Priorities

“That is the mindset of the U.S. Government and its followers expressed as vividly as can be: we can spy on, imprison, or even kill anyone we want — including citizens — without any due process or any evidence shown, simply because we will tell you they are Bad People, and you will trust us and believe us.  That was absolutely the principal justification offered by Bush followers for everything their Leader did — I know they’re Terrorists because My President said so, so no courts or evidence is required – and that is now exactly the mindset of Obama loyalists to justify what he does[…].  

That mentality — he’s a Terrorist because my Government said he’s one and I therefore don’t need evidence or trials to subject that evidence to scrutiny — also happens to be the purest definition of an authoritarian mentality, the exact opposite of the dynamic that was supposed drive how the country functioned (Thomas Jefferson: “In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in men, but bind him down from mischief with the chains of the Constitution“).  I trust My President and don’t need to see evidence or have due process is the slavish mentality against which Jefferson warned; it’s also one of the most pervasive ones in much of the American citizenry, which explains a lot.”

Glenn Greenwald

I would love if just for a day, most of the “tech-world blogosphere” that has million of websites and views on endless Mac vs Linux vs Windows discussions or other insignificant issue, would read this and republish a bit of it on their blogs. Maybe then some of it would reach the American population (( and us Europeans too, we are not so far from this nightmarish behaviour… )) who stands idly by this kind of deterioration of their Republic and Human Rights.

Can we at least get a powerpoint or keynote file?

You are a terrorist. Yes, You!.

Apparently We, the US Gov, don’t need to have any proof. We just need the President to say so.

Never mind the Constitution.

I’m “sure” that there is plenty of evidence proving that Anwar Awlaki had blood on his hands. A judicial case proving it would be swell, but, because we trust Nobel Peace Prizer Winner Barack Obama so much, can we just get a simple document? A powerpoint presentation? (( or even better a Keynote presentation, they are much stronger in the reality distortion field… )) You know, just a draft of something stating that he was heard discussing something, somebody on the field identified him, his communications were intercepted and something on it was self-incriminating?

Just something that the rest of us can look upon and say, okay, the US Gov. is not just randomly killing his citizens without due process on the orders of its President.

Windows 8 bet

After i finally installed Vmware Fusion 4 yesterday, today i installed another Windows 8 Developer Preview. (( previous was running on VirtualBox and VB really doesn’t work that well… ))

After a one hour tortuous labyrinthic experience with it, i can safely bet this with you. When it is launched it will come with so many user options to revert behaviour and appearance features to “classical mode – windows 7 style” that it might as well simply come with 2 options on the install screen:

  • windows 8 UI mess of 2 systems;
  • old, sane, “the one you’re accustomed to”, Windows 7 UI;

Yes. I know it’s a developer/alpha preview. And again, i just played with it for an hour, and i intend to try it out much longer during the forthcoming year. But if i think by the eyes of the “regular joe”, the folks around me that always ask me to install things like printer drivers or that really don’t understand the whole concept of a file system and user Home folders, then, by those eyes, it’s going to be a slaughter…

Prepare for another “Vista leap” kind of thing. The one where folks ask to downgrade to Windows7 even before leaving the store. Guess the pattern for Microsoft now is a nearly-a-decade dominating OS, with several aborted trials in between.

Rounding error

“iOS powered devices generate more revenue than all of Microsoft’s products put together”

asymco


Microsoft Report

Apple Report


The charts above, from Horace Dediu at Asymco are amazing and pretty much a paper written proof of what everyone already feels instinctively. Microsoft is in deep trouble, their “evil empire” is crumbling and they haven’t manage to grow any enthusiasm or momentum (upwards i mean) in a long time. (( and no, i’m still playing with Windows 8 but i don’t think that it will save the ship. In fact i’m starting to think it will just sink it even more, because it tries to be everything to everyone while failing at it for every one. But let me play with it a little more… )) There is a lot more reflection on Asymcos original post so be sure to check it out.

The obvious joke at Steve Ballmer in the title of this post could have been forgotten or not used at all. But then again it’s just too easy to aim at him. That’s what you get for being a blind arrogant incompetent jerk most of your stage time.

Dear new HP CEO

“Update: I have been bombarded by readers asking to make this request into a petition to present to HP, so a poll has been added after the letter. Please indicate your desire to have HP revive either the TouchPad line or all webOS products. I have been promised that HP executives will see this petition.”

Mobile News – ZDNet

The only vote that counts, is the one that you do with your wallet. And when that vote’s “value” wasn’t slashed to 20%, nobody actually voted for it.

Although i will say that the “ballot” was closed real hastily. But if they didn’t mind then, why would they mind now? Just to make the previous guy look bad?

Oh! Wait…

Happy 1000 Anniversary Old Friend

Screen shot 2011 10 01 at 01 05 27

1000 battery charge cycles and counting. One month before “he” actually turns 3 years old. My faithful work tool, entertainer and “companion” if such a term can be used for a machine. But it endures with me, on my ramblings on the state of the world, of tech, of my country. It allows my work pursuits, my social chatting with distant friends and the satisfaction of my endless curiosity.

It truly is a “bicycle for the mind


A purchase from which i have absolutely no regrets. As a gift “he” received last week a RAM upgrade. It is now carrying 8 GB due to the “unofficial” firmware upgrade from Apple and no problem whatsoever. Only wish SSD drives would be more affordable, but then again, i’ve been wishing that since i’ve purchased this little fellow.