 | We are now confronted with the reality that we made a digital monster called the internet. We all stand and cheer for every technology breakthrough and milestone. Even when it becomes too important to live without. Julian Assange of Wiki Leaks now stays holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy because the Obama team wants him silenced. His daily stream of embarrassing email revelations is undermining the Clinton campaign's chances of world domination & suppression. The internet service Assange has been utilizing for Wiki Leaks operations, was suddenly cut off, today. No explanation, no promises of restoration. This tells me that the Democrats fear Assange and what he may be able to reveal. He's already exposed enough to support impeachment of a bunch of folks, including the president, himself. In many other eras of US history, we'd be organizing for revolution. Politicians would suddenly find their spines, only because it's the only way they would keep their cozy positions of power. |
This reveals a creeping control that most households have become subdued by. Just 20 years ago, most of us had a TV antenna, fax machine, a copper-wire landline, and a subscription to a local newspaper. Some of us had a set of 'walkie-talkies', a pager, or even an analog cell phone. The new generation of PCS cell service is all digital. It's just a wifi type of the same internet connection.
Today, my home has no TV antenna, no landline, no fax machine, or newspaper. I can't find where my old walkie-talkies went. My cable TV is delivered by the same DSL wiring that used to be my analog phone service. In short; I've become so dependent on internet that my life would severely be disrupted if I lost my connection to the worldwide web.
My basic services would shut down because I can't pay my e-bills online. I can't call or write to anyone. I don't have street addresses for most of my personal contacts. I haven't had a phone book in the house for years. Many print publications have ceased altogether because it's free to post stuff to the internet. Many basic government services are almost impossible to access without a web connection.
This month I decided to change some of that. I ordered a good roof-mount TV antenna. I'm shopping for a set of walkie-talkies. I'm printing out backup information on my utility providers, business contacts, family address book, and other financial information.
I hope I am wasting my time on this, but I'm doing it anyway. Ten years ago, much of Tulsa went without power for a week, after a massive ice storm. The govt. has an internet kill switch that they can trip any time a cyber threat justifies it. Other, worse calamities can also interrupt data connections for days or weeks. Even when the threat is receded, the restoration of services will likely be in stages (government will decide who's first in line and you can bet that single family dwellings are not the top priority.
Does this make me a "prepper"? It probably does. But it's a very cheap back up which serves my family even when a minor glitch occurs. Hopefully I will be able to wean off the expensive cable bill and use my TV antenna in tandem with my Roku, so that I can save over $1000 per year. I won't miss the bazillion shopping channels.
Today, my home has no TV antenna, no landline, no fax machine, or newspaper. I can't find where my old walkie-talkies went. My cable TV is delivered by the same DSL wiring that used to be my analog phone service. In short; I've become so dependent on internet that my life would severely be disrupted if I lost my connection to the worldwide web.
My basic services would shut down because I can't pay my e-bills online. I can't call or write to anyone. I don't have street addresses for most of my personal contacts. I haven't had a phone book in the house for years. Many print publications have ceased altogether because it's free to post stuff to the internet. Many basic government services are almost impossible to access without a web connection.
This month I decided to change some of that. I ordered a good roof-mount TV antenna. I'm shopping for a set of walkie-talkies. I'm printing out backup information on my utility providers, business contacts, family address book, and other financial information.
I hope I am wasting my time on this, but I'm doing it anyway. Ten years ago, much of Tulsa went without power for a week, after a massive ice storm. The govt. has an internet kill switch that they can trip any time a cyber threat justifies it. Other, worse calamities can also interrupt data connections for days or weeks. Even when the threat is receded, the restoration of services will likely be in stages (government will decide who's first in line and you can bet that single family dwellings are not the top priority.
Does this make me a "prepper"? It probably does. But it's a very cheap back up which serves my family even when a minor glitch occurs. Hopefully I will be able to wean off the expensive cable bill and use my TV antenna in tandem with my Roku, so that I can save over $1000 per year. I won't miss the bazillion shopping channels.
