Techno-Politics and Tech Culture

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the premiere of “Anthem,” a modern dance I composed for the Parsons Dance Company. It opened at City Center in New York City on May 5, 1998. I conducted the London Symphony Orchestra for the performance. Continue Reading →

Known simply as 5G, the next-generation wireless network has been touted as "world-changing" and a quantum leap in the evolution of communication. There’s a good reason: it will be. If you're wondering how and why, here are 5 things 5G should make you think about. Continue Reading →

Mark Zuckerberg will testify before Congress on April 11. It’s going to be a big day for Mark. That said, I could not resist the temptation to imagine what I might do if I were in Facebook’s shoes. So, as a starting point for your own “If I were Facebook” fantasy congressional hearing, here’s my list of the five things Facebook must do right now. Continue Reading →

Apple CEO Tim Cook and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg have been all over the news this week. Before your eyes glaze over and you decide you are already a world-class expert in this subject, or worse, you think data is someone else’s issue, or much worse, you don’t think there’s anything you can do about your data, let’s review: Continue Reading →

At long last, Apple on Monday announced its new TV streaming service, Apple TV+, which will become a destination for some of the best and most exciting streaming video content when it launches later this year. Here's everything you need to know. Continue Reading →

Since the Cambridge Analytica Facebook data scandal, the number one question I’ve been asked is, “What Facebook data did they get?” The second most popular question is, “What did Cambridge Analytica do with it?” Let’s review: Continue Reading →

It’s you against the bots and trolls. And, although you may not know it, you are being viciously attacked every day. To help you understand how, I am going to teach you (for informational purposes only) how to weaponize social media, and build your own troll farm. If you can read, copy, and paste, then you can do this. Let’s begin. Continue Reading →

This past week, the NRA and advocates for gun safety and common sense gun laws found common ground: background checks. According to both sides, gun purchasers should be subjected to rigorous background checks. This is an excellent starting point for a constructive and productive dialogue. Continue Reading →

From liftoff to the synchronous booster landing, the “rocket” part of the Space X Falcon Heavy mission demonstrated that space is now available to people (as opposed to countries). Thank you. I have been waiting for this moment since I was a kid. Continue Reading →

Blockchain is the underlying technology that powers bitcoin, altcoins (other cryptocurrencies), NFTs, smart contracts and DAOs. Distributed ledgers, the term of art for blockchain’s underlying technology, offer a way to transact business without relying on a central authority. Here’s a nontechnical, simplified description of the component parts. Continue Reading →