How sad is it that many in the “mainstream” think these are the bad guys.

Just pulled up off Digg I have started reading about “bayimg“, self-described as “free uncensored image hosting“.  Not much there at the moment–hell, most of it looks like it isn’t in English–but once you Digg it, they will come.

Go there at your own peril, the easily offended will certainly be that and more.  Peruse the tags and you will see immediately that the site is neither safe for work nor children.  Check their FAQ is you’re confused:

• Q: What’s the big deal about it being uncensored?
• A: Well, we really think it is a big deal. Freedom of speech is our foundation. And it doesn’t come cheap. You might have heard that old quote by Voltaire; “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” It’s really that simple. There are a lot of ugly opinions out there, but demoracy ain’t worth much without the right to express those opinions. There is this myth about freedom of speech being a nice comfortable idea, well it’s not. It’s annoying, appalling and sometimes even dangerous. But the opposite is way worse.

Their need for a spell check aside, this is exactly the kind of attitude we need to see more of, not less.   And you can be damn-well-sure that all the major commercial content-screening sites will have this site blocked within a matter of days (amazing how markets work).  And you can be damn sure that some politician somewhere will argue that someone should write a law to shut a site like this down.   Let’s make sure that when we hear that, we do not stay silent.
I also want to add my voice to the chorus of Ron Paul supporters.  I don’t agree with every position he takes, but he’s so far and away ahead of every other candidate it is a shame he won’t win the nomination.  I have found myself begrudgingly voting for Democrats who, despite their awful big-government economic philosophy, have a marginally better civil liberties record (IMO), especially in light of my conclusion that the Republican Party can now neither lay any credible claim to the principles of federalism, fiscal conservatism, nor civil liberties.  What a waste of a heritage.  Ron Paul is a Republican I would back, no question.  If you’re somehow reading this blog without having previously investigated him, get on it.