December 2007
Social Networks Study Released →
faberNovel Consulting has released a research paper on social networks. The paper is an excellent theoretical overview of social networks and the trends in this important market.
Drill Bits 018, the leftovers from The Drill Down 018 is up! http://thedrilldown.com/?p=42
Can you spot the library? (PICS) →
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like an ant, head to the library in either Cardiff or Kansas: rather than using a traditional front to the building, both have decided to turn the premises into giant bookshelves, creating an extremely surreal experience for passers by.
In Search of Safety: A Mom's 8-Step Guide to Toy... →
This 8-step guide to toy selection and everyday use includes tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, information about detecting lead, and personal accounts of my adventures in child safety.
Google (finally) making Street View anonymous →
Street View, which gives users a 360-degree view of an area, will be modified in Europe and possibly the U.S. to blur people’s faces and license plate numbers
Ready for more reruns? Writers Guild cool to... →
Despite a “groundbreaking” new offer from Hollywood producers, the Writers Guild remains unimpressed. At stake are writers’ payment for Internet streams and downloads.
The Best Software Development Books of 2007 →
This list is just based upon my personal opinion and therefore only includes the books I’ve read. Any suggestions for books I’ve missed are welcome. All of the books below were published in 2007
A Close Call (PICS) →
Wanna see what lucky looks like?
November 2007
The 9 Best Ways to Get Organized by Year's End →
I’ve found that Winter is an excellent season for revamping the personal organization system. This could partially be due to the weather, or the fact that the busy holiday season requires that I’ve got all my ducks in a row, or I won’t survive my social calendar.Here are a few ways to help you get ready for the busy end of the year.
Cybercrime poses threat to national security, says... →
Cybercrime has morphed from some geeks having fun to a full-fledged global economy that shows no signs of slowing down, according to a new report by McAfee. It’s even becoming a weapon for political, military, and economic espionage.
How to make a zombie cockroach →
Researchers have worked out the neurological trick used by a species of wasp to turn cockroaches into ‘zombie slaves’. Once stung, cockroaches can be led by a much smaller master towards certain death.
You’ll never not see art as incredible as this! →
5 artists who have somehow produced the smallest art you’ll struggle to see…
Tom Cruise Had Spielberg's Family Doctor Picketed... →
When Spielberg told Cruise the name of a doctor who had prescribed medication to a relative the doctor’s office was subsequently picketed by Scientologists.
9 Famous Jewels from the Movies →
Whether they be real, items of legend, or completely fictitious, jewels from the movies are definitely “the stuff that dreams are made of”. With story arches, background, and in some cases almost a personality all their own, these so called “props” could easily be seen as characters themselves.
Software That Learns from Users →
A massive AI project called CALO could revolutionize machine learning. “It’s insanely ambitious, but if CALO succeeds, it’ll be quite a revolution.”
Oregon Attorney General criticizes RIAA's conduct... →
The Attorney General of Oregon is critical of the RIAA’s conduct in its legal campaign against P2P users. The AG wants to do some investigating of its own, including how the RIAA’s investigators go about their business and how much economic harm the RIAA suffered as a result of the actions of 17 unnamed University of Oregon students.
5 Ways to Stand Out and Get Your Dream Job →
For students finishing up their college careers or even business people looking to succeed in their current jobs, no question is more common than, “How do I stand out?”. There is no specific combination of activities that guarantees success. However, this is a set of goals that allow you to stand out and can be achieved through any number of paths.
War-opoly: How History’s Most Popular Board Game... →
During World War II, the British secret service hatched a master plan to smuggle escape gear to captured Allied soldiers inside Germany. Their secret weapon? Monopoly boxes. The original notion was simple: Find a way to sneak useful items into prison camps in an unassuming form. But the idea to use Monopoly came from a series of happy coincidences
Leopard is the New Vista, and It's Pissing Me Off →
I’m not sure what ticks me off more about Leoptard (I can’t take credit for that nickname—some Brit coined it): the fact that so many of the semi-important changes don’t work, or the fact that Apple turned a stable OS into a crash-happy glitz fest. Tiger just works. End of story. Leopard is the new Vista. All the way. And here are five examples.
Ohio e-voting review makes a mockery of "recounts" →
Diebold’s infamous touchscreen voting machines are at the center of controversy once again. Officials have ordered a recount in the wake of massive problems in a local election this month—and the paper trail is going to be generated afresh by the machines that caused the problems in the first place.
President Bush's travel entourage (PIC) →
Nice Reuter’s graphic shows the people, animals, and vehicles that travel with the United States President.
Creeped out by those Facebook ads that tell your friends what you’re buying? Facebook has backed off… http://urltea.com/28eg
How To: Upgrade Your Hackintosh to OS X 10.5.1 →
A couple of weeks ago, I detailed how I built a Hackintosh Mac on the cheap from start to finish. The build benchmarked incredibly well, and I’ve been using it as my main PC every day since. A few days ago, I decided it was time to upgrade my Hackintosh to Mac OS X 10.5.1, the first update for Leopard. Here’s how it works.
College sues Google for patent infringement over... →
Northeastern College in Massachusetts has filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming that the search giant has infringed on a patent for distributed network search.
Facebook backs off on creepy Beacon ad system →
Facebook looks set to scale back its advertising ambitions after one of a suite of new features aimed at milking cash from user data was slammed as creepy. Beacon currently has an obscure opt-out, and only on a case-by-case basis. This will be changed to an across-the-board opt-in and announced as soon as later today
How to Get Where you Want to Go →
You could fill a small library with books about goal setting. It seems like every major self help program, writer, website, etc. all have an emphasis on goal setting. Take a few moments to examine how you get to any place you want to go. This is the basic formula for goal setting.
on Digg: A Martin Scorsese short written by Alfred Hitchcock! For reals! http://urltea.com/28gb
Why America Supports the Writers →
Quick! Name your favorite writer. Screenwriter. Got it yet? No? Ok, name the writer of your favorite movie in the past year? Casino Royale? What? You don’t know? I didn’t think so. So why champion the cause of people you don’t even know to get a few thousand more tacked onto their paychecks which are already higher than yours?
EFF study confirms Comcast's BitTorrent... →
The EFF has released a study that contains evidence of Comcast’s P2P blocking activities. The EFF also provides instructions that explain how users can test to see if their own ISP is interfering with traffic.
The Pros and Cons of Sushi →
Bursting with happy fats and squirming with paralyzing pathogens, sushi has a little something for everyone.
A Beautifully Illustrated Mesage to RIAA / MPAA... →
Here is a little user interface gem, and a great reminder for the RIAA/MPAA: “You can’t force people to follow directions they deem arbitrary.”
Inside India's Underground Trade in Human Remains →
Skeletons aren’t easy to get. So most skeletons used for medical study come from overseas. Often they arrive without the informed consent of their former owners and in violation of the laws of their country of origin.
Congress to examine "the Internet" as a tool for... →
A bill recently passed in the House has some observers upset over its finding that the Internet has “aided in facilitating violent radicalization.” Ars takes a closer look at the bill to see if there’s really cause for concern.
How Does Bruce Schneier Protect His Laptop Data?... →
Perhaps encryption isn’t so easy after all, and some people could use a little primer. This is how I protect my laptop.
Speed Up Your BitTorrent Transfers by 500%! Only... →
Following a breakthrough discovery of hidden potential in the BitTorrent protocol, we bring the news that you are probably not getting anywhere near the best from your torrent client. Discover how to increase your BitTorrent transfers by 500%!! Only available today on TorrentFreak!
Is it always illegal to kill a woman? Outrageous... →
In a politically correct age, they seem like outrageous anachronisms.And there is no doubt these adverts - many taken from the first half of the last century - reveal just how much women used to be caricatured as downtrodden housewives or hair-brained office girls.
The 20 Best Nude Scenes of 2007 →
It may not be the most intellectual year-end list, but it’s certainly one that grabs a lot of attention. So who made the list? Who came in at number one? I think maybe …
The Escapist : Zero Punctuation: F.E.A.R. Perseus... →
This week on Zero Punctuation, Yahtzee takes on the latest expansion to F.E.A.R..
OLPC...One Year Later [comic] →
Remember folks, your donations will bring a new lifestyle to needy people everywhere…
Bush Appointee investigating Rove calls IT to wipe... →
The head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove’s White House political operation is facing allegations that he improperly deleted computer files during another probe, using a private computer-help company, Geeks on Call.
Step Behind the Scenes of Persuasion →
From individuals to countries, we often want to persuade others to perceive things a certain way or to think a certain way. There are many standard techniques for doing this. Below are some of them. You can use these techniques to do your own persuading, and you can also use this knowledge to keep yourself from being fooled.
There's No Money In The Long Tail of the... →
In a recent post here, we examined the reasons that people feel compelled to blog. From the post and the comments it received, it became clear that quite a few people are blogging to make money. The reality is that it is difficult to make money in the long tail. In this post we examine why that is and look at other aspects of long tail economics.
Kevin Rose: Mobile Web Is The Next Big Thing →
Kevin claims that although devices like the iPhone take a lot of the credit for the upcoming mobile web expansion, one need not forget the impact of search, RSS, blogs, and social networks, which are acting as catalysts.
FCC plan to regulate cable stalls →
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s plan to exert more authority over the cable industry hit a snag today as the other commissioners refused to go along with Martin’s numbers.
Banning Wikipedia at school: good idea or missed... →
A Pennsylvania school district has banned access to Wikipedia on grounds that it is not an accurate source of information. Critics argue that it’s a missed opportunity to teach media literacy.
How Technology Almost Lost the War →
It was a geek vision to change the nature of how war is waged: Use information technologies to improve military strategy. Networked computers could take data from battlefield sensors, identify targets and cut down the number of troops in harm’s way. But the shortcomings of wired combat are forcing troops to improvise a new, socially networked kind
Getting Unplugged: How to Break the TV Habit →
Like kicking any habit, half the battle of TV addiction is acknowledging the problem and making the commitment to change. Assuming you have the commitment, here are some not-so-easy tips on getting the job done:
How Your Creepy Ex-Co-Workers Will Kill Facebook →
Facebook and other social networks have built-in self-destructs: They make it easy for you to be found by the people you’re looking to avoid.
A Visual History of the Stock Market: 1996 - 2007 →
With the current volatility in the market, it causes people to begin questioning their investments and wondering where we’re headed. The market can’t go up indefinitely, nor will it go down indefinitely. Will history repeat itself? Let’s consider past trends and understand that there is a chance the market will behave similarly.
Real-life Superheroes: 10 People with Incredible... →
With so many superhero movies around, such as Spiderman or Hulk, we are used to see people with special abilities in fiction. But people with amazing abilities actually do exist in real life; here’s a list of 10 of the most amazing of these people!