KG2V's Ramblings

Fin

2021-01-13T16:36:00.001-05:00

The blog has moved to
blog.thegallos.com

Citizens United, Twitter, Facebook and Amazon

2021-01-13T13:20:00.000-05:00

How do you feel about the Citizens United (CU) court case?

Have you realized there is a direct parallel to what happened this weekend with Twitter, Facebook (FB) and Amazon (AWS) ? (For purposes of this post I'll call them all Twitter unless I need to make a distinction)

The CU case was about corporate speech. CU said they have the right to free speech. Guess what, so does Twitter. The 3 companies have the perfect right to ban ANYONE they want. Just like a bakery doesn't have to bake a cake, Twitter doesn't have to host someone (If you feel otherwise, you might want to check your hypocrisy level)

BUT

It is a bit worrisome.
Right now, Twitter and FB are the de facto (but not de jure ) public square. Do I want to regulate this? Nope.

What we DO have is an antitrust issue. Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Google (alphabet) etc. are too large and control too much of the internet. Want an interesting experiment? Block the IP addresses the belong to Alphabet, and try to use your computer. Good luck.

I develop software. Part of developing a solution is looking at risk. Amazon shutting down Parlar made me realize my old boss was right. The cloud is a BIG risk, and you are beholden to the companies that host your data. If your cloud host decides one day that they don't like you, or your product, you are DONE (almost all the Cloud APIs are proprietary)

Oh, and if you are really bent about last week, I have a question. How do you feel about 1983 US Senate bombing by the "Resistance Conspiracy" and the related bombings of Ft McNair and the Washington Navy Yard? One of the people convicted, Linda Evans was pardoned by Bill Clinton, and now serves on the board of BLM

Disclaimers:
1)I'm a Republican
2)I didn't vote for DJT
3)The rioters we jackasses and worse
4)I never used Twitter except as a data input terminal (via DMs) to a piece of software and as an OAuth provider

Still has a twitter account

2021-01-12T16:21:00.002-05:00

Stolen from reddit

2021-01-12T15:36:00.003-05:00

Wow, I haven't posted in years

2021-01-12T12:55:00.000-05:00

Looks like 8 years since I posted here. I MAY open a blog on a server I control, no longer trusting services supplied by big tech

For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

2012-11-07T08:18:00.000-05:00

OK Folks, it is official - after the 21st, my hours go down to 20 hours/week. The Gardener gets his walking papers, ditto the house cleaners. Back to doing my own home repairs etc. Volunteer time is going to ZERO. Charity donations going to ZERO. You can't tax what I don't earn or spend, and you won't get the fruits of my free labor. I get more free time to do what I want

Wesley Mouch, I am John Galt

Bumble Bee

2012-10-05T07:01:00.000-04:00

Bumble bee on a cold morning, West Hurly, NY

NYC Osprey

2012-09-26T07:11:00.001-04:00

Osprey behind APEC Sunday Sept 23

FIRST NYC 2012 Regional

2012-09-26T07:09:00.003-04:00

NYC 2012 regional - FIRST robotics. The Bronx Science all Girls "Fe Maidens" line dancing during a break in the competition

Plover

2012-09-25T07:04:00.004-04:00

Plover (Maybe a Piping, maybe a Semipalmated) behind APEC 9/23
Edit - NY State DEC is saying that it is a Juvenile Semipalmated

C&O 614

2012-09-23T08:52:00.003-04:00

C&O 614 at Port Jervis, circa 2001 - scan from Kodachome slide #steamysunday #canon #canonphotography Camera was an old T-90

2011 ING NYC Marathon Mile 14

2012-09-20T06:44:00.002-04:00

2011 ING NYC Marathon Mile 14

Roebling Bridge (Aqueduct)

2012-09-19T00:30:00.000-04:00

The Roebling Bridge (Aqueduct) is the oldest suspension bridge in the United States. Opened in 1847, it originally carried a canal across the Delaware River, but today carries a small road

Mud Landing

2012-09-18T07:18:00.000-04:00

#NYC #birdloversworldwide #birdphotography #birdphotographs #canonphotography #canon

White Bird, Grey Skys

2012-09-17T07:09:00.001-04:00

After a week of nice light, when I finally get out Saturday AM - Nada

Gull in Winter plumage

2012-09-16T13:57:00.003-04:00

Gull in winter plumage - by Ft Totten

#NYC #birdloversworldwide #birdphotography #birdphotographs #canonphotography #canon

US FIRST Robotics

2012-09-15T02:12:00.000-04:00

Last season, my daughter got involved with USFIRST Robotics. Her school The Bronx High School of Science (which is also my Alma Mata) has two teams, the All girls "Fe Maidens" #2265 and the Sciborgs #1155. Here we see the Sciborgs getting ready for a preliminary match at the NYC Regionals

Banded Egret

2012-09-14T17:44:00.000-04:00

"Banded" egret. As usual, part of my "You won't believe you're in #NYC" (except for the bottle by the bird's foot)
#NYC #birdloversworldwide #birdphotography #birdphotographs #canonphotography #canon

Down in the Swamp #3

2012-09-12T06:06:00.004-04:00

Another "You won't believe you're in #NYC" #birdphotography #birdloversworldwide

No Photo today

2012-09-11T08:11:00.001-04:00

Remember. A Tuesday, Dem primary here in NYC (which it would be today if they didn't move it to Thursday), cool, clear blue sky, just like today.... It was 11 year ago this morning..

Down in the swamp #2

2012-09-09T15:04:00.001-04:00

Swamp Sparrow - Another swamp sparrow from yesterday. Probably the first bird photo I'm really happy how it came out

Down in the swamp #1

2012-09-08T15:57:00.001-04:00

One from an early morning in the local wetlands.
Got up early, knowing low tide was 9:30am or so, figure get in, and in place before 7:00am, try to get some more egret/great blue heron shots. Guess what never showed?

Did see a green heron on the way in, and some swamp sparrows (both of which I got pics of) and some stuff I didn't (kingfisher, sandpipers etc). Ended up leaving about 9:00am, as the weather started getting UGLY, in fact we had a line of T-storms that generated a tornado come through maybe 45 mins later.

Photo is of an immature swamp sparrow

Shadow

2012-09-08T00:30:00.000-04:00

Shadow, my really shy guy

Floral Friday

2012-09-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

#FloralFriday

Bayside Jetty

2012-09-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

Yet another "You're in NYC" post. This photo is also up in Queens - Throgs Neck bridge in the background