Speech Isn't Free

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

And there's no such thing as free speech.

Even in the great United States, everything comes with a price. We may not pay the price directly, but someone does. The writer and editor burning the midnight oil to get all the facts for a news article are paying with their time away from family. The factory worker on the double-shift again so he can afford to send his kids to the college he never made it to.

...and the military members and their families who worry and wonder if they'll share another day together.

As the saying goes, "Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one and most of them stink." Freedom of speech is supposed to allow us to express those opinions openly, without fear of reprisal. I get that, and I support that wholeheartedly. I have my own opinions which may not be popular with some who find this blog, or read other things I have written in the past. But I still have the ability and legal protection to express those thoughts and opinions I want to share.

Within reason, of course.

What's that? "Within reason"? You can say whatever you want, where you want, and no one can stop you. That's the law, as protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. What is this "reason" you think limits us?

It is exactly that. REASON. The difference between sentient, thinking beings, and raw, emotional animals. The First Amendment protects our individual right of expression. It guarantees that what your opinion may be, and how you express yourself, is a freedom that should not be limited by law. The battle over protecting this freedom has been fought over and again, on the battlefield and in the courtroom.

The problem today though is people forget common sense. Boundaries are no longer sacred, lines get crossed, and one person's opinion sparks confrontation. Just because we are allowed to express ourselves openly doesn't excuse us from thinking. There is a right way - and a wrong way - of expressing displeasure and a difference of opinion. Writing letters to newspapers, opinion emails to television stations, and other correspondence with our elected officials is one thing. Taking our frustrations out on one lone individual who isn't truly the cause of the problem, or responsible for the issue, is entirely out of hand.

Common decency can't replace common sense. But such is becoming almost commonplace now. And it's getting worse, when a grieving family is forced to put up with protestors who demonstrate right outside the church where they are holding the funeral for their dead son, killed in the line of duty while serving in the Army. The family sued the protest organizers, won their case, but then it was overturned on appeal - to the point where the grieving family was ordered to pay the legal fees for the protestors! This case is now going to the U.S. Supreme Court - and will surely be a landmark decision.

I fully support the freedom of speech. Even if I don't agree with those protesters, they have the right to their opinion. But I don't support their actions - the lack of common sense and common decency to allow the family to grieve is just wrong to me on so many levels. People want to stand up and say something but when the push comes, they don't want to take responsibility for their actions, and want everyone else to pay for their poor judgement.

To Buy, Or Not To Buy

...whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the bluescreens and pointers of outrageous Windows, or take arms against an operating system of troubles and, by opposing, end their monopoly.

...err, or something like that.

The wait is almost over, and the Next Big Thing from Apple Computing is about to hit the streets. A few reviews are already out, and more will surely happen over the coming days as the new tablet almost-computer goes public. The pre-release reception, ever since the original unveiling at the beginning of the year, has been mixed. This is definitely going to be a niche device, even though competitors are already fast at showing off their own versions of keyboard-less computing.

Palmtop computing has taken great strides since the first Personal Data Assistant devices hit the markets. Monochrome gave way to color, memory expansion turned into accessories, and eventually the devices added wireless connectivity to the point where PDAs melded with cellphones.

Desktop computing has also moved in leaps and bounds. As desktop computers became commonplace, laptops started to be optimized for business, and eventually even caught up to what most home users wanted for their personal entertainment. Video displays got larger, more powerful, and the laptop is now replacing most desktop systems for the average computer enthusiast. Extreme gaming and other high-end graphics still usually need the power of a full desktop machine, but even that fine line is getting blurry.

Laptops started getting too big, so people want to go small again. Netbooks came around, with smaller sizes yet fast and efficient processors. The latest 3-D games might not play so well on the tiny Acer and HPs, but surfing the web, checking email, and even daily work isn't too bad, and with the smaller footprint, all the easier to pack up and take home at the end of the day.

Cellphones - now smartphones - grew up from PDAs. Laptops grew up (down?) from Desktops. Apple's iPad and other tablet computing systems are coming to try and fill that final gap.

But why? Is there really a need for something almost the size and weight of a netbook, but with the power of an iPod Touch or iPhone?

I've been watching the consumer computing market for a little while. My two desktop systems are rapidly approaching the end of their lifecycle, and it is getting harder to find replacement parts to make even minor upgrades and repairs. At the same time, the notebook I purchased almost four years ago has also decided it doesn't want to load anymore. As a budding writer and news hound, it is almost impossible to work without some kind of computing system. So the hunt is on to find the next useful toy for my computing arsenal.

That being said, I have never been a real fan of Microsoft Windows. Although the operating system has gotten better over the years, there are still some issues which bug me. Customization being one of the key things. I don't do a lot of power computing, but I do like the security and customization capabilities of Linux. But Linux isn't the be-all-end-all system either, because it can lag behind in capabilities with newer computers and peripherals, and on the occasion of desiring to play a hot new game, even with Windows emulations it isn't quite up to speed. Apple's main operating system - OSX "Leopard" - has a nice layout and is fairly secure (being based on BSD). But the hardware is much more expensive, and there can still be some compatiblity issues.

But do I really need all that power at my fingertips anymore? The more I look at my computers, my cellphone (LG enV Touch - the not-quite-so-smart-phone), and even the iPod Touch I snagged last Fall, the more I fall to the smaller, handier gadgets and away from the computers. With the laptop dead for all intents and purposes, I should replace it with something equally portable. As much as I like the iPod, it's a bit small for some of my daily tasks, and the cellphone is equally small, and not quite as user-friendly for some things.

I like how the iPad looks, and the ease of use I found with the iPod translates well since the new tablet is mostly an oversided Touch. One review I read already was actually written using the iPad, and that reviewer seemed to like it. Others have downplayed the touchscreen keyboard and claimed it isn't comfortable for long bouts of computing genius.

As much as I do enjoy writing, blogging, and general chatting, I don't expect marathon sessions on the device I decide to get. If the iPad does come within my reach, I will surely have to give it a test drive - and I will be watching the reviews and demonstrations over the next few days as the showcase is unveiled. My other option is to find a netbook, and hope it will take an Ubuntu install.

Ultimately, is all the hype going to prove itself or is this next generation destined to follow the last attempt by Apple - the Newton?