powdermonkey

Google-Zilla

coming into you house: "Google will unveil its own low-price personal computer or other device that connects to the Internet. Sources say Google has been in negotiations with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., among other retailers, to sell a Google PC. The machine would run an operating system created by Google, not Microsoft's Windows, which is one reason it would be so cheap — perhaps as little as a couple of hundred dollars.

Bear Stearns analysts speculated in a research report last month that consumers would soon see something called "Google Cubes" — a small hardware box that could allow users to move songs, videos and other digital files between their computers and TV sets.

more: Industry Feeling Presence of the 800-Pound Google

Blackerry 8700c Review

I've been using the new BlackBerry 8700c the last couple of weeks and its wonderful. The screen for one is gorgeous, allowing one to surf the web on the go. I was on travel recently and was able to search for restaurants and local landmarks, as if I were on my home computer. I also canceled my other cell phone and migrated to the Blackberry. The form-factor for the phone is much better than before.

If your looking to upgrade, get this one! Happy new year!!

Lehigh, Darwin & Burglary

Its nice when your alama mater (Lehigh University, # 32 ranked University) is getting press either about crazy intelligent design guy (Lehigh Intelligent Design position) or a sophmore bank robber (Lehigh University heist suspect no stranger to affluence). Maybe they can start debunking Santa to children next.

Powder Moneky

"Powder monkey" — a boy who on a warship carried gun powder from the magazine to the cannon and performed other ordnance duties (which usage dates from 1682).
Via wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_monkey

Risk in Google Maps

I've been wondering when someone was going to start mashing freely available components (GoogleEarth, Del.icio.us, etc.) and hosting to produce a game: Risk/GoogleMaps.

Google Print

Blistering Editorial  By Pat Schroeder/Bob Barr  in the Washington Times today about Google Print. "  Not only is Google trying to rewrite copyright law, it is also crushing creativity." Google has a problem: right now they are a benevolent dictator in the search world.

Which isn't a bad thing... until some folks start to mind. Google really needs to work on educating the public on these issues, so far no one else has. If Google really wanted to they could lead the way in changing the public view on copyright, DMCA, etc. Unfortunately allot of Internet companies don't engage in the debate as forcefully (or in an organized fashion, ala lobbying organizations in DC). Just as simple as adding one link to the Google search page would help educate the masses.

Open Source and the US Government

Great paper by Justin C. Justin Deiferth on how open source can change the US Governement and Military. Highly, highly recommend: Open Source and These United States.

Open CRS Reports

For some unknown reason the Congressional Research Service (CRS) won't post any of the reports they generate for Congress anywhere accessible on the Web, even though we (the US taxpayer) pays for them. A website has popped up that lists these reports, Open CRS. CRS produces some great reports about terrorism, US politics, etc. Check it out.

Article: Katrina Imagery Warehouse: The Inside Story

Good article about the underground/backroom Katrina response on the Federal level. Basically a distributed group of folks around the country putting together all the imagery that was eventually shared with Google and Nasa. Link: Katrina, the Inside Story - all using open source software tools as well.

Del.icio.us Tags

If you haven't started tagging you should, see Del.icio.us Tags or mine: SocialTags.