26. juni 2003

Polynesian wi-fi paradise The tiny Polynesian island of Niue has installed free wi-fi internet access for all 2,000 residents and all visitors, becoming the first country to do so. The island is already in the forefront of net access, and wireless is a perfect solution in a climate where wire is often destroyed by the elements. 11:59:10 PM    comment []

Everybody a big brother William Gibson writes about what has happened with the nightmare visions of George Orwell's 1984. Technology may well be able to give a totalitarian state greater powers, but in reality, it also empowers individuals and corporations. We are not living under the eye of Big Brother, but there is an increasing number of nosy little brothers around, and our privacy is rapidly being eroded. For good, and for bad. In the age of the leak and the blog, of evidence extraction and link discovery, truths will either out or be outed, later if not sooner. This is something I would bring to the attention of every diplomat, politician and corporate leader: the future, eventually, will find you out. The future, wielding unimaginable tools of transparency, will have its way with you. In the end, you will be seen to have done that which you did. George Orwell's vision was about the terrors of his own time, not the furture. We live with different nightmares. But perhaps those with the most to hide has the most to fear from our time. 11:16:05 PM    comment []

Nuke component found in Baghdad back yard Some crucial components for the production of nuclear weapons have been dug up in a private back yard in Baghdad. The components are parts of a gas centrifuge used to enrich uranium. Nuclear weapons can only be made from highly enriched fuel, and a complex operation including gas centrifuges are crucial to their production. The parts were unearthed by Iraqi scientist Mahdi Obeidi who had hidden them under a rose bush 12 years ago under orders from Qusay Hussein and Saddam Hussein's then son-in-law, Hussein Kamel. It is true that this is not a "smoking gun" proving all pre-war statements about Saddam Hussein's WMD programmes true. But it is hard evidence that Saddam Hussein kept a nuclear programme on the back burner, in hibernation so to say, just waiting for the sanctions to end so he could go ahead and produce nukes. This find may also explain why no WMDs so far are found. These components was buried in the back yard of a private individual. No inspectors or search teams could ever find them if not Mahdi Obeidi had told the CIA where to look. And he would not tell unless he felt safe to do so. He is currently in the US. Now that he is safe, Obeidi said he believes other scientists would come forward with other components of Iraq's weapons program. And if more of them step forward with whatever they have hidden in their back yards, we might be looking at some hard facts and begin to realise what Saddam Hussein's regime was up to. 9:14:49 PM    comment []

Radical muslims also kill muslims What is easy to forget in the struggle against Islamic terrorists: radical extremists not only target westerners and Christians, they also kill fellow Muslims of competing sects, and even moderates in their own sect. Zahir Janmohamed has experienced this terror in Pakistan, and he has some clear ideas what the government should do against radical elements. 6:37:28 PM    comment []

Supreme court strikes down Texas gay sex law In a landmark 6-3 decision, the US Supreme Court declares the Texas sodomy law unconstititional. Applause! 5:35:00 PM    comment []

Which book? If you want reading recommendations, you should check out this page. You give criteria by choosing "happy/sad" or "easy/demanding" etc on a simple-to-use slider bar, and it selects the best match for those criteria. Really great. 2:42:45 PM    comment []

Bush for 2004, beta edition The "reelect Bush" campaign apparently left an early preview of their web site out on the net long enough for Slate to capture it.   3:00:21 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.07.2003; 00:27:02.