Ok, so we live in a world where - You must obtain your government's permission to travel, both within and without it's borders (driver's license, passports, car registrations, shall I continue?). You must pay a 'bribe' to the government to purchase anything whatsoever, moreso on those things that are considered by the government as 'luxury items' or 'sinful' (sales tax). Your phone is tapped (yes, it is. try saying Bomb, President, and Nuclear in the same sentence in a conversation and note how fast you get checked out). You must pay a bribe to the government to 'continue owning property' (don't pay your taxes for a couple years and see how well you really do own it). Everything you buy is recorded, What you watch on the idiot box (teevee might be the less offensive term) is also recorded, movies you watch, videos you rent, even the radio stations you listen to in your car. Face it folks, we're quite well observed.

Now I read (albeit a month old) a post on how google is watching us. Another (newer one) tells me how Bill Gates wants to know what colour underwear I'm wearing at any given moment. Is it small wonder that living in today's society an 'unmediated' 'unregulated' realm such as the internet would not be VERY tightly observed?

So I read earlier the 'how to' guide on profiling and nailing down hackers. A VERY good read I might add. Although I very much don't like them getting into my net, or the guys down the street, or downing Yahoo! when I want to be there surfing porn, I must respect (those who do it under the right motives that is) their actions and skill. By all means, nail 'em if they're stupid enough to leave tracks! It means less work on us Admin types, and less trash to clean up, plus it makes everyone's world a little more peaceable, and easier to get by in. However, think on it a second... Take the 60's mentality and realize that there's a few of 'em out there that are trying to 'stick it to the man' in the best way they know how. To those few, Salut!

Ok, spyware, adware, trojans of all kinds. Who really cares that fred's marketing company knows I'd prefer to walk through Central Park wearing only lime jello and reading this month's penthouse magazine? Long as I'm not doing it in front of anyone else, am I really doing wrong? Shoot, maybe they'll even cut me a coupon for bulk discount on the jello...

Our Government you say? Freedom? Protection? ok. I refer you to the first two paragraphs of this dissertation. Oh, Cap tips to you vets out there and no offense intended - I'm one too. I'll show ya the bronze star I won killing Iraqis over oil if you'd like to see it. In the meantime, I'll continue surfing, and helping fix probs here if y'all don't neg me to death over this...

Sorry, my 2 centavos worth tends to buy a lot sometimes, and I love to ramble when upon my soap box.
Be Well!