In Memphis I chatted with Richard Jimmerson of the American Registry for Internet Numbers . ARIN is a Virginia-based non-profit that "allocates Internet Protocol resources; develops consensus-based policies; and facilitates the advancement of the Internet through information and educational outreach" for the US, Canada and parts of the Caribbean. I already knew a bit about…
State Department sponsors Net Freedom conference on January 30
According to CNET, the US State Department is planning to hold a "Net Freedom" event on January 30 in DC. The goal of the event is to "preserve the Internet as being a conduit for the free flow of information," according to US Ambassador David Gross . The State Department already has a "Global Internet…
Send in your snippets to SL Machinima mash-up on February 17
My pal Milki Unknown passed on to me the info on a cool machinima mash-up being organized by Salazar Jack and Osprey Therien at 2PM, February 17 at Cowell Amphitheatre. Here’s how they describe the exercise: Each person sends a 10-20 second snippet of SL machinima to machinimanight@gmail.com. Salazar Jack will retrieve the snippets and…
Meet me at the Casbah: Pics from Virtual Morocco
About a month ago I visited the Casablanca sim (teleport SLURL), a jaw-dropping recreation of Morocco, from the souk market to the mosque to the detailed tilework. Created as an initiative of faculty and students at Johnson and Wales University in partnership with the Moroccan ministry of tourism, it’s a must see build. I took…
What the Dorgan-Snowe Net Neutrality bill means for gamers and virtual worlders
Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) have recently introduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act in an effort to legislate the principle of Network Neutrality. The bill would prevent any broadband internet service provider from "privileging bits" and blocking traffic on the basis of Internet content, application, or service, codifying Net Neutrality as part…
Cobert: “AT&T is the T-1000 of corporations”
Again, Steven Cobert demonstrates how he is the number one pundit in America, deftly explaining the history of the telephone industry in the United States from the 1980s to now in under one minute and 20 seconds.
Call for papers for Conf on “Young People, New Technologies and Political Engagement” in July, Univ. of Surrey
Just got this Call for Papers for an academic seminar on "Young People, New Technologies and Political Engagement" at the University of Surrey from July 24-25. Here’s the seminar description: Against the backdrop of increasing concern about the disengagement of youth from politics and the public sphere, the relationship between new technologies and young people’s…
Videos & Audio from NCMR in Memphis
The Free Press folks have put online several videos and audio from the National Conference on Media Reform, for those who weren’t able to make it. Here’s an appropriate video excerpt of the Rev. Jesse Jackson speaking about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "When we romanticize Dr. King’s journey we distort history,"…
Grey like me – living for a day in another digital skin
In response to dga Kymoon’s cool suggestion, I’ve changed my skin color for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It will be interesting living in another skin for a day. I doubt I will be forced to teleport to the back of the bus or face any other discrimination. Still, a cool idea. I considered making…
Four days in Memphis: Where is the Media Reform Movement now?
"I’m anxious for us to broaden the base of this coalition. This is the people’s coalition. We want our coalition to look like the people." — Rev. Jesse Jackson at the National Conference on Media Reform Returning home after four days at the National Conference on Media Reform in Memphis, I have to wonder what…