Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
I agree with Dave Carter below and couldn't have possibly expressed it better.
That said, I missed the news of last week ("Gee, honey, did anything happen while I was away?") because of a two-night wilderness raft trip in no water and four nights in Yellowstone Park signing books and giving talks. Yellowstone is, of course, run by the National Park Service. Therein lies the problem.
Some unknown, unaccountable bureaucrat (or team of bureaucrats) in the NPS have decided that the "visitor experience" in national parks like Yellowstone is less than ideal if the concessionaires of said parks offer wi-fi to paying guests -- as well as keeping TV's out of the rooms. It's not as if the hotels and lodges in Yellowstone are so remote that cable and wi-fi would be difficult to install. After all, the NPS makes sure THEY have the internet in all their offices. When a VIP like Mr. Obama or his minions pass through for a photo op, the concessionaire is instructed to rig up internet capability. And to take it back down after the VIP departs.
There are those who choose to turn off their computers and phones when they go on vacation. That's perfectly fine. But in this case, our federal overlords do it for us since we are their children and without their intervention, heck, we might bumble into a geyser while reading our Twitter feed.
Of course, given what happened last week, I may want to go back to Yellowstone -- and stay there.
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Comments:
Nov '10
Re: Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
> our federal overlords do it for us since we are their children
Yep. I rely on myself to turn off my gadgets in the parks.
Jun '10
Re: Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
"You vill have no wi-fi or TV. And you vill enjoy it!!"
I'm sure some folks wish to not get on the Internet or TV--but trust your all-seeing, all-knowing bureaucrat to decide for everyone. Freedom continues its retreat.
Sep '11
Re: Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
Do you think they will still let people in?
Mar '11
Re: Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
C.J., I'm taking Nowhere to Run to the beach this week. Funny- last week I bought more ammo and sent a check to Mitt.
Re: Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
Well done all around, Dale. I hope you like Nowhere to Run. Because there isn't.
Dec '10
Re: Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
Many years ago I got an Air Card for my laptop and signed on for unlimited bandwidth. Today, though I rarely use it, I still pay the exhorbitant monthly fee, because if I alter that contract in any way, I will lose my unlimited bandwidth. My brother recently signed up for the "same" package, with the same company, and his bandwidth was throttled way back and his experience led him to quickly cancel the service.
I rarely use wifi, as it is very insecure and, at best, spotty. Air cards are a bit slow, but they are pretty darned reliable and, if there are cellphone bars, I can reach the net.
Anybody wanna sublet an Air Card that I have little use for, but don't dare cancel?!
May '12
Re: Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
C.J., that Longmire series sure seems a lot like Joe Pickett. You two authors commiserate.
The girls, wife and I watch Longmire and call it Joe Pickett's world and are awaiting Joe to show up in one of the scenes. Eerily close.
Re: Off-line While Our Country Drives Off The Cliff
Isn't it, though?
ted trepanier: C.J., that Longmire series sure seems a lot like Joe Pickett. You two authors commiserate.
The girls, wife and I watch Longmire and call it Joe Pickett's world and are awaiting Joe to show up in one of the scenes. Eerily close. · 23 hours ago