Kachingle is a new model in monetizing the web

Kachingle, http://www.kachingle.com/home.php, is a new model that allows readers to reward content they like by making micro-payments. The reader sets a monthly budget, say $5 or much more. Then when they see a site they like, they click on the button to send a proportion of that to the site. It is more like NPR than the Wall Street Journal, as it relies on an honor system, but it does seem to work well.

Infrastructure is the reason why the US is crumbling

The recent snowstorm in the Northeast highlighted our crumbling infrastructure. 50% of homes in CT without power four days later. Apparently, CT is three times as forested now as it was in 1985. So, if you insist on hanging power lines from poles, the likelihood of them being brought down by falling trees has gone up several times. Add to that a 20% reduction in work crews and a reduction in regular tree trimming (now done only once every five years) and power outages are inevitable. Add to that, reductions in maintenance of roads, bridges, railroad tracks and rolling stock, and the US is the only developed or developing country where infrastructure is getting worse, not better.

The inevitable conclusion, if maintenance and repair continues to fall behind is continued erosion of infrastructure. Thinking ahead, as we used to in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, would prevent this from happening.

Why do US speed limits end in "5"?

Every other country, including our neighbor, Canada, has almost all speed limits end in "0." So, we get 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, etc. H0wever, in the US, they almost always end in "5," even though car speedometers show speeds ending in "0." I have often wondered why the US adopted this counter-intuitive and probably more difficult system. But like light switches going up to turn a light on, it is yet another example of American exceptionalism. I have tried to find the origins of this, but perhaps, like driving on the right or the left, there is no sure answer.

The US Post Office is quite remarkable

For 48c a letter can be picked up from any of over 100 Million locations, and within one to three days, bo transported thousands of miles, to any of over 100 Million locations, with a precision which is remarkable - much more accurately than Fedex or UPS, which will charge about 40X as much. Other Western countries charge around twice as much and cover few far locations and far smaller distances. We see one of the most effective and accurate services ever to exist, at a price that is unequalled. Yet, we fail to value it enough and never think to marvel at how it achieves this. When it finally dies, our descendents will find it difficult to believe.

Do journalists have an obligation to check facts, or should they merely repeat what they hear?

It has long amazed me to see that usually, when an interviewee blatantly lies or makes an incorrect statement, the journalist will let it stand. To me, this undermines the credibility of the journalist. yet it is not seen as the function of most journalists. It seems that the justification for the special position of the Fourth Estate is the fact that it seeks the truth to put in front of the public. Yet it has become more like entertainment. If journalists are not charged with seeking the truth, and challening untruths, why should the press occupy a special position?

Why do we blog?

Do we simply like to hear the sound of our own voices? Are we seeking publicity? Do we want to make money? Are we altruistic? Do we want to keep learning by being on the leading edge?

I suspect that while the balance may vary, most bloggers have more than one motivation. With many millions of blogs out there, most get little or no readership, and a tiny percentage get in the thousands of readers. I also find that it is a good self-discipline to force myself to think of a topic on a (semi)-regular basis and then to articulate the thought. It is harder work than Tweeting or reposting articles to Facebook or Digg. I would encourage everyone to have a go.