MeatballWiki

AdamShand

Hey.

I run the Personal Telco Project http://www.personaltelco.net/, (a WirelessCommunity project in Portland, OR) and occasionaly contribute to [Security Geeks], a computer security and privacy WebLog.

I've been working on a wiki blog at my [personal wiki] site.

[CategoryHomePage]

I've been dissatisfied with traditional WebLogs for quite a while and discovering wiki's a few months ago was a breath of fresh air (once i wrapped my brain around them :-). I promptly setup up MoinMoin wiki for PersonalTelco.

Once I found Meatball I quickly found Rusty's WikiLog essay and was startled (though I suppose I shouldn't have been) to discover that someone else was thinking the same things I had been.

I've just started reading LawrenceLessig's book and am finding it pretty challenging. Here are some thoughts that have accurred to me as I read (I do not wish to defend them right now, they are just thoughts, but comments are welcome):

  • It is every users responsiblity to learn to program. To understand, to some degree, how their computer and the internet function.
  • Further, once you can, it is your duty to contribute to FreeSoftware. FreeSoftware is responsible for maintaining liberty in "Cyberspace".
  • OpenSource took the teeth away from FreeSoftware, by providing a more paletable version of FreeSoftware for people to latch on to. By providing this they made it easy for people to avoid examining their thoughts on the ideals software.
  • Wireless networks like PersonalTelco may be an unknowing guerrilla step to reclaiming the internet. By getting people to construct a "wireless node" in order to get access, you empower them by turning them from an user to a participant (need a better word, administrator?).
  • "First Things First" http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/first/toolbox/1964.html is a manifesto written by Ken Garland which throws the gauntlet down to graphic designers and embodies many of the feelings of disgust I've felt over the last seven years working in the high tech industry. A similar challenge needs to be sent out to the high tech workers of the world. We need to reclaim the internet and make it "the people's", I think that community networking projects could play a large part in this.

Discussion on this last topic moved to NetworkSoftSecurity.

Messages:

Adam, sorry, I saw your suggestion for a WIRELESS-COMMUNITY-TOUR just a few minutes ago. I added it to the planned tours on BusRouteDiscussion. Can you look for another 3 wikis to start the tour and think about a bus number that means something to the wireless community? -- HelmutLeitner

No problem, I figured you'd get to it when you had a chance. Probably the best number would be 802 or if you're willing to let us be long and silly 802.11 or 802.11b. I'll try and round up some other wiki's. When I get them there where should I put them? -- Adam.

I think 802 would be good. Just add the information records to WikisInNeedForBusConnections (conn. wanted: WIRELESS-COMMUNITY-TOUR), I'll do the rest. -- hl

Sorry I've been absent. RealLife was intruding. I'll try and get this taken care of shortly. Thanks Helmut! -- Adam.

Data point...for what it may mean, same order of discovery and first impressions here too visavis weblogs and wikis pax LorraineLee.

>Wireless networks like PersonalTelco may be an unknowing >gurerrilla step to reclaiming the internet.

Or a knowing guerrilla step. I like your affinity for guerrilla tactics.

>By getting >people to construct a "wireless node" in order to get >access, you empower them by turning them from an user to >a participant (need a better word, administrator?).

I doubt that a better word is needed, but here are some alternative candidates:

  • servent (server+client)
  • pringent (principal+agent)
  • information volunteer (what does an "information volunteer" do? Volunteer information, of course.
  • samizdatel (last syllable pronounced like "yell")
  • prosumer
  • conducer

>"First Things First" [2] is a manifesto written by Ken >Garland which throws the gauntlet down to graphic >designers and embodies many of the feelings of disgust >I've felt over the last seven years working in the high >tech industry. A similar challenge needs to be sent out >to the high tech workers of the world. We need to >reclaim the internet and make it "the people's", I think >that community networking projects could play a large >part in this.

Diversity is strength. I myself have tried to further the occupational diversity of guerrilla movements by issuing similar calls to data entry operators [{7643717A-C33F-419C-9DC6-45CBCB0A77FE}&bucket_id=], consumer education teachers [{63B08E2C-3532-419D-AED5-CC8F936685BA}&bucket_id=], bookkeepers [6], construction industry types http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Clumping_20structural_20models#1002503196 and other professionals. So far, I have seen only a trickle of interest http://www.protofunk.org/cgi-bin/read_post.pl?_day=20020224&_msg=2, but I remain optimistic. Rome wasn't built in a day, and I'm always open to the possibility of a guerrilla movement not being a constructive force.

>How would you apply SoftSecurity to networks instead of >to web pages? WirelessCommunities? would be a perfect >place to experiment with this. Currently I'm exploring >implementations of captive portals [3] but really all >they do is use a browser as an authentication method, >they don't use SoftSecurity.

Beats me. I'm just an unemployed DataEntry operator.

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