A few changes worthy of note at the KCMO Library

Looks like they've changed filter vendors, and although whatever they're using now still tends to overblock (and do so in broad categories rather than narrowly define which of CIPA's proscriptions-obscenity, child porn, or access by minors of material harmful to them-the filter suspects the desired site runs afoul of), they've taken some of my recommendations of a year ago to heart and instituted an online site review process. Not only that, but it looks like someone is actually doing something about the overblock complaints. I tried submitting one anonymously for one of my test URLs and found it unblocked about a week later. Also, there's a prompt on the blockpage for a username and password to bypass the filter. Whether this is intended for use by patrons providing their own equipment, or how one would go about obtaining the necessary credentials I can't say. (A suggestion for the library administration if I might: What would be wrong with letting the patron decide whether or not to filter by authorizing his or her library card to activate the bypass? Didn't the Supreme Court rule that adults had the right to make this choice? I could be wrong, but I think they did. Think it over, folks. You have to know what people are doing now. Give them an option that respects them as adults, and maybe they won't resort to that other one.)

Unfortunately, the changes haven't all been for the better. I've had a lot of trouble lately getting and staying connected at the Plaza branch, and I suspect it's on the library's end as opposed to mine because I'm not seeing problems like this anywhere else. Also, if there are still any of you who favor plugging in as opposed to going wireless, you should know that at the downtown library, the hotjacks the tables in the third-floor reading room are equipped with are now really that-jacks. You'll have to bring your own Cat 5 cable if you want to use them; the retractable cables that used to be attached to them are gone.

I know I promised I wouldn't do this, but...

McDonald's
10995 Metcalf, Overland Park

802.11g
SSID: 10995MetcalfMcD

Had to stop off for dinner on the way to putting in some offsite overtime, so I thought I'd give this place another shot. The good news is that it's working now (although the bandwidth fluctuates rather widely for some reason; I've seen speeds from 24 to 54 mbps). The bad news is that as far as I can tell, there's only one set of power outlets-in the far right-hand corner as you look to the front from the counter. Also, these big windows aren't helping me read my LCD late in the afternoon.

That aside, it's still gratifying that this location didn't go the route of its Kansas Speedway counterpart. Here's hoping it'll continue the trend and become more laptop-friendly soon.

Happy birthday to...

No score and one year ago, my father's offspring brought forth upon this continent a new blog, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all local free wireless Internet access locations are not created equal...


Oh, enough of that! I just hope that you've found the fruits of my efforts here this past year helpful-and as much fun to read as it's been to create.

And with that, our quest continues.