Disqus - Latest Comments for bi11jon

Re: Broadband vs. NIMBY

Bill — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:21:56 -0000

The broadband grants and Vtel projects are great news for Vermonters. Let's hope the legislators understand and do just what you are suggesting here.

Re: The End of the Age of Incentives

Bill — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:02:27 -0000

VEETC Ethanol Tax Credit is now 45 cents/gal now, I believe.

Re: Vermont Broadband Stimulated with $45.6 Million

Bill — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:44:15 -0000

Great news!

Re: Vermont Dares to Lower Taxes as Stimulus Funds Wane

Bill — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:44:05 -0000

Interesting news, Tom. You might want to check your spelling on point number 1.

Re: Backroads Broadband

Bill — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:31:39 -0000

The VELCO fiber highway sounds like a giant leap for broadband in rural Vermont. Go Green (Mountains)!

Re: Vermont’s Broadband Recommendations

Bill — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:06:39 -0000

Congratulations on the grant awards so far!

Re: Electricity Isn’t an Energy Source

Bill — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:59:15 -0000

"My prediction is that the economics will soon be favorable for oil as well. " So are you saying that you think oil is going to get much cheaper? I'm confused. This doesn't fit into the story you're telling.

Re: Was the Economic Stimulus Bill a Good Idea?

Bill — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:57:57 -0000

Spoken like an economist. It depends...

Re: My New Gig

Bill — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:01:22 -0000

Good luck, Tom!

Re: Bailing out Investors Threatens Savers

Bill — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:15:12 -0000

I still keep hearing the argument from seemingly intelligent people that purchasing real estate "forces a person to save". That could be true, or you could have just lit some money on fire and had more fun than homeowners are having about right now. Yet, i still keep hearing the argument.

Re: Internet Services Worth Paying For

Bill — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:52:40 -0000

Tom-
Not sure if this is related, but I wanted to share some thoughts. I read a quote from a T-Mobile rep yesterday that said, "Of course more speed is better, but what we're talking about here is expenditure of public money. So how can we further the public good? The ability to find jobs online? Interact with government? I don't need 5 megabits per second (Mbps) up and 5 Mbps down to do that," Mr. Conn said. Basically he is saying that our current bandwidth is fine.

I began to think that at those speeds Internet-based applications (maybe even we-based operating systems) could become really attractive alternatives to client-PC applications. If you take this thought to an extreme, all a person might need for everyday computing is a web browser. That level of competition to traditional PCs could generate amazing things all around.

If that is to happen, then bandwidth becomes a VERY big deal (even though i could see how people might not think its such a big deal right this second.) First thing is first though, we need to bring the Internet to the people that don't have access. Then we can find out if they'd pay for Microsoft Office Online.

Aloha!
Bill

Side thought, how much do you think you spend on Internet-connected services per year? I'm at Roughly $100.

Re: Ten Telecom Tsunamis

Bill — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:27:52 -0000

TV looks great on my Mac with a TV tuner. The tuner only cost $100.

Re: Save The Economy – Legalize Drugs

Bill — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:26:48 -0000

Good call, Tom. Leave no stone unturned. Instead of judging people's behavior, let's tax it. I fell stimulated already. Afghans might even start to like us.

Re: Ten Telecom Tsunamis

Bill — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:23:28 -0000

Re: End of the Channel. I was really hoping the broadcasters would seize the competitive opportunity of high quality broadcasts and up to 4 multi-casts. Sadly, it seems that the local NBC affiliate expects I will watch them on cable, even though I am right in the middle of town (BTW Honolulu transitioned to DTV on 15 January). Isn't there an opportunity to find more customers of over-the-air TV? The picture looks good enough to eat (when you get it).

Re: Author’s Nightmare

Bill — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:43:30 -0000

At least I only made 50 of my CDs that sold one copy. Good luck with your 4000 tomes.

Re: Airlines Encourage Cloud Computing

Bill — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:06:54 -0000

If I have to pay for a different service depending on my circumstances, then I think I can forgo the Internet for a while (or a flight). Fees for Internet at home, road, and air sound only affordable to the well-off. Until there is one fee or no fee for access to the cloud, I think the computer as it is will do just fine. Are you also forgetting how many people love their games that are hungry for computing prowess?

Re: Why Government Investment in Broadband Is Justified Now

Bill — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:11:42 -0000

Tom. Do we want the strategy of rural electrification and have the government subsidize (build out) the network to just about everyone, or do we want the Interstate strategy and offer large connections relatively close to rural places? I'm guessing you'd like a little help in both instances. How about federal networks to the community edge and community networks for the communities? The private sector can either lease these networks or collocate and build their own. Lets do it quickly too.

Re: How a Gas Tax Increase Can Help Economic Recovery

Bill — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:57:23 -0000

Of course, this is the right thing to do. However, Congress likes to force the automobile industry's hand by enacting CAFE standards rather than simply taxing fuel.

Re: Babysitter’s View of the Future

Bill — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:39:16 -0000

Why go through the hullabaloo of switching TV from analog to digital, if no one will watch it? I have to say, with digital, my free TV experience has become magnitudes more enjoyable. Although, according to FCC maps released today, I will lose my NBC affiliate completely. And in the middle of the city, no less.

Re: Google Chrome: Make the Bookmarks Bar Display as Icons Only

Bill — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:22:27 -0000

Any way to get rid of the icons?

Re: Saving the American Car Industry – Plan C

Bill — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:10:28 -0000

Don't you think people want to actually drive the thing before they commit to the sizable debt involved? Is a car a commodity PC?

Re: Low Gas Prices Will Kill detroit.gov

Bill — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:09:34 -0000

You got it, Tom. If you want to reduce consumption of gasoline, increase its tax. No CAFE standards needed. Then reduce taxes elsewhere to even out the tax burden. Unfortunately, it appears that we have added abundant, cheap gasoline to the bill of rights. Sad.

Re: Lesson for Next Time: Small is Beautiful

Bill — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:10:42 -0000

Who will support the government when it fails?

Re: Free, Slow, Censored Internet – A Bad Idea

Bill — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:09:06 -0000

I am firmly against government censorship.

Re: Thanksgiving Poem

Bill — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:01:48 -0000

Whatever happened to good old fashioned navigation? This is certainly not a prescription for using less power. ( I think I may be turning into a grumpy old man.)