it was a pretty good day, Bill Dutton gave us his perspective on the information society and access issues by looking at the world internet project, Nimrod Koslowski gave an interesting perspective on security and the securitizing mode of governance that is taking over the interent, and finally, i gave my presentation about my work […]

Online encourages other connections. IWire reports that Keith Hampton is interviewed in Spectrum magazine, about his new findings on local neighbourhood internet use. Keith revealed some of this evidence at an iSociety seminar back in April. The main conclusion hightlighted is that “rather than… [Designing for Civil Society] —- interesting findings, i'll await confirmation from […]

Helping the Terrorists. This post is completely self-interested. I fly a lot. I think the idea of having air marshals on board airplanes is sensible and notably increases my safety. I was horrified and astounded to read in the NYT today that these guys have a dress code that make them stand out so that […]

“Universities have obligations to developing countries”. Ronald Phillips and three co-authors, Intellectual Property Rights and the Public Good, The Scientist, July 19, 2004. Excerpt: “For developing countries, access to new products, particularly drugs and seeds, is often a question of life and death. The market power inherent in intellectual property may restrict access by poorer […]

'Running to Stand Still'. Alice's Adventures under Ground. This is a full scan of the very first Alice book ever, handwritten and illustrated by Lewis Carroll. [The Cartoonist] [The Mediaburn Radio Weblog] —- well since i'm here in oxford and there are alice dolls all over…. very disconcerting it is…. anyway, here is the first […]

Is Microsoft Waging a Secret War of Linux Slander. 17 Jul 2004: ABC news is running an interesting article that looks at the never-ending barrage of anti-Linux propaganda. The article asks the question “Could Microsoft be behind a smear campaign aimed at Linux? If not Microsoft, then who?” It's a good look at what bad […]

The Art of Bluffing. Vannevar Bush. “If scientific reasoning were limited to the logical processes of arithmetic, we should not get very far in our understanding of the physical world. One might as well attempt to grasp the game of poker entirely by the use of the mathematics of probability.” [Quotes of the Day] [The […]

WGIG consultation. According to the ITU Strategy and Policy Unit blog, the Secretariat of the UN's Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) is now operational. Executive Secretary Markus Kummer says: “…one of our priorities is to make sure that the process ahead… [InternetPolicy.net] —– operational…. lets see what they actually do before we say that, […]

well, today we did a walking tour of oxford and some of us went punting. guess who?

yes, the president can read. and this is apparently a most important book.