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$ iCon
I have a feeling we're in the midst of the next great information revolution. It's like a great mass of particles, air, floating all around us. We're breathing it in, smelling it, tasting it, but not making sense of what's under our noses.
We have created so many new ways to communicate. I wonder just how relevant anything we have done up to this point really is.
I get the feeling this great mass of particles are beginning to collide. I think this process can be produced or directed. The system can be intelligently designed, its outcome beyond our current operating schema.
I don't know what it is, but I know I want to find out.
7.26.2005
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(il)Legal Air
In case some of you haven't heard, it's illegal to use Wi-Fi internet that you're not authorized to use... In fact, there have been arrests made in some states, most notably this Florida man. Here's my beef:
A: In a congested Wi-Fi area, if your (authorized) signal becomes weaker than your neighbors (unauthorized) signal, most OS/Wi-Fi software will switch AUTOMATICALLY to the stronger signal. This can be changed through preferences/advanced options that control those programs, but most common users never bother to do this.
B: The law states that the Wi-Fi provider (the subscriber) must make it clear that their network can be used... An unsecured network is the clearest indication that the person has no qualms with users on their network. If they don't know how to secure their network, then they need to write to the people who sold them their product to complain... They shouldn't buy something they don't know how to use. If I (or you) can get arrested because some idiot doesn't know how to push a couple buttons then something is wrong with the system.
Anyways... In the mean time, HERE are some phun tools to wreck havoc on peoples SECURE/INSECURE networks.
7.18.2005
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Leaky Administration
Well, the guys over at Think Progress are having a liberal field-day with the Karl Rove leak scandal. Other than a possible way to find a link to get Bush impeached, I'm really not concerned with this at all. If Bush doesn't fire the guy, that'll just look bad for the Republican Party. With senate/governor races coming this fall and with polls beginning to show "dissatisfaction" with Republican leadership, I really doubt the GOP could weather the storm and make it through unscathed. On the other hand, if Bush does fire the guy, would that really satisfy the populous thirst for blood?
I mean, Rove is one of the most well known political figure-heads in the administration... He orchestrated both elections, WHICH ARE SCARRED WITH CONTROVERSY! If he's proven to be the kind of guy that will seek revenge/punishment on someone who is speaking out against his administration... Well, these kinds of things have happened in the past, and we normally call it totalitarian/fascist. I've always considered Bush and his administration to be Nazi's... but this really is taking it to a new level.
Well, we'll see what happens. I just really, really, really hope that some smart reporter will be able to trace this back to the president, and then we can finally get rid of these jokers.
7.14.2005
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Hard Times on Downing Street
In response to 9/11 ::
Americans inflated the Right-Wing power-hand and have begun a systematic, pre-eminent series of attacks and aggressions against Arabic countries in the Middle East, meanwhile showing little regard for world sentiment/support for their actions.
Civil Liberties of American citizens and non-citizens (Gutmo) have been tossed to the wayside in favor, as justified, for the removal of internal and external threats towards American Interests, with little or no regard to established rules of law, particularly dealing with Due Process.
Bi-Partisan tactics/policies are more present in every branch of Government than has ever existed at any point since the endorsement of the two party system. American media has followed suit, as it is common practice to now refer to ENTIRE Media Outlets/Networks as: Right or Left.
Voluntary subscription to the Armed Services has declined, substantially, while "public support" of Active-Duty soldiers is on the rise. The war in which these soldiers are fighting has no clear "Target Nation", just vague references to terrorists, "That could be anywhere" and seek to, "Disrupt the quality of life and freedoms enjoyed by Americans." Meanwhile the number of "terrorist" activities is ON THE RISE, and as expected are the number of "terrorists" that are committing these attacks.
The organization that is funding this (the DoD) is the largest, in fiscal terms, organization in the world. It's bigger than Wal-Mart folks, and it represents more than 60% of WORLD military spending. Meanwhile parents of soldiers are holding fundraisers to BUY armor to send to their sons and daughters so they can be properly equipped for their assigned missions.
This is the world WE AMERICANS have chosen to live in as a DIRECT response to the 9/11 attack.
Now, after 7/7 ::
The United Kingdom is in the position to choose what path they will tread as a result of the bombings. I can only hope, for the sake of the freedoms and liberties of the people of the UK that they take to the example of Spain's response to 3/11. Spain was struck and the people responded with revolution. They changed the operating model of their government because their government at that point had failed them. Spain lost over 150 people on 3/11 and they stood up and made a change. They withdrew their troops from the war, adopted a more socially aware government operating model, and are fixing the wrongs they took so long to ignore. America lost over 3,000 lives on 9/11, and we have positioned ourselves (at the current rate) to loose 10 times that in the next few years to come.
The choice really shouldn't be difficult. There's too much at stake at this point, 7/7 was just another example of this.
7.08.2005
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Fortunate One
I'll just go right out and say it: A life goal of mine is to, in any way, contribute to the development, implementation, or oversight of a concept known as, 'Municipal Wireless Networks.' These are basically EXTREMELY large and powerful wireless routers that would broadcast FREE internet to anyone who had a computer that could receive the signal.
If it were up to me, and capitalists be glad it's not (trade of goods and services in exchange for currency would be illegal on this neo-net), I'd nationalize all private wireless transmitting networks (take over ALL wireless companies, i.e. Sprint, AT&T, Verizon etc...) and revamp the system from the ground up, setting up a series of piggy-back ad-hoc networks similar to what this chap talks about. Anyway... the technical hoo isn't important, there are smart people in the world and eventually they'll create something that really makes Muni-WiFi a tangible reality.
Freedom is information is important to me and so is equal access to that information. As it stands, if you're reading this, you're actually better-off (in information/access) than a great majority of: Minorities, Elderly, or Impoverished Americans. Public libraries have internet access, but at the same time most require State ID to become a member and why don't you google map you're nearest library and walk there today... It's 10 miles away! Oh, then drive silly, but could you possibly stop by the nearest projects and maybe take some kids along with you? Too much to ask? I'd say so, obviously other solutions are needed. Putting the internet in the air seems to be the closest thing to an equitably-accessed-internet.
Federal, State, County, Private, everyone's invited, let's get started. My recommendation is to begin emailing your local state/federal/city representatives and just demonstrate to them an interest in seeing government funded Wireless Networks.
7.01.2005
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