It’s Friday, December 30, 2011 and infection, outbreak and illegal immigration.
In case you’re wondering, the Department of Homeland Security is wanting to start monitoring social media sites and blogs for certain keywords.
Happy New Year, guys/gals!
Actually though, I’m kinda thinking it might be a good thing. Given that a lot of the “Arab Spring” festivities were largely coordinated and promulgated via social media, it might be a good idea for our government to put a finger on that particular pulse.
I don’t think anything like the upheavals in the middle-east are even remotely possible here,(regardless of the Occupy Doofusry gang) because that’s not the way we roll. It might be a good idea for at least someone in the federal government to watch for trends that indicate that a lot of people are pissed off about a particular thing.
Yeah, I know. I earlier thought this was a stupid idea. But since most people are too stupid and or lazy to take the time to write a letter/email/fax to their elected representatives, this might be a way for the government to at least have some vague clue about what’s going on.
Or, it could be that we’ve just come to believe that actually writing a letter is futility. I’ve personally written all three members of Montana’s congressional delegation and for each time was rewarded with a canned response that only glancingly addressed my concerns.
Plus, it got me added to their campaign mailing lists, so thanks for that.
What’s more is that it might also provide a snapshot of what’s on our minds that’s abundantly more accurate than polls and surveys. With polls and surveys, you only get to respond to the questions asked. In a tweet or Facebook post, you can be more verbose: “This sucks and here is why.”
Given their mission, Homeland Security might not be the appropriate entity for this, but aside from creating another government agency, I know of no other obvious alternative. That being said, I’m a little worried about what results of their monitoring are reported and to whom. Am I gonna see a black Chevy suburban following me around tomorrow?
Privacy groups are naturally pitching a fit about the proposal, but I gotta wonder where the expectation of privacy is here? Your Facebook post about strawberry jam is supposed to be visible only to the people you specify, but come on now, it’s the Internet. How do you think Facebook, Twitter and the other social media sites are able to provide their service to you for free?
They’re selling your information to outfits that want to advertise stuff to you. You got zero expectation of privacy here. In fact, if you actually read the agreement, you’ll see that you agreed to this. Maybe this is a way for us to get a more clued-in, more responsive government?
And maybe monkeys will fly out of my butt.
Off we go…
“Schtroumphs” is actually French for “Smurfs.”
It never ceases to amaze me, what passes for “food” in some parts of the world:
Seafood from the sea is so yesterday:
My Korean is a but iffy, but near as I can tell, the new Beloved Supreme Uber Victorious Leader, Kim Jong Un plans to send a huge, red guy to smash the US Capitol building:
Right after they get their bacon dispensing machine working:
Might as well be comfortable while taking pot shots at enemy jets:
How my cell phone bill is calculated:
Seriously lady, how the heck did you do that?
Should have tweeted instead:
Just don’t jump out the window, or you won’t get a margarita!
Here’s the latest polling data ahead of the Iowa caucuses!
Instead of listing the candidates, I added some green peppers. More interesting (and relevant) that way.
And I think that’ll do it.
Last blog for 2011! Have a safe and happy New Year celebration! Please, I’m begging you, I’ll get on my knees if you want, but please don’t drink (or toke or anything that impairs you, even a little) and drive. I need to keep all the readers (all 12 of you) that I can!
See you in the Year of the Dragon!
Close out the year for us, RFG!
