Just got an Internet connection, and it appears I'm the only one in the room that has one. No Wi-Fi, no Treo (can't get a good signal up here on the 30th floor). So a tech had to come and tie me into the Reuters LAN. Jeff Jarvis is fielding the first question... More in a bit.
We've been talking about satellite radio over on the Spin Board, specifically what it can do to improve. It occurs to me that what I really want is a "Content Command Center" for my car that gives me access to audio content I already have, plus access to fresh content I might like. I see satellite delivery as a key component of this system. First off, I'd like a massive hard drive that plugs right into my car stereo. The HD would be removable and linkable to my home computer via USB, Firewire or Wi-Fi. I'd like to be able to store every MP3 in my collection on this drive, organize it the way I like (playlists, artist and genre sub-folders, etc.) and have everything at my fingertips when I drive. (Preferably accessible via buttons on my steering wheel.)
I'd also like a website that allows me to identify content preferences. I should be able to tell this website that I'm a slobbering Van Halen fan, that I dig Aerosmith, Guns 'N Roses, AC/DC, Pearl Jam and whatever other bands I like. I should also be able to tell it that from a talk radio perspective, I like liberal politics, gaming, technology and other such things.
My preferred content profile on this website should be linked to a satellite receiver in my car, which prioritizes the channels I'm most likely to dig by shuffling them and putting most preferred channels at the top of the order. I should also have a series of customized content channels organized by genre, such that I can tune in to "My Talk" and receive talk radio programs that appeal to me, based on the preferences I submit to the website. These could be downloaded in the background and time-shifted, or streamed.
At some point, there should be a "buy" button on my steering wheel, such that if I'm listening to a song I don't already own and want to buy it on impulse, I hit the button and the content provider charges 99 cents to a credit card I submitted through the website. The song is downloaded to the hard drive in my car and stays there indefinitely.
Podcasts I identify as interesting to me on the website should be available via streaming in my car. If I want to subscribe to a regular podcast, I should have the option of having as many episodes as will fit either streamed and stored, or downloaded from the Internet to my car's hard drive.
I think all of this can be done with technology that either exists today or isn't too far off in terms of development. Satellite companies already pitch web companies that host bandwidth-intensive events like live webcasts with bandwidth solutions. If a live webcast can be carried via satellite, why can't IP-based content like podcasts and Internet radio?
I'm not saying that the problem with Social Security is anywhere as huge as the Republicans are making it out to be, but if we really want to ensure Social Security's viability over the coming years, why not simplify it and shift more of the burden to the rich and super-rich? The cap is currently at $90,000. You pay no Social Security taxes beyond $90K, so once you've earned that in a given year, you stop paying into Social Security until the next year. Isn't this, by definition, highly regressive?
I've heard Al Franken on Air America suggest that Social Security taxes should kick in again after $350K of income or so, but why make it that complicated? Why not eliminate the cap entirely, decrease the overall percentage appropriately, along with the employer's matching contribution, and make the whole kit n' kaboodle taxable?
Our taxes have historically been based on ability to pay, so why do we stop collecting Social Security taxes after the first $90K? It hits the poor and middle classes a lot harder than it does the rich and super-rich, so why is it done in the first place?
Furthermore, what would be a compelling argument for not doing it this way? You could ensure Social Security's viability indefinitely and probably run surpluses for years. Future generations could probably get tax breaks as surpluses build up.
Here's one more from the auto show...
Just in case you're in the minority - those people who believe SUVs just aren't big enough - check out this monstrosity. The thing has regular doors up front and SUICIDE DOORS in the rear. All the seats are modular (on sliding tracks) and they're all captain's chairs. It doesn't look big in the photo, but it's really huge. You could actually slide out the last two rows of seats and have plenty of room for an ATV. (Heh heh.)
Lots of the manufacturers had new SUVs and SUV concepts. Just the thing for that rapidly-expanding family.
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