Everything is connected: the machine is us/ing us

Watch this excellent introduction to the evolving internet by Michael Wesch, who’s an assistent professor in Cultural Anthropology at Kansas State University. Ideal material to introduce your colleagues with the concept of Web2.0. It explains why some changes are happening. For example, why the need to separate form from content? “I like Word!?”, ever heard that? I have.

If you’re interested there’s also the creator’s explaination, where he refers to We are the web by Kevin Kelly. Next on my list to read.

While I’m at it: consider watching these CommonCraft introductions to Microblogging and Social Media (thanks FackeldeyFinds).

Model employee at my company KNMP

Weeks ago, I took part in a recruitment campaign for my employer. Just now, I found myself online:

Nice nah?

Original testimonial (dutch, pdf), photos at Flickr

Open up for OpenID

One up for Michael Arrington:

It’s time for these companies to do what’s right for the users and fully adopt OpenID as relying parties. That doesn’t fit in with their strategy of owning the identity of as many Internet users as possible, but it certainly fits in with the Internet’s very serious need for an open, distributed and secure single log in system (OpenID is all three).

With “these companies” referring to AOL, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo!. I couldn’t agree more.

Via Twitter

Lijst.com announcement

Lijst is something I’ve had on my mind for years. The concept evolved. Today I think it is mature enough to be announced: lijst.com

Feedback is highly appreciated.

Twitter me Tweet

I’ve been infected: twitter.com/nederhoed (RSS)

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Belastingdienst frustration

You’ll enjoy this. To improve security I’m forced to change my password for the Dutch tax website at least yearly. Easy enough, wouldn’t you think?

Translated:

Your password should:

• be different from your previous passwords
• have 3 characters not in your previous password
• be at least 6 characters long
• not contain more than 3 identical characters
• contain at least 3 letters
• contain at least 1 digit

These rules, combined with a given username analogous to NL0001239988 make it impossible for me to remember my credentials. As a result, I have to write them down, making it less safe. The first time I had to think up a password for the site, the result was fuck123. Somehow, these rules don’t work with me.

Additionaly, the Belastingdienst stores all my past passwords! If they’re so concerned about security, they should not store passwords at all. Every developer should know that.

Sigh. I don’t mind paying taxes. I do mind the hassle and illogic.

A Famous Smurfette

Source: denationalepopquiz.nl (new quiz available in January 200

Above a famous female singer pictured as Smurfette. I got hold of this picture in a preview for the 2008 quiz. Do you recognize her? Not that hard. I thought it to be artistic enough to share it.

Larry Lessigs brilliant case for new media

I was touched by this plea for common sense in legislation for distribution of digital products and user generated content.

Read more from Mr. Lessig on his weblog

New life, real life: Ella

Special times for close friends (pics):

I’ll meet her next friday. A nice way to see my circle of friends grow

Hack at home

Paul Graham in How to start a startup:

“Ever notice how much easier it is to hack at home than at work? So why not make work more like home?”

“I think hiring people is the worst thing a company can do. To start with, people are a recurring expense, which is the worst kind. [...] worst of all, they slow you down: instead of sticking your head in someone’s office and checking out an idea with them, eight people have to have a meeting about it.”