Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 22:20:12 -0400
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Fw: Winston Smith
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

All of an intersting forwarded piece regarding a National ID . . . =
deleted, thrown into the dustbin of history!  Oh, sorry, getting carried =
away . . .

In the current issue of The Economist (Aug 17-23rd) there are two pieces =
on privacy.  Their Leader (that's their Brit speak for editorial it would =
see) has the title: Go On, Watch Me; subtitle: People are voluntarily =
surrendering their privacy.

The other piece, in their Science & Technology section, is: Something to =
watch over you.

I would suggest that y'all rush over to Old Town News and give Ted White =
your money for the issue.  Or go to a Big Bookstore Whose Name Begins With =
B and read it there  . . . or a library.  Or even at 1st Friday, Alexis =
has a subscription . . .

(For those who are not familiar with the magazine, it's a good news weekly =
from the UK that covers the world; no Time/Newsweek fluff.)

One of the fascinating things about old Winston Smith is how 1984 did not =
predict the future, but was probably instrumental in preventing a future.  =
The terms Orwellian, Big Brother and 1984 are part of the language and =
carry with it a lot of meaning.  With one small brushstroke, "That's =
Orwellian" one can say so much.

Wonder if Ashcroft has read the book?

Oh dear . . . 7 days from now I'm at a Worldcon . . .

mjw

"Are you alone?"
"Isn't everybody?"
 - - Chinatown