corporate tantrums

<![CDATA[ This isn't really new at this point -- about 6 weeks old, in fact -- but something worthy of discussion nonetheless. If you haven't heard, CNET news won't get anything from Google for a year because one of their reporters decided to google the Google CEO to make a point about the availability of information. In response, Google has thrown a tantrum.

The NYT article mentions other cases -- Apple and IBM, to name two -- of this sort of response. I can't see how this sort of reaction helps any of these companies. Are people going to stop using Google because their information is out there already and searchable? Probably not. Are people going to stop buying iPods because of an unfavorable biography of Steve Jobs? Again, not so much. But this sort of thing lingers in the news only because of the reactions from Google, Apple, and others.

Interestingly, we probably won't change our buying patterns because of this immaturity either. In the end, Apple and Google's actions probably don't mean much to us, except to be a little more cynical of our corporate citizens. From their end, that isn't much in the way of value. ]]>

Finally!

<![CDATA[ Connecticut has stood up and opposed the No Child Left Behind law, taking the federal government to court. We'll see where this goes -- hopefully to some education laws that make sense and level the playing field for students.

On that topic, one question about vouchers and school choice: if everyone attempts to put their children in the best schools, what happens? Do people expect all schools to improve, or is it just a reshuffle of the education haves and have-nots? ]]>

RIP Peter Jennings

<![CDATA[ My childhood memories of the evening news revolve around NBC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. I don't seem to remember my parents watching anyone else, and as I got older, I appreciated his understated dignity in educating his viewers on that day's events. Many articles are speaking about his 9/11 coverage; his efforts to reassure the nation as he wrestled with his own emotions reflected the best in television news.

A sad day for journalism, indeed. ]]>

inside the rvb studio

<![CDATA[ A great plug for the creation that is Red vs. Blue. If you've seen it, you already know how great it is. If you haven't, go to their site and download! Better yet, buy their DVDs. That way, you'll be ready for Season 4 (due late this month). ]]>

tune me out again

<![CDATA[ I've posted my first go-round at remixing a song I had previously recorded. You can find it here -- please tell me what you think. ]]>

the FCC strikes again

<![CDATA[ So the FCC had previously been given the power by the Supreme Court to decide what is a "telecommunications service" and what is an "information service." This issue of classification has come to a head over the fact that the DSL providers have been regulated by the Common Carrier rule, while cable providers have been able to keep all contenders off their turf. The FCC thinks long and hard about this and decides...

...to stifle competition by deregulating the DSL providers! Rather than offer choices to all Americans that desire broadband and further our nation's ability to use and improve technology, our government decides to reward the Baby Bells for being Baby Bells. As a customer of Speakeasy's service, I now have one year before I'm essentially forced to use SBC or get cable. I feel so much better about our free-market economy now. ]]>