UGN InfoManager

Don't blame Lynn. That post was all mine. I take the heat.

InfoManager began including some reports on issues facing computer users and the online world in the late 1990s as part of the UGN Net Safety department -- because it had an affect on Apple and Mac users.

Net safety, online crime and the ever increasing politics of the internet is every computer, iPod and iPhone user's business. Or should be.

InfoManager has averaged 10 to 20 news items each Monday morning since 1994 -- since 1990 in the UGN. The last Monday was the first in 12 weeks of which could be considered "political" -- one line item in 14.

Editorial ratio has been less than 7% issues to generalized Mac hardware and software reporting, and less than 1% PC to Mac.

Someone said:
> I really object to the use of this list to politicise
> what should be information about Apple products,
> events, and software for Macs

RE: Apple products, events and software for Macs ...

That is a "User Group" list. (a*UG*d) It's primary origin was for the leaders of user groups embracing Apple products. (Unless that's changed)

Important issues occasionally mentioned in InfoManager SHOULD be of serious interest to User Group leaders -- because those leaders have an obligation to their own constituencies.

BOTH Net Neutrality and Internet taxation ARE issues affecting ALL readers of this list -- and their memberships -- all of which will be sourly concerned should history go the "wrong" way.

APPLE is currently leading the parade of VIDEO, Podcasts, and Music downloads -- driving the whole market in the proliferation of video media, now joined by many purveyors like Google, YouTube, NetFlix and others.

If Internet taxation is initiated, (which the struck bill would have prevented) APPLE will be forced to charge for much of the content it currently purveys for free -- AND -- charge MORE for those services and products it now sells. ALL video, audio, streaming video, and Podcasts of any size at all will be the target -- and guess who pays the freight.

Throughput and bandwidth usage is what these issues are all about. Remember that Apple has a telephone bill too. But I'll bet your constituency enjoys those free downloads.

We felt issues that have a real effect on the world of computing should be included in a Monday morning views, news & reviews newsletter. And, we have been confident it is a good mix because for every complaint email we get, there are usually a dozen thanking us for including the content.

In fact, thank-yous, questions, and comments pertaining to spam, phishing, identity theft and the politics of computing are the ONLY feedback we get. Readers seldom comment on any of the other content. You can see that by the amount of traffic on the InfoManager list.

But several of the posters here in AUGD had good points. I'm not going to shy away from my own trip-ups.

A journalist should always remain nonpartisan. I'll admit, I went a bit over the top. I'll try harder.

Someone from Switzerland said:

> rabidly partisan. The latest issue of their Monday
> infomanger was clearly trying to turn any tenuous
> news into an attack

What part of legislation (law) that opens the door to internet taxation do you consider "tenuous" ??

In my own defense though, it's difficult to consider this reporting to be "rabidly partisan" -- a search of over 5,000 news items posted by the InfoManager since 1998, the word "Democrats" appears only eight (8) times. 5,000 to 8 hardly constitutes "rabidly partisan"

In this case, "who" struck the anti-taxation act was significantly important to the issue; because it's the same "party" contradicting themselves by openly politicizing Net Neutrality as a bully-pulpit.

Besides, it was only a single line item in a table of contents. NOT the story. My posts are always short and very easy to ignore.

Since the only responses on this list are obviously against having issues mentioned, I can strike any line items which may be perceived as "political" from the InfoManager table of contents before posting to this forum each Monday morning.

That keeps the list moms happy, and makes everyone rest easier.

:-)

Thanks for reading.

I'll welcome your comments and feedback -- PLEASE, OFF THE LIST.

Fred

Found something really cool?

del.icio.us...