Russell Shaw's Brainstorm Central

Age Before Boot-Up

I am here to tell you that age discrimination is rampant in high-tech. Stereotypes abound: the hide-bound, 50-something technoclutz, stuck in the old ways and not really proficient in anything but primitive document creation and e-mail. But I am not one of those people. Reminds me of the time I walked into a new wave-tinged music retailer and I got looks that communicated the message, "what are you doing in here, you lounge lizard?" To that snot, I said, "I am just as alienated as you." And, I should have added, "I have the bumps and bruises to show for it."

That Was No Punch!

I love my TiVO for many reasons, not the slightest of which is the ability it offers me to slo-mo or freeze-frame the action on my tv screen.

When I do that, I often unmask several tricks of the tv trade. For example, if I slo-mo a fistfight scene, what looks like a punch to the face in normal-speed motion becomes a painfully obvious feint.

The Bucs Didn't Stop Here

I predicted Oakland 23, Tampa Bay 17.

As you most likely know, the final score was 48-21, Tampa Bay. Three of Tampa Bay's touchdowns were scored on interceptions. Just goes to show that not only is "the best defense a good offense," but the reverse can often be true.

Well, at least Oakland's offense scored 21 points. That made me look good.

Roe, Roe, Roe Your Vote

On Tuesday I attended the 30th anniversary Roe v. Wade luncheon in downtown Portland.

Keynote speaker was that authentic national treasure, Sarah Weddington. I'm sure you know that Texas firebrand was the winning attorney in the case. She talked about the times before Roe, briefly acknowledged the victory, but described the road ahead as treacherous. I don't have to lay it out for you. She thinks that Ashcroft is a pure devil, even more extreme than GWB is. Sarah said that if Rehnquist resigns, "I wouldn't be too upset because no one could be worse. If O'Conoor resigned, I would be concerned for her first because she is a breast cancer survivor like I am, and would also be concerned because with this administration, we won't even do as well as (having) her (on the court). And if Stevens resigns, I would have a good, long cry." Also sung the praises of Oregon as only one of seven states with no abortion restrictions, and sounded note of hope that access will be safe, with our newest pro-choice Governor, D-Ted Kulongoski.

A main related theme, sounded by many in podium, @table and corridor, was that we have to get the next generation involved. Virtually any woman of effective child bearing age now reached puberty -- not to mention political awareness -- after Roe was judged. And with legal oral contraception around even longer, it has been a "taken for granted" fact of life for most active women. They rued the inescapable fact that too many younger women take abortion rights for granted. Planned Parenthood has educational initiatives in place. I made the acquaintance of the current exec director, who is also a technology and communications consultant. If he needs Web input, that is his from me, and pro bono.

I also met Barbara Roberts, former D-Oregon Gov. from 1990-94. Barbara and I spoke for awhile, too. She also spoke from podium. I also talked with Barbara Coombs Lee, who got the death with dignity act through Oregon legislature, and through two referendums. She says Hawaii might be next. Barbara Coombs Lee told me something interesting: Nader, although pro-choice, attacked right to die because of potential for HMO abuse; I also said that there is mutual distrust between her group and Kevorkian; she thinks he is a macabre weirdo that gives right to die a bad name; he thinks the mainstream right-to-die movement are wusses for proceeding through the political process.

Oh, one more thing: for dessert, the luncheon featured chocolate cookies in the shape of a month's oral contraceptive packet.

Oakland 23, Tampa Bay 17

That's my prediction. You read it here, first. I'll be back tomorrow with a post-mortem.

A Movie Experience

If you haven't seen "The Hours" yet .....run!

In Praise of The Sidewalk Sonneteers

One day last week, I walked downtown and passed a guitar-playing street poet. This was someone that by all appearances, never took a stage, never was played on the radio. But still, this was a thinking and feeling person who felt the need to get his words out.I wonder how many profound truths that would heal and inspire minds and souls are contained in the lyrics of the songs played by those anonymous people.

Monopolize This!

Boo on the Supreme Court for their "Mickey Mouse" decision, allowing a 20 year extension of copyright law.

And they wonder why the people resist? Why, just before posting this, there were -- actual count -- 4,134,605 people on Kazaa? That count exceeded the total number of CDs sold in 2002 for all but two titles, Eminem and I forget the other one. And they wonder why we rebel??? Consider the trend lines:

Five radio stations, each controlled and programmed from a central national facility, each playing the same 15 damn focus-tested, payola-ed songs over and over.

Five book publishing houses, publishing name authors and focus-tested topics to the virtual exclusion of provoking thought from unknowns;

Two network news operations, the others using the work of penny-pinching content partners.

Five movie studios, afraid to take chances with anything except focus-tested pap, and tired spinoffs.

Three movie theater chains, afraid to take any chances.

Incestuous cross-licensing deals between movie, music, book, and toy conglomerates.

Copyright law "for limited time," ... limited period of time until the sun goes out five billion years from now.

Phalanxes of lawyers, guarding the gates against the digital barbarians.

I own copyrights, and would argue for some protection, but this is a case of the people vs. the powerful. And technology will save us. Come ye, entertainment moguls in your limousines. Listen carefully. The revolution will not be televised... but it will be peer-to-peered.

Heaving Las Vegas

When asked to choose between entertainment and expression, I almost always select the latter. Las Vegas has little original, artistically questing expression. It is all about entertainment, which is why the place makes me wanna hurl.

Las Vegas is a crowded, artificial, plastic place. I hate the city, and all it stands for. It is a temple for avarice of the worst, and most venal kind. Look at the crowds. You have the chain-smoking white haired ladies, hooked beyond hope on killer nicotine and slim chance. You have musical performers who have not had a creative moment in 20 years, playing their old songs for armies of artistically brain-dead fans who have not savored a new creative discovery in at least as long. You have the steroid-ed out bulging musclemen, the rich redneck money, the dirty Asian money earned from stripping the rain forests of some nations, the testosteroned guys from distant Northeastern cities, out there looking for babes. The babes are fully formed, except for the air in their brains, the carcinogenic spirituous liquors in their veins, the deceit in their hearts, and the smoke in their lungs. The traffic is horrendous. The art in the galleries was created by tortured souls, but those creators, if they were alive today, would be horrified thatthe exhibition and possession of their wonderful work is now a mark of their economic status, and is not appreciated for its soul-searching message.

I Beg Your Pardons

By commuting the death sentence of all inmates on death row two days before he left office, Illinois Gov. George Ryan gets a hero award. They are now facing life in prison without the possibility of parole. I believe that capital punishment is wrong. It punishes people for the crime of killing by killing them in turn. No human should have the right to take another human's life. "Eye for an eye" has led to many wars, and untold atrocities.

Who Dunnit?

Well, The Who's Pete Townshend once wrote, "The Kids Are Alright." Given his arrest on suspicion of accessing child porn, I think I know what he meant.

Some People Called Him "Maurice"

"Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother, you're stayin' alive" -- Bee Gees, c. 1975. ...given Maurice's death the other day at age 53, I don't think soooo...quite sad.

Sonny and Ch...arles

Ray Charles is singing at newly elected Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue's inaugural ball. I guess he can't see the Confederate flag that so many of Sonny's supporters pine for. The question is, how many times have all the people in that crowd said the "n-word?" Growing up in the segregated south, Ray Charles has heard it, for sure. Maybe I am being too harsh, but in playing for that crowd, he comes across as a "show me the money," dare I say it ...Tom? Or is he simply pulling a Rudy, who shilled for Placeware software whose upside causes business travelers to not stay at NYC hotels that need the business?

Unwired Planet

Just got back from the Consumer Electronics Show. Aisle talk, booth talk, even overheard talk at convention courtesy shuttle buses and at host hotels sports bars about Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Hottest thing at the show. It usually takes several years for bleeding edge technology to filter down to the masses, but just give it three or four years. At some point in the future, wires will be so antiquated.

Spilling The Beans

I am typing this from the press room at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Around me are some of the most technically knowledgeable journalists in the world. News flash--journalism, writing and coffee go together. Yet they will not let us bring coffee within about two miles of their precious terminals.

I truly despise people who devise policies based on arbitrary judgments, narrow-mindedness, fears, greed, or the advice of anally constricted lawyers.