here is quite a bit of twitterpation about a a certain outreach initiative among the US armed-forces and the trans-national military-industrial complex called Operation Metal Gear, that is really a novel and new form of owning up to skull-duggery.
This program is designed, ostensibly, to render formerly anonymous posts and social network activity into a form of self-incriminating libel by filling in the connections and transitions of bloggers and social-butterflies. Personnally, I became very suspicious of bookface once the US army embraced it and removed nearly all restrictions on networks for friends, though admittedly it makes it easier for many people to pretend that they are working. The operation's second, though perhaps primary, goal is to raise an army of sockpuppet (bot or spam) accounts in order to manipulate public opinion.
Thursday 17 March 2011
auto-archive or bait-and-switch
catagories: ๐ฅธ, networking and blogging
Wednesday 16 March 2011
duck and cover
The Cold War with bleak spectors of destruction and mutual mistrust was a very frightening backdrop for anyone, especially for those growing up and inheriting a standoff little understood or explained. Brave and dignified, no riots, looting or panic--though it would be OK to say one was afraid--the Japanese do not need to contend the added pressures of outside speculation. Help and prayers are there and are not to be begrudged with coaching and criticism.
There have been accidents and close calls all along, possibly from which nothing was learnt, but it was never broadcast in such a way that they are open to everyone's speculation and interpretation. I was reminded of the dreary, anachronistic film with Gregory Peck and Frank Sinatra "On the Beach," that is by far the most poignant and depressing apocalyptic movie made. Another contender for its futility is Nicholas Cage in "Knowing." On the Beach is set in a world whose atmosphere is poisoned by the nuclear fallout of World War III and the only habitatable zone is left is in Austrailia. The line, "Let this not all be in vain," is absolutely crushing and haunting. The reality for countless people is horrid enough without imagined and stagey eschatolgy, and it can be worked through, together, with a better outlook on the future.
catagories: ⚛️, ๐ฏ๐ต, ๐, ๐ฌ, networking and blogging
ee-i-ee-i-o
It is difficult to gauge what response is in line with the deteriorating nuclear situation, and how that sentiment ought to be translated to atomic energy globally. No one can say how bad it is and what, hypothetically, could happen.
Cloudmaker II, from my office window--not among the reactors
built before 1980 in Germany and scheduled to be taken off-line
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catagories: ⚛️, foreign policy
Tuesday 15 March 2011
elective-affinities or great caesar's ghost
catagories: ๐ง , foreign policy, revolution
Monday 14 March 2011
GAU und super-GAU
Sunday 13 March 2011
Save the Children: Emergency Relief for Japan Quake
Toll free (US): 800-728-3843
Text (US) JAPAN or 20222 to donate.
The American Red Cross: Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief
Text (US) REDCROSS or 90999 to make $10 donation by text message.
SMS (DE) DRK at 81190 to make a 5 euro donation.
Salvation Army
Toll free (US): 800-SAL-ARMY
Text (US) QUAKE or 80888 to donate $10
Doctors Without Borders
Global Giving
Text (US) JAPAN or 50555 to donate $10
Saturday 12 March 2011
kid charlemagne
mothra versus godzilla
Despite outstanding preparation, response and containment on the part of government and communities, there are only poor, boundless words to describe the shock and sympathy over the devastation and loss for the people of Japan in the wake of this earthquake and tsunami that threatened to carpet the rest of the Pacific.