Month: February 2006

Working with technology can be frustrating. Sometimes it seems things do not work like they should. Cindy brought my attention to a blog entry by David Warlich in which he describes his frustration in dealing with such issues. Sounds like you she said.

Sure enough I ran into what sounds like a similar problem today. I run web applications on inexpensive machines (old Macs I can pick up around the university) using open source software (apache, php, mysql). Sometimes, things just stop working. A problem with a complex environment built from multiple components is that one little thing can be changed in one of the components (or within the operating system of the host computer) and suddenly nothing works. The folks working on these individual components work on their individual pet projects and it is easy to see why “one little thing” can go wrong. No one is responsible for making certain all the pieces will continue to work together.

In this case, I think it was Apple’s fault. I upgraded to the newest operating system (10.4) on two of my machines several months ago. One machine stopped working and no matter what I did I could not get the web resources I had developed to work again. I went back to system 10.3 and the software worked. Today, the other 10.4 machine stopped working.This time I did a little more Internet research before moving the machine back to an earlier operating system and came across a blog entry that reported a problem very similar to my own. I tried the solution someone provided and the problem was fixed within 5 minutes. The first failure probably cost my 10 hours of frustration. This time the same problem was fixed within minutes. This Internet search stuff is pretty amazing.

Dave – if you happen to read this post, check out the link that I include above. Apple – I hope you did not mess up the verion of PHP you provide to better support the AppleServer solution you sell. Such tactics would really disappoint me (even if done within the context of better security). I must just keep telling myself – problem solving is fun, problem solving is fun.

Perhaps you are familiar with the latest Wikipedia.com controversy. Staffers working for Rep. Marty Meehan have altered a previously posted description of Representative Meehan. Wikipedia is “social software” and is based on the assumption (by my interpretation) that those with knowledge in an area will post information or upgrade the posts provided by others. The assumption has proven idealistic as those with competing views may see the same situation in different ways.

The situation described here is not exactly a difference in perspective. The issue in the Meehan situation is that the information removed by the staffers was a matter of public record and the staffers have altered the original post to portray their boss in a more positive (but not necessarily more accurate manner). Mr. Meehan did “in fact” make a campaign promise not to serve for more than eight years. Information provided by the Federal Election Commission indicates he has built a campaign fund of $4.8 million.

Perhaps an upgrade rather than an outright alteration would have been more honest. It would seem fair to include an additional comment indicating that politicians do change their minds. I am not certain how the fund raising issue should be clarified.

Evidently, altering wikipedia “information” on our elected officials has become a recent and common practice. What should we tell the kids about this type of thing? Note to politicians – this is not what they meant by the “hacker ethic.”

Related online article from Lowell Sun

The PEW Internet and American Life project has released a new report (Note – this link will download the pdf). This report concludes that the Internet helps family members develop more effective social networks and plays an important role when family members face important personal decisions. 45% percent claim that the Internet played a role (communication with family members, information access) in an important life decision made within the last year. What are the implications for educators? Perhaps – what are the disadvantages for those families without access, have citizens learned to locate useful information, have citizens learned to communicate effectively?