Ross Mayfield's Weblog

Vote by Tag

The Estonian Parliment approved internet voting, which led Peeter Marvet to prototype this example of using tags to collect a richer form of public opinion for decision makers.  This may remind you of Vote Links, but it is really a simpler way to coordinate feedback with practices.

Books Banned on Flights?

En route from San Jose to Phoenix, I was told by a Transportation Security Agency (TSA) screener about a ban on lighters (cough) starting April 14th, but the book allowance has been cut from 4 to 2. I had been tagged for a pat-down, a perfectly reasonable thing considering whatsinmybag. The agent was reasonable and amicable and I knew the drill. When he pulled a cigarette lighter out of my bag he mentioned the forthcoming ban, how you could carry four packs of matches and the whole idea was to prevent quickly lighting explosives (like that idiot with evil shoes). When he pulled out two books he mentioned that right now you can only have four books and on the 14th you can only have two. He didn't have any explanation for this, and I can't even fathom the purpose.

I must highlight that this could be bad information and hearsay. I can't confirm this with the DHS or TSA prohibited items list. However, the TSA list notes it's own inaccuracy -- and the discretion of the screener to interpret policy:

The prohibited and permitted items chart is not intended to be all-inclusive and is updated as
necessary. To ensure everyone's security, the screener may determine that an item not on the
prohibited items chart is prohibited. In addition, the screener may also determine that an
item on the permitted chart is dangerous and therefore may not be brought through the
security checkpoint.

I post this story because our current administration is the only one in history to take away more rights than it gives, the policy would disturb basic freedoms, policy interpretation and enforcement is in the hands of screeners and a screener told me the story in the first place. Can anyone help me bring clarity on this important issue? Until then, it's eBooks for me.

Parking Lot Indicatr

My uncle was a guru on wall street when I asked him where I should invest my paper route money. He said to visit the parking lots of Silicon Valley companies during the weekend. If the parking lot was full, there was a good chance they were close to a breakthrough or release.

Now that's a lot of biking around to base a portfolio strategy.  Luckly TAB corporation was two blocks away from EF Hutton, who happened to listen, and placed my first parking lot order.

But with enough mobloggers, a panopticon of performance may be a great leading indicator.  So this weekend I started the Parking Lot Indicatr group and people have taken interest.

Of course, times have changed not just to make it possible for this kind of financial citizens media. People can work anywhere now, especially at home on the weekend. And quite frankly, its a bit of an evil indicatr and results in really ugly pictures.  But lets see what patterns reveal themselves. And try not to start trouble with parking lot security guards.  Maybe buy them a hamburger and get them to say cheese.

Some have pointed out the need for indicatrs of private companies and even VC firms.  So when you head home tonight, swing by the closest parking lot, take a snapshot, post it on Flickr.  If you have other indicatrs to link do, use the indicatr tag in del.icio.us.