Bibliophiles, Bewares

Binky’s Personal Library, wing A through D.

~ ITEM: Amazon: The Wal-Mart of the Internet

~ ITEM: Why Amazon Went Big Brother

~ SURE, IT’S handier & fast. But Kindle or other formats of e-book have some real and inherent problems.

In the world of books, Amazon and Google are both bossy giga-giants. A little while back, my Kindle for PC (I have about 80 books on it, most of them free or on sale) would not let me read something I was currently half-way through, without that I re-downloaded it again. You know, because bullies like to rub people’s noses in it, and tell people what to do.

Think that’s bad? It gets much worse:

In July 2009, The New York Times reported that amazon.com deleted all customer copies of certain books published in violation of US copyright laws by MobileReference, including the books Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm from users’ Kindles. This action was taken with neither prior notification nor specific permission of individual users. Customers did receive a refund of the purchase price and, later, an offer of an Amazon gift certificate or a check for $30. 

Removed. Without permission or notification. Just– gone. A brave new world of books: beyond ironic that it was Orwell’s books in this case.

UnKindled

I was underwhelmed. So much for the ‘bold new age’ of freedom which the web and related book-technology were supposed to bring us. Even more, I’m concluding that books as a teaching/ entertaining technology are well suited to how humans need to pay attention to things– without the million-and-one distractions of a computer or hand-held, as if we were all in the midst of a circus, and not trying to attend to our reading.

Now, I understand that the authors and publishers ‘own’ the words, but still, I’ve yet to see any author, publisher, or store do this to a physical book in my home, or at the local liberry. Books are a more permanent, less tamperable record of whatever an author was on about.

Barring literal physical destruction, or the accidents of history, books abide. That’s a blessing.

Ether In The Wind

Digital books are inherently less permanent, no matter e-clouds and suchlike, which all presume your e-reader or computer is available & working, has power, that the internets are working, and that some intellectual tyrant hasn’t decided to delete or “good-think” e-books on currently unpopular topics. FaceBook regularly blocks and deletes things which their drones disapprove of, or someone complains about. Why not the same treatment applied to books?

Not feminist enough? Not sufficiently fawning towards a regime? Not pro-homosexual enough? Too old fashioned, or religious, or complicated, or rabble-rousing, or…. you get the idea. Of course, burning books just looks bad.. now, with a few clicks, the ever-changing notions of the moment will be found in all books permitted to exist– yet no longer allowed to say what their authors meant them to say. Never mind the capacity of Amazon to report your reading habits to the authorities. ‘Just trust us’ is the mantra of tyrants.

Kindle? Nah. I’m going back to buying serious books I wish to own in the dead-tree format, where the words won’t blow away, and where I don’t have to ask nicely for some giant company to let me read something I already paid for.

And no, I won’t be buying via Amazon.com.

~ Binks

Confirmed Biblioholic & Book Geek

 

Wee Wallace Of Doom

Wee Wallace Of Doom, Planning To Annex Something, And Mark It With His Pee

~ FOR WHATEVER good reasons God gave us dogs, I rejoice– daily– that God gave me Wee Wallace.

We’d been down to Missouri for a month visiting Binks-Dad, who at that point had 4 (large) dogs– I was doomed. My twin Binklings fell in love with pooches, and they finagled and asked nicely and begged and got parents onside, and only a couple of weeks after we returned to New Scotland, there he was.

He and his brother lived in a glass booth at the puppy-store for over 4 months. His brother (white-furred) was too caffeinated, and would not stop jumping… but the black-furred puppy at the back of the cage was looking at the world, checking things out. Bingo. His temperament seemed to suit ours.

Wallace knew literally nothing of life save the little world of the pet-store. Grass, sky, walking on a leash, other critters, different kinds of food, sleeping without his brother, where to poop? All new.

We named him Wee Wallace, after Sir William Wallace, the Scottish hero of the Wars Of Independence. You know, cuz miniature poodles are tough like dat. I learned that not only are they low-allergenic, but they can be super-smart, and funny. Poodles are water-dogs, meant for scaring up and catching water fowl.

A Simple Life

His life is small, he has a couple of jobs (door-microwave-phone alert-mummy’s home), he is made happy with a daily walk followed by two mini-milkbones, and an occasional variety in the taste of his dog-food. If, whilst on his walk, he can dance for a couple of people, or sniff butts with some other neighbourhood dogs, all the while leaving or answering p-mails on trees, bushes, shrubs, and dog-likely sniffing spots, his joy is deep and honest. As someone said, dogs thank God simply by wholeheartedly enjoying the good things of this life. It’s true in his case.

Get Up And Walkies

Wee Wallace saved my life. Not bad for a little guy not 10 pounds soaking wet.

Chronic illness can keep you low and hidden and lying about, waiting for the next misery. With the daily doggy-needs for micturation and defecation, I was forced to be up and about. Daily walks ensued. Said walks got longer and more healthsome. I began to regain my slim and girlish figure. Some of the chronic pains faded a little to the background.

That’ll Do, Dog

The She-Binks is diligent in varying his small-dog Nutrience dry food month-by-month. Today, he was looking at me attentively, and so I looked at his dish and water-bowl. Leftovers of the old mix.

“Wally wants kibble?”

Blink (he blinks for yes, stares for no/ don’t understand).

“OK, new kibble! Oh boy!” Dog dances on his hind feet, in expectation.

New kibble ensues on the plate. Dog eagerly eats each piece on at a time, by taking them carefully off the plate, and eating it a foot away on the carpet.

A few moments later: “Wallace! is it good? Is it yummy?”

Wallace blinks, licks chops, and smiles, eyes aglow. Binky’s heart melts into marshmallow puddle.

Dog resumes his careful kibble-eating, one by one by one.

Sometimes, it’s the simple joy of knowing you’ve made another critter happy that warms the heart-cockles.

Good dog. ~

* Slightly edited, because influenza. And for those who are wondering why I’m not on about Obama Ebola Nekkid Actresses Reddit Twitter, it’s because the ordinary life of free people in free lands, enjoyed, is part of what we must fight, and live for. 

How Binks Thinks

~ ITEM: NCIS Season 4, episode 11 — ‘Driven’

~ ITEM: Spring-assisted Rescue Knife on eBay

~ TWO RECENT things– one on TV, the other in non-cyberwebspace, reminded me of the mad skills given to me by my Dad, by the Scouts, by reading, and a little preventative thinking.

Trying To Kill You

The first? A careless van-driver in front of me who suddenly stopped in front of me (without signalling or checking his rearview), and proceeded to back up. Brain, in 1 second: “reverse, then honk”– 2 seconds later, I’m backing away from his approaching rear, three seconds later I lay on the horn. He gave me the “How dare you upset me as I try to do multiple-thousands of dollars of damage to your vehicle?” dirty look and related language. I drive off, rolling my eyes.

I blame my family, whose rule (drummed into me with every driving lesson, and proven too many times to name): They Are All Trying To Kill You. Even The Pedestrians. Try it– it focusses the mind wonderfully. I and countless passengers would now be roadkill statistics were I not operating a vehicle (or walking) as if They Were All Out To Get Me.

Silly Dead Lady

In the NCIS TV-episode from season 4 ‘Driven’, a woman is trapped in a robotic car by someone’s evil programming, and suffocated by exhaust vented into the cabin of the vehicle. She deads, because the doors, windows, and seatbelt lock on her.

So there I sat watching the episode, and thinking about how to save myself if I were her, or save her if I were on scene. “Gee, glad that’s not me” is not an option.

Back To Basics

Carrying a simple rescue knife is basic self-and-other protection. With same, in case of an automobile crash, you can break a car window (use the point on the end, cover your hand with some cloth first, hit near a corner of the window in question, use the cloth-covered hand to crumble the rest of the safety-glass), cut your own or another’s seat-belt, and generally be much more likely to survive that and other straight-forward and common emergencies.

It’s a very very basic set of skills, and you can get a decent little rescue knife on eBay for about $20 (perfect for pocket, purse, jacket pocket, or belt). Why not get one for your vehicle, and one for each family member, friend, or neighbour, husband or wife? Christmas is coming.

There. Binks just saved more lives, if you read & do. The choice is up to you. ~

WTWTCH? In Which Binks Possibly Saves Your Life

~ ITEM: The Cardinal Virtues: The four hinges of the moral life, By Scott P. Richert

~ ITEM: Murphy’s Law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

~ ITEM: Theodore Dalrymple on ‘Growing Up British: The sordid is all too typical‘

~ ITEM: 5 reasons why left wingers are pure evil

~ ITEM: David Suzuki repeats assertion that ‘climate deniers’ should be jailed; and ‘Kerry: If We’re Wrong on Climate Change, ‘What’s the Worst That Can Happen?”

~ HUMANS CAN BE naive and accident-prone– ever more so the glowing-screen-raised indoor generation. Wee Binks was running about outside most Summer days, getting into and out of scrapes, petty crimes and misdemeanors. Life in the great outdoors is being alive, and learning (most of the time) how to stay that way.

The hard-won operating rule for me (along with the useful driving-rule of “They Are All Trying To Kill You“) is fairly simple:

What’s The Worst That Could Possibly Happen?

That is, of any possible course of action or situation or activity, ask yourself thusly: WTWTCPH? It establishes the moral seriousness of decisions, bad choices, and life in general.

It’s an old idea, from the Greeks: Wise men learn from wisdom, fools learn from avoidable mistakes. It’s one of the four pagan virtues to think ahead about actions & choices & consequences: prudence.

Lathering With Evil

You don’t actually have to get neck-deep in evil to know that something is evil; or as modern fools would have it “How can you know if you don’t try it?”, which usually comes immediately prior to “Oh dear God, I never thought that would happen!” It’s Adam & Eve versus the verboten arboreal produce all over again.

WTWTCPH does not necessarily make you paranoid or OCD or joyless. It’s a good habit of mind which arises from the simple truth that the world is not a harmless theme park full of harmless characters and no consequences ever… and that some of those avoidable consequences are inflicted on those around you.

As a handy-dandy all-purpose preventer, you can liberally apply, lather, rinse and repeat WTWTCPH whenever needed, whether you are a yoot, a politician, a parent, or an ordinary person.

Alcohol and/ or drugs plus driving. Unmarried engaging in the baby-making activity. Doing whatever because “everybody else is doing it” (vice makes right). Practicing constant inward adultery against a spouse. Various forms of minor & major theft. Dabbling in the occult. Over-feeding on a degraded pop culture. Elaborate forms of blaming & judging everybody else. Silencing others, or– which is demonically worse– inhumanizing them.

You & Your Stuff Is Evil

Oddly enough, the modern progressive Left is all about externalizing evil (Global Warming GMO unfaircoffee patriarchy capitalism homerphobia) without the turn to the mirror which makes good & evil specific and connected to the self, and the will. If, instead of any introspection, I can hate “Them” for their obvious and manifest “Evil & Injustice”, then I never have to look at the state of my own soul, my participation in small evils & terrible careless decisions and all the petty nastiness and cruelty which darkens our world, as opposed to Them & That.

It’s always somebody else’s fault? Nope. You are a moral agent, with choices and accountability. One day, your life or the lives of others may depend upon it.

So– What’s The Worst That Could Possibly Happen? WTWTCPH?

Because evil & accidents, and good and active acts of virtue are (somewhat) in our moral responsibility. ~

Saith Teh Binks

Odds & Ends

~ FOR THOSE of you who don’t follow the Binks on Facebook, I’m collecting here some of my recent smaller screeds, rants, brain-farts, and idle babblings which I’ve written over on the Book of Faces. Enjoy, or not.

I think they are up to something.

I don’t want to know what it is.

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Obama’s New HHS Secretary Proved Her Loyalty to Clinton by Digging Through a Dead Man’s Trash

How did they find this horrible person.. why, that`s easy! They went to Evil-R-Us®, the popular US.gov search site for finding & placing political appointees to important positions in the Evil Mastermind Scheme. Remember, that’s Evil-R-Us®– because you wouldn’t want a decent human being in charge of anything this important!

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We can all use more groj.

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This hurts my brain. ~Butterfly

 

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Because, Shut Up.

Steyn: “So getting an honorary degree at Brandeis, like serving on the board at Mozilla, is open only to those who make sure they never cross the Conformity Enforcers. And apostates to Islam, as Ayaan is regarded, must accept that they are apostates to American campus conformity, too, and be prepared to lead a life without the consolations of honorary degrees. Accepting the loss of A-list commencement gigs doesn’t take a lot of courage, but it still takes more than Frederick Lawrence has displayed. And ultimately, as I said re Brandon Eich, such a land will be bloody boring – and a society in decline.”

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Ontari-ari-ario

Ontario Liberal appointee accused of violating Elections Act

Saith Binks: “Lose-lose with Wynne: she’s Bob Rae redux, except Ontario is no longer the industrial and financial engine, but a drag-anchor, given decades of stupid, debt, and various stripes of socialism. They’re running out of other people’s money, but people like this still expect that you can squeeze blood from a stone, cuz it’s only money, and that grows on trees in a magic garden.”

http://www.canadaone.com/ezine/briefs.html?StoryID=14Apr14_1

 

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Mo’ Steyn

Steyn: “So getting an honorary degree at Brandeis, like serving on the board at Mozilla, is open only to those who make sure they never cross the Conformity Enforcers. And apostates to Islam, as Ayaan is regarded, must accept that they are apostates to American campus conformity, too, and be prepared to lead a life without the consolations of honorary degrees. Accepting the loss of A-list commencement gigs doesn’t take a lot of courage, but it still takes more than Frederick Lawrence has displayed. And ultimately, as I said re Brandon Eich, such a land will be bloody boring – and a society in decline.”

http://www.steynonline.com/6250/degrees-of-separation

New Mozilla plug-ins, extensions, and themes– http://thepeoplescube.com/peoples-blog/new-mozilla-add-ons-t13821.html

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Look at me, I’m really cool/
not like those priests who drone and drool/
you really gotta love my singing– do ya?/
A sacrament as a spectacle, pandering to be respectable/
’cause no one wants to hear some boring sermon, do ya? /

Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-ujah.

So I’ll sing from Shrek via old man Cohen/
amuse the crowd with my squeaks and groans/
Such novelties will drag God right down to ya. /
Look at me in my gold lamé, following the new-fangled way/
’cause 60 years of silly church won’t do ya…

Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-ujah. 

[Copyright Binks, 2014]

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Top scientist resigns from post – admits Global Warming is a scam

“The problem here is not science, but Science™, the substitute for faith & human intuition over the last few centuries. Wedded to Progress™, it becomes a juggernaut of opinion and academic infighting and corporately/ politically motivated busybodiness, trying to proclaim absolute and eternal truth. I.E., acting like a religion. That’s why the Steyn heresy trial, and the acolytes of Global Warming Science™ are running about screaming for prison for unbelievers, and killing tenure for dissenters, and it stopped being about science (you know, observation, theory, model, experiment, revised theory based on evidence/ results) a long time ago. This is now all about mind control, social control, and big big dollars. Well done, Dr. Lewis.” — Binks Webelf

 

All Of It, And All Of Us

~ SO SAITH Teh Binksmeister: Nothing is truly neutral: not even the Swiss.

Every thing is based on certain ideas or assumptions about human nature, and what it is good to be or do, and what it is not good to be or do. Every choice has consequences, every thing and everything means something. To pretend otherwise is ignorance, deliberate blindness, or just plain evil. Looking the other way, not in my backyard, not my problem, just can’t think about That? The idea that we can live in a kind of artificial blissful ignorance about life, society, civilization, technology, and the things done in our name for good or for bad requires a disconnectedness which isn’t possible. We’re all accountable.

Jesus considers the lukewarm soul or church or society– the calculatingly careful, the waffler– to be like unrefreshing over-mineralized brackish water, only fit to be spit out.

Just saying, is all.

~ Binks

Elf-Approved

~ DEARLY DEPARTED Binks-Dad was nerdissimus– nerdiest of nerds– until a mini-stroke a few months before he died stole away his interest & ability for same. Still, he was ever sending me nerdy sites, nerdy apps & links & ideas. Thus, I give the credit for this one to Dugald Binks-Dad: may he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Sharing The Deep Nerdly Secrets Of Nerds

This one is for people concerned about privacy, ease of computing whilst travelling, or having access to your own stuff when you have only someone else’s computer to use. Portable Apps. Like many of the leading freeware sites (like the free MS-Office replacement Libre Office), they depend on your donations.

The basic idea? have functional mini-versions of the most-used programs available on a thumb-drive, data card, or even hidden on your camera memory-card, or on a cloud-drive such as DropBox. That’s 300+ legal & portable apps at your fingertips, anywhere. The fullest possible package is 9GB, but the most basic collection (e-mail, browser, office-suite, etc.) is far smaller.

I know, right?

Free Brilliant Idea: you may not need this, but someone around you or at work might. Pass it on. Another Free Brilliant Idea: want a cheap gift-idea? Buy a thumb-drive or a tiny flash drive or one of those flat tiny indestructible keychain drives, load it up with portable apps, and– Boom– a geeky present for some nerd you care about. Yet even another Free Brilliant Idea? Have several on you with identical data (passworded, of course) for back-up convenience, plus on a cloud-drive for when you travel.

You’re welcome, and yes, I am Binks MacDugald, nerdy elf. ~

Binky Tips # 230,012

The bad news: evil is afoot.

The good news: there’s evil afoot all over the place, so pick some and go beat on it, give the devil a bash, and redeem the time, for the days are evil. *