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Virtual pals 'soar in importance'

BBC NEWS | Technology | Virtual pals 'soar in importance'

A survey found 43% of online networkers from the US felt "as strongly" about their web community as they did about their real-world friends.

It also revealed net-users had made an average of 4.6 virtual pals this year.

I'm not surprised. It would seem that I do make more online acquaintances than real-world ones, but that's largely because the internet is my primary recreational outlet.

I remember my first real online friend. I met her in a MUsh (remember those?) and for some strange reason we chatted it up. In the first conversation she asked me, "Are you gay???" which was not so shocking considering our first conversation largely revolved around musicals. We said a lot of silly things and that was that.

We got to a point with the silly conversations that we basically roamed the MUsh as a duo. Talked increasingly about more serious, real-world stuff as well. Ultimately, we talked at least every weekday, no exceptions. When I made my very first blog, I asked her to collab with me and we did so for quite a while.

Ultimately she went off to do the LiveJournal thing and I incorporated the blog format in my personal site, creating what is now leftsider. We kept in touch for years; she frantically contacted me to see if I was ok during 9/11(I was); I spent hours and hours lending an ear and opinion on rocky relationships (which ultimately turned out better than I predicted, apparently). I don't really keep in touch now, but I do drop in and see what's new on her site periodically.

Online relationships have often been touted as a pure form. There is only the mind to understand; peers, appearance, and socio-cultural differences are largely made irrelevant. What can we learn from online relationships that can be translated into our real-world relations? Is there anything that should be added to our online relationships to make them more relevant and publically viable?

06.05 daegu

06.05 daegu, originally uploaded by Frulwinn.

If you've been to asia, you understand.

Never Lose Luggage Again

Wired News: Never Lose Luggage Again

Why stick the cost to the airline or airport? Add the dime to the cost of the luggage, with the RFID tag placed in a damage-resistant, universal location.

There is no need for the manufacturer--or the purchaser, for that matter--to ever know the number so it would never be a privacy/tracking issue. As long as the numbers assigned are unique enough that two bags won't have the same number in a random airport, I think that would be problem solved. What do you think?

Manhattan Projects

Wired 14.12: START

The world's cities are getting taller – and fast. Between 2001 and 2012, almost as many skyscrapers will be constructed as were built in the entire 20th century.

Makes sense to me. Why sprawl when you can climb? A recent conversation that I had with a friend, however, pointed out one drawback to my recent promotion of urban living; pollution.

While I haven't any indication that pollution per person increases in an urban setting, it is more concentrated due to the density of the population. This is evidenced by the cloud of smog that is present over many major cities. He noted that even 20 years ago in New York if you left the window open you'd find a layer of dust/soot/something covering your household items. Tasty.

What solutions do we have for pollution in highly concentrated areas? anyone know?

Almost two pounds for a dollar

Pound hits new peaks | | Guardian Unlimited Business

The pound continued its advance towards the $2 level this morning, hitting fresh 14-year peaks on the back of a Nationwide housing survey which showed house prices are continuing to rise strongly.

Microsoft Vista released for sale

BBC NEWS | Business | Microsoft Vista released for sale

I had the opportunity to play with this (and office 2007! wow!) last week and I was just floored. Despite the fact that it's late, it's feature-stripped, and, well, it's Microsoft, this is a BEAST of an OS.

Unless those things that Jobs "kept secret" about Lepoard are really, really, fantastic (note to self: why haven't I played with lepoard yet?), I see Vista and Lepoard to be largely on the same playing field.

This really makes no difference however. I still say buy a mac. Hardware supports both OS, and both Apple and MS will say "Thanks for buying!" It's a win-win-win(you) situation.

nyc in mono - bicycle rider

nyc in mono - bicycle rider, originally uploaded by youngdoo.

U.S. Daily Paints Roh as Sorry Lame Duck

Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : U.S. Daily Paints Roh as Sorry Lame Duck .

I tell ya; even Google Reader can't help kicking a man while he's down (11% popularity ratings? ouch!).

In related news, which couldn't have been more conveniently placed in my reader, More Chickens Die Near Epicenter of Bird Flu Outbreak

Schools urged to run more trips

BBC NEWS | UK | Education | Schools urged to run more trips

Mr Johnson wants schools to use the wealth of museums, art galleries and outdoor education centres on their doorsteps and further afield to inspire and motivate pupils.

"Learning outside the classroom should be at the heart of schools' curriculums and ethos," he said.

"Children can gain valuable learning experiences, from going on cultural visits overseas to teachers simply using their school grounds imaginatively.

"Educational visits and out-of-school teaching can bring learning to life by deepening young people's understanding of the environment, history and culture and improving their personal development."

Too bad this guy isn't in the United States. I was talking with a coworker today who said that no international organization should have a North American as CEO if they really want to have an international perspective and direction. While I think this may be a stretch, it is much more likely for a non-American to have experience multiple cultures firsthand. What can we do to change that?

The Political Assassinations of 2006

Foreign Policy: The List: The Political Assassinations of 2006

The shooting death of Lebanese Minister Pierre Gemayel and the poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko were the most prominent political murders of 2006. But, as this week’s List shows, their assassinations aren’t the only ones setting off political crises and stoking intrigue.

DC $300 million in the hole?

District Faces $300 Million Budget Shortfall - washingtonpost.com

The District government faces up to $300 million in unanticipated expenditures over the next two years, presenting an early test for Mayor-elect Adrian M. Fenty and his pledge to improve service delivery without raising taxes.

Slim Pickings From Trillions Spent on English Education

Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : Slim Pickings From Trillions Spent on English Education

The amount corresponds to a staggering 1.9 percent of Korea’s GDP of W806.6 trillion, and 47.5 percent of the W30.1 trillion budget for education. But despite that, Koreans’ command of the English language remains quite poor, the report says. The Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development ranked Koreans’ English skills 35th out of 61 countries. The Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), which offers information on the business environment in East Asia, pointed to Korea as the country where English communication is the most difficult among 12 Asian nations.

There is so much I could say about this...but I think instead I'm just going to do something about it.

S4 from NY to Seattle

VWvortex Forums: What happens when you let 2 mk1 kids drive your S4 from NY to Seattle? (56k, not a chance)

Cute. I wish I had time on my hands to live frivolously like this. Actually, I'd just settle for the S4. :)

Do you have a type A personality?

Blogthings - Do You Have a Type A Personality?

***You Have A Type A- Personality***

You are one of the most balanced people around
Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want
You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you.

When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back
Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love!
You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds.

I don't buy it. Picked up from Koream Thinking, Who apparently is a B+.

Personal TV

Jan Chipchase - Future Perfect: Personal TV

One of the surprising findings of a recent research study we did in South Korea was the extent to which Mobile TV was used in the home. Given the competition in the home from large screens, good audio, high definition and known content why would anyone watch mobile TV in the home space?

Would this apply in the US? I feel like it would for me, but I've already noted that I don't necessarily feel qualified to represent the everyday man.

Hijacking intelligence

Mind Hacks: Hijacking intelligence

CAPTCHAs are the boxes of distorted text that you are asked to identify when you enter data or register with some websites. There's an example on the left. The idea is that they prevent automated sign-ups and spamming because it is relatively easy for humans to identify the distorted letters, but beyond the capabilities of most software.

Rogue advertising is big business on the net, and CAPTCHAs have become a significant barrier for people who rely on spam to make a quick buck selling dodgy Viagra, penis enlargement pills or grey-market imports. One way of getting round such security measures would be to enlist large numbers of people who type in the solutions. This is where the naked naked celebrities come in.

According to news reports, porn sites have been set up which require the user to solve a CAPTCHA to view the content. The CAPTCHAs, of course, are taken from other websites, and every user who provides the correct answer in their bid to see naked flesh also opens a door for spammers to automatically register another account or post another advert.

Just one example of how easy it can be to use the general population as a means for questionable ends.

Is there a problem, officer?

Is there a problem, officer?, originally uploaded by razorbern.

Jay-Z plays seven cities in a day

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Jay-Z plays seven cities in a day

Rapper Jay-Z has completed a marathon series of concerts across the US to mark his comeback.The 36-year-old singer staged seven 30-minute concerts across the country in 24 hours.

There's a reason why some people are consistently successful, and it had little (if anything) to do with luck. How deliberate are you to ensure the success of your comeback...or arrival?

Help Jan find his next job

Jan Chipchase - Future Perfect: Friday Pop Quiz - Free Blinged Nano

I'll gift this Shibuya blinged iPod Nano to the first person who can guess my job come January 1st 2007. Bonus points for naming the city and country I'll be living in and, gosh, the name of my employer.

Post your answers to the comments.

The glittering prize will be shipped to one lucky winner once I figure out the answer myself.

Nice way to find out who your readers are....and possibly an innovative way to obtain a list of potential employers? I've guessed twice, despite the fact that the nano is rather garish.

Employment by the Numbers

Employment by the Numbers - washingtonpost.com

Black men made large gains in employment during the economic boom between 1996 and 2000, increasing their employment rate by 2.4 percent compared with a 1.5 percent increase overall. But they lost more ground than the rest of the workforce between 2001 and 2006, falling 3 percent compared with a 1.2 percent decline among all workers.

One of a few interesting facts about Black males in employia.