Re: Banging the identity drum again, this time REST-style

Hi Andrew,

[...]
> I'll have to actually READ the RFC

Progress ;)

> and have a think to respond
> properly, but I think you inverted the problem.  I was talking about
> what Topic Maps could bring to the RFC (based on reading the intro
> and assuming that it is the basis of the link I referenced inside the snark tag).

Call me pessimistic, but we *have* a Link RFC. You may know that, but
an RFC is a standard. You may call the editor and mention that this
and that is suboptimal. You can may even call me (if you'd know my
mobile cell no) and tell me that CTM sucks and I'd tell you "The train
has left the station" (maybe I'd ask some questions about Bob the
Builder, though ;) ).

> I think we need to help the world understand how Topic Maps can
> help in these situations rather than implementing
> yet-another-directory or yet-another-identity-mechanism.  If you
> need one, fine, but at least be able to express it in terms of
> things that exist so people can understand why it's relevant and necessary.

Maybe Topic Maps (TMRM more than TMDM) is necessary, but we don't have
a big PR department. Topic Maps never had and we lost the game, I'd
think. We can offer mappings, though. Topic Maps isn't bad and I think
mappings to Topic Maps offer some possibilities aside from portals.

RDF/LOD hasn't solved the problems of subject identifier vs. subject
locator. And the current players of RDF/LOD don't understand that
problem properly or deliver poor solutions. But who cares? I care and
few people may care, but the current trend goes to "something
has-relationship-to something-else". Take Atom, take ActivityStreams,
take anything which is popular, it's all about triples. IRI
reltionship-IRI IRI. That's enough. Well, you have to take care about
statements like

   john father-of sean.
   sean child-of john.

but who cares? It works.

Well, now I am far away of your "Link" header proposal and I should
read your response to Patrick. :)

That's the same discussion as "Prolog vs. <ANY-LANGUAGE-HERE>".
Java/Python/Ruby is popular. Prolog is cool, but who cares? ;)

Best regards,
Lars
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