This is a short and sweet posting to simply inform the masses that DailyKos is now officially blocked by the US military web filters. I just finished a Reservist weekend. While I am there I usually spend a little time to take a look-see at the goings on at DKos and other sites. Up until this last weekend (4 and 5 Nov 06) I was able to access all my blog/news sites. No more. DKos and Firedoglake are now blocked. The blurb that comes up on the DKos block indicates that "profanity" is the reason. The message on Firedoglake indicates the "problem" is streaming media of a personal nature (can't recall the exact verbage).
Quick update: this isn't military-wide as I first suspected. It affects USAF Reserves (any regular USAF types able to tell whether it affects their browsing too?). The USAFR has a centralized NOC (Network Operations Center) wherein lies THE single point of access to the net. It is there that our SmartFilter censor system is setup. Thus, perhaps the Air Force Reserves has set their SmartFilter a bit too "sensitive" so that it auto-blocks sites at the drop of a pin, or some numbnuts has looked over the site and deemed it block-worthy due to "profanity".
Another diary apparently hit upon this same issue. Based upon some of the responses here from military (and civilian/GS level workers at military bases) the issue could simply be an overly sensitive setup onbase. We (the entire USAFR) goes through a central hub to get out to the broad internet. The filter could be oversensitive there or locally. I am awaiting a reply from my base IT officer to see where the blockage derives from and what, if anything, he can do about it.
So, we are provided a news feed to our computers that includes...Fox only. We have news channels up and running on various base TVs (primarily in the waiting room of our med clinic) that is never tuned away from Fox news (or sports). Now, bit by bit, I expect non-Fox-worthy blog sites to be taken down as the censors of our mil net become acquainted with them. Fortunately, I can still access Unclaimed Territory, Booman Tribune, AmericaBlog I wonder how long that will last - until they discover that the primary kingpin of that blog is gay), Billmon, Needlenose, and a few others I frequent. Give it time and I expect to lose them too.
Any suggestions on primo Wingnut sites I should try to access to see if the censorship is "fair and balanced" on my next UTA?