Freedom of speech... while it lasts

I’ve decided to give blogging another try.

I have been posting comments on Huffington Post for a couple of years, taking idiots to task, and trying to impart a little common sense, insight, and wisdom to the world. Some people were grateful for it, some angered, and many others simply ignored me.

Generally I was not censored, although I was required to tone down my -shall we say “colorful” language - in order to have my posts published. Aside from forced politeness, their terms of use were not exactly hard to adhere to, and it provided me with a useful outlet for my innate outbursts of humor and rage.

Beginning this week, Huffington Post changed their commenting features to require a log in through facebook. That was the last straw. Mark Zuckerberg can suck my dick.

I tried half a dozen times to voice my dissatisfaction at this new development, and to rebuke Huffington Post for their disdain of their membership. Though I tried several times, editing and self-censoring my posts, they were never published on the site. In short, I was silenced.

Let’s not fool ourselves here. They are in the media business to make money, however Zuckerberg already has enough fucking money. We will be mined as advertising demographics, and surely flooded with ads to consume, consume, consume! Again, Mark Zuckerberg can suck my dick. Huffington Post decided in their infinite wisdom that linking their users to facebook was worth whatever graft they received to commercialize all of our data.

I started a facebook page several years ago at the behest of my grandmother who wanted to share her hundreds of photos from her trip to Turkey. On her request, I started a profile, and admittedly for a while there, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve seen her photos, and managed to go cold Turkey/turkey.

What started as a simple way to remain in contact with friends and family soon became a chore. Constant updating, revisions, and changes pushed me away from facebook. It has been an invaluable tool to track down long lost associates (although finding other white folks can be daunting - do you know how many John Smiths that there really are in the world? Thank god for my having ethnic friends).

I stopped using facebook over a year ago, and would only log on occasionally, usually when I received an e-mail notification from someone trying to reach me. As I don’t routinely use it, I have never felt the need to delete my profile, and will now use it (sparingly) to promote this new blog. Again, Mark Zuckerberg can suck my dick.

I am using this format - a Google platform (likely to change as well at a moments notice) - in order to freely express myself as only I can, while I still can. I will touch on topics that interest me, and maybe interest you, the reader (and hopefully participant) on topics ranging from the asinine to the imperative. And I will take all comers.

From self-absorbed, intellectually dishonest, and willfully ignorant Tea Baggers, to the myopic, whiney, “socially” democratic Occupy twits. From the fascist “conservative” right-wingers to the lethargic, “liberal” leftists. From the politically correct to the politically charged. From the “drill baby drill” crowd to the assholes at PETA. And fuck all you people with your cute kitten pictures.

Eight years ago I wrote a column briefly for an online publication. The editor was sloppy, merely cutting and pasting my text without reading, editing, or even correcting my spelling. I have become a better writer since then, and managed to learn to edit and spell without the help of a shit editor. I will eventually be re-editing some of those posts and adding them to this blog’s archive when I am damn good and ready.

I have always been an anti-establishment type, and truth be told, it’s genetic. My family has been starting shit in this country since 1735 and I’m not about to forgo that fine tradition.

So with open arms, tongue in cheek, and a boot ready for your ass, let me welcome you one and all to Incendiary Language.