Thursday, October 20, 2005

Beyond the haystack

I want better search too. I also want to go beyond search completely. I want to go straight to find. Wanted that for awhile, actually. So has Craig Burton, whom I've been hanging out with here in Santa Barbara the last couple of days.

Nothing wrong with the haystack model. We just need another one, too.

At last

Jeremie Miller, father of Jabber, joins the 'sphere. ...what other's are calling Web 2.0 but I'd be so bold as to call it Web 0.5. Better yet,

My hope and passion have returned, thanks to the great many springs of individuals leaking from the web ground faster than can be contained, turning into streams and rivers, and eventually oceans. Wikis, blogs, tagging, social networking, all a part of something bigger in motion here, that's what I call the power of an Individual to revolutionize the world around us.

This is very good news.

Nothing happening here. Move along.

Snappy the Clam on public Wi-Fi:

Holy shit. We get it already. Nobody fucking cares about the continuing, enduring utter tragedy of your not being able to find a free wireless net connection wherever you go. As a grandmother of some repute used to say, "Genug, kitty."

And it appears that splogs — blog spam — may not even be a PITA, much less a bird flu. Given that the only answer to that question, so far, comes from the questioner.

Perspective: I thought Y2K was a non-starter as a threat. I still think splogs are worse than they appear. Maybe not bird flu, but more than a PITA.

Picture these

I just added some more photos to 23.

Renovations

I've decided to weed my blogroll. Slowly. Starting at the bottom. That's where I found, for example, what's up with Matthew Thomas (whose new blog replaces his old one in the 'roll). The entry for Rex Hammock now links to his latest incarnation. Joshua Allen now points to the right place too. So do Dan Bricklin, Alan Reiter and Scoble. More to come. Eventually.

Scaffolding Web 2.x

In Time for Web 2.0 Developers to Swing for the Fences? Brian Oberkirch (whose Slidell Hurricane Damage Blog retains an anchoring role in local Katrina recovery efforts, and whose Like It Matters blog is becoming a daily must-read) offers this bit of exemplary activity for the hack-abled:

The new development environment means we can quickly trial and evolve a whole range of ideas with really small teams. That's exciting. I have a whole list of projects I want to see happen.

For instance, last night I had a tough time sleeping, worrying about yet another super powerful hurricane about to enter the Gulf later this week. One thing that happens as a storm gets closer is everyone starts asking each other: What are you going to do? Ride it out? Board up? Nothing? Leave town? So I outlined a little Web app that asks people what they are planning to do. You type in your zip code and it tells you what your neighbors have in mind. Here's a specific user behavior written large (and quickly) through the power of the Web. You have more info and can make a more educated decision based on the collected insights of the hive mind. Now, let's take it farther and start gathering up recommended backroad evacuation routes. The main arteries pack up quickly, and long time natives know the best ways out. Let's gather them. Mash them up with Google maps. Port in hotel availability in the cities that people typically go to -- like Baton Rouge, Jackson, Birmingham, Houston, etc. Flow in the updates from the hurricane center in a pane. Suddenly, we have a little dashboard people can use to make better decisions for their families & neighbors. Much better than flipping through channels or pulling up a series of bookmarked sites, burrowing through forums, etc.