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Net Neutrality 6-15-2006

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Anti-Net Neutrality Spin Examples

CNN ran this fluff-peice by Mike McCurry as an independently written opinion item. Mike, the ex-Clinton Press Secretary, has suddenly become quite an internet expert who says the ‘creaky’ internet needs to be rebuilt. Creaky? I have never heard any of the original architects of the internet say there is a problem right now. In fact Vint Cerf, creator of TCP, (the gateway of all internet data transfer)testified as much in Washington recently. ‘Creaky’ is assuredly a strategically chosen buzzwords to plant an image there is a problem with the internet.

I wish I could end this entry but the spin-nausea doesn’t stop.

The Week I Wish that Wasn’t — Down and Out in Washington, DC

What is clear is that Americans won’t really be able to participate (be it via voice, video, text, IM, or any heretofore unknown mode of IP-enabled communications) in the revolution. At least, not on a level playing field with the lucky subjects of those countries that get it. I had been tracking the state of Internet communications policy around the world through efforts with the Global IP Alliance and the VON Coalition. Most specifically, we posted a Global Policy Matrix and a user-supported Global Policy Wiki at www.globalipalliance.net>. But, as the battle for the future of the Internet heated up in America this year, we amassed most of our troop on the US front. To the extent possible, I commit to reviving our efforts to compile and update our sense of global policy developments.

For the moment, suffice it to say that there is an emerging divide between those countries that get it and those that don’t, and, I hate to say it, but in just two short years, America has switched sides.

Net Neutrality: Shouldn’t We Be Wanting Less Regulation?

Most proponents of NN worry that evil telecoms will be evil capitalist pigs. My response? Of course they will, that’s why their CEO’s get the big bucks! Repeat after me… Increase Shareholder Value. That means your 401k, your pension, mutual fund all increase with telecom stock. But in America you can’t get more money without providing more value. That means they must constantly be looking and searching for new ways to make a buck. If they don’t, their competitors will.

That means finding new products and services they think you will buy. It’s called capitalism, and it’s a very good thing.

The real difference between me and your average NN Proponent … I trust the free market. They don’t.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Link Leak Virus NYC Comments Scavenger Hunt

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The Link Virus Epidemic

Link Leak Virus is a special strain of the indie virus with blogtipping mutations that occur in threes. On Open Comments Night the virus got out of control again. This time in NYC. Here are some cool links that were shared:

Many of the likely link leak virus carriers were there. The Advice Librarian started the conversation with talk of conquering the world. Scot Herrick sent a note from his vacation about why he couldn’t come. Joe joined in with talk of reindeer games.

Next thing you know Mark was missing NYC and sharing his accent. Chris Cree added some explanation on how New Yorkers talk. Ben came without the donkey about the time Chris was propagating something. Ben told us about the contest at his blog. HART taught us the correct way to make toast. Brian stopped in to be amazed that we could be talking instead of watching the Mavs. Then along came Tracy with real-life stories.

We managed to discuss Joe’s interview with Darren, how bad traffic can make a good design seem bad, and new tricks spammars are using.

Scavenger Hunt

Now for some fun for those who didn’t attend. I have a few links still trying to jump through this bloggy boat. So, pick a question and then go to the post below (just click the title to get there.) You’ll find the answer to every question somewhere in the comments.

The comment with the answers are on this post. The Mic Is on in New York City!

Playing is easy as 1 2 3 —

    1. Pick one question. Only one question and answer per person. That way I can give more people a link.

    2. Go find the answer.

    3. Post your answer on your blog and leave a comment here. That way I can have post to link to when I proclaim you a winner and other folks know which question you’ve answered and they can come read it.

That’s it.

BE THE FIRST TO ANSWER and YOU’LL BE PROCLAIMED A LINK LEAK VIRUS WINNER

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS

    1. What is the correct pronunciation of Long Island and who is from Long Island?

    2. Who asked “and I feel so alone… every body must get stoned,” who knew the answer, and who said he was too stoned at the time to remember?

    3. Who prefers Pink Floyd?

    4. What was Chris propogating?

    5. In which comment does it tell how many people actually played THE THREE STOOGES and how many actors were there?

    6. Where is Tracy’s first paying client going in August?

    7. What word made Liz color on her flat screen with crayons?

    8. Which two people ordered coffee black?

    9. Why did Liz apologize and say she was wrong?

    10. Who said he would write a cool referral script and share it?

As I’ve said before, everyone who hangs out here is incredibly cool and incredbily intelligent. Stop by next week when we go to Tuscany for Open Comment Night. We might find out: whatever happened to Ben’s donkey while we were busy talking about Jimi Hendrix, Civilization, and forensic accounting with Tracy and HART.

PS. I’m off on an airplane to NYC, so I won’t be able to check your answers until later tonight. Good luck to all who pitch in and give it a try.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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The Mic Is on in New York City!

6+1: The Ferrari Analogy for Organized Writing

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I Don’t Have to Read Your Desk

A messy desk is like a garage – it’s where you keep your tools. It helps if it’s organized, but your car will run fine even if it is not. But messy writing is a sign of messy thinking. It’s proof that our ideas are not under control. No one wants to be behind the wheel with someone who can’t keep the car on the road.

Organization is the second trait of good writing. Great writing needs a plan, like a road trip needs road. Ideas need to be organized before we set off.

Organizing a Writing Road Trip

Mountain Road

I’m sure you’ve read a blog post, or maybe twenty, that left you wondering where it was going and why it kept stopping and starting. Reading was like riding in a half-dead jalopy. (Jalopy don’t you love that word? It sounds like a food.)

Reading should be like a fabulous road trip — the blog equivalent of riding in a fast machine stuck to the road, handled by an experienced driver.

It’s true.

I’m Italian. I’ll take the Ferrari. [Read more…]

Great Find: 50 Best Firefox Powersurfing Hacks

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Yep!!! 50 One Place

Found all 50 in one place.

Great Find: 50 Best Firefox Extensions for Power Surfing
Type of Article: Resource for Firefox
Permalink: http://www.firefox.hk/?p=765
Target Audience: Every Firefox user

Content: This post is constantly updated so bookmark it. It’s due for an update soon. [Last update 02/05/06]

The categories include:

  • Control Firefox Tabs
  • Control Website Links
  • Control File Downloads
  • Control Webpage Behaviour & Navigation
  • Control Webpage Behaviour & Navigation

Also included are links to other Firefox sites.

Check it out by clicking the title shot below.

50 Best Firefox Hacks for Power Surfing

Thank you, Firefox, Hong Kong.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Net Neutrality 6-14-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’ve added these links to the Net Neutrality Page today.

ONLY ONE LINK TODAY SO THAT YOU WILL LISTEN TO IT.

DOWNLOAD A NEW TUNE BY INDEPENDENT ARTISTS
WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!! [via Mark Wade ]

Three singer/songwriters met at a Los Angeles recovery center for those suffering from internet-related anger issues. How could Congress vote to destroy one of the only good things left in America? This made no sense! How could so few people be enraged? What were people doing to keep network neutrality the law of the land?

They realized that they had found kindred spirits in one another and needed to work through their newfound political rage. Their counselor suggested that they could channel their frustration through song, interpretative dance, screaming or simply calling Congress over and over. When they discovered that Michelle was afraid of morons, they decided to just do the singing part. And thus The BroadBand was born.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

The Mic Is on in New York City!

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It’s Like Open Mike Only Different

Here’s how it works.

The rules are simple — be nice.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. . . . Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.

Here’s what we might talk about:

Open Comments at 6:30 Chicago Time

New York City

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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By Popular Demand The Mike Is On

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Comment Night Again at 6 Chicago Time