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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

Vigil Update [SocioPolitico]

According to the Vigil web site,

So far, 4664 vigils have been scheduled in 119 countries.

and yet I haven't seen a twitter about it in any of the news media I regularly read. This has all been brought about by the power of internet-mediated genuine humanity rather than media hype, so it probably doesn't qualify for coverage. In case you've forgotten: global candle-lit vigil, Sunday 16th March, 7pm local time worldwide.

posted at 2:22 PM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Phone Safe Again? [SocioPolitico]

While the UK has its fair share of junk mail and cold-calling telemarketers, it's nothing compared with the deluge one gets in the USA. Over there, many people avoid answering the phone until they have heard it screened by the answering machine, and I found that within a week or so my postal box in Los Gatos was receiving junk postal mail.

I have found that the Mailing Preference Service (and its adjuncts for phone and fax advertising) have been somewhat effective in stemming the tide (fax was best; it has completely stopped junk faxes), and now it seems America will be getting the same service enshrined in law [via Raging Platypus]. At last it may become safe to answer the phone over there...

posted at 4:10 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Vigil [SocioPolitico]

Are you busy on Sunday at 7pm? There will be a global candle-lit vigil (moveon.org) at that time where you can go with a candle to be silent and pray or reflect and express your concern at the advent of world war 3. We're all going to the one in Southampton.

posted at 1:14 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Protest Music [SocioPolitico]

Talking of war, the genre of protest music has never died (Billy Bragg for one has kept it alive) but it seems to be flourishing again. Salon has a substantial sampler available (click for a 'day pass'). Some wierd stuff there, but the tracks by Bragg (It's all about the price of oil) and by Chumbawumba are pretty good, may have to upload to Radio Paradise.

posted at 1:01 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Travel Advisory [SocioPolitico]

As if war & rumour of war weren't bad enough, the BBC is reporting a new deadly strain of 'super-flu' in Hong Kong just in advance of me planning to travel there. Oh joy.

posted at 12:53 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Gosling & Smith, Live [WebTech]

Just a quick FYI, I am hosting a live webcast & phone-in with James Gosling and Bill Smith on 'Java and Web Services' this Friday, March 14th, at 5pm GMT - read the details and register now - the phone-in is a US number. It's unscripted, it's live (as in, live) and anything could happen.

posted at 1:02 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |