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INTERNET & Digital FREEDOM UNDER SIEGE

First of all I want to give my sincere thanks to the Berkman
Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. Their
latest newsletter, The Filter (issue No. 50) is the source
for all of the factual information listed here. The opinions
are my own.

The biggest threat to the internet and the open distribution of
information is the entertainment industry.

Now down to business. Boycott Sony and ANY other company that
sells music CDs that will not play on your computer. A recent
release of a Celine Dion CD sold in Europe is copy protected and
will not play on a PC. In addition, it will cause your system to
crash and lock up. If we put up with this they will only become
more mean-spirited and controlling. This is a TEST to how far
consumers can be pushed.

Anything digital can eventually be copied. The entertainment
industry has lost the battle unless they can persuade government
to institute the most Draconian methods possible. Digital means
a whole new paradigm where newer, and more creative, models are
required. Instead of looking at newer business models the enter-
tainment industry is seeking to mold the information revolution
into a contorted shape that will only serve their purposes.

Michael Eisner of Disney is also waging a high profile battle for
restrictive copy protection advocating for such technology to be
manufactured into computers and software.

Where is all of this headed? The internet and the information
technology revolution is in danger of being yanked out of the
hands of the people, and turned into nothing more than a revenue stream.

I am calling for a world-wide boycott of companies that are
selling CDs that can not be played on a computer (without the use
of proprietary software available from the producer or some
other ruse), and that disable our ability to make copies of
the music we buy.

Why We Have Not Found Bin Ladin

It's hard. Consider this. I looked at the FBI's
ten most wanted but from the information provided
could not find how long the individuals have been
on the loose even though I am sure that most of
them have been on the lam for years. I looked at the
U. S. Marshall's 15 most wanted and found the following
information about some less notorious desperados who
have eluded law enforcement:

*Vincent L. Walters since 1989
*Larry P. Chism since 1988
(even though he escaped in 1978)
*Reginald D. Boxley since 1998

These were the FIRST three people that I looked at!
In less than five minutes on the Internet I found three
people who have eluded capture for years. Some for
over ten years! Even in the United States where we
have sophisticated communication, law enforcement, and
overall national infrastructure we have a hard time
finding people who do not want to be found. Especially
those who are clever, determined, and resourceful.

Supposidly in Afghanistan we have something less than 10,000
personnel (including military and spooks), and Afghanistan
is certainly a nation wannabe - most certainly a work in
progress where the future is unfortunately still in doubt.
Here in America their are neighborhoods where the police
seldom venture, and even small pockets of relative lawless-
ness. In Afghanistan you find small pockets of relative
lawfullness.

I'm certainly no law enforcement expert but I imagine that
most criminals who make a run for it are caught for three
basic reasons. They are stupid, do not change their old
ways, and eventually their luck runs out. Those that do
make it on the run are a bit smarter (certainly more
cunning), make a concerted effort to change their ways,
and make their own luck. I suppose that many also have
resources such as cash or associates that can be trusted.

We have not found Bin Laden because he has friends, resources,
and he is clever. In addition, despite all of our technology
the world can still be a very big place to hide. It is nothing
new for outlaws to evade detection, and some do it forever. If
we do find him it will be because we got lucky (even though we
will be able to make the odds a bit more in or favor), because
he is betrayed by someone close to him, or because he makes a
mistake. Of course we have to keep looking but it is more
important for us to address the injustices, and despair, that
fuel terrorism.

If we have a hard time finding people right here in the United
States, on our homefield, it is little wonder that a determined
fanatic such as Osoma can remain on the prowl.

The Gentrification of the Internet

There have always been barriers to Internet access for low income persons. However, hardware prices have gone down, and perfectly serviceable second-hand computers became available as users upgraded their systems. One of my old computers went to my sister before it finally ended up at my parents (where it is still working), and I am sure this is now a rather common pattern. At one point it even looked as if free Internet service might become available, and even Microsoft was looking at the possibility of drastically slashing their prices or offering free dial-up access. During that time the Internet was an open, anarchistic, and largely democratic
community, and it was becoming accessible to persons with even relatively modest means. That Internet was designed to share, and facilitate, the transfer of information. In that Internet what was available to one person was largely available to another. That era, which many of us thought would last forever, has passed, because not all Internet access is created equal.  Another development is that the Internet is starting to become stratified.

Now we are starting to see a trend where the singular "Internet" is being replaced by a stratified system.  Citing security concerns the U. S. government will almost assuredly carry through with plans to create a separate self-contained web for itself sealed off from the outside world. That means that our government is basically going to opt out of the web as we know it and create their own system. The availability of DSLand Cable hookups for Internet access has begun the process of gentrifying the Internet. Now, instead of having to fiddle with a relatively slow dial-up connection those who can afford it can opt for faster, and more convenient,always on connection. Although I am not sure that the faster connections are worth the money (I can do everything I want on my home network which connects to the web with an old fashioned dial-up line running through a Linux box) it is an  increasingly popular trend which supports using the Internet as a metered conveyance of entertainment (just like cable television and pay-per-view). The dream for business, I think it will eventually be the reality, is that people will access premium services for a price. Those premium services will be movies, music, and games that can be downloaded or streamed to the user for a fee. Without the increased bandwidth of DSL and cable connections such enterprises would not be very practical. Also, I suspect that premium information web "channels" will also develop that will only be available to subscribers. It is the cable tv model applied to the Internet. The end result will be something like that which happened to the last Super Bowl.

Nobody is talking about it but our society went through a major transition with the last Super Bowl. The Super Bowl, which has long been a fixture of popular culture, was suddenly unavailable for those who could not payfor it. The year before anyone with an old black and white television could watch the Super Bowl on network television. This year the Super Bowl was largely available only to those who had access to cable television. I am not a big football fan but it was a little weird to spend Super Bowl Sunday without the game on because we do not have cable television.

Another development is wireless.  Although far from being fully developed wireless computing, including access to the Internet and email, is already starting to mutate into something that will eventually take on its own identity. It is also pretty expensive for the average person. The Internet is changing.  Just as television showed much promise in the early days as a tool for doing much good for society (particularly in terms of helping educate and inform us) the Internet is in great danger of becoming nothing more than a commercial venue for making money rather than for doing good. Pardon my strong language, but the Internet is being reshaped into a whore, business is the pimp, and the government is being paid off to look the other way. As this trend continues the Internet will continue to become more stratified, and the gentrificationwill continue. There will still be some kind of low quality service for the have-nots but you will not be able to watch the Super Bowl on it. If you like infomercials you will absolutely love the new Internet coming your way.

Mike Perkins

Now instead of studying religion we embrace a nebulous concept called "spirituality." For the life of me I have never been able to figure out exactly what spirituality is. I think that is the point. It is vague enough to cover anything, avoids specific reference to G-d, and is highly customizable. It is the ultimate in political correctness. Today, unless you are a priest or a Muslim, it is somewhat impolite to show your colors by wearing religious garb. Orthodox Jews, and others who wear particular clothing with a religious meaning, are rarely seen outside the confines of large urban areas. Even then they are dismissed as kooks or quaint curiosities. I kind of admire Muslims for the fact that even after September 11th the are not too shy to signify who they are by what they wear. My daughter attended a Catholic elementary school (that my friends is a LONG story), and despite the fact that she scored 25 on the ACT in 7th grade she is almost completely ignorant about the Bible. She is also somewhat puzzled as to what Catholicism is all about even though she had a religion class.
Religion has become associated with every vile, and corrupt thing that has ever transpired. We look at the excesses of the Catholic Church and dismiss it's legitimacy. We experience the radical extremism in the Muslim world and suspect fundamental flaws in their faith. Of course we blame Jews for just about everything (I would really like to compile a list of all the things Jews have ever been blamed for and post it here). It is like blaming radioactivity for Hiroshima.
I think the thing that did religion in was "us" versus "them." Us is right, and those fellows over there are heretics, unbelievers, goy, or infidels. Since the others are unbelievers they must either be converted or killed. At the very least we should walk on the other side of the street from them. Although we might not care who is elected for office, we will become hysterically argumentative about how many angels can dance on the point of a needle. Too often we have substituted zealousness for faith. G-d save us from the fanatics of all faiths.
By their fruit you shall know them. That is one of the wisest sayings I have ever heard. Although a tree may bear some bad fruit, or even have a bad year, over time a good tree will be true to its nature and bear a preponderance of quality fruit over bad. One final thing. It has become a truism that we should avoid all talk of religion. Maybe the opposite is true, and what we really need is to learn how to talk about it.

This is my first posting. stay turned.