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
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…
Ben Mcconnell & The Apple Experience
Ben Mcconnell buys a Powerbook on Michigan Avenue and blogs about the “experiential” marketing…
Fire in the Mountain
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.
What are Podcasts?
Several articles this morning on podcasts, tools that Dave Winer and Adam Curry launched some time ago. Benny Evangelista (more) and Scott Kirsner dig in. We may see some podcasts (easy to use mp3 audio files, suitable for iPod type devices) from Wisconsin Public Radio…
Brandjacking
Doc Searls has a useful post on brandjacking.
I no longer keep, much less answer, email from my bank (which, to keep from making things worse, I won’t name). Nor from any other bank. Nor from eBay or PayPal.
Except for their Web sites, all those companies have had their brands hijacked on the Net by Phishers and Pharmers.
Delight Your Customer – Steve’s Liquor (Wine Market)
Several weeks ago, I tried a bottle of Domaine Sauvete’s Touraine, a $9.99 “Poor Man’s Sancerre” at Steve’s Wine Market.
The results were pleasant.
I made a return trip this weekend, hoping to buy a case (1 bottle free). Unfortunately, Steve’s had just 3 bottle’s left. Knowing how to delight a customer, they provided me with a 10% discount anyway.
Buy your health insurance at Costco?
Retailers and health care may seem like an unusual pairing, but an increasing number of stores — especially big-box discounters — have been getting into the business of offering health coverage or care. With health care costs on the rise, these retailers want to offer their customers a value on a needed service and increase their profile as a store that offers everything under one roof.
“It makes sense to offer health care in places where people already have to go — whether to buy food or other household goods,” said Linda Sherry, spokeswoman for Consumers Union, a watchdog group.
Strategic Failure: HP & AT&T
It is interesting to note that groups of technologists within AT&T were accurately forecasting the future. A few groups formed to deal with new developments and even attempted to influence the decision makers. Probably the most interesting was ODD *- I wasn’t directly associated with it, but know most of its former members.
A friend who happens to be one of the ODDsters, Amy Muller, co-authored a brief history on the group and AT&T’s strategic failure. (pdf) read it
Interesting Reading… Via Lessig
Blogs & Democracy
There have been quite a few dustups recently in the ongoing discussion of blogs.
Locally, Madison School Board Member Juan Jose Lopez recently said of the group education blog: www.schoolinfosystem.org: “I think this kind of forum is destructive”
School Blogger Ed Blume blogs a proper response to Juan’s comments.
We’d all be well served by reading a few of Jefferson’s quotes on education & democracy. www.schoolinfosystem.org has much to contribute.