Posts Tagged: Philosophy & Sophistry
Music licensing keeping shows from DVD
Posted by on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 in - 19 comments
A few years ago, I started a small petition on this site for the release of the Northern Exposure television series on DVD. I am mocked to this days by my friends and co-workers, and justifiably so, for having undertaken a cause of such massive dorkitude. • Since then, completely unrelated to my …
Orwell’s War
Posted by on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 in - 21 comments
George Orwell’s 1984 seems more pertinent and alive than ever upon a recent reading. Chapter 9 of his great book includes excerpts from a fictional manifesto of rebellion by the primary enemy of the ruling party, Emanuel Goldstein. Some of the excerpts are quite striking (in a “now-more-than-ever …
2005 silverorange Summit Keynote Address
Posted by on Friday, January 21, 2005 in - 1 comment
Earlier this month, those of us at silverorange retreated to a beautiful cottage on the north shore of Prince Edward Island to take stock of the year past and plan for the year to come. • Dan James, the CEO of silverorange, has posted his keynote address from our summit. Don’t be fooled, though …
Objects That Come From Nowhere
Posted by on Saturday, January 15, 2005 in - 9 comments
I’ve noticed that there are certain types of items that I never seem to have to purchase. They just appear. No matter how many of these objects I lose, discard, or give away, there will always be more lying around somewhere. • Pens • Mugs • T-Shirts • Mouse Pads • This has to do, I think …
How I Became a Free Software Zealot
Posted by on Saturday, January 1, 2005 in - 15 comments
It started innocently. I started using a free/open-source web browser, then called Phoenix (now Firefox). It seemed to me to be faster, easier, and generally better than Internet Explorer on my Windows XP powered laptop. Soon after, having been unhappy with the performance of Microsoft Outlook … read more »
Cleaning Your Bedroom and Improving the World
Posted by on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 in - 15 comments
When I was growing up, my bedroom was always a mess. Every week or two, my parents would get me to clean my room. I wasn’t interested in cleaning my room, but I had to get it to at least pass a quick visual inspection my mom or dad. • To make sure I passed the informal inspection with minimal …
Lazy Journalism on Buy Nothing Day
Posted by on Friday, November 26, 2004 in - 16 comments
When “news” becomes a product delivered on a regular schedule, press releases and made-for-news events must become pretty attractive to journalists. • Today, most major American news websites are running something along the lines of “Lots of People Go Shopping” as their leading story …
Garment Interlocking Standards
Posted by on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 in - 7 comments
I wrote last year about a simple marvel of real-world standards when a paint-roller handle broke and we were able to screw in a broom handle into the same socket (fantastic!). • I was amused and amazed at lunch the other day by my colleague Peter Rukavina with another simple display of standards …
Weblogs on The West Wing
Posted by on Saturday, November 20, 2004 in - 2 comments
The latest episode of The West Wing features weblogs breaking a news story before the mainstream press. It’s a cute episode in which weblogs pick up a story of a White House staffer test driving a huge SUV right into a brand new Toyota Prius hybrid.
CNN: Election Tied!?!
Posted by on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 in - 6 comments
According to CNN, as of this morning, the election is exactly tied!