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Copyright: 1974-2013 Bob Frankston |
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Writings and Musings
Welcome to my writings.
If you want the primary essays check out the sidebar on the left.
Other essays are listed in chronological order and then by category. The main essays are in larger letters and minor documents (such as messages posted on discussion sites) are indented and in smaller letters. The documents themselves are located on this site (www.Frankston.com) and on www.SATN.org which I share with David Reed and Dan Bricklin. Documents on external sites are mirrored in case those sites disappear. In most cases the copies are listed as alternates and may vary a little from the originals.
You can send me Email. Note this unique address is only valid for the next few days.
The best way to link to a document is as http://rmf.vc/keyword.
| By default only the most recent posts are shown, to see: | ||
| • | Recent By Date | Posts from the last few months |
| • | Columns | Columns written in 1998-1999 -- blogging before blogs |
| • | All | All posts -- hundreds |
Writings and Updates by Date
Some of the recent entries are also listed on the sidebar. Secondary items such as postings on other mailing lists are indented. Note that the year shown is the year the essay was updated. An essay written in 1979 might be listed under 2009 if it was updated recently.
Years: all recent 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995 1994 1993 1989 1979 1974
Year: 2013
The Shame of Boston's Wireless Woes 4/23/2013
RISKS: Congestion problems in an emergency are typically a result of telecom policyexternal site
RISKS: Congestion problems in an emergency are typically a result of telecom policyexternal site
Re The risks of/when not releasing your code & data: Shocking Paper Claims That Microsoft Excel Coding Error Is Behind The Reinhart-Rogoff Study On Debt 4/17/2013
A reminder to beware of advocates proving their pointIPList
A reminder to beware of advocates proving their pointIPList
This 1998 Paul Krugman Column Perfectly Explains The Design Flaw At The Heart Of Bitcoin 4/5/2013
Bitcoins have an avid following but is it magical thinking?IPList
Bitcoins have an avid following but is it magical thinking?IPList
Multiple Subsea System Failures 3/27/2013
Another remind of the risks of making our ability to communicate profit centerIPList
Another remind of the risks of making our ability to communicate profit centerIPList
ICANN Trademark Clearinghouse launches today 3/26/2013
ICANN is attempting to extend it's problematic DNS into the realm of trademark.IPList
ICANN is attempting to extend it's problematic DNS into the realm of trademark.IPList
Re PR watch: Community-Owned Internet, Long Targeted by ALEC and Big Telecom, Under Fire in Georgia 3/20/2013
What does it mean to own a community network -- is the owner an excluder?IPList
What does it mean to own a community network -- is the owner an excluder?IPList
Re "Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the InterWeb"-- 3/9/2013
To many people the Internet and the web are synonymous. We have to understand that if we are to explain the technology.IPList
To many people the Internet and the web are synonymous. We have to understand that if we are to explain the technology.IPList
Re: Criticism Of Copyright Alert System Mounts 3/3/2013
Having your the provider of the only means by which you excercise your right to free speech snooping in case you are annoying the RIAA is a direct afront to the US First Amendment. Yet the sheep are silent.nnsquad
Having your the provider of the only means by which you excercise your right to free speech snooping in case you are annoying the RIAA is a direct afront to the US First Amendment. Yet the sheep are silent.nnsquad
Re: Automakers Oppose FCC's Proposal to Free Up Wireless Spectrum for Wi-Fi 2/22/2013
Fights over "Frequencies" are framed in terms of everyone having their own private Internet. And that's indeed the way the FCC sees it.nnsquad
Fights over "Frequencies" are framed in terms of everyone having their own private Internet. And that's indeed the way the FCC sees it.nnsquad
The Wrist: Information near Your Fingertips 9/27/1993 (Updated: 2/14/2013)
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In 1993 I wrote about the importance of the wrist as real estate for information. After twenty years the ideas seem be becoming mainstream.
In 1993 I wrote about the importance of the wrist as real estate for information. After twenty years the ideas seem be becoming mainstream.
When Will the Internet Reach Its Limit (and How Do We Stop That from Happening)?: Scientific American 2/13/2013
Bell Lab head confuses Claude Shannon's measure with information that humans care about.IPList
Bell Lab head confuses Claude Shannon's measure with information that humans care about.IPList
When Will the Internet Reach Its Limit (and How Do We Stop That from Happening)? 2/13/2013
More fears of "running out of Internet". WTF does that even mean?IPList
More fears of "running out of Internet". WTF does that even mean?IPList
Refactoring Consumer Electronics 12/24/2012 (Updated: 1/31/2013)
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The original version of my the Refactoring CE article
The original version of my the Refactoring CE article
re A telecom service provider using the Internet is just dandy with NATs 1/24/2013
Don't confusing providers using the Internet to provide services with providing connectivity for your own innovations.IPList
Don't confusing providers using the Internet to provide services with providing connectivity for your own innovations.IPList
Montana family accused of swindling $70M via customer phone bills | World | News | National Post 1/21/2013
Do you really want the a phone company "buying" stuff for you you don't want?IPList
Do you really want the a phone company "buying" stuff for you you don't want?IPList
Refactoring Consumer Electronics 1/15/2013
Article in the January 2013 issue of the IEEE Consumer Electronics magazine. The concepts behind the Internet -- the best efforts exchange of raw bits -- represents a basic shift from a framing of electrons and pipes to one in which we can focus on relationships and applications. (The HTML version is available here)external site
Article in the January 2013 issue of the IEEE Consumer Electronics magazine. The concepts behind the Internet -- the best efforts exchange of raw bits -- represents a basic shift from a framing of electrons and pipes to one in which we can focus on relationships and applications. (The HTML version is available here)external site
Re not, Re: [IP] LOOKS LEGIT. Online Banking Interruption 1/6/2013
The hueristics that worked for pMail doesn't work as well in vouching for eMailIPList
The hueristics that worked for pMail doesn't work as well in vouching for eMailIPList
Year: 2012
Information versus Telecom 5/5/2011 (Updated: 12/26/2012)
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If you think that the Internet is important because it's a network you're missing the point.
If you think that the Internet is important because it's a network you're missing the point.
Today's telecommunications industry exists in defiance of all we've learned about "information" in the last 100 years.
In 1897 the British Copyright office warned us about the danger of creating scarcity by taking our abundance and converting it to private property. In 1949 Claude Shannon gave us a science of "Information" that helped us understand the distinction between bits and what we do with them.
The generativity of today's Internet demonstrates the power of the idea.
We need to build on this understanding and experience to create an infrastructure that supports the exchange of bits. We can then focus on relationships and creating value rather than getting lost in the constricted pipes of today's Telecom.
USB Rubber Ducky Online Payload Generator 12/18/2012
A worrisome attack vector via low level device interfaces.IPList
A worrisome attack vector via low level device interfaces.IPList
Re Seattle is the latest city to go around ISPs to get a gigabit network 12/15/2012
One day a Gigabit may matter but today such connections are simply PR fodder deverting our attention from demanding availability.IPList
One day a Gigabit may matter but today such connections are simply PR fodder deverting our attention from demanding availability.IPList
3D in Perspective – First Thoughts 5/23/2010 (Updated: 11/25/2012)
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I'm excited about the possibilities for stereoscopic (3D) viewing but we need to step back to understand the possibilities. It may be far more about your family photo album than big budget movies.
I'm excited about the possibilities for stereoscopic (3D) viewing but we need to step back to understand the possibilities. It may be far more about your family photo album than big budget movies.
re ITU gone wild -- an invited (by me) note from Tony Rutkowski (comments welcomed :-) ) 11/23/2012
IPList
Re ITU gone wild 11/21/2012
We need to remember that the problem with the ITU is not the details of their proposals but in the fact that telecommunications is a very different paradigm from the Internet.IPList
We need to remember that the problem with the ITU is not the details of their proposals but in the fact that telecommunications is a very different paradigm from the Internet.IPList
ALEC-ATT-Verizon-FCC vs. what we want vs. what we need 11/18/2012
A post about choices in connectivity based on a Kushnick proposalSilicon Investor
A post about choices in connectivity based on a Kushnick proposalSilicon Investor
Internet Connectivity: Toward a Sustainable Funding Model 11/5/2012
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I wrote this for an Internet Society discussion on policy issues. ITU gives us a Hobson's choice for sender or payer pays. There is another option -- paying for a common infrastructure. This avoids the problems with traditional telecom funding modes. (Also available on CircleID)
I wrote this for an Internet Society discussion on policy issues. ITU gives us a Hobson's choice for sender or payer pays. There is another option -- paying for a common infrastructure. This avoids the problems with traditional telecom funding modes. (Also available on CircleID)
The Risks of Telecom 10/21/2012
The recent New Yorker story about an accident on the Chinese railroad mentioned a passenger upload a picture to the web while the train's engineer couldn't communciate because he had to use a traditional communications system.gplus
The recent New Yorker story about an accident on the Chinese railroad mentioned a passenger upload a picture to the web while the train's engineer couldn't communciate because he had to use a traditional communications system.gplus
Fwd: [IP] Who Made That Escape Key? - NYTimes.com 10/7/2012
A light hearted piece on the ESCape key in the NYT Magazine.IPList
A light hearted piece on the ESCape key in the NYT Magazine.IPList
Podcast with Chris Mitchell of Muninet 9/27/2012
We talk about how to make connectivity more available to communities.external site
We talk about how to make connectivity more available to communities.external site
Re: The disappearing web: Information decay is eating away our history 9/23/2012
Too bad the DNS assures the Internet will unravel.nnsquad
Too bad the DNS assures the Internet will unravel.nnsquad
Re Who Benefits From iOS6's Crappy Maps and other business models 9/22/2012
If we are to understand why Apple wants to own their maps and why telecommunications companies are what they are we need to look at how the various markets work.IPList
If we are to understand why Apple wants to own their maps and why telecommunications companies are what they are we need to look at how the various markets work.IPList
T-Mobile Closed my Local Store 9/16/2012
My local T-Mobile store had knowledge staff -- that's why I know and use T-Mobile. Now they are devolving into simply a second tier carrier. Their ads don't do much to tell me what is different (actually selling phones instead of just leasing).gplus
My local T-Mobile store had knowledge staff -- that's why I know and use T-Mobile. Now they are devolving into simply a second tier carrier. Their ads don't do much to tell me what is different (actually selling phones instead of just leasing).gplus
The Signal has Left the Network 9/7/2012 (Updated: 9/8/2012)
The power of the Internet comes from radical simplicity as I explain this talk I gave to the IEEE Communications Society.
The power of the Internet comes from radical simplicity as I explain this talk I gave to the IEEE Communications Society.
Implementing VisiCalc 4/6/2003 (Updated: 8/29/2012)
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The story of how we implemented VisiCalc. We always viewed VisiCalc as a product, not a program. The program itself was just a means of delivering the product and only part of the larger experience. computing
The story of how we implemented VisiCalc. We always viewed VisiCalc as a product, not a program. The program itself was just a means of delivering the product and only part of the larger experience. computing
Owning blue? 8/14/2012
Frank posted some of my comments about the business of owning colors.external site
Frank posted some of my comments about the business of owning colors.external site
Grand Debate:The Internet vs. Telecom 8/8/2012
Announcement for the preview for the GlobeCom event.IPList
Announcement for the preview for the GlobeCom event.IPList
The PSTN vs. the Internet 8/6/2012
The PSTN and Internet are different ways to use the same resources. We should look the post-PSTN era as an opportunity rather than a threat.IPList
The PSTN and Internet are different ways to use the same resources. We should look the post-PSTN era as an opportunity rather than a threat.IPList
AT&T to Discontinue GSM and EDGE 2G Networks by 2017 8/5/2012
How do we build persistent devices when we are dependent upon the whim of a path provider?IPList
How do we build persistent devices when we are dependent upon the whim of a path provider?IPList
Wi-Fi and Smartphones Make Homes a Little Smarter - NYTimes.com V2 8/2/2012
We're starting to see devices that take advantage of connectivity with the whom. It's a reminder that the Internet isn't just about the web and a reminder of how much further we have to go.IPList
We're starting to see devices that take advantage of connectivity with the whom. It's a reminder that the Internet isn't just about the web and a reminder of how much further we have to go.IPList
More ‘wireless’ Internet” begs the question. 7/27/2012 (Updated: 8/1/2012)
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If we are to best support the needs of society and the economy we need to first ask the right questions.
If we are to best support the needs of society and the economy we need to first ask the right questions.
Spectrum as Farmland? 5/10/2009 (Updated: 7/28/2012)
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I can understand why the idea of spectrum auctions are so attractive to economists. But is it good policy? Is spectrum really like "40 acres and a mule"? Spectrum is not dirt.
I can understand why the idea of spectrum auctions are so attractive to economists. But is it good policy? Is spectrum really like "40 acres and a mule"? Spectrum is not dirt.
re Who Really Invented the Internet? -WSJ 7/23/2012
The problem with this attempt to make up a political myth is not just that it gets it wrong but it confuses an idea with an implementation.IPList
The problem with this attempt to make up a political myth is not just that it gets it wrong but it confuses an idea with an implementation.IPList
Re Making the Most of the Wireless Spectrum 7/20/2012
The governments PCAST's embrace of "spectrum sharing" misses the point of the Internet.IPList
The governments PCAST's embrace of "spectrum sharing" misses the point of the Internet.IPList
Thinking outside the pipe 10/17/2011 (Updated: 7/19/2012)
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The idea that bits must flow through wires or virtual pipes makes it hard to think of the Internet as infrastructure like roads. We communicate by exchanging bits. We need to move beyond the pipe or railroad metaphors if we are to take advantage of the abundant opportunities all around us.
The idea that bits must flow through wires or virtual pipes makes it hard to think of the Internet as infrastructure like roads. We communicate by exchanging bits. We need to move beyond the pipe or railroad metaphors if we are to take advantage of the abundant opportunities all around us.
The light bulb as an end point. 6/22/2012
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You can buy LED bulbs that be act as network end points in themselves rather than depending on the light fixture.
You can buy LED bulbs that be act as network end points in themselves rather than depending on the light fixture.