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In a recent story written about Apple Computer’s lawsuit against ThinkSecret, Ed Foster claims that companies who use the legal system to protect their intellectual property are jeopardizing the ability of whistle-blowers from exposing unlawful practices:

So there’s more at stake here than finding out that a sub-$500 Mac is coming before Steve Jobs tells us. Under the rules of engagement that Apple’s lawsuit suggests, whistleblowers who have been sources for stories about tobacco, auto, or energy industries could never have come forward. And as 2005 gets underway, I think many of us fear that we are much closer to 1984 than we were in 1984.

Hog wash. You may think that Apple is being overly aggressive against ThinkSecret (I somewhat agree). However, I really think they just want names (and rightly so). Someone violated their employer’s agreements by exposing company secrets and they should be fired. Apple wants to know who. The big difference here is that Apple hasn’t done anything illegal. A whistle-blower is, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, “one who reveals wrongdoing within an organization to the public.” Let’s remember who broke the law in this case (the employees) before we start comparing Apple to Enron.

As the anticipation of a new working environment builds, I have been considering various purchases to increase comfort and productivity. The 15 inch powerbook that I bought almost a year ago has been great to work on, however, the screen sometimes feels too low when on a desktop. I think that this could be leading to bad posture so I am shopping around for options to raise the screen. I know Daniel’s grandfather has constructed some custom wood powerbook stands in the past. Along those lines Rain Design makes a product called iLap, which is a stand made of aluminum. The nice thing about it is that it comes with fancy cushions for lap use and the metal serves as a heat sink for the laptop.

In preparation for full time work in the BitLeap office Lindsay, Ian and I have ordered some new fancy development displays. Being an Apple fan I am of course partial to the Cinema Displays and Tuesday’s price drop did give me pause. However, the Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW 20.1 inch (I know, not even the name is as cool as Apple’s) comes at a unbeatable price. We got 3 of them and 1 of the normal 20” aspect ratio LCD monitors for $560 a piece. Factor in the 300 cd/m² brightness and massive 600:1 contrast ratio and not even Apple’s Cinema Displays can compete on specs. There are some other frills too, such as dual video input selection, possible adjustable aspect view and a usb hub.

I resigned my position as Director of Marketing at Cumberland Technologies on Monday. My business, BitLeap, has been fortunate enough to receive appropriate start-up financing to let us enter the product development phase full time. This has certainly been a mix of emotions, both sad and exciting. I first started with PA.net in 1997 as an intern doing technical support and have worked there in many different roles several times. This latest period began in August of 2001 when I was hired as the DSL Product Line Manager. After rolling out the DSL, I took on more marketing responsibilities and eventually became the Director of Marketing.

It has been a great learning opportunity and a good job but it is time to move on. When I returned to Pennsylvania from Denver in 2001, I had three basic personal goals to accomplish while working at CTI: 1. Ability to relocate across the country without loosing a ton of money, 2. Go back to school, and 3. Pay down personal debt. I am happy to say that I was able to achieve those goals and even though I still need 17 credits to graduate from Penn State Harrisburg, I am sure this is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.

That wraps up a wonderful Christmas. It was Robin and I’s first one together and we had a great time. Thursday night we saw the Dave Stahl Orchestra’s Christmas show at the Carlisle Elks club. Our families houses are only a few short miles apart, so we were able to bounce back and forth from Christmas Eve through Chirstmas day. We spent time with many people on her side and my side while getting two awesome dinners. Robin’s dad, Ray, offered an excellent Christmas prayer/poem before we ate, my mother got out the homemade ice-cream, Noah played with his Thomas trains, and Robin and I happily endured several rounds of hide and seek with Rachel and Jackson. In addition to some very warm looking sweaters I got some Christmas money this year, which has already been earmarked for the recently (a few hours ago) ordered Airport Extreme, Dr. Bott ExtendAIR directional antenna (up to 500 ft.), and Airport Express Sterro Connection Kit. There shall be no more holes in the wireless network! If it were only so easy to broadcast the true Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas all, I am looking forward to an exciting 2005!