12.28.2005
Should the UN control the internet?
A recent Foreign Policy interview with Lawrence Lessig expounds on the debate between U.S. and international interests on the future of the internet.
Top 10 List of Best Top 10 Lists of 2005!
At long last, here is my top ten list of best top ten lists for the end of 2005.
10. All Songs Considered Best Music of 2005
9. The Globalist Top Ten Books on Globalization in 2005
8. Top Ten Web 2.0 Moments of 2005
7. Top Ten Google Searches for 2005
6. Wired News Biggest Discoveries of 2005
5. National Geographic's Top Ten News Photos of 2005
4. The New Republic's Top Ten Overlooked Movies of the Year
3. Wired's 10 Best Tech Moments of 2005
2. NPR's Top 10 Public Opinion Trends of 2005
And the #1 Top 10 List of 2005:
1. America's Top Ten Pest Control Problems in 2005
10. All Songs Considered Best Music of 2005
9. The Globalist Top Ten Books on Globalization in 2005
8. Top Ten Web 2.0 Moments of 2005
7. Top Ten Google Searches for 2005
6. Wired News Biggest Discoveries of 2005
5. National Geographic's Top Ten News Photos of 2005
4. The New Republic's Top Ten Overlooked Movies of the Year
3. Wired's 10 Best Tech Moments of 2005
2. NPR's Top 10 Public Opinion Trends of 2005
And the #1 Top 10 List of 2005:
1. America's Top Ten Pest Control Problems in 2005
12.27.2005
The future is here - and it works
There's a thought-provoking editorial in today's Financial Times that addresses the impact technology has on multiple facets of our lives. In particular, it highlights the common human mistake to underestimate the power of the exponential advancement of technology.
"We tend to project the past on to the future. Yet accelerating rates of change are bringing the future racing towards us...Had it been around as recently as 1998, the latest Xbox games console, available for $399, would have ranked as the world's fastest supercomputer."
"We tend to project the past on to the future. Yet accelerating rates of change are bringing the future racing towards us...Had it been around as recently as 1998, the latest Xbox games console, available for $399, would have ranked as the world's fastest supercomputer."
12.24.2005
Gapminder
Check out this fantastic website.
"Gapminder is a non-profit venture for development and provision of free software that visualise human development. This is done in collaboration with universities, UN organisations, public agencies and non-governmental organisations. Gapminder is a Foundation registered at Stockholm county administration board (Länstyrelsen) (reg. nr. 802424-7721). It was founded by Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund and Hans Rosling on 25 February 2005, in Stockholm. Gapminder Foundation will advance software development that have been done earlier by the non-profit company Gapminder Ltd. Funding has been and is mainly by grants from Sida for the Trendalyzer project. Being a producer of global public goods Gapminder benefit from free and creative inputs from pilot-testers and other end-users in many institutions and organisations."
Very cool.
"Gapminder is a non-profit venture for development and provision of free software that visualise human development. This is done in collaboration with universities, UN organisations, public agencies and non-governmental organisations. Gapminder is a Foundation registered at Stockholm county administration board (Länstyrelsen) (reg. nr. 802424-7721). It was founded by Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund and Hans Rosling on 25 February 2005, in Stockholm. Gapminder Foundation will advance software development that have been done earlier by the non-profit company Gapminder Ltd. Funding has been and is mainly by grants from Sida for the Trendalyzer project. Being a producer of global public goods Gapminder benefit from free and creative inputs from pilot-testers and other end-users in many institutions and organisations."
Very cool.
12.22.2005
Early returns reveal that Shiites and Sunnis opted for religious parties.
It seems the Bush administration has been so focused on successful elections in Iraq that the consequences of an Islamist majority have not been fully considered.
A Christian Science Monitor article provides a preliminary assessment of the outcome.
"With more than three-quarters of the country giving a vote of confidence to Islamist parties, last Thursday's vote raises the prospect of Iraq being more overtly religious than ever before."
A Christian Science Monitor article provides a preliminary assessment of the outcome.
"With more than three-quarters of the country giving a vote of confidence to Islamist parties, last Thursday's vote raises the prospect of Iraq being more overtly religious than ever before."
12.15.2005
The future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed
An article in yesterday's Financial Times discusses the inevitability of the next five years of tech development. It all seems so matter of fact.
"In emerging markets, consumers can look forward to simple $100 or pay-as-you-go computing machines helping them access vital data. They might just need a weather forecast or the price of wheat, says Phil Hester, chief technology officer at AMD, whose 50x15 initiative aims to provide affordable internet access and computing capabilities for 50 per cent of the world's population by 2015. Only 15 per cent have access at present."
"In emerging markets, consumers can look forward to simple $100 or pay-as-you-go computing machines helping them access vital data. They might just need a weather forecast or the price of wheat, says Phil Hester, chief technology officer at AMD, whose 50x15 initiative aims to provide affordable internet access and computing capabilities for 50 per cent of the world's population by 2015. Only 15 per cent have access at present."
12.14.2005
President Bush visits the Wilson Center
So I shook the president's hand today! President Bush was here at the Wilson Center today to give a speech on the war on 'terrer' and I worked as a volunteer. I assisted the White House with the press corps. My job was to make sure they didn't leave their cordoned off area. I was in the ballroom before all the guests entered, so I witnessed the whole process which was fascinating. Secret service everywhere, dogs, metal detectors, etc. At one point, the "diplomat corps" walked in. I've never experienced anything quite like having sixty or so ambassadors to the United States walk right by me. Just to recognize all the parts of the world from which they came...incredible.
Dealing with the press corps, there were writers from the Post, NYtimes, the Chicago Tribune, Reuters, AP, etc. There were also several senators and congressmen (women?) in the audience as well. You felt like you were seeing politics in action. The president and his entourage, the press, the scholars and diplomats, the security. The speech was quite good I think and most others I have spoken with agree. With Bush's approval ratings dipping back down again, Iraqi elections tomorrow, and U.S. elections right around the corner, he appears to be kicking it up a notch as far as the diplomacy is concerned.
I stood about forty feet away from the president while he spoke, photographers' cameras clicking over my shoulder frequently. I remember saying "oh my god" under my breath as rumsfeld and condi walked in before the speech. Michael Chertoff of Hurricane Katrina fame was there as well. After the speech the president walked along the front row to greet the audience. I managed to make my way up close to see him. I just wanted to see what he really looked like--in person. His face was a bit worn, his hair graying. I reached my hand out as he made his way by and got a brief shake.
The director of my program was further down the line from me. She managed to get the president's ear to tell him that we have been conducting training session in Jordan with female Iraqi politicians. She said she was concerned that Sharia Law will be adopted as family law, limiting substantially the rights of women in Iraq. "They need your help," she told him. He said he knew, he knew. She reemphasized her point. She said she thought he had really heard what she was saying and he wasn't simply paying lip service.
While I was near the center of the ballroom, some of my colleagues were sitting at the far end of the hall, maybe twenty rows back. They recalled seeing an intern sitting in the next to last seat in one of the far reaches of the room--not a very good place to see the president. This intern noticed someone had sat down next to them, taking the final seat. My colleague recollected the intern's shock and amazement when they realized it was Karl Rove.
Dealing with the press corps, there were writers from the Post, NYtimes, the Chicago Tribune, Reuters, AP, etc. There were also several senators and congressmen (women?) in the audience as well. You felt like you were seeing politics in action. The president and his entourage, the press, the scholars and diplomats, the security. The speech was quite good I think and most others I have spoken with agree. With Bush's approval ratings dipping back down again, Iraqi elections tomorrow, and U.S. elections right around the corner, he appears to be kicking it up a notch as far as the diplomacy is concerned.
I stood about forty feet away from the president while he spoke, photographers' cameras clicking over my shoulder frequently. I remember saying "oh my god" under my breath as rumsfeld and condi walked in before the speech. Michael Chertoff of Hurricane Katrina fame was there as well. After the speech the president walked along the front row to greet the audience. I managed to make my way up close to see him. I just wanted to see what he really looked like--in person. His face was a bit worn, his hair graying. I reached my hand out as he made his way by and got a brief shake.
The director of my program was further down the line from me. She managed to get the president's ear to tell him that we have been conducting training session in Jordan with female Iraqi politicians. She said she was concerned that Sharia Law will be adopted as family law, limiting substantially the rights of women in Iraq. "They need your help," she told him. He said he knew, he knew. She reemphasized her point. She said she thought he had really heard what she was saying and he wasn't simply paying lip service.
While I was near the center of the ballroom, some of my colleagues were sitting at the far end of the hall, maybe twenty rows back. They recalled seeing an intern sitting in the next to last seat in one of the far reaches of the room--not a very good place to see the president. This intern noticed someone had sat down next to them, taking the final seat. My colleague recollected the intern's shock and amazement when they realized it was Karl Rove.
12.11.2005
Intel: Poor Want 'Real' Computers
It appears Mr. Negroponte's $100 laptop is causing quite a stir.
If nothing else, it is encouraging a lot of people to think about providing access to technology for children around the world.
In a recent article with Wired News, Craig Barrett, CEO of Intel, disparaged the $100 laptop as a "gadget," Saying what people want is a computer, not a gadget. Hmmm. Do I sense a hint of jealousy in Mr. Barrett's words? He seems to do a lot of name calling throughout his comments.
"'Mr. Negroponte has called it a $100 laptop -- I think a more realistic title should be 'the $100 gadget',' Barrett, chairman of the world's largest chipmaker, told a press conference in Sri Lanka on Friday. 'The problem is that gadgets have not been successful.'"
If nothing else, it is encouraging a lot of people to think about providing access to technology for children around the world.
In a recent article with Wired News, Craig Barrett, CEO of Intel, disparaged the $100 laptop as a "gadget," Saying what people want is a computer, not a gadget. Hmmm. Do I sense a hint of jealousy in Mr. Barrett's words? He seems to do a lot of name calling throughout his comments.
"'Mr. Negroponte has called it a $100 laptop -- I think a more realistic title should be 'the $100 gadget',' Barrett, chairman of the world's largest chipmaker, told a press conference in Sri Lanka on Friday. 'The problem is that gadgets have not been successful.'"
12.10.2005
Personal World Map
Pick a starting location, enter in time and monetary constraints, and personalworldmap.org will show you where you could travel. It's an interesting idea that could probably be expanded on in the future.
Chicago Bears Super Bowl Shuffle
I suppose I couldn't consider myself a true Chicago Bears fan if I didn't also include a link to the Super Bowl Shuffle
The Bears are doing quite well this year with some comparing this year's defense to the tenacious D of 1985...could there be a new Super Bowl Shuffle on its way?
The Bears are doing quite well this year with some comparing this year's defense to the tenacious D of 1985...could there be a new Super Bowl Shuffle on its way?
12.06.2005
D.C. Housing Prices--Ouch!
So D.C. residents not only pay an extraordinary share of the tax burdern, most of them can't afford a house too! So who's living in this town anyway?
More from the Economist:
"A typical family in the District of Columbia could not afford 80% of the properties sold in the city last year. According to the Urban Institute, a think-tank, costs rose across the city, especially in less affluent neighbourhoods, with the average DC home selling for $450,000. Rents have also escalated in recent years because of diminishing vacancies. In the first half of 2005, 2,500 apartments were turned into condominiums, three times as many as in all of 2004. As an example, the report showed how the buying power of typical teachers had dropped in recent years: in 2001, they could afford one in three houses sold, while in 2004 that figure was under one in five."
More from the Economist:
"A typical family in the District of Columbia could not afford 80% of the properties sold in the city last year. According to the Urban Institute, a think-tank, costs rose across the city, especially in less affluent neighbourhoods, with the average DC home selling for $450,000. Rents have also escalated in recent years because of diminishing vacancies. In the first half of 2005, 2,500 apartments were turned into condominiums, three times as many as in all of 2004. As an example, the report showed how the buying power of typical teachers had dropped in recent years: in 2001, they could afford one in three houses sold, while in 2004 that figure was under one in five."
No commuter tax
Imagine what $30 Billion could do for this city!
From the Economist:
"A panel of federal judges—among them John Roberts, now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—ruled in November that the District of Columbia cannot impose a commuter tax without an act of Congress. The tax would have been levied on income earned in the city by non-residents. The mayor, Anthony Williams, had brought the suit, along with the city council, the city and several residents, to try to overturn a provision of DC’s 1973 Home Rule act, which prohibits the city from imposing a tax on any non-District residents.
The plaintiffs argued that the law discriminated against District residents because it imposed a higher tax burden on them. They estimated that the commuter-tax ban deprives the District of $30 billion in taxable income, or roughly $1.4 billion in actual annual revenue according to current tax rates. Some 300,000 people commute to work in the city every day. The governments of Maryland and Virginia intervened against the suit, arguing that DC was a special case and that such a tax would hurt their economies. This argument was dismissed by a federal judge last year, when the case was initially brought."
From the Economist:
"A panel of federal judges—among them John Roberts, now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—ruled in November that the District of Columbia cannot impose a commuter tax without an act of Congress. The tax would have been levied on income earned in the city by non-residents. The mayor, Anthony Williams, had brought the suit, along with the city council, the city and several residents, to try to overturn a provision of DC’s 1973 Home Rule act, which prohibits the city from imposing a tax on any non-District residents.
The plaintiffs argued that the law discriminated against District residents because it imposed a higher tax burden on them. They estimated that the commuter-tax ban deprives the District of $30 billion in taxable income, or roughly $1.4 billion in actual annual revenue according to current tax rates. Some 300,000 people commute to work in the city every day. The governments of Maryland and Virginia intervened against the suit, arguing that DC was a special case and that such a tax would hurt their economies. This argument was dismissed by a federal judge last year, when the case was initially brought."
12.05.2005
Waiting for That $100 Laptop? - Don't hold your breath.
There's a rather cynical article over at Slate regarding Nicholas Negroponte's new $100 laptop. It remains to be seen whether this new endeavor will be more successful from previous attempts. It seems with the fervent pace with which computer technology advances and all of those formerly high end workstations sitting in a trash heap somewhere, that it would be possible to make a decent machine with mid-1990s specs for a reasonable price. There is also a huge untapped market for such a device. So why's it so difficult to fill that niche? And once somebody does, will things ever be the same?
"Negroponte promises that bringing cheap laptops to countries like Brazil, Thailand, and Egypt will help 'children to 'learn learning' through independent interaction and exploration.' That might be true, but this green machine won't be the computer to do it, no matter how much Kofi Annan and the international press fawn over it. The $100 laptop is a huckster's gambit--poorly thought out, overly ambitious, and too sexy to be true."
"Negroponte promises that bringing cheap laptops to countries like Brazil, Thailand, and Egypt will help 'children to 'learn learning' through independent interaction and exploration.' That might be true, but this green machine won't be the computer to do it, no matter how much Kofi Annan and the international press fawn over it. The $100 laptop is a huckster's gambit--poorly thought out, overly ambitious, and too sexy to be true."
12.03.2005
Climate Change as Number One?
From the Globalist:: "News of the War on Terror and high oil prices continue to dominate today's headlines. But as Ross Gelbspan points out in his book 'Boiling Point,' these issues pale in the face of the looming threat posed by global climate change. What's more, many of these issues have their roots in climate change, and a change for the better in this regard could render these other issues null."
11.27.2005
The Chattering Classes
The chattering classes is a term often used in the media and by political commentators, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia, to refer to a politically active, socially concerned and highly educated elite section of the middle class.
The term 'commentariat' is roughly synonymous with the 'chattering class', although it connotes more authoritarian manners.
* This group is assumed to have good connections with the politically powerful and the conclusion is made that its concerns can be quickly translated into political action. It is believed to have an influence on the political agenda out of proportion to its numbers.
* The term is often used in a derogatory sense, to suggest that those concerned have a soft-left agenda which is both unrealistic ('chattering' suggesting both a preoccupation with theory rather than practicality, and a lack of real experience of the problems under discussion) and unconcerned with the concerns and beliefs of the majority of ordinary, and hence by implication effectively disenfranchised, voters.
* The expression is first recorded by the OED in the writings of journalist Clive James in 1985."
The term 'commentariat' is roughly synonymous with the 'chattering class', although it connotes more authoritarian manners.
* This group is assumed to have good connections with the politically powerful and the conclusion is made that its concerns can be quickly translated into political action. It is believed to have an influence on the political agenda out of proportion to its numbers.
* The term is often used in a derogatory sense, to suggest that those concerned have a soft-left agenda which is both unrealistic ('chattering' suggesting both a preoccupation with theory rather than practicality, and a lack of real experience of the problems under discussion) and unconcerned with the concerns and beliefs of the majority of ordinary, and hence by implication effectively disenfranchised, voters.
* The expression is first recorded by the OED in the writings of journalist Clive James in 1985."
11.18.2005
Wired News: Negroponte: Laptop for Every Kid
"If tech luminary Nicholas Negroponte has his way, the pale light from rugged, hand-cranked $100 laptops will illuminate homes in villages and townships throughout the developing world, and give every child on the planet a computer of their own by 2010."
"If tech luminary Nicholas Negroponte has his way, the pale light from rugged, hand-cranked $100 laptops will illuminate homes in villages and townships throughout the developing world, and give every child on the planet a computer of their own by 2010."
11.14.2005
stephen's law:
when someone experiences something for the first time, they assume this is the first time this event has ever occurred.
Examples:
I get on a roller coaster. It's a thrill because it's a new experience and I subconciously consider the possibility that I am somehow in danger. To the guy running the roller coaster, it's not so thrilling because he's been working at the same damn amusement park for six years.
I'll post more examples when I think of them.
when someone experiences something for the first time, they assume this is the first time this event has ever occurred.
Examples:
I get on a roller coaster. It's a thrill because it's a new experience and I subconciously consider the possibility that I am somehow in danger. To the guy running the roller coaster, it's not so thrilling because he's been working at the same damn amusement park for six years.
I'll post more examples when I think of them.
Some describe the current political circumstances in the United States as highly polarized. I would argue that we are living in highly unpolarized times, in fact. In a two party system, the most balanced circumstances that can arrive are those where the two parties appeal to half of the population. A fifty-fifty divide. While the distribution of powers among the three branches of federal government as well as on the state and local levels can result in various manifestations of this fifty-fifty distribution, the will of the people as a whole will reach a certain stasis. Contrast this with a ratio of 2-1. Let us imagine that 66% of the population support one party, while 33% support the other. This, in my opinion, would create the most polarized political environment. In the U.S., with roughly 300 million people, imagine 200 million members of one party and 100 million of the other. It seems to me, this would "cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions" because the subsequent imbalance of political power would energize both parties to further entrench in their view.
While the U.S. today exhibits a viscious, unforgiving political environment, this is in fact a separate issue from "polarity." A political system can be at once viscious and balanced.
While the U.S. today exhibits a viscious, unforgiving political environment, this is in fact a separate issue from "polarity." A political system can be at once viscious and balanced.
11.13.2005
DCist:
"Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, took a rare swipe at the United States, saying he was puzzled why residents in the capital of the world's oldest democracy have no Congressional voting rights.
The Tibetan leader said it was 'quite strange' that people in Washington DC had no voting Representatives and no Senators, an issue that has dogged the United States for the last 200 years.
He said he wondered why a 'small pocket' of people living in the world's 'champion of democracy, liberty and freedom' lacked full voting rights and representation in Congress.
'Quite strange, quite strange,' he remarked, drawing further laughter."
"Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, took a rare swipe at the United States, saying he was puzzled why residents in the capital of the world's oldest democracy have no Congressional voting rights.
The Tibetan leader said it was 'quite strange' that people in Washington DC had no voting Representatives and no Senators, an issue that has dogged the United States for the last 200 years.
He said he wondered why a 'small pocket' of people living in the world's 'champion of democracy, liberty and freedom' lacked full voting rights and representation in Congress.
'Quite strange, quite strange,' he remarked, drawing further laughter."
11.06.2005
Creating Transformations
WiMAX offers governments the opportunity to bring
broadband internet access cost-effectively to citizens and
business in the most remote areas where only a short time ago
it would not have been possible. WiMAX can impact the way
that businesses and government work, commerce is
conducted, and students learn.
WiMAX offers governments the opportunity to bring
broadband internet access cost-effectively to citizens and
business in the most remote areas where only a short time ago
it would not have been possible. WiMAX can impact the way
that businesses and government work, commerce is
conducted, and students learn.
A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age: Books:
"Just as information workers surpassed physical laborers in economic importance, Pink claims, the workplace terrain is changing yet again, and power will inevitably shift to people who possess strong right brain qualities. His advocacy of 'R-directed thinking' begins with a bit of neuroscience tourism to a brain lab that will be extremely familiar to those who read Steven Johnson's Mind Wide Open last year, but while Johnson was fascinated by the brain's internal processes, Pink is more concerned with how certain skill sets can be harnessed effectively in the dawning 'Conceptual Age.' The second half of the book details the six 'senses' Pink identifies as crucial to success in the new economy-design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning-while 'portfolio' sections offer practical (and sometimes whimsical) advice on how to cultivate these skills within oneself. Thought-provoking moments abound-from the results of an intensive drawing workshop to the claim that 'bad design' created the chaos of the 2000 presidential election-but the basic premise may still strike some as unproven. Furthermore, the warning that people who don't nurture their right brains 'may miss out, or worse, suffer' in the economy of tomorrow comes off as alarmist. But since Pink's last big idea (Free Agent Nation) has become a cornerstone of employee-management relations, expect just as much buzz around his latest theory."
"Just as information workers surpassed physical laborers in economic importance, Pink claims, the workplace terrain is changing yet again, and power will inevitably shift to people who possess strong right brain qualities. His advocacy of 'R-directed thinking' begins with a bit of neuroscience tourism to a brain lab that will be extremely familiar to those who read Steven Johnson's Mind Wide Open last year, but while Johnson was fascinated by the brain's internal processes, Pink is more concerned with how certain skill sets can be harnessed effectively in the dawning 'Conceptual Age.' The second half of the book details the six 'senses' Pink identifies as crucial to success in the new economy-design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning-while 'portfolio' sections offer practical (and sometimes whimsical) advice on how to cultivate these skills within oneself. Thought-provoking moments abound-from the results of an intensive drawing workshop to the claim that 'bad design' created the chaos of the 2000 presidential election-but the basic premise may still strike some as unproven. Furthermore, the warning that people who don't nurture their right brains 'may miss out, or worse, suffer' in the economy of tomorrow comes off as alarmist. But since Pink's last big idea (Free Agent Nation) has become a cornerstone of employee-management relations, expect just as much buzz around his latest theory."
FT.com: Persian chat:
"Today there are an estimated 75,000 Iranian blogs, and Farsi is the fourth most popular language in which to keep an online journal."
for those of you that know farsi:
Iranian blog
another Iranian blog
"Today there are an estimated 75,000 Iranian blogs, and Farsi is the fourth most popular language in which to keep an online journal."
for those of you that know farsi:
Iranian blog
another Iranian blog
11.03.2005
CNN.com - 'Can I quit now?' FEMA chief wrote as Katrina raged - Nov 3, 2005:
"'Can I quit now? Can I come home?' Brown wrote to Cindy Taylor, FEMA's deputy director of public affairs, the morning of the hurricane."
"'Can I quit now? Can I come home?' Brown wrote to Cindy Taylor, FEMA's deputy director of public affairs, the morning of the hurricane."
11.02.2005
10.31.2005
American democracy is in the hands of hired guns:
"President George W. Bush famously brags that he does not need a poll to tell him how to think. And he does not. He has Karl Rove, a political savant who runs nightly surveys and deconstructs the results to find helpful issues and opinions. And then the president knows how to think."
"President George W. Bush famously brags that he does not need a poll to tell him how to think. And he does not. He has Karl Rove, a political savant who runs nightly surveys and deconstructs the results to find helpful issues and opinions. And then the president knows how to think."
Foreign Policy: Dangerously Unique :
"You are not normal. If you are reading these pages, you probably belong to the minority of the world's population that has a steady job, adequate access to social security, and enjoys substantial political freedoms. Moreover, you live on more than $2 a day, and, unlike 860 million others, you can read. The percentage of humanity that combines all of these attributes is minuscule."
"You are not normal. If you are reading these pages, you probably belong to the minority of the world's population that has a steady job, adequate access to social security, and enjoys substantial political freedoms. Moreover, you live on more than $2 a day, and, unlike 860 million others, you can read. The percentage of humanity that combines all of these attributes is minuscule."
10.27.2005
And now for something completely different...
Information Society: The Next Steps - Special Report - Development Gateway:
"The Information Society has produced a tantalizing array of new information and communication technologies (ICT) that today have transformed the approach to global development. Access to these technologies is spreading rapidly. In 2005, the number of Internet users in developing countries will cross the 500 million mark, surpassing industrial nations for the first time. By some estimates, more than 75 percent of the world%u2019s population now lives within range of a mobile network. Yet the long-heralded promise of ICT remains out of reach for most of the developing world. For the information poor, economic and social gaps are in fact widening both within and between countries. "
Information Society: The Next Steps - Special Report - Development Gateway:
"The Information Society has produced a tantalizing array of new information and communication technologies (ICT) that today have transformed the approach to global development. Access to these technologies is spreading rapidly. In 2005, the number of Internet users in developing countries will cross the 500 million mark, surpassing industrial nations for the first time. By some estimates, more than 75 percent of the world%u2019s population now lives within range of a mobile network. Yet the long-heralded promise of ICT remains out of reach for most of the developing world. For the information poor, economic and social gaps are in fact widening both within and between countries. "
10.24.2005
"WorldChanging.com: works from a simple premise: that the tools, models and ideas for building a better future lie all around us. That plenty of people are working on tools for change, but the fields in which they work remain unconnected. That the motive, means and opportunity for profound positive change are already present. That another world is not just possible, it's here. We only need to put the pieces together."
10.23.2005
west wing wisdom
it's kinda eery how the recent episode of the west wing mirrors the developments at the white house. what will mr. president do if one of his staff is endicted? mr. bush appears to have changed his position on the matter quite a bit.
10.21.2005
10.17.2005
CommonCensus Map Project:
"The CommonCensus Map Project is redrawing the map of the United States based on your voting, to show how the country is organized culturally, as opposed to traditional political boundaries. It shows how the country is divided into 'spheres of influence' between different cities at the national, regional, and local levels."
"The CommonCensus Map Project is redrawing the map of the United States based on your voting, to show how the country is organized culturally, as opposed to traditional political boundaries. It shows how the country is divided into 'spheres of influence' between different cities at the national, regional, and local levels."
10.10.2005
10.07.2005
from joe trippi's blog (referring to an article on cnn.com)
JoeTrippi.com:
"At a press conference yesterday, Bush was asked about how the government is preparing for the avian flu. He thinks that this will be serious enough to possibly warrant military control of the situation:
“I’m concerned about what an avian flu outbreak could mean for the United States and the world,” he told reporters during a Rose Garden news conference on Tuesday.
“One option is the use of a military that’s able to plan and move,” he said. “So that’s why I put it on the table. I think it’s an important debate for Congress to have.”
While the press is focusing on the controversy of whether or not this could mean martial law, it’s important to realize that this by itself demonstrates the absolute seriousness of the consequences of an avian flu outbreak."
JoeTrippi.com:
"At a press conference yesterday, Bush was asked about how the government is preparing for the avian flu. He thinks that this will be serious enough to possibly warrant military control of the situation:
“I’m concerned about what an avian flu outbreak could mean for the United States and the world,” he told reporters during a Rose Garden news conference on Tuesday.
“One option is the use of a military that’s able to plan and move,” he said. “So that’s why I put it on the table. I think it’s an important debate for Congress to have.”
While the press is focusing on the controversy of whether or not this could mean martial law, it’s important to realize that this by itself demonstrates the absolute seriousness of the consequences of an avian flu outbreak."
10.06.2005
10.03.2005
Disappointed, Depressed and Demoralized:
Relieved, Renewed, Rejuvenated
Reading the Weekly Standard has never been so uplifting...
"Disappointed, Depressed and Demoralized
A reaction to the Harriet Miers nomination.
by William Kristol
10/03/2005 10:25:00 AM
I'M DISAPPOINTED, depressed and demoralized.
I'm disappointed because I expected President Bush to nominate someone with a visible and distinguished constitutionalist track record--someone like Maura Corrigan, Alice Batchelder, Edith Jones, Priscilla Owen, or Janice Rogers Brown--to say nothing of Michael Luttig, Michael McConnell, or Samuel Alito. Harriet Miers has an impressive record as a corporate attorney and Bush administration official. She has no constitutionalist credentials that I know of.
I'm depressed. Roberts for O'Connor was an unambiguous improvement. Roberts for Rehnquist was an appropriate replacement. But moving Roberts over to the Rehnquist seat meant everything rode on this nomination--and that the president had to be ready to fight on constitutional grounds for a strong nominee. Apparently, he wasn't. It is very hard to avoid the conclusion that President Bush flinched from a fight on constitutional philosophy. Miers is undoubtedly a decent and competent person. But her selection will unavoidably be judged as reflecting a combination of cronyism and capitulation on the part of the president.
I'm demoralized. What does this say about the next three years of the Bush administration--leaving aside for a moment the future of the Court? Surely this is a pick from weakness. Is the administration more broadly so weak? What are the prospects for a strong Bush second term? What are the prospects for holding solid GOP majorities in Congress in 2006 if conservatives are demoralized? And what elected officials will step forward to begin to lay the groundwork for conservative leadership after Bush?
William Kristol is editor of The
Weekly Standard."
Relieved, Renewed, Rejuvenated
Reading the Weekly Standard has never been so uplifting...
"Disappointed, Depressed and Demoralized
A reaction to the Harriet Miers nomination.
by William Kristol
10/03/2005 10:25:00 AM
I'M DISAPPOINTED, depressed and demoralized.
I'm disappointed because I expected President Bush to nominate someone with a visible and distinguished constitutionalist track record--someone like Maura Corrigan, Alice Batchelder, Edith Jones, Priscilla Owen, or Janice Rogers Brown--to say nothing of Michael Luttig, Michael McConnell, or Samuel Alito. Harriet Miers has an impressive record as a corporate attorney and Bush administration official. She has no constitutionalist credentials that I know of.
I'm depressed. Roberts for O'Connor was an unambiguous improvement. Roberts for Rehnquist was an appropriate replacement. But moving Roberts over to the Rehnquist seat meant everything rode on this nomination--and that the president had to be ready to fight on constitutional grounds for a strong nominee. Apparently, he wasn't. It is very hard to avoid the conclusion that President Bush flinched from a fight on constitutional philosophy. Miers is undoubtedly a decent and competent person. But her selection will unavoidably be judged as reflecting a combination of cronyism and capitulation on the part of the president.
I'm demoralized. What does this say about the next three years of the Bush administration--leaving aside for a moment the future of the Court? Surely this is a pick from weakness. Is the administration more broadly so weak? What are the prospects for a strong Bush second term? What are the prospects for holding solid GOP majorities in Congress in 2006 if conservatives are demoralized? And what elected officials will step forward to begin to lay the groundwork for conservative leadership after Bush?
William Kristol is editor of The
Weekly Standard."
9.23.2005
Apollo Alliance : The Resurgence of Movement Politics:
"Right now, America is being held hostage by one very conservative movement, and there is not an equally strong alternative force to counter it. That means there is a genuine thirst in our country for a new grassroots political movement that doesn't use divisive social issues to pursue an elitist's economic agenda, but uses unifying economic issues to pursue truly populist policies. It is time for the critical pieces of the progressive coalition to reconnect with our movement history, to become comfortable embracing an ideological agenda and to focus on true grassroots progress, even if it means angering politicians from one party or another. Because the hard truth is this: We can only win with an ideological movement that captures Americans' hearts and minds, and we will never win if we just put our thumbs to the wind and pander for votes every four years."
"Right now, America is being held hostage by one very conservative movement, and there is not an equally strong alternative force to counter it. That means there is a genuine thirst in our country for a new grassroots political movement that doesn't use divisive social issues to pursue an elitist's economic agenda, but uses unifying economic issues to pursue truly populist policies. It is time for the critical pieces of the progressive coalition to reconnect with our movement history, to become comfortable embracing an ideological agenda and to focus on true grassroots progress, even if it means angering politicians from one party or another. Because the hard truth is this: We can only win with an ideological movement that captures Americans' hearts and minds, and we will never win if we just put our thumbs to the wind and pander for votes every four years."
Apollo Alliance : Bush's Waterlogged Halo: "If Mr. Bush wants to make anything of his second term, he'll have to do his own Nixon-to-China turnaround, reframe the debate and recast the priorities of his presidency. He seems to think that by offering to spend billions of dollars to rebuild one city, New Orleans, he'll get his leadership halo back. Wrong. Just throwing more borrowed money at New Orleans is not leadership. Mr. Bush needs to frame a new agenda for rebuilding all our cities and strengthening the nation as a whole. And what should be the centerpiece of a policy of American renewal is blindingly obvious: making a quest for energy independence the moon shot of our generation."
9.21.2005
Rita Upgraded to 'Monster' Category 5 Hurricane:
"'We hope and pray that Hurricane Rita will not be a devastating storm but we got to be ready for the worst,' Bush said in his speech to the Jewish group."
He certainly has a way with words.
"'We hope and pray that Hurricane Rita will not be a devastating storm but we got to be ready for the worst,' Bush said in his speech to the Jewish group."
He certainly has a way with words.
9.20.2005
Jon Udell: Accelerating Change 2005: "Vinge distinguishes between two scenarios he calls 'soft take-off' and 'hard take-off.' In a soft take-off, the singularity occurs gradually enough so that humanity has a chance to adjust to the changes. This, everyone agreed, is what we want. A hard take-off, by contrast, is a near-instantaneous and cataclysmic event, like Vonnegut's ice-nine or the awakening of SkyNet in Terminator. This, everyone agreed, is what we probably don't want -- not that we'll have a choice, mind you. In either case, life on the other side will make no sense to beings left behind. If you were to bring Mark Twain forward from the mid-1800s to the present day, Vinge said, you could explain the current situation to him in an afternoon, and he'd very much enjoy what he would learn. But nothing at all could be made intelligible to a goldfish. That's us: just goldfish to the post-human super-intelligences."
9.16.2005
i thought george's speech last night was one of his better performances. to hear him utter the word poverty surprised me a bit. he spoke of grand ambitions, yet failed to mention where the money would come from. too bad he's allowed our deficit and debt to soar to historic numbers due to his irresponsible tax breaks and misguided war in iraq. remember when he arrived in office in 2001 with a $2 trillion surplus? too bad we hadn't fixed social security and dealt with our nation's poverty then.
9.09.2005
AlterNet: Post-Katrina Talking Points: "Did the Dems learn nothing from 2004? Bush won because he had a double-digit lead on the question of who was going to keep us safer. Well, Katrina shoots that idea straight to hell, doesn't it? And Democrats should make clear once and for all just how illusory the president's purported strength, leadership, and steely-eyed resolve really are."
AlterNet: Post-Katrina Talking Points
In a stinging Wall Street Journal analysis of the administration's lethally slow response, the first two reasons given for "why the U.S. didn't adequately protect and rescue its citizens" were, 1) "the absorption of FEMA into the gargantuan -- and terrorism-focused -- Department of Homeland Security"; and 2) "a military stretched by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which made commanders reluctant to commit active-duty units nearby."
In a stinging Wall Street Journal analysis of the administration's lethally slow response, the first two reasons given for "why the U.S. didn't adequately protect and rescue its citizens" were, 1) "the absorption of FEMA into the gargantuan -- and terrorism-focused -- Department of Homeland Security"; and 2) "a military stretched by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which made commanders reluctant to commit active-duty units nearby."
AlterNet: Start Making Sense: Start Making Sense: How To Talk To America
i originally posted a link to this article on 6/7/2005:
"We are living in the good old days. The century defining crises have yet to hit. The energy crunch, peak oil has yet to hit. The globalization; China, India coming on line and finally being able to come into their own; that has not yet hit and affected our economy. Global warming hasn't hit. The massive species extinctions haven't hit. We are in the good old days. Whatever movement prepares itself now not to protest but to govern. [Applause.] A movement that prepares itself to govern a broken country, a hurt country, a country that needs solutions, not issues, not critiques, not complaints, not kvetches but the country that needs strong people who are willing to take responsibility and bring forth solutions. That movement will be welcomed, beloved, accepted, celebrated and lauded at Thanksgiving tables in blue states and red states."
i originally posted a link to this article on 6/7/2005:
"We are living in the good old days. The century defining crises have yet to hit. The energy crunch, peak oil has yet to hit. The globalization; China, India coming on line and finally being able to come into their own; that has not yet hit and affected our economy. Global warming hasn't hit. The massive species extinctions haven't hit. We are in the good old days. Whatever movement prepares itself now not to protest but to govern. [Applause.] A movement that prepares itself to govern a broken country, a hurt country, a country that needs solutions, not issues, not critiques, not complaints, not kvetches but the country that needs strong people who are willing to take responsibility and bring forth solutions. That movement will be welcomed, beloved, accepted, celebrated and lauded at Thanksgiving tables in blue states and red states."
so the bush administration is now asking people to not take photos of the dead in new orleans. they claim that this out of respect for the dead. when eisenhower went to europe after wwii to inspect the concentration camps, he took camera crews with him so that generations later germans couldn't deny what had happened.
it seems to me that asking people not to take photos of the dead in new orleans is disrespectful. the bush administration is seeking to minimize the photographic record so that 20 years from now the atrocities of new orleans can be minimized. taking pictures of those who died ensures that americans will not forget what happened for decades to come.
it seems to me that asking people not to take photos of the dead in new orleans is disrespectful. the bush administration is seeking to minimize the photographic record so that 20 years from now the atrocities of new orleans can be minimized. taking pictures of those who died ensures that americans will not forget what happened for decades to come.
9.02.2005
Deeply difficult times for the Big Easy | Economist.com
so what affect did US involvement abroad have on the hurricane evacuation?
so what affect did US involvement abroad have on the hurricane evacuation?
8.11.2005
8.07.2005
7.07.2005
MEMORIALS FOR PEACE
when i visited london last summer, i sat in tavistock square for a bit, finding solice and comfort in the statue of gandhi that is in th square. i find it remarkable that this space was located so close to where the terrorist attack took place.
when i visited london last summer, i sat in tavistock square for a bit, finding solice and comfort in the statue of gandhi that is in th square. i find it remarkable that this space was located so close to where the terrorist attack took place.
7.04.2005
U.S. in the World | Home
"An extraordinary and comprehensive tool for anyone who is concerned about raising awareness of the vital issues facing the U.S. and the world."
- Lee H. Hamilton, Director, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
"An extraordinary and comprehensive tool for anyone who is concerned about raising awareness of the vital issues facing the U.S. and the world."
- Lee H. Hamilton, Director, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
6.18.2005
6.15.2005
6.09.2005
going nuclear
sometimes i worry that an atomic bomb will be detonated in a big city somewhere.
it just seems like it's bound to happen eventually.
what will all those soviet suitcase bombs unaccounted for. it doesn't keep me up at night really, but every once in a while i just think about it. that's all.
it just seems like it's bound to happen eventually.
what will all those soviet suitcase bombs unaccounted for. it doesn't keep me up at night really, but every once in a while i just think about it. that's all.
6.07.2005
AlterNet: Start Making Sense: Start Making Sense: How To Talk To America: "We are living in the good old days. The century defining crises have yet to hit. The energy crunch, peak oil has yet to hit. The globalization; China, India coming on line and finally being able to come into their own; that has not yet hit and affected our economy. Global warming hasn't hit. The massive species extinctions haven't hit. We are in the good old days. Whatever movement prepares itself now not to protest but to govern. [Applause.] A movement that prepares itself to govern a broken country, a hurt country, a country that needs solutions, not issues, not critiques, not complaints, not kvetches but the country that needs strong people who are willing to take responsibility and bring forth solutions. That movement will be welcomed, beloved, accepted, celebrated and lauded at Thanksgiving tables in blue states and red states."
AlterNet: Special Coverage: Start Making Sense
i found this set of articles to be rather thought provoking--a nice touching off point for several discussions.
i found this set of articles to be rather thought provoking--a nice touching off point for several discussions.
6.05.2005
Truth in the hands of artists-III (GreaterKashmir.com) 5/6/2005 : 5:09:28 PM
Here's an interesting conversation between Thom Yorke (of Radiohead) and Howard Zinn (who authored the People's History of the United States)
Here's an interesting conversation between Thom Yorke (of Radiohead) and Howard Zinn (who authored the People's History of the United States)
AlterNet: The Foreign Language of Choice
I think George Lakoff's a brilliant man. He has tremendous insight into the way language shapes the way we comprehend the world. In a way it's a bit like Marshall Mcluhan's 'the media is the message.' Any real changes that are to take place in our current political circumstance will have to account for the way language plays such an important role. There, I did it too. "Language plays such an important role." I'm using the metaphor of acting and a play to convey a particular idea. Strange.
I read Lakoff's "Metaphors We Live By" for an anthropology class as an undergrad--thanks Dr. Mueggler. Lakoff has recently written Don't Think of an Elephant It's sort of a progressive manifesto for communicating our ideas and values to the populace.
I think George Lakoff's a brilliant man. He has tremendous insight into the way language shapes the way we comprehend the world. In a way it's a bit like Marshall Mcluhan's 'the media is the message.' Any real changes that are to take place in our current political circumstance will have to account for the way language plays such an important role. There, I did it too. "Language plays such an important role." I'm using the metaphor of acting and a play to convey a particular idea. Strange.
I read Lakoff's "Metaphors We Live By" for an anthropology class as an undergrad--thanks Dr. Mueggler. Lakoff has recently written Don't Think of an Elephant It's sort of a progressive manifesto for communicating our ideas and values to the populace.
so i've been heading over to the the blue room website on a pretty regular basis to download recent shows. rob debank's on saturday mornings while chris coco is on sunday mornings. very cool. i like to record and then throw it onto my ipod.
i've now got a way to see how often my site is viewed, etc, so maybe if i post here a bit more often it'll translate into more pageviews.
sorry everything on here's so boring right now. it's just sort of a experimental space for me to get my shit together. i'll also be looking into uploading images and audio soon.
i've now got a way to see how often my site is viewed, etc, so maybe if i post here a bit more often it'll translate into more pageviews.
sorry everything on here's so boring right now. it's just sort of a experimental space for me to get my shit together. i'll also be looking into uploading images and audio soon.
so i've made the switch.
to a mac that is.
and now i'm in the process of getting all of my dashboard widgets up and running.
i just got a nice little one that shows me the number of new messages in my gmail inbox.
and now i'm looking into adsense (not like anyone reads this)
so i have my doppler radar and my reversi and my network connections and my dictionary.
so handy.
to a mac that is.
and now i'm in the process of getting all of my dashboard widgets up and running.
i just got a nice little one that shows me the number of new messages in my gmail inbox.
and now i'm looking into adsense (not like anyone reads this)
so i have my doppler radar and my reversi and my network connections and my dictionary.
so handy.
6.02.2005
so this is when i think things change.
now that i have a new laptop i will be able to post to this weblog so much more. yes yes. still, no one is reading this but me.
maybe that will change.
from now on i'll be trying to link to and write about various topics that i find curious.
i've been getting into the podcast thing a lot lately.
i listen mostly to bbc and npr shows (on the media, etc) and mac podcasts.
i've also figured out how to record streaming audio radio shows so i can listen to them on the ride into oakland.
v. cool.
now that i have a new laptop i will be able to post to this weblog so much more. yes yes. still, no one is reading this but me.
maybe that will change.
from now on i'll be trying to link to and write about various topics that i find curious.
i've been getting into the podcast thing a lot lately.
i listen mostly to bbc and npr shows (on the media, etc) and mac podcasts.
i've also figured out how to record streaming audio radio shows so i can listen to them on the ride into oakland.
v. cool.
3.23.2005
freethinking topics of interest
the middle east
economic development
postmodernism
kings of convenience
postal service
the breakout principle
meditation
springtime
bicycles
punks
balancing sustainability and ambition
wireless technology
cellphones in the lesser developed world
opensource
yes yes
meetings
papers
internships
trade and finance
goodbye
the middle east
economic development
postmodernism
kings of convenience
postal service
the breakout principle
meditation
springtime
bicycles
punks
balancing sustainability and ambition
wireless technology
cellphones in the lesser developed world
opensource
yes yes
meetings
papers
internships
trade and finance
goodbye
march twenty-third two thousand and five.
we live in a world of specialization. the mere act of gaining knowledge forces one to limit their outlook. a necessity really. how to balance in depth knowledge of a particular topic or field while maintain a holistic perspective of outlying perspective. that is the challenge.
i think about postmodernism sometimes.
a postmodern boy in a modern world maybe.
is the US still modern? some things i read tell me so. and american's seem blind to potential postmodern perspectives and concepts. it's kinda nice in a way. things out there that seem so obvious that some can't see.
spring is upon us. hopefully. and with it rebirth and renewal. spring cleaning of the mind and the body. maybe seasonal affective disorder applies to all the seasons we just tend to apply it to winter because that's when we feel crummy.
enough.
we live in a world of specialization. the mere act of gaining knowledge forces one to limit their outlook. a necessity really. how to balance in depth knowledge of a particular topic or field while maintain a holistic perspective of outlying perspective. that is the challenge.
i think about postmodernism sometimes.
a postmodern boy in a modern world maybe.
is the US still modern? some things i read tell me so. and american's seem blind to potential postmodern perspectives and concepts. it's kinda nice in a way. things out there that seem so obvious that some can't see.
spring is upon us. hopefully. and with it rebirth and renewal. spring cleaning of the mind and the body. maybe seasonal affective disorder applies to all the seasons we just tend to apply it to winter because that's when we feel crummy.
enough.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)