Slashdot Mirror

Link to the audio archives of the Talk of the Nation interview is here

There was actually a piece on All Things Considered last night on this as well. It can be found in real media format here.

This is mentioned in the NPR story (part of All Things Considered's "Lost and Found Sound" series, by the way) to which the write-up refers. It's implied, though not outright stated, that some portion of the Spanish-language stations share facilities with, or are the work of, Radio Havana in Cuba.

Permanent page is http://www.npr.org /programs/lnfsound/stories/000526.stories.html. Unfortunately, listening to the story requires Real Player and ordering a transcript costs money ... this is what you get for cutting NPR funding, you government spooks reading this page!

Let's face it, us geeks are no longer the High Priests of a Low Cult. Stats: computer ownership in the U.S. is doubling about once a year. That's impressive in itself, but what really is important is that most new users are low-income, non-college-educated people who have traditionally resisted using computers. (I'm regurgitating an NPR report that went out a couple months ago). Those of us who have been trading on are lack of technophobia for that last 30 years are going to have to start earning our keep!

It's interesting to note what are 'acceptable' work conditions, as well as 'acceptable' wages. Compared to many working conditions in China, American companies apparently surpass most qualities. Check out the program about China, WTO, and Human Rights here from NPR.


Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.

Last night, on All Things Considered they had a really wonderful story about the thing. Check it out (ya need Real Audio).

Basicly, the record companies pay for the ads that the stores run, but they will only pay for the ad if the store does not advertise a price below what the record company wants it to be sold at. Well, call it price fixing or whatever, but payola is payola.

The story also goes into MP3s and how people are really fed up with paying $17 for a crap CD with one good song on it.

According to NPR this morning, when the local law enforcement entered the suspects house they found a wide assortment of computer periphenalia .

Who on earth doesn't have at least some form of computer periphenalia laying around the house? That remote control you use for the TV is pretty suspicious. Not to mention the fuzzy logic can opener. Hey, what about the kids furby?

I wouldn't shell out $600 dollars if I couldn't listen to NPR on the way home.

NPR's All Things Considered show ran a story yesterday concerning a lawsuit by some retailers over Sony selling their artist's CD's directly via the Web. The interesting part for this discussion was the mention that Sony and BMG have plans to begin offering an online service to pay for downloads of music. The audio feeds for the story are here: 14.4, or 28.8 and up.

NPR's All Things Considered show ran a story yesterday concerning a lawsuit by some retailers over Sony selling their artist's CD's directly via the Web. The interesting part for this discussion was the mention that Sony and BMG have plans to begin offering an online service to pay for downloads of music. The audio feeds for the story are here: 14.4, or 28.8 and up.

NPR's All Things Considered show ran a story yesterday concerning a lawsuit by some retailers over Sony selling their artist's CD's directly via the Web. The interesting part for this discussion was the mention that Sony and BMG have plans to begin offering an online service to pay for downloads of music. The audio feeds for the story are here: 14.4, or 28.8 and up.

NPR's All Things Considered show ran a story yesterday concerning a lawsuit by some retailers over Sony selling their artist's CD's directly via the Web. The interesting part for this discussion was the mention that Sony and BMG have plans to begin offering an online service to pay for downloads of music. The audio feeds for the story are here: 14.4, or 28.8 and up.

Ray at one point talked about how the age of biological evolution is over, how technological evolution had simply taken its place. Biological humanity would wither on the vine, he predicted, replaced in the long term by our superior robot progeny. He loved this. He's not alone, either. Nearly every major AI researcher I've read about (think Hans Moravec or Rodney Brooks) has echoed similar sentiments.

Personally, the techno-rapturists frighten me much more than the non-techno-rapturists. They frighen me the way all apocalyptics frighten me, but the difference is that the techno-rapturists have the power to make their prophecies real.

So, to that end: What about you? Is it all over for humanity? Will machines infiltrate more and more of our bodies and society until humanity itself no longer exists? And do you think this is a good thing?

For instance: yesterday on NPR(scroll down for RA of story) there was a story on Internet privacy and it featured a new piece of software (name escapes me now) that basically configured your browser to run through a proxy server so that all your traffic could be scanned. Why this software company is still in business after effectifely instituting a wire tap (just on digital information on port 80), I don't know. Though, their EULA does mention that your traffic will be monitored, I can't believe that people actually use their software.

This goes way beyond using cookies to track usage (hell, we have Neillson ratings for TV that do something very similar). I applaud the efforts of the userbase of Verant of taking notice and effecting change through economical means. Now, if only everyone would not use invasive products, all companies with invasive software would go out of business.

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

• NASA's Cost Cutting Poses Risks
• And a three part story about the NSA:
  
  • NSA Competes With Technology
  • The National Security Agency Is Listening
  • The NSA And Computer Encryption
• Largest Merger In Software Industry concerning i2 Technologies, Inc. and Aspect Development, Inc.
• Internet Stock Plummet - on 3/14
• World Online - indicating that the "digital divide" may be narrowing
• Regulation Of Internet Commerce - the e-commerce tax debate.
• Oxford Dictionary Goes Online
• Global Wireless Company Going Under - about Iridium's death.
• On Being Geek - an interview with Jon Katz about his new book.
• Today's New Economy - about the Palm IPO
• F.C.C. Meets On New Technology - concerning "software defined radio
• Success For Indian Immigrants In U.S. - about Indian immigrants in Silicon Valley

You can get an NPR feed at http://www.npr.org; it's only available in QuickTime and Windows Media, though. Some of the local stations may have feeds in other formats - anyone know of any?

NPR will be posting the RealAudio 28/56 broadcast links on this page soon after the program is recorded; they don't appear to be doing a live broadcast of it, though. I'd expect it to be there some time between a couple hours from now and tomorrow, assuming they work quickly.

As for listening to it on the radio, here's a link and another link for you; it might help you find a radio station you can listen to. I'd suggest just spending a few minutes tuning the dial, though.

NPR will be posting the RealAudio 28/56 broadcast links on this page soon after the program is recorded; they don't appear to be doing a live broadcast of it, though. I'd expect it to be there some time between a couple hours from now and tomorrow, assuming they work quickly.

As for listening to it on the radio, here's a link and another link for you; it might help you find a radio station you can listen to. I'd suggest just spending a few minutes tuning the dial, though.

There was a great interview with Freeman Dyson on NPR's All Things Considered last night. Well worth the listen.

There was a great interview with Freeman Dyson on NPR's All Things Considered last night. Well worth the listen.

There was a great interview with Freeman Dyson on NPR's All Things Considered last night. Well worth the listen.

... The Matrix isn't even remotely CP. CP is a child of the 80's -- moral/ethical issues about the environment, disparity of wealth and crime, corporate ethics and growing corporate/MNC power, the affects of globalization on culture, genetic engineering, affects of technology on socialization, etc. In other words, it tends to address social issues that we're facing today, that seem to be heading in a negative direction, and the main characters are more reluctant anti-heroes than anything else. I, for one, tend to worry more about, say, microsoft's monopolistic practices or the alleged overseas human-rights violations of Unocal than whether or not my brain is in a giant box somewhere.

The Matrix follows more along the lines of a science-fantasy heroic epic (ala Star Wars) that revolves around (admittedly dumbed-down) basic philosophical questions. It's cool, but it ain't cyberpunk. I'm sorry, but it takes more than a bunch of guns and black leather to qualify for the genre. To qualify as potential dating/masturbatory material, yes, to qualify as cyberpunk, no.

And really, the only scientific error you could say The Matrix made was that feeding the humans would take more energy than the computers could get out of them.

... Actually, the line was something akin to 'with this, combined with a form of fusion, the machines had all the energy they'd ever need.' Now, whatever this magical 'form of fusion' is, the implication is that the energy generated by humans serves to trigger a larger reaction. We're less like the batteries in a walkman, and more like the battery in a car. Not that it matters; as many others have pointed out: it ain't about science. It's just a bunch of cheesy pseudo-science to set the stage for what is, ultimately, a fantasy epic.

... God, I sound pretentious. =P

So Apple now owns the idea of a tranlucent-polycarbonate-ovoid PC. I see no problem with this. While many folks are claiming Apple has patented the all-in-one PC they haven't - just their particular (and very distinctive/very unique) take on it. Should someone else come out with a glittery-squishy palmtop (the Koosh-top?) they can patent that.

Nationial Public Radio's Friday, March 05, 1999 "Talk of the Nation" program has an excellent over-view of the issue. Their program blurb reads:

In the past, only tangible things could receive a patent--things like lawnmowers or mousetraps. But in the new knowledge-based economy ideas, techniques, and even our DNA can be patented. Who wins when vital information becomes private property? Is the patent process stifling innovation or fostering it? In this hour, we'll discuss patents and the patenting process. Guests: Todd Dickinson Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce Acting Commissioner Patents and Trademarks Arlington, Virginia Rebecca Eisenberg Professor of Law University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Seth Shulman Author, Owning the Future (Houghton Mifflin) Boston, Massachusetts.

-- Michael

BTW - the Koosh ball is also patented

So Apple now owns the idea of a tranlucent-polycarbonate-ovoid PC. I see no problem with this. While many folks are claiming Apple has patented the all-in-one PC they haven't - just their particular (and very distinctive/very unique) take on it. Should someone else come out with a glittery-squishy palmtop (the Koosh-top?) they can patent that.

Nationial Public Radio's Friday, March 05, 1999 "Talk of the Nation" program has an excellent over-view of the issue. Their program blurb reads:

In the past, only tangible things could receive a patent--things like lawnmowers or mousetraps. But in the new knowledge-based economy ideas, techniques, and even our DNA can be patented. Who wins when vital information becomes private property? Is the patent process stifling innovation or fostering it? In this hour, we'll discuss patents and the patenting process. Guests: Todd Dickinson Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce Acting Commissioner Patents and Trademarks Arlington, Virginia Rebecca Eisenberg Professor of Law University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Seth Shulman Author, Owning the Future (Houghton Mifflin) Boston, Massachusetts.

-- Michael

BTW - the Koosh ball is also patented

NPR had a story this morning about two schools. One had a lot of cash and used the Web for just about everything. The other didn't have much cash and didn't even have an outside internet line. What they did have was a LAN and a bunch of machines that the kids themselves put together and keep running.

"Heres the article (real audio file)"

The study also showed that online time took away mostly from TV time, next came newspaper time, and then came time spent on the phone with friends or time spent with family. I would say that much of what I've found online is more interesting and perhaps better for me that what I could watch on TV. I get my news online so there's a good reason why I would spend less time with the newspaper. And I send out far more e-mails with arguably better content than phone calls. I think the Internet is what's kept me in touch with many friends. If you spend time online that you should be spending with your family...that's your decision. It probably points to something deeper than being fascinated with Ask Jeeves.

Also, one of the most significant findings of this study was that the longer a person owned a computer, the more likely they were to use it. Duh! Although I guess that would be somewhat of an anomoly since I barely even touch my George Foreman grill anymore.

I think I'm just going to have to call this "Just another study" and move on with my life. After all, every precious second I'm spending typing this I could be out galavanting with friends (who would all be at work anyways).

Peace. Sway
icq 5202646
Peace. Sway

A few years ago someone wondered: "Why are there no higher animals which do not sleep?" It clearly would be of great evolutionary advantage to not have to sleep. So there must be some very basic reason.

Answer: Brains use more energy than blood can deliver. The purpose of sleep is to recharge energy.

Mixed with neurons are glial cells, which store glucose during sleep. They then supply glucose to neighboring neurons while the brain is awake, supplementing glucose from the bloodstream.

When the energy is exhausted, neurons stop working properly. That's why there are hallucinations (particularly in pattern-matching neurons such as peripheral vision). It's probably also why the brain secretes chemicals which increase blood flow -- it's trying to get more glucose to keep functioning during whatever crisis is keeping it awake.

So, why might areas which are normally quiet showing more active in this study? Maybe because the blood flow has been increased in the exhausted areas, and also the neighboring cells which were least-used are now trying to activate because their exhausted neighbors can't work?

This paper does not seem to be on the net, so see Google search of related comments.

NPR featured an interview with William freaking Gibson on their Talk of the Nation program way back in November. There might not be enough Gibson in the interview to satisfy the die-hard GibsonPhile, as he shared airtime with David Brin, Anne Simon, and a whole lot of callers (it's a call-in talk show). But if you're still interested (and if these links work) you can go to their Talk of the Nation site, or listen to the RealAudio version.

NPR featured an interview with William freaking Gibson on their Talk of the Nation program way back in November. There might not be enough Gibson in the interview to satisfy the die-hard GibsonPhile, as he shared airtime with David Brin, Anne Simon, and a whole lot of callers (it's a call-in talk show). But if you're still interested (and if these links work) you can go to their Talk of the Nation site, or listen to the RealAudio version.

Commissioning artists nowadays can work. For an
example that used the web to attract potential patrons, see the latest
CD from the singer/songwriter Momus. Personally, I don't like his music, but I am hardly an arbiter of good taste.

...that's full agreement with all points above. For Linux users, deploying Junkbuster is as easy as downloading the RPM or DEB file and installing it. For Windows users, either NT or Win9x, you can also use the proxy.

Both the banner and cookie action are way cool. The following blockfile eliminates pretty darned near all the banner ads (and the sites associated with them if a full site or domain is listed). Note that I've allowed banners at a number of Linux-friendly sites, on principle, though you could change this if you wanted.

/*.*/ad/
/*.*/ads/
/*.*/advert/
/*.*/adverts/
a32.g.a.yimg.com/
ad.*.*
adforce.imgis.com/
adremote.*.*
ads*.*.*
doubleclick.net
image.pathfinder.com/sponsors*
preferences.com
sfgate.com/place-ads

Those few lines block virtually all the ad traffic I see.

For cookies, I block all, then selectively allow a limited number of sites with which I do business. Mostly message boards.

There was a really good program Online Profiling on NPR's Talk of the Nation a couple of months back. Other useful resources are Center for Democracy and Technology, and for a look at the other side, NetworkAdvertising.Org and Direct Marketing Association

If setting up a proxy is too much for you, the following tricks will prevent a permanent cookie file from being generated:

• Linux, Netscape: ln -sf /dev/null ~/.netscape/cookies
• Windows, Netscape: set read-only permissions to your cookies file, or replace it with a directory.

I'm not sure what the corresponding IE trix are. For Linux, lynx and other browsers can use the link to /dev/null trick.

What part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?

__________________

You can listen to Bruce Sterling in RealAudio on NPR's All Things Considered here.

I listened to the story at: http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/19991104.atc.15.ra m

I would like to express some concern with the viewpoint taken in this piece.

The piece itself was very informative and very well done. The possible use of the DeCCS software tool for copying DVDs was well explained. However, this is akin to describing how a hammer can be used to break into a business.

If I were an uninformed member of the audience, I would wonder why nasty people would invent things like hammers, wonder how hammers could be used to break into my local business (or increase prices businesses will have to charge to cover the cost of burlgers using hammers), and fully support legal action against hammer manufactorers. NPR's piece leaves me with the same feelings towards DeCCS.

What the piece fails to explain is the reason why hammers were created and what their intended use is. DeCCS is more than a tool for piracy. It is an attempt to open up legaly purchased media to legal fair use. Furthermore, it is a necessary step in allowing users of alternative operating systems access to their media. One well known, though not exclusive, example of such operating systems is Linux.

I invite your staff to research a bit more on this issue. I think you will find much more depth than a simple case of piracy tools. If your staff are in need of some sources of information to persue this story further, I would be happy to supply them.

here is the link

All Things Considered

I heard the Surgeon General yesterday afternoon on All Things Considered. If the researchers need any more evidence about the stigma and ignorance surrounding mental illness, they ought to read Slashdot. Look at the variety of comments we have. Mental illness is immediately equated with being crazy. There are jokes and denials. The header itself is brimming with nervous humor. We deny that mental illness does hinder and even incapacitate people by arguing that abnormality is fine. It's fine to be sad. It's fine to be shy. I agree. We have posts that portray mental illness as some new-fangled plot of our hypochondriac pharmaceutical world and about big brother's attempt to profile and control us. Those points are important. Watch Brain Candy. While I agree that we should face our problems with humor and some caution, we also need honesty, openness and seriousness.

I have struggled with low grade mental problems throughout my life. Several friends and family members have, too. In many respects, I am a highly functioning person. My studies are going well and, except for a few years, have not suffered. I have a good family. I have friends. I often feel awful. While I have casual friends, the attempt to form closer relationships has failed repeatedly and completely. I have tried to pep up magically, to exercise more, to play music and to put myself around other people. All these things did help. Counseling from trained professionals has helped much more. Medication helped dramatically.

I know people who have emotional problems that are absolutely obvious to everyone who knows them well. They often realize it themselves. Even among the ones who realize it, a significant portion will not seek help. They are embarassed. Just as with other illnesses, treatment necessitates revealing personal information, and they are scared of the vulnerability. Most people can comfortably tell a doctor that their throat hurts or that they have been vomiting; they cannot do the same about disabilitating mental experiences. Some are simply reluctant to break with tradition when so few others among their friends and family have received treatment.

We can look into the dangers of labeling people as ill and medicating them. Indeed, we ought to. Those dangers are real. Even when they are true, they do not negate the problems. As the report states, we have the resources to improve our mental lives. Treatment helps people get better. Why shouldn't we take advantage of it? The data are there. Look at them. People miss a great deal of work (and play) because they struggle with mental issues. People commit suicide. Among people who are treated, we can see better work performance, better social feeling and lower suicide rates. Some of these data rest on anecdotal evidence, but quite a few of them are measurable. We can count suicides. We can count missed work days. Abnormality is no sin. Some shy, eccentric and awkward people lead satisfying lives. Abnormality is not identical to mental illness, however. This study does not concern people who cope differently. It is about people who cope poorly, if at all, with the circumstances of their lives due to identifiable, treatable conditions. One can be abnormal without suffering averse consequences. The data do not address people who are just abnormal. They address people who suffer documented detrimental consequences of their mental conditions. Anybody who drops a front of prejudice can see that this issue is more than an invention or an exaggeration.