Why O'Reilly's idea is better in theory than in practice

This past week Tim O'Reilly kicked up a veritable fire storm when he proposed that bloggers of the world should unite and adopt guidelines for self regulation. Judging by the comments and commentary on this particular article I believe that the idea of a "blogger treaty" is about as likely as the ratification of an EU constitution.

The problem is not that the blogosphere is unwilling to moderate civility and respect, but that most of it's denizens don't want it. For as long as I've used the electronic medium to trade thoughts and ideas I've repeatedly encountered folks who use it's relative anonymity to espouse their vitriolic arguments and agendas. Online communities have tried to deal with these malcontents using various schemes over the years, some with more success than others. Usenet, chat rooms, message boards and now blog sites have become the battle ground for folks to hide their identity while mouthing off things they wouldn't dare say in person.

An epic battle, a defining moment

What can I say? After 12 hours and 1346 miles the excitement of Sebring comes down to a heated battle between Ferrari and Porsche. Historically speaking it was inevitable that these two would once again lock horns in fierce competition, though no one expected that it would be in the oft-overlooked GT2 class.

In the closing hours of the race a battle developed between the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche GT3 RSR and the #62 Ferrari F430 GT of Risi Competizione. Darkness fell along with the track temperature much to the advantage of the Ferrari piloted by Mika Salo. Salo chased down the Porsche and eventually accumulated a significant lead. Fortunes would change however after the next pit stop when a safety violation and a fateful decision would turn the tables once again. A twenty second penalty combined with a choice to double stint the tires left the Ferrari with a smaller lead and a fleeting advantage. The Porsche was now in striking distance and it was only a mater of time before the two cars would meet again.

The 55th running of a classic

These past few weeks have been a mere lead up to the real start of the racing season. While the masses laud the Daytona 500, NASCAR's "Super Bowl", as the official commencement of the racing season, many of us prefer to wait until the annual 12 Hours of Sebring. This Saturday will mark the 55th running of Sebring and as always it promises to be an interesting and entertaining event.

I've read several "previews" for both the event and the American Le Mans Series season and this is my take on the race and the series. First of all this year's Sebring will host a number of what I liked to call "one off" teams who for whatever reason will not run a full season in ALMS. This doesn't diminish their presence though since Sebring, next to Le Mans, is most brutal automotive endurance race in the United States. Thus it's only natural that the event attracts more than a few single event entries especially since it's seen as the first competitive endurance test prior to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Many of the teams are either part of or wholly invited to the 24 Hours. As true sports car fans we appreciate the credibility of the event that these entries represent.

Trying times could be ahead for Kannapolis and the Rowan Cabarrus area, according to local residents and development consultants. The Kannapolis Independent Tribune has a long article that addresses some of the concerns that locals have over the new Biotech research campus and how they believe it will affect their lives. While city leaders say that the influx of nearly 40,000 jobs will create a "rising tide" that will help those outside of the research industry, locals fear that a rising tide of property prices will effecively evict them from their longtime home.

Having witnessed this sort of development in North Carolina first hand I can say that local residents are right to worry about an influx of people and money. Chances are good that a land rush is already in full swing around the Kannapolis area with developers staking claim to what they speculate are the most lucrative locations near the new campus. However over time this speculation will creep outward through older neighborhoods and rural countryside as the demand for housing and infrastructure steadily increases.