mebweblog

Sat, 02 Aug 2003 17:42:11 GMT

(SOURCE:"jonu")-Fueld by blogs, wikis, RSS, etc. a document-centric, XML world will prevail in 5-10 years I predict. Right now the XML database tools are crude and only for early adopters (and production systems for most people probably will stay with relational databases and the like) but not in the long term. <QUOTE> It's possible that developers will want to stay within an XML abstraction for all their data sources. I've been living that experiment for a few months. My last few O'Reilly Network columns (1, 2) describe an XML-oriented approach to data management that I am continuing to find fruitful -- even without the capabilities that XML-savvy databases bring to the table. When you think about how long it took for SQL to become an established discipline, it helps put SQL/XML hybridization -- the subject of this InfoWorld story -- into perspective. It could take a decade or more for this stuff to really start to sink in. Along the way all sorts of new opportunities will emerge, and I find the whole thing terrifically exciting. </QUOTE> [Roland Tanglao: KLogs]

11:42:11 AM comment [] - See Also: xml

Sat, 02 Aug 2003 17:14:03 GMT

Death Of The Webmaster: Why Weblogs Bring A True Revolution To Internet Publishing.

(SOURCE:The Death Of The Webmaster: Why Weblogs Bring A True Revolution To Internet Publishing - Robin Good' Sharewood Tidings)-Word!
<QUOTE>So, you can see how the advent of weblogs, was masqueraded on the surface by the "bloggers" fad, and completely misunderstood by those who would be most benefitting from the advent of such technology-based opportunities. We are ushering into an era in which things are changing at an increasing faster pace, and where ever more frequently we are looking at reality with an outdated pair of glasses, so it is difficult for me to anticipate with greater detail what the appropriate understanding and ethical exploitation of the above will exactly bring about. What I can say with some amount of safety, is that I cannot recommend enough the use of weblog/CMS based technology for both traditional business applications as well as for those organizations entrenched in publishing methods that require a seven-day tour before the content even makes it to the test server. The learning curve for these powerful CMS technologies is basically none and the cost-effectiveness is several orders of magnitude better than when working with a full-time webmaster or with an IT/Information Publishing department that wants to "webmaster" everything you do.</QUOTE>
[Roland Tanglao: KLogs]

11:14:03 AM comment [] - See Also: blogs web_dev

Sat, 02 Aug 2003 16:15:12 GMT

Terror in the Saudi kingdom.

CIA veteran Bob Baer talks about the censored 9/11 report, why al-Qaida is still cozy in the house of Saud -- and why Osama is winning. [Salon.com]

10:15:12 AM comment [] - See Also: arbusto war

Sun, 13 Jul 2003 23:13:09 GMT

Dems: Iraq story falls short.

CNN Jul 13 2003 5:35PM ET [Moreover - Top stories]

5:13:09 PM comment [] - See Also: news&stuff war

Lookup Address, Business, Campaign Contribution, Demographics Data

Sun, 13 Jul 2003 14:12:45 GMT

Lookup Address, Business, Campaign Contribution, Demographics Data

Free online MelissaData Lookup: http://www.melissadata.com/Lookups/index.htm

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Gain access to the latest data available on 46,455 counties, states, cities and places in the U.S.

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8:12:45 AM Google It! comment []

Some Cheery News RE: Iraq War

Thu, 10 Jul 2003 11:51:15 GMT

Some Cheery News RE: Iraq War

Bush Skirts Queries on Iraq Nuclear Allegation. Washington Post Jul 9 2003 10:52PM ET

Rumsfeld Doubles Estimate for Cost of Troops in Iraq. New York Times Jul 9 2003 9:50PM ET

U.S. Foresees No Early Pullout of Its Large Force Inside Iraq. New York Times Jul 9 2003 8:44PM ET

Iraq weapons 'unlikely to be found'. BBC Jul 9 2003 6:36PM ET

Bush has 'no doubt' war was right step. IHT Jul 9 2003 5:40PM ET

5:51:15 AM Google It! comment [] - See Also: war

Website turns tables on government officials

Sun, 06 Jul 2003 16:09:24 GMT

Website turns tables on government officials

By Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff, 7/4/2003

nnoyed by the prospect of a massive new federal surveillance system, two researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are celebrating the Fourth of July with a new Internet service that will let citizens create dossiers on government officials.

The system will start by offering standard background information on politicians, but then go one bold step further, by asking Internet users to submit their own intelligence reports on government officials -- reports that will be published with no effort to verify their accuracy.

''It's sort of a citizen's intelligence agency,'' said Chris Csikszentmihalyi, assistant professor at the MIT Media Lab. ...

10:09:24 AM Google It! comment [] - See Also: news&stuff

Fri, 04 Jul 2003 22:42:59 GMT

Government Information Awareness.

This is totally kick-ass! GIA showed me more in 30 seconds about my local representatives that I could have found myself in a couple of hours of web searching. I'd love to see some of our state judges put in here. We've got a few loonies on the bench that need airing. Sunshine has a way of chasing out the rats.

Government Prying, the Good Kind. The government has endless ways of keeping tabs on Americans and what they're up to. Now the Government Information Awareness site turns the tables, letting you keep an eye on your government officials. By Michelle Delio. [Wired News]

[b.cognosco]

4:42:59 PM comment [] - See Also: news&stuff

Take a political orientation quiz

Thu, 12 Jun 2003 19:24:53 GMT

Take a political orientation quiz

Short political orientation quiz.

Shorter political orientation quiz.

1:24:53 PM Google It! comment [] - See Also: my_yapping

Doublespeak and Newspeak

Thu, 12 Jun 2003 18:09:58 GMT

Doublespeak and Newspeak

"...the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought. In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. ... The revolution will be complete when the language is perfect." - Syme, from Orwell's 1984

I saw a few things on the internet (see below) that made me think we are in an age of newdoublespeak. My next thought: Will humans ever exist in an age with newspeak or doublespeak.

The strategically ambiguous George W. Bush (6/12/03) By Bryan Keefer @ Spinsanity.org
DoubleSpeak by Julian Burnside
1984 and Modern Newspeak Dictionary by George {Good coverage.}

12:09:58 PM Google It! comment [] - See Also: my_yapping

Sun, 08 Jun 2003 18:03:54 GMT

Were they weapons of self-delusion?.

Guardian Unlimited Jun 7 2003 9:52PM ET [Moreover - Top stories]

12:03:54 PM comment [] - See Also: news&stuff war

Tue, 03 Jun 2003 18:36:05 GMT

New Rules Give Big Media Chance to Get Even Bigger.

As consumer advocates deplored changes to media ownership rules, investors bought shares of the biggest media companies. By David D. Kirkpatrick. [New York Times: NYT HomePage]

12:36:05 PM comment [] - See Also: media_reform news&stuff

Tue, 03 Jun 2003 18:24:56 GMT

specious: Dictionary.com Word of the Day.

specious [Dictionary.com Word of the Day]

12:24:56 PM comment [] - See Also: word_of_the_day

Tue, 03 Jun 2003 16:26:36 GMT

The ABCs of Media Deregulation.

As soon as most people see the words “duopoly,” “cross-ownership rules,” or “FCC” in the headlines their eyes glaze over. But not my friend and many people’s hero, Bob McChesney. Bob eats memos about telecom regulations for breakfast. He has campaigned tirelessly, along with John Nichols, Mark Crispin Miller, Jeff Chester, and others, for reform of our nation’s media regulatory apparatus. But I just had a... [In These Times]

10:26:36 AM comment [] - See Also: media_reform news&stuff

Sun, 01 Jun 2003 23:03:34 GMT

The F.C.C.

Gets Ready to Roll the Media Dice. Theories abound over what it will mean if the rules restricting media outlet ownership in the United States are relaxed. By Jonathan D. Glater. [New York Times: Politics]

5:03:34 PM comment [] - See Also: media_reform news&stuff

Test

Sat, 31 May 2003 23:09:09 GMT

Test

This is a TEST.

5:09:09 PM Google It! comment []

Control of the Media - Important FCC Vote

Sat, 31 May 2003 15:34:55 GMT

Control of the Media - Important FCC Vote

I have seen a variety of information related to the FCC ceding more control to the large corporate media companys:

Why the FCC is wrong on media ownership at AnchorDesk.com.
Molly Ivins on the FCC vote.
Ted Turner on the FCC vote.
Sign a petition at : Free Press Media Reform Network
Contact your Representative about H.R. 2052 at the Consumer's Union website.
Contact your Senator about S. 1046 at the Consumer's Union website.
FCC cozy with industry (The Center for Public Integrity and the Well Connected Report at the same website).

9:34:55 AM Google It! comment [] - See Also: media_reform news&stuff

Why the FCC is wrong on media ownership

Sat, 31 May 2003 13:23:52 GMT

Why the FCC is wrong on media ownership

"...WHY DOES this matter? Because, in a democracy, the media isn't just another business. Instead, it's what we turn to for the ideas and information that make it possible for us to perform our duties as citizens, such as voting and being involved in community issues. Furthermore, I don't think media control should be concentrated geographically--which is what happens when local owners are bought (or forced) out by media monoliths that aren't part of the communities their properties serve. " [Source: AnchorDesk at ZDnet.com]

7:23:52 AM Google It! comment [] - See Also: news&stuff

Sun, 18 May 2003 16:52:13 GMT

Protect and Exercise your freedom to read.

American Civil Liberties Union : Support the Freedom to Read! .

With the passage of the USA Patriot Act, the FBI gained the power to search your library and book-buying records without probable cause of any crime or intent to commit a crime. Furthermore, librarians and others who are required to turn over records are not allowed to say that the search has occurred or that records were given to the government.

This means that average Americans could have their privacy violated wholesale without justification or proper judicial oversight. Questions from Members of Congress to the Department of Justice about the use of this power have gone unanswered or have received a superficial response.

In response to these un-American and dangerous powers, Rep. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has proposed the "Freedom to Read Protection Act" (HR. 1157). This act would restrict the key provision of the USA PATRIOT Act -- by exempting libraries and bookstores from the laws that allow the FBI to conduct these searches of personal records.

Take Action! Urge your Representatives to support the Freedom to Read Protection Act! [Privacy Digest]

Supporting the Freedom to Read Protection Act is a good idea but here's something else you might want to think about doing as well. Radically diversify your reading choices. Order something at the opposite end of the political spectrum from your usual fare. Check out something at Loompanics or Paladin Press, or ChristianBook.com. Create patterns in your data that don't add up and can't be categorized.

There are two desirable features to this strategy. First, if enough of us do it, we can overwhelm these silly systems with white noise in the data. Second, if we actually start to read and think about viewpoints that radically differ from our own, we might actually start to get smarter as individuals and as a society. There isn't much point to protecting our freedom to read if we don't bother to exercise it in the first place.

[McGee's Musings]

10:52:13 AM comment [] - See Also: news&stuff war

Sun, 11 May 2003 18:44:21 GMT

Environmentalists: Sept 11 May Lead to Better Water.

1010Wins May 11 2003 0:24AM ET [Moreover - Environment news]

12:44:21 PM comment [] - See Also: environment news&stuff war

mebweblog

Lookup Address, Business, Campaign Contribution, Demographics Data

Some Cheery News RE: Iraq War

Website turns tables on government officials

Take a political orientation quiz

Doublespeak and Newspeak

"...the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought. In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. ... The revolution will be complete when the language is perfect." - Syme, from Orwell's 1984

The strategically ambiguous George W. Bush (6/12/03) By Bryan Keefer @ Spinsanity.org

DoubleSpeak by Julian Burnside

Test

Control of the Media - Important FCC Vote

Why the FCC is wrong on media ownership