---snip--- > Wouldn't it be better to join with Minneapolis and > create a single system with a single payment that > will work in both places? > Charlie Swope > Ward 1 >
Charlie, (replying to a direct message) Your point is right on. What we're building is a network. Metcalf's law states that the value (or "power") of a network increases in proportion to the square of the number of nodes on that network. [Its worth mentioning that this is a rule-of-thumb kind of law like Moore's law (processor speeds (density) double every 18 months) rather than a law of physics.] As an example, compare the Internet to old-style AOL or Compuserve. The Internet was open and had more nodes (think web addresses) and quickly overwhelmed the closed off subscriber-only AOL. So a network that includes Mpls & St. Paul is "worth more" than 2 separate networks. If only there was a regional governmental body that spanned the whole Twin Cities metro area. Ideally, that body would have experience building and maintaining a network of some kind. Funny, when you think about it, it seems that government often has had a role in building (or kickstarting) previous networks. Think water, sewer, bus, cable, phone(?), electric(?). Why do I suspect that the current minimal (anti-?) government climate will cause us to miss this opportunity? Kevin Frogtown W1P4 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: stpaul@mnforum.org To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
