Presidential Ramblings

 

Issue 0.5

October 2002

 

I've had a hard time starting to write this column. There is so much to think about that it's just overwhelming. Last week we had "9/11 The Television Event," followed this week by the actual memorial. The tragic events of a year ago have led to something we will soon realize to be equally tragic as our civil liberties are stripped away in the name of security.

The ironically named USA Patriot Act is an incredibly bad piece of legislation that allows, among a vast array of other things, the federal government to monitor every web site you visit and everyone to whom you send email (who could then also be monitored), without establishing probable cause. It even makes it a crime for a librarian to tell anyone about a government request for a record of the books you have checked out, which can also be done without probable cause. This is chilling to say the least! If some time ago I read a book on atomic energy because of a concern about the Earth and now I read about Islam to understand the largest religion on Earth, does that make me a terrorist? But I might think twice about checking out that book on Islam now that I can be arrested and held indefinitely without access to a lawyer and without any charges being filed. Have we reached the age of political prisoners here in the USofA? Please write your representatives in Congress and ask for the repeal of the USA Patriot Act.

Also join with me and support the Electronic Frontier Foundation. This is one of the organizations defending your rights in the digital world. There are many other organizations worthy of your support but sending these guys a check will be an excellent start.

Elsewhere in this issue is a reprint of a column by Dennis Courtney, president of the Capital PC Users Group in Washington, DC. Boy, can he write a president's column! The Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act is more bad legislation from our Congress people. From the title you would think that this bill will increase your freedom and somehow make broadband Internet access easier to get. In fact it will do just the opposite. But don't take my word for it; read Dennis' column and then call, write or email your representatives and tell them what you think.

And somewhere else in this issue, Mike Kaltschnee explains why DACS is in trouble. (Geez, the world, the country and the Internet are in trouble and now he's worried about DACS!) I agree with everything Mike says--except where he says that this is a thankless job. DACS is in trouble and, as usual, I'm preaching to the choir. Those of you reading this column are most likely already members and have at least given us a chance to be worthy of your support. Naturally I want more--both from you and from DACS. My concept of a user group is an organization that builds on the knowledge of its members. This only works when we all share our experiences. One person's experience might take the form of a question during Random Access at a general meeting. Another person's experience could be what provides the answer. You don't need to be a guru to provide answers at a SIG meeting or Random Access; you just need to be willing to shae what has worked for you.

Now, on the other hand, I know DACS can do better and I have been asking for your ideas. Please follow Mike's suggestion and send an email to me (dacsprez@dacs.org) or any other board member. The addresses are in the newsletter and on the web site. You can even hit us all with one click at dacsboard@dacs.org. Tell us your ideas for meeting topics, new activities and what we can do better. Of course, if there is something that you think we're doing right, well, you can tell us about that as well. I know I speak for the entire board when I say "we're looking forward to hearing from you!"

--Jim Scheef
dacsprez@dacs.org


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