Tag Archives: internet

They’re Worried About Freedom, Now?

29 Sunday Dec 2019

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The useless UN aims to further its irrelevance in 2020.

The United Nations on Friday approved a Russian-led bid that aims to create a new convention on cybercrime, alarming rights groups and Western powers that fear a bid to restrict online freedom.

The General Assembly approved the resolution sponsored by Russia and backed by China, which would set up a committee of international experts in 2020.

The panel will work to set up “a comprehensive international convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes,” the resolution said.

The United States, European powers and rights groups fear that the language is code for legitimizing crackdowns on expression, with numerous countries defining criticism of the government as “criminal.”

Say what now? I’ve watched these past few years as all those wonderful western governments and rights groups did nothing as people slightly to the right of Bernie Sanders were deplatformed right and right (never left). And, the European powers have laws criminalizing criticism of a government, if not their own; the US is working on that as well, the 1A be dead parchment. So, what is all the fuss suddenly about? Must be those dastardly Russians. If not for the UN support, I possibly could get behind this. As is, I just don’t care. I’m starting to see the internet, maybe even electricity even, as a mistake. Running from one Br’er Rabbit villain to another certainly is.

The Quiet Spaces

22 Saturday Jun 2019

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Sometimes the Old Gray Lady has a very interesting idea or story. Here’s one about the fading tranquility of happy, wireless-free life in a land gone media mad.

The off-grid places are disappearing. And that’s as it should be. We must wire up rural America; cell service is now a utility almost as essential as electricity or heat. In April, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it will hold the biggest auction of radio spectrum in this country’s history; the auction, scheduled for late this year, is part of an effort to spread cell coverage to even the most remote towns ahead of the rollout of 5G networks.

Unfortunately, ownership of the telecommunication grids will go to corporate giants rather than to the communities themselves. But even so, small towns are fighting to be wired up. It’s likely that in 10 or so years, the country will be blanketed with signal, from sea to shining sea.

I’m hopeful that when that happens, we might retain just a few quiet places where it’s still possible to disconnect.

Activists have already created “dark sky reserves” to protect wilderness from artificial light. In the future, might we also create “privacy reserves” where we can go to escape the ubiquitous internet?

The irony is that, even as I type this on a laptop, wi-fi connected to Skynet, and with a stupid phone by my side, I consider that maybe all the technology could have been a mistake. To back 20 years. Or, 40. 400?

Wile E. Internet

19 Monday Nov 2018

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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.

Screenshot 2018-11-17 at 8.23.14 AM

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:

Screenshot 2018-11-18 at 7.52.56 PM

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.

Kiss Internet Privacy Goodbye?

20 Thursday Sep 2018

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A “fight” looms:

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.

The Influencers and the Influence

29 Friday Jun 2018

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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…

Why I Don’t Do Internet Dating

05 Tuesday Sep 2017

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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?

Epic poo problem

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…

Influencing the Internet

26 Monday Jun 2017

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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.

internet-lead

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.

Cyberattack May Get Worse Tomorrow

14 Sunday May 2017

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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.

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Brain Pop.