Couldn't agree more. The "Saruman's tower" mentality of the telcos is rather poorly suited to digital economic development (outside of their own, of course). As (I believe) Scott Bradner once wrote, the telcos in the '90s were happy to lease him circuits--which he and others used to build the Internet under their very noses. They had NO CLUE what he was doing; just as they have no clue what to do now--other than continue their parasitic ways.
But of course these are the benefits of monoploy....
The real "war" on terror is an Intelligence War. Israelis stop suicide attacks because they know the bomber's name, when, where, and how he/she's going to do it. To get that information requires constant NSA-type surveillance (terrorists have to communicate), good 'ol street work, and cooperation with foreign govt's to find the root sponsors.
I agree TSA's fast-food approach to security is basically worthless. Much like surveillance cameras, they cannot possibly process ALL information (especially with minimum wage former McDonald's workers) at a single, real-time point and expect to be successful.
Catching terrorists is like breaking the mob: it takes PROFESSIONALS years of stake-outs, infiltration, and paying off/letting off sleazeballs to get to the head of the snake.
Properly fund and restore the morale of the CIA and FBI with the right mission, and we will win.
AN--you are right on the money (and, yes, it's about money).
99.999% of apartment/condo developers want the Comcast cash while doing as little work (read: spending money on infeastructure) as possible. They don't give a rip about what they're saddling the residents with.
It's a shame as I've tried telling these guys that digital services (Internet, voice, content) could be a HUGE differentiator in marketing their units to today's tech-savvy buyers (in only certain urban markets, of course), but they're stuck in yesterday's mass market mentality foisted upon us by Comcast, Verizon, et al.
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Couldn't agree more. The "Saruman's tower" mentality of the telcos is rather poorly suited to digital economic development (outside of their own, of course). As (I believe) Scott Bradner once wrote, the telcos in the '90s were happy to lease him circuits--which he and others used to build the Internet under their very noses. They had NO CLUE what he was doing; just as they have no clue what to do now--other than continue their parasitic ways.
But of course these are the benefits of monoploy....
The real "war" on terror is an Intelligence War. Israelis stop suicide attacks because they know the bomber's name, when, where, and how he/she's going to do it. To get that information requires constant NSA-type surveillance (terrorists have to communicate), good 'ol street work, and cooperation with foreign govt's to find the root sponsors.
I agree TSA's fast-food approach to security is basically worthless. Much like surveillance cameras, they cannot possibly process ALL information (especially with minimum wage former McDonald's workers) at a single, real-time point and expect to be successful.
Catching terrorists is like breaking the mob: it takes PROFESSIONALS years of stake-outs, infiltration, and paying off/letting off sleazeballs to get to the head of the snake.
Properly fund and restore the morale of the CIA and FBI with the right mission, and we will win.
Re: Re: Competition doesn't alway mean choice
AN--you are right on the money (and, yes, it's about money).
99.999% of apartment/condo developers want the Comcast cash while doing as little work (read: spending money on infeastructure) as possible. They don't give a rip about what they're saddling the residents with.
It's a shame as I've tried telling these guys that digital services (Internet, voice, content) could be a HUGE differentiator in marketing their units to today's tech-savvy buyers (in only certain urban markets, of course), but they're stuck in yesterday's mass market mentality foisted upon us by Comcast, Verizon, et al.