Not Burying the Lead
Huge news: Chocolate Genome Sequenced
Top-Down vs. Bottom-up
Some interesting discussion about top-down vs. bottom-up as an organizing prnciple for society. How should we feel about adult services ads on Craigslist? The argument comes down to free speech versus protecting people from exploitation. Hard to know which is right
And that issue brings the following to mind:
http://gawker.com/5539717/steve-jobs-offers-world-freedom-from-porn
Here the “top” in Top-Down is not the government, but Apple Computer, more specifically Steve Jobs himself. This is a tough call. Jobs argues that he (or Microsoft) can do whatever they want with their platform, and anybody who doesn’t like it can go start their own platform. (Or more realistically use a different platform.)
One clarification on the discussion about Steve Jobs — iPad supports PDF. PDF was mentioned in the linked article, but in a different context. I misread. So my sarcasm was out of line. Mr. Jobs if you’re reading this, I apologize. My bad.
(Having said that, I still found this to be laugh-out-loud funny.)
The real concern in both stories is that our freedoms (or at least our choices) are limited by people offering to help us — in this case, protect us. I think this is one of the most insidious (and effective) ways that top-down counters bottom-up.
Not Burying the Lead 2
(Okay, so everything is a lead story — sue me.)
This is big. Phil announced a new project whereby FFR listeners and Speculist readers are invited to help promote Matt Ridley’s The Rational Optimist – an essential book for our times. Phil is starting small sending out three copies. Watch this space fo details on how you can be a part.