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Politics as usual
Dec. 21st, 2010 08:09 pmWell, as if it weren't bad enough that the Obama administration sold out his promise of real universal health care in favor of a worthless bill that does nothing but protect the profitability of big insurance and medical corporations; sold out on tax cuts by extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans who do NOT need them; stood in the way of the courts on "Don't Ask Don't Tell" just so he could pretend to be signing a law that matters in "repealing" what the courts have already stricken as unconstitutional...
Today the FCC held a "conference" on Net Neutrality, one whose outcome was already pre-determined. It became very clear during the phony discussion that none of the commissioners understand what net neutrality is or why it matters. But they still passed a set of rules (written by the big cable and phone companies) that they claim will protect the "free internet." In fact, those rules will do just the opposite. They allow cell phone companies to censor with abandon anything they choose. They allow the big networking companies to charge extra to "expedite" certain traffic (so wealthy corporations like Amazon, Google or WalMart can buy faster access for the public to use their web marketing sites, pushing aside any remaining competition.) And lastly, they allow the creation of a "private, extra cost" internet for the use of the wealthy corporations and their minions, leaving the rest of us peons out of the equation. Read more about it here, and sign a petition if you like. Not that the government cares one rat turd what you think, but hey, why not?
If you still thought there was any difference between the two big parties, think again. They are both in the business of selling us all to the highest bidder and carrying home the spoils for their own personal use. The only thing any of the commissioners said that actually made sense was the statement that providers of free network access, such as wireless hotspots in coffee shops (Starbucks) and restaurants (McDonald's) are under no obligation to provide free and unfettered access to all content. At the same time, though, they said that even if you pay $70 or $150 a month or more for network access, your provider is still allowed to "filter" and "prioritize" what you can get. So if Comcast or AT&T want to make it much harder for you to read one website than it is to read another, they are free to do so. And believe me, they will do so the minute they see extra dollars or extra political advantage in doing it.
In other news, I just made up a batch of ginger molasses cookie dough (my mother's recipe) and it's chilling so I can roll, cut, and bake them early tomorrow morning. I'm now pondering the viability of making Gary's grandmother's pierogi (stuffed dumplings) yet tonight. It's a big deal and I'm not sure I want to tackle it by myself. He's at a choir practice (or party, I'm not sure which) and I'm holding off to see if he gets back at a reasonable time. It's probably a two hour job, as you make the dumpling dough, roll and cut it, stuff each one and crimp the edges, boil them in salt water, drain, chill, roll in crumbs, and freeze. On Christmas they will be thawed, rolled in more crumbs, and fried in butter until browned and crispy around the edges. His family favors meat filling (pot roast, pork roast, onion and celery ground up) but I discovered that I can use a canned beef hash and they like it just as well. I like the ones that are filled with sauerkraut or mushrooms, or occasionally cheese and potato. I haven't made these in several years, but I do know how to do it and my product has passed muster several times before. Since no one else in the family does it now that grandma is gone, it's likely to be a big hit at Christmas dinner.
Oh, and the weather today was even more obnoxious than yesterday. It got warm and damp enough to make dense fog that lasted all day. Visibility about 250 feet at most and sometimes as low as 100. Driving home was nasty, because though most people were being sensible and slowing down, there were just enough impatient idiots leapfrogging along passing everyone on the two lane roads to make it a deadly risk for everyone.
Today the FCC held a "conference" on Net Neutrality, one whose outcome was already pre-determined. It became very clear during the phony discussion that none of the commissioners understand what net neutrality is or why it matters. But they still passed a set of rules (written by the big cable and phone companies) that they claim will protect the "free internet." In fact, those rules will do just the opposite. They allow cell phone companies to censor with abandon anything they choose. They allow the big networking companies to charge extra to "expedite" certain traffic (so wealthy corporations like Amazon, Google or WalMart can buy faster access for the public to use their web marketing sites, pushing aside any remaining competition.) And lastly, they allow the creation of a "private, extra cost" internet for the use of the wealthy corporations and their minions, leaving the rest of us peons out of the equation. Read more about it here, and sign a petition if you like. Not that the government cares one rat turd what you think, but hey, why not?
If you still thought there was any difference between the two big parties, think again. They are both in the business of selling us all to the highest bidder and carrying home the spoils for their own personal use. The only thing any of the commissioners said that actually made sense was the statement that providers of free network access, such as wireless hotspots in coffee shops (Starbucks) and restaurants (McDonald's) are under no obligation to provide free and unfettered access to all content. At the same time, though, they said that even if you pay $70 or $150 a month or more for network access, your provider is still allowed to "filter" and "prioritize" what you can get. So if Comcast or AT&T want to make it much harder for you to read one website than it is to read another, they are free to do so. And believe me, they will do so the minute they see extra dollars or extra political advantage in doing it.
In other news, I just made up a batch of ginger molasses cookie dough (my mother's recipe) and it's chilling so I can roll, cut, and bake them early tomorrow morning. I'm now pondering the viability of making Gary's grandmother's pierogi (stuffed dumplings) yet tonight. It's a big deal and I'm not sure I want to tackle it by myself. He's at a choir practice (or party, I'm not sure which) and I'm holding off to see if he gets back at a reasonable time. It's probably a two hour job, as you make the dumpling dough, roll and cut it, stuff each one and crimp the edges, boil them in salt water, drain, chill, roll in crumbs, and freeze. On Christmas they will be thawed, rolled in more crumbs, and fried in butter until browned and crispy around the edges. His family favors meat filling (pot roast, pork roast, onion and celery ground up) but I discovered that I can use a canned beef hash and they like it just as well. I like the ones that are filled with sauerkraut or mushrooms, or occasionally cheese and potato. I haven't made these in several years, but I do know how to do it and my product has passed muster several times before. Since no one else in the family does it now that grandma is gone, it's likely to be a big hit at Christmas dinner.
Oh, and the weather today was even more obnoxious than yesterday. It got warm and damp enough to make dense fog that lasted all day. Visibility about 250 feet at most and sometimes as low as 100. Driving home was nasty, because though most people were being sensible and slowing down, there were just enough impatient idiots leapfrogging along passing everyone on the two lane roads to make it a deadly risk for everyone.
