Technology as a weapon

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Commoditization of hi-tech devices such as digital cameras, video cameras, mobile phones together with almost omnipresent internet connection changed the ways the information battle between the authorities and the public. Of course it applies the most to situations such as current protest in Iran with totalitarian government fighting its own citizen, but remember Czechtek 2005 case [czech only, for english check Google translate].

The technologies seem to be a huge advantage for the otherwise weaker side of the public, but is that really true? Image North Korea which is a sort of a time trip to the fifties, where the people do not have any technology at all, so it can’t help. And there is much worse situation if the propaganda would start to use them as well. Then it would have no clear winner again and would become the battle of which source to trust. Am I more skeptical than usually today?

Bush vs Obama – Star Wars vs. Star Trek

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Definitely one of the most entertaining movie review ever was Newsweek’s review of the latest Star Trek franchise commenting the political reminiscences of Star Wars and Star Trek “doctrines”. A brief comparison of Bush and Obama administrations also included! Dark picture, but anyway Dick Cheney starring as Emperor and Barrack Obama as Mr. Spock … click to enlarge.

Radarzilla

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After boring campaigns of radar base opponents and virtually no actions of its supporters I found one particularly funny piece in this issue in Prague subway train. Is this some sort of secret NATO project :)

Text is in czech only and not well readable, so here is the translation of the first picture of the strip.

Title: “… somewhere deep in the forests of Brdy”
Squirrel: “Wow, what is growing over here?”