My family is headed down to Carlsbad, California this weekend for Esther Dyson's annual shindig. This has quickly become one of my favorites events of the year. (I'm looking forward to the conference, and my kids are looking forward to Legoland.) The overview materials contain some of Esther's observations about how the Internet changes interactions and institutions. On Page 2 of the materials, one comment jumped out at me:

[I]nstitutions and the people who hold power within them give that power up reluctantly. We remember how the least significant of the deputy vice chairs of the subcommittees of the advisory councils of ICANN would proudly emblazon that title on their business cards. And, as hinted above, it’s not just those with a little power: Power seduces as much as it corrupts. People familiar with a system uphold the rules of that system and curry favor with its agents; it’s secure and comfortable to know your place within an institution, and you can always work for incremental benefits.

My wife read this and said, "Hey Bret, Esther's writing about you...." :-)

Sign me,

The Special Liaison of the At Large Advisory Committee to the Generic Names Supporting Organization of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

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