I heard that President Elect Obama was mulling over people to chair the FCC. In fact, GigaOM has a write up on this. Too bad I can’t get my name into consideration… Hmm… Maybe, Mr. Obama reads my blog, so on the off-chance, here it goes:

Dear Mr. Obama,

I would make the perfect FCC chair becuase I:

* I am an Internet user. I support net-neutrality because the Internet is a great resource for citizens to have their voices heard and to help keep you and me accountable for our actions. I also support bringing high speed wireless to the rural Americans who currently can’t get anything more than a dial-up connection and who are missing out on the full potential of the Internet. Think of this as rural electrification of the 1920’s and 30’s.

* Am a FCC license holder. I hold a Technician class Amateur Radio license, as well as a GMRS license. I am fully committed to protecting a valuable chuck of spectrum that is used by people who are not only some of the first responders on the scene of a disaster, but who aid in helping to prevent the loss of life and property. Hams have been able to get communication in and out of disaster areas where other forms of communication can’t.

* Work in, not just watch, TV. I have a very good knowledge of the rules and regs. of how to run a broadcast station and I know what needs to be improved upon and what can be scrapped. No, despite all this, I am not in favor of a total relaxation of the profanity rules, but at the same time, I think there are bigger fish to fry than someone saying “fuck” on television or god forbid a 1/2 second flash of a breast.

* Have used a land line telephone. Enough said.

Thanks!

- Adam Chernow

Hell, I’d settle for even just a commissioner’s seat. But seriously, you think he’ll see this?

-Adam

Technorati Tags: Election, FCC, Obama

Sad news out of LA tonight… Comedian George Carlin has died. (Cut for language)
(more…)

Technorati Tags: george carlin

Holy crap. I’ve never seen so many people flip out because a newspaper was stopping daily printing and re-focusing as an online publication (with a twice-a-week print run, partially distributed with the other paper published in the joint-venture).

Yes, I understand the Capital Times was one of the last remaining afternoon newspapers in the country (and the better of the 2 papers in Madison) but times change. More people are reading news online versus in print anyway, so why doesn’t it makes sense that Madison’s progressive paper move to an online publication???

I’m seriously, by the way, asking that question. Why shouldn’t they go online? From my perspective, it makes perfect sense. You go where your readers are. If more people are reading online than in print, by all means, go online. Print media is going the way of the dinosaur. Besides, this is Madison, we’re all “down to earth” here and this will save countless numbers of trees and reduce the amount of paper that’s wasted publishing something people aren’t picking up anyway.

Local Reaction:
Dane 101
Caffinated Politics
The Isthmus
The Hippie Perspective
Madison.com/Cap. Times — Comments section of article

Technorati Tags: capital times, Madison, newspapers

I’ve found that Google Reader makes for an excellent podcast client! The only downside I’ve seen, so far, is the part where I can’t make a playlist of podcasts.

(via ars technica)

Apparently, today, July 11th, has been dubbed “Fair Use Day” by this website:  http://www.fairuseday.com

Well it’s that time of the year again so get out and celebrate your rights. We have had a big fairuse year to date. With EMI dropping DRM from their music catalog and Apple agreeing to sell it, the take down of AACS protection and its continuing battle against ‘the bad guys’, to the still ongoing debate over net neutrality.

I think this is a brilliant idea… Don’t know how well it will work, or even if it will work, in the long run, but hey, anything to help protect my fair use rights to media, the better.  Btw..  You did know that with-out fair use rights, you wouldn’t be able to Tivo your favorite program right?

-A