Hoc cogitans: sic loquor.

Oh, Mary, don't you weep, don't you mourn.
Oh, Mary, don't you weep, don't you mourn.
Didn't Pharaoh's army get drowned?
Oh, Mary, don't you weep.

-- Aretha Franklin, "Mary, Don't You Weep"

What I said today in regards to freedom of association:

There are all sorts of arguments that I could make, but I'm just going to do the legal one: You've never had a "freedom of association" right in the USA. It's not in the Constitution. It's not in the Bill of Rights. It's always been an implied part of the 1st Amendment, and implied means it is not absolute.

Your ability to freely associate has been governed by caselaw and statute since the founding of this nation in 1789. Civil rights modifies your freedom of association, along with court cases like Roberts v. United States Jaycee (1984). While freedom of association is an essential part of freedom of speech [as specified in NAACP vs. Alabama (1958)], it is not unrestricted and it can be restricted. This is no different than how speech itself may be restricted and is absolute.

So if you want to have this absolute freedom of association enshrined? Get an Amendment passed. But don't bleat at me how businesses should have this absolute freedom of association without it.

They took the credit for your second symphony.
Rewritten by machine and new technology,
And now I understand the problems you can see.
-- The Buggles, "Video Killed The Radio Star"

What I said today in regards to elimination of jobs BECAUSE INTERNET:

While the article's argument is incorrect, it does have a slight point. Most of modern technology advances these days are eliminating lower-class and middle-class jobs, and in conference with my father's long business experience, this has been increasing exponentially along with technology advances since the late 1970s. You do not need a secretary when you have software; you do not need factory workers when you have robots.

Technology is GOING to eliminate the middle class and what's left over in lower-class or creative jobs is not going to be sufficient to employ the American populace. The truism that evolving technology creates jobs is a lie; this was only true so long as automation, automated software, and robots were not financially feasible. The only action our elected officials can take to stop this is by outlawing technological advancement and banning all research; otherwise, there is no action they can take that will stop or enhance the destruction of the middle class in any truly significant way.

Come listen all you galls and boys
I's just from Tuckyhoe,
I'm goin to sing a little song,
My name is Jim Crow
-- Attributed to T. D. "Daddy" Rice, "Jump Jim Crow"


What I said today on the determination of who is homosexual, in regards to the refusal of business under "religious freedom" laws:

Because I'm an ass, I would absolutely apply the standard arbitrarily. Funny enough, people who opposed me ethically or politically would find themselves pointed at and labeled with "HOMOGAY! SERVICE REFUSED! HOMOGAY OUT!" Of course, some (many) would object because they would protest their heterosexuality. I would then require them to prove it - pictures with faces showing or banging away on the floor of my store would be perfectly acceptable.

I'm sure this would go over well. I would certainly be amused.

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
We'd all want to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're all doing what we can
-- The Beatles, "So You Want A Revolution"

I am a really strong proponent of this concept: 

Gladius acutus veritatem.

It has been a while since I posted, but that is OK; I have been very busy. Now it is time to get some of those thoughts back on paper. Or on screen. However one prefers to term it.

Right now my mind is on sexual harassment, especially in that of the subcultures I am familiar with, geek and skeptic. It is no secret that policies and opinions on harassment are changing in those communities, especially with the very public focuses on things like Elevatorgate and Dragon*Con. These things have been kept silent too long, especially amongst geeks, and need to be dealt with properly. They are being dealt with properly, for the most part. However, even in 2013, there are still disturbing things happening.

No, not good. And not to be tolerated either. But what should one do?

I agree with this article: It is time to name names. I believe this should always have been done, but I am a...I hesitate to say courageous person, because that does not match well. It is more accurate to say that I have no fear of dropping nukes and burning bridges for the sake of the honesty and to bring down the iniquitous. That is more of a crusader ethic than a courageous or heroic ethic. I am willing to be the hardass so that others do not have to be.

That brings me to think...there are many who will not feel comfortable in naming names. But I would. So I offer that as a service; if there is a name to be named, let me know and I shall do the naming, the shaming, the outing. I can take that heat; I can be that shield. The truth will make you free.