While much of the technology world’s attention...
While much of the technology world’s attention this week will be focused on the Internet World show in Los Angeles--where the latest and greatest of Digital Age wonders will be on display--an eclectic mix of computer types, such as lawyers, privacy advocates and government regulators, will be gathering in the Bay Area to discuss the broad societal implications of those technologies.
The Conference on Computers, Freedom and Privacy, a four-day event at the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame, will include tutorials and panels on issues ranging from the economics of the Internet and the latest in cryptography to the societal implications of digital cash and “spamming.”
The CFP conference, now in its seventh year, is famous for bringing together people who normally wouldn’t be caught dead in the same room: hackers and FBI agents, for example, and civil libertarians and credit report vendors. For more information, visit the conference’s Web site (https://www.cfp.org).
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Year 2000 Solutions: For business owners who are worried about the much-advertised “millennium crisis,” a free half-day seminar will be held Thursday at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Panelists will lay out the technological and legal issues surrounding the problem of computers’ inability to deal with the date change from 1999 to 2000. Call (213) 229-5630 for reservations.
CYBERSPACE
It’s not the Oscars or the Grammys, but the NetGuide Awards, hosted by comedian Margaret Cho, to be Webcast live at 7 p.m. Thursday. The awards are part of the Internet World conference being held this week in Los Angeles and will honor innovative Net products and Web sites. Internet: https://www.passport2.com
* Internet World may be mostly serious business, but if you’re looking for a bit of relief from all the talk about Java and ActiveX and “push” technologies, check out https://www.tnl.net/PARTY/partyla.html for a list of Internet World parties. Some are by invitation only, but you’ll find information on how to get invited to those that aren’t.
* In 1938, many panicked as they listened to Orson Welles announce on the radio that Earth was being invaded by Martians. “The War of the Worlds” broadcast and other classic radio shows are now online on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Seeing Ear Theatre (https://www.scifi.com), which debuts today. Seeing Ear also features narrations of classic literary works by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Franz Kafka, H.G. Wells and Ambrose Bierce.
* Whether you’re a mountain bike freak or a road bike enthusiast, the Bicycle Transit Authority (https://www.bikeinfo.com) is a resource for information on everything from local bike dealers to brake repairs. Find out what bicycle advocates nationwide are doing to advance the cause of cycling, or get an update on the performance of bike companies on Wall Street.
* What’s different about the rapidly changing world of mathematics in the elementary school classroom? How do you motivate students to learn about math and science? The Smart Catalog (https://www.lalc.k12.ca.us/catalog/home.html) is a resource for teachers that includes dozens of articles on teaching math and science. The site also has an index where educators will find further resources.
* From marital asset searches to custody and visitation issues, the Family Law Advisor (https://www.divorcenet.com) will come in handy if you’re going through a messy divorce. You can chat with fellow divorcees about stepfamily and cohabitation issues, paternity establishment and child support. You’ll also find state-by-state resources and even a chapter on the special divorce rules that apply to those in the military.
* The War Times Journal (https://www.wtj.com) is an online magazine that covers all periods of military history. From Napoleon’s correspondence to the German Offensive of 1916, the site has documents on historical events, military technology and tactics. Those with a specific interest in World War II can view period photographs at the Drop Zone Virtual Museum (https://www.thedropzone.org).
Site suggestions can be sent to cutting.edge@latimes.com
