Hi DAn,

On Wed 2037-May-27 15:28, Dan Ceppa (1:138/666) wrote to Richard Webb:



 DC> It's a slippery slope, for sure.  Newer technology makes it even
 DC> scarier  as it's becomin feasible to record everything almost
 DC> everywhere.  The  joke in Get Smart about the need for a Cone of
 DC> Silence is becoming a  reality.  

 RW> Some folks tried combating what they knew they'd be coming
 RW> with cell phone jammers, but you can't deploy 'em here in
 RW> the United STates, they're quite illegal.

DC> I can see why, but I can see also whythey should be allowed.   

Yep, I see both sides of that one.  I don't allow them in
our remote truck on anything but clear off.  OUr casual help is told, leave
your cell phone in your car.  That's for a
variety of reasons though.  BUt, if you work for us, the
cell phone stays off while on the clock .

But, all one has to do is look at the information was
getting out of Myanmar, formerly Burma thanks to the phone
cams.



DC> They think that the terrorists are stupid.  IIRC, all of those
DC> involed  in the 9-11 attacks were college educated.  Also, their
DC> cell system makes  it difficult to build a comprehensive list of
DC> particpants in order to  follow any leads.  That former FBI guy that
DC> died in event was working  on such a web.  The connections were
DC> quite intricate.  Too bad the FBI  forced him out, scant months
DC> befor the attack.  

THat's why they use such a cellular structure.  cOMpromising one cell
doesn't compromise others.  YOu know only those in
your group, and one of them knows whom he reports to, and
gets instructions from.  THese folks may be rather
fanatical, but they're far from stupid.  Anybody who thinks
some poor boob carrying a rifle and in a position to be
captured is gonna have the straight dope on the big guys is
nuts.




 RW> PRobably so, I want to see the truth brought out here first. THe
 RW> American people have a right to know what was done in their name, and
 RW> what was truly gained. 

DC> It'll come out, but it would be nice if it happened in my lifetime. 
DC> I'm  still waiting for all the files to be released on the Kennedy
DC> assination!   


DItto.  AFter reading LIfton and a few others I've got more
questions than answers on that one .  LIfton's the one
comes to mind at the moment as I ingest first cup of coffee
.

 DC> The Constitution needs to mean something again.  Many US citizens, 
 DC> when questioned on particular points of it, state that the rights 
 DC> provided by it aren't legal.  

  RW> YEs, I know, and that scares me a bit.  My dad may have been just
 RW> another blue collar working stiff, but he impressed upon me from the
 RW> time I was old enough to understand that the history of our people and
 RW> how we came to be the United STates was one of the most important

 RW> things I should get a grasp of.  IN fact, reading an interesting text
 RW> right now by a fellow named Andro Linklater on how borders boundaries
 RW> and property rights shaped the U.S.  Just received it from the library
 RW> in the mail today. 

DC> That sounds interesting...  

So far it is.  I'm probably still not more than maybe 100
pages into it, haven't had much time to sit down with a book last couple
days, but so far from my reading MR. Linklater's conclusions are logically
drawn with plenty of information
from historical records to back him up.  I'd bet you would
find it interesting.  sOrry, can't get you an isbn but with
author you should be able to find it.  TItle is "the fabric
of America ... "

 DC> also  why a free internet is so critical.  Coupled with that is the
 DC> loss of  investigative reporters.  People need to be asking the hard
 DC> questions  instead of parroting gvt or business hand outs.  

 RW> Yes, but real journalism is a thing of the past, and the
 RW> internet with all its apparent free flow of information is
 RW> easily stifled and censored.  Look at what they're doing in
 RW> CHina.

DC> That's why a free, level internet is so important.  Too many are 
DC> pushing for a tiered system.  Such a system would be good for
DC> corporate profuts, as well as the control factor that can too 
DC> easily be abused.  

OF course it is, and I have never liked that approach.  but, the internet
still can't supplant real quality investigative journalism.  ONe has to be
able to trust those engaging in
such activity, and those  who would wish to pursue it need
funding.  sOurces of information need to be verified,
research conducted, traveling to various places, etc.  All
this takes money, and just as with music and other creative
work done from one's basement on a computer, the right
expertise needs to be brought in at certain points in the
process.  editors are an integral part of this process.  YOu don't get that
with some guy just throwing up any old thing
on his blog or web site.  YEs, a free and open internet is a must, but we
still need quality journalism, and it can't be
replaced by every fool with an internet connection.  But,
we've already lost the battle for quality journalism.  THe
internet's what's left to us, and if the corporates and the
governments get what they want it won't be there either.


 RW> Abu Ghraib would have never come to the world's attention if not for
 RW> some soldier with a camera. 

 DC> It would not have been as graphic, that's for sure.  

 RW> Yah, and without that "as graphic" the outrage would not
 RW> have been so great.  EAsily to spin it away, explain it away however
 RW> you like.  But, the photos were there for the world to see.

DC> As they say, one picture is worth a 1000 words.  

YEp, and if you further compromise real journalism and
stifle the internet you can be sure that the Abu Ghraib that happens after
all this is done will never be shown to the
public at all.  With a simple click of the mouse and a flick of the swithc
your right to know, and your right to question just got flushed, along with
your right to privacy.

Regards,
           Richard
... Measure with a micrometer.  Mark with chalk.  Cut with an axe.
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+