Category: Publishing

6 min read 0

Reallocating Under-Utilized Airwaves for Modern Digital Communications

The electromagnetic spectrum is a finite resource, yet its allocation has not kept pace with the rapid evolution of communication technologies. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversees the management of this spectrum in the United States, balancing commercial, governmental, and civilian needs. However, many allocated frequency bands, such as the 40 Citizen Band (CB) radio channels in the 27 MHz range, are significantly under-utilized in today’s digital age. These airwaves, once bustling with trucker chatter and community exchanges, now lie largely dormant as communication preferences have shifted to digital platforms. This presents a unique opportunity for the FCC to reallocate these under-used frequencies to support innovative, unencrypted digital communications for civilian use, fostering education, hobbyist experimentation, and scientific advancement, while also paving the way for secure, licensed applications…
8 min read 0

Navigating the Mental Health System: An Interview with Jason Page on Chicago Writes

In a compelling episode of Chicago Writes, a program hosted by the Chicago Writers Association, W.C. Turck sat down with Jason Page, the author of the Mental Hospital Survival Guide: How to Protect Yourself and Others from Abuse, now in its fourth edition. Page, a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, has transformed his personal experiences into a vital resource for those navigating the often daunting landscape of mental health hospitalization. This interview delves into the nuances of his guide, the systemic challenges within mental health institutions, and the critical importance of self-advocacy and empathy in mental health care. A Guide Written in the Language of the Schizophrenic Page’s Mental Hospital Survival Guide is not a typical self-help book. As Turck notes, it is written in the “language of the schizophrenic,”…
8 min read 0

The CDC FOIA Office Closure: Legal Concerns and Prospects for FOIA Requests

Introduction In April 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shuttered its entire Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office as part of a broader Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reorganization under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This unprecedented move, affecting approximately 22 staffers, has halted the CDC’s ability to process FOIA requests, leaving requesters with automated replies stating that the office is on administrative leave and unable to respond. This article explores the legality of the closure, its implications for transparency, and the prospects for FOIA requests moving forward, drawing on recent developments and expert analyses. Background: The HHS Reorganization and FOIA Office Layoffs On April 1, 2025, HHS initiated a mass reduction-in-force, cutting 10,000 employees across its agencies, including the CDC, Food and…
8 min read 0

Mobygratis: A Creative Model for Music Licensing

In an era where access to high-quality music can make or break a creative project, Moby’s mobygratis platform stands out as a revolutionary approach to music licensing. Launched in 2005 and relaunched in 2025 with expanded functionality, mobygratis offers over 500 instrumental tracks, including 300 previously unreleased pieces, to creators such as filmmakers, musicians, students, and choreographers. This initiative, driven by musician and activist Moby in collaboration with Little Walnut Productions, is designed to empower budget-conscious creators while introducing an innovative model for music marketing and monetization. By providing free access to music for non-commercial projects and requiring commercial licenses only when certain profitability thresholds are met, mobygratis strikes a balance between creative freedom and fair compensation. Additionally, the platform enforces two ethical restrictions: the music cannot be…
6 min read 0

Adobe’s Stagnation: Pricing, Platform Woes, and the Linux Opportunity

Adobe, once a titan of creative software, has struggled to maintain its innovative edge in recent years. While the company has leaned heavily into AI-driven features to reinvigorate its Creative Cloud suite, this push often overshadows deeper issues: exorbitant pricing, platform limitations, and persistent bugs that erode user trust. The real opportunity for Adobe to restore customer confidence lies in expanding its suite to Linux, a platform that could address privacy concerns, reduce reliance on flawed operating systems, and signal a commitment to user-centric innovation. The AI Distraction and the Pricing Problem Adobe’s recent focus on AI—tools like Firefly and generative features in Photoshop and Premiere Pro—has been marketed as a leap forward. These advancements are impressive but often feel like a distraction from systemic issues. The Creative…
7 min read 0

X’s Progress in Countering Fake Accounts and Astroturfing: Addressing an Inherited Challenge

Introduction The social media platform X, formerly Twitter, has long grappled with the pervasive issues of fake accounts and astroturfing—coordinated efforts to manipulate public opinion by mimicking grassroots support. These challenges, deeply rooted in Twitter’s pre-2022 era, have drawn scrutiny for undermining authentic discourse. Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform in October 2022, X has implemented measures to address these problems, with mixed results. This article explores the progress X has made in countering fake accounts and astroturfing as of April 2025, provides background on the inherited issues from Twitter, and examines allegations of collusion involving Twitter’s former staff and owners. Background: The Inherited Problem of Fake Accounts and Astroturfing When Twitter operated under its original ownership, fake accounts and astroturfing were significant concerns, driven by the…
5 min read 0

Foundation of the WorldWideWeb Turns 36 Today

Tim Berners-Lee, with Robert Cailliau’s support, birthed the World Wide Web and its first browser at CERN, initially serving as a hypertext document system. Their work evolved into the global WWW through open standards and broader adoption. HTML, created by Berners-Lee, grew from a simple markup language into a cornerstone of the Web, standardized by the W3C, which Berners-Lee founded to ensure the Web’s coherence and accessibility. Today’s WWW reflects their foundational vision, expanded by decades of innovation and collaboration. Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist, and Robert Cailliau, a Belgian engineer and computer scientist, played pivotal roles in the development of the World Wide Web (WWW). Their collaboration at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, laid the groundwork for one of the most transformative technologies of…
6 min read 0

How Online Scammers Are Eroding Dating App Profits—and What Can Be Done About It

Online dating has become a cultural cornerstone, connecting millions in search of love, companionship or just a spark. Yet, beneath this digital romance lies a growing threat: scammers who exploit these platforms for profit, leaving both users and dating app companies reeling. The financial toll of these fraudulent activities is staggering, and it’s hitting dating apps where it hurts most—their bottom line. This article explores how scammers are undermining the dating industry, backed by recent statistics, and proposes robust solutions involving identity verification, anti-fraud measures, and streamlined reporting to protect users and restore trust. The Financial Fallout of Scams on Dating Apps Romance scams have surged in recent years, with scammers crafting fake profiles to prey on unsuspecting users. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported…
4 min read 0

Think Sideways in the Future of Fax Not Replaced by Secure eMail

The Next Phase After Fax: A Return to Meaningful Simplicity The fax machine, once a marvel of modern communication, now feels like a relic—a dusty artifact of a time when sending a message across distances was a tangible, deliberate act. In today’s hyper-digital world, we’ve long since abandoned the whirring hum of fax for instant emails, cloud-shared files, and video calls that stream at blinding speeds. But where does this relentless march of “progress” leave us? What comes after fax—and more importantly, why should it matter? The answer might not be what you expect. It’s not about more bandwidth, higher resolutions, or AI-driven interfaces. The next phase could very well be a step sideways, toward something like Meshtastic—a decentralized, point-to-point messaging system that echoes fax’s simplicity while shedding…
4 min read 0

Making Fax Cool Again: Why Government, Medical, and Legal Fields Still Need the Humble Fax

Folks like me keep faxing cool while others think eFax is some busted website needing eFixing. But let me tell you straight — I can fax a page or two to over 100 numbers in under an hour for less than a dollar. Yeah, I’m bragging. But it’s not for the ego. It’s because facsimile deserves respect. It deserves a comeback. I’m out here trying to make fax cool again. Why? Because when you want just one physical page to make it from one corner of the world to another, and you want it to exist nowhere else but between two machines, faxing stands alone. Beam me up. Faster and cloudier is not always better. Prove me wrong. Faxing in the Fields That Matter Look, anyone can shoot…