“Caring about truth means that you have to be open to the possibility that your own beliefs are mistaken. It is a consequence of the very idea of objective truth.” An article by Michael Lynch.
faculty.missouri.edu (PDF file)
Linux inc
“Little understood by the outside world, the community of Linux programmers has evolved in recent years into something much more mature, organized, and efficient. Put bluntly, Linux has turned pro.” Steve Hamm takes you on a tour of what has become the Linux phenomenon.
www.bloomberg.com
Fireworks in Washington, despair around the World
“The president and his speechwriters have yet to confront the tension between their rhetoric about freedom, which is universally popular, and their practice of projecting US firepower, which is resented in equal measure.” Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook on the day George Bush began his second term in office.
www.theguardian.com
Echelon spy network revealed
“It sounds like science fiction, but it’s true.” Andrew Bomford first published this article in November 1999. Will matters have improved since then?
news.bbc.co.uk
Forscher warnt vor Googlesierung der Ausbildung
Academics warn of an increasing divide between those able to pay for online educational content and those who are not.
www.heise.de
Sony Walkman — music to whose ears?
“Music, made portable, is removed from any frame of reference. It becomes a utility, undeserving of more attention than drinking water from a tap.” Norman Lebrecht reflects on how, starting with the introduction of the Sony Walkman, the way we listen to music has changed forever.
www.scena.org
How to not get hit by cars
“Wearing a helmet will do absolutely nothing to prevent you from getting hit by a car.” Only a small proportion of accidents involve the collison with a motor vehicle, yet they account for the vast majority of fatalities among cyclists. Michael Bluejay explains how to avoid getting hit.
www.bicyclesafe.com
Marin Point Reyes
Frame Marin Point Reyes 18.5″, fork Pace RC31 XC, wheels Mavic CrossMax XL, front brake Hope Mono M4 180 mm, rear brake Hope Mono M4 160mm, chainset Shimano XT 180 mm, pedals Crankbrothers Egg Beater SL, mechs and shifters Shimano XT, tyres Continental Sport Contact 26 x 1.3, weight 9.8 kg
Bicycle helmet safety institute
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association provides information on buying a helmet and fitting it properly. There also is a long list of product reviews to help with your choices.
www.helmets.org
The Exploratorium’s science of cycling
Did you know that bicycle wheels are among the strongest man-made structures ever invented? Find out more by visiting this interesting and informative site.
www.exploratorium.edu
Invasion of the identity snatchers
Kelly Martin has become the victim of identity theft. A security professional by trade, he reflects on the many ways that personal data, stored on your computer, can fall into the wrong hands.
www.theregister.com
Why do you need PGP?
For a conclusive answer read this article by Phil Zimmermann, author of the Pretty Good Privacy application.
csail.mit.edu
Day after the crash
Yesterday evening I had a massive accident with my bicycle. A car pulled out in front of me and I crashed into it at about 40 km/h. I went over the car like a torpedo and hit the ground face first.
A global power shift in the making
“The transfer of power from West to East is gathering pace and soon will dramatically change the context for dealing with international challenges—as well as the challenges themselves.” James Hoge highlights some of the main issues facing today’s foreign policy makers in the US and around the world.
www.foreignaffairs.org
The power and the glory
“Divine ordination is a very dangerous idea, especially when combined with military power. With God’s approval, you need no human standard of morality.” Howard Zinn expands on the myths of American exeptionalism.
bostonreview.net
Use pen… to unlock bike
Kryptonite, makers of ‘Tough Locks for a Tough World’, are now known to have been selling bicycle locks which are not only more expensive, but can also be opened with a ball point pen. Apparently, this keyless mechanism was first documented in 1992…
Nein zum Krieg
Millions around the world were united in protest against going to war in Iraq.
Hamburg, February 2003
The hidden dangers of documents
“The UK government has now largely abandoned Microsoft Word for documents that become public”, writes Mark Ward. If only they had used OpenOffice.org’s one-click PDF export…
news.bbc.co.uk
The real reasons Bush went to war
“Oil and the dollar were the real reasons for the attack on Iraq, with weapons of mass destruction as the public reason now exposed as woefully inadequate.” A disturbingly coherent explanation put forward by John Chapman.
www.theguardian.com
10 truths about trade
“Is globalisation sending the best American jobs overseas? If you get your news from CNN’s Lou Dobbs, the answer is ‘of course’.” Brink Lindsey puts some commonly made assumptions about the US American economy to the test. Useful reading even if, like me, you do not live in North America.
reason.com