August 2002 Archives
ok, so after my blithe rant about wifi community
networks, i got an email from a friend of mine bringing me back down to earth.
She suggested working with Big Brothers (i'd do some kind of funny riff on 1984,
but i'm sick, and it would only be funny to me anyway). I'm sure if you were
to look back though some of the older posting, you'd find me saying something
about becoming involved with these folks. Another friend does work with them,
and has a little brother. I guess its been the fear of commitment, of making
the decision to give the time and energy to something like this, that has
made me wary. I know there are options for folks that can't give time to
be a big brother - there are functions where they just need folks to come
and help out. Like, tell me i couldn't do at least that?
I read Michael Moore's new book recently and was struck by how hard he was trying to get people involved. Tara Sue is someone who is doing it. Trying to make a difference. What has happened to make us all (well, me) so ... dissafected? indifferent? Oh, sure, we all like to bitch and moan, put up websites where we can spout off about things that piss us off, but we (I) so rarely do anything
about it. Please feel free to keep pestering me about hooking up with the
big brothers, or, well, doing anything socially active. Ok? Thanks.
Wow, really long article
about Security and why so many of the measures being legislated by the US
government are poorly thought out. I know, most of you readers would rather
do anything then read something longish on the web. Well, if you have any
interest in security and technology this article is well worth the time.
Mostly based on interviews with Bruce Schneier, who was one of the fore-runners of the "crypto wars" of the 90's. Thanks to MQ for the link.
So, this week is Burningman, and here is a lovely take on it, from a somewhat biased viewpoint...
I know, i know - i tell you all this all the time, but really, you gotta read it. Get your war on - page thirteen.
Holy fuck - "Coca-Cola Accused of Using Death Squads to Target Union Leaders". That is some crazy shit, if true.
I've been trying to figure out what i can do to
be more "active" in a social context. Like, i give donations to some charities
right now, but i haven't really given any time to anything, you know? Thinking
about what i enjoy doing and areas of interest to me, that overlap a social
need, one of the things is free internet access. There are more and more
community wireless internet groups all the time, and this is something that
i could do. There are many sites that have a great amount of useful information
([1] [2] [3]),
and i know folks her in my city that would be interested in this too. So,
if anyone has some interest in this, i'm going to set up a list-server for
folks, and also keep reporting my progress here.
Oi, had a minor fender-bender with a van on my bike
yesterday coming home from work. Was in the outside lane, and halfway through
the intersection decides to turn right. No signals, no looking into his blind
spot, nothing. Whamo. Luckly, both myself and my bike were ok. Dented his
van tho! :) Scared the heck out of me - took me some time to get the shakes
to stop. So, my little note of the day to drivers - Look before you turn, and use your damn signal lights! Thanks.
There has been some hew and cry
about whether geeks should participate in the political battles that are
happening around IP, Trademark and other Tech laws. I'd have to agree with Larry Lessig in thinking that we must be involved and talking to our representatives. Unfortunately, i'm also a huge hypocrite in this area.
Wow, i just got an email from a friend that i thought
would never be reading this blog, so i guess i should try to get back into
it! Thanks to Rebecca! One thing that i'm going to have to do is
an overhaul of the look of this site. I mean, geezzz, its been all white
for how long? Like, years man. Anyway, something new is due, and it will
probably keep me interested for a while.Hope everyone is having a
good summer! I say that as i've just come back from a 5 day weekend at the
cottage, so i'm all rested and feeling pretty good... its almost 9 am now
tho, so i'm sure as soon as work really starts, i'll be all stressed out
in no time ;)
Ah, good old Bruce Sterling (check out Viridian), always good for a keynote - "A Contrarian View of Open Source".
Reclaiming the Commons by David Bollier.
