Network Theory as an Art?

I guess I can buy that.  But, I was surprised to see the story on the new rage in social analysis in the Arts section of the NY Times.  That is why this is not taken from an RSS feed as I don't subscribe to the Arts section.

The significant statement in the article; it gives a cursory review of the subject and the two hot books: Linked and Nexus, is that hype must be separated from fact.  Though I disagree with Mr. Watts who seems to say that small world theory doesn't apply to people because of preferences.  If I read Linked correctly, Mr. Watts is mixing two paradigms - as Barbarasi's discovery of social networks behaving as "scale-free" networks is a step beyond traditional "small world" theory.  Whereas small world theorists don't provide for measurement of "types" and "strengths" of connections in social networks, Barbarsi's findings do, or at least they suggest a means for discovering those properties.

But, like any paradigm shift, it takes a while before truth emerges.

8:35:31 AM    

Richard Clarke to step aside as Bush's Cybersecurity Chief

This Washington Post article quotes anonymous sources saying Clarke has told them he will leave his post soon.  Clarke has not confirmed or denied the report.  His current initative is The National Strategy to Secure Cyber Space.   Clarke worked for the Clinton administration prior to joining the Bush team.

8:11:56 AM    

Supervisors not told of Campus police assisting FBI

This story highlights the need for campuses to have a policy that allows institutional officers to know what their staff is doing...

FBI Taps Campus Police in Anti-Terror Operations
Student, Faculty Groups Fear a Return of Spying Abuses Against Activists, Foreign Nationals Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 25, 2003; Page A01

Federal authorities have begun enlisting campus police officers in the domestic war on terror, renewing fears among some faculty and student groups of overzealous FBI spying at colleges and universities that led to scandals in decades past.

... Some officers have been given federal security clearance, which allows them access to classified information. Their supervisors often do not know which cases these officers are working on because details cannot be shared, officials said.

8:03:40 AM    

FBI wanted TIA

But, the amendment passed by the Senate may slow things down a bit.  Pentagon has 60 days to brief Congress on the project before funding expires under the amendment.

Both Parties Wary of Data Mining. An amendment to a spending bill that requires the Pentagon to spill the beans to Congress on its Total Information Awareness project gets bipartisan support. Privacy advocates see it as a step in the right direction. By Ryan Singel. [Wired News]

7:58:37 AM