BlackBerry and Big Brother?

For most of us look for when the state makes it's latest power grabs to violate our rights but sometimes we tend to miss when companies attempt to get in good with the state. Yahoo News reports on Research in Motion (the company who actually makes the widely used smart phone) CEO Jim Balsillie on suggesting a national registry that governments can access messages that are sent and received on BlackBerries.

This paragraph seems to highlight the main motive behind this suggestion;

The controversy drew wide public attention last month when the United Arab Emirates announced plans to block BlackBerry e-mail, messaging and Web browsing services. Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Indonesia and India are considering or planning similar steps.

I can understand why Balsillie would suggest such a move, he wants to get a piece of the cellular market in those countries. However, kissing up to Big Brother always ends up badly in the long run. Luckily for us BlackBerry isn't the only smartphone company in town, Windows Mobile, IPhone and Android phones tend to be in the same price ranges as BlackBerry. Fighting companies that kiss up to the state should be fought with out wallets, not with more statism.

Ron Paul: Republicans Avoid All Talk of Cutting

Ron Paul says what most of us Libertarians have been thinking for awhile. He also doesn't rule out running in 2012.

Book Roasting

So various players in the political lexicon have condemned what this Church in Florida is doing. Which is burning Koran's on 9/11. Personally I have bigger things to do; like being productive and working than join a Christian Right circle jerk. Those who condemn them in reality give them what they want; attention. Assholes thrive on attention and controversy, the best way to beat an asshole is to ignore them.