NPPA posted their best of 2004 photojournalism awards.
Bill Gates CES Meltdown
It’s interesting to compare this simple legacy media press release framed as an article with a very different perspective [Lessig | Boing Boing] on Gates Las Vegas comments regarding our fair use rights (he essentially sides with the hollywood cartels). Slashdot discussion. Bottom line – don’t do Windows.
A bit more research (a few seconds on google) and we have Bill Gates in 1991:
“If people had understood how patents would be granted when most of today’s ideas were invented and had taken out patents, the industry would be at a complete standstill today”
Thanks to Jeff Keltner for that pointer.
Hackworth: It’s up to us
David H. Hackworth:
so here’s my New Year?s resolution: to keep countering Pentagon lies with the truth until enough concerned citizens demand that Congress set up a congressional investigative arm to formally expose the liars and hold them accountable.
For almost six decades, I?ve borne witness to scuzzy machinations that had little or nothing to do with America?s national security. And because of them, I?ve watched my beloved country become enmeshed in far too many blood-splattered military misadventures only because they were good for Pentagon business. I?ve seen trillions of dollars allocated for gold-plated pork of value only to the monsters who manipulate the military-industrial-congressional complex and absolutely worthless to our gallant soldiers ? the kids who end up paying the ultimate price for the madness of war.?
Had a decent chunk of that dough been spent on the right stuff ? supporting our troops ? our warriors wouldn?t have fought in Korea in 1950 with World War I gear or be slugging it out in Iraq in scrounged ?hillbilly armor? and told to go to war with the Army we have and to suck it up.
The Power of Words – Launching a Revolution
Linus Torvalds launched his Linux revolution with these words, over 13 years ago. Today, the linux operating system powers a growing number of internet servers.
Safer Car: Chevy Trailblazer SUV or Porsche Boxster
Malcom Gladwell wrote this useful article on SUV’s early in 2004. He asks and explores an interesting question about the perceived safety advantages of SUV’s:
I found that I was wrestling with the car. The protests of the tires were jarring. I stopped, shaken. “It wasn’t going where you wanted it to go, was it?” Champion said. “Did you feel the weight pulling you sideways? That’s what the extra weight that S.U.V.s have tends to do. It pulls you in the wrong direction.” Behind us was a string of toppled cones. Getting the TrailBlazer to travel in a straight line, after that sudden diversion, hadn’t been easy. “I think you took out a few pedestrians,” Champion said with a faint smile.
Next up was the Boxster. The top was down. The sun was warm on my forehead. The car was low to the ground; I had the sense that if I dangled my arm out the window my knuckles would scrape on the tarmac. Standing still, the Boxster didn’t feel safe: I could have been sitting in a go-cart. But when I ran it through the handling course I felt that I was in perfect control. On the straightaway, I steadied the Boxster at forty-five m.p.h., and ran it through the obstacle course. I could have balanced a teacup on my knee.
Madison Air Service: Whither Southwest?
Southwest Airlines announced new Pittsburgh service today. The Madison market is perfect for Southwest – hopefully they will move into Madison soon.
Madison WiFi: More links on politics & incumbent telcos
Reader David Lehane forwarded several useful links on incumbent telcos & broadband:
- Broadband competition unwinding: the true cost of a “politics of distraction“
- FCC bets on monopolies: Teddy Roosevelt turns over in grave.
- More on Michael Powell & conflicts of interest
Madison WiFi: Bells Blocking Broadband Competition
Interestingly, we paid to build the original networks that the SBC’s and Bellsouth’s of the world are using as cash cows. Now, with our country quickly falling behind in true 2-way broadband (Japan and Korea offer 30Mbps service for less than $50/month while we’re stuck at speeds in the range of 500kbps to 1.5mbps) some communities have tried to build their own fiber networks. Leslie Cauley visits LaFayette, LA, where the city is trying to build their own fiber network, BUT, legacy telco Bellsouth is trying to kill the project. Slashdot discussion.
David Isenberg comments on Cauley’s article.
Place Based Foods: Maytag Farms
Greg Allen takes a look at Newton, Iowa’s Maytag Farms. They make a million pounds of blue cheese each year, and they do it the same way as when the plant opened: almost entirely by hand.Listen to this story here.
Great Music Radio Does Exist, on the Internet
Tired of too many commercials and the same old, same old, same old music? Point your itunes or other mp3 streaming audio software to these internet “radio” stations:
- Madison’s own WSUM
- The University of Pennsylvania’s WXPN is simply excellent.
- Another must is Fordham’s WFUV
- Finally, and I think, most interestingly, I spend most of my listening time tuned in to Maui’s Manao Radio, a low power FM and internet radio station. Excellent and eclectic.