Communicating in a networked world
Yesterday I had to answer my phone.
Does that sound odd? First of all, what’s a phone for if you don’t answer it? But second, who answers the phone any more, given the overwhelming volume of spam calls we receive every day?
You’re probably thinking “Why is he even asking this? When was the last time I answered a phone call?”
Under the principles of net neutrality, Internet Service Providers [ISPs] are like common carriers, carrying all bits equally, but with neutrality nullified, what’s the likely outcome?
The Federal Communications Commission [FCC] in the United States has voted to nullify the common carrier status of ISPs, and thus to kill net neutrality, but of course other nations may not do so and I think there are customer actions that could make it difficult for carriers to run roughshod over this principle. The FCC calls their own action “Restoring Internet Freedom” and I, along with millions of others, contend that it’s only restoring the freedom for carriers to differentiate and prioritize, and charge as they see fit, making it more difficult for us common folks in the long run.
Starting to get some hair growing back this week. Lost 90% when going through that second round of chemotherapy. Today I shot this selfie which reminds me of the brutalist term as used in architecture. Brutalist concrete white hair beginning to grow straight down from the top. Like an incipient concrete cap. Not enough yet that it can be combed in any direction particularly, but enough to reduce the reflective glare. I originally said losing hair wouldn’t matter much to me, but it did matter in some specific ways. [Read more…]
I have several “threads” on LinkedIn. First, I’m a computer science guy, so I know lots of CS people. Next, I’ve been involved in peace activities with The Dalai Lama Foundation and The Metta Center. Another group of people. Then recently as a musician+composer. On LinkedIn I’ve been looking at the “People You May Know” links and recently I’ve been adding a lot of musicians because LinkedIn usually does get it right and it shows me names and photos for people I do indeed know. For every 8 or so people it suggests, I know one or two people.
But a week ago I noticed that it’s not giving me as many names or people I know. Maybe I know one in a hundred of the people it’s presenting. I wonder if their algorithm is confused by my change of orientation and can’t figure out who to present as possible links? Uh, yes, I do know that it’s basing its recommendations on my own contacts, but it seems to have reached some kind of event horizon.
I have not written on this subject because I just see everyone else is banging on Congress about how stupid it would be to install “backdoors” in commercial email and software services. But honestly, I’m a bit concerned right now because government pressure is being stepped up.
A “backdoor” is a mechanism that allows a service provider or government to access the contents of a system without knowing users’ passwords and without their knowledge. It is essentially a universal key that opens everything.
We hear government officials crying out that this is the only way they can protect the nation against attack. In other words, the government wants to have universal access to every electronic communication, or we will all die in flaming terrorist attacks.
So just why is this the stupidest idea in the world? [Read more…]