For a while now there’s been something of an outcry against L.A.-are hospitals, police departments, etc. for the practice of “dumping” those without an address on Skid Row. The latest incident was particularly egregious, as it involved the dumping of a paraplegic with a colostomy bag in the gutter without even a wheelchair, in front of two dozen witnesses. The driver of the van from Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center then took the time to reapply her makeup and perfume before driving away. More details in today’s paper.
Two comments on two quotes from Yochai Benkler
I’m starting a project on Yochai Benkler’s The Wealth of Networks, and already a couple quotes have caught my attention.
Benkler spends most of the book describing how our information, as opposed to material goods, often comes from non-profit/voluntary/ad hoc sources. In setting up this argument, he begins chapter 2 thus:
There are no noncommercial automobile manufacturers. There are no volunteer steel foundries. You would never have your primary source of bread depend on voluntary contributions from others.
Many people choose to depend on the kindness of strangers. At times, I myself have depended on voluntary contributions from others. A whole strand of itinerant Christianity is based on this model.
My nitpicking is irrelevant to the thrust of his argument, but still I wish he’d make a place for bums in his otherwise compulsively thorough world view.
Another quote:
If all copyright on newspapers were abolished, the revenues of newspapers would be little affected.
(See Note 6.)
When I look at the on-line versions of the Worcester papers, I see ample room for improvement. And in a world without newspaper copyright, someone could spend a couple days making a site that would grab content from the T&G and WoMag websites, import it into a decent Content Management System, and republish it on the web in a competent way. I would surely visit that site rather than the crappy ones that exist now. Trouble is, there’s probably not enough on-line ad revenue associate with this content, so nobody would take the time.
Does this argument about newspaper copyright hold in the virtual world because newspapers have no virtual future? Or is newspaper copyright key to that virtual future?
I shouldn’t think about these things before I’ve had my coffee.
NB: You can also read thought by people smarter than me about this book.
Items
Respect Worcester: A couple weeks ago on his vegan podcast, Erik Marcus was talking trash about Worcester. So I e-mailed him about the vegan leafleting we did yesterday, and on a late-night podcast he made a public apology. (mp3, starts at 14:45)
I should mention that I think his book Meat Market is one of the best animal-friendly books out there, ranking with Ethics Into Action, Becoming Vegan, and Vegan With A Vengeance.
Best blog post title of 2007 (so far): Anarcho-Catholicism in a Nutshell.
Mooninites: Worcesterites are of course fascinated by the foibles of the metropolis to the East. Radioball has a good post, Volcanoboy a good thread, and patduffy speaks for the youth.
Narco News: It has been suggested that the Worcester Library should pre-order The People Decide, a book about Oaxaca. I’ll put in my request at the info desk. I bet if two or three other people request this book, they’ll order it.
Vatican Warms to Climate Change: Nuff said.
Father Bernie Gilgun remembers Abbie Hoffman
An excerpt from “To Abbie With Love.” (The gent at the beginning is Abbie’s brother, Jack.)
You can download a high-res mpeg-2 (110M) or see other formats.
See blip.tv to share this movie.
Confession in South Bend homeless murders
Police are reporting that a suspect they had in custody confessed to involvement in the murders of Mike Lawson and three other homeless men in South Bend. Previous P&C coverage on this here and here.
Update (by Mike B): This slideshow by the Tribune gives a nice overview of the “scrapping” trade. The accompanying article gets into some of the details.
Particularly among the homeless, the quiet college town of South Bend cemented its reputation for tolerance and hospitality a long time ago. For years, it has been the place to go from around the region for emergency shelter, free meals, and even shots of hope, some said, from myriad charities and service groups.
Fr Bernie Gilgun’s homily, Feb 2, 2007
This is a recording of a homily by Father Bernie Gilgun, from his weekly Mass at the Mustard Seed in Worcester, Massachusetts. You can download the mp3 (7.9MB) or see other formats. You can also subscribe (RSS) to the podcast. It so happens this was the fifth anniversary of my moving to Worcester to become a Catholic Worker.
Even More Advice for Konnie Lukes
After reading the umpteenth article in the local paper giving advice to our new mayor, Konstantina B. Lukes, Nat picked up his ukulele, walked into a City Council meeting, and performed “Even More Advice for Konnie Lukes.”
Kevin Ksen taped most of it.
Then last week, Worcester Indymedia taped Nat performing the song at the Sahara on Highland St. We put the clip in our latest news video, but you can also watch just the song.
Video: mp4 (13MB) and other formats
Audio: mp3 and other formats
R.I.P., Rep. Robert F. Drinan, S.J. (D-Mass.)
You can learn a lot reading the news obituaries in the paper. This morning, I found out about Robert F. Drinan, a Jesuit who became the first Catholic priest elected to Congress. The prospect of a priest in office is an interesting one, but apparently the Vatican didn’t think it was such a good idea and asked him (and other priests) to step down by 1980. It sounds like he was a strong voice against war, but the paper notes cryptically that he was a “moderate” on abortion. Of course, a great number of Protestant ministers hold elected office in the U.S., but as a priest is supposed to take orders from the Vatican, that could create personal or church/state conflicts. Do any of you in Massachusetts know more about Father Drinan?
Solidarity Event at Stone Soup
Solidarity Event at Stone Soup (4 King St.)
Maggie Newburger is home for a week from Morazan, El Salvador and she is working to raise money to help fight a dam that would be devastating to thousands of people in the community where she has been living. They need money to build latrines and feed people that are coming to help fight the dam with them. At this Worcester Indymedia sponsored event Maggie with show us photos and talk with us about her time in El Salvador and the situation in Morazan. Please come and help show what international solidarity is all about.
For more info call Anne (508) 561-1164
Kate Toomey wins the prize
City Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey hereby wins the prize for Most Web 2.0 Motion:
19p. Motion-Toomey @ #11c CC – Request City Manager provide a report on the use of blogs, podcasting and posting of a brief on what occurs at Council meetings on the City’s web site. Order adopted
Our readers have commented on this in the past:
I think Kate Toomey and Gary Rosen, both of whom I kinda like, run neck and neck as the Councilor most likely to stumble upon something on the internet and turn it into a Council motion.
Councilor Rosen, you gave it your best.
This morning I began investigating whether the City Council meetings broadcast on Channel 12 are in the public domain. You’d think they would be. If so, I know some local tech activists who’d like to grab them off the Tivo and archive them online.
City Councilor Kate Toomey