Sunday, January 18, 2004

Free Writing and Music - as in Speech. I'd like you all to take a moment to browse the Common Content catalog. It is a categorized index of work which has one of the several Creative Commons licenses. Free licenses aren't just for software anymore. The top-level categories in the index are images, movies, audio, text and web sites. I'm taking the trouble to recommend Common Content just now because I don't think either the catalog or the Creative Commons licenses are as well known as they deserve to be. [kuro5hin.org] [Ted Ritzer: Free Music] 8:53:49 PM    comment []

This on Worms of Endearment, In response to questions posted lately on the blog: Yes, I do talk to the worms if I have something to say.  Worms appreciate being addressed directly about matters concerning them and they are not immune to occasional words of affection and praise.  However, they do not tolerate small talk any better than I do, so there is not much idle chatter between us. Other questions receive answers, too. 3:36:16 PM    comment []

A great review. Follow the link for the details: What I Learned in 2003. [General Stuff's Order of the Day] Teaser: includes the observations that Things are getting worse, not better, John Travolta is the key to the entire entertainment industry, and maybe life itself, and Digital piracy is a good thing.. 12:08:33 PM    comment []

Candidate for "Worst Travel Foul-Up of All Time" Weeks go by, and nobody can manage to arrange a flight back to the US for 400 stranded passengers at the international airport in Lagos? Including a mom with a sick three-month-old baby? Not that this story was on my radar or anything -- I came across it by accident, googling "airport." But the entire world's radar? [Global Suburb] 11:57:25 AM    comment []

Scott Rosenberg describes the process that led to Salon's blog-like war room for Election 04. It's a great idea. [Scripting News] Added later: The Salon War Room is here. 11:55:15 AM    comment []

Who's More Relaxed, Guest or Manager?. Thomas L. Keltner,a top official at Hilton Hotels, says he personally had enough leisure time. By The New York Times. [New York Times: Business] 9:11:45 AM    comment []

SUNDAY COMICS [Begging To Differ] 9:06:03 AM    comment []

Line Blurring Between Portable and Wearable Computers. In this article from TechNewsWorld, Jackie Fenn, a VP and fellow with Gartner Research, explains that even if there still is a clear boundary between portable and wearable computers -- she considers truly wearable devices to be completely hands-free -- it's really just a matter of time before that line gets erased when wearable technology moves into the mainstream. She also thinks that some social or cultural adjustment will accompany the deployment of wearable technology, but says people will adjust. And Tony Havelka, managing director for Winnipeg-based Tek Gear, predicts a rapid transition from established markets in military or industrial settings to more consumer-based applications. This overview contains more details and references. It also includes a picture of a camera developed by Tek Gear, the M1 io, which lets you "shoot what you see and see what you shoot." [Smart Mobs] 9:03:25 AM    comment []

The Invisible Man: A Tehran pizza delivery boy gives an indelible performance in a humanist anti-blockbuster. J Hoberman's review of Jafar Panahi's Crimson Gold, in The Village Voice. 4:28:45 AM    comment []