Monthly Archives: July 2008

The 6 Top Reasons Not To Buy An Iphone

This entry was posted in Apple Computer bush administration War on Terrorism on by

No, I’m not going to do much Apple bashing here.
My MacBook Pro has been running continuously for 9 days and 23 hours including multiple bus commutes where it is a treat to be online immediately on opening the lid while my traveling companions, using various Windoze machines (generally shiny Dell Computers), are tapping their fingers for 2-3 minutes…
The Free Software Foundation, though, thinks that you should buy their phone instead of an iPhone 3G. Here are their 5 real reasons to avoid iPhone 3G:

  • iPhone completely blocks free software. Developers must pay a tax to Apple, who becomes the sole authority over what can and can’t be on everyone’s phones.
  • Ed: Well this is not exactly a tax-you won’t go to jail if you don’t pay it. This is not to say I think Apple’s closed model is a good thing.
  • iPhone endorses and supports Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology.

    • Ed: A good point.

  • iPhone exposes your whereabouts and provides ways for others to track you without your knowledge.
  • Ed: How is this is different from any other cell phone?
  • iPhone won’t play patent- and DRM-free formats like Ogg Vorbis and Theora.
  • Ed: This might be a reason to choose something else but, really, how many folks are using anything besides ACC and MP3 on their players?
  • iPhone is not the only option. There are better alternatives on the horizon that respect your freedom, don’t spy on you, play free media formats, and let you use free software — like the FreeRunner.
  • Ed: Yep, lot’s of choices out there. For my purposes the little Sanyo works just fine.

The sixth, and number one reason not to buy an iPhone in the US:

  • You will be supporting a criminal organization: AT&T.

    • It is clear that AT&T committed illegal acts prior to being granted immunity by a cowardly congress and it is clear that AT&T continues to commit immoral and unconstitutional acts to this day. We do not need to quietly accept the behavior of war criminals or the illegal and immoral acts of corporations.
    The iPhone may be cool and, yes I want one, but I’m not buying anytime soon. Why are you supporting AT&T?
    Both a boycott and picketing are reasonable first steps to reestablishing justice in the US. If enough join in perhaps even congress will mend its ways.
    Via Just Well Mixed.

    Friday Ark #201

    This entry was posted in Bird Blogging Cat Blogging Dog Blogging Friday Ark Invertebrate Blogging Pet Blogging Pets Weekend Cat Blogging on by

    In Memory of Sherry, publisher of What Did You Eat?, cat blogger and food blogger extraordinaire who passed away on July 20. Sherry was a strong supporter of Weekend Cat Blogging which grew out of the food blogging community and frequently linked to and escorted boarders to the Friday Ark. From #85 here is Upsie watching dad change a lightbulb.

    We’ll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and….?

    Visit all the boarders, Link to the Ark and check back for updates through Sunday afternoon!

    You can board the Friday Ark by submitting your post here, leaving a comment or a trackback to this post or emailing fridayark AT themodulator.org.

    You can find previous editions at the not quite up to date Arkives page.

    Cats

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    Extra, Extra: All Ark boarders are invited to shout out at the Friday Ark Frapper Map.

    Cat folks: remember to submit your links to:

    Birders: I and the Bird: A Blog Carnival for Bird Lovers is published every 2 weeks.

    For the spineless: Circus of the Spineless. A monthly celebration of Insects, Arachnids, Molluscs, Crustaceans, Worms and most anything else that wiggles.

    Dog folks: remember to submit your links to:

    • The Canine Carnival hosted by Pamibe
    • The Carnival of the Dogs hosted by Mickey’s Musings

      • has been out of operation since July 2007

    For other current carnivals check out The Blog Carnival and The TTLB Uber Carnival

    Lets End the Medical Marijuana Raids

    This entry was posted in Government Law Enforcement War on Drugs on by

    Reason.tv asks:

    Should medical marijuana be kept from minors at all costs?

    We should also ask:

    Should Sheriff Pat Hedges, the local deputies and the federal thugs who accompanied them on the raid of Charley Lynch’s medical marijuana dispensary be arrested and tried for crimes against humanity?

    If the entrenched legislative bodies and criminal justice system will not properly deal with these perps then it is time to create a replacement system.

    Via Winston Smith.

    Time to Follow the French

    This entry was posted in Economics Government Military on by

    The French are taking a step, albeit a small one, that the rest of the world, especially the United States, should follow:

    France’s military will slash its ranks by 54,000 personnel and close dozens of air, army and other bases in an overhaul meant to slim forces at home while making it easier and faster to deploy troops abroad, the prime minister announced Thursday.
    Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the 15 percent cut in manpower and base closings will save billions of dollars but still permit an agile military suited to the country’s security needs.

    This small beginning in demilitarization will open the doors to our future just a bit wider. A future of free human beings creating and evolving rather than nation states destroying and killing.
    It is unfortunate that opposition to these clearly desirable actions comes from those who live off the milk of the state:

    Officials in towns slated to lose their bases argue the plan will be disastrous for local economies and say they will fight the closures.
    Fillon said he understood people’s fears and promised $503 million in aid to the most affected regions, many in France’s depressed northeast. He also said measures would be taken to encourage investment in the those regions.

    Fight the closures they might but their futures will be much stronger if built locally rather than on the backs of taxpayers and at the whim of national or state governments.

    These bases should not have existed in the first place and that they have is no rationale for either maintaining them or subsidizing local economies once they are gone.