senator Bill Nelson only bans Burmese pythons. This shows how little research politicians do before writing a bill. Reticulated pythons grow longer than Burmese pythons and anacondas grow much heavier and they are both legal. Now, I am not saying ban them all I am just using this as an example of the stupidity of this Senator.
4. Accept the fact that you will not be able to eradicate them from the Everglades at this point. Now let us look at the big picture: they will not spread much farther than the immediate area because they need a very specific climate and even just a little north of the Everglades it would be no good.
Now for my real ideas on how to fix this. Make a registration system for all new imported, large snake species (i.e. large pythons and boas) and register them to an owner. Implant a microchip under the skin and there will be no problems. If it is tracked in the wild the person is in trouble and you can hold them accountable. This way, responsible owners who want to enjoy the animals, can have their animals.
It took me about ten minutes to think of this better alternative, why is it so hard for thick-headed and ignorant politicians to do that? Do they understand anything outside of the actual politics? (As you can tell I am a snake enthusiast.)
CNN
I don't know how many times I will say it, but I'm sure you will see it a lot on this blog: banning things does not work.
Here we have another example of how slow the government is to react to something. Background information: owners of pet Burmese pythons have been releasing them into the Everglades for some time now, whether it be because they didn't realize just how huge they get or they just got bored of them. The species has taken hold in the Everglades and is breeding in the wild. Its population is thought to be over 30,000 individuals in the Everglades. First the good news: there is a python patrol in the Florida Keys trying to keep Burmese pythons from spreading there via the Everglades. The bad news, it is way too late and I have a few problems with trying to ban the importation of Burmese pythons (they are trying to do it):
1. When you ban something its value skyrockets, thus creating another criminal opportunity. Let responsible people own these snakes if they want. Instead of banning them, make a registration system so that when people buy one you know who is supposed to own them and who isn't. Create a penalty under the law for releasing them into the wild and hold people accountable. Don't take away the freedoms of all because of a few idiots.
2. If there are over 30,000 Burmese pythons currently in the Everglades and there has been evidence found that they are breeding in the wild, there is nothing we can do about it at this point. That is a foothold in the ecosystem that we cannot break. If you were going to do something about the population of Burmese pythons in the Everglades it should have been done years ago when we first knew about this. Of course, the government never reacts until it is too late.
3. The bill introduced by Florida Senator Bill Nelson only bans Burmese pythons. This shows how little research politicians do before writing a bill. Reticulated pythons grow longer than Burmese pythons and anacondas grow much heavier and they are both legal. Now, I am not saying ban them all I am just using this as an example of the stupidity of this Senator.
4. Accept the fact that you will not be able to eradicate them from the Everglades at this point. Now let us look at the big picture: they will not spread much farther than the immediate area because they need a very specific climate and even just a little north of the Everglades it would be no good.
Now for my real ideas on how to fix this. Make a registration system for all new imported, large snake species (i.e. large pythons and boas) and register them to an owner. Implant a microchip under the skin and there will be no problems. If it is tracked in the wild the person is in trouble and you can hold them accountable. This way, responsible owners who want to enjoy the animals, can have their animals.
It took me about ten minutes to think of this better alternative, why is it so hard for thick-headed and ignorant politicians to do that? Do they understand anything outside of the actual politics? (As you can tell I am a snake enthusiast.)
Friday, March 27, 2009
We Need New Role Models
Related Articles:
CNN
Wikipedia
Newsnet 14
I have been thinking a lot about culture lately so I feel the need to write this article.
Did you ever ask yourself, why does the media glamorize rappers more than any other musicians? Why is it almost every time they want to portray someone as "cool" that they show some guy trying to look like a rapper-type? Rappers, athletes, and Hollywood stars are not meant to be role models for kids. Parents are supposed to be there for their kids and are supposed to be teaching them how they should act and making sure they don't get involved with people that are a bad influence.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with admiring someone's lyrical talent or physical abilities but there is no need to think that what they do or talk about is in any way right. There are too many children in this country who don't have parents there to look up to or at least parents who try hard and they have to find role models elsewhere.
CNN
Wikipedia
Newsnet 14
I have been thinking a lot about culture lately so I feel the need to write this article.
Did you ever ask yourself, why does the media glamorize rappers more than any other musicians? Why is it almost every time they want to portray someone as "cool" that they show some guy trying to look like a rapper-type? Rappers, athletes, and Hollywood stars are not meant to be role models for kids. Parents are supposed to be there for their kids and are supposed to be teaching them how they should act and making sure they don't get involved with people that are a bad influence.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with admiring someone's lyrical talent or physical abilities but there is no need to think that what they do or talk about is in any way right. There are too many children in this country who don't have parents there to look up to or at least parents who try hard and they have to find role models elsewhere.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Is It Time For Term Limits For Congress?
Let me start by saying the answer is yes. It has been time for a long, long time. Finally enough people are complaining that it may actually get done. There is absolutely no need to have Senators or Representatives in office for more than twenty years. Being in such a realm for so long all but ensures that you will be corrupted and/or become complacent. Being a public servant means that you are doing just that: serving. You are not supposed to be making a career for yourself by sitting in Congress.
In order to restore what serving in Congress was meant to be, term limits need to be instituted. Two terms for Senators (8 years, need to cut terms to four years each) and three terms for the house (6 years) is enough time for any one person to be allowed to serve. The way it is set up now there are politicians who intend on gaining one of these positions in order to make the money and sit on it for many years. We must stop this, if this is really meant to be a public service than people who are willing to serve will step forward regardless of the pay.
While I am at it, let me state that Senators and Representatives should also have their pay cut. Again, this is a public service, not a career. 99% of these people are wealthy to begin with and don't need $169,300 salaries. Take what the average American makes and pay them that. They don't even work as much as a normal, hard-working American in the first place.
In order to restore what serving in Congress was meant to be, term limits need to be instituted. Two terms for Senators (8 years, need to cut terms to four years each) and three terms for the house (6 years) is enough time for any one person to be allowed to serve. The way it is set up now there are politicians who intend on gaining one of these positions in order to make the money and sit on it for many years. We must stop this, if this is really meant to be a public service than people who are willing to serve will step forward regardless of the pay.
While I am at it, let me state that Senators and Representatives should also have their pay cut. Again, this is a public service, not a career. 99% of these people are wealthy to begin with and don't need $169,300 salaries. Take what the average American makes and pay them that. They don't even work as much as a normal, hard-working American in the first place.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Fixing Mexico
Over the past few days there has been a lot of talk about what to do about Mexico. There is violence spreading across our unprotected border, thanks to the drug cartels, and for some reason not one of these politicians is suggesting securing our border.
There are two things we can do in this Mexico situation and neither of them involve sending our army into Mexico or giving them monetary aid. Firstly, legalize drugs and the drug cartels will go out of business, or at the very least have to file legal papers and do things legally. If people want to use drugs it is their own problem and their own stupidity. Secondly, stop people from illegally flowing over the border. Illegal immigrants have taken the jobs of low wage Americans who deserve those jobs. Don't tell me that no one wants to do those jobs. Who do you think did those jobs before? No one? No, someone was getting it done. We have a large unemployment rate right now and we are letting cheap workers flow into America. Illegals take what other immigrants had to go through and defecate on it. Put up a fence and put guards there with shoot to kill orders on anyone who comes across illegally. Make the punishment for hiring illegals much harsher to encourage businesses to do it the right way.
Of course, the only reason this probably won't happen is because all of our slimy politicians are hiring illegals to work for them behind the scenes.
There are two things we can do in this Mexico situation and neither of them involve sending our army into Mexico or giving them monetary aid. Firstly, legalize drugs and the drug cartels will go out of business, or at the very least have to file legal papers and do things legally. If people want to use drugs it is their own problem and their own stupidity. Secondly, stop people from illegally flowing over the border. Illegal immigrants have taken the jobs of low wage Americans who deserve those jobs. Don't tell me that no one wants to do those jobs. Who do you think did those jobs before? No one? No, someone was getting it done. We have a large unemployment rate right now and we are letting cheap workers flow into America. Illegals take what other immigrants had to go through and defecate on it. Put up a fence and put guards there with shoot to kill orders on anyone who comes across illegally. Make the punishment for hiring illegals much harsher to encourage businesses to do it the right way.
Of course, the only reason this probably won't happen is because all of our slimy politicians are hiring illegals to work for them behind the scenes.
Security Watch
Related Articles:
Security Fix
I have made it a major point on here to stress how aware you need to be about information security. It is not necessarily a political issue, although it does often leak into the political domain. It is an important issue for us to understand nonetheless. The one thing you always have to remember is that no information system is secure.
This article describes a kind of black market system loaded with a large number of people's information. I am actually contemplating spending the $20-$30 to find out if my information is on the site listed in the article. It may be worth it in order to change any information before it is used and fraud is committed against me.
Security Fix
I have made it a major point on here to stress how aware you need to be about information security. It is not necessarily a political issue, although it does often leak into the political domain. It is an important issue for us to understand nonetheless. The one thing you always have to remember is that no information system is secure.
This article describes a kind of black market system loaded with a large number of people's information. I am actually contemplating spending the $20-$30 to find out if my information is on the site listed in the article. It may be worth it in order to change any information before it is used and fraud is committed against me.
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