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Comment Spin Control (Score 1) 671

The US government will spin this as a leak of delicate secret documents. Whereas Snowden made a distinction between actions taken by government agencies that violated US citizens' constitutional rights and other state secrets that may put an agent's life in danger. It is the former that he outed while trying to mitigate the risks of the latter. However, the US government will say that Snowden is not one to distinguish the former from the latter. Moreover, they have no guarantee that more delicate state secrets were not compromised. They just have Snowden's word to go on. As such, the US government will throw the book at him. His position was to follow orders, not question them. Obama pretty much reiterated this. Agreeing or disagreeing with what Snowden did is incidental, the US will still stick to their policies and will mete out punishment accordingly. Also, they will set an example with Snowden as a deterrent to other would be leakers/whistleblowers.

Comment Tai Chi! (Score 1) 208

I want to be one of those old Asians who do tai chi in the park at early hours. I see California Raisin old Chinese men buying condoms at drug stores. The closest thing I do as a Caucasian is make obscene gestures at the bus as it zips off before I reach my stop. Time for a lifestyle change.

Comment VLC, the BEST (Score 2) 85

I am always blown away by how great VLC is. Whether on a Libre or proprietary OS platform, I know VLC is always has by back for audio/video playback. I recall when I first started watching movies on a computer, VLC played the file, ANY file! Also DVD's in whatever region(!!!) played. Sure, the proprietary OS's grumble, but the Libre OS version played the DVD, region one or two just fine. Now that I am in school working with audio/video and VLC constantly reminds me of its value. Our of all the proprietary media players out there, VLC blows them out of the water. Thanks VLC!

Comment "Lenovo Allegedly Installing "Superfish" Proxy..." (Score 1) 248

Well, it just so happens that when you install a nice, secure OS instead of the spyware that comes with your Lenovo product, you do not have to worry about this issue. It will not inject nasty stuff. Isn't that nice? Try a nice GNU/Linux OS or one of the BSD's. Also, who uses google these days anyway? So much nasty tracking going on! Also, if you insist on using Firefox, distro's iike Trisquel repackage it as "abrowser" and make it run more securely. Turn that frown upside down!

Comment Re:Nonsense. (Score 1) 248

We're talking about Lenovo installing some malware crap on the Windows OS when you get your machine out of the box. I'm talking about wiping the OS or plucking in another fresh drive and installing a fresh, secure OS. Once you surf on the interwebs, you take your chances and use your precautions like anyone else. My point was that though some complain of Lenovo's practise of third party software crap, keep in mind that the Windows OS is not much better.

Comment Nonsense. (Score 1) 248

Really guys? This is on the Windows side. The Windows OS is one massive piece of malware. It is like you are crying over a cut when there is a massive gaping shotgun blast through the chest. Once you agree to the Windows terms of service, you are already compromised. They now have you signing in with your microsoft ID account that tracks you anyway. However, once you install GNU/Linux or Open BSD or any freedom respecting software like Trisquel or FreeSlack or Dragora, they cannot do anything to you. Lenovo makes nice laptops.

Comment Decentralize! (Score 2) 239

The USA was the pinacle for all e-business, from e-mail to hosting to operating systems. With the snowden revelations and Wikileaks, people are now wising up to the inherent issues of digital hegemony. Now other countries host their own e-mails and websites, new methods of payment are cultivated (like Bitcoin), and non-US variants of operating systems are also getting developed. Once the US is no longer the only game in town and people have other options, then it will no longer matter how draconian the US wants to get. Sure, the US is powerful, but I see other places getting savvy about tech so that en masse, or as a collective, they can slow down the imperial hegemony and her 'five eyes'. I used to do all my e-business with the US, as they were the only game in town. Now, I can (and do) go elsewhere! So if America continues to behave this way, people will simply look for or create alternatives. The schoolyard bully can only dominate for so long. The age of empire is over.

Comment You have a choice. (Score 1) 551

I am surprised by the ilk who claim GNU/Libre centric projects like Trisquel, FreeSlack, Ututo, Dragora, Parabola, Blag (please restart that cool distro) et al and attendant free software like Emacs does not respect their freedom to deploy proprietary software when they wish. Free software projects are the minority, non-free is the majority. For some of us, free software is important and we choose to pursue this. Those who choose otherwise, you have Windows, Apple, and so on. You don't have to use Libre software. Don't like Emacs? Want a proprietary version of Emacs? Go make it the proprietary dream text editor you want it to be. Decades ago Stallman had a dream of a free operating system and now I benefit from it. Stallman is not getting a massive paycheck for free software, unlike the proprietary counterparts. Stallman was clever enough to draw up the documentation and frame work for how free software can function--not for his benefit, but for all. He fights, not for himself, but the User. I understand there are people who disagree with his ideas, to you I say, 'kindly move along, there is nothing to see here.' For a while, free software is more convenient in some respects than non-free. However, non-free software proponents have deep pockets and are coming up with ways to make their work more convenient than free (at the moment). Stallman says between convenience and freedom, he picks the latter. So please, if proprietary floats your boat, knock yourself out. In schools, workplaces, and other environs, non-free operating systems and programs are the default so I already have more than enough proprietary software in my dietary intake. It is only now that free/Libre software is really a viable option. I am happy to first see, then use Free/Libre software that actually works, and now computers (and phones!) built around the idea of free hardware and software. I want this, but my choices are limited. If proprietary, dude, the choices never stop. So what's the freak out? Why do you deny a varied ecosystem of choice? What's it to you if some of us prefer freedom?

Comment Show all terrorists (Score 1) 645

Sure, show the wanton destruction of ISIS, as well as Syria, Egypt, Israel, USA, UK, France--it is one thing to show the barbarity of the Middle Easterners, but also show our barbarity too. Only difference is we draw a bigger body count by far. It is one thing to read about our drones and bombers killing people, but it is another thing to show. If our society could see what we were doing on our foreign ventures, maybe we might start questioning the validity.

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