A Venture Forth

Archive for the 'Policy' Category

Thai Prime Minister Refuses Interviews Due to Poor Planetary Alignment

Posted by Dan Grossman on November 21st, 2005

Interesting press strategy: Thailand’s Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, said he won’t answer reporters’ questions until 2006 due to bad planetary alignment. His money quote:
Right now Mercury … is in a corner perfectly aligned with my star. Mercury is no good, so if it’s not good, I am going to request not to speak. […]

Policy | 1 Comment »

VOIP Wiretaps: A Means to an End or A Waste of Time?

Posted by Dan Grossman on October 29th, 2005

Not surprisingly, stories about senior politicians and quasi-celebrities grabbed headlines this week. But an important announcement from the FCC flew under the radar–even though it could have a significant effect on our daily lives in the future.
I’m referring to a recent FCC ruling mandating that VOIP providers must configure their networks to support […]

Technology Trends, Security, Policy | 1 Comment »

Bookshelf

PostSecret : Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives
Author: Frank Warren
A "blook" based on the website www.postsecret.com.
Rating: 4

Blink : The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
One of the most interesting books I've read on cognitive processes.
Rating: 5

No god but God : The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
Author: Reza Aslan
Lucid overview of Islam's history and current status. Important reading given recent events.
Rating: 5

The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture
Author: John Battelle
Excellent introduction to the search engine industry.
Rating: 4

Create Your Own Hedge Fund : Increase Profits and Reduce Risks with ETFs and Options (Wiley Trading)
Author: Mark D. Wolfinger
Introduction to hedging with ETFs.
Rating: 4