Hi Vasilis, yesterday I lost my commentary, so I’m putting it in email first Here are a few comments as a response to Vasilis Kostakis, who questions whether p2p is “left”, arguing that it just is. P2P Theory has 3 levels. The first one is just observing that the p2p dynamic is emerging, analysing its… Continue reading
Date archives "June 2007"
Book of the Week: Devices of the Soul, part 3: Re-enfleshing the machine
We continue our excerpts from Steve Talbott’s new book. Today’s theme: ubiquitous computing. One way to express an ideal of ubiquitous computing is to say, “Anything we do that can be automated should be automated.” It’s a principle that appeals to the common sense of many people today, and complements the notion that machines can… Continue reading
Defence with the crowds
Last year, Floyd Landis became famous as the third American to win Tour de France. His happiness, however, was short-lived. Four days later, it turned out that a urine sample he gave during the race had shown a testosterone proportion outside the permitted range. Landis was indignant, and insisted on his innocence. This began a… Continue reading
Book of the Week: Devices of the Soul, part 2
We continue our publication of Steve Talbott’s book, with a series of excerpts. Here he discusses the role of ethics in the market. “It’s a strange and pernicious notion that has been foisted upon Western society by economists: you and I, they tell us, by giving free rein to greed, selfishness, competitive malice, and megalomania,… Continue reading
Powerful Eyes, Many Eyes
Boing Boing: Google Street View: would it be more/less evil if it were CIA or NSA? Despite the fact that David Brin dealt with this issue succinctly in his excellent book The Transparent Society, it seems that people still have difficulty getting their heads around it. There are two choices for social visibility and information… Continue reading
Book of the Week: Steve Talbott’s Devices of the Soul
Devices of the Soul: Battling for Our Selves in an Age of Machines*, by Steve Talbott. I have long been an admirer of Steve Talbott’s deep and continuous reflection on the spiritual aspects of our relations to our computing tools, as he expresses it in his regular newsletter, Netfuture, available via netfuture.org He has now… Continue reading
BarCampBank in Seattle
Colin Henderson’s excellent Bankwatch blog reports on the following event: July 21st — 22nd, 2007 BarCampBankSeattle— at Seattle, WA (This hCalendar event brought to you by the hCalendar Creator.) More information: If you are an innovator, a disruptor or a professional of the banking and finance industry, if you are excited by or just curious… Continue reading