I've noticed for a long time (years) that Yahoo mail offered a chance to select SSL login--but by default was unencrypted. Why not make SSL default (at least for the 99% of browsers which can support it)?

Just recently, they did in fact switch to SSL.

Value of data submitted vs. risk of digital eavesdropping vs. risk of public ridicule for being behind the standard vs. increased burden on servers.

nice, that picture stuck immediately in my mind! it's in my opinion, an example of a trust which can only exist in the physical world. in a way it's a (social) trust mechanism in the delivery chain (if look'd from the pov of the delivery chain). did you check for surveillance cameras nearby?

in the digital realm i think there are none like that in the distribution side, which would stack up to that. however, in digital content production/distribution chain, i think the closest equivalent is the phase in the production and distribution end, when people have access to a master copy. there exists, i think, a similar type of situation, where a lot of people who have access to the master copy and tools to make copies out of those, don't make the copy and distribute it, because it's illegal and they will lose their jobs.

Hi,

Love your site. I can spend hours reading it. I even put it in my magazine.

Here's one example of an digital distribution method, check out this site www.popmag.com.au. The print version of the magazine is free so we offer it for viewing and downloading also. Advertisers pay for the magazine and in turn more people pic it up because it's free.

Thanks again for the site. Keep up the smiles.

Rick.

Slick.

I even found some content there somewhere.

Good luck on the venture.

Here's a Print-On-Demand newspaper kiosk that downloads (semi-recent) papers from around the globe
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveportigal/97306433/

Interesting - what was the quality of the paper like? How did the cost compare to alternatives?