Comments on: Gift economy, Google Sketchup, and Composting Toilets

By: mandarine

mandarine — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:57:37 +0000

Around here, we had 3 free channels 30 years ago, and 7 now.

By: Emily Barton

Emily Barton — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:15:48 +0000

Unfortunately, not in the U.S. Right now, because Bob and I refuse to support the cable monopoly (we can’t get satellite where we live), we are limited to 3 channels. When I was a kid, we could get 14 channels with no cable.

By: mandarine

mandarine — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:27:11 +0000

I am sure there are more free TV programs now than then. Same with radio. The proportion of free offer has dropped, but the absolute volume has increased.

By: Emily Barton

Emily Barton — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:31:51 +0000

I so agree with you about music (and any art). The best thing about people just producing it all themselves online is that we, the end audience, get to be the ones deciding whether it’s worthwhile or not, rather than some bigwig at some company trying to make a fast buck. My big hope is that all this stuff remains free. (Maybe it’s too big not to?) I’m a little nervous, because I still remember the days when all one had to do was buy a television set, and then all channels were available free to watch. Same with radio.

By: mandarine

mandarine — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:07:45 +0000

I too am not a huge fan of Google’s way of taking over the entire planet (although I prefer Google’s over Microsoft’s), but chrome is open-source, so no reason to feel dependent there.

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:34:43 +0000

I do like free; but I am slightly paranoid and try not to become dependent on Google because having my entire online life owned by one company seems worrisome. But hurrah for Sketchup (great name too) aiding you in your endeavours.