Saturday, May 27, 2006

Steve Gillmor has the summertime blues.  

Cooool, a new Douglas Coupland book to kvell over.  

Ryanne Hodson did a video explaining the Videoblogging session at BloggerCon IV. 

Cory Doctorow: "If you're going to name the next direction the world will take, you have to be prepared for the world to take that direction. Industry shifts become public property -- or rather, things that are privately controlled can't shift a diverse industry." 

If you live in the East Bay, as I do, you'll likely want to know that the Bay Bridge will be closed a few times in June so they can re-route traffic on the upper level. 

On the Apple decision 

A very simple editorial on yesterday's decision by the Sixth District Court of Appeals that bloggers are entitled to the same protection as print journalists; that a rich corporation can't control the bloggers that cover it.

1. The day a U.S. court comes to a different conclusion will be the day the First Amendment dies. As long as the courts continue to uphold the principle that the First Amendment applies equally to online media, we're reasonably safe. And by "we" I don't mean the practitioners, I mean the whole society.

2. It's unwise and hypocritical of Apple Computer, to profit from the expansion of the online community -- the latest Mac comes with promotional material touting its ability to write blogs and create podcasts -- and at the same time trying to control it to suit its corporate purposes. Someday there will be a company that not only has inspiring advertisments and products, but will actually have a philosophy that is consistent, that returns the generosity it received by feeding and nurturing the environment in which it exists. A consistent Apple, with integrity, would stand up for free speech on the Internet, not try to destroy it. Ask not what the Internet can do for you, ask what you can do for the Internet.

3. Blogging won, again. Someday we will form our own computer company, from this environment, one which we own and fully control. Apple thought we exist in its environment and that the courts would back it up, and in doing so proved that their hearts are cold as cash, and their love of their users is a marketing strategy. Eventually we will replace Apple with a company more compatible with our values.

Again, thanks to the courts. We certainly can't depend on the executive and legislative branches of government, or the companies that profit from the Internet. The courts, and a free press are our last bastions of hope, such as they exist.