Library of Congress @ Flickr = Splendid

Published
by
David
on May 9, 2008
in Blog
. 0 Comments

So you thought you’ve already seen everything? You were waiting for Web 3.5 beta to arrive, right? Instead, there is a really cool thing going on on Flickr. The Library of Congress is constantly uploading more and more of their photo archives in an unprecedented effort of making remarkable pictures available to a greater audience, namely you.

So they got themselves a pro-account and started the whole thing.

This splendid merger of interests I think is a good idea, alone the fact makes me a bit sad, that they got themselves some kind of own rights policy similar to the one they had up until now. No “Free as in free beer,” only “Free as in free until someone rises from the dead and asks for royalties.”

The photograph of the lady by the way is in its original colors, you may even download it from the Library of Congress itself, as TIFF if you like, 141MB only. If you are bored, count her wrinkles!

There are also many pictures of everyday life, on farms, as well as in Washington DC itself. Very cool.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

Floopy Hamster!

Published
by
David
on May 8, 2008
in Blog
. 0 Comments

When I found this, I got really lucky!

Floopy, isn’t it?

Technorati Tags: , ,

Why free content is utterly important to our modern society

Published
by
David
on May 8, 2008
in Blog
. 0 Comments

Thats a long title, isn’t it? “Why free content is utterly important to our modern society.”, I could have abbreviated that to something like “Why ‘for-free’ is fun!”, but that wouldn’t quite have had the same connotation. Free content, like them Linux-Gurus say “Free Beer”, that is. Free as in “you can do with it whatever you want”, and not “free as long as you don’t make money from it.”

So why do I think it is important to have such content; texts, pictures, music, programs, whatsoever? Because with communication — and remember: we live in the age mostly shaped by that — comes the question, where the stuff is from, or at least you want to know if you actually steal something or get it handed as a present, don’t you?

It is that simple with the other aspect of the whole thing: The right of building something atop of it, the modifying part. Of course if I own something, I can almost do with it whatever I want, but let alone that knowledge adds up in the process is very interesting. Of course you have always think of our predecessors, mention and thank them for their wonderful work — if it is not, we at least mention them; and redo it completely. Isn’t that great?

Wade — The Test SampleSo if you watch closely, you may have noticed pictures around, not always free, but mostly, as well as a piece of extraordinary music made by Wade (from Krakow, Poland) on moonlabel. The electronic chillout beats of his midnightsoundz compilation instantly catch your attention.

Snapo — Summer NightAnother great piece of work I’d like to share with you is that of Snapo, with his Lord i say.ep. Both of them are featured under jamendo.com, where tons of other free music can be found.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

The State System

Published
by
David
on May 6, 2008
in Article
. 0 Comments

The Berlin WallWalls, fences, oceans and mountains, all of them can serve the purpose of a border. The true idea of a border is to set an end to one state, and the beginning to another. But what exactly is a state? In this short article I’ll tell you.

First of all, we have to do some research on the history of the state system, as we have to realize that we indeed live in such. Everything began in Europe (of course), where in medieval times there were many different sized and interdependent territorial entities that were run by semi-free leaders. Sometimes it was a king, who had to subordinate himself to an emperor, and sometimes baron, who was bound to his king. Of course, this only is one dimension of the system. The second was the church: Here we had the pope, archbishops, bishops and so on. With time, this system evolved to the one we know from our newspapers (and blogs).

In Europe, competition was — is — everything, and that very unproductive authoritarian system was finally substituted by the (mostly) secular one. In between, Europeans colonized the world: After having established it in the 17th century, it spread to North America (18th century), South America, Japan (19th century both) and finally to the rest.

But what makes a state? In my book-review1 process I stumbled across a very interesting, yet simple list of values:

  • Security
  • Freedom
  • Order and justice
  • Welfare

On the basis of these key elements they are classifiable: We distinguish between strong and weak powers, as well as strong and weak states. E.g.

  • The US are a strong power and a strong state.
  • Russia is a strong power, but a weak state.
  • Sweden is a strong state, but a weak power.
  • Somalia is a weak power and a weak state.

Knowing these classifications, we can go on and focus on those elements, that make a modern state.

  1. ”International Relations — Theories and approaches” by R. Jackson and G. Sørensen, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, 1999 [↩]

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

Amazon’s Kindle

Published
by
David
on May 5, 2008
in Blog
. 0 Comments

Amazon\'s KindleToday I found out about Amazon’s (new) portable book substitute named “Kindle”. Its name — first of all — reminded me of the German word Kind, which means child. Maybe its the child of books? Then to kindle sth. itself came to my mind, having said this you probably will look at it a bit differently. Are we going to set those books on fire?

So I watched the surprising videos introducing this small device. It said it was for sale at about $399, had built-in wireless connection with no need for cellular contracts. That’s what caught my interest.

Books, as well as national and international newspapers, magazines and even special versions of blogs can be purchased right at the spot, and — if e.g. you made a subscription to a newspaper — have it delivered to you — immediately. So sad its download capabilities do not work abroad.

The other thought that came to me was the remnant image of my Apple Newton, and I started asking myself if I really had heard those strange click-beep-noises when the presenter scrolled through books and articles on it or if it only was in my imagination.

Anyway, it is for sale, at least you could have a look at their video gallery here.

Also, Newsweek has a very extensive and interesting article/review on the device.

All in all, Amazon’s Kindle seems to be a nice gadget, although I would never dare to buy one. First of all, it seems to me a bit to large, heavy, and not intuitive enough. For example the navigation keys: Scrollbar wheel, large buttons that cannot be missed, even when you only wanted to hold it steady. Many also point out that it doesn’t have backlight, which is funny, because that is what you pay for — having a readable display. However, I also have to admit that the Kindle sets new standards. Not for design, not for its usability, but clearly for its wireless approach. I can imagine its fun to have one around, and I am very excited about the next step in this direction.

Technorati Tags: , , ,

Cheap Housing

Published
by
David
on May 5, 2008
in Blog
. 0 Comments

If we look at cheap places to live at, aesthetics is almost always disregarded due to expensiveness. In their new article, PingMag tries to take us on a trip through Ken Oyama’s world of housing complexes.

Besides having taken stunning photographs of these otherwise (I’m sorry to tell) boring spaces, he makes us believe we are gathering around some kind of cool place. Details of unbeknownst surprise are revealed, the actual boredom is peeled of.

Interestingly, not only photographs, but also engineering drawings are presented with even more descriptions and interestingness.

Totally worth checking out.

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

Human Machine Interface

Published
by
David
on May 5, 2008
in Blog
. 2 Comments

Today I discovered a very interesting approach to a Human Machine Interface called “InfoTouch”. Long sought after ease and simplicity — lets say its very minimal for its own sake — is to be brought by this development of students at the Cognitive Science Programme at Linköping University, Sweden.

When the user tears at some tag, all others automatically follow. Of course, it always can be smoothened further, but I think they have done a great job.

Technorati Tags:

Modern Taiwan: A steady chrisis.

Published
by
David
on May 4, 2008
in Article
. 0 Comments

Taipei

After World War II, many things have changed in Asia. Japan had to withdraw from all of its colonies, other nations began to occupy the released space. So happened with the island of Taiwan. Being a part of the Japanese Empire since 1895, it soon became one of the most prosperous places in Asia (right after Japan itself, of course). The Japanese built a strong prefectural governmental system, invested heavily in the island’s infrastructure, and even had then Prince, later Emperor Shōwa, come visit.

As said, after the loss of war, Japanese had to withdraw. Mainland Chinese soon occupied the island, and instead of freeing it, they too conquered. After extensive expropriations several Taiwanese uprisings were the consequence, Chiang Kai-shek sent even more of his republican troops.

When in 1949 the Kuomintang had to flee here, everything changed. With 2 million mainland Chinese following them into exile, politics became more complicated, as the new People’s Republic sought to also get the island under its control. First of all, they began with two little groups of islands at their shore, still belonging to the Chinese Republic. Matsu and Quemoy were subject to many armed hostilities until today, but stood the pressure.

Nowadays, Taiwan is an example of well-working democracy. Having ended the rule of Kuomintang (changing it to a democratic party) in early 2000’s, the island starts to think about what its been offered. On the one hand, there is reality: A status-quo without most of important states regarding it as sovereign (but at least they now, they are). On the other hand there is the People’s Republic, having accomplished reunification with Hong Kong and Macau — without war. Is there one China, or what could a reunification bring to all of them?

There are many questions, but only one answer: What do you think how much damage the People’s Republic would suffer if it went into war with the Republic? None at all.

Technorati Tags: , , , ,