Interesting Collaboration Software Approach – P2P

James Fallows:

The Berklee College of Music, in Boston, already supplies NoteTaker software to all 3,850 of its students and plans to issue NoteShare to them, too. David Mash, its vice president for information technology, wrote that because “notebooks are immediately available without servers,” students can “collaborate on projects as the ideas hit them.” For instance, they could “drag their music into a notebook, add some comments and ask for criticism” from friends and teachers on the network.

The interesting aspect of this software is that it does not require any expensive/time consuming server tools. NoteShare FAQ.

List of Airports Offering Free WiFi

WiFi Free Spot:

Many Airport authorities are adding Free Wi-Fi high speed internet access as an amenity for travelers. Some offer access in the entire airport while others may limit access to specified terminal or waiting areas. In addition, many airline club lounges may have their own free access available.

Green Bay’s airport offers free wifi, while those of us in Madison are still waiting….

Pay to Play at the Capitol

Steven Walters and Patrick Marley:

Asked why he made sure the Democratic senator from Madison personally got a $40,000 check from what was then called SBC/Ameritech for a shadowy campaign fund Chvala secretly controlled, Broydrick said: “It was very clear to me that, if you played ball, you got what you wanted.”

The regional phone company, one of Broydrick’s many clients, got what it wanted in the summer of 2001.

Before the $40,000 corporate check was written, the state budget contained a tax-code change that would have cost the telecommunications industry money. After the check was delivered, the provision was removed from the budget, which Chvala and Assembly Republicans wrote over the next two weeks.

Filling up my car recently, I stood next to a woman doing the same to her 3-Series. The trunk and bumper were filled with anti-national political figure stickers. I told her that I agreed with many of her concerns but simply asked that she put some energy into local issues such as public schools or city/county government.

I feel the same way about Paul Soglin’s daily national political blasts. In my view, the local scene could use much more attention. There’s no shortage of national political commentary and criticism.

I hope Paul turns his considerable talents back toward Madison.

Internet Gatekeepers

Dustin Staiger:

Like I said, this isn’t about having/not having a tiered Internet. It already is tiered. This is a battle over whether or not we have an OPEN Internet. The Ed Whitacre’s of the industry want it to be a RESTRICTED Internet. A restricted Internet where they not only hold the keys, but where they’re free to swing their swords as well.

I have many more posts and links on this issue here.