A mailing list I’m on pointed to this rant by Chris Davies against open spectrum, and asked for a response after it was cited approvingly (if confusingly) by Corante. While I am tempted to respond simply by reference to the filksong by Brenda Sutton, I will attempt a more substantive answer below (although everyone really should buy Rite the First Time to hear that song and others).
Tales of the Sausage Factory:
My Thoughts Exactly:
Confessions of a Reluctant Unitarian
I’m a member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard. We have part-time minister and members of the society are regually recruited to fill in & give talks on Sundays. I was shanghai’d a while ago and finally gave my talk last Sunday.
The minister had originally suggested that I talk about “creativity” and “being a writer” or similar. Which is precisely the kind of crap I hate about Unitarianism: navel-gazing passed off as meaningful spiritual activity. So instead I delivered a rant about everything I don’t like about my own so-called religion.
Text below the fold. A few notes follow.
My Thoughts Exactly:
Benevolent Older Sibling helps us remember who we are
Here’s a story about government efforts already underway to develop national ID cards (that contain biometric info, natch).
Somehow this tidbit got past Winston Smith at Minitrue, in case yzall are innarested:
On Jan. 19, the agency will hold a public meeting at the Potomac Center Plaza in downtown Washington to discuss policy, privacy and security concerns associated with the development of the new ID card standard. Anyone who wants to attend must preregister by Jan. 11 by e-mailing Sara Caswell, a NIST official, at sara@nist.gov, according to a notice in yesterday’s Federal Register. Questions regarding registration can be directed to Caswell at (301) 975-4634.
Inventing the Future:
Inventing the Future: no names, please!
In this information-laden world, who really wants to deal with addresses, ss#’s, a bevy of phone numbers, even more account numbers, part numbers, and on and on? It seems we sometimes need the precision afforded by (usually non-mnemonic!!!) names, but we don’t like it. What if it’s not necessary?
Inventing the Future:
Inventing the Future: sign me up – not!
My boss has blog on blogger, which I gather is now owned by Google. Hard to believe that the “Don’t be evil” folks have a hand in this monstrosity.
Inventing the Future:
consumers union telecom lobbying website
‘Consumers Union launched a web site (www.hearusnow.org [love the title! -H]) that is
designed to provide consumers with information on telecom and media
industry developments, help them shop for products and services, and
make it easier to lobby lawmakers and policy-makers on issues. “This
web site addresses the explosion of activist groups and energized
consumers who are frustrated by the government’s hands-off approach
when it comes to dealing with their concerns over higher bills, poorer
service, and the fact a handful of companies control their
communications,” said Gene Kimmelman, senior director-public policy
for Consumers Union.’
SOURCE: TR Daily, AUTHOR: Paul Kirby pkirby@tr.com
Tales of the Sausage Factory:
Tales of the Sausage Factory: Ohio the New PA? I don't think so.
It appears to be my day to pick on poor Esme at the truly amazing and wonderful Muniwireless website. Recently, she published this article on Ohio House Bill 591. Esme and others think it is the next in a series of bills like the recent HB 30 signed into law by Governor Rendell. Me, I’m not so sure. My analysis of Ohio’s 591 (and why, even if stupid, it is not evil) below.
Tales of the Sausage Factory:
Tales of the Sausage Facotry: Will WiFi Phones Displace Cell Phones?
Esme Vos comments on a WSJ article suggesting that WiFi and cell phones are mortal enemies. Sorry, but such a simplistic view of the world doesn’t hold water for me. Sadly, I think the cell phone companies believe it.
Inventing the Future:
Inventing the Future: timing and the pitch
Here’s a glimpse of the future. Can’t wait ’till Croquet is ready to play.
There’s a new PlayStation 2 game called Karaoke Revolution. You sing into the computer while an animated character lip-syncs. The game grades you on your pitch and timing, and the animated crowd goes wild or boos you off stage as appropriate.
My Thoughts Exactly:
Pixiated
I saw an article about the Pixies in the freebie paper “Metro”.
The Pixies, of course, are the art-noise-punk-pop band out of Boston. They reunited after 13 years. (If you don’t know this band, by golly, stop reading Wetmachine right now and go find them.)
I couldn’t find the story online (but I did find a bunch of nifty stories by googling for “pixies metro”). So let me retype the interesting part relative to Wetmachine themes of the media ecology:
