Wetware Solutions
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For those of you who don’t follow technology, a TLD is what comes after the catchy part of the domain name, usually a dotcom, as in Amazon.Com. A TLD in cyberspace is a little like zoning laws in physical space. The difference (and it’s a cool one) is that in the online world, the “space” you parcel out is totally artificial: that is, human-made. So when we start running out of cool domain names in the .com TLD, there’s an entity called ICANN (the non-profit corporation which oversees domain name and IP assignments) that can create more TLDs.

That’s somewhat oversimplified since the domain names do relate to Internet addresses based on something called “Internet Protocol version 4″ (IPv4), which is mathematically limited. According to one estimate, all available IP addresses in this protocol will be exhausted by 2023, which is why Internet engineers have already started working on and implementing a new, bigger address space using “Internet Protocol version 6″ (IPv6). But the point is that the limitations of space in cyberspace are given by mathematics instead of matter, and the space available is based on socially agreed upon protocols.

Like most social compacts, moreover, online protocols are often subject to political pressures. This is what happened recently when ICANN voted down a kind of red-light district for pornographic sites. Folding to pressure from the U.S. Government (and by extension conservative groups), ICANN voted down a proposal last week to create an XXX top level domain (TLD) extension.

The proposal would have designated an extension XXX solely for adult sites. So, for example, if someone wanted to create an adult or porn e-commerce website under the domain name “NudePix,” he could register and conduct business as NudePix.XXX. Pretty catchy indeed.

The proponents of the XXX extension argued that it would both provide a designated place for adult sites (the virtual red-light district) and also allow people who don’t want to view adult sites to more easily filter them out (bypass the red-light district), by blocking any site with the XXX extension. I agree that this might have been a good thing. It absolutely would have made it easier to filter out or block such sites.

The U.S. government, however, presumably themselves yielding to pressure from conservatives, apparently sent emails to ICANN members in opposition to the proposal for the new extension under the argument that creating the extension would be tantamount to a stamp of approval for adult sites. At first I thought this was incredibly short-sided and quite frankly stupid. Designating a space for something, creating boundaries for it (if you will), is not a form of approval but of control. With or without a stamp of approval, adult sites are here to stay. In this country, MONEY RULES. Until demand for adult materials dwindles, there is little chance of wiping those sites off the web, for those who want to do that. Personally, I don’t care as long as they don’t traffic in images that don’t involve consenting adults. Certainly, the XXX extension might have provided a means of control, and that was my initial expectation and why I was so surprised at the government’s opposition and ICANN’s voting it down.

I was at first upset at the U.S. Government’s intervention and inappropriate influence of what was a global commercial and social concern (not a first for our government). I’ve had second thoughts. Like so many proponents of the XXX extension, I saw it as an easier way to filter out sites I don’t generally want to see. Too often, I’ve innocently clicked on a link and had a page pop up showing me way more of the human anatomy than most health care providers see these days.

The pervasiveness of adult pop-ups, emails and web sites has dwindled somewhat in the last decade, mostly due to its incessant interference with other Internet commerce (again, MONEY RULES). Because it was costing so many other businesses money (not because of moral concerns though many sold it that way), better filtering and more control over spamming and hijacking was developed. I was glad that big corporations pressured programmers sufficiently to help bring some of the adult pop-ups under control. I found it overwhelming and sometimes disgusting. I am, by no means, a prude, but there are some things I really don’t need or want to see — or at a minimum, I’d like it to be my choice, and when I’m prepared for it (this goes especially for certain scenes of violence).

That said, I recognize there are others who want to see some materials I don’t want to see. I can’t and would not presume to control what other people want to see or buy. I certainly don’t want anyone attempting to control what I want to see or buy. For that reason, I’m now less upset about ICANN’s negative vote on the XXX extension. Quite simply, who would decide what web sites would be compelled to use those extensions? That’s always been the million-dollar question in issues of obscenity, or rather defining obscenity. “Who decides?” I could easily see sufficient pressure causing art galleries which feature nudes or similarly inclined web sites being relegated to an XXX extension. Some conservatives would too readily and too unilaterally seek to block such content along with the overtly adult sites, however you define that.

For those of you who were initially upset that the XXX extension didn’t’ fly, you may be able to take solace. You can either be relieved, like conservatives, that the “no” vote denied adult sites that “stamp of approval” (if that’s how you read it), or you can be relieved that it avoided the mess of deciding which sites could be forced towards that designation, which could be equated to a stamp of obscenity.

But moral stances notwithstanding, I think the assumption that adult sites can be eliminated under moral pressure is frankly naive. Money, not morality, is the determining factor regarding access to content (adult or otherwise) on the Internet, on television and in the newspapers. As long as sex sells, it will be sold.

For more on the issues and origins of pornography, you may want to take a look at Lynn Hunt’s The Invention of Pornography, 1500-1800: Obscenity and the Origins of Modernity, a very practical study of the early history of pornography. Although it’s unlikely to alter opinions on either side of the issue, the book is sure to provide a more informed position on the subject.

Today’s blog launches a monthly series on hot new or newly discovered web sites.

TheU.Com, primarily for students and parents, features MTV-style video tours and “report cards” on colleges and universities around the country. It’s a site by students for students. With a sizable database, it’s sure to include an institution that will meet your criteria.

Student blogs provide information on dorm living, academia, the campuses, the people, and surrounding neighborhoods. The reviews are frank and thorough, covering everything from costs to food and housing, and even the extent of Greek life.

I not only checked out the site, but also their review of my alma mater. Their assessment was right on the money — except for their evaluation of the curriculum, which they didn’t find progressive. Twenty years ago, when I attended, it was pretty progressive, but that might have had more to do with the department I was in: a Communications department with a program in critical analysis.

With rising tuition prices, why leave your college experience up to guesswork or, worse, to self-promotional school brochures? No high school student will want to consider any college or university without first hearing what current attendees have to say. It’s just common sense. Students currently attending will have insights you just can’t find anywhere else. In fact, it’s always a good idea to contact the department for the specific curriculum you want to follow and ask that you be put in touch with some of their students. They’ll usually be able to find someone willing to send you an email and some good information.

The schools you apply to will have their own financial aid departments that can assist with funding, but don’t forget to check the Internet. There are plenty of good resources here as well. You can start by reviewing the government’s site for Federal Student Aid.

When you’re ready to buy or sell textbooks, do be sure to stop by TextbookX. They have textbooks and general books at up to 90% off retail prices. Textbooks can definitely bite into your budget. Trade books are usually available in paperback for under US$20, but textbooks are almost always only available in hardcover and run anywhere from $50 to $150 each. Furthermore, most courses usually require more than one textbook. Some of my courses way back when had me reading a different book almost every week, although most of those, thankfully, were the slightly cheaper paperbacks. Still, that’s about 10-15 books for a one semester course, and it definitely got very expensive. Used books are definitely the way to go when they’re available.

Anyway, congratulations to the Class of 2006, and to advancing junior class members who’ll be on the serious side of launching their search for the right college or university.

If you haven’t decided on a major and you’re on the shy side, consider starting in theatre arts. That’s where I started. I know it may seem like a soft choice, but it wasn’t. I’d be at the theatre many times until 2:00 in the morning striking sets with the rest of the cast and crew after a show. Furthermore, nothing gets you more comfortable in your own skin than acting and voice lessons. I can’t think of a single profession where you wouldn’t benefit from a theatre arts background because almost anything you do requires you to communicate with others in a self-possessed and confident manner.

In my final year, before I went on to communications, I taught a workshop for law students to help against stage fright. Later on, I worked as a paralegal and remained in the legal field for 20 years, specifically in litigation, which involves presenting an argument in a public forum. Acting teaches you how to feel comfortable doing that, so pre-law students would do well to, at the very least, minor in theatre, with majors in more traditional pre-law disciplines like poli-sci or history.

Hmmm. I think I slid off my topic. Well, it’s late anyway. Time to go.

What drives your searches? Isn’t it ironic that “Google,” “Yahoo,” “MSN” and “eBay” are still among the top search terms? It tells us people are definitely using search engines, but a lot of them aren’t typing in “.com” or any other TLD (top level domain) extension (.com, .net, .org, .info, etc.). If you don’t type in “Google.com” or “Yahoo.com” or any other complete web site address, your browser thinks you want to run a search and will run that search with your default search engine. In other words, you’re probably using Google to find Google. That’s the ironic part. Sound confusing?

We take a lot for granted in the world of information technology (IT) — probably in most worlds. No one’s born knowing, but we expect that people will generally catch on to the basics. Am I right? Well, it does make communication more efficient (shorter) if we can expect a certain level of understanding. I’ve had people apologize in advance because they have a “stupid” question. What they generally mean is that they have a basic question and feel like an idiot for having to ask something rudimentary.

It’s unfortunate anyone feels that way. It puts a freezing effect on learning. No one wants to be on the receiving end of joking comments, especially in response to a simple question. So people stop asking basic questions and stuff becomes harder because people lack a basic understanding of things. It’s sort of a vicious cycle. You don’t want people to know what you don’t know, so you don’t ask and then you don’t know. You know?

Instead of waiting for users to fill in the gaps for themselves, I’m providing a couple of basic tips that those of us in the IT world have discovered some people just don’t know. (And for those of you who know and think it’s funny others don’t know, stop laughing and start teaching. Keeping others in the dark is a pathetic way to get an ego boost!)

Tip No. 1 in Internet Browsing: A web site address is always the catchy web site name plus the TLD extension:

“Google.com” not “Google”
“Yahoo.com” not “Yahoo”
“Wetwaresolutions.com” not “Wetware Solutions”

It’s very important to know the TLD of the web site you want to visit. Otherwise, you may well be taken to a very different site than the one you sought. For example, “Whitehouse.gov” is the official government site for the Whitehouse. “Whitehouse.Com” and Whitehouse.Org” take you to two very different sites run by private individuals or entities. A person or entity can register different versions of a domain name (future web site address) with different TLDs and direct all the traffic to a particular site. For example, the government may have wanted to spring for the additional $5.99 or whatever registration price it pays to register the names “Whitehouse.Com” and “Whitehouse.Org” to assure that anyone typing in those other names were all sent to the official government web site for “the Whitehouse.” But, why make things simple for citizens?

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the fact that Whitehouse.com is privately owned as long as Internet visitors understand they are indeed visiting different sites. The way to do that is to educate other Internet users and educate yourself. Don’t be afraid to question who owns the site and what they are trying to accomplish with their web site. For the most part, sites owned by the government are trying to give you as little information as possible and sites owned by private individuals or entities are trying to give you their version of information, usually where to buy something. I’m only half kidding.

Actually, there are many useful and necessary government and privately owned sites. The point is you can’t make any assumptions about the site owner, the site, or any information contained on the site. The first, best way to avoid assumptions about the site you’re visiting is to make sure you’re visiting the site you wanted. In other words, know the web address and type it in full or bookmark it (unless you really are running a blind search for any web site that might have information you need on a particular topic).

In fact, typing in Whitehouse and expecting your browser to know you mean Whitehouse.gov is a little like saying you want to go to Washington and then being surprised when you wind up in Washington state instead of D.C. Or like saying you want to go to Athens and winding up in Athens, Georgia, instead of Athens, Greece. City names are often insufficient; it’s important to say what country and state you want, too. Similarly, an Internet address is incomplete without that top-level domain (.com or .net or whatever) tacked onto the end.

If you want to see who has registered a particular name, visit: http://www.whois-search.com/

A visit there will tell you that Whitehouse.Org (as of this blog date) is owned by
Satire On-line
245-M Mount Hermon Road, Suite 137
Scotts Valley,CA
95066

. . . and that name is not due to expire until September 4, 2015, so they will be spreading satire throughout the Net for a very long time.

Tip No. 2 in Internet Browsing: A differently colored and often also underlined term, phrase or sentence on a web page — like Wetware Solutions — is usually a hyperlink.

That means that text is “linked” to a web site address. When you click on it, the browser program you’re using to view the text will automatically type in the full web site address for that link. I say usually because some web site publishers unfortunately may use font coloring and underlining to emphasize text rather than designate links. This is considered bad form in the web development community because it toys with a convention.

Because many hyperlinks are simplified words, like Google, rather than the more cumbersome web site address like http://www.google.com/, we web developers may have inadvertently confused some users into thinking they don’t need to type “Google.com” in the address or locator bar at the top of their browsers to get to the web site for that search engine. We’re sorry. The truth is a hyperlink could be any term or phrase, or even an image — and the underlying web address can lead you anywhere, even to a site you would not want to visit.

Tip No. 3 in Internet Browsing: If you hover (pause with your mouse cursor) on a hyperlink (colored/underlined text or an image), your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape, Opera, Safari, etc.) will generally show you the web address to which the text or image is linked:

Internet Explorer, Firefox and Netscape will reveal the web address at the bottom in the “status bar.” The status bar will show you what is loading, what you’re going to be visiting, whether a site is secure, and general information of that nature. I would recommend you always have your status bar active. If you see it (an extra bar at the bottom), it’s active. If you don’t see it, go to the menu at the top of your browser and, under “View,” select “Status Bar.” A checkmark will appear and now you’re able to view the status bar. Try moving your mouse over a hyperlink on this page without clicking on it, and see what shows up in the status bar.

In the Opera browser, there’s no status bar. A “tip” (pop-up message, but less obstructive) will appear when you pause on a link and the tip will show you the web address where the link will take you. I’m not sure how this is revealed in Safari since I’m not a Mac user. Feel free to comment if you know.

Tip No. 4 in Internet Browsing: A program is a collection of source code which performs one or more functions. A search engine is a program which helps you run a search (function). Some search engines masquerade as web sites. In short, Google.Com, Yahoo.Com, MSN.Com, A9.Com, Ask.Com are all search engines (read this tip one more time for good measure).

Your “default search engine” is the search engine your browser primarily uses to conduct a search for you. Firefox doesn’t really have a default search engine. It has an integrated search tool bar at the top with a pull down menu (the little down arrow next to the icon) which allows you to immediately select a number of search engines in which to run your searches. This is very useful because it means you don’t have to visit a bunch of different web sites to run a search. You run a search by typing in keywords and hitting the Enter key. If you want to try the same keywords in a difference search engine, just select a different search engine from the pull down menu and hit Enter.

I think Internet Explorer defaults to MSN, which is fast becoming a decent search engine, in my opinion. If you have Internet Explorer and want to learn how to change your default search engine, try running a search for that. Type in “change default search engine in IE.” (These are your keywords — search terms). Hit Enter and see what comes up.

Final tip: give yourself a better Internet experience by taking the time to learn the basics. Especially if you’re still stuck using a slow dial-up modem connection, learning basics (like typing the full web site address in the address window) is going to get you where you want to go a lot faster.