In Praise (?) of Craigslist

Well, unless you've been off the planet for more than five years or just shipwrecked on an uncharted island way out to sea, you've heard of Craigslist. A compendium of personal ads, jobs postings, real estate for sale or rent, community news, chat forums, craigslist has become an online marketplace (supermarket-place?) grande'. A testament to internet entrepreneurship, the reach of Craigslist has become worldwide in what seems like the blink of an eye. 

The popularity of the site is due most likely to a combination of factors, no doubt the ease of use and free availability (supported by revenue from it's real estate listings), which make it affordable for the masses. Online self-policing keeps the site as it should be, a reflection of today's mores, or K.I.S.S.

One of the areas of Craigslist is the area devoted to Net Neutrality. If you haven't heard of it, you should care about the concept at least. Simply put, the large Telecom companies are seeking to control the accessibility of the vast internet for only those with the hefty bank accounts, relegating slower connection speeds to the rest of us. One of the unforeseen consequences of the formation of the world wide web has been a democratization of wealth. This economic superhighway for the common man is about to see construction of toll booths, ironically constructed by the wealthiest in our society to further pick the pockets of what is left of the middle class. Why should you care? Well, for starters, you can be sure that anything you purchase over the internet is going to cost you more. As an avenue of commerce, the internet is poised to virtually explode in accessability; this the Telecoms know, and they want to carve out a giant slice for themselves and the richest among us (and outside this country through proxy ownership).

On to other items of interest: 

As I'm writing this, I'm listening to the latest Bob Dylan album, "Modern Times" and finding myself awestruck at the, what can I say but, genius. Alternately introspective and boisterous, his touch subtle  and persuasive, confident; every time I re-listen to this disk I find more and more depth.

As long as I've digressed tonight, musically, another name I want to pass on is a young lady coming into her own. Regina Spektor (Sire Records) is being seen in three episodes of "CSI - New York"; check your local listings for time. Her albums "Soviet Kitsch" and "Begin To Hope" display this young singer/songwriter's range.

Fairly certain I've mentioned Regina before. That's okay. 

Well, there goes Dylan singing "The Levee's Gonna Break", so yours truthfully is going to bow out for this session.

The Bush Countdown is on hiatus until next post when it returns in different form...hopefully.

One final closing thought; just what's so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?