June 11th, 2006
Save the Internet : Fighting for Internet Freedom
Save the Internet : Fighting for Internet Freedom
This just plain scares me. I do not want any corporation or service provider deciding what I can and can’t access on the internet, the same as I wouldn’t want any company telling me which books I can and can’t read. It’s creepy, and it’s ripe for abuse. What if some provider gets it in their head that people shouldn’t look at porn? And then takes it further and blocks out every mention of sexual organs, naughty words, etc?
And here’s something I just don’t get. From the article:
Critics of the amendment said it would bring in unnecessary government regulation.
HOW?! How does the government passing legislation that would guarantee neutrality on the net equal regulation? IMO, they’re doing worse by letting companies decide what people can view.
So, if you’re a US citizen, please call your senators and ask them to support net neutrality. You can also visit http://www.savetheinternet.com to find more ways to help.
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:45 pm
(We met briefly at the WC last week–Not just some random peeka comment)
I’m afraid this kind of thing is destined to become more and more common because of the popular fear we have of ourselves. In the eyes of the “greater community” anyone who subverts, even unintentionally,the rules of “proper,” or more pointedly, Christian behavior is likely to pose threats to a clean and obedient mind. I think an interesting side story related to this rising phenomenon can be seen in the story about the seven men in Miami who have been arrested for allegedly planning to destroy the Sears tower in Chicago. On Fox the report was very cut and dry, quickly transitioning to a White House correspondent who talked exclusively about the bank tracking system through the “Swift” agency. They were very quick to say that despite some paltry liberal complaints about fourth amendment violations, that this case was proof positive that the program worked to catch these well-funded criminals, or so the report seemed to STRONGLY imply. I’m riding the bike in the gym and switch over to the next TV which is playing MSNBC. Turns out these poor bastards were completely broke, didn’t have enough money to even buy a DV camera in order to case the job, and were caught because one of the dumb bastards bragged about the plot to someone in the neighborhood and that person tipped off the FBI. But how many people will care to look into those facts? No, these insidious evildoers were caught because of George II’s wonderful, and most likely completely illegal, program for snooping into Americans’ bank accounts. It’s the goddamn wire tapping scandal all over again. And Americans continue to turn a blind eye because they’re convinced that there is an inherent rot in our society. Do not be surprised if the next presidential election falls to the right that we may face remarkably restrictive measures on our rights to freely communicate.
Not to be an angsty downer, or anything, but that’s how I discern this current direction of the New American Empire.
Later,
C.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Hi, Charles. Nice to talk… er, comment with you again.
I’m finding it morbidly fascinating to compare news reports between Fox and other channels, like CNN or even NBC affiliates. Back when all of the immigrant protests were going on, the difference in spin on the reports was really obvious. The Dallas Fox affiliate talked briefly about the peaceful protest in Dallas, making sure to give ample time to the anti-immigrant protesters, then went on to a report about how illegal immigrants are putting a huge strain on the public hospital infrastructure because they don’t pay taxes and dare to seek medical care. The NBC affiliate had a long report about the peaceful protests in both Dallas and Fort Worth, along with lots of interviews and sound bytes of the protesters and the leaders.
There’s such a WASP bend to Fox News; I need to figure out how to just block that channel off of my TV. I get nauseated when I flip by it and Bill O’Reilly is on.
June 27th, 2006 at 8:43 pm
It is actually a little known fact that Bill O’Reilly was originally cast in the role of Damien in the original OMEN but the director thought “the little bastard is just too fucking creepy.”