Author: BrianR

Tarheel MeshNet Initiative

I just found this new group on Facebook. Its called the Tarheel MeshNet Initiative. If you’re using facebook login and look for this group. I’ll post an external public URL once I find one. 🙂 This is a wonderful thing to have locally. Yah UNC!

Our goal is to design and implement mesh wifi networks for future deployment in low-income communities.

What is MeshNet?
A mesh network uses multiple wireless routers, called nodes, to transfer data around a network. These networks are simple to set up, can run on off-the-shelf hardware, and can be used to blanket an area with network and internet coverage. For low income communities, this means that a small number of traditional high-speed internet connections, such as DSL, can be used to provide connectivity to an entire area. The range of the network can be extended simply by adding an additional node, which involves nothing more than just plugging it in.

Cross Posted on OrangeNetworking.org

Continue reading “Tarheel MeshNet Initiative” →

UNC Men's bball Number 1 on Coaches Poll

University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball team has won the preseaon coaches poll for 2007-2008.

This is the sixth season in which the coaches have selected the Tar Heels No. 1 to begin the season. UNC was also No. 1 in the initial coaches’ poll in 1957-58, 1981-82, 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88.

via: Tarheelblue.com

Seems it was a tight “win”. So much to live up to.

In the tightest three-way preseason race since USA TODAY took over the poll in the 1991-92 season, the Tar Heels are No. 1 with 739 points, five more than second-ranked UCLA and eight points ahead of No. 3 Memphis.

via: USA Today

The top five where:
1) UNC
2) UCLA
3) Memphis
4) Kanasas
5) Georgetown

Gota give props to UCLA. I watched them place several times last year. They were fast, huge, and talented. Should make a great match up late in the season.

On top of this Carolina won the ACC Preseason Poll too.

The University of North Carolina was the unanimous pick as the favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in men’s basketball in 2007-08 and Tyler Hansbrough was voted the preseason ACC player of the year when the ACC’s media convened in Greensboro on Sunday for the annual ACC Operation Basketball.

via: tarheelblue.com

I’m crazy excited to see both the Carolina men and women play bball this year. It was wonderful to read about this. Exciting! But man the pressure is on strong now.

Thank You Joe Herzenberg

OP Wears Black

Joseph A. Herzenberg 1941-2007

Joe Herzenberg — the first openly gay elected official in the American South, an ardent defender of civil rights and the environment, and the unofficial Mayor of Franklin Street — died on October 28, 2007 at UNC Hospital. He was 66 years old.

Check out the thread over at OP. orangepolitics.org/2007/10/well-miss-you-joe/ The comments about Joe are amazing and full of interesting detail. It shows how beautiful and loving our community can be.

Jackson Fox at Refresh the Triangle

On October 25 at 6:30-8:00PM Jackson Fox is speaking at a new event series called Refresh the Triangle. I’m signed up via Upcoming.

Refresh 001: Building User-Centered Web Apps in a Crunch

Durham, NC—Thurs, Oct 25, 2007, 6:30-8:00PM
Jackson Fox is a User Experience Engineer at Lulu.com, and a graduate student in Information & Library Science at UNC Chapel Hill. He is responsible for the community and marketplace functionality on Lulu.com, and is currently learning why MySpace is definitely not a “platform.” He and his wife live in Durham.

Its in Durham at Viget Labs, The Brightleaf District, 908 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701

via Wayne Sutton

Social Networks Amplify Serendipity

Ok… today I said something during a Converge South session that I want to remember, Social Networks Amplify Serendipity.

I love listening to creative people. The inspiration is extremely valuable. Thanks Converge South!

Context from Twitter:

waynesutton @BrianR I’m with you, online social networking has allowed me to meet more people with like interest than if I wasn’t online

arsepoetica @BrianR, amplifying serendipity. Nice! Phrase of the day. (And I agree. I’m not remotely social in meatspace.)

coreyr @BrianR u mean the internet +’s serendipity because info flow is higher than offline. (SocNets are just reifying people, further +’ing flow)

Update:Social Networks ONLINE Amplify Serendipity (thanks for helping me clarify Corey!)

Bora at A Blog Around The Clock:

The quote of the year, I think, goes to Brian Russell who, during a session on social networks (e.g., what are we “creepies” doing on Facebook pooping on the kids’ party), said that “Online Social Networks Amplify Serendipity”. What a great phrase, explaining exactly what social networks do.

Ignore the Indy this week

When I first read the front page story of the most recent triangle Independent Weekly I though about writing a letter to their editor. (Notice how I don’t link to them?) Then I thought about not blogging about it. Now I am telling my fellow blog friends to ignore it. Not to blog about it. But its hard… So instead of writing my own FULL point by point rebuttal I’ll just say this.

I love journalist. I am a news junkie. I read a paper in my hands. I am your fan Mr. Newspaper Man and Woman. I don’t want your job. I respect your opinion. I know how amazing your talents are. Your hard work impresses the hell out of me. Especially when you defend the First Amendment. So why do you keep writing attacking screeds of fear?

I am so tired of this blogger vs journalist bull shit.

Converge South 2007

Converge South 2007, Greensboro, NC
Going to try and do updates throughout the day. Not live blogging really. Just the bits that strike me as interesting.

9:00 AM – Just finished coffee and deserts after getting my name tag. Now we’re at the intro session where Sue Polinsky is welcoming us.

Keynote

Jason Calacanis with Ed Cone. Seems the basis for Mr. Calacnis new venture Mahalo is that there is too much info on the web. Thus we need “experts” who are “real humans” to help us search it. Sounds good to me. But to assume that “80 to 90%” of info on the web is junk is absurd. This over simplification just doesn’t take into the billions of separate opinions people have all over the world. Each of us has many different ideas about what is good info and what is bad info. Though its really important to fact check. There are facts in the world. But I would argue they aren’t as imperial as some would believe. Everything can be challenged. Even gravity.

Panel Discussions

Step by Step
Dan Conover, Will Bunch, Joe Killian (moderator)
Three smart journalists who get it. They are the future right now. Simulating commentary huh? What something better? Read what others are writing here and here.

We Agree to Disagree
Ruby Sinreich, Chris Rabb, Dan Conover (moderator)

Ruby starts off by asking how many people in the room are pro or student journalists. “Good now I don’t have to lecture you.” Snarky laughs in the room. I see her remarks as a form of tough love. Shes beautifully direct. But ya know I’m biased.

Short overview
Best part of CS2007 Friday was talking to people. Many opportunities to catch up with folks I haven’t seen since the last time I made it to this event. The sessions where pretty good. I learned a lot.

Colbert does NYT OP-ED

Has the sky fallen? Cause our fav conservative Stephen Colbert has a guest Op-Ed column in the New York Times. It damn funny too. Here is my favorite part. Being a southerner of Appalachian descent… it makes me laugh out loud.

So why I am writing Miss Dowd’s column today? Simple. Because I believe the 2008 election, unlike all previous elections, is important. And a lot of Americans feel confused about the current crop of presidential candidates.

For instance, Hillary Clinton. I can’t remember if I’m supposed to be scared of her so Democrats will think they should nominate her when she’s actually easy to beat, or if I’m supposed to be scared of her because she’s legitimately scary.

Or Rudy Giuliani. I can’t remember if I’m supposed to support him because he’s the one who can beat Hillary if she gets nominated, or if I’m supposed to support him because he’s legitimately scary.

And Fred Thompson. In my opinion “Law & Order” never sufficiently explained why the Manhattan D.A. had an accent like an Appalachian catfish wrestler.

I think I just heard Colbert claim he was “the son of a poor appalachian turd miner. The Grandson of a goat ball licker.”.

via Andy Bechtel

Question for Presidential Candidates about Public Broadband

The site 10Questions.com is gathering video questions for presidential candidates. Think of it as a truly democratic YouTube debate without CNN. There are two phases. Round one: 1. You ask a video question to the presidential candidates. 2. You vote on the best questions. 3. The top ten questions get selected. This part ends on November 14. Round two: 1. The top ten questions are presented to the candidates. 2. Candidates post their video answers. 3. You decide if they actually answered the questions. That part starts November 17 and ends December 31.

Here is my question and video:
If you become president what would you do to support the creation of publicly owned broadband? By both municipalities and community groups.

Video thumbnail. Click to play
Click To Play

Go add yours now! Its your chance to participate directly. This is how our 21st century democracy should operate!

BTW – Ruby has a video question up on blip.tv and 10questions.com about transparency.