Successful Blog

Net Neutrality 6-03-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

This is what started it all

FYI, here’s the article that but a bee in the bonnet of the special interests who’re trying to shackle the Internet with their so-called net-neutrality regulations:

William L. Smith, chief technology officer for Atlanta-based BellSouth Corp., told reporters and analysts that an Internet service provider such as his firm should be able, for example, to charge Yahoo Inc. for the opportunity to have its search site load faster than that of Google Inc.

Or, Smith said, his company should be allowed to charge a rival voice-over-Internet firm so that its service can operate with the same quality as BellSouth’s offering.

Remedial First Amendment For The Net Neutrality Crowd

I’ve noticed lately that some net neutrality advocates have taken to calling neutrality legislation the “First Amendment of the Internet”. Allow me to point out that the first five words of the First Amendment are “Congress shall make no law …”

When it comes to our communications systems, our first priority should be to keep Congress out of it. The First Amendment says, when it comes to speech, the government simply does not make the call. It is not a question of debating right and wrong in the hallowed halls; the Constitution says simply, the government has no say.

Broadband Providers Lobby Against Internet Neutrality

We’ve been enjoying a resource that many have just assumed would continue. Consider some of the other changes that are occuring. Newspapers are going out of business all over America. Many, if not most, big city papers have been bought out by huge multi-media companies. Those media companies have shown an inclination to limit our access to the news to the point that a paid public service statement from the United Church of Christ is rejected by network TV and a book that lists the top 25 censored news stories is published annually in America.

Newspapers and other written media have been an important part of our democracy since Thomas Paine published “Common Sense” and helped light the fire of revolution and independence from a monarchy bent on exploiting, not nurturing it’s colonies. Today we face a different kind of threat. Very few men control virturally all of our news in the mainstream media and they’ve demonstrated a willness to limit even big stories like Downing St. Memos are still not widely known by Americans.

Al Gore characterized our democracy as “hollowed out” by a dearth of editorial variety in the “marketplace of ideas”. He called for the preservation of freedom on the Internet

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Friday Productivity Tip — Get Some Silence

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Quiet the Chatter

Today when you’re trying to get that last minute work done, and someone comes in to “shoot the breeze,” “talk your leg off,” “chatter like chimp,” or be a “bird in a box.” You might try this.

  • Look up from what you are working.
  • Slowly glance left and right, as if to be sure no one is watching you.
  • Quietly invite your visitor to come close to view your computer screen.
  • Then click this link and say, “Isn’t this the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?”

Then just stay silent and stare at the screen. As a bigger treat, you might offer your headphones so that your guest might listen even more silently.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles

Friday Productivity: The Monkey Rule
Perfect for Friday Productivity Checklist

SOB Business Cafe 06-02-2006

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SB Cafe

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the title shots to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Anthony explains why $300 of balloons is just as good as $1Million of Stuff, if not better.

Steve Remington explains how to ignore your readers effectively.

Brian explains the logic behind the ideavirus that drives 1000 paintings.

Ian explains babel fish.

Translate this page

For those of you who want to know how I answer every comment, Joe can tell you.

Related ala carte selections include

Dr. Deb Serani talks in her sleep about the benefits of power napping.

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like.
No tips required. Comments appreciated.

Have a great weekend!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Net Neutrality 6-02-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

E-BAY Comes Out in Support of Net Neutrality!

Today, as a registered Seller on E-Bay, I received an e-mail from the E-Bay President and CEO Meg Whitman making a strong case for Net neutrality. Ms Whitman has come out very strongly in support of blocking passage of any bill(s) that would allow the telephone and cable companies to create a “two-tiered” system of network access.

I think this is an excellent and well written letter that clearly explains what the Telecoms are attempting to accomplish. I will post the letter in its entirety:

Net Neutrality and Snakes on Rocketboom today

Not that we ever need an excuse to get our daily dose of Rocketboom, but in today’s episode, Amanda Congdon covers Net Neutrality in between her rants on Snakes on a Plane.

Boiling the Frog – a Net Neutrality Metaphor by Art Brodsky

The metaphor goes like this: If you throw a frog into boiling water, it will jump out. But if you put a frog in warm water, and gradually raise the temperature, it will become acclimated, until it becomes cooked. Gross, but accurate. This is what the telephone companies and their allies who sell them equipment are doing. The metaphor was on display last week when Verizon Executive Vice President Tom Tauke testified before the Senate Commerce Committee. Verizon is not trying to do away with the current Internet, Tauke said. (Water warm).

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Finding Fodder for Future Ideas

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Finding Fodder

Finding Ideas Outside of the Box logo 2

Yesterday, Joe of Working at Home on the Internet reminded me of my days going to press runs, when he was talking about his experience as a printer.

Immediately my mind flashed to this story.

I was in the car with my friend KB on the way to a press run. We’d worked 12 weeks straight living in the Marriott New York East Side. Now we’d flown into Chicago and were driving into one of the suburbs. She was driving. I was looking out the window. I was taking in all of the signs of the restaurants and stores as we passed by them.

Then, suddenly out of the blue I heard, “Will you . . . .SHUT UP!”

It seems I had been reading every sign out loud.

“I don’t really need you to read me every sign we pass,” she said. “What was that?”

“Sorry,” I said. “Fodder.”

[Read more…]

Blogtipping June Is Here!

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June 1 Blogtipping

blogtipping icon 1

Happy June! I tip my blog to:

Mr. Mike Sigers

1. You are my Jack Reacher Hero, who invented the Link Leak Virus.
2. You push me to be better and inspire me to be brighter.
3. You know no bounds to your friendship and your loyalty.

Tip: Don’t ever give up your quest. You are the real deal.


Mr. Martin Neumann

1. You are my secret pal, who keeps his own counsel over my journalistic errors.
2. You push me too and got me to grow when I didn’t know for sure which way was better.
3. You live upside-down, but you are always on the up and up.

Tip: Don’t stray too far, because I would miss you.

Mr. Prince Campbell

1. You are a the Internet master, the challenger, who keeps things kicking.
2. You keep my brain thinking and keep the music coming when I need a place to lurk.
3. You see the 30,000 ft view without leaving the ground, and say volumes without writing too many words.

Tip: Every time I give myself room to breathe, everyone around me gets nicer.