News, Shmews
I have been getting most of my news from the International Herald Tribune (www.iht.com). For one, it's free and for two they actually have international news on the frontpage, which is something all of the "Free for Student" newspapers they have on campus.
I don't think I'm very political. Unforetunately, I don't often get a chance to make the time to be. A crime in this day and age, I know. Hopefully I'll stay on this kick long enough to eventually use this journal to flush out my loose confederate of beliefs.
Alright, so first off China is cracking down on restrictions to internet sites. Now I may be a little bit biased towards the Chinese Government because I think they are a bunch of Communist Self-serving anti-human rights dicks. Then again, I'm American and I just see them a threat to our economy and labor force.
Now one of my greatest fears has always been a second dark age. As an intellectually driven student, I feel the urge to continue to learn and advance. Human knowledge is spread out. Look at all the Doctors (Ph.Ds) we have and you'll see that they are very specialized. There are some projects and techniques that only a handful of people know. How many of us could go out and build a circuit board tomorrow? How many of us could go out, know where to mine the raw material and shape metal/plastic/wood? Not to mention the basic necessities of farming and agriculture.
To me the internet isn't just a hub of porn, corruption and stalking. It's a hub for humanity. It has become the Great Library. Now I'm no socialist, by any means. Material goods are one thing, but knowledge is something that needs to be shared. By all means, take the credit and the financial compensation. That's the means which drives advancement. But also, those of us that have the desire to see the best in humanity survive may need that knowledge later after you are gone. And from that knowledge someone new will come and use it in a new way and improve our lot.
Now from what I read in the article, it seems the main target of the censorship are our most popular sites. Give me youtube or give me death? Well, I'm not that in love with it. But deep down below the mass media, corporate giant influence of the world you will find your every day people. People willing to take a shot to the groin for laughs or build giant Rube Goldberg machines or god-forbid upload an educational video are the every day people. It is a way for people across the world to share our humanity and embrace our differences. I mean, how else would we be able to compare our gameshows to those of Japan?
But anyway, my incoherent rant is losing momentum. Bottom line: The internet is a series of tubes, censorship is a clog and we need to make sure there's a fresh amount of Drano being added by the people.
I don't think I'm very political. Unforetunately, I don't often get a chance to make the time to be. A crime in this day and age, I know. Hopefully I'll stay on this kick long enough to eventually use this journal to flush out my loose confederate of beliefs.
Alright, so first off China is cracking down on restrictions to internet sites. Now I may be a little bit biased towards the Chinese Government because I think they are a bunch of Communist Self-serving anti-human rights dicks. Then again, I'm American and I just see them a threat to our economy and labor force.
Now one of my greatest fears has always been a second dark age. As an intellectually driven student, I feel the urge to continue to learn and advance. Human knowledge is spread out. Look at all the Doctors (Ph.Ds) we have and you'll see that they are very specialized. There are some projects and techniques that only a handful of people know. How many of us could go out and build a circuit board tomorrow? How many of us could go out, know where to mine the raw material and shape metal/plastic/wood? Not to mention the basic necessities of farming and agriculture.
To me the internet isn't just a hub of porn, corruption and stalking. It's a hub for humanity. It has become the Great Library. Now I'm no socialist, by any means. Material goods are one thing, but knowledge is something that needs to be shared. By all means, take the credit and the financial compensation. That's the means which drives advancement. But also, those of us that have the desire to see the best in humanity survive may need that knowledge later after you are gone. And from that knowledge someone new will come and use it in a new way and improve our lot.
Now from what I read in the article, it seems the main target of the censorship are our most popular sites. Give me youtube or give me death? Well, I'm not that in love with it. But deep down below the mass media, corporate giant influence of the world you will find your every day people. People willing to take a shot to the groin for laughs or build giant Rube Goldberg machines or god-forbid upload an educational video are the every day people. It is a way for people across the world to share our humanity and embrace our differences. I mean, how else would we be able to compare our gameshows to those of Japan?
But anyway, my incoherent rant is losing momentum. Bottom line: The internet is a series of tubes, censorship is a clog and we need to make sure there's a fresh amount of Drano being added by the people.