It is what it is

In response to further encasing the internet in bubble wrap in order to protect this nation's children, I not so much interested, aside from a few basics.

Sure, the internet is swimming in a circus of porn then is all too easy to access, but aside from a warning page I feel there is nothing the government can/should do.  I can easily start up a domain and re-host porn videos without a warning page for an extended period of time if that's what I wanted and it should remain that way.

The net should remain a free zone for anything and everything, the government already has the power in the patriot act to does as they will with harmful postings so why not leave it at that?

Parents need to step their game up.  A child's values generally come from those they are around most so parent should instill what they want carried on by their child as much as possible.  Parents aren't around much anymore so developing a trust with them has to be necessary in order to inure they won't go to porn sites are give out addresses on the net.

Parents need to be aware of cookies and history if they have any suspicion of their kid surfing to sites deemed unfit for children by their parents.  Sure, at a certain age kids will know how to clear these things of any evidence but that just raises suspicion even more.    

If you need a filter get a filter but with education, it is not necessary. 

I just can't see how to foolproof the net for kids in a vastly growing domain of websites.

It doesn't seem plausible.

ofersure

-mak

The Hot Zone

Yesterday I jumped at the opportunity to see a presentation from the of Kevin Sites, a journalist who has recently published a book and documentary of his travels to all of the worlds areas of conflict.

He talked much of how each conflict is different in the world and his goals of putting a face to each of them, as well as a truth behind it all.  

But what I found most interesting was the fact that Sites stepped aside from his producer, NBC, after controversy surround the mosque shooting for the prospects of a blog.  I find this interesting because he explained how much more freedom he had on the internet rather then wondering if his producer would want to protect their interests if something controversial came along again.

With his website he can post whatever videos, stills, and type whatever he wants without being censored, at least in America.  The future of journalism is the collision of streaming video, photography, and print that can all be attained on the internet.

ofersure

-mak  

Stop the Presses

I did it.  Yes, that's right, me.  I cracked open a book for a leisurely read yesterday after quite a drought into my literature delving.

The book at stack is conveniently located to the left of this text, from the writer of Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk.

Now I don't know if I have ever opened a novel during the term for leisure so this could be a first.  All this made me think about the direction print is going.

Personally, there are instances such as magazines that I'd rather hold in my hand than just read a feed at the magazine's website.  We will call the reason the flip factor.  I like flipping through some magazine's, while others the only way I'll read a multi-page article is if it is in my hands.

Amazon.com launched the Kindle a little while back and I don't know how I feel about it.  It has sold out but I just wonder how many people read full novels on such a device.  I can see a newspaper or magazines, after all there is still something that people can hold and technically page through media, but a full novel spells eyestrain for me.  

However, I haven't used it yet and with music collections going almost completely digital why not book collections too?  Full libraries could be contained in a room big enough to fit the servers necessary to hold the files.  Sounds crazy but think of how much space could be saved.  

Where would this put public libraries?  If anyone could simply download a book from a library in the comfort of their home why would anyone need to actually BUY books.  Would having the file only last for a certain amount of time do anything to remedy this?

All of this is purely speculation from my brain to my keyboard to my blog to your eyes.  

ofersure

-mak

 

Time is of the Essence

The digital divide.org is rather adamant about narrowing the gap that exists in today's society.  Obviously this is a rather extreme organization that feels that everyone in the world should benefit from technology.

If the gap is going to be closed, it seems that no one entity could achieve such a thing, but multiple as the site has numerous backers in its plan.  I do believe that the divide could most definitely be cured in America.  If i believe that it could be true for the states then I must believe that it is true for the world, that it will only take more time due to the broader scale of it.

Although when I think about it, you can't make people use the internet or just handout a computer and say, "Hey, use this."  But with almost everything going online there is a need even now to be connected and there will only be more in the future.

The key to it all in my mind is time and cooperation between those in cahoots to bring forth the narrowing.  I cannot see a day without me being connected and I see it as a necessity in my life as it is.

ofersure

-mak

1-800 Homicide

Naperville is generally viewed as a rather safe area (I know it is in my eyes) but events that transpired late last night/early this morning are rather agitating.

Apparently at 12:30a.m. this morning police and paramedics were called to the scene of a shooting that took place on 87th and Skylane drive in Southwest Naperville.

Definitely makes me wonder about my level of safety anywhere in the world.  

Hit the link for the full article

-The Naperville Sun-

ofersure

-mak