Blurts

Wikipedia has long been the case used to argue that open source information is viable. Now, an article in the Wall Street Journal offers the suggestion that wikipedia may be fading. The article which relies on both activity data and logical argument is summarized in CNET News. While millions still contributors, the number of contributors is declining rather than increasing.

Among the suggested causes:

• Many topics have already been presented
• Rules to address controversies among reviewers result in the removal of content and those contributing are not always certain why. Even when the rules are understood – some may conclude the debate on topics that are controversial may not be worth the effort. 
• The Wikipedia environment may seem hostile to new contributers

Fortune magazine has named Apple’s Steve Jobs CEO of the decade. Remember this is an award for accomplishments and not for being Mr. Personality.

The photo collections that accompany the text a quite interesting. Check out this one titled Rarely Seen Steve.

Wikipedia, my late night information source, defines hyperbole as “a figure of speech in which statements are exaggerated. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.”

To me, it seems there has been more and more “extreme” behavior lately and it bothers me. I have been struggling with my own reaction to this behavior and also searching for a way to understand it. I tend to think in moderate terms. This does not mean I am wishy washy or don’t care. Being out there on the fringe does not mean you care more. It may just mean you have lost your way and wandered off. I believe there is a middle ground between “engage me or enrage me” and think suggesting that these are the options is misguided. I would be unlikely to scream during a political “tea party” no matter who received the majority of votes in this democracy and was presently in office and I do not think that opposing the position taken by any elected leader makes you unpatriotic. Like it or not, that is the way we try to do things. More votes trumps screaming louder. I am not certain that we are “a nation at risk” or at least not at great risk or not at a greater risk than most other folks. In general, I prefer here to there. I do think we better do something about the way we pollute. I think that threatening the elected officials of North Dakota because of their votes on health care is a bit selfish. As for the statement that seniors don’t forget, I don’t even think this is true. I am a senior and I think I forget more and more. I am not certain by the time the next election rolls around I will remember who voted for what or exactly what about supporting health care was supposed to have been a bad thing for seniors. In fact by the time the next election roles around, it may be my forgetting that requires medical attention.

I think that in general Johnny can read, at least a little bit. I would not suggest as the author of The cult of the amateur does that “today’s internet is killing our culture” or that google has shaped the “dumbest generation”. I mean, really, the absolute dumbest. What about the generation that made beer illegal?

Is this kind of what hyperbole means? I wish I knew that some of these folks were making exaggerated statements to evoke strong feelings or to create an impression and did not really intend their statements to be taken seriously. Then again, I may be wrong. There may really be nut jobs out there going rogue and writing books and hosting talk shows and speaking to inform rather than to incite or entertain and maybe not caring which. So, do you think “nut job” is going too far for a psychologist. Would that be hyperbole?

Here is a new image search tool from Google Labs called Swirl. You begin an image seach using typical search terms, but Swirl then presents you with collections that you can explore. The mechanism responsible for the search process are somewhat obtuse – described as similar to face recognition technology. You locate something that is similar to what you are searching for and the “process” allows refinement by presenting similar images. At the end of this focusing process, you are linked to the source for the image.

The Google blog suggests that only certain searches are possible (Image Swirl currently works for more than 200,000 queries). I happened to experiment using the term “badlands” and that search was available. “Macroinvertebrates” was not available. I assume Google will expand the possible searches if the tool is popular.

You can find this experimental service under the Google Labs option.

The NY Times have an article on web sites that allow teachers to sell lesson plans. Interesting. I wonder how this will impact collaborative sites through which teachers share their materials (e.g., ATT WebQuests)? I wonder if this situation will raise copyright concerns? So many ideas are similar and so many resources are already available. You cannot really offer a sample because the initial view is all that is really needed.

Google has added a filtering capability to its search service. It is easy enough to implement – 1) open settings and and locate SafeSearch 2) select Lock SafeSearch and 3) enter your Google password and lock select the lock SafeSearch button.

Does this mean I can control the search filtering on any computer I want? I assume this works when a user does not first log into a Google account that has not been locked.