Another Awesome Bundle

You know what I haven't mentioned for awhile, but is worth mentioning? Humble Bundle! The place that puts together various digital media bundles, sold with a pay-what-you-want model that supports charities. Well last week its Star Wars Bundle ended, but the Square Enix Bundle 2 launched, and I must say it is a good deal. I already have most of the games in it and have played many of them, so let me tell you that it is worth purchasing. Supreme Commander 2, Thief, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Sleeping Dogs are all very fun games, and you get even more than those! So go, check it out, and get some good games.

Be Careful What You Wish For

There is a very important topic that has been much discussed on the Internet and that is only going to increase for the foreseeable future. That topic is Net Neutrality, which is the name for the goal of securing a free an open Internet Obviously these are important goals but I must say I am fearful for the future. Oh, I know that if anybody actually read this, some would accuse me of being against Net Neutrality just for suggesting that there is any cause for alarm, by using the false argument that only those against Net Neutrality could have any fear of it, and summarily dismiss me. Well, ignorance is one of the welcome tragedies of freedom so I can live with that. What I am afraid of though is the prospect of placing this "free and open" network under the control of a single group, which will be able to exercise that control without intervention, without restriction, without appeal, without openness and without freedom. This is the power the FCC already has and bringing the Internet under its control by declaring it a Title II utility will subject the Internet, the consumers, and all its services will be subject to it. It saddens me how people are so upset because they do not trust the various ISPs, but are eager to give even greater control to the FCC as though it may be trusted. Personally, I fail to trust any of them, and why should I? Why should you?
Every aspect, every single principle of Net Neutrality can be secured by laws, and unlike with the FCC, that means that courts, public courts that guarantee rights like due process, will be where alleged infractions will be dealt with. Aren't those courts better aligned with the core values of Net Neutrality?
To put it another way, how can anything be free and open when it has a single master? Aren't masters kind of the opposite of being free and open? Free the net from masters, people. Don't give it a new one.

Feeling the Need

Haven't posted something political here for quite some time, but I feel the need to now, and boy is there a lot I could say. I could bring up historical facts, like how the Crusades were predicated by the Muslim take-over of the Holy Lands, so comparing them to the genocidal goals of radical Muslims is thoroughly incorrect, or how slavery is actually against the principles of Christianity, which is one of the reasons the Church fought to end the practice, or how genocidal persons do pose an existential threat to those they wish to exterminate, but instead I want to make this point.
High horses are hard to climb onto, so one gets there only by earning it, and from there they can do much good. That good includes helping good persons up from the saddle, and putting evil persons beneath their hooves. To get down in the dirt and mud only serves those who have not earned a place in the saddle, and these people do not deserve to be served in that way.

Snow, Snow Everywhere

I have shoveling to look forward to tomorrow, and not a little of it. At least I won't be alone this time, thanks to closings and delays. With luck I won't even hurt my back while clearing out the driveway, but I kind of doubt it. At least I have the gear to keep me warm and enjoyable music to listen to.
Sorry about not posting anything last week. I forgot, plain and simple.