At my lowest point, I broke into a family member’s house just to use their shower and search for a job while they were at work. A lot of the money I begged went to gasoline, razors and the laundromat as I was always job-hunting.

A distant acquaintance gave me his sister-in-law’s number to call, because she worked for some company that maybe might want to hire me. Well, they did hire me – for $10 an hour – and I got back on my feet.

Ten years later, I’m doing fine. But the point is that, if providing public network access is viable, DO IT. Give the homeless every resource to lift themselves up. I don’t know if it should be given a “human right” status, but it would be a noble social program to institute.

I met a homeless guy living around Union Station who maintained a blog about various political goings-on of the area. I’m not sure that he was totally right in the head, but the blogging seemed to keep him plugged into humanity…

The thread reminds me of Videodrome‘s Cathode Ray Mission. From the pic:

“BO:In their case, it’s not a style. It’s a disease caused by their lack of access to the cathode-ray tube.
MR: You think TV can help them?
BO: Watching TV will help patch them back into the world’s mixing board.
MR: Absolutely.
MR: I guess you encourage Father’s derelicts to make home movies for the world’s mixing board.
BO: Professor O’Blivion sends videos all over the world.
MR: Is the Professor here?
BO: I am my father’s screen. Once you’ve told me what this is about, he may send you a cassette. Which format would you like?
MR: It’ll make conversation difficult.
BO: My father has not engaged in conversation for at least 20 years. The monologue is his preferred mode of discourse.
BO: Format?
MR: Videodrome.”

Best. Movie. Ever.

But, I don’t see how we go from a pay service to free access for everyone in five years time. It does seem like in the past couple years free wireless access points are popping up at a lot of food/drink businesses. I think that sort of access could reach the tipping point in Cory’s projected timeline. But, I don’t know about free wireless access in my house.

Where did Cory say internet access would be free? Water is a human right, but you have to pay for the water that comes from your tap.

And what are you blathering about “using force against you?” That makes no sense! When does violence come into the picture? o.O And who says YOU’d have to pay for internet for anyone but yourself? No one is saying that. So I’m not sure what you’re all up in arms about, unless you’re just angry that these “darn stinky homeless people” are all being clever about obtaining internet access and they should “stick to the gutter where they belong” or somesuch.

Snow Crash anyone?

Life in a storage unit versus the metaverse…

Logistical problems abound, I’m sure, but it looks like fun in my mind.

Considering that homeless people are often targets of violence including “sports-killings”, maybe not that much fun.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/19/homeless.attacks/index.html

Aspiring computer programmer Paul Weston, 29, says his Macintosh PowerBook has been a “lifeboat” since he was laid off from his job as a hotel clerk in December and moved to a shelter. Sitting in a Whole Foods store with free wireless access, Mr. Weston searches for work and writes a computer program he hopes to sell eventually.

Living in a U-Store-It and using VR goggles, that’s basically Hiro Protagonist.

The future is shaping up to be almost identical to Snow Crash.

Someone seems to have accidentally given you the impression that the purpose of the American welfare system is to help people.

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Seconded. We’ve got some nice infrastructure for a third world nation.

Hmm, just like philosophers then, who only seem to exist to teach other people about philosophy :)

this ain’t 4chan, friend.

The idea that it’s analogous to, say, police protection or welfare on the list of things the state should provide is, I felt, ludicrous on its face. I will try to express these thoughts with less smartassery next time.

Unless you think homeless people need to be spoken for, rather than listened too, which is very much how you come across.