INTERNET & SOCIETY
Antiwar Song, With Whimsy
Civic Hacking: A New Agenda for E-Democracy
WIRELESS
Want Fries or Wireless With That?
E-COMMERCE
N.Y. Senate Passes Bill Authorizing Tax on Internet Sale
INTERNET & SOCIETY
ANTIWAR SONG, WITH WHIMSY
The Beastie Boys have taken to the Web to release a new song critical of the
potential US war with Iraq. The band, which has been working on a new studio
album, chose to release the song on their website well ahead of the
completed album. "We were working on our record, and we realized that by the
time we finished a record that it might be a bit late to get out some of the
things we wanted to comment on," said Beastie Boy Adam Yauch. "So we figured
we'd finish the song and post it [on the Web]." Radio stations received no
advance notice of the single, which also serves as the Beasties' message to
the rest of the world that "the messages [Bush is] sending out aren't
necessarily the view of all Americans," the group said.
[SOURCE: The New York Times, AUTHOR: Neil Strauss]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/12/arts/music/12POPL.html)
CIVIC HACKING: A NEW AGENDA FOR E-DEMOCRACY
[Commentary] The focus of e-governance in the UK has been on attracting
disaffected youth into participation. However, as James Crabtree points out,
ease of access alone will not entice those who do not see the value taking
part in politics. There is still use for e-government, however, helping
people to help themselves, their communities and other like-minded
individuals. Crabtree promotes a concept of "civic hacking" that would allow
for collaboration amongst citizens to solve problems rather than fostering a
reliance on the state and the bureaucratic process.
[SOURCE: openDemocracy, AUTHOR: James Crabtree]
(http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-8-85-1025.jsp)
WIRELESS
WANT FRIES OR WIRELESS WITH THAT?
McDonald's will offer wireless Internet access in some of its restaurants
beginning today. Patrons will receive an hour of free Wi-Fi access with the
purchase of a combination meal in three Manhattan-area locations, and the
company plans to offer the service in 300 restaurants in New York, Chicago
and an undetermined California city by year's end. The move coincides with
the release of Intel's Centrino processor, a chip that contains a built-in
Wi-Fi transceiver capable of speeds up to 11 Mbps.
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://www.wired.com/news/wireless/0,1382,58000,00.html)
E-COMMERCE
N.Y. SENATE PASSES BILL AUTHORIZING TAX ON INTERNET SALE
The New York state Senate unanimously passed a measure Tuesday allowing for
the collection of sales tax on goods and services purchased over the
Internet. The bill would allow New York to participate in the multi-state
effort toward adopting a uniform Internet sales tax while also providing a
much-needed revenue boost to help plug an $11.5 billion budget hole.
Governor George Pataki has opposed Internet taxation but will review the
senate action.
[SOURCE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: Alicia Chang]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11766-2003Mar11.html)
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