Category: Technology

Edward Snowden: Traitor or Hero?

Posted on by Rachel Alexander

A whistleblower has exposed the National Security Administration’s warrantless spying on: millions: of ordinary Americans, and conservatives are divided in their reactions. Dick Cheney and Michele Bachmann are calling former NSA contractor Edward Snowden a traitor. This may be the only time I ever disagree with them. Snowden revealed that judges are approving warrants allowing the government […]

 

Wikipedia’s Top Hits: In America, George W. Bush’s Entry Most Controversial

Posted on by Warner Todd Huston

A new study of the most controversial entries on Wikipedia, the crowd sourced, online encyclopedia, shows that in the English language entry the most fought over is the biography of George W. Bush. The authors of The most controversial topics in Wikipedia, a study that looked at the most controversial pages by language group, finds […]

 

On Another Note: We Gave More Stuff to People Who Hate Us.

Posted on by Unicorn Jones

Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Richard Blumenthal are currently pushing a bill that seems like such a no-brainer that it raises some serious questions about why there’s a need for actual legislation. It’s called the Never Contract with the Enemy Act and if passed, it would prohibit the U.S. government from granting contracts to foreign countries […]

 

3D-Printed Guns Can’t Be Stopped

Posted on by Warner Todd Huston

According to many at the 3D Printing Conference and Expo, 3D-printed guns are inevitable despite the efforts of some 3D printer companies and politicians to try and stop it. The expo now underway in New York revealed opposing views on the issue of printed firearms, but according to 3D gun advocate Cody Wilson, 3D-printed guns […]

 

On Easter, Google Doodle Celebrates Union Leader Cesar Chavez

Posted on by Warner Todd Huston

This year, March 31 is Easter Day, the day that American Christians celebrate Jesus Christ having risen from the tomb to join his Father in Heaven. But instead of hosting a doodle celebrating that sacred holiday, this March 31, Google is celebrating the birth of famed union activist Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez was born on […]

 

The Republican Study Committee Members Prostrate Themselves In Front Of The Entertainment Industry’s Lobbyists

Posted on by John Hawkins

The Republican Study Committee is a group of conservatives in the House that generally do excellent work. Overall, they’re part of the solution in D.C., not part of the problem. That being said, it has been embarrassing to watch how they’ve behaved in the debacle that has been their aborted attempt to reform copyright law. […]

 

Bait and Switch: Law Goes From Protecting Your Email to Allowing Gov’t Into Your Email

Posted on by Warner Todd Huston

A new law that was originally meant to strengthen the privacy of your email was recently re-written to allow government more access to your private emails and other digital files. When H.R. 2471 went to the Senate, Democrat Senator Pat Leahy quickly rewrote the whole thing to allow federal policing agencies to have the power […]

 

May Every Troll On The Net Face The Same Fate As Violentacrez One Day

Posted on by John Hawkins

For years now, I’ve been saying that I’d like to see the Internet redesigned to put an end to anonymity. The response is always something like, “What about whistle blowers and people in repressive dictatorships?” The reality is, that’s a tiny percentage of the people who’d be impacted. In actuality, anonymity mostly serves to protect […]

 

Google, Big Obama Donors, Bans Firearm Accessory Sales in Ads

Posted on by Warner Todd Huston

Second Amendment, Schmecond Amendment. Google wants you to know that it is thinking of your “safety” as it announces that it has banned anything to do with firearms on its Google Shopping service. That’s what they’ve told HamLund Tactical, a Texas-based company that deals in ammunition and firearms accessories, anyway. Further, firearms customers have recently […]

 

Final Landing of the USS Enterprise

Posted on by Michael Fell

The experience of watching the space shuttle Enterprise circle New York City on its way to JFK Airport can be described in many different ways. One of the words viewers most frequently used about the sight was “bittersweet”. As Enterprise piggybacked its way on a 747 to its final landing, Americans turned out in large […]

 

With CISPA, Congress Turns Internet Websites Into Police

Posted on by Rachel Alexander

On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted 248-168 to pass CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. Civil liberties advocates loudly protested the bill, claiming it will give government too much access to individuals’ personal information. The Obama administration is threatening to veto it if it makes it through both chambers of Congress. Congressional […]

 

Arizona to Ban “Annoying” Behavior on the Internet

Posted on by Rachel Alexander

You and I may not use profanity in our Facebook posts, but what about that crazy relative who puts up the funniest posts that sometimes cross the line? Almost no one approves of swearing, but with the exception of broadcasting during daytime TV and radio, it is not illegal. Now new legislation inArizonawould effectively make […]

 

Obama Wants Government in Charge of Internet Privacy

Posted on by Brian Garst

The Obama administration recently announced an effort to regulate internet privacy. The plan, labeled a “consumer privacy bill of rights” and ostensibly voluntary, seeks to put federal bureaucrats in charge of enforcing the privacy standards of internet companies such as Google and Facebook. Using his go-to rhetoric when looking to expand government powers, the President […]

 

ABC News That’s Not So New

Posted on by Michael Fell

One of the breaking headline news stories online from ABC News just today, Tuesday, March 6, 2012 reads: Green Firms Get Fed Cash, Give Exec Bonuses, Fail. http://news.yahoo.com/green-firms-fed-cash-execs-bonuses-fail-200314806–abc-news.html Ronnie Greene and Matthew Mosk, for ABC News, aggressively reporting news with an edge, convey how companies like Solyndra, Ener1and Beacon Power took money from the Department […]

 

Newspapers Defend Their Crony Capitalism: Outdated Monopoly on Public Notices

Posted on by Rachel Alexander

Ever wonder why taking out a public notice costs so much money? It shouldn’t be that way. With the demise of print newspapers, it no longer makes sense to require that public notices be published only in newspapers. More people have access to the internet now than subscribe to print newspapers. Yet print newspapers have […]

 

The Hollywood Connection Between Democrats and SOPA

Posted on by Rachel Alexander

Congress is supposed to represent the interests of everyone. But what happens when powerful special interests contribute heavily to lawmakers’ election campaigns? Last week Americans on the political right and left lined up to oppose SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and its Senate counterpart PIPA, the Protect IP Act. Internet giants like Google, Wikipedia, […]

 

White House Supposedly Comes Out Against SOPA, House Shelves It

Posted on by William Teach

Saturday, the White House responded to two petitions asking that SOPA and PIPA be killed as legislation Right now, Congress is debating a few pieces of legislation concerning the very real issue of online piracy, including the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), the PROTECT IP Act, and the Online Protection and Digital ENforcement Act (OPEN). […]

 

Stop Online Piracy Act Committee Vote Put Off Till Wednesday

Posted on by William Teach

If you aren’t familiar with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), here’s a basic premise (NBC Bay Area) It could require Internet providers to monitor customers’ traffic and block websites suspected of copyright infringement. I’d recommend reading that entire article, and this one, and even watching the video at ZDNet (it’s about 20 minutes long). […]

 

Nanny NTSB Urges Cellphone Ban In Cars

Posted on by William Teach

Remember: “It’s For Your Own Good. We Know What Is Best For You. We Are Your Betters.” (Washington Post) The National Transportation Safety Board recommended Tuesday that all states and the District ban cellphone use behind the wheel, becoming the first federal agency to call for an outright prohibition on telephone conversations while driving. Distracted […]

 

Unscrupulous? Investors Hub Leaves Libelous Cowardly Anonymous Comment Up About My Friend Steve Nickolas

Posted on by Rachel Alexander

One of the problems with the wild west nature of the internet is some website owners do not handle content on their sites responsibly. Once they have built up their website traffic to popular levels, many develop an attitude that they can do what they want, regardless of how hurtful it is to others. Investors […]