Rochester Writers

So, Washington Post today had a story on how wikipedia has absorbed the news of Kenneth Lay's death, and (do I even need to say it) it's absorbed rumor & conspiracy theory as well.

I find this entertaining. Not just the wikipedia stabbing (I enjoy that a bit), but that people think it's worth reporting about John Gabriels Theory. I hate the burst bubbles, but the wikipedia has not magically unlocked doors to greater human intelligence/fairness/beauty/truth-iness.  It's just an accelerated version of what happens with all kinds of things already studied in different types of group intelligence and decision making.   What I'm curious about today is What factors can be measured in different group intelligences, to see how well they work?

My theory of possible factors to measuring Group Intelligence:

1. Accessibility: how easy is it to participate in the group for a person?
2. Moderation: How much moderation before the input is accepted?
3. Correction: How much correction once the input is accepted?
4. Investment: what is on the line for the individual if their input is bad/wrong/not liked?
5. Measurability: Can the input from individuals be measured against an abstract number (how many jelly beans in a jar?) or is it ascetic (how pretty is this kitten?)

I'm thinking these items could be measured on a scale, and I theorize (off the seat of my pants) that as Accessibility goes up, and Investment and Moderation goes down, that the group intelligence will be less accurate. I think these factors can be used to consider why The Jellybean intelligence works but why the Twin Towers memorial drove people to nearly riot in trying to decide which design to build.

Most importantly (to me ) is the question of how do these factors interact with projects like our own RocWiki?

Also posted at IndustrialSomething.org

Great Banana made a number of interesting comments about my Learning from Chattanooga post last month.  One of them concerned fairness:  it doesn't seem fair that a inner city school system that's been languishing for years receives more attention (and funding), while the suburban systems that have been doing well are penalized. 

While on vacation last week, I found some interesting examples that challenged my intutions about fairness.

For those of you who don't subscribe to the paper D&C, I wonder if you can pick which of the following pairings today's headline writer thought appropriate:

1. Senator Jim Alesi and Nelson Mandela
2. Teddy Geiger and Itzhak Perlman
3. J-Mac and Lance Armstrong

Rochester Turning's author and commentators are a-twitter with the sounds of WTF? after reviewing Randy Kuhl's latest campaign finance report. Why would the Sugar Cane and Sugar Beet Political Action Committees (PACs) be giving Randy some, er, sugar? 

One theory is that the sugar lobby mixed up Rochester, NY and Rochester, MN, which is in the heart of sugar beet country.  Close, but no cigar.

Eric Massa was on the Bob Lonsberry show this morning, and it was all love.  I thought that Eric and Bob would end the show with hugs and chaste-but-heartfelt kisses, but apparently they ran out of time.  Based on Lonsberry's reception, I'd say that Massa has a good chance for some crossover votes this Fall.

Along with the usual issues -- the war in Iraq, flag burning, NAFTA and gun control -- Massa raised an interesting one:  federal tax inequity.  Massa wants New York to get back more of what it pays in federal tax.

I live just off South Plymouth Ave, between Corn Hill and Brooks Landing.  For those of you that don't know, it's  a run down stretch, with a bunch of boarded up houses.  This year at the Corn Hill end a new development of suburban-style houses have been built as a  'redevelopment' project.  Twice in the last month while driving by these new spangly houses, I've watched as one particular family, in a new house, throw beer bottles at the boarded up house behind it.

It drives me crazy. I pick up garbage around my block. I try to make the place livable, despite the boarded up houses, trouble makers, and general garbage.  I consider living here, and trying to make it a little nicer my patriotism, my small work towards a better America.   It makes me crazy to watch a family in one of these (relatively) nice new units throwing garbage around.  Are they Stupid? Are they unthinking? Are they just jerks?   It's one family, but it still drives me crazy.

No matter what, it's clear that "build new houses and the neighborhood gets better" looks good in powerpoint, but it's not that simple in real life. To fix a place you need to change attitudes, and habits, and tie people into the neighborhood.  And that isn't nearly as easy or simple, as just tearing down a few blocks, and building something new.

While sweating and standing around at a Bug Jar concert last night, I had ample time from some bitter reflection over the recent payola announcement.  The first payments from the Sony settlement have gone out, and you'd think that Sony's classical and jazz divisions had been stuffing Benjamins into the pockets of Simon Pontin and Mordecai Lipshutz .

Unfortunately for Simon and Mordecai, Sony wasn't handing out trips and cash to get the newest recording of Beethoven's Late Quartets played on public radio.  Instead, they were paying to get new Franz Ferdinand, Killer Mike, Train and Celine Dion songs on Clear Channel and Infinity (this giant pdf has all the details).   And it wasn't WXXI listeners who were harmed: it was indy artists who compete with the big names, and fans who buy records in popular genres.  Payola subjects artists to unfair, subsidized competition, and fans pay more for all CDs to finance this form of bribery.

Google introduced a new mobile traffic map with data for 30 cities.  Rochester isn't one of them.   Sometimes being left out of Google is a good thing.

Last night was J-Mac Bobblehead Giveaway Night at Frontier Field...the first 3,000 attendees were lucky enough to receive one of these lovingly-crafted, lasting tributes to Rochester's hometown heartwarming hero. In turn, his grateful fan base has responded with true devotion.

Here are some  highlights from the CATS audit.  Overall, it's a 40-page chronicle of the hubris of Mayor Johnson and his staff, and the chicanery of a couple of investors who rooked him.  It should be required reading for every supporter of government/private "partnerships".

Don't click the following link on a full stomach:

If Bill Johnson's blithering, incoherent attack on the ferry audit wasn't enough to convince you of his incompetence, perhaps this buried gem from the City's response to the audit might:

...the City is currently at a disadvantage when responding to this Report.  Almost all of the officials of the administration of Mayor William Johnson in office during the time period covered by the report and who were principally involved in the fast ferry operation are no longer with the City...

Res Ipsa Loquitur

So, those that know me know I'm a bit of a Cooperative enterprise nut. I was amazed the other day to find that other cooperative nuts were trying to start a Cooperative Bookstore in town. Like Abundance Market, anyone could shop there, but owners would get a discount, owner that work hours get more of a discount, etc.

One of the lead organizers ( lets call her Purple) has experience doing this in other cities. From her work in Philly, she expected a small storefront for 600-800, no problem. She was surprised when last month she visited several places,(including Midtown Plaza) to find out about storefront rates. Every place she visited downtown wanted:

1. At least 1,000 a month for a storefront
2. Only would deal with people that had been in business 3-5 years

Here we have someone dedicated to less sprawl, and in-city development, with cooperative bookstore running experience, trying to (god forbid!) open a new business downtown, and getting doors closed in her face. Is there any wonder that downtown isn't developing?  And does anyone know of places downtown that desire  new businesses, rather than chase them away?