Category Archives: ideas

Paul Salopek: reporting the world at a walking pace

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Ethan

“It’s either that or find another war”. From a note from Paul Salopek to his editor at National Geographic, proposing a 5 year walk around the world, retracing the steps of human migration from Ethiopia to Patagonia. Paul’s walk is … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Media | 7 Comments

Good and bad reasons to be worried about WCIT

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Ethan

The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT, pronounced “wicket”) opened Monday in Dubai. If you’re heard about the conference, it’s likely because many articulate and smart proponents of an open internet have been waving arms and warning of the potential … Continue reading →

Posted in Developing world, Human Rights, ideas | 10 Comments

What Ancient Greek rhetoric might teach us about new civics

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Ethan

The Omidyar Network, DFID and Wired Magazine hosted an event in London last week, titled “Open Up“. It brought together pioneering organizations in the open government space for a conversation about what was, and what wasn’t working in using information … Continue reading →

Posted in CFCM, ideas | 5 Comments

What to make of Ai Wei Wei’s “Gangnam Style”?

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Ethan

It’s a good time to be PSY. The Korean rapper has become an international celebrity with the unexpected success of Gangnam Style, the absurdly catchy song that’s introduced much of the world to K-Pop, while simultaneously critiquing and subverting the … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, ideas, Just for fun, Media | 7 Comments

The ethics of attention: unpacking “Yellow Rain”

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Ethan

Radiolab, an amazing radio show and podcast created by public radio veteran Robert Krulwich and MacArthur-winning musician and producer Jad Abumrad, aired a controversial episode titled “The Fact of the Matter” on September 24, 2012. Generally, Radiolab examines scientific stories … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Media | 15 Comments

Danielle Allen on equality, education and the Declaration of Independence

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Ethan

As we enter the hall for Danielle Allen’s W. Allison Davis and John A. Davis lecture, the launch event for the dedication of the Davis Center, Williams College’s new multicultural center, ushers pass out copies of the text of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas | 3 Comments

TSA Pre-Check, Fairness and Opaque Algorithms

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Ethan

Running late for a flight from Boston to San Francisco today, I was delighted to discover that my boarding pass made me eligible for the “TSA Pre-√” line. Instead of waiting in a labyrinthine line, removing my bottles of shampoo, … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas | 14 Comments

Understanding digital civics

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Ethan

Earlier this week, I gave a lecture titled “The Emergence of Digital Civics” at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. I was in South Austalia to give another lecture, a joint lecture with Dr. Genevieve Bell of Intel in memory of … Continue reading →

Posted in CFCM, ideas | 8 Comments

“Long Flights” – a somewhat serious business idea

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Ethan

I’m considering starting a new business venture. It’s called “Long Flight” and it’s based on my experiences writing on airplanes. I’ve hit a point in my career where I organize my schedule to maximize the number of long flights I … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Just for fun | 21 Comments

What would it take to start a gun control debate in the US?

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Ethan

2012 has been a bad year for gun violence in the United States. Yesterday, Thomas Caffall, apparently distraught about being evicted from him home in College Station, Texas, shot and killed a Brazos County constable and a bystander. Earlier this … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Media | 29 Comments