Have you given some thought to your own freedom lately? Freedom is certainly not a given, nor is it a “right” that is handed out by some altruistic force larger than life. Freedom is kept up by free people, often at a cost. But as we all know, consciously or not, freedom is the most valuable thing there is. So of course it’s worth it. With that in mind, perhaps it’s relevant to ask yourself why are there morons who can only find compensatory safety in sheepishly repeating what some “think tank” has decided to be the control catch phrase of the season? “If you’ve got nothing to hide, then why are you so opposed to monitoring / surveillance / bugging / increased control?” There’s a logical inconsistency in this, isn’t there? If I don’t say anything, does that inherently imply that I mean No when someone else claims Yes? Of course not. A potential dialogue has been dragged down to the level of Kindergarten coercion...

Why is New York such an inspiring place for creative individuals? One could argue that there’s a traditionally will driven atmosphere around, based on entrepreneurship and esteem of achievement. Also, that success is not looked down upon. Sure, these could be seen as American traits in general. But there’s definitely something else buzzing in New York that makes the place very special compared to other grand hubs, and to America in general. I believe one contributing factor is the concept of conducive anonymity. Meaning that people in New York are genuinely interested in what you do but only to the extent that it won’t disturb their own creative goings on. In New York, time is tight and no one wants to waste it on overindulgence in other people’s monomania. Genuine kudos for others, yes, but not to an extent that will hamper your own schedule. When a mutual display has been taken care of, inspirational or not, it’s back to one’s own business. This...