sgt_doom 's Techdirt Comments
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On the post: Someone Using A US Senate IP Address Edits Wiki Entry To Change Ed Snowden From 'Dissident' To 'Traitor'
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On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt
sgt_doom ( profile ), 13 Jan, 2013 @ 12:55pmAaron Swartz, R.I.P.
There is nothing more sad, more disheartening, than the death of a decent person.
I didn't know Aaron Swartz, although I had communicated with him online on several occasions; a highly intelligent young man with a prodigious mind and noble spirit.
Aaron evidently reached the decision, to spare his family and friends future pain, he would forfeit his own life; in ancient Rome they referred to it as "Falling on one's sword."
Yet another fatality of Obama's War On Whistleblowers, the dramatic extension and expansion from the Bush administration.
Today, Gov. Don Siegelman sits in a penitentiary, his only "crime" was wishing to increase educational access for the many; an authentic democrat, so very rare today.
Today, an Iraqi immigrant, Shakir Hamoodi, who sent small sums of money to his close relatives back home for medical and food emergencies, also sits in a penitentiary, yet another humanist, or "criminal" in America?
Today, a brave CIA whistleblower of the criminal and barbaric torture taking place, John Kiriakou, faces two years in jail, thanks to Obama and life in the land of the lawless.
Aaron Swartz, Bradley Manning, Gov. Don Siegelman, Shakir Hamoodi, John Kiriakou and others, too many others, a roster of the best of America, wasted lives in others pursuit of never-ending corruption.
A bizarre BBC report the other day --- and bizarre is the only accurate description for both BBC and their news report --- ran an attack piece on WikiLeaks' Julian Assange, nonsensically juxtaposed against the newspaper strike in China!
They --- the BBC and Australian news --- once again perpetrated lies of "sexual assault of two women" against Assange?
Having read all the legal documents, in both English and Swedish, I observed NO verification of such lies, only that Sofia Wilen, the younger woman who first approached Julian Assange, wanted nothing to do with such false allegations, and that the government-affiliated Anna Ardin (one of her many aliases), appears to have been the driving force in stirring up such vicious stories! (When the publicity became too much for Anna Ardin, she was spirited off to Israel, where a member of the Bonnier family was ambassador at that time.)
http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/suspicious.pdf
The one common factor, known to Americans, which is evident in both the attacks on Wikileaks/Assange and the illegitimate and amoral incarceration of Gov. Siegelman, is Karl Rove.
Rove appears again and again in the background, as the puppet master pulling the strings to take out Gov. Siegelman, and was financed in his multiple trips to Sweden, around the beginning of the WikiLeaks' episode, financed by the Bonnier family, one of the media giant families of Europe and among the top ten media corporations in existence. (Virtually everyone on the Swedish side who has been attacking Julian Assange is financially connected to the Bonnier family: the attorneys, Anna Ardin, the Bonnier-employed reporters, the Justice Minister, etc., the only exception would be Sofia Wilen, the young lady who quickly distanced herself from the horrendously unfolding events.)
Aaron Swartz, both believed in, and fought for, free speech and freedom of the press, an incredibly shrinking freedom which has been all but co-opted by the ruling oligarchs through their corporations today --- does anyone really know who owns AT&T, after all?
Recently, some technically astute friends ran a series of tests, and observed that the most heavily censored site: Huffington Post, boingboing.net, Naked Capitalism, The Guardian, etc., are considered to be some of the more "liberal" sites on the 'net --- nothing could be further from the truth!
The most heavily censored English-speaking countries on the Web? Canada, the UK and the USA.
Most despicably, network neutrality appears as dead as Aaron Swartz --- and we should all mourn the passing of both noble personages.
In Memoriam
Aaron Swartz
November 8, 1986 ? January 11, 2013
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Aaron_Swartz_2_at_Boston_Wikipedia_Meetup%2C_2009-08-18_.jpg/800px-Aaron_Swartz_2_at_Boston_Wikipedia_Meetup%2C_2009-08-18_.jpg
Notes and Sources
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/23/cia-whistleblower-john-kiriakou-leak
"Kiriakou was a CIA veteran who played a role in the agency's capture of the al-Qaida terrorist Abu Zubaydah in Pakistan in 2002. Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded by government interrogators and eventually revealed information that led to the arrest of the "dirty bomb" plotter Jose Padilla and exposed Khalid Sheikh Mohamed as the mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks. Accounts conflict over whether the waterboarding was helpful in getting intelligence from Zubaydah."
. . . .
"The CIA director, David Petraeus, sent a memo to agency employees noting Kiriakou's conviction, saying: "It marks an important victory for our agency, for our intelligence community, and for our country. Oaths do matter, and there are indeed consequences for those who believe they are above the laws that protect our fellow officers and enable American intelligence agencies to operate with the requisite degree of secrecy."
(Tell that to the wifey, Davey boy! --- sgt_doom)
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/11/former_alabama_gov_don_siegelman_speaks
http://www.donsiegelman.org/
http://news.silobreaker.com/the-case-of-shakir-hamoodi-three-years-in-federal-prison-for-sending-money-to-iraqi-relatives-during-sanctions-5_2266006624902578312 -
On the post: World Economic Forum Warns That Patents Are Making Us Lose The Race Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
sgt_doom ( profile ), 11 Jan, 2013 @ 11:12amAdam Smith?
While it's been many, many years since I read Adam Smith's works, wasn't he against patents?
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On the post: World Economic Forum Warns That Patents Are Making Us Lose The Race Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
sgt_doom ( profile ), 11 Jan, 2013 @ 11:10amRe: Re:
Could the problem possibly be the owners of the biopharmaceuticals? Does anyone actually know who those owners are?
Might be a good first step to take.... -
On the post: World Economic Forum Warns That Patents Are Making Us Lose The Race Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
sgt_doom ( profile ), 11 Jan, 2013 @ 11:08amAgreed !
For once, I have to finally agree with the World Economic Forum stooges.
Just the other day, when I was stopped at a red traffic light, as soon as the light went green, an unholy horde of anti-biotic resistant bacteria went racing past a near hypersonic speed!
"Holy crap," I expostulated, I'll never race those doods ever! -
On the post: Thank Joe Lieberman For YouTube Accidentally Censoring Key Syrian Watchdog's YouTube Channel
sgt_doom ( profile ), 08 Jan, 2013 @ 10:52am" stupid old farts .."
Naaah, Lieberman or Lieberswine has always been an evil fart, and decidedly many consider evil stupid, but there's a purpose to what Lieberman (once called by the American propaganda network, a k a the MSM, the "conscience of the Senate" ROFL to the max!).
Just think of all the members of the electorate who voted for either the vile Cheney, or the vile Lieberman, back in 2000 --- when they could have elected Nader.
Proud to have voted for Dr. Jill Stein, and before that for Cynthia McKinney and for Ralph Nader --- no way in perdition this American would ever vote for a Cheney or a Lieberman! ! ! -
On the post: There's A Secret Reason Why The Government Has To Keep It Secret How Many Americans It's Spying On Without A Warrant
sgt_doom ( profile ), 05 Jan, 2013 @ 11:20amRe: Not safe from our own government
"Conspiracy theories are rampant..."
One should always be hyper-suspicious of anyone utilizing the US Chamber of Commerce (USCoC) talking point:
"conspiracy theory, conspiracy theory"
I recall when this first appear in common use, and it didn't originate at the grass roots level, that's for darn sure.
Just a bunch of pandering "on their payroll" newsies, like Judy Miller (now with Manhattan Institute, the neocon people), David Ignatius and others of their ilk.
No thanks, I'll continue to think independently, so that when I heard the news conference from the Pentagon on 9/10/01, where the comptroller reported that his auditing team (DIA's Financial Management staff) had uncovered an unaccounted for $2.3 trillion missing from DoD funds, and the very next morning when an airliner crashes dead-center into the Pentagon's west wall, killing almost all of that auditing team (called for an emergency last-minute conference there that morning of 9/11) and severely injuring the rest, I will continue to cogitate on such items and continue to pay attention.
There are still quite a few Americans such as myself..... -
On the post: There's A Secret Reason Why The Government Has To Keep It Secret How Many Americans It's Spying On Without A Warrant
sgt_doom ( profile ), 05 Jan, 2013 @ 11:16amRe: domestic spying
" looking for patterns of terrorist activity.."
Geez, history is not your strong suit, I'm guessing?
Check into the history of the creation of the American intelligence establishment back during and in the aftermath of World War II, please.
The Wall Streeters, both the super-rich and those working on their behalf (Rockefeller, Mellon, du Pont, Harriman, Morgans, etc., and their lackeys, Lovett, Wisner, Dulles brothers,etc.), created the US intelligence agencies, which they then would hop back and forth from, eventually privatizing the entire thing so today it is virtually seamless, with Carlyle Group's Booz Allen, SAIC, Raytheon, ManTech Int'l, etc., at the controls.
Intel agencies exist for the Financial-Intelligence-Complex, the top tier of the plutocracy, for the sole purposes of financial intelligence for their profit, and general command and control of the populace.
We have been consistently, and constantly, told that Iran is just two years away from nuke capability, for the past 12 years?????
The first such person to leak this occupied a senior-level position at the Pentagon's DIA, one Christopher Mellon (perhaps you've heard of the Mellon family? The largest depository bank in existence, the Bank of New York Mellon?) back around 2002.
Beginning to notice a pattern, one hopes..... -
On the post: There's A Secret Reason Why The Government Has To Keep It Secret How Many Americans It's Spying On Without A Warrant
sgt_doom ( profile ), 05 Jan, 2013 @ 11:09amRe: Re: Cato ? ? ?
Ad hominem? NONSENSE!
The entire reason d'etre for their existence is flawed, for the same exact reason as pertains to the Heritage Foundation, AEI, the Peterson Institute, Brookings, Hoover Institute, etc., etc.; they are simply part of the propaganda network of the super-rich.
If you are truly that gullible, or that ignorant, consider yourself in the hopeless category.....or else simply another fraudster. -
On the post: There's A Secret Reason Why The Government Has To Keep It Secret How Many Americans It's Spying On Without A Warrant
sgt_doom ( profile ), 05 Jan, 2013 @ 11:06amRe: Re: Cato ? ? ?
Oh lordy, a Tucker Carlson fan (he became a fellow there after his pathetic show bombed, the usual MO for rightwing losers)!
Cato was funded by the Kochs and other hedge funds for specific reasons, spreading influencing, misinforming, etc., etc.
Yes indeedy they are most disingenuous as are the the skank tanks which are routinely given interviews by EVERY show of the American propaganda network (so-called "media") reported as the news (same stooges appear on FoxFiction, NPR, CNN, CNBC, etc., ad nauseum).
Since the du Pont family first funded the American Enterprise Institue, these skank tanks have existed for one primary reason and one primary reason only, propaganda, and their explosion back in the late 1970s, as to both number and increase in funding, was for that specific purpose, along with the national consolidation of the news across the spectrum.
Senseless parsing as to this lawsuit or that Koch bros. bickering with one of their investments to the contrary, it is besides the point.
When Tucker Carlson appears at Cato, or Judy Miller receives a highly-paid position at the neocon Manhattan Institute after having to leave the NY Times for writing those planted "WMDs in Iraq" stories for her buddy, Dick Cheney, or the FBI agent in charge of the Warren Commission investigation (from the FBI's old Division 5), who would go on to a highly lucrative position with the Hoover Institute at Stanford, the pattern is always the same.
Anyone who subscribes to anything from Heritage, AEI, Cato, Brookings, Hoover, the (David Rockefeller/Peter G. Peterson) Peterson Institute, is either sadly duped, or one career fraudster.
'Nuff said...... -
On the post: There's A Secret Reason Why The Government Has To Keep It Secret How Many Americans It's Spying On Without A Warrant
sgt_doom ( profile ), 04 Jan, 2013 @ 09:34amCato ? ? ?
While I appreciate this blog post, this is pretty ancient stuff, and the fact that the Koch Bros.' Cato Institute is finally publishing it, should warrant some wariness on everyone's part.
Whether it's the Cato Institute, the American Enterprise Institute, Brookings Institution, the Heritage Foundation, the Peterson Institute, et al. ad nauseum, nothing of truth will come forward from those skank tanks.
When Pew Charitable Trusts and Pew Research Center releases their psychometrically timed reports, the purpose is to divide and conquer, setting one gender, or age group, or ethnic group, etc., against another.
In this case, Cato is warning us about "the government" -- rather specious given who actually owns and controls the government -- in fact, an outrageous insult to the intelligence of any American with a decent complement of neurons!!!!!
The only three pristine and honest and real "think tanks" I am aware of (after many decades of volunteer political activism) are:
Demos
Economic Policy Institute (EPI)
Institute for Policy Studies
But those other skank tanks I mentioned should be taken with a few mega-tons of salt..... -
On the post: The Inevitable Post-Tragedy Witch Hunt: 'Mass Effect' Facebook Page Attacked Because Of Link To Misidentified Shooting Suspect
sgt_doom ( profile ), 17 Dec, 2012 @ 10:52amBut most of all....
....they demonstrated an unfailing authoritarian belief in the police??????????
That pretty much sums up their pathetic mental state. -
On the post: The Inevitable Post-Tragedy Witch Hunt: 'Mass Effect' Facebook Page Attacked Because Of Link To Misidentified Shooting Suspect
sgt_doom ( profile ), 17 Dec, 2012 @ 10:50amRe:
Given his mother's beliefs and his brother's actions, he will probably wish to keep a low profile for quite some time.....
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On the post: The Inevitable Post-Tragedy Witch Hunt: 'Mass Effect' Facebook Page Attacked Because Of Link To Misidentified Shooting Suspect
sgt_doom ( profile ), 17 Dec, 2012 @ 10:50amRe:
Usually, as in this case, the mentally deranged end up ending their own life --- somehow, I don't think they are in any condition to be "rewarded" --- your logic seemply doesn't stand up to reality.
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On the post: The Inevitable Post-Tragedy Witch Hunt: 'Mass Effect' Facebook Page Attacked Because Of Link To Misidentified Shooting Suspect
sgt_doom ( profile ), 17 Dec, 2012 @ 10:48amRe: Re: Re: Re: But, of course
No one can be quite sure as to the exact number, but here's one method to keep track.
https://twitter.com/dronestream -
On the post: The Inevitable Post-Tragedy Witch Hunt: 'Mass Effect' Facebook Page Attacked Because Of Link To Misidentified Shooting Suspect
sgt_doom ( profile ), 17 Dec, 2012 @ 10:44amRe:
"I don't understand how it became "law" that everyone had to be in lockstep agreement on all issues."
Aaaahhh....because there now are only five corporations, highly financially interlocked, which control the bulk of the so-called media in America, whereas back in the early 1960s there were over 1,000?
The herd concensus movement really became apparent around 1990, when douchetards began wearing casual corporate shirts to announce who they worked for.
I certainly don't take the blame for problems foisted upon myself or others, FR, so I'm not sure about the logic of such a remark?
Back in the 1960s, before the absolute consolidation of the media (for which we have to thank Presidents Reagan and Clinton et al.), publications as disparate as Vogue, Ladies Home Journal and Reader's Digest would run highly analytical and questioning stories about the super-flaky Warren Commission Report, and murders surround the Kennedy assassination.
Today, all the Corporate McNews religiously covers only those stooges illiterately referring to all facts as "conspiracy theory." -
On the post: The Inevitable Post-Tragedy Witch Hunt: 'Mass Effect' Facebook Page Attacked Because Of Link To Misidentified Shooting Suspect
sgt_doom ( profile ), 17 Dec, 2012 @ 10:39amRe: Re: Re: Re: But, of course
Yes, but you get far, far fewer of them. The stats speak plainly where weaponry is concerned, those with firearms easily purchased experience the highest murder rates, and suicide-by-gunshot rates.
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On the post: The Inevitable Post-Tragedy Witch Hunt: 'Mass Effect' Facebook Page Attacked Because Of Link To Misidentified Shooting Suspect
sgt_doom ( profile ), 17 Dec, 2012 @ 10:37amThe Motive
"...as law enforcement had named him as the gunman before issuing a correction."
Justified? Anyone who believes the coppers, after all the video footage and photos of cops around the country attacking, maiming, pepper spraying the young law-abiding protesters, young women and elderly women, etc., during those "Occupy" protests, must be among the most gullible types in existence?
They most certainly believed every generation of the Bush family, no doubt, especially that last one and his "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq, huh?
The Motive
Today, some highly paid, brainless twit on the Wall Street Journal News Online, reported that police were searching for the motive for the mass murder of children at a Connecticut elementary school.
The motive?
An Afghanistani sheep herder returned to his home and found the scattered body parts of his wife and children. He gathered up their remains and gave them a proper burial, then sat and pondered the motive of the Americans who sent the drone to do that horrible killing.
The motive?
The super-rich laid off workers and offshored their jobs to the cheapest sweatshop in Bangladesh and workers there died horribly due to extremely substandard conditions, and Walmart falsely claims no knowledge of the location of their factories nor origins of the product.
The motive?
A major war occurs among European countries and an extraordinary number of soldiers die a horrible death from mustard gas, while Paul Warburg was the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank (less publicity at that position, he had been offered the chairmanship) and Paul?s brother, Max Warburg, was the financial advisor to the Kaiser (the German ruler) and director of the German central bank.
The motive?
Many eons ago, in an Asian war, the team I was with was ordered to destroy a village of innocents to cover up a command mistake --- instead, we fragged the brigadier general who was on site and had issued the order, then blamed his death on ?the enemy.?
Our motive was clear: murder the guilty to save the innocent.
I make no claim to understand the motives of the mentally ill, the psychopaths and the greedheads, but perhaps the answer lies within reach.
The president of the University of Washington once clerked for Supreme Court Justice Rehnquist when he rendered the decision to empty out mental institutions and set the stage for defunding mental health in America, perhaps that UW president knows the motive?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/pain-continues-after-war-for-american-drone-pilot-a-872726.html -
On the post: The Inevitable Post-Tragedy Witch Hunt: 'Mass Effect' Facebook Page Attacked Because Of Link To Misidentified Shooting Suspect
sgt_doom ( profile ), 17 Dec, 2012 @ 10:33amRe: Re: But, of course
You are absolutely right, anon, which is why America should immediately send nukes to non-nuke countries, so that everyone will possess nukes against everyone else, crazies be damned!
First, Iran (North Korea apparently already has a couple), next Bahrain, so they can stop the Saudi Arabian army the next time it enteres their country to kill protesters. -
On the post: Stuxnet's Infection Of Chevron Shows Why 'Weaponized' Malware Is A Bad Idea
sgt_doom ( profile ), 21 Nov, 2012 @ 10:21amRe: No, this is GOOD news!
Excellent points, especially 'cause those phony powers-that-be (the political lackeys of Wall Street) continuously proclaim that China is the New Enemy (after offshoring all the jobs, technology, and investment there), when it was Micro$oft who opened their OS source code to them, then next the Canadian computer scientists discovered how China had penetrated and inserted malware in at least 1,300 computers in embassies all around the world, discovered by in 2009, after almost 2 years of their monitoring activated cams and microphones in said penetrated computers.
Re: Before we get carried away here
Ya mean, sort of like, the US hacking into a Chinese IXP (Internet eXchange Point) and then originating cyber attacks from there, and claiming it was from China?
Also a possibility.......