Posts from — March 2006

desktopblues.lichtlabor.ch:

I like it.

computerworks:

follow the pink ball.

Global Desktop:

Through the Global Desktop Project, partners will benefit not only from the development of a user-friendly open source desktop, but also from: 

1. . Significant local expertise in Linux, open source and distributed development methodologies, which will position participating regions as a desirable location for companies moving software development efforts to Asia;
2. . Integration of distributed development, Linux and related software into the local educational curricula and improved training for students in IT, computer science, engineering and other technical programs;
3. . A support and information network of IT users in government; enterprise IT, small and medium-sized enterprises, that channels local needs into software that such organizations use on a daily basis; 
4. . Positioning Institutes of Higher Learnings as valued and influential members of the worldwide open source community; 
5. . Empowering individuals, government agencies, local businesses and other organizations towards technological self-determination.

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sounds like this could be a good project. but it does ring of ’strategic’ move more than ‘universally beneficial’ move.

Stanislaw Lem – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Stanisław Lem (September 12, 1921 – March 27, 2006) was a Polish science fiction, philosophical, and satirical writer. His books have been translated into 41 languages and sold over 27 million copies. At one point he was the most widely read science fiction author in the world. Lem’s writing is full of intelligent humor, puns, and neologisms, and Michael Kandel’s translations into English have been praised by many for capturing Lem’s style.

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Stanislaw Lem passed on today. The world is at a great loss.

MIT Media Lab Guru Says No Computers in Schools:

Michael Schrage of the MIT Media Lab wrote a piece for The Financial Times saying that there should be no computers in schools. He argues that billions could be saved by keeping useless technologies out of schools. As an educational technologist, I felt that I needed to address his critique.

 
I think his main argument is with educational software companies, but he fails to differentiate between them and between teachers using technology in the classroom. His article cites nothing other than his own opinions, but it is an interesting read nonetheless.

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No to computers in schools… but…. having the underfunded developing world pay for laptops from their national budget to the tune of ten’s of millions of dollars… that’s a great idea… Isn’t it? I’m not sure computers should be ubiquitous in education at all. I think that students need to experience diverse informational experiences, not just computer based, not just book based, but also oral traditons, etc.

Critical Information Studies: Everybody's doin' it:

Some interesting reactions around the blogosphere to my Critical Information Studies paper over the past few days. Most of it seems to be to Cory’s summary over at Boing Boing rather than to the paper itself. Such are blogs. Sigh.

One consistent theme is “we are already doing all that over here in my discipline.” Insert discipline. Yes. That is my point exactly. Everyone is thinking about this stuff. But what is cool and unique about CIS is that EVERYONE IS THINKING ABOUT IT! Computer scientists and anthropologists and poets are all concerned about DRM and TRIPS! Isn’t that something very cool?

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I had posted a nice bit of text exemplifying the philosophical history of the critique of information systems taking the critical element back through about 4 periods as a comment to this article….. it disappeared probably spam catcher of some sort. suxxors. in any case, yeah, critical information studies. it isn’t new, but it is interesting.

Researchers get neurons and silicon talking:

Researchers get neurons and silicon talking
European researchers have created an interface between mammalian neurons and silicon chips. The development is a crucial first step in the development of advanced technologies that combine silicon circuits with a mammal’s nervous system.

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I suppose this has all kinds of good uses and all kinds of non normative uses, then many problematic and/or bad uses.

Barbara Bush makes big charitable donation – to her son:

Barbara Bush makes big charitable donation – to her son
Gosh, how classy can the Bushes get?

Barbara Bush earmarked Katrina donation for son’s company
Former first lady Barbara Bush gave relief money to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund on the condition that it be spent to buy educational software from her son Neil’s company….

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this… should not be considered charity… charity comes without strings.

BBC – Food – TV and radio – 50 things to eat before you die:

Your pick of the cropIn March 2004 we asked you to vote for the top 50 things everyone should try a bite of in their lifetime. This is how you voted.

I have not had:
11, 19, 32, 37, 40, 42, 48.

Boing Boing: Comic advises women to call anti-abortion Senator to make their choices:

Comic advises women to call anti-abortion Senator to make their choices

The Minimum Security webcomic sends up South Dakota Senator Bill Napoli, who helped push through the state ban on abortion. It features a woman unable to choose what sort of salad dressing to have, who calls up Napoli’s office to get him to make the choice for her — the strip includes his office and home phone numbers in case you want to try, too.

Link

(Thanks, Steeltoe!)

brilliant!