Yearly Archives: 2005

Madison WiFi – SkyCable TV/AOL

Posted on by

Andrew Wallmeyer and Dinesh Ramde report that the City has begun negotiating with SkyCable TV of Madison for local WiFi coverage. I’ve emailed Mayor Dave and County Exec Kathleen Falk urging them to make sure that the connectivity is fully asymmetrical (full speed, BOTH directions). This is essential for knowledge workers (video conferencing, vpn, telnet, ftp and multimedia).
I hope they don’t blow it and view internet access like TV, as SBC is doing (spending big bucks from their installed base trying to shove video down everyone’s throats).

Another Attack on the Freedom to Connect

Posted on by

Cory Doctorow:

Telus began blocking selected Internet connection to home computers. The blocking is invisible to most users, but all it takes is a cruise around message boards frequented by tech-savvy users?or a chat with a local geek?to know that Telus high-speed service isn?t what it used to be . . . Blocked ports include those used to listen for incoming email, FTP (file transfer), Telnet (remote login), and Internet Relay Chat client traffic, as well as incoming World Wide Web connections. Users can access other servers providing those services, but cannot provide them from their own computers. In other words, a Telus customer can be a client, but not a server.

I emailed Mayor Dave seeking to insure that Madison’s forthcoming WiFi service will be fully, 2-way…

Fire in the Mountain

Posted on by


Great film, check it out:

An elite group of champion skiers, mountain climbers and European mountaineers become the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, America’s only mountain and winter warfare fighting unit. From the intensive training atop the Colorado Rockies to the spectacular night climb of Italy’s Riva Ridge — where the 10th scored their biggest victory against Hitler’s troops — the exploits of this famous division are scrupulously chronicled.