Newt Gingrich spoke at a dinner honoring people who stood up for free speech. During his speech, he said a “different set of rules” may be needed to reduce terrorists’ ability to use the Internet and free speech to recruit and get out their message.

Wait. Let’s just think about this for a minute. How exactly is this going to be decided? When you boot up your computer and open up your browser of choice, will it ask “Are you a terrorist?” with a Yes and No click options? Clicking No will get you to the Internet, but they’ll still monitor your moves…just to be sure! If you really aren’t a terrorist, then you have nothing to worry about, right?

Or is he talking about implementing something like the Great Firewall of China? That’s how we’ll defeat the terrorists! They hate us for our freedoms, so we’ll just take them all away! That will show them!

There is just so much wrong with the idea of curtailing one of the basic freedoms and principles that this country was founded upon. Time for a great quote from Ben Franklin:

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Technorati tags: freedom of speech, wingnut, big brother, 1984, FUD

I saw this at Think Progress yesterday.

Bill O’Reilly: I don’t own an iPod. I would never wear an iPod… If this is your primary focus in life - the machines… it’s going to have a staggeringly negative effect, all of this, for America… did you ever talk to these computer geeks? I mean, can you carry on a conversation with them? …I really fear for the United States because, believe me, the jihadists? They’re not playing the video games. They’re killing real people over there.

Being one of those computer geeks, I actually do carry on conversations all the time with people. But generally they are educated and aren’t so extremeist like Bill. But now that’s a new one he’s claiming. The US will be in trouble from terrorists because of technology and iPods and video games, oh my!

So don’t go to Bill’s official site and buy a premium membership. Where you can listen to his broadcasts and discuss issues on the message board.

Or subscribe to his free “Talking Points Podcast”.

No! Do your part to defeat the jihadists! Put down the video games and step away from the computer/cell phone/iPod/etc. Or the terrorists will win.

Oh wait… The Wii and PS3 just came out. And Dead Rising is like the coolest game ever on the Xbox 360. Maybe just one more game…

Technorati tags: wingnut, fucking moron, hypocrite, FUD

Even though I’m not actively looking for a job, I sometimes cruise different job listings on the off chance there is something that just really yells at me to apply. A couple of weeks ago I was looking through the openings at the University of Oklahoma, when I came across an opening for an Information Technology Analyst, working in the Management & Info Network Services department. The job functions read like any other type of Network Admin working on a variety of servers.

When I got to the minimum qualifications however, that’s when it got a little odd. “Ability to embrace change” was the first listed. It made me pause for a second, thinking that embrace change sounded a little extreme. I know what they are getting at, in that the person needs to be flexible, just seemed to be worded funky for a minimum qualification. You must *embrace* change! Just not tolerate or even be ambivalent…embrace!

The one that still has me giggling is what they put under physical requirements: “Frequent exposure (16% to 50%) to physical and/or mental stress or discomfort”.

16%? How did they come up with that figure? Not to mention they tell you that half the time you’ll be in physical and/or mental discomfort! Can’t say they didn’t warn you! But does that mean if I’m under stress more than half the time I can get some more compensation? Not part of my job description!

I’ll bet what happened was the IT crew sat around and came up with that line, including the 16% just to see if the job would be posted that way. Computer geeks can be a quirky and amusing bunch.

Technorati tags: BOFH, computer geeks, IT

It happened. I really am glad that I didn’t have to be extremely disappointed in my fellow Americans (besides the 40%ish voter turnout, but that’s another topic). After the 2004 elections, staying up late, hanging onto the last strings of hope, I became very depressed. I couldn’t understand why so many people cared more about whether two men or two women wanted to get married, than Iraq, the PATRIOT Act, the economy, etc.

But this year people came through! Enough finally realized the Bush Administration wasn’t going to come through on their promises. That they are hypocrites and corrupt (not saying Dems aren’t…again, another topic). The people came out and voted against what has been the status quo for far too long, and I am happy.

Time will tell though if the Dems elected will do anything worthwhile. Minimum wage raised? Yes, that should be a definite. Start bringing the troops home and begin cleaning up the mess in Iraq? Oh yeah! Impeach Bush? Well, as much as I would *love* to see that happen, hell it’s the subject of this topic icon (thank you Dan Savage!) it actually may not be the best thing.

Oh don’t get me wrong, he deserves it. Way overly deserves it. But really, would it be the smartest thing to do, two years before a presidential election? One that possibly could get a Democrat in the White House? I could easily see it being an issue that would push some people to vote against a candidate with a (D) after their name. Maybe what could happen is put impeachment on a back burner, focus on important and more critical issues like Iraq, and bring this country back from the right of center.

Technorati tags: elections, bush, ITMFA, apathy, politics

You’d think the audience members of Colbert would be a bit more tolorant of different views. Especially views that seem to go against the mainstream. But when it comes to religion, at least some of his audience members are just as close minded as the people Colbert is often fond of mocking.

Richard Dawkins appeared on Colbert last month, and during one part of the interview, he was booed by the audience. He was booed after he said this:

“You can’t disprove anything. You can’t disprove the Flying Spaghetti Monster, you can’t disprove Thor with his hammer, you can’t disprove Zeus, or Poseidon. . . You’re an atheist about all those Gods. . . everybody here’s an atheist about all those Gods. Some of us just go one God further.”

How is that offensive to anyone? He was just trying to relate how an atheist is to others who believe in God.

What sealed my belief in the audience’s lack of tolerance in atheists was when I watched the episode from last week with Penn Jillette (from Penn & Teller fame). He said:

“There is No Santa Claus; The Tooth Fairy is your mother and your father; There is No Easter Bunny, and no God.”

On the broadcast, it came accoss like this:

“There is no (beep); The Tooth Fairy is (beep); There is no (beep), and no God.”

At the end, you could hear the audience booing. I’m not clear if it was just in jest to his outing Santa etc., but I’m inclined to think it was not.

However, I will say it was damn amusing to bleep out the things they did, but not God. Heh.

Yet it just goes to show how some people can say they are for freedom of religion and tolerant…as long as they don’t encounter someone who is atheist. There was a study that came out earlier this year about how Americans feel about Athests.

“Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in ’sharing their vision of American society.’ Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.”

Why can’t people understand that atheists have morals and are decent, good people. You don’t have to have a ‘higher power’ to tell you how you should live your life. Do you really think that it’s just because God said killing someone is wrong…that’s what is holding people back from murdering people? That’s idiotic and naive thinking. I’ll be raising my daughter by teaching her to treat people how she would like to be treated. Teach her compassion, love, and understanding. She can get all that without me telling her it’s because God wants her to behave like that.

Technorati tags: atheist, Technorati tags: no+god, Colbert, Richard Dawkins, Penn

I love Halloween. Always have! Scary movies are abundant, costumes, candy, trick or treating…tons of reasons! Not to mention that hubby & I got married, in all black, on Halloween 4 years ago.

This year was exciting since it was Logan’s first Halloween. We had gotten her a Tigger costume last year, and have waited patiently until it was time for her to wear it. She was happy to see the kids come to our door in their costumes, and just stared in awe. We can’t wait until next year when she is older and can have more fun!

Click the picture below to see more cuteness!!!

Technorati tags: baby grrl, spawn site