Archive for October, 2007

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Transparent government: a revolution in the making

Friday, October 12th, 2007

I’ve been asked to speak on one of my favorite topics, “transparent government,” at the New New Internet Web 2.0 conference in Reston, VA on Nov. 1. Other speakers include James Surowiecki, Tim Ferriss (”The 4-hr. Work Week”), and Joe Trippi, so be there or be square.
Transparent government is a concept that I believe […]

Great sousveillance project: handicappedfraud.org!

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

This one is really near and dear to my heart: after an amazingly stupid accident 10 years ago (homeowners tip: just because the railing on your porch is wider than the rung of a ladder, don’t use it instead of the ladder when installing a gutter. Don’t ask me how I know this…) left […]

SITE flap shows culture of security is lacking in DC

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

The way sloppy handling within the security community (and perhaps the White House itself — given the way they’ve selectively released classified material in the past we can’t take their word for it that their hands are clean in this case) of the latest bin Laden tape seriously compromised years of […]

“Educate yourself on ways to safeguard … from .. cyber threats.” NOT!!

Friday, October 5th, 2007

One of our far-flung correspondents sent this one right as I was writing a piece about cybercrime for a study I’ve been asked to participate in regarding the future of warfare. I’ll have to include this one as a reference for the study!!:

“I know you appreciate irony [um, you’ve got my number — WDS], so […]

et al.: who will defend me? victim of right “wing” conspiracy!

Friday, October 5th, 2007

It turns out I’m a member of America’s newest oppressed minority. I refer, of course, to the ambidextrous…
I was really looking forward to participating in a Mass General study on the “neurobiology of wisdom,” which involved a really loooong psychological survey (yes, I do think people are stealing my good ideas, and I do […]

So what does housing Maine’s homeless have to do with homeland security?

Thursday, October 4th, 2007

A new study in Maine shows that the state will actually save money by providing housing for the homeless (because of reduced costs for emergency room treatment, social services, etc.). I remember NPR ran a story earlier this year about similar — counter-intuitive — findings in LA.
So what, pray tell, does housing the homeless have […]

What the heck does housing Maine’s homeless have to do with homeland security?

Thursday, October 4th, 2007

A new study in Maine shows that the state will actually save money by providing housing for the homeless (because of reduced costs for emergency room treatment, social services, etc.). I remember NPR ran a story earlier this year about similar — counter-intuitive — findings in LA.
So what, pray tell, does housing the homeless have […]

et al.: astonishing hypocrisy in Bush child health actions

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007

Darn it, there goes my resolution to not make ad hominem comments about the duly-elect (ok, not really) 43rd President of the United States. However, this was so over the top — and gratuitously cruel — that I felt compelled!
Granted, the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was pushed by flaming liberals […]

et al.: My spell checker says Blackwater should be Backwater

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007

I just sent a snarky note to the editor of Blackwater’s weekly Tactical Review newsletter (sample story this week: “Why We Are Winning in Iraq”), attaching a copy of today’s NYT article about the company’s many, many rogue activities in Iraq and suggesting he might want to cover this story (which has gone unreported by […]

New on YouTube: use Twitter in emergencies!

Monday, October 1st, 2007

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQjwocaxqvw[/youtube] Of all the video versions of my “21st-century disaster tips you WON’T hear from officials” that are on YouTube I believe the one I’ve just posted, about using “Twitter” instead of voice calls in an emergency, is the most important one of all (and, BTW, the fine folks at the Twittown blog seem […]

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