I thought I'd go ahead and try the personal productivity manager, RescueTime, mentioned in a previous post. I thought this would be a good way for me to passively monitor my web browsing and computer usage. But I took a look at the privacy policy and got scared off.
What concerns me about RescueTime is that they are selling your information. Not your individual information, but the collective information collected from all of its users about their online behavior. According to their privacy policy: "We may sell, rent, or share information about user behavior in the aggregate only. For example, we could share information like, "which day of the week do people spend the most time in front of their computer?""
For starters, I thought the software was only a tool FOR ME. I didn't think it would collect my browsing information, let alone contribute it to a database and sell it. It's not the creation of a database of internet user behavior that I have a problem with. It's the fact that this information is monetized and used for a for-profit company. I'd be happy to participate in research where information about my computer use was recorded and aggregated into a database and analyzed. No problem. But selling the results from this research seems unethical. Why should only those who can pay know about people's computer habits?
Some might argue that this research is costly, requiring time, energy and money. But couldn't an open-source/crowd-source project with the same aim be just as effective? Why does this research have to result in a for-profit business model? Is there some free-ware out there that allows you to monitor your computer usage and keep the records for yourself? I wanna know!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Getting Ahead of the News Cycle
Today there was a protest in Shinjuku. According to early reports, about 160 people gathered to stop traffic, speak out against war, and voice their support for the citizens of Okinawa, who have again demonstrated through elections that they don't want the Futenma military base relocated within Okinawa. There were clowns:
A quick google search for 新宿デモ (Shinjuku demo) revealed some old links from a labor newspaper announcing the protest and giving directions to the event, along with a tangentially related blog post.
I had just heard about the demonstration this afternoon in an email from a Tokyo-based group, Takae Yuntaku. (They are working to prevent a U.S. military helipad from being built in the small Okinawan village of Takae). Info about the event appeared on various blogs:
http://takae.ti-da.net/
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/hansentoteikounofesta09/
This was the sixth in a series of protests in favor of the abolition of the base. Here is some video from previous protests:
So I found out about the protest about an hour before it started. Then, as it was going on, a recent Facebook friend Tweeted out "good turnout for the protest. blocking traffic in shinjuku" or something to that effect, and it showed up on his facebook feed. Finally, I wanted to hear about the event. I turned on 素人の乱 (Shiroto no Ran)'s weekly webcast, and there was some mention of it, but mostly talking about AKB48 and how none of the girls are their type. So I checked another friend's facebook page who is active in independent media, and sure enough, he had updated it with some news and pictures from the protest.
I had heard about Twitter and other social networking sites being used to get ahead of the news cycle, but now this is the first time I've experienced it. Maybe it also has to do with the fact that there probably won't be much coverage of this event in the mainstream press. But amongst interested parties the news has come out quickly. From this experience, I can see how these social networks can give protesters a better sense of connection. Even though I couldn't make it to the protest, I feel better informed about and connected with those who did.
Where do I stand on the Futenma issue? Indeed it's complicated, but ultimately I must object to the indirect militarization of Japan. In Japan's constitution, Article 9 prohibits a standing military, although Japan maintains its own self-defense force. In effect, the U.S. military presence in Okinawa and throughout Japan amounts to a standing military. As tensions between North and South Korea escalate, the time is right for diplomacy, not war games. I find it difficult to speak out on this issue, especially since I know several people in the military. But as an American, I can't stand by in good conscience and allow the U.S. to become involved in an avoidable war with North Korea in the way of Iraq and Afghanistan. I didn't make it to the protest this week, but I will get the word out and try to make the next one.
12/7 update - video from the event. Thanks OurPlanet-TV!
A quick google search for 新宿デモ (Shinjuku demo) revealed some old links from a labor newspaper announcing the protest and giving directions to the event, along with a tangentially related blog post.
I had just heard about the demonstration this afternoon in an email from a Tokyo-based group, Takae Yuntaku. (They are working to prevent a U.S. military helipad from being built in the small Okinawan village of Takae). Info about the event appeared on various blogs:
http://takae.ti-da.net/
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/hansentoteikounofesta09/
This was the sixth in a series of protests in favor of the abolition of the base. Here is some video from previous protests:
So I found out about the protest about an hour before it started. Then, as it was going on, a recent Facebook friend Tweeted out "good turnout for the protest. blocking traffic in shinjuku" or something to that effect, and it showed up on his facebook feed. Finally, I wanted to hear about the event. I turned on 素人の乱 (Shiroto no Ran)'s weekly webcast, and there was some mention of it, but mostly talking about AKB48 and how none of the girls are their type. So I checked another friend's facebook page who is active in independent media, and sure enough, he had updated it with some news and pictures from the protest.
I had heard about Twitter and other social networking sites being used to get ahead of the news cycle, but now this is the first time I've experienced it. Maybe it also has to do with the fact that there probably won't be much coverage of this event in the mainstream press. But amongst interested parties the news has come out quickly. From this experience, I can see how these social networks can give protesters a better sense of connection. Even though I couldn't make it to the protest, I feel better informed about and connected with those who did.
Where do I stand on the Futenma issue? Indeed it's complicated, but ultimately I must object to the indirect militarization of Japan. In Japan's constitution, Article 9 prohibits a standing military, although Japan maintains its own self-defense force. In effect, the U.S. military presence in Okinawa and throughout Japan amounts to a standing military. As tensions between North and South Korea escalate, the time is right for diplomacy, not war games. I find it difficult to speak out on this issue, especially since I know several people in the military. But as an American, I can't stand by in good conscience and allow the U.S. to become involved in an avoidable war with North Korea in the way of Iraq and Afghanistan. I didn't make it to the protest this week, but I will get the word out and try to make the next one.
12/7 update - video from the event. Thanks OurPlanet-TV!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A Commitment to Nonviolence and Recycling
A Commitment to Non-Violence
Last week I was graced with what I like to call a "moment of lucidity" - a time when truth or beauty just present themselves out of nowhere. The revelation: a commitment to non-violence. As I see it, there are two types of violence: 1) physical violence 2) mental or emotional violence.
From this moment, I commit myself to refraining from physical violence toward human beings, and trying to spread this doctrine to create a more peaceful world. As for the second, more abstract forms of violence, it is more complicated, so I want to focus for now on just eliminating physical violence. By adhering to this basic principle, individuals can make a big change for peace.
I also commit myself to learning more about the ethics of war and peace. One of the classes that convinced me to major in religion was "War and Peace Through Religious Perspectives." I'd like to revisit the contents of this class, and gain a better understanding of how movements for pacifism and non-violence become successful in all wisdom traditions - from atheists to agnostics, from Jews to Jains.
Though it is easy for me to refrain from violence - my country doesn't have a draft (at the moment) and I don't live in a war-torn city or an area plagued by gang violence. But I want to use this commitment to non-violence to create social change through civil disobedience, and educating others about this possibility. If you can get a kid in South East D.C. to decide not to buy a gun, or a kid in Colorado to refrain from shooting up his classmates, you've done something important.
Later in the week, I was inspired by my great uncle, Ted Nace. He was recently arrested for protesting outside a shopping center against an Israeli cosmetics company which benefits from the exploitation of resources in Palestine. He's over 80 years old. Go Ted! You are a real inspiration.
You can see video of about his arrest here:
http://www.krdo.com/video/25943611/index.html
http://www.krdo.com/video/25935874/index.html
A Week of Recycling
On a slightly more practical note, I really, REALLY need to take out my recycling. This is a reminder to myself to get the schedule this week and remember to bring out my separated recyclables on the appropriate day. Also, I gotta start carrying my water bottle and stop buying PET bottles. They don't recycle well. I also gotta bring some clothes to the nearby recycle shop, or perhaps 素人の乱 (Shiroto no Ran)'s recycle shop.
Great podcast on "upcycling" (i.e. re-using) from "To The Best of Our Knowledge" last week. Check it out.
http://www.wpr.org/book/101121b.cfm
Another good one on consumerism:
http://www.wpr.org/book/091129a.cfm
Last week I was graced with what I like to call a "moment of lucidity" - a time when truth or beauty just present themselves out of nowhere. The revelation: a commitment to non-violence. As I see it, there are two types of violence: 1) physical violence 2) mental or emotional violence.
From this moment, I commit myself to refraining from physical violence toward human beings, and trying to spread this doctrine to create a more peaceful world. As for the second, more abstract forms of violence, it is more complicated, so I want to focus for now on just eliminating physical violence. By adhering to this basic principle, individuals can make a big change for peace.
I also commit myself to learning more about the ethics of war and peace. One of the classes that convinced me to major in religion was "War and Peace Through Religious Perspectives." I'd like to revisit the contents of this class, and gain a better understanding of how movements for pacifism and non-violence become successful in all wisdom traditions - from atheists to agnostics, from Jews to Jains.
Though it is easy for me to refrain from violence - my country doesn't have a draft (at the moment) and I don't live in a war-torn city or an area plagued by gang violence. But I want to use this commitment to non-violence to create social change through civil disobedience, and educating others about this possibility. If you can get a kid in South East D.C. to decide not to buy a gun, or a kid in Colorado to refrain from shooting up his classmates, you've done something important.
Later in the week, I was inspired by my great uncle, Ted Nace. He was recently arrested for protesting outside a shopping center against an Israeli cosmetics company which benefits from the exploitation of resources in Palestine. He's over 80 years old. Go Ted! You are a real inspiration.
You can see video of about his arrest here:
http://www.krdo.com/video/25943611/index.html
http://www.krdo.com/video/25935874/index.html
A Week of Recycling
On a slightly more practical note, I really, REALLY need to take out my recycling. This is a reminder to myself to get the schedule this week and remember to bring out my separated recyclables on the appropriate day. Also, I gotta start carrying my water bottle and stop buying PET bottles. They don't recycle well. I also gotta bring some clothes to the nearby recycle shop, or perhaps 素人の乱 (Shiroto no Ran)'s recycle shop.
Great podcast on "upcycling" (i.e. re-using) from "To The Best of Our Knowledge" last week. Check it out.
http://www.wpr.org/book/101121b.cfm
Another good one on consumerism:
http://www.wpr.org/book/091129a.cfm
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