12 Tuesday Mar 2019
Posted in News and Notes
Tags
Google tells me this is the Internet’s 30th anniversary. I suppose, here or all places, a celebratory salute is in order. Hurrah.
Now, lately, I grow leery of this web thing. Toooooooo much of a good thing? Or, tooooo much of not so good a thing? More on that later.
19 Monday Nov 2018
Posted in Other Columns
Tags
Ben Shapiro, green space chickens, internet, Judeo Christ, Perrin really hates robots, robots, shoot your local robot, YT
Two things of mild amusement:
First, I watched one of my own YT videos the other day (kind of rare event). On the sidebar, where YT picks “related” material, there were a plethora of Ben Shapiro links. Not what I would call related but, hey, it’s a “free” site.
Perrin Lovett vs Judeo-Christian Activist????
Second, just after posting another fun anti-robot story (about a murdering robo doctor), I looked at Drudge. There, I found this:
This “force for good” company made the model (or a similar model) that ran over a toddler at an office park last year. Yeah, sure! I’ll buy stock in the outfit that will make the monsters which will surely kill me one day!! No…
As you were.
12 Friday Oct 2018
Posted in Other Columns
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Before someone hits the internet kill switch, watch this Camille Paglia video:
Wherein she drops bombs on everything PC:
Her focus is, of course, second wave feminism, but she’s really talking about everything modern. Carpet bombing it rather!
20 Thursday Sep 2018
Posted in Legal/Political Columns
Now industry groups are pushing Congress to pass a national privacy bill that would block states from implementing their own standards.
Privacy advocates are skeptical of the industry proposals and concerned that internet giants will co-opt the process in order to get protections that are weaker than the California standard implemented across the country.
“They do not want effective oversight. They do not want regulation of their business practices, which is really urgently needed,” Jeff Chester, the executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), told The Hill. “They’re going to work behind the scenes to shape legislation that will not protect Americans from having all of their information regularly gathered and used by these digital giants.”
“They see federal law as an opportunity to preempt stronger rules,” he added.
Next week, executives from Google, Apple, AT&T and other major technology and telecommunications companies will testify before the Senate Commerce Committee as the panel’s Republican chairman, Sen. John Thune (S.D.), prepares to introduce a new privacy law.
I noted this potential probability back in April in a TPC column:
His other motive was the afore-mentioned collusion. A dirty little secret of the political world is that large corporations are absolutely, head over heels, in love with government regulation. State mandates price out competition, prevent startup challenges, foster monopolies, and raise profits. One of “your” political heroes hinted around this fact; Zuck nodded along sheepishly.
And preempt stronger rules. One will note that its the giant tech companies that are invited to speak to Congress, the same companies with a history of privacy violation, spying, and selling to the highest bidder. I imagine the law, as they want it, is already drafted. Just a matter of bribes now.
29 Friday Jun 2018
Posted in News and Notes
Somehow this “highly respected web log” missed the cut for Time’s 25 Most Influential People on Them Interwebs. I’m sure we fell in the second 25 … second 25,000 certainly…
In a field of pop culture garbage, a few figures stand out. Drudge is a given. Trump too; Tweets with a purpose. I imagine he’s the one right-winger safe from the safety and trusty councily SJWs.
The inclusion of “Q” was a surprise. His entry was tinged with doubt but there, too, was a sense of foreboding. What if he’s right about some things?
And, what if he is? Q or not, things keep changing. Dinesh D’Souza has a new documentary coming in August: Death of America. I’m not sure if that’s already happened, something we’re desperate to head off, or if it’s just a historical certainty. My gut feeling is that it’s a mix of all three.
If you’ll excuse me, I have to go work on the blog CV for next year’s list…
05 Tuesday Sep 2017
Posted in Other Columns
I was all set to run with a friendly evening warning from Ron Paul about the dangers of government during and after the dangers of a storm or disaster. See: Paul says Gubmint Bad!
True. But not as interesting as the following:
When it comes to internet or app dating I usually think about dullness, crazies, tubbies, has beens, and maybe the occasional serial killer. From now on I’ll think about this: Man’s Tinder date gets stuck upside-down in window trying to grab her own poo. Hmmmm…
Who says romance is dead? A Tinder date ended with the unforgettable spectacle of a young woman stuck upside-down in a window, trying to grab her own poo.
The unnamed – but athletic – girl ended up upside down inside the window after making a valiant effort to get rid of a massive poo she’d done which had blocked the bog.
Why not just break it up with the toilet brush, like any sane person?
The unnamed girl had been for a romantic meal at Nando’s with student Liam Smyth, 24, before they went back to his place for a nightcap.
But a bizarre chain of events unfolded after she went to the toilet and blocked the pan.
In panic, she picked up the stool and threw it out the window – but it fell down into a narrow gap.
…
I’m Perrin Lovett and I say romance is dead. Dead or going down the toilet. I really can’t tell. Is it swipe right or wipe right?
Not the gymnastics I like out of a girl… A sad corner of the interwebs.
The poor poo-chaser accomplished the dirty job but got stuck in the window. She was retrieved by firemen. The window was smashed. The date went on – I suppose.
So, is this sort of thing that one places on a dating “profile?” “Acrobatic dung disposal maven….” “My heart and toilet overflow….” “Looking for Mr. Plumber…” “Don’t call me. I’ll call… Call the fire brigade!” “Let’s poo this again…”
Not-so-Tender
Plenty of Crap
E-Toiletry
I have never been on or used any electronic dating service. And, with this story, that isn’t likely to change.
I kind of understand the allure of these sites. After my divorce I waited a while then ventured into the “real” dating world. Or, should I say, ventured into some strange alien planet. What the hell happened to you people while I was out?!
Nine tattoos, three psychotropic drugs, three convictions, and two kids/live-in exes/cats/whatever (all by 23!) isn’t exactly what I’m looking for in a woman. The good news (ha!) is that I seem to be a crazy magnet and the pool has gone utterly insane. The bad news (yeah) is that I seem to be a crazy magnet and the pool has gone utterly insane. I see a quality, not quantity, problem.
Things like Tinder seem to me just a virtual reality version of the nut house/bar scene – but maybe worse.
That’s my first defense against on-line “love”: I don’t need it. I have no shortage of available options (usually hot, almost always loony); it’s just a matter of my … tolerance.
Second, I’m a Sigma (just found out about that designation!). We cause problems but we never have problems. Okay, we have them – we just don’t care.
Lastly … did you read the freak show story above!?
“How’d the date go? Get to second base? Third? All the way?!!!”
“Naaah. We got stuck in the toilet under the stands. Fire department came. No biggie. Got her number.”
You can keep this big steaming pile of dung. A literal, actual pile of …
Now, please tell me YOUR success story with (fill in the blank) service! How the picture was only 15 years and 40 pounds out of date. How she only turned out to be a he once. How you only got stabbed that one time. Stuff like that. Go on…
26 Monday Jun 2017
Posted in News and Notes
Tags
Time Magazine just released its list of the 25 Most Influential People on them interwebs. Sadly, I did not make the cut. In fact, with a few exceptions – Matt Drudge and the Tweeter in Chief – the whole is is devoid of anyone with meaningful contribution. This highlights the culture of celebrity-worship, ignorance, and mindless zombie-ism.
After Drudge it’s a cavalcade of entertainers, rappers, Kim Kardashian, a cartoon frog, and people I’ve never heard of.
Time / Getty.
I’m sure some of these folks do contribute something to the web and the world – all of them, in some way and in their own way. “You are what you eat” doesn’t just apply to Cheetos and Twinkies. Like TeeVee the internet runs the risk of falling victim to promoting the lowest common denominator.
That’s not you, obviously – you’re here. I thank you for that.
14 Sunday May 2017
Posted in News and Notes
Tags
Don’t get caught in the next wave.
Security experts are warning that the global cyberattack that began on Friday is likely to be magnified in the new workweek as users return to their offices and turn on their computers.
Many workers, particularly in Asia, had logged off on Friday before the malicious software, stolen from the United States government, began proliferating across computer systems around the world. So the true effect of the attack may emerge on Monday as employees return and log in.
Moreover, copycat variants of the malicious software behind the attacks have begun to spread, according to experts. “We are in the second wave,” said Matthieu Suiche of Comae Technologies, a cybersecurity company based in the United Arab Emirates. “As expected, the attackers have released new variants of the malware. We can surely expect more.”
This monster seems to be mainly aimed at Microsoft products. For God’s sake, update everything and protect yourselves. Yesterday, a former NSA hacker friend told me where to find a video lecture on this system (also by a former NSA hacker) and how to beat it – that I totally forgot…. Another friend, a brewery consultant, had copious amounts of his latest creation on hand… Umm….
Anyway, the hunt is on (even as I suggested Friday) for the attackers.
International investigators are hunting for those behind an unprecedented cyber-attack that affected systems in dozens of countries, including at banks, hospitals and government agencies, as security experts sought to contain the fallout.
The assault, which began Friday and was being described as the biggest-ever cyber ransom attack, struck state agencies and major companies around the world — from Russian banks and British hospitals to FedEx and European car factories.
“The recent attack is at an unprecedented level and will require a complex international investigation to identify the culprits,” said Europol, Europe’s police agency.
Europol said a special task force at its European Cybercrime Centre was “specially designed to assist in such investigations and will play an important role in supporting the investigation”.
Be careful when you open emails. Except from me. My email list is ready for a beta-test and I may (after this crap settles) soon send out a salvo. It’ll be fun. Promise.
Brain Pop.
28 Saturday Jan 2017
Posted in News and Notes
I just looked at the top media websites of December, 2016. Sadly, my little site didn’t crack the top 100.
These numbers are staggering. Congratulations to Matt Drudge on another heavy finish. MSN’s performance is partly explained by monopoly. ESPN is, of course, the premier altar of the Amerikan national religion.
I see plenty of hope and room for growth in the list. Carlos Slim’s blog placed at number nine. Very impressive.
28 Sunday Aug 2016
Posted in Legal/Political Columns, News and Notes
Once the U.S. government has control of something it never, ever gives it up. That is, unless it has a really good, self-serving reason. Knowing this I ponder why the Hussein Obama administration is preparing to hand control over of the internet to someone else (likely the United Nations).
If the UN can be summed up in one word, that word is “communist”. A good adjective for “communist”, as it concerns the UN, would be “corrupt”. Fortunately, these may be modified (always) by “grossly incompetent”. Seriously, name one thing the UN has proved good at other than pitiful bumbling.
When the Obama administration announced its plan to give up U.S. protection of the internet, it promised the United Nations would never take control. But because of the administration’s naiveté or arrogance, U.N. control is the likely result if the U.S. gives up internet stewardship as planned at midnight on Sept. 30.
On Friday Americans for Limited Government received a response to its Freedom of Information Act request for “all records relating to legal and policy analysis . . . concerning antitrust issues for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers” if the U.S. gives up oversight. The administration replied it had “conducted a thorough search for responsive records within its possession and control and found no records responsive to your request.”
It’s shocking the administration admits it has no plan for how Icann retains its antitrust exemption. The reason Icann can operate the entire World Wide Web root zone is that it has the status of a legal monopolist, stemming from its contract with the Commerce Department that makes Icann an “instrumentality” of government.
– L. Gordon Crovitz, The Wall Street Journal, August 28, 2016.
No, Mr. Crovitz, it is not shocking that this administration lies and then has no plan. That’s what they do. All they do. That’s their legacy.
How will this play out, if it comes to pass? That’s hard to say. It probably won’t mean much in the immediate future. The UN will likely search the globe for the highest bribes and then turn the internet over to the payor(s) of choice. Places like the U.S., Britain and Russia will probably see few ill effects for a while at least.
It may not matter at all. The internet hit its heyday some 10 years ago. Since then it has been getting slower and less responsive as more and more ads and other garbage float around constantly reducing speed and efficiency.
UNinspiring…
The existing internet structure, invented in the U.S. though not by Albert Gore, has just about reached its limits. Plans are afoot for a speedier, bigger and better, market-based replacement. When the time comes I will upgrade if necessary.
There are a few constants in the universe: The UN is a failure. Hussein Obama has no idea what to do (other than prevaricate). And technology steams ahead. Let them RAM that in their ROM.
