Tag Archive for: internet

A series of tubes that won’t go away


I got the title for my Internet-themed column from ex-Senator Ted Stevens’ comments on net neutrality. In 2006, Stevens mixed up the words “Internet” and “e-mail,” and then gave an incorrect account of how e-mail traffic works, saying that “[the Internet is] not a big truck — it’s a series of tubes.” It seemed at […]

Hackers break rules to spur progress


The other day I was listening to some friends discuss how to get around USC’s ban on peer-to-peer file-sharing. One advocated simply going off-campus and finding another Internet connection, but the other talked about creating a program to go around USC’s firewalls that would allow him to download songs from the comfort of his dorm […]

Web-based activism seeks to keep e-masses in the know


It always seems the Internet is under attack. Every week some fresh outrage breaks out over something that has appeared online. Sometimes it’s a morality issue stemming from some indecent website or video. This time the website in question is WikiLeaks.org. The site recently leaked footage from 2007 that shows an attack by American helicopters […]

Traditional news outlets lose to the web


While relaxing in my dorm Sunday, my roommates and I were surprised when the building suddenly began to sway back and forth. One of my roommates turned on the T.V. to get news on the earthquake, but it was at least 10 minutes before even local news networks had any coverage of it. Two of […]

Cyber censorship exposes the Chinese


Google’s recent decision to stop censoring results on its Chinese website and redirect Chinese users to its uncensored Hong Kong site has caused substantial contention among various communities. The Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, the People’s Daily, denounced Google’s apparent objective and moral façade. The company is “not a virgin when it comes to values. […]

Can government stop Internet freedom?


While earthquakes, health care reform and Tiger Woods have dominated mainstream news in the last months, there’s another story that has been steadily making waves in the international and online world — Google vs. China. In January, Google claimed to be the victim of a hacking attack that originated from computers in China. In response, […]

All bets are off in the social media world


Don’t talk to strangers. It’s a message instilled in us by our parents time and time again as the cardinal rule of safety. We listened carefully as children, mainly because this piece of advice was necessary for our everyday safety. However, for today’s college students and younger generations growing up in the age of technology, […]

Valentine’s Day tricks for late planners


Valentine’s Day is upon us once again, this time with a well-earned three-day weekend. For many students, this means extra wallowing and maybe a one-night stand or two, but, for those who actually have relationships, the weekend holds a bit more significance and a chance for a romantic evening. But for busy college students, planning […]

Websites foster musical creativity


You know you have downloaded music from the Internet at some point or another. It’s so easy to get the latest Matisyahu album or the newest single from Lady Gaga with just a click of the button. It’s quick, easy and gives us new music now. Downloading music is something everyone has done and most […]