Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Invisible p;ngi

Hunting Penguins in the Desert is my report in Linux Journal on the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). It was very interesting to see such a high ratio of Linux usage to publicity about it. It's a big piece. Lots of stuff in there.

No knews

Great PR coup by whomever pushed the new wi-fi system at SFO. I heard a big news story about this on KCBS radio (the big AM news station) yesterday. And today Big Rick reports that KTVU (Channel 2 TV) had a story on the same subject.

As Rick suggests, this might be news if the service was free. But it's yet another $9.95/day connection. Just like we find at most other airports already. Maybe not everywhere in those airports, but over large areas in some (Denver, Austin) and small areas in others (Dulles, LAX, San Jose).

Why not just make it free, like the water and the air conditioning? Well, probably because T-Mobile (the provider) is doing a very good job of selling it as a costy system, and they spared SFO the trouble of figuring out how to do it on their own.

Which is fine, I guess. They're doing something. Good for them.

School

So Howard is giving a history of broadcasting this morning. Martin Block and his Make Believe Ballroom. It's good radio.

Unlimited sky

At last, a reason for a new cell phone. Thanks to Chris for the link.

Stranger kindnesses

I'm on somebody's wifi at somebody else's house. The anonymous name: Wireless.

I'd just like to thank the spirit of the grace, however unintended it may be. Coming in mighty handy.

Truth & Justice, the American Way

Sheila Lennon brings great sense to the campaign table:

We're Americans talking about how to solve our problems. That's how we do it. What gets us beyond eyeball to eyeball?

We decide what's important to us as a people, not what's important to heads of state.

And then we act on our consensus. We choose whom we want to represent us in fair, open, free elections.

If we want anybody anywhere to think American democracy is worth importing, we walk the talk.

This is a much better story than the horse race.

Cake

Happy Patty.