If you're AT&T, and you want to convince the American public that you can be responsible for handling the bulk of broadbrand traffic, cutting out parts of live music might not be your best idea.
But that's exactly what happened during the recent Pearl Jam's "Blue Room" Live Lollapalooza Webcast. The event monitor muted anti-George Bush lyrics, which left fans no option but to listen to a censored version of the concert.
Because AT&T had exclusive rights to the performance, the company could do what it wants to do. But blocking political speech to listeners probably isn't the best way to make friends in America, considering that it's guaranteed in the Constitution.
AT&T has apologized, but something like this just perpetuates the importance of Net Neutrality. If a handful of large corporations are in charge of Internet connectivity, Big Brother will be in control.
Computer programming is not just for geeks anymore
Instead of saying, "Look at this cool thing I found on the Internet!" what if you could say, "Look at this cool thing I made on the Internet!"
On top of that, you don't have to have an extensive history with programming languages, either.
Introducing Scratch, which allows you to create interactive stories, animations, games, art, etc., through what amounts to a graphic user interface. The program, developed by MIT, is designed for children ages 8 and up to learn math and computers, but at the same time, develop the ability to understand the idea of how programs work.
I will be taking a test drive of Scratch in the upcoming future. Until then, try it out for yourself, and if you do anything cool, let me know and I'll add your work in my next article. It works on both a PC and Mac, so there's no excuses for not giving it a chance.
Book review: "Ficciones" by Jorge Luis Borges
When I read a bad book, I finish it, even if it takes me forever. If I read a good book, I want to keep reading it, as much as possible, until I'm at the ending.
Somehow, Ficciones, by Jorge Luis Borges, didn't persuade me to do either of the above, but rather, it makes me want to read it again. From that perspective, I guess I'd have to call it a book better than good.
But to quantify what I liked, however, might be somewhat difficult. When I first started reading it, I thought the short stories included were true. But as I dove deeper into the content, I realized that would be impossible, primarily due to the nature of said context. The stories make you think about things that you have either never thought about, or that you may have accidentally dreamt before. For instance, would there be a way to create a book that contained every possible combination of words? Or, what if a book were really a labyrinth, and it were feasible to get completely lost within the pages?
I cannot do Ficciones justice by even attempting to discuss it. The compilation of short stories isn't too long, and it's definitely something that I'll read again, especially the parts that both tickled my brain and also the sections that complicated life even more so then it already is.
Compromise might be in store for Internet radio
The deadline has past, but Internet radio is still on. Maybe it will stay that way for a little while longer.
Negotiations are still rolling since SoundExchange, which is the overseer of recording industry royalty fees, agreed to continue searching for new rates. The biggest issue, it seems, is coming to a suitable compromise between large and small webcasters. It appears that some of the major players, like Time Warner and Yahoo! will have to pay the royalties, just like everyone else.
Whether or not it plays out that way, it is definitely too early to tell. At the very least, there is a hope a deal can be reached in the near future. This means that the music may continue to play yet another day.
Take a break, paint and dance!
It's late in the week. You are probably fretting even starting work today. Sounds to me like you need a little break. What I'm about to show you may mystify or confuse you. But remember, it's for your own good.
Time to visit ROXIK | PICTAPS. If you click on the "Paint!" button, you will have the ability to create an avatar that dances. Or, you can just watch some of the samples the site already has available. Regardless, make sure to turn up the music as load as possible.
If this doesn't make you relax and escape real work for a moment, you could be beyond help!
Check out Ben's latest book, The Developers (The easiest thing to find on the Internet: crazy people.) , which is now in stores across the country. Send comments and suggestions to info@benwoods.com.
