Computing

17
Nov
By Bob Weeks

Net neutrality, regulation, and the internet

Dr. Theodore Bolema is founding director of the Institute for the Study of Economic Growth at Wichita State University and member of the Department of Economics at Wichita State University. On November 8, 2019 he spoke at the Wichita Pachyderm Club on the topics of net neutrality and regulation of the internet. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Video production by Paul Soutar.
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Being safe online
15
Jul
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Being safe online

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Dave Cunningham of Flint Hills Group joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss online threats and how to remain safe. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 158, broadcast July 16, 2017. Shownotes Flint Hills Group Here are graphics displayed during the show Document: Your first steps after a ransomeware attack
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If you aren’t getting email from Voice for Liberty
26
Feb
By Bob Weeks

If you aren’t getting email from Voice for Liberty

Troubleshoot why you aren't getting email from Voice for Liberty or other senders. From time to time people ask me if I'm still sending email newsletters from the Voice for Liberty. The answer is yes, I am. But some people tell me they aren't receiving them, even though I have verified that the emails are, indeed, being sent. So if you aren't receiving your email from the Voice for Liberty or other senders, here are some troubleshooting steps. (I usually send Friday morning, but sometimes also on other days.) Spam. Just what is it? Most email programs or systems filter…
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13
Nov
By Bob Weeks

Cato Institute: A discussion of net neutrality

From Cato Institute, a discussion of net neutrality. The debate continues over whether "net neutrality" is the equivalent of old-school utility regulation of telecommunication firms. The President and others are now asking the FCC to treat telecom firms in the same ways telephone companies were treated decades ago. Berin Szoka, president of TechFreedom, comments. View below, or click here to view at YouTube.
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13
Jun
By Bob Weeks

I’m concerned about Google

As someone who uses and relies on many Google products, I'm concerned when the company's CEO says "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place." This quote is attributed to Google CEO Eric Schmidt in 2009. Tim Carney has more in the Washington Examiner at Even law-abiding people should oppose surveillance. "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know," Google CEO Eric Schmidt said in 2009, "maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place." This line was creepy enough coming from one…
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24
Jan
By Guest Author

Congress should reserve the right to protect our wireless future

From Erik Telford Wireless technology is great. Only a few years ago, most Kansans were using their phones to call, and perhaps even text, now mobile devices are essentially small computers in the palms of our hands -- capable of almost anything. According to Nielsen research, about 44 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers now own smartphones.[i] In Kansas, there are more than 2.4 million wireless subscribers[ii] and nearly 450,000 of those subscribers have data plans with full Internet access for more than 1 million high-speed mobile devices as of December 2009.[iii] With mobile devices capable of almost anything, Kansans are…
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26
Dec
By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday December 26, 2011

Kansas computer security. This month the Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit released an audit looking at how well five Kansas state government agencies kept their computers up-to-date. The audit found: "Three of the five agencies had significant vulnerabilities because of inadequate workstation patching processes, and all five could make some minor improvements to their patching process." Patching refers to the process of keeping software updated. The most important updates, or patches, concern security vulnerabilities that have been discovered and fixed. Some of these vulnerabilities are serious and can lead to computers and networks being compromised. The report is at…
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24
Oct
By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday October 24, 2010

Surprise endorsement from Wichita Eagle. Today the Wichita Eagle endorsed Republican Mike Pompeo over Democrat Raj Goyle in the race for the Kansas fourth Congressional district. Surprising. Still, the Eagle editorial board can't help reveal its preference for big, expansive government by taking a few digs at Pompeo, describing his free-market, limited government views as "overly idealistic at times." Continuing, the Eagle wrote "For example, he believes that there wouldn't be a need for farm subsidies or economic development incentives if there were lower tax rates and a friendlier and more stable regulatory environment. That's not the real world." The…
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07
Sep
By Bob Weeks

Sedgwick County updates agenda information system

Recently Sedgwick County implemented a new system for making its commission agendas and accompanying background material available online. Previously, only the agenda itself was available online. Agendas contain just a brief description of each item to be handled at meetings. If citizens wanted more information about an item, they had to travel to the courthouse to obtain a printed copy of the agenda report. This document, which might be several hundred pages in length, contains detailed information about each item. It's the type of information that citizens need if they are to be informed about the matters the commission will…
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13
Aug
By Bob Weeks

Internet regulation, or net neutrality, would harm investment, says former official

At a luncheon event in Wichita, Bruce Mehlman of the Internet Innovation Alliance told an audience that increased regulation of the internet -- the principle known as "net neutrality" -- would harm capital investment in broadband internet service. Mehlman was formerly Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy and now serves as co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance and as partner in a Washington lobbying firm. Mehlman laid out some of the facts of broadband internet: all the varied things businesses and people do with the high-speed transmission of data, the fact that broadband internet has been rapidly adopted, and…
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05
Aug
By Bob Weeks

Wichita event: The future of innovation and investment in broadband

The FCC has proposed reclassifying the Internet as a public utility to get total regulatory control. How can you help stop the FCC Internet takeover? Learn about the efforts to keep the Internet in the free market during a free lunch seminar, “The Future of Innovation & Investment in Broadband” next Thursday at the Wichita Petroleum Club. Hear from Bruce Mehlman, co-chair of the Internet Innovation Alliance and former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy in the George W. Bush administration, on efforts to expand broadband access and how to keep the Internet in the free market. Registration is…
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25
Feb
By Bob Weeks

Kansas Republican online efforts lag

If online political activity has any value, Kansas Republicans aren't providing much. Many Kansas Republican websites and online outreach efforts are stale and lagging behind in providing timely and quality information. As of today, the most recent post on The Kansas Trunkline (promoted as "The Official Blog of the Kansas Republican Party") is dated November 30, 2009. That's coming up on three months old. If blogs have any defining characteristics, one is frequent updates with timely material. That's not happening here. This blog is promoted on the front page of the Kansas Republican Party website. That site doesn't fare much…
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13
Feb
By Bob Weeks

Why Obama is wrong about net neutrality

"Net neutrality" sounds like a noble concept, doesn't it? But it's another example of one political position co-opting language in a way that mislabels the underlying agenda. In this case, net neutrality is a struggle over who should control the Internet. Some describe the contest as between government and free markets, while some think it's between two competing set of corporate interests. It shouldn't be a surprise as to who President Obama believes should control the Internet. Other resources on this topic: Save the Internet 'Net Neutrality' Is Socialism, Not Freedom The Durable Internet: Preserving Network Neutrality without Regulation AT&T,…
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09
May
By Bob Weeks

I’ll help you with technology

I hate to see activists struggle with technology. Whether it's creating and managing a blog, using Facebook or Twitter, or just using computers and the Internet effectively, I'd like to help. Crossloop is a tool that lets people work together remotely. By using it, you'll be able to see my computer screen, and I -- with your permission -- can see yours. Working together this way, we can resolve many problems quickly. If you're a center-right or libertarian activist and need help, contact me. It's free. You'll have to do an easy download of some software, but you don't have…
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30
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Articles of Interest

Capitalism, CFL bulbs, green indoctrination, bailout constitutionality, Facebook, Twitter 'The Road to Serfdom' revisited: Markets display uncertainty over future of capitalism itself (Scott S. Powell in the Washington Times) Discussion of how government interventionism in the economy is not helping. "President Eisenhower called it 'creeping socialism.' Nobel Prize winner Friedrich von Hayek called it 'The Road to Serfdom.'" Do New Bulbs Save Energy if They Don’t Work? (New York Times) Many customers are not happy with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Short life for the expensive bulbs is a common irritation. 'Green Hell' Coming Soon to a Life Like Yours (Human…
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25
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Wichita City Arts tech studio proposed

Randy Roebuck, in a presentation at the Wichita city council workshop, promoted the idea of a "digital oasis" in Wichita. It would be a place where people can go to get free help with technologies such as cell phones and computers. He told of how an Apple Genius Bar does things like this. Council member Jim Skelton asked who runs an Apple Genius Bar? Apple Computer Corporation, of course. Later council member Paul Gray continued with questions based on Skelton's. Why not an Apple Genius Bar in Wichita? Why is the city competing with private business? City officials insist they…
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19
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Pew Internet and American Life Project Redesign

The Pew Internet & American Life Project has redesigned their website. This organization has been a valuable source of information about the Internet and how people are using it. As an example, here are some of their recent research reports: Twitter and status updating: "As of December 2008, 11% of online American adults said they used a service like Twitter or another service that allowed them to share updates about themselves or to see the updates of others." Adults and Social Network Websites: "The share of adult internet users who have a profile on an online social network site has…
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