via HBO…
Makin’ laws… blowin’ bubbles… makin’ laws…
Even though the legislators have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.
The House State Affairs Committee got hung up when Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, objected to a clause in a bill from Rep. Steve Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, that sought to outlaw Internet harassment, because it listed “MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, Twitter” along with personal blogs. Labrador asked if there was “a technical term or a term of art” that could be used, rather than listing commercial names. Hartgen responded with a stab: “Internet posting sites?” But as the committee moved along, Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, jumped in, saying, “They’re called social networking sites.” Later, Crane, 34, chuckled when teased about being the only committee member who knew that, and said he uses Facebook. “I think it’s a great way to connect with your constituents, I really do,” he said.
I’d find it amusing if I didn’t find it so scary.
Rep. Steve Hartgen is pushing his little ‘tubes law that is surely to cost the state once they try to enforce it — but we can’t have people posting anonymously on the interwebs can we?
Updated:
Rep. Hartgen is dropping his bid against anonymous people on the ‘tubes.
Twitter and Facebook. It’s always amusing to me when the GOP thinks that they can just open up a blog (see: Bill Sali or Jim Risch) or social networking service and think that it’ll make the youngsters care about their candidacy.
Let me just say, I don’t have a Facebook profile, I don’t have much against Facebook (I care for its obnoxious owner* however) as a leaner more mature MySpace (which is the scurvy of the internet) — I really just don’t have the want or need for it.
But Twitter?! Jesus, that has to be the most inane social networking service out there.
*Mark Zuckerburg carries a business card that says “I’m CEO… Bitch”.
Which you obviously are… Then check out these two flash games that I think are pretty cool:
I think one of the reasons that this case is pretty fascinating to me is that there are many perspectives to this one story:
- Homosexuality
- Censorship in the library
- Online anonymity (most users)
- Online anonymity (public officials)
- Media coverage of local stories
- The power of a small group to enact policy that affects the community as a whole
I’m sure I’ll have some additional thoughts on some of these perspectives as the days wear on — whisperings would dictate there is still more to come of this.
Then we can get back to important things like beer, food and tunes.
One thing I love about the ‘tubes is that seemingly, everyone is an expert on everything. While I let the irony of that statement simmer down for a little bit, check out the Idaho Statesman forum RE: the officer involved shooting of Rudolph Andrade last Friday morning in Nampa. While this is a reoccurring thought that I have often, this thread was the one that got me writing about it.
Instead of waiting until we know exactly what happened early that morning, stupid people on the ‘tubes are arguing with other stupid people on the ‘tubes about who hates cops and who is blindly obedient. It is amusing if only in a mildly disturbingly sad way.
If there is one thing I’ve learned from my time on the interwebs it is that you cannot convince people to change their minds. Rarely have I ever heard some one say "Oh, yeah, you’re right". Which is partly why I mostly stay out of long argumentative threads, because mostly they are a waste of my time. Of course, there are some beneficial ones, this thread over at Red State Rebels is (in my mind) exactly how discussions on the internet should work. Of course this was a thread were most of those involved are of the same ideology, once you hit non-ideological sites such as the Idaho Statesman forums, things can get a bit dicier.
If you are so inclined make sure you check out some local forums to see what the locals are saying.
Idaho Statesman - comments on any story
Boise Weekly
Neurolux
Craigslist Boise - Politics
I’m sure there are plenty more hiding out in the nether regions of the internet concerning our local communities, I just haven’t found them yet. If there is one thing that can always be counted on, it is that there is never a shortage of clusters of stupidity on the ‘tubes.
…ah Sunday, the day of reckoning.
Getting directions to that unfamiliar place just got a whole lot easier.
Google’s Street View, where you can see a ground level image of any location has finally come to the valley. Not only does it help with directions, you can literally see what a building looks like before you get there, and you never know what Google’s cameras caught.
Playing around with seems like some really slow moving pointless video game — but pretty cool none the less. Sadly for us 2C folk, Google quit taking pictures right as they entered Nampa, but almost all of Meridian, Eagle, Boise and Kuna are available for your direction picture pleasure.
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