SPUG: Meetings at Amazon

Ken Meyer kmeyer at blarg.net
Fri Sep 24 12:07:49 CDT 2004


I think that this response is best provided "in-line." Please see the
[#...#] comment delimiters.

Ken Meyer


-----Original Message-----

From: Andrew Sweger [mailto:andrew at sweger.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 11:02 PM
To: Ken Meyer
Cc: CJ Collier; spug-list at pm.org

Subject: RE: SPUG: Meetings at Amazon

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004, Ken Meyer wrote:

> Whoa there!  The idea of using wireless would be to be completely
> independent of anything Amazonian -- not to expose Amazon's network to the
> wireless world as you seem to be suggesting.  Simply, bring your laptop,
or
> whatever box, plug it into the projector, fire up the 802.11 PC card,
screw
> in the patch antenna, wave it around, and Presto!  You are on the air with
> no obligation or connection to Amazon.  Is that bad?

To do so without the consent of Amazon officials would not be polite in my
opinion. It may appear independent, but we would be on their turf.

[# My suggestion in my previous posting, and as shown excerpted below,
indicates that I did in fact suggest inquiry with management about the use
of WiFi, and that it might be prudent to have a direct employee of some
seniority do it (to minimize the potential for just being "blown-off").
Here it is:

[# "...so they were able to see outside without having access to the
school's internal network.  Perhaps you could investigate that possibility,
even via some person who is not a new employee such as you apparently are."

[# I know that the length of my messages may invite a cursory read, but
before you take specific exception to their content, you would be
well-advised to review them thoroughly.

[# Now, in addition, my "Whoa there..." comment was actually directed at CJ;
as a result of his observation:

[# "Truth be told, I think Amazon would be less likely to let us do this.
They're not a big proponent of potentially putting their intranet on an
internet-facing wireless network."

[# I interpret this comment as suggesting a connection between SPUG's use of
WiFi and Amazon's intranet, i.e. that we would attach an AP to the Amazon
internal network.  If I misinterpreted this statement, then the point is
"inoperative" in a "no-fault mode".  David responded to me off-line,
apparently feeling that the remarks were directed at him and perceiving the
context incorrectly. OK, stuff happens.

[# Now, this grumpiness is unfortunate, given that I have simply been trying
to brainstorm a solution that would improve the quality of meetings
potentially held at Amazon.  In point of fact, I'm surprised that a computer
is apparently not permanently installed in every conference room there, and
which could be used under the proper conditions and restrictions.

[# I suggest that David and CJ spend their discretionary time inquiring
discretely about the possibilities, and if at all possible, do so without
generating an edict that would be difficult to overturn.  If problems are
encountered, I would be happy to try to engage Jeff himself, unabashedly
playing the "Hi, from a fellow Princeton alumnus" card, which is in fact the
case.
"]

> IMHO, the primary founder and initial driver of Seattlewireless was Ken
> Caruso, who in fact rented the space down in Georgetown where the meetings
> were held when they had "general membership" meetings.  In the recent
past,
> I think that Ken has been working for a Portland company and is out of
town
> a lot.  Casey Halverson was another key player, but you won't learn any of
> that talking to the Big Matt Am.  Flickenger arrived on the scene from CA
> much later.

I didn't understand the point you were making, but Mr. Collier is well
acquainted with the SWN folks and a recognized contributor to the group.

[# So was I, quite a bit before "Mr. Collier" arrived on the scene, I
suspect; because his statement was not quite accurate.  He gave "Mr.
Westervelt" sole credit for the formation of SWN -- not a big surprise,
given "Mr. Westervelt's" view of the world, but incorrect nevertheless.

[# This was not intended to be "a biggie" -- just another first-hand
observation from the trenches, attempting to distribute the credit among
other very, and perhaps more, worthy souls.  In any event, the comment was
not intended as a rap on "Mr. Collier".

[# By the way, Matt Westervelt also bears a primary responsibility for: (1)
the demise of a project that gave SWN its best shot at creating the MAN that
they profess (ed?) to have as their objective, and (2) the deconstruction of
SWN's public presence from hosting general membership meetings to a
reduction to mere "hack nights" at which only wireless guru/geeks are
welcome.  Just FYI.
#]

--
Andrew B. Sweger -- The great thing about multitasking is that several
                                things can go wrong at once.



More information about the spug-list mailing list