I was following a thread on Handmeon where the idea of a Gift National Product came up. A friend offered an interesting statement:
A Gift National Product would indeed be a more inspiring fiction than the conventional GNP that increases with every broken window and devastated nation.
Joshua Breitbart has been developing and promoting a vision of Digital Expansion. I have had some trepidation with regard to this phrasing since he first shared it with me. I engaged a little on the matter in some of his blog entries on the topic, and I planned to do a longer piece in reaction to the concept. Most of my criticism comes down to whether the name suits what is being described and whether the name advances the cause or what will best serve the cause. But all that is perhaps minor and unnecessary, especially in light of the recent statement by Josh under the title: These are difficult conversations.
This recent presentation of the concept and the vision resonates deeply for me. The Digital Expansion Initiative speaks most strongly when the social justice aspects of Digital Access are made explicit.
The recognition that these issues we regularly broach in public fora lead us quickly to difficult (sensitive) conversations is important. I affirm the timeliness of that recognition. Now is indeed the time for such conversation. Be undaunted.
Lars found this excellent statement by Marvin Minsky (The Society of Mind).
Common sense is not a simple thing. Instead, it is an immense society of hard-earned practical ideas - of multitudes of life-learned rules and exceptions, dispositions and tendencies, balances and checks.
We’re still re-learning how to work according to our values.Â
This is as it should be.
Following is the project description for Sourcetree Commons, as posted at the Net2 challenge 2007.
Sourcetree Commons: Geeking our way to a better world
To develop better social software, we must use these very tools in the communities that are building them. We leverage social software to amplify the creative power of geeks and provide increased resources, efficiency, feedback and support.
Project Vision Statement & Potential Social Impact:
Our goal is to leverage social software to amplify the creative power of geeks.
Geeks are a force to be reckoned with. They are creating the tools to strengthen communities, share ideas and shape information flow in an information age. Yet we still struggle with old ways of competing, collaborating and decision making. If we are to develop better social software, we must incorporate the very principles of collaboration and collective intelligence into the communities that are building them.
From my good friend Fran:
Dear Colleagues,
Your Illinois libraries are concerned re this filtering legislation. You are probably aware that
internet filters are notorious for not being “smart”. They typically block health and other vital
information, We as librarians believe that filtering is a decision that should be made by a local
school, library, or community, not mandated by the state.Please join us in unity on May 14th. Let your legislators and all who support free and open
access to the internet and local control know that you oppose this bill.Thank you all for your support!
Monday, 14 May 2007 Is a Day of Unity for the Illinois Library Community to Demonstrate Our Opposition to House Bill 1727
Public Policy Committee’s Action Plan Regarding Proposed Mandatory Internet Filter Legislation
In response to the Illinois House of Representatives passing House Bill 1727, the Illinois Library Association’s Public Policy Committee met yesterday to determine the library community’s response. ILA requests that libraries communicate and/or demonstrate the negative effects of this legislation. Because the association is a strong promoter of local control, we are recommending that local libraries determine the most appropriate action for their community and act accordingly. The committee did, however, declare:
Monday, 14 May 2007 is a day of unity for the Illinois library community to demonstrate our opposition to House Bill 1727, the mandatory public and school library Internet filter legislation.
Mitchell Szczepanczyk interviews Jamie Kalven of the Invisible Institute/View From the Ground on The Ministry of Truth radio broadcast:
The Ministry of Truth: Interview with Jamie Kalven from View From The Ground (part 1 of 2) Radio, April 19, 2007
The Ministry of Truth: Interview with Jamie Kalven from View From The Ground (part 2 of 2) Radio, April 26, 2007
Grassroots, and .org! Two of my favorite things. And GR is led by one of my favorite people… blah, blah, blah - I have lots of favorites. Don’t even ask about colors. I’m all about spectrum!
I’m very happy that the Grassroots.org Toolkit was selected along with 20 other projects in the recent NetSquared community vote. Here’s the Grassroots.org pitch for the Toolkit:
The Grassroots.org Toolbox will empower nonprofit organizations by granting free access to a suite of fully configured & hosted online tools, including content management, online event registration software, and CRM.
The whole GR team is great - I know several of them very well, including my former CTC Vista, Dave Chakrabarti. In fact that seems part of the management secret - hire alumni of the CTC Vista Project!
The Toolkit project is still in beta, and I am following on closely as a “Toolkit Advisor”…
They have some other developments in the works that are really cool (at least to me)… but we’ll have to wait a bit before exploring those.
Tonight (Thursday April 19) they’re hosting Malaria Bites - a fundraiser, in Columbus, Ohio.
Reggae, bednets and all.