Greetings. We are conducting a preliminary online survey aimed at assessing the role of open source software in the scholarly and pedagogical practices of the Rhetoric & Composition and English Studies community. As a scholar and teacher of Rhetoric & Composition and/or of English Studies, you are being invited to participate in this survey. Please take a few moments to respond to this very brief ten-question survey on the subject at the link provided below.

I found this while taking a break from reading summer school essays. It seems the black helicopter folks were right. Micro-chipping moved from the pet arena to the people arena.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/1700AP_Chipping_America.html

According to a recent BBC article, recent imaging of a known palimpsest has revealed an early (2nd or 3rd century) commentary on Aristotle's Categories. That's an interesting connection between the modern and the ancient.

The October 10 edition of Spokane's Spokesman Review carried a story about wireless social networking for members. (You'll need to buy an account to read the whole story so I took out the link.) The network provides wireless access to members, as long as you are willing to share your wireless with other members. This means free wi-fi wherever the service is available in Europe and the US, if you are a member. The service requires a router that allows for an individual's private access and secured member access at the same time. The service is called Foneros and information can be found at http://www.fon.com. The problem to be worked out in the US, since this is largely a European offering at this point, is that broadband providers say reselling their signal violates user agreements. No mention of how this will affect areas where free wi-fi is already available, such as the downtown and hospital districts in Spokane. (Yes, the city offers free wi-fi!)

I took out the link to the story because they require a paid subscription. Sorry about that. It stinks!