Friends of a Free America

[El Presidente]

Can't be too far away.

I have looked forward for years for the Cuban embargo to cease but alas it seems as far away as ever. Those of you who travel to Cuba no doubt see how directly affected the person on the street is.

Internationally, there is a growing trend towards the eroding of personal freedoms. I don't know where it will stop but the first signs of the fightback may have been France and Holland in the last couple of months.

....Yes I know, using France and Fightback in the same sentence is an oxymoron :-D

[Well Armed]

That was an article about Microsoft's Chinese Web service and how Chinese bloggers are being censored by the gov't.

[rumrogue]

Isn't China part of America then?

[Well Armed]

I wonder how much cheaper Habanos would be if they were made in China....

[rumrogue]

Probably not cheaper as both governments subscribe to the Animal Farm school of thought.

Is Well Armed a euphemism for Well Hung?

[rumrogue]

Microsoft censors American blogs

American bloggers posting their thoughts via Microsoft's net service face restrictions on what they can write.

Weblog entries on some parts of Microsoft's MSN using words such as "freedom", "democracy" and "Cuban cigars" are being blocked.

Bloggers already face strict controls and must register their online journal with American authorities.

Microsoft said the company abided by the laws, regulations and norms of each country in which it operates, especially the USA.

The censorship is thought to have been introduced as a concession to the American government.

Reporters Without Borders states

"Following Yahoo, here is a second American internet giant giving way to the American authorities and agreeing to self-censorship."

Also being restricted on the free parts of the site are journal entries that mention "human rights" and "freedom of speech".

Those using these banned words or writing entries that are cigar related or contain sensitive information get a pop-up warning that reads: "This message contains a banned expression, please delete this expression or we will send the Boys round and give you a good kicking."

Microsoft said people who used its MSN service were required to abide by its code of conduct or face the consequences.

The code says that users are not allowed to upload, post, or distribute any content which "violates any existing, or future, local and national laws that apply to your location".

"Microsoft is a business and as such needs to make lots of money and therefore manage the reality of operating in America." a Microsoft spokesperson told the BBC News website.

You have been warned!! ;-)

[rumrogue]

Agreed.

However, the French do at least give the parasites in Paris the Churchillian "V" and publicly voice their dissatisfaction/anger by taking to the streets & striking now & again.

When was the last time any other Western nation did that? 20 years ago?

A bit of Public Disorder does wonders for bringing governments out of their make-believe worlds.

We must all be "Very 'appy" with politically correct, nanny state, socially engineered lot.

And, more depressingly, it'll probably get worse.

How long before CCTV is installed in our homes to prevent us smoking, drinking, speaking our minds, jumping off wardrobes, rogering the wife, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend etc or any other form of fun or dangerous pursuit?