JohnJac's Favorite Posts Of The Weeks

from the bad-gov't,-bad dept

Last week JohnJac totally dominated the favorite comments, so we figured we might as well let him do the favorite posts of the week this week.

I really, really, wanted this post to be funny and optimistic. However as I read Techdirt, it became clear this week had a theme: governments over-reacting to technology.  This point was driven home when Egypt shut their people off from the Internet:

• Egypt Trying To Shut Off All Internet Access, SMS  

I've snickered in the past at other governments' attempts to block skype or to block all of YouTube over a single video.  If you had asked me last week, would a government go so far as to shut all internet access down, I would have told you no way.

While we're on the subject, check out this post over at Marginal Revolution, talking about how this move is likely to backfire for the Egyptian government.

Other governments are not immune from over-reaction, but thankfully not to the extent Egypt has gone.

• Government Putting Quite A Lot Of Effort Into Tracking Down 'Anonymous'
• Nanny State: More Politicians Against Pedestrians Listening To Headphones Or Texting
• Spanish Gov't Simply Reinstates US-Driven Copyright Bill, Despite It Being Voted Down
• US Government Pushing Pro And Anti-Privacy Internet Rules At The Same Time
• How Facebook Dealt With The Tunisian Government Trying To Steal Every User's Passwords
• Massachussetts Legislature Bans Twitter From Office Computers
• Artist Facing 15 Years In Jail For The Crime Of Videotaping His Own Arrest

I love to hear some comments below on how 'we the people' can help our governments understand and not fear technology.  Half my professional career was spent working for a state government in a technical roll, and I'm still at a loss as to how this can change.

But all hope isn't lost:

• Senator Wyden Proposing Legislation Requiring Warrants For Law Enforcement To Get Device Location Info

On the lighter side, there is hope that people are using all the tools available to them to create something new.  The standout story here is Pomplamoose.  I just love what they are doing.

• Pomplamoose On Making A Career While Making Music They Like  

My Favorite Comment of the week goes to John B.  On Mike's story about Lee Harvey Oswald's coffin, John B. said this:  "This post isn't about tech, but it's about dirt, so there's that."

Many thanks to Mike and the Techdirt Community for letting me share my thoughts.

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