Archive

August 30th, 2005

Originally uploaded by Aldon.



Originally uploaded by Aldon.


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August 29th

Playing with Google Talk

The other day, I downloaded Google Talk. I installed it on my laptop, and on a few computers for my kids. Today, I’ve talked a little bit with them via Google Talk and want to share my impressions.

First, I should note that my primary machine is about a 1996 vintage Compaq file server. It is running Windows NT version 4.0 and doesn’t have much space left on the C drive, so I like to load programs over on my E drive. This presents two problems for Google Talk. The first is that Google Talk won’t work on Windows NT 4.0. The second is that even if you try to install it, you don’t have the ability to have it install on the E drive. It puts things on the C drive without offering a choice.

August 26th

The Patriot Act and Connecticut Libraries

In today's New York Times is an article about the F.B.I.'s use of the Patriot Act in Bridgeport, CT and the ACLU suit that has been filed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/politics/26patriot.html


WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 - Using its expanded power under the antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act, the F.B.I. is demanding library records from a Connecticut institution as part of an intelligence investigation, the American Civil Liberties Union said Thursday.

The demand is the first confirmed instance in which the Federal Bureau of Investigation has used the law in this way, federal officials and the A.C.L.U. said. The government's power to demand access to library borrowing records and other material showing reading habits has been the single most divisive issue in the debate over whether Congress should extend key elements of the act after this year.

In a discussion over at Connecticut Local Politics, there is a discussion about this where one person commented, “What's the big deal about library records?”. I wrote the following in response:

August 22nd

This Week on the DeStefano Campaign

(Cross posted from DeStefano for Connecticut.)

On Wednesday, from five to six in the evening, Mayor DeStefano will participate in Connecticut's first-ever, candidate-sponsored online Town Hall Forum. I encourage everyone to try and visit the blog at that time, read the comments and add your own comments. If you can’t join us then, please feel free to send the Mayor any questions or comments at john@destefanoforct.com. The Mayor has already received some great questions in the email.

I want to take a moment and wax philosophical about this. Lincoln spoke about a government “of the people, by the people, for the people”. Unfortunately, too often our government isn’t of, by or for the people. Too few people are registered to vote. Too few people actually make it to the polls. Too few people get involved in campaigns as volunteers or donors.

August 17th

Standing with Cindy

I went to the vigil in Stamford this evening. I saw many close old friends there. Yet what is most interesting to me is looking at how this is playing in the blogosphere. I went to Technorati’s Cindy Sheehan list. There are over 12,000 posts about Cindy Sheehan. There are also a lot of pictures. I clicked on a great set of pictures on Flickr of vigil in Westport.

Following the links around, I saw pictures from Gainesville Florida, Washington Square Park, in New York City, Athens Georgia, Jamaica Plain, MA.

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