Wednesday, September 25, 2013

It's Coming SOOOOOOON.........

A clue to what's coming......
So what's happening to darryls-soabox?? Well this is a surprise, and expect to see big changes with an announcement very soon.. pretty well everything is in place, just waiting on a manufacturer for the prizes and swag.






JUST IN!!! - To interrupt this article, I have added this ORIGINAL audio clip. This voice-mail came into my main line (after hours). My office 800 number was frequently misdialed and we would receive calls that should have been to a government agency in Florida. The office Administrator, Jenn C, was brilliant to take the time to record this.. and now here it is on the internet..





So what can you do to get ready for the big day??..

Firstly, "Join this site" (hit the join box to the left of the page).. all who join will be entered in a draw for a unique gift with the stellar value of nearly $30. No scam on this, no gotchas, just lists you as a member of this site.. does not link to porn or websites for discount Viagra.

Secondly, send ORIGINAL pictures of things that are uniquely interesting, or funny or even better - things that PISS YOU OFF.. when you send these in, write a brief description of the photo.. the best ones will be selected and featured on the new Soapbox. Email pix to da_moderator@live.ca

Another Hint of what's to come



Monday, September 9, 2013

Driving Syria Back Into The Stone Age


Roughly a year ago, Obama in a public address, detailed the now famous “Red Line” on chemical warfare.

Now the world and specifically Obama is faced with having to back-up his threats with actual armed combat. In my laymen’s understanding of the complexities of US and International Politics, It seems that Obama has painted that red line, and recent events have that line in fact having painted the President into a corner.

I don’t feel the US citizens have much of a taste for yet another armed conflict.. historically, the US populous is patriotic and supportive of protecting their oil resources in the middle east, however in the poor economic position the United States are in, and the huge expenditure of recent conflicts. I think the citizens (therefore the president) are not too excited in entering into yet another costly conflict. I hate to point out the elephant in the room, but as much as we like to think that our global superpowers are protectors of the human condition – we must face the reality of protection of supply chain and global finance are the drivers of Middle East conflict. Ugly, but true.

So, how does President Obama manage his red line? This may be the opportunity to enter into the inevitable modern warfare. With the European, Russian resistance  to start firing rockets, but clearly supportive of the US desire to put an immediate stop to chemical warfare – they in this case, have their cake and eat it too.
With such well financed and technically advanced countries all in agreement that Syria needs to be brought into check, a combined, focused, co-operatively architected digital attack would serve all of the purposes to cease the murderous activities of the Syrian Government.

As one can barely turn a light switch on in your home without it being (in some part of the electrical grid) controlled my computer networks. Cell phone, land line, email, digital communication, at its root is built of computer technology. Electricity, water – the most basics of civilization is now all controlled by computer networks. The complete Military Machine rely on the ole 1’s and 0’s of network traffic.

So rather than lighting the fuse on missiles, and landing boots on the streets of Syria.. a combined full on digital attack co-ordinated by all of the major powers would return Syria to the stone age. A complete attack on communications, finance, utilities, private networks, military networks.. Everything. I do not think we or our digital allies have any issue with the technical know-how to virtually shut down this country.
Would civilians suffer – yes, that is inevitable, but I expect a civilian would prefer to have to exists for a time having to be reverted back to the 1800’s. But I would bet money that they would chose this over the option of them being killed as collateral damage in a traditional war.

Obama could come out with his credibility intact, as he answered to his threat  of the red line, the allies, who clearly object to Syrian behaviour, need not take the step of firing rockets. And with no resources other than the flickering light of a candle to read by, Syria would be forced to shut down their military activities.


Oversimplified, of course it is..  But the superpowers have the people with the smarts to manage all of the complexities of this strategy, and besides it is a hell of a lot less expensive than a traditional war, and nobody dies. I would see this as motivation to figure out the methods. 

The Government of any country would find the thought of thousands of Computer Hackers working 7 days a week 24 hours a day working exclusively to attack your infrastructure much more intimidating than being watched through the cross-hairs of a rifle.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Sanitizing Frosh

_______________________
"...devil worshippers and spousal abusers?"
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It is that time of year again with Universities starting to fill up, and of course the new recruits we know as frosh, are roaming the grounds, wide eyed, terrified, lost and unnerved. It is also time for the news to be filled with “inappropriate” frosh activities, excessive drinking, rowdy parties, group chants with inappropriate wordage and on and on.

The university community of administrators, and even those who are completely uninvolved with university life are up in arms with the inappropriateness of the most trivial activities of a frosh week.

It does not take too deep of a dive into local newspapers or newscasts where some member of a frosh organizing committee is being held accountable for political inappropriateness of an activity or two. Even to the point of community outrage for signs posted on dorm walls, or time honoured rituals that now seem to rub the fur of righteous community leaders.

First off, I expect that most of the “adults” judging and demanding change in frosh behaviour were themselves at one point university graduates, and I also feel I am safe in assuming that they too were involved in similar activities (maybe they have just forgotten).. But I am pretty sure that very few of these impeccably moral folks turned out to be savages, lifelong criminals, or deviant adults
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I think these annual outrages insult our new university attendees (or even 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students). Do we have such little faith in our future Engineers, PhD’s, Lawyers, Nurses etc., that wordage in a traditional chant or song (granted politically incorrect) will steer them down a road of devil worshippers and spousal abusers?

 I suggest that the tradition of frosh activities is more valuable than the analysis of being put a microscope to ensure they meet community standards. I, as a frosh, chanted house themes, faculty songs, and paid little attention to the words, or inappropriate allusions – rather I grew socially with the camaraderie, and feeling a part of the university life.

First year university students have lives outside of school, and many it is their first year away from home. They are faced hourly with making mature decisions in order to survive, Bad decisions are met with bad consequences, and good decisions are learned from and repeated. Why then, do we feel that the moment they step on the campus, they must be sheltered and steered from situations that they are required to decide on their own what is right and wrong.

We cannot follow steps in front of these new adults ensuring their paths are clear of political correctness, positive behaviour, and clean living. Let them make their own decisions and learn from them.

University is an opportunity to learn more than Calculus, or Physics – it is the best opportunity to learn about life, and if we insist, as a community, to sanitize their environment.. we are doing our future leaders a true disservice.