News and commentary from the cross-platform scripting community.
	Mail Starting 2/8/97

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From: jaggi@pingnet.ch (Christoph Jaggi);
Sent at 2/11/97; 9:20:44 AM;
Apple stories

With all the peripheral noise going on most people overlooked the change at Claris. Dominique Goupil is definitifely one of the best people in this industry: well educated, ethics, great thinker and great implementer. Dominique can bring to Apple what it sorely needs: focus, honesty and loyality.

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From: wesf@mail.utexas.edu (Wesley Felter); Sent at 2/10/97; 6:05:57 PM; Re:We Need A Plan

What perfect timing! Progressive Networks announced RealVideo today. This is the sort of application that separates a Net connection from a real Net connection. I was watching Spike Lee's video about Savion Glover, a fantastic tap-dancer who doesn't get nearly enough exposure. Besides the fact that RealVideo could become the public access of the Internet, I was laughing all the way through at the error messages. First it said "Network congestion, rebuffering"; would you put up with that from your TV? That's one of the things that needs to be fixed before the Internet can become the Information Superhighway. Then I got some incoming email, and it complained about poor system performance. I know that one can be fixed, by Be OS or Rhapsody.

But about a plan: You're right that we need one. People oppose the government leading The Plan, because they fear the government (and prehaps rightly so). But industry's not doing it, because industry is about competition and making money. I think The Plan still needs centralized leadership; someone who has a certain amount of regulatory power, but mostly just influence. And nothing to profit from it. (Someone like Dave...) No, seriously, someone needs to be able to say "After Jan 1st, 199x, you can't order POTS." Which would almost solve it. On the other hand, there need to be regulations on overselling of bandwidth; with the advent of ADSL and cable modems, ISPs are going to be overselling their capacity 10:1, maybe even 20:1. If this happens you get situations no better than some of the congested parts of the Internet today. --Wes

P.S. I also checked out the video for Jewel's "You were meant for me" in RealVideo. I've listened to that song over and over from the CD, and it's got a nice video. Music videos on demand would be great for the teenage/college market, since I categorically refuse to watch TV and MTV doesn't play videos anyway.

P.P.S. MSIE won't launch after installing RealPlayer. Just hangs. FWIW.

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From: rsegal@Exchange.MICROSOFT.com (Rick Segal (Exchange)); Sent at 2/10/97; 2:53:49 PM; RE: Heidi Leaves

As a father of two daughters, it is very sad. I use Heidi as a positive message in almost every high tech speech I do, esp. the educational talks. She is an innovative, honest, and smart lady. Certainly one of the shining stars of our industry.

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From: sky@earthlink.net (Sky Dayton); Sent at 2/10/97; 11:34:21 AM; Re: We Need A Plan

Dave,

This has been my personal mission since I founded EarthLink 2 1/2 years ago. It's going to take a lot more companies like us to accomplish the revolution.

The encouragement from our political leaders has certainly helped. But in the end, it will only come together through a lot of competition amongst smart companies in an open market.

We are making big strides every day.

Sky

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From: dbjag@aolnorth.com (David Benjamin); Sent at 2/10/97; 1:53:50 PM; RE: We Need A Plan

But Dave, we're doing it! Relax! Its happening, and its great! Oh, but it will take longer than a few years...

By "we" I don't mean the we here at AOL (where we're "living the nightmare", as you say) but the collective industry "we". Remember, before you can have an "Information SuperHighway" you first need to endure an "Information Route 1", replete with clogged traffic and lined with billboards and strip malls!

While I realize that the technology might be available to implement a "high-speed access for all" system, it is more than just a technology problem. People have to understand what they want, organizations have to understand whats involved. Its a *big* deal, the idea has to be planted deep, and it has to have strong roots.

I know for you, and for everyone who bought Wired 1.1 and said, "Far freaking out, finally!" that it seems like we're stuck at the beginning, but remember, on the internet, nobody knows your living in dog years and sometimes it helps to remember just how many unpopped kernels there are out there.

Speaking (very unofficially) for AOL, I think we're doing our part by providing the "Information Route 1" (I don't know the west coast version of this, the information embarcadero?) at least that's the direction our fearless leaders are taking this thing. Is it a good thing? Is it the best thing? Immaterial! Its one of the directions that have to be traveled.

AOL may not be the best ISP (again, unofficial comment, don't get me in trouble man!) but its the *first* ISP for many, and hopefully its helping seed this deep change. Remember, the Apple Lisa was a crap computer (hugely expensive, incredibly slow), but after you used it, you never quite got the same satisfaction from your character based display again.

I agree with your desire for the Infobahn, but think of the disaster if the Government (capital G) tried to massively deploy the "Information SuperHighway", urgh. Have patience, stay enthusiastic. Information connectivity is the new idea, and it is a patented *good thing*. But it is a DEEP idea which will take time to take root in a way necessary to be in every house.

Remember, gardener's patience. Don't burn the roots with fertilizer!

Regards, Dave "my metaphor generator runneth over" Benjamin dbjag@aolnorth.com

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From: marc@canter.com (Marc Canter); Sent at 2/10/97; 8:54:55 AM; Re: We Need A Plan

Bursting bubbles

Oh boy you've stumbled into my domain.

Info Hiway notes:

1. To be an Info hiway and appeal to all - it can't be the Internet. Humans beings don't react that well to text and simple graphics that well, they need TV and Telephone. That was and still is the ecconomic incentives that will pay to lay the fiber and get two way interaction into the home. Remember something 30% of te populace doesn't even read! At all. They don't know how. And another 30% don't read, cause they're watching TV with those illiterate friends. So that leaves about 40% MAX as target customers.

2. To think that the internet is the info hiway is wrong. Sorry.

3. Compare a banner ad on the top of a web page - to a TV commercial.

Enough said.

4. But your concerns and issues about the public welfare, censorship and access are right on. I believe what will happen is that each of the Baby Bells will decide they will compete with AOL and MSN and enter the ISP market - BIG TIME. That will drive down access charges (less than $20 a month) and expand the scope of the web.

But you know as well as I do, that if these billions of dollars in VC money doesn't start paying off this year with real commerce and profits, than the Internet may well go the way of multimedia, VR and handheld devices - yet another Ponzi scheme all hyped up and no where to go but down.

5. In conclusion - this is exactly why I'm focusing on high bandwidth interaction anfd entertainment, because only until real video and hi-res audio and true two way interaction make it into the home - it's all just warmup excersizes. Excersizes which can help establish playback platforms, cheap powerful devices to interact with, protocols, rules, freedom, self government and lots 'O startups - but no real profits or mainstream acceptance.

Get it?

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From: bertram.schulte@mch.sni.de (Bertram Schulte); Sent at 2/10/97; 11:44:37 AM; Some thoughts belonging to free speech

Dear Mr Winer,

Please give me first a little bit of time to introduce myself: I am a 24 year old student in Munich, Germany an working full time for Siemens Nixdorf, Application Software Marketing (the number one IT Supplier in Europe). In this Unit I am responsible for New Media Communications. Basically I am very interested in the thoughts of the netizens at the electronic frontier, but I need a little bit help To get to know all of these important sites in the Web.

After reading DIGERATI I found to your Web-Site and I had a great weekend on your website. Enjoying to read all the articles of really bright people, and interesting thoughts. My basic thoughts to free speech on the internet is: How will they stop this? We here in Germany (bavaria) had this trouble With Compuserve an the gay newsgroups. But actually you can not hide it. Then it grows at any other place. It is An living organism. You ca not control. So don`t be too hard discussing about free speech on the internet. Do it!

Basically it is a natural reaction of the top 10000. Suddenly everyone can build up a brain network. That should be quite Frightening to someone who believes in mass-communication (like elected Presidents who are presidents because of Perfect mass communications).

The same thing for big companies. It is getting faster, better informed and more intelligent. The web connects heads. More Heads think more and know more. Connected knowledge is powerful. Uh, power gets equal. Basically the changes of the Equation: "Knowledge is power" is not right any more. It breaks up the system they build there live upon. And all should change when they are at the Top?

So I really enjoy living at such changing times in the middle of an 150 year old IT Company trying to change their heads to The information age. Please connect my head, give me Input and knowledge.

With the best regards, Bertram Schulte

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From: dcrosby@usa1.com (David F. Crosby); Sent at 2/9/97; 10:53:47 PM; Re: Breaking Rules

I agree! Copyright issues on the Web have gotten out of control. Too many people see $$$ and think this is their ticket to fame and fortune.

Unfortunately, it's the publisher's who are making all the noise, they want control of the internet and they want it bad. NOBODY is making noise for our side and we (the general public) could get more laws like the CDA. We need an organization like what the EFF was years ago to go back to our legislators and educate them - before it's too late.

Check out two excellent papers by Jessica Litman: http://www.yu.edu/csl/journals/aelj/articles/13-1/litman.html and http://www.msen.com/~litman/dayton.htm.

Regards, David Crosby dcrosby@usa1.com dcrosby@lappinkusmer.com

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From: andres@saga.is (Andres Magnusson); Sent at 2/9/97; 11:29:45 AM; caring

Dave:

Just saw your commemorative page on the blacking of the Web. Good thing lest we forget, although at the time I was somewhat at a loss, as our web was black already for design reasons. But I feel that the phrase "people still care about democracy and the Internet" is too vague. I care about a lot of things, but I'm nothing less than fanatical about freedom of speech.

Mind you, I'm not an American citizen, so the CDA really doesn't have a direct impact on me. But I can't escape the fact that you Americans are by far the most populous nationality on the Net. So your legislation has some impact on the rest of us. Which really shouldn't be the case. However, thank Yahveh (or whomever) that it is indeed Americans who matter most on the Net. You at least have proper respect for your first amendment. I dare say that if any European nation had the influence you Americans have on the Internet, a bill like CDA would have flown through any legislative body in Europe without so much as a cough, let alone a red face.

So, please fight the good fight not only for yourlseves, but also for the rest of us. Not only as Americans, but also as good citizens of the utopia (look up the etymological definition) called the Internet.

AM

	___________________________________________________________________________
	Andres Magnusson, manager                          Tel:     +  354-588 4510
	Icelandic Nuclear Industries, Inc.                 GSM:     +  354-896 2609
	Thingholtsstraeti 6,                            E-Mail:      andres@saga.is
	IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland.                        http://www.saga.is/andres
	___________________________________________________________________________
	                        "Do Not Fail Me Again, Admiral"
	

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From: nbasysop@sportszone.com (Kyle); Sent at 2/8/97; 2:09:02 PM; Speech & The Net

Dave -- first, thanks for your efforts to preserve the right to free speech and expression on the Net. Or preserve what freedom we can ... it's all relative.

Just a note on what I believe to be the greatest current threat to those freedoms -- the FCC's consideration of a regulation imposing a per-minute, per-user fee on ISP's for Internet connection. It will be the death of the Net as we know it if such a regulation is EVER imposed, for reasons that I imagine you are all too aware of.

Please do what you can to inform your audience and peers about the threat this contemplated regulatory change poses to the Net as a whole. I don't work for an ISP, I don't invest in one ... I just realize what per-minute charges will do to the Net as a culture, resource and meeting place.

Thanks -- Kyle

-- "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." Albert Einstein