dave.ofmassdestruction.com

My friend Shannon has been making some great blog posts lately (unlike me) – but of particular interest is one she posted today in which she references an article which discusses “planning to share versus just sharing“. That article, and Shannon’s comments are quite interesting in my current employment context (same context as Shannon’s) but I also have the perspective of having worked at Red Hat where sharing was part of the culture… part of the business. At Red Hat it was second nature to just share – whatever it was – no questions asked. At other places I have worked, there was and is a real fear to sharing. That to me is the key – people are afraid to share. Afraid their ideas will be stolen, they will lose business, lose recognition.

But where does this fear come from? I am inclined to think that it is grown out of our society’s obsession with our brand of capitalism. We have 24 hour networks devoted to business and finance which talk endlessly about what people have to sell. We have commercials running day after day which use the word “proprietary” as a selling point. Still, that doesn’t explain why a non-profit would feel the same way until you factor in the academic setting into it as well. Our non-profit grew out of the University of North Carolina and in many ways it still runs like the University (I know, I worked there once too). There is a lot of talk about things such as getting into peer-reviewed journals not as a way of sharing information, but as a way of getting recognition and prestige (academic capital). I’m not putting down either capitalism or academic capital per se, but I do think we tend to forget to drop those mindsets when we need or want to share.

Being naive, I approached the non-profit world with a sense that they all shared… because… they are non-profit. I could not have been more wrong. Shannon is right to equate the article she found to non-profit work – the processes and planning that surround the idea of sharing generally kill the actual sharing. This is most evident to me in a couple of (unnamed) organizations designed to promote sharing of technology between non-profits. They like to use the phrase “open source” a great deal but in actuality they are organizations set up as large NDA’s who share conditionally and do not promote the continuation of that sharing. In reality, technology is now quite simple to share. Pick an open license which suits you and stick it on the web (preferably on a site designed for sharing) – see what happens. As Shannon says: “The key is not to plan to share; the key is to just start sharing and see what happens. The serendipity that occurs is something that cannot be planned.”

I don’t love re-posting some other blog’s posts… but its so impossible for me to avoid. I read so many of them in a day.

So there is a good one called “White African” that has lots of interesting perspective on Africa from someone who grew up in Sudan (I think it was Sudan at least). It’s actually been a helpful blog to me as I have been immersing myself into parts of the continent.

Today White African has a post about UNOSAT’s mapping of East Africa’s Somali Pirate problems.

The former GIS operator in me loves the map and display of information but to do so I have to disregard the awfulness of the problem. Its worth downloading the huge pdf of the map to see for yourself.

Its not all Johnny Depp, facebook games, and “Arrrrgh” in East Africa.

Update: Oddly this story of another hijacking made the AP wire today.

Update: That’s hijacking has finally come to and end with everyone still alive.

I finally watched Larry Lessig’s “20 minutes or so on why I am 4 Barrack Obama”. It has probably the best laid arguments I’ve heard so far on why Obama would make a better President than Hillary Clinton. The last few minutes are truly beautiful.

Kinda makes me hope the draft Lessig campaign works out.

A couple of other people’s blog posts have come my way this week and have me thinking. Perhaps it will turn into a bigger post by me – but I thought I’d share them while I’m thinking about them.

First is a post by Michael Zimmer which references a Neil Postman speech given in 1998 about technology. Its a great bit and, in particular I like this:

…technological change is not additive; it is ecological, which means, it changes everything and is, therefore, too important to be left entirely in the hands of Bill Gates.

Of course, Bill is officially retired – but you get the gist. Perhaps we can insert Steve Jobs’ name there soon?

Second is a post by Bruce Schneier about keeping his home wireless network open. Mine is open and always has been. If I ever see someone sitting in front of the house with their laptop in their car, idling too long – I’ll go talk to them, till then it will remain open.

Bruce sums up his post nicely saying:

Security is always a trade-off. I know people who rarely lock their front door, who drive in the rain (and, while using a cellphone) and who talk to strangers. In my opinion, securing my wireless network isn’t worth it. And I appreciate everyone else who keeps an open wireless network, including all the coffee shops, bars and libraries I have visited in the past, the Dayton International Airport where I started writing this and the Four Points Sheraton where I finished. You all make the world a better place.

John, it is a shame that you’ve slipped on your Giant Scissors ranking on Google. However, I am happy to report that I am still in the top 5 for “Yank My Doodle, its a Dandy“. I feel really good about that.

Hey – look what I wrote

Paul Abrams’ blog post on the Huffington Post is worth a read today. In it he documents Karl Rove’s appearance on the Charlie Rose show where he blames congress on pushing poor President Bush into war with Iraq. In particular:

You are not going to believe this, well, actually you will… According to Karl Rove (on Charlie Rose), the Bush Administration did not want Congress to vote on the Iraq War resolution in the fall of 2002, because they thought it should not be done within the context of an election. Rove, you see, did not think the war vote should be “political”.

Moreover, according to Rove, that “premature vote” led to many of the problems that cropped up in the Iraq War. Had Congress not pushed, he says, Bush could have spent more time assembling a coalition, and provided more time to the inspectors.

I just can’t get past how often the revision tactics this administration has performed are simply left to lie there and gain credence. It drives me absolutely insane. War on Reason 1 – Dave nil

The Bojangles Endurance test is on. I am writing this from the Bojangles on Western Blvd. in Raleigh. If you are in Raleigh, you need to come by. Biscuits, shaped potatoes, coffee, and good times with a little bit of cajun flair.

You can follow the action at slippyvillage.com. And even join in on the online chat (for those who can’t be here). I’m gonna stay as long as I can, then I’m heading to D.C. – otherwise I’d be here till closing.

Update: Ive been here since 8-something-in-the-morning. Its now 12:49 and we have had almost 30 people show up today (so far). Most folks have gotten the Cajun Filet biscuit, though the fried chicken is also popular. Its a mixed decision on the BoBerry Biscuits.

Update: Ty has kindly brought in some apples so that we can actually pass our biscuits. Thanks Ty.

Final update: I made it for 6 hours. 6 freakin’ hours in the Bojangles. I mean, that’s nothing compared to Bryan and Paul who have been there for 12+ at the time of this writing. Also, at the time of this writing, 68 people have participated. That’s astounding. A good time was had by all for sure. I still feel a bit greasy and I didn’t eat as much as some others. I am now sitting in a hotel room in D.C., wishing I was in Bojangles in Raleigh. But tomorrow I get to see Edward Tufte talk, and that is a good thing. I’m certain to blog about that as well.

(I finally get to have that Fleckian title)

The emerging open source health community

Inspired by Gillam’s weekly theme change, I decided to change my theme to one that I had seen recently and liked. One thing I like about it is the category archives (click on a category and see). Very clean, very nice. Of course, if you are reading my RSS, none of this will matter – but I will be making much better use of categories from now on. I won’t go back and add though – this will probably be a “from here on” thing.

Still, let me know if you despise it.. why.