I am Back

 

It has been quite a few days since my last post, it was due to "circumstances beyond my control".

I have been on a business trip abroad (like all mortals, I have a job, and this job involves overseas travel) visiting some customers.

I had loaded some posts so that during my outbound flights, they would be uploaded and posted automatically, I intended to post on a daily basis after my long working hours once I was at my destination.

However I was not able to do so. The country which I visited has some very strict laws regarding what can be done and not done on the web. Blogging is not allowed (neither are Facebook, Youtube or innocent sites such as www.care2.com). These laws are applied not only to its citizens but also to anyone who wants to connect to the Internet within its borders.

This of course is very reasonable and fair. I understand the concern of the authorities of "Empiria"*, who consider that a blog on Patagonian monsters is indeed something that you don't want the average citizen of "Empiria"* to read. It might give him/her subversive ideas, or poison his/her mind. Don't you think so?

Censorship is xxxxxx xxx xxxx.

Seriously now, I am sorry that this is so, I know that it is a fact of life for the hardy citizens of "Empiria"*, who have to put up with that sort of autocratic behavior from its government (and other worse things too).

Fortunately for me, Argentina has no such laws and does not censor anyone's activities on the web, so here I am, back on line again. We had, back in the 70's and early 80's a military dictatorship (1976-1983) that censored books, magazines, the press, the movies... you name it, they did it. They not only killed several thousand citizens in a "dirty war" and violated our Constitution, they abducted people and executed them without trial, they gave up small babies in adoption after killing their parents. Well, if in those days there would have been an Internet, they would have censored it too.

* If you are wondering which country is "Empiria", I have no intention of telling you, just try to guess.

Austin


Copyright 2009 by Austin Whittall ©

Patagonian Monsters