Technology

The new Apple iPhones (commonly known as 3G) are being released today, but I feel no urge to rush out and get one.  First, AT&T isn't offering its 3G network here in Champaign yet, so the biggest reason to upgrade the hardware is moot.  And the software updates - which finally include Exchange support and the all-important App Store - are available to the older iPhones like the one I have.  I installed the new firmware and iTunes yesterday, and configured Exchange support, and it works flawlessly.  My Contacts and Calendar now sync with Outlook wirelessly, so the only reason to plug in my iPhone is to charge it (which is rare due to excellent battery life) or to sync music.

So upgrading is unnecessary, IMO, at least for those of us in Champaign.  If you're in Bloomington or Chicago, where AT&T has already upgraded their network, then the faster internet connection might be worth it.

Firefox 3 has been released today, and it's free and open-source and the good folks that make it are trying to set a some sort of record for downloads. 

Please do them (and yourself) a favor and go download, install, and start using it - Firefox is the browser preferred by smart, good-looking people, and this version seems significantly faster than the earlier version.

Urbana's scaled-down restrictions on cell-phone use while driving have passed:

The Urbana City Council voted 6-1 Monday night in favor of an ordinance banning the use of text messaging while driving. The ordinance also enacts a $750 fine for those who are using cell phones while driving during the time of an accident.

Additionally, the ordinance requires that the Urbana Police Departments track the frequency of car accidents where cell phone usage plays a role. The report will span from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 and with finding being presented to the council afterwards.

The ordinance does include a clause that would make some city government workers exempt, saying that "all law enforcement, fire rescue personnel, emergency vehicle operators, public works personnel and other government personnel are exempt from this section if a mobile communications device is a piece of equipment necessary to the normal functions of their position."

As I've said, I doubt this will satisfy the nanny-staters, but this law is much more reasonable than the original draconian proposal.

This is one of the easiest, most "common sense" ways to use technology to open up governmental processes to citizens, and one that I've been advocating for our local governments for years.  The Vermilion County Board, though, is trying it first:

The county last week launched a new Web page where public comments pertaining to county business can be posted for officials to read.

"It's something we are just trying. If people are respectful, it could be a good tool to get input, good and bad, on county issues," said Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon.

Ted Fisher, director of the county's information systems department, launched the online forum last week on the county Web site at http://www.co.vermilion.il.us.

McMahon said he has viewed other public forums, and he realizes that comments can be negative, even slanderous. People who post comments are not required to give their names, and many use "screen names," which McMahon believes is a weakness of online forums.

But he still believes it's a tool that can be of benefit to county officials. He plans to check the site on a regular basis, searching for valuable input.

Vermilion County Board member Bill Donahue, D-District 7, said he also will check the forum regularly.

"I will be curious, and hopefully, we will not get just negative comments but requests for assistance that give us an idea of what we can do to be of better service," he said. "Some people might be more willing to post a comment rather than make a phone call or write a letter."

County officials want feedback on any type of county business, issue, meeting or agenda item. But "we want to keep ours to county business only," he said.

The county's Information Systems department will monitor all comments that are posted.

You can find the forum here.

My proposal has actually been more restrictive.  I've been asking for government bodies to allow online comments on agendas prior to meetings, requiring commenters to submit name and address just as they would at a regular meeting.

Discuss.

I know that AT&T's U-Verse video service hasn't gotten great reviews.  But at this point, I'm desperate for any sort of competition for local cable monopolies.

AT&T plans to install 100 utility cabinets throughout the city to bring video services to many residents.

The telephone giant has already obtained city permits to install 33 of the cabinets, which will link new fiber optic cable with traditional copper telephone wire to provide video services similar to those of cable television.

"I think they're doing installation right now," said Deputy City Attorney Trisha Crowley. She was unable to say when AT&T would begin offering video services.

We've discussed free wireless internet access here a few times.  A recent article I ran across details some of the problems that cities like Chicago are facing.  I'm curious about how the City of Champaign's wireless project is going.

Since this weekend, I've been emailed a half-dozen complaints about problems with Comcast and Insight.  Please feel free to use this thread to post complaints and solutions, if you've found any.

Insight / Comcast is my home internet provider, via cable.  I'd switch to DSL tomorrow if it were available at my home.  I'd already stopped using them for TV last fall.  Luckily, I stopped using any insightbb.com email addresses years ago, to avoid precisely this kind of re-addressing hassle.

AT&T U-verse cannot get here quickly enough.

UPDATE:  It gets better:

Comcast Cable customers in East Central Illinois can expect to pay 6 percent more for expanded basic cable, beginning April 2, the company said today.

The rate for the 69-channel expanded basic package will rise from $49.75 a month to $52.75 a month, according to Melody Brucker, director of Comcast's Champaign-Urbana District.

As I said:  AT&T U-verse cannot get here quickly enough.

The Illinois Supreme Court is now putting video on the web.

Starting in January, oral arguments before the seven-member court have been posted within a day – sometimes the same day – of their presentation by staff members of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

So far that amounts to 14 cases, which run the gamut from an allegation of an ineffective attorney to a defective indictment.

Supreme Court spokesman Joe Tybor said he's received positive feedback from lawyers and reporters, the two groups he deals with most, and said more people are looking at the high court's Web page.

Good stuff.

totally personal question - but I know there are some technology "geeks" (and I mean that in the kindest of ways) that may be able to help me.

I want to get a Slingbox so I can watch TV anywhere in my home with my new laptop.  My initial plan is just to get the old Slingbox Tuner version, which connects to the coax cable.  It won't interfere with my kids watching on the digital box, and would be convenient to the home network connection.

Here's my question - will the pending conversion from analog to digital broadcasting have any effect (or is it affect?) on the Slingbox tuning whatever comes thru my cable?

Any wisdom would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Further evidence that the best campaign ads are being produced by citizens, not campaigns:

(Hat tip: CapFax)

This article, from the on-line New York Times, best describes the challenges facing the next president.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/magazine/27world-t.html?pagewanted=8&_r=1&th&emc=th

I always remain surprised that candidtaes are not asked who they would consider ideal members of their cabinet if they were elected.    This would be a significant insight into a candidate's thinking and policies.      

This link is to an article about toy manufacturer compliance with standards to protect workers in overseas plants and to ensure the safety of their products--a somewhat more important, but less visible issue than my last blog post about baseball and drug use.   The artcile focuses mostly on Mattel.   Partcipants in this forum who invoke the term "nanny-statism" or have interest in protecting people as well as whales should have some comment

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/magazine/23Mattel-t.html?th&emc=th

Here's my group's digital library project.  My grandfather served in WWII and saved lots of things - letters, stamps, coins, bills, and photos.  It's still a work in progress, so it may be taken down for a little while this afternoon.  This contains scans of some v-mail, letters, stamps, coins, and images.

http://classrm02.lis.uiuc.edu:4080/cgi-bin/library?site=localhost&a=p&p=about&c=scantest3&l=en&w=utf-8

Some of the images of the German stamps are fascinating, but chilling.

PoliticalBase.com has a great new site that maps Federal political contributions onto google maps. You can search by race type, candidate, party, ZIP, and a bunch of other stuff and then embed the maps or tables in a blog post.  For example, here's all the 2008 Presidential donations for ZIP Code 61820:

Person	Party	Contributed To	Date	Amount
Sharon Aday 502 W Hill St #105 Champaign, Illinois 61820 Not Employed @ Not Employed		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Jul 5, 2007	$25
Sharon Aday 502 W Hill St #105 Champaign, Illinois 61820 Not Employed @ Not Employed		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Aug 5, 2007	$25
Sharon Aday 502 W Hill St #105 Champaign, Illinois 61820 Not Employed @ Not Employed		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Sep 5, 2007	$25
Ms. Dorothy A Baker 6 Litchfield Ln Champaign, Illinois 61820 Retired @ Not Employed		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Mar 1, 2007	$1,000
Melina Barona 211 W Beardsley Ave Champaign, Illinois 61820 Academic Professional @ Uiuc		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Jul 27, 2007	$200
Mr. David W. Barr 1710 S. Neil Street Champaign, Illinois 61820 President @ Barr Real Estate		Mitt Romney for President in 2008	Aug 31, 2007	$500
Mr. Leslie Barr 1710 S. Neil Street Champaign, Illinois 61820 Information Requested Per Best Effo @ Information Requested Per Best Effo		Mitt Romney for President in 2008	Sep 26, 2007	$1,800
Elizabeth Barstead 602 Haines Blvd Champaign, Illinois 61820 President @ Hendrick Dorms Inc.		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Apr 5, 2007	$1,000
Elizabeth Barstead 602 Haines Blvd Champaign, Illinois 61820 President @ Hendrick Dorms Inc.		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Jun 28, 2007	$2,000
Elizabeth Barstead 602 Haines Blvd Champaign, Illinois 61820 President @ Hendrick Dorms Inc.		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Jun 28, 2007	$700
Elizabeth Barstead 602 Haines Blvd Champaign, Illinois 61820 President @ Hendrick Dorms Inc.		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Jun 28, 2007	$-700
Mr. David C. Eades 5 Lyndhurst Place Champaign, Illinois 61820 Retired		Rudy Giuliani for President in 2008	Jun 11, 2007	$1,000
Mr. Jeffrey Hartman 505 S. 5th Street Champaign, Illinois 61820 Apt. Owner/Investor @ Self-Employed		Mitt Romney for President in 2008	Sep 13, 2007	$2,300
Stanley O Ikenberry 1310 S 6th St # 347 Champaign, Illinois 61820 Regent Professor @ Univ.111@Urbaaa-Champaign		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Aug 10, 2007	$1,000
Gina A Jackson 907 N 5th St Champaign, Illinois 61820 Retired @ Not Employed		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Aug 10, 2007	$1,000
Pauline Kayes 712 S Prairie St Champaign, Illinois 61820 College Professor @ Parkland College		Hillary Clinton for President in 2008	Jan 22, 2007	$250
Pauline Kayes 712 S Prairie St Champaign, Illinois 61820 College Professor @ Parkland College		Hillary Clinton for President in 2008	Sep 7, 2007	$300
Don Kleinmuntz 2001 S 1st St Ste 200 Champaign, Illinois 61820 Executive Vice President @ Strata Decision Technology		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Feb 21, 2007	$250
Mr. James J. Liautaud 2212 Fox Drive Champaign, Illinois 61820 Chairman & C.E.O. @ Jimmy John'S		Rudy Giuliani for President in 2008	Aug 29, 2007	$2,300
Mr. Xi Lin 401 E Chalmers Apt 320 Champaign, Illinois 61820 Teaching Assistant @ University Of Illinois At Urbana-Ch		Rudy Giuliani for President in 2008	Apr 18, 2007	$250
Ms. Jeanette Mccollum 409 W Hill St Champaign, Illinois 61820 Professor @ University Of Il		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Sep 21, 2007	$50
Mr. Carlos A. Nieto 6 Taylor Street Champaign, Illinois 61820 Owner @ Self-Employed		Mitt Romney for President in 2008	Sep 12, 2007	$2,200
Michael Richards 409 W Columbia Ave Apt 2 Champaign, Illinois 61820 Information Requested @ Michael Richards Consulting		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Jun 8, 2007	$2,300
Yvette Scheven 107 N Elm St Apt 202 Champaign, Illinois 61820 Information Requested @ Information Requested		Barack Obama for President in 2008	Aug 10, 2007	$250
Mr. Rodrick L. Schmidt 1605 S. Statesuite 112 Champaign, Illinois 61820 President @ Royal Properties		Mitt Romney for President in 2008	Aug 31, 2007	$2,300
Mr. Jeffrey B. Wampler 627 E. Greenp.O. Box 1098 Champaign, Illinois 61820 President @ Sterling Management		Mitt Romney for President in 2008	Sep 18, 2007	$2,300
Mr. Joseph D. Wampler 701 Devonshire Drive Champaign, Illinois 61820 Information Requested Per Best Effo @ Information Requested Per Best Effo		Mitt Romney for President in 2008	Sep 26, 2007	$500

This is cool stuff - as voters and citizens and bloggers, we need more tools like this and less crappy, heavy-handed unconstitutional regulations like McCain-Feingold.

Go check it out.

An interesting sequence of events just happened (at least, it was interesting to me...)

About an hour ago, I got a Facebook "Friend Request" from a Jimmy Lee, UI '99.  Facebook requires that such requests be confirmed, and though I didn't really know him, I hesitated, but since he was the the same class as me at UI, I figured I just forgot him.  (That, and my inherent insecurity means I'm desperate for Facebook friends...)  I went ahead and confirmed him, but didn't really look at his profile or anything, figuring that I could always do that later to try and jog my memory.

Within ten minutes of confirming him, I got a group invitation from him - Jimmy Lee for Congress.  My new "friend" Mr. Lee is a Republican candidate for Congress in the 11th District, looking to replace the retiring Rep. Jerry Weller.  His group already has 352 members.

This is an interesting campaign technique, one which I'm sure has been much more utilized by Democrats than Republicans.  I'll be interested to see if it turns into meaningful political activity beyond Facebook - fundraising, voter contacts, etc. - especially in a GOP Primary.

Kudos to Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes for this new site:

Comptroller Dan Hynes today unveiled a user-friendly website that allows citizens to track political contributions made by companies that have state contracts.

“Open Book” is a searchable database of state contracts and campaign contributions that combines information from the Comptroller’s accounting system with official semi-annual campaign disclosure reports filed by political committees with the State Board of Elections (SBE).

“The purpose of Open Book is to make it much easier for the public to ‘follow the money,’” said Hynes. “That should make public officials more accountable to the people they serve. In turn, it is my hope that some measure of the public confidence in state government that has been lost over the years can be restored.”

Blog authors and commenters will hopefully do some digging on there.

(Hat tip:  CapFax)

From the DI:

The Emergency Text Message Notification System is fully operational as of Wednesday. Although tests are still being done on the number of messages that can be sent at a given time, the system is ready for use.

When activated, the system will go though each student and staff member according to University identification number and send a message to all outlets specified by the recipient.

After one recipient gets their set of emergency messages, the system will move on to the next number and continue until it reaches the end of the list.

This ensures that even students without capabilities to receive text messages will still be made aware of the necessary information should an emergency situation arise.

"The default is your UIUC e-mail address," said Mark Briggs, director of Risk Management. "What we want is for everyone, especially students, to go in and put their text message information in."

Discuss.

Yesterday, between 8:30 AM and 9:51 PM, the Rudy Giuliani campaign sent me 18 different emails, most of them relating to a debate that absolutley nobody noticed and that was viewed by precisely zero undecided voters.  The other campaigns sent a similar deluge.  Part of it comes because I've signed up for various email lists of various campaigns.  Part of it is due to being a blogger.

And I'm not in a position to be giving advice to Presidential campaigns.  I know all too well that I've got my hands full with one Congressional District.  But if you're a campaign and you send someone 18 different emails in a single day, they're not going to read any of them - it's just too overwhelming, and your message gets lost - not just lost in the noise, but lost in your own noise.

Please - a little more selectivity would be most welcome, and would help you to deliver your message more effectively.

The News-Gazette may wish to note that the New York Times has tried charging users for content, and they have failed.

The New York Times will stop charging for access to parts of its Web site, effective at midnight Tuesday night.

The move comes two years to the day after The Times began the subscription program, TimesSelect, which has charged $49.95 a year, or $7.95 a month, for online access to the work of its columnists and to the newspaper’s archives. TimesSelect has been free to print subscribers to The Times and to some students and educators.

In addition to opening the entire site to all readers, The Times will also make available its archives from 1987 to the present without charge, as well as those from 1851 to 1922, which are in the public domain. There will be charges for some material from the period 1923 to 1986, and some will be free.

The Times said the project had met expectations, drawing 227,000 paying subscribers — out of 787,000 over all — and generating about $10 million a year in revenue.

“But our projections for growth on that paid subscriber base were low, compared to the growth of online advertising,” said Vivian L. Schiller, senior vice president and general manager of the site, NYTimes.com.

What changed, The Times said, was that many more readers started coming to the site from search engines and links on other sites instead of coming directly to NYTimes.com. These indirect readers, unable to get access to articles behind the pay wall and less likely to pay subscription fees than the more loyal direct users, were seen as opportunities for more page views and increased advertising revenue.

“What wasn’t anticipated was the explosion in how much of our traffic would be generated by Google, by Yahoo and some others,” Ms. Schiller said.

That's not to say that the NYT is always right, that there weren't other factors or that such a business model cannot work.  Just pointing it out...

The News-Gazette today reported that you can now get energy credits in Illinois.

Illinoisans who buy solar panels, wind generators or other types of renewable energy equipment can now get a little more bang for their buck.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently signed legislation creating a statewide net-metering program, which means customers can use excess power they generate through such equipment as a credit against electricity they buy from their utility company. In a year when electricity rates jumped significantly, that could make a big difference in a customer's bill.

Ameren apparently didn't offer this before, but says they're not opposed to it. It'll be interesting to see how many people make the conversion. If I didn't have a huge big shady tree on the east side of my house, thereby limiting that side's exposure to sunlight, it would be a lot more attractive to me. Maybe if I put them on top of the garage?