Argies, Hands Off!

Can you believe the Argentinians still want to talk about the Falkland Islands?

I think their right to talk about sovereignty was removed around about the time they INVADED the islands against the express wishes of the inhabitants! A lot of people argue that the Falklands War was a throwback to British Imperial power and a bad one at that. 

I, however, see that war as a war based on protecting the isolated inhabitants of some defenseless islands against the aggression of a larger, and at the time undemocratic, neighbour who was using the war to distract it's own oppressed population from financial worries and a nasty "dirty war". Hmm... who was right. We were! The Argentinians obviously haven't learnt the lessons of that conflict. 

Until the population of the Falkland Islands call for union with Argentina it is our duty to defend them against the expansionist ambitions of any other neighbour.

Google Is Not The Enemy

Google releases the UK version of StreetView and suddenly every "privacy expert" appears criticising it for it's "intrusion" into people's private lives. Doesn't anyone see that they are simply using the story for self promotional reasons? If they had truly cared they would have been camped outside Google's UK HQ months ago as we KNEW THIS WAS COMING!

If you are reading this then you are probably fairly net savvy and thus almost certainly had already messed around with the US version of StreetView. Surely anyone who cares about privacy concerns would have been well aware of it too. But no one uttered a peep until the release actually occured. Grr...

Worse still is the utter pointlessness of the argument. "Google's pictures could help robbers". Erm, couldn't said robbers just take digital pics themselves if they really wanted to? "Google's pictures invade people's privacy". Since when has a public place been able to offer privacy? "Google pictures show naked children". Yes, and Google removed these pictures, but the parents didn't complain. Why would they, they let their children run around in public naked!

The Government loses our data, sells it, and keeps constant track of us on CCTV. Do you really think Google is going to be concerned when we let our own Government get away scot free with this flagrant abuse? Worse some people even support the Government's erosion of our rights in the cause of security. Google on the other hand is doing nothing more than your average joe does when they upload their hoiday snaps to Facebook for all to see.

Are those complaining about Google stating they are wrong to take pictures in public places without everyone who is involved giving permission?? Oops can't upload this picture to Facebook as Mr Jone's didn't give permission and the corner of his house can just been seen in it. Are they complaining because they make money of it? Just like Facebook and like everyone who prints tourist information leaflets with pictures of sun drenched high streets and estate agents who use pictures of rows of houses as one of them is for sale. Are we saying they shouldn't do it?

What's worse is the people really complaining and removing pictures are those with things to hide... throwing up in public, or coming out of a sex shop. Well they aren't really things to hide unless you're really behind the times but you know what I mean... some people are a bit iffy like that.

Personally, unlike the selling of my data by the Government or the "protection" afforded me by CCTV, I think StreetView will really be useful; helping me orient myself before I arrive at a new place and for that I thank Google.

Down with the Nanny State, long live the freedom to take pictures of people in public places doing inappropriate things!

Am I The Only Feminist Left?

Is no one else shocked when people continue to be shocked that women are sexual beings? Nearly a hundred years after the Suffragettes struggled for the right to vote, women are still considered "inhuman". I use that word because I sometimes find that a lot of women and men think that the two sexes are different species. Women and men have far more in common than a few biologically inherent differences. Isn't it time everyone just grew up?

And on a similar theme why is there never an outcry about sexism against men? A new cleaning product advert's catchphrase is "So simple even a man could do it" or something similar. I'm not being overly sensitive, I think adverts like this should be allowed. But imagine an advert saying "This car is so easy to use, even a woman could drive it!". Would there not be an outcry? Double standards. Hate them.