Acolytes of the Second Web
Posted: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 9:18 AM by Will Femia
The Ethics of Web 2.0: YouTube vs. Flickr, Revver, Eyespot, blip.tv, and even Google - Lessig explains true sharing versus fake sharing. Basically, true sharing is allowing a (non-DRM) download. The bottom line is whether you actually have control of the content or whether you just feel like you do.
I followed the link at the end of that post to Joi Ito on the how it fits into the definition of Web 2.0.
If you're still interested, as I was, the discussion spreads to Tim O'Reilly and the "switchboard vs. repository issue."
A couple weeks ago everyone was abuzz with scandal over the news that Wal-Mart's PR firm, Edelman, widely respected for their lip service to social tools as marketing strategy, was publishing a fake blog on their behalf. I didn't mention it at the time because frankly, who cares about fake WalMart blogs? But in this context the significance is more clear. Web 2.0 as a philosophy requires faith that sharing and openness benefits everyone. This is the spirit behind the many sharing and networking tools and the fights over intellectual property rights. For the Web 2.0 faithful, exploiting Web 2.0 momentum with fake sharing or fake blogging is akin to blasphemy. Web 2.0 is a prescriptive philosophy, not a description of a trend.
Speaking of the spirit of Web 2.0, Barenaked Ladies successfully stick it to the recording industry
Free Pong - I wasn't going to post this because Pong is nothing new, but then I saw that I could find my name on the scoreboard with even a crappy score, so at the time of this writing I'm 76, 96, and 103.
Yahoo is soliciting entries for a global talent show. You have 20 days left to think of something worth filming.
Make A Cylon Jack-O-Lantern - Some electronics required.
Lego flame thrower - Wha? I'd like to see the bricks after it's fired. Surely there's a melted plastic stink.
"YoungFeds aims to be a place for young government professionals to 'meet, network and advance'." From the name alone I would have guessed "porn site."
Remember those riots in Paris? Apparently they didn't exactly end.
Shuttle launch viewed from really high.
Firefox asks that you not jump the gun on downloading the new Firefox 2.0. (It was big news last night that there were FTP links to be found to get the new version in advance of the official release. This is a pubic ::blush:: public service reminder that for downloads like this, you're better off getting the official version from the official source.)
Speaking of the new Firefox, here's a look at what's new.
Speaking of new browsers, I don't have IE7 yet or the new Firefox yet (I prefer to let others learn the early lessons), but I have tried the new PandoraBrowser. Pandora, as you know, is a free music player that tries to figure out your musical tastes while presenting you with songs in a category you select. One annoying thing about it, however, is that it sits in a browser window in your task bar. PandoraBrowse puts it in your systray. Simple, but makes a surprisingly big difference.
Sure to replace "the Internets" and "a series of tubes" is using "the Google."
You've no doubt seen video compilations of President Bush saying "stay the course," but Whisky Bar offers an annotated list.
Speaking of lists, a schedule of all the Halloween TV specials
Can the blogosphere help find the owner of a lost iPod?
Google-Bombing the Election - I'm not sure how I feel about this. In essence, they plan to use a combination of AdWords purchases and heavy blog linking to surface unflattering results when Republican candidates' names are called up in the Google. It's not spreading lies, but it does seem like gaming the system. Since I'm sure similar efforts are taking place to promote candidates (and if they're not, they could be), I suppose all's fair in love and elections.
I do not understand the Vegemite ban at all. Actually, I don't understand Vegemite in the first place -- blech! But regardless, what's the real story? If it was a health hazard, there wouldn't be an Australian left alive. Are they somehow infringing on the domestic yeast-based salty spread market?
"Fantasy Congress offers you the power to 'play politics.' As in other fantasy sports, you - the Citizen - draft a team of real-life legislators from the U.S. Congress and score points for your team's successes." It's a really cool idea, though the point scoring looks a little complicated.
