I do think that the impasse we
(collectively) find ourselves at is a fundamental aspect of the
human condition:
We will (often) take convenience and familiarity over safe or
healthy. Our consumer economy has shaped itself around this
simple fact. Even "don't be Evil" Google seems to have slid down
into a trough of relative evil... maybe we can blame the NSA for
using there inordinately large carrots and sticks on them
(disgusting image noted, possibly subliminally intended, but not
overtly).
I have to admit to being intimidated by the array of
alternatives... Like Glen (implied?), I find Google so
easy/familiar, that anything else sucks by definition. I get
whigged on the rare occasion when I search up with my iPhone and
get Yahoo search as a default... I"m sure it is fine, but I still
feel cheated and vaguely untrusting that there is a better
option. And as Glen refined, search by time range is a useful
option in Google Advanced Search.
I'm glad to see that the "little guy" is standing up... and I feel
like a fool to be wishing for this kind of resistance while
failing to step up and do my part by even "using" it, much less
adding to the code base. But I think the numbers are on our
side. Not unlike that of an arms (literal or between pharma and
biota, or ...) race. Just when we think we are winning we get a
surprise.
That in mind, I'm looking forward to Stephanie Forrest's talks at
the SFI Ulam series on Sept 10,11,12.
http://www.santafe.edu/news/item/ulam-lectures-forrest-announce/
Note however, (no dismissal of Stephanie's work nor her personal
character), that she is a State Department Fellow and her work has
been funded by the DoD and other US Gov't for some time (as much
of Academia is naturally) so we should not have any illusions that
the NSA and others are not unaware nor poorly advised regarding
the phenomena in question.
- Steve
On 8/30/13 9:25 AM, glen wrote:
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College