2) I am delighted to announce that MIT Press has me under contract to
deliver a book manuscript on robots and robotics for 2016 publication.
3) The reaction against Indiana governor Mike Pence's signing of the
"religious freedom" legislation has been fascinating to watch, in part
because I grew up in the state. One analysis suggested that the
polarization of media has led to "echo chambers" on both
left and right: if you listen only to the cheerleaders for your side,
the reaction of what used to be called "the silent majority" can be a
blindside smackdown. Pence's complete lack of articulate answers to the
broader media (most visibly George Stephanopoulos)
suggests he may have little idea of how non-social-conservatives
outside Indiana see the world.
Lest this viewpoint appears partisan, Hillary Clinton's stonewalling of
the archival process suggests a similar blind spot. One difference is
that she is much more experienced in handling the media than Pence, but
also the integrity of the historical record
matters less to most people than the prospect of Aunt Peg and her
partner Allison getting turned away from a hotel. Gay and lesbian rights
has become personalized in a way that records retention has not: an
overwhelming majority of Americans knows a gay or
lesbian family member or colleague. Very few of us can even name an
archivist or historian.
Once that personal association sensitizes people to an issue, social
media provides a ready environment for expressed outrage. The power of
the hashtag allows individuals to feel like they're part of what
Lawrence Goodwyn referred to as "movement culture" when
he discussed the civil rights protests of the 1960s. There, the options
were to be on site or watch on TV; now, one can be physically remote
from the protest yet feel active solidarity. The tidal wave of
#boycottIndiana could not have happened in a TV-driven
media environment, and I'm sure both parties' 2016 presidential
nominees will remember the episode.
4) Amazon remains relentless in its pace of innovation. The drone
delivery system, effectively grounded by current FAA rules, is being
tested in Canada (a country where Target couldn't operate profitably).
The Echo AI appliance is shipping and changes household
behavior in ways I will examine in a forthcoming letter. Today, Amazon
announced "impulse buy" devices called Dash buttons you can affix to the
storage spaces for household items like bleach or paper towels. These
are another small but discernible step in
the march toward the "smart" house. Yesterday Amazon launched a listing
of vetted home services providers ("from plumbers to herders" in the
words of one headline), once again connecting the physical and virtual
worlds unlike any other company.
At the same time, Amazon quietly stopped its mobile wallet efforts,
which unlike the ATT/Verizon effort had the benefit of not sharing a
name with a Middle Eastern terror group. The rapid warehouse buildout
appears to be continuing, as does the slow rollout
of home grocery delivery. In short, the company that has consistently
zigged while others zagged (or stood still) appears to be moving full
speed ahead to continue launching new initiatives that challenge
conventional wisdom in field after field.
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