Scott Hanselman brings to our attention: 

It's getting very hard to email folks in Zim lately...here's why:

"Zimbabwe's international satellite link has been cut off after the national telephone company failed to pay a $710 000 (about R5,4-million) debt in a move that experts warn could spell the collapse of the Internet in the country.

Some of the comments mention the fact that the leader of the country (Robert Mugabe, a dictator) probably benefits from the lack of internet access for citizens.

While I disagree with this (I don't think anybody benefits from lack of communications - even dictators) the fact that the debt owed by the national telephone company is equivalent to about 4 minutes of Iraq war costs makes my skin crawl. Why should a whole country get cut off from the modern world for such (relatively) small sum of money? At what point do we start to realize that loss of connectivity is equivalent to a natural disaster, and some help is needed? If someone cut off our internet access, we'd consider it an act of terrorism.

Maybe we can have a 4 minute cease fire in Iraq and get these folks back online. What do you say, "insurgents"?

Source: The Internet in Zimbabwe is collapsing
Originally published on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 09:27:47 GMT

 

Another creepy Bush interview. I don't agree with a lot of things Bush, but the desperation I am seeing really creeps me out at some subconscious level. I have this feeling like, "what else is in there, that you're not saying, that has you so scared?"

In this interview president Bush is visible upset by the questions about torture.

Source: Bush Questioned on Torture
Originally published on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:16:00 GMT

 

I mentioned this video to my sister when she was here last week for Allie's birthday, so wanted to link to it. It's pretty disgraceful that not only do we have all these lies, but the president can't even keep them straight. No wonder 43% of the public still think Saddam had something to do with 9/11. 

Brian Williams Interviews a pretty incoherent Bush

 

My friend Camey is disappointed and surprised at Washington's decision to uphold our ban on Gay marriage. I'm not surprised at all. Surely the logic in this is obvious, especially to someone trained in reasoning and logic, like the Right Honorable Justice Madsen. It's just like I was explaining to someone the other day, that the global decrease in the number of pirates has resulted in global warming. Just as the pirates were keeping temperatures nice and cool, laws like the ban on Gay marriage are what keeps families happy. See: look at everyone - they are all so happy

I am sure that when Justice Madsen was "developing the child abuse component of the Family Violence Project for the City Attorney’s Office", she must have seen that the vast majority of cases of child abuse are caused by gay marriage. You can't argue with experience!

Not to mention the procreation part: "...promote procreation and to encourage stable families." I mean, let's be honest, don't we all procreate better knowing gay and lesbian people aren't allowed to be legally married. Get ready for a tidal wave of procreation, now that it's safe from the dark spector of gay marriage.

I am going to do my part and make sure my judges and representatives know how much I value their logic and reasoning. Level heads like these are what got us through unfortunate things like the Salem Witch Trials, and the Spanish Inquisition, and led to the introduction of the concept of pi being equal to 4.

Remember, our taxes paid for all those people to pontificate, rule on, implement, and enforce these and other wonderful laws. Let's make sure we continue to get our money's worth.

Only by our speaking up, even if it's with the softest of voices, will our wise elders realize how important their wisdom is to us and what things we would prefer them to spend their time and our money on.

 

Facts:

• I live in Washington.
• It is illegal to post links to online poker sites in Washington.
• If someone comment spams me (see below image) with links to illegal poker sites, am I going to get in trouble?

I hope the answer is that the above mentioned law is struck down by something like this happening to someone, or the state turns it's infinite internet montioring powers to good by stopping comment spammers.

Neither outcome is likely, but one can hope.

Update: I've already gotten my first illegal comment to this post! It contains hundreds of links to illegal (in washington) gambling sites. I wonder if I should alert the authorities. Hmm...