Squares are hip

Image via Wikipedia

Individual civilians and their freedom and liberties are no longer at the top of the pyramid, having been replaced by a self serving political class using government functions and institutions to enlarge, entrench, and enrich itself.

Earmark abuse, favorable campaign finance laws, excessive political function benefits, bonuses and perks (through corporate contributions), bailing out banks, confiscating large amounts of public wealth and income via taxes and inflation, and a general low priority for the needs and desires of a country’s civilians.

Greater numbers

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Corporations have constraints. Supposedly, those constraints would limit most abuses such as low wages, environmental disasters, monopolistic Muhhahahaaa!-I’m-conquering-the-world plots, and such expressions of self interest at the expense of others and contexts. There are exceptions, but overall it works.

The recent information released through Wikileaks and other such sites, seem to indicate these exceptions are the general case.

Technology enabling user generated webs

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Things like “Web 1.0“, “Web 2.0” are evolutionary memes. Memes are almost always a “marketing hype”, but they tend to catch on if they capture enough of the zeitgeist.

The Web 2.0 concept moves internet users from a position of passenger to a position of participant.

Notice and take down

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Suppose you lead a small and flat organisation that delivers internet services as middle man. Suppose you lead an ISP. People can take each others place in your organisation. People are quite capable and the organisation is flexible. But overall your company or aggregate uses a variable pattern and now and then you have to put out fires.

Western “knowledge is power” political mindsets desire a grip on the internet, and to regulate the flow of information and knowledge. New regulations appear from the political above as if “live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking dead horse behind” is motto. And each new regulation could potentially ignite some new fire.

Energy folds

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Russia cuts off natural gas to Eastern Europe: Russia would enter a deep dispute with Eastern European nations, in particular Ukraine, and cuts off the flow of natural gas. Disputes center on return to the Russian fold from the independent factions encouraged by the Untied States motivated by the many Color Revolutions. Caught in the middle, at the end of the distribution lines, is Central Europe, whose ties forged by Germany to Russia remain healthy and strong. Russia later forges an alliance with Central Europe that results in some stability, as it becomes clear that Russia has come of age as a peacemaker with further ramifications in time. (chance: 50%) – 2010: Giant Gathering Storm Clouds

A surge on EMP attacks!

Image by Shooting Chris via Flickr

Apparently, there is a surge in the media on potential EMP attacks:

“An EMP Attack could be more damaging than an Nuke Bomb”, “Severe Danger to U.S. of EMP Attack”, “EMP Attack: Only 30 Million Americans Survive, and “EMP Attack Would Decimate America”, “EMP could leave ‘9 out of 10 Americans dead'”. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Is it a distraction? Or is the threat real? Or is it spin doctors?

Is Moscow preparing for some kind of “strategic event”?

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As these words are written, Moscow is preparing for some kind of “strategic event.” The Russian navy has begun to aggressively hunt American, French and British ballistic missile submarines.
…
Time may be running short.

via What’s Past is Prologue | FINANCIAL SENSE.

The Weaver Birds 8 / 8 / 8

by the dyne.org hackers

This is our statement, celebrated on top of vulcanoes Etna and Merapi, 8 years amplifying in waves. distribute widely, as you like.
Printable version: http://dyne.org/first_dharma_dyne.pdf (291 KB)

Hackers spinning the Dharma wheel