Wikileaks for Dummies

cartoon by Randy Bish in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“What’s a wiki?” While I’m sure most of my highly informed readers would never ask such a question, (The answer, by the way, according to wikipedia is “a website that allows the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor.”) you might be scratching your belly over the whole wikileak episode.

The reason, I believe, so many of us are still bedraggled over the issue is that, while technically savvy and ultimately geeky, the champions of leaking classified U.S. government information have overlooked a critical medium for conveying information quickly and succinctly in American culture. No, not the internets. I’m referring of course to the Dummies book enterprise driven by Wiley Publishing.

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Firefly: a Conspiracy Theory

Serenity from T.V.'s Firefly
Serenity from T.V.’s Firefly

In case you are unaware, the best show on T.V. to never finish a single season is incontestably and unarguably Firefly. It aired and was cancelled in 2002. Many diehard, Firefly freekies will tell you the show was cancelled due to conflicts from the creator working on another show, or due to the fact the first two episodes were mysteriously aired out of order (as in not first).

Stick in the mud types will tell you that it was due to low ratings. (Pshaw.) I’m here today to tell you the truth. Bipartisan politics. (Who would have thought such a thing possible this day and age.)

Bipartisan Politics Cancelled Firefly

You see, the plot line for Firefly is about a browncoat independent who fights for civil liberties in order to stick it to the man by encouraging a free-trade economy based on bartering and simple living and implemented by a diverse, bipartisan crew of federation outsiders. (I know. How did the creators ever think they would get away with such a thing?)

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