Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Pesce on Piracy (Alan Wexelblat). Mark Pesce, another of those people I think is smart even though I don't always agree with them, has started what promises to be a long and thoughtful look at piracy on his blog, Mindjack. I'll likely have more to say after I've read the first entry, which went up at the start of this week. My first thought is just "why did he have to call it 'piracy?'" [Copyfight] 5:16:02 PM    comment []

Fearmongering About Bot Networks. [Schneier on Security] 5:15:55 PM    comment []

Grant Us Some Gaming!. Inspired by the successes of Santa Monica PL and, of course, the Ann Arbor District Library, MLS is collaborating with the Thomas Ford Memorial Library (one of our members) to submit a LSTA grant to bring gaming to our libraries. Aaron and I have been talking through the idea since the current round of grants was first announced, and now we’re moving on putting together the pieces. We both believe strongly in gaming as a draw for t(w)eens in libraries, and we both recognize the impact gaming is beginning to have on our culture and society, which truly is only just beginning. Plus, the introduction to gaming culture should help librarians better understand patrons from this type of group and where they’re coming from. Our plan is to submit a grant to put together a gaming “package,” much like the one Erin Helmrich and Eli Neiburger are going to show off at our May 26 Tech Summit (just 3 seats left!), except that ours will be a traveling road show. We want to get a number of MLS libraries to commit to the idea of gaming tournaments using the traveling road show. MLS will coordinate scheduling the equipment and can house it when not in use, but participating libraries would hold their own tournaments in their own buildings for their own patrons. The winner from each library would then go on to a championship tournament with bigger prizes at stake. The whole thing would be ongoing, with the championship possibly being an annual event. Imagine being crowned master chief of Chicago’s south and west suburbs! (Not that we’ll be using Halo as one of the games, but you get the idea….)  . . . I guess our big question is if you could dream big, what would you dream? And if you’re at a MLS library, do you want to participate in the grant? We’ll be discussing this in more detail with MLS attendees after each session on the 26th, but feel free to contact me or Aaron with questions or responses! And watch Aaron’s blog, because he’ll be posting more on this topic. [The Shifted Librarian] 7:37:23 AM    comment []

School Boards Want to 'Teach the Controversy.' What Controversy?. Rethinking the different theological reactions to the teaching of evolution. By LAWRENCE M. KRAUSS. [NYT > Technology] 7:37:19 AM    comment []

Three on lifting the interstate-wine ban: Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Wine Shipping. The court overturned state liquor laws in New York and Michigan that gave preferential treatment to in-state wineries. By LINDA GREENHOUSE. [NYT > Business] Out-of-State Wine Sales Upheld. In a victory for small producers and internet wine businesses, the Supreme Court overrules state laws banning the direct sale of wine by out-of-state vineyards. [Wired News] In Vino, Some Split-Decision Veritas. The Supreme Court's ruling that allows wine to be shipped across state lines is a victory for wineries and lovers of wine. [NYT > Opinion] 7:34:27 AM    comment []

Sony Unveils Details About PlayStation 3. Sony revealed details of its next-generation product, PlayStation 3, promising greatly enhanced graphic effects and heightened realism. By ERIC A. TAUB. [NYT > Business] 7:33:34 AM    comment []

Tor Torches Online Tracking. A sophisticated anonymizer service developed by the Navy lets users surf the net, chat and send instant messages anonymously. Now the public is taking hold of it. By Kim Zetter. [Wired News] 7:28:10 AM    comment []

Dave: Two conversation-starters for Team RSS today. The first is a suggestion for browser-makers: Microsoft, Firefox, Safari, Opera, et al, on how to simplify the subscription process in a powerful way. It's an answer to the hodgepodge of different one-offs that have emerged that don't really work. This one does work, and is complete, imho. The second is a design for turning outlines into feeds, or is it feeds into outlines? It's both and a dessert topping and a floor wax! Stay tuned folks, I'll have a podcast and a couple of docs, it should be an exciting day. ";->" 7:26:31 AM    comment []