The Blogging Journalist

Learning Drupal, Ubuntu, Etc

I've spent a lot time lately trying to learn Drupal, the open source content management system. Consequently, I haven't blogged much. I have a tendency to get wrapped up in learning programs such as MYSQL, PHP/Perl/Python and Apache. On weekends, I'll spend an entire day trying to solve a problem, that a teenage geek could probably solve in an hour.

I've also spent a lot of time lately trying to master the Ubuntu Linux operating system. Although it has a Graphical User Interface (GUI), I'm interested in harnessing the power of the command line.

By the way, trying to learn Drupal has been rewarding and frustrating. Rewarding because I'm learning something new; frustrating because I got locked out of the system, after I created the first user. A lot of users have had the same experience.

Fortunately, there is a lot of information online that can help one solve the problem. I just hope I solve it before the year is over.

Technorati Tags: Drupal,Ubuntu,MYSQL,PHP/Perl/Python,Apache

Twitter is a Useful Tool for Bloggers, Journalists

BuzzMachine proprietor Jeff Jarvis pays homage to Twitter in his February 25, 2008, Guardian column. I was surprised to learn how many ways people use Twitter, especially since Twitter opened up its Application Programming Interface (API). See "Why short is tweet for the blogging community."

According to Jarvis, Twitter is being used by journalists on the U.S. presidential campaign trail:

I read feeds of my friends' updates on twitter.com or on my phone via SMS (that is what sets the 140-character limit on messages). I also read feeds of news headlines from the Guardian and individual reporters. Jim Long, a network news photographer, Twitters from White House trips. Ana Marie Cox, the former Wonkette blogger and queen of the snarky political post, has been using Twitter to cover the US primaries for Time.com. I blogged about that, saying she has found the perfect medium for her bon mots and snipes. She responded that Twitter is the perfect medium for covering a campaign. The format gives us a glimpse into what's happening right now, and cuts to the bone. It's a hack's haiku.

Jarvis says, "Because Twitter opened itself up with an API - a programming interface that enables developers to create new services on top of it - all sorts of new inventions are springing up."

Technorati Tags: Twitter,Jeff Jarvis,Ana Marie Cox,The Blogging Journalist

Telegraph to Become OpenID Provider

Telegraph.co.uk communities editor and technology blogger Shane Richmond reveals in a January 21, 2008, post that, "The Telegraph will soon become the first newspaper in the world, and the first British media company, to become an OpenID provider. Readers will be able to begin using the service from the end of February,"he wrote.
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Richmond said, "OpenID is a decentralised registration system that will offer enormous benefits to our users. Once you have an OpenID login you can use it at any of the supporting services, including AOL, Orange, Digg and Blogger. Having to remember fewer passwords is clearly a very good thing."

As Wikipedia notes, "OpenID is increasingly gaining adoption among large sites, with organizations like Yahoo, AOL and Orange acting as a provider. In addition, integrated OpenID support has been made a high priority in Firefox 3^[1] and OpenID can be used with Windows CardSpace."

If you want to read more of Richmond's post, see "Telegraph to become OpenID provider."

Technorati Tags: The Telegraph,Shane Richmond,OpenID

Scoble: 'Why Are Some Bloggers Turning on Apple?'

Scobleizer proprietor Robert Scoble observes in a December 23, 2007, post: "I’m seeing more and more anti-Apple blogs lately like the one Dave Winer posted yesterday. Why is that?"

Don't worry, the Apple fanboys and girls will come to the rescue if they feel Apple, Inc. is being attacked, especially by PC users.  Do I dislike Apple? No! This is written on a Mac. I bought one this year and one last year. My other two machines run Linux. I no longer use Windows PCs at home because of the high cost of Microsoft's software, license requirements and constant software problems.

Anyway, for Scoble's perspective on the mounting criticism of Apple, please see "Why are some bloggers turning on Apple?"

Oh, if you don't know who Dave Winer is see this. You've probably used used some of his applications and just don't know it.

Technorati Tags: Robert Scoble, Dave Winner, Apple Computers, Apple Critics

Social Media in Brazil

CHICAGO, USA --SIG-III Blog reported September 19, 2007, that, "Internet use and social media are pervading a wide range of aspects of life in Brazil, such that even those who do not have Internet access or choose not to participate in social media are frequently aware that the Internet and all its related applications are being inextricably integrated into Brazil’s social fabric."

"The Wikipedia even lists a technical term for Brazilian appropriation of foreign Internet applications – the Brazilian Internet Phenomenon, according to SIG III. "And they are matching Americans with regard to time spent online."

To read more of this fascinating post, see "Social media and the Internet in Brazil."

Technorati tags: SIG III, Brazil, Social media, The Internet in Brazil

The Bivens Report's 'Top 10 Best Newspaper Websites'

I missed The Bivens Report article by  Erin Teeling headlined Top 10 Best Newspaper Websites when it was released on August 14, 2007. I learned learned about it when I visited Rob Curley's blog at robcurley .com  on August 18, 2007. Rob is vice president of product development at WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive and someone whose work I appreciate.

"I know I’m a little late to this party, but there have been quite a few links going around to the Bivings Report’s list of that group’s views of the Top 10 newspaper sites in the United States," Rob wrote on August 17, 2007, in a post headlined .

"I really have to applaud some of the choices on that list."

Rob, is it because Washington Post.com is on the list? Just joking. Congratulations on great work that started back in Kansas. 

Technorati tags: The Bivens Report, Rob Curley, Top 10 Best Newspaper Websites

A Few Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive Job Descriptions

Rob Curley, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive's vice president for product development, revealed in an August 1, 2007, post: "I’m always surprised at how the questions and phone calls I get kind of come in waves of specific topics.

"The topic that it seems I’m getting asked the most about right now is “will I share our job descriptions?” he wrote. 

I think the request for the descriptions are a good indicator of what some news outlets may be looking for in the future. To read more, see "A few job descriptions for a newspaper’s new-media team." 

Technorati tags: Rob Curley, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, Job Descriptions for New Media Team

Are You a 'Notorious' Nobody?

The Times online of London says in a July 29, 2007, article: "The Internet allows anyone to become famous overnight. But is it incubating vacuous wannabes — or the household names of tomorrow?"

I say a little of both. It also exposes us to some serious writers, thinkers and databases. If you're interested in reading the article, please see "Notorious nobodies.

Technorati tags: Notorious Nobodies

Technorati's Cleaner Look

I really like Technorati's cleaner look. It reminds me of Google Video. By the way, I'm a fan of Google Video and YouTube. Some of my most enjoyable moments have come from watching and listening to the content at these sites. It's good to know a lot of creative people and fools have outlets for their talent. 

Times Online Examines A Costly Battle Over a Domain Name

The May 27, 2007, edition of Times Online has an article headlined "Sex.com and a web of intrigue," that I found quite  revealing. It's about, to use The Time's description, "Two men’s battle over a domain name." It "shows how far the net has come," the publication said, although I disagree with the latter. There are better indicators of how far the "Net" has come. As far as I'm concerned, blogging, social networking, Second Life and Google are better examples.

Anyway, the article is about money, dishonesty and greed. Cyberspace is no different from the offline world when it comes to those character traits. If one is a crook offline one could easily be one online, especially if one feels assured of anonymity. Of course, not every offline crook is one online and vice-versa.

Muhammad Saleem: Facebook May Put an End to Twitter

Muhammad Saleem. a student at The University of Chicago, who writes at 901am and NewAssignment.net, contends sin an April 22, 2007, post at Pronet Advertising that, "While it is hard to argue that Twitter is merely a fad and will soon blow over, we are beginning to see signs that opinion-polarizing micro-blogging service's traffic may have peaked."

"As if that news wasn't bad enough," Saleem asserts, "now it appears that the 19 million member strong social networking site Facebook may put an end to Twitter."

I think Robert Scoble over at Scobleizer, a staunch Twitter promoter, might disagree with this assessment. What about it, Robert? Will Facebook demolish twitter?

To read Saleem's entire post, please see "Facebook is Gunning for Twitter."

Technorati tags: Muhammad Saleem, Pronet Advertising, 901am, NewAssignment.net, Twitter, Facebook, Robert Scoble.

Adrian Holovaty: 'Work With Me At Washingtonpost.com'

Adrian Holovaty, the Chicago, Illinois, USA-based "editor of editorial innovations at Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, announced on March 8, 2007:

"Attention, Web developers! We're hiring somebody to work with me at washingtonpost.com."

If you are interested, see "Work with me at washingtonpost.com."

Danny Sullivan Interviews TechMeme's Gabe Riviera

Danny Sullivan at Search Engine Land has a revealing Q&A With Gabe Rivera, Creator Of Techmeme." Gabe answers many important questions about how TechMeme works. Thanks Danny. You asked the questions I wanted answers to.

By the way, The Blogging Journalist has been in TechMeme several times, to my surprise. I don't seek to be listed although I'm pleased when I am. It means increased traffic.

Technorati tags: Danny Sullivan, Search Engine Land, Gabe Riviera, TechMeme

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Plastic Logic's Upcoming 'Take Anywhere... Electronic Reader'

Back on January 3, 2007, United Kingdom-based Plastic Logic announced that it "will build the first factory to manufacture plastic electronics on a commercial scale. The facility will produce flexible active-matrix display modules for ‘take anywhere, read anywhere’ electronic reader products," the company said in a press release.

According to the firm, "It will utilize Plastic Logic’s unique process to fabricate active-matrix displays that are thin, light and robust; enabling a reading experience closer to paper than any other technology."

I can just see people downloading blog feeds and taking them with them to read on the train or plane. I'd definitely use it to build my own version of a newspaper.

Is Sean Lyndersay Part of Microsoft's Control Group?

CHICAGO--David Winer, editor of Scripting News, has what I think is an appropriate response  to commentary by Sean Lyndersay, Program Manager Lead for  RSS (Really Simple Syndication (RSS) at Microsoft, regarding Microsoft’s United States Patent Application 0060288329. 

The application was filed in June 2005 but only became a subject of intense debate among tech bloggers last week. See "The Debate Over Really Simple Syndication.

In my opinion, the most important paragraph in "Patent Applications in the RSS space," Lyndersay's December 23, 2006, post over at the Microsoft Team RSS Blog, is this:

First, these patents describe specific ways to improve the RSS end-user and developer experience (which we believe are valuable and innovative contributions) -- they do not constitute a claim that Microsoft invented RSS.

Lyndersay contention that the applications "do not constitute a claim" only matters from a public relations perspective. As best as I can tell, he's not part of the control group, in the legal sense, at Microsoft. That would be people like Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Ballmer; Ray Ozzie, chief software architect; Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer, and general counsel Brad Smith, the man picked "to guide Microsoft’s intellectual property and technology policy efforts."

In other words, Lyndersay doesn't have, to use a definition of "control" from Blacks Law Dictionary, the "power or authority to manage, direct, superintend, restrict, regulate, govern, administer, or oversee" Microsoft. That's the purview of the Board of Directors, the company's officers or anyone they designate.

And as best I can tell, Lyndersay doesn't fit this category. Perhaps he's a plenipotentiary. If he is, he doesn't say he has been commissioned to act for corporate Microsoft.

So, in that regard, I think Winer is correct when he asserts: "But patents are a legal thing, and Sean being nice isn't material. In the blogosphere, of course it is, and Microsoft's defenders will likely say or imply that it's all that matters."

 By the way, I recommend a post Winer put at Scripting News Annex on January 20, 2006, headlined "RSS came from the publishing industry."

Also, note that the postings at the Microsoft Team RSS Blog "are provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confer no rights."

Technorati tags: Dave Winer, Scripting News, Scripting News Annex, Sean Lyndersay, Microsoft Team RSS Blog, Patent Applications in the RSS space

The Scoble Show Interviews

Although I'm not a Geek, I really like Robert Scoble's video interviews with Geeks. In addition to being one of the world's most influential bloggers, he is PodTech's Vice-President of Media Development and has done interviews with tech luminaries such as Google's Mark Lucovsky, NetGear CEO Patrick Lo and Eric Allman, founder of Sendmail.

Interviews with the above-mentioned and other Geeks can be heard on The Scoble Show Web site.

Listening to Scoble didn't just start. I've listened to many of the interviews he conducted for Channel 9 when he was Microsoft's technical evangelist. I've also listened to 95 percent of the interviews posted on The Scoble Show.  The bottom line is that, I've learned a lot from the Channel 9 interviews and the current interviews.

However, there is one thing that annoys me about them. I think Scoble cracks jokes and cackles too much in the interviews. It interrupts ideas and makes it difficult to hear some of the information given by the interviewee. 

Robert, if you are going to laugh and joke a lot during your interviews at least edit some of it out. It's quite annoying unless you're doing a party video.

By the way, I visit Scobleizer, Scoble's popular and influential tech blog, every day. Why? It is interesting,educational and links me with people and blogs I would most likely not find on my own.

NOTE: This post can also be found over at The Technology Free Press, my tech blog.

Technorati tags: Robert Scoble, The Scoble Show, Scoble Interviews, Podtech, Patrick Lo, Eric Allman, Mark Lucovsky, Channel 9, Technology Free Press

Tawker: 'Wikipedia's Watchdog'

The Tyee, an "independent alternative daily newspaper" in British Colombia, today published an article on Tawker, an 18-year old Canadian named Andrew who "performs an essential role in the ongoing struggle to defend Wikipedia from vandals of truth."

According to journalist Luke T. Johnson, "Andrew is so committed to his mission, in fact, that he has invented digital 'robots' to help him patrol for enemy attacks. As one of more than a thousand Wikipedia administrators, he volunteers up to 20 hours a week. He and his trusty 'bots' find and zap inserted falsehoods that plague the pages of the huge, interactive site," The Tyee reported.

It's a fascinating story of Tawkerbots vs. Vandalbots To read more, see "Wikipedia's Watchdog.

The First Word And The Last Word

LA Daily News sports columnist Kevin Modesti, whose "column appears ... three days a week," asked in a November 8, 2006 column:

Remember when freedom of the press belonged to those who owned a press? When you didn't pick fights with guys who bought ink by the barrel?

"Now," he added, "in sports as in life, anybody with a modem can have not only the last word but the first."

And many traditional journalists don't like it. Too bad. Old school Journalists will just have to accept the fact that the story and the conversation about it doesn't end where they say it ends. Thanks to blogs, podcasts and other forms of communications, It can go on for weeks and months.

 To read Modesti's entire column, see "Caught up in this Web.

IBM's Infringement Suit Against Amazon Deserves Close Monitoring

"For years, there have been a handful of companies trying to figure out how to erect a toll booth on the Web, if not the Internet altogether," writes David Berlind in an October 27, 2006, post at ZDNet's Between the Lines blog. "In other words," he adds, "they've been looking for some way to ensure that the Internet or some portion thereof can't work unless they get to collect a royalty on the majority of the Internet's traffic. Now, if a patent infringement suit filed by IBM against Amazon.com holds up in court, Big Blue may have finally found a way to collar the Web (or most of it).  It may be a decade before we know the answer."

To read more of Berlind's analysis, see "Why IBM’s patent suit against Amazon could be bad news for the entire Web. 

Technorati tags: IBM, Amazon, Patent Infringement, David Berlind, ZDNet, Between the Lines

Understanding The Lure Of YouTube

I read a lot of posts and articles last week on the Google-You Tube deal and one of the best is Christian Science Monitor reporter Clayton Collins' October 13, 2006, article headlined "It's a YouTube world ... we just surf in it." For me, it really put YouTube into perspective.

By the way, The Monitor asked: "Will Google's $1.65 billion acquisition of the website squash its independent spirit?"

Will it? I don't know. What will cause problems, I think, is if traditional-style ads are place on it, without consideration for the way young netizens like their media. That is independent, unforced, uninterruptive and interactive. Also, the use of copyrighted material could be a problem, unless deals are made with copyright holders. They seem to be headed in the right direction on that. However, that doesn't mean some copyright holder won't take advantage of the situation and try to make millions. It's the American way.

The following posts also helped me understand what propelled the YouTube phenomena:

Google-YouTube: Another Day, Another Nerd's Virginity Lost --- DealBreaker.Com, New York, USA 

YouTube founder rides video clips to dot-com riches --- Chicago Tribune, USA

YouTube chiefs open up on inside issues --- The Mercury News, USA

Bangladeshi strikes fortunes as Google acquires YouTube at $1.65b --- Financial Express.bd, Bangladesh 

He took a videocam, and made a fortune --- Pioneer Press, Minnesota, USA

Riches, sense of pride not enough for 3rd YouTube founder --- Blogging Stocks, USA  

How to build the next YouTube: Five lessons from the Google deal --- Blogging Stocks, USA 

YouTube community worried by Google deal ---USA Today, Virginia, USA

Are we just too big, asks Google boss --- Guardian Unlimited, UK 

YouTube Wasn't too Legit for Google to Get --- TV Technology, Virginia, USA 

Technorati tags: Google, You Tube, Google-You Tube, Clayton Collins, "It's a YouTube World

Maryam Scoble Describes Meeting 'Tech Mama' Sue Polinsky

Maryam Scoble, who is in Greensboro, North Carolina, today to speak at ConvergeSouth, has an interesting description of her meeting with blogger Sue Polinsky, Greensboro's "Tech Mama." Ben, the blogger who picked the Scobles up at the airport, tried to tell them how she "knows everything and everyone in technology in this area," according to Maryam.

To read the entire post, see "Meeting Sue Polinsky and the ConvergeSouth Experience."

The 'Internet's New Wave...'

Britain's Sunday Observer has an October 1, 2006, post headlined "Internet's new wave threatens to wash the high street away. It's about "'Web 2.0', or the Internet's second wave."

The Black Hat Tax

Recommended: RapLeaf honcho Auren Hoffman's "The Black Hat Tax on consumer Internet businesses, which can be found at VentureBeat." It's about "productivity losses" that Hoffman and others say can occur at a company as its engineering and IT teams spend as much 25% of their "time dealing with black hat issues (combating fraud, dealing with spam, fighting bots, preventing phishing, etc)."

Tech Blogs Abuzz About Google's Desktop Plans

"Google's announcement of a new Web-based application suite has been the buzz of the tech blogosphere these past two days," reports InformationWeek in an August 29, 2006 post.

If you are interested, see "Blogosphere Reacts To Google's Desktop Plans."

'The Blog Herald Podcasting Rig'

Matt Craven at The Blog Herald gives readers a look at "The Blog Herald Podcasting Rig" and describes the setup. It's a good recipe for building your own.

Sarah Gilbert Examines 'The Great AOL Search Caper'

Sarah Gilbert at AOL's Blogging Stocks is "entirely not shocked that AOL put a bunch of customer search data (without, it must be noted, any identifying information about who did the searching) online 10 days ago. Now, apologies have been issued ("This was a screw-up, and we're angry and upset," says a spokesperson). I seem to be in the minority, however; the internet, it is horrified."

To read more, see "Insider blogging: the great AOL search caper."

To David Olive, The WWW Is 'The Worldwide Whatever'

David Olive of The Toronto Star has an interesting post in the August 6, 2006 issue headlined "The Worldwide Whatever." It's about what the web, which was launched 15-years ago on August 6, is used for compared to what Tim Berners-Lee envisioned when he launched it.

 

By the way, Berners-Lee, who teaches at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, blogs at Timbl's blog.

Andrew Kantor: RSS 'Needs To Add Some Complexity'

In his July 27, 2006 USATODAY.com. column,  Roanoke (Virginia) Times technology columnist Andrew Kantor noted that "RSS, or Real Simple Syndication, is the darling of the Internet, and for good reason. It's an easy way for bloggers and other site owners to let their readers know when there's new content, and it allows news junkies to see what's changed on their favorite sites without visiting each one," he wrote.

"But," Kantor added a few paragraphs later, "there is a deep-seated flaw in how RSS treats the Internet — one that's at odds with the direction online content is moving. And because of it, the shelf life of RSS as we know it is limited."

To learn why he thinks so, see "Real Simple Syndication needs to add some complexity."

PBS Offers 'Downloadable Videos'

Podcasting News notes that on July 27, 2006 PBS "announced the launch of downloadable PBS television shows on Google Video, making it possible for users to download and own a selection of PBS primetime and children’s programming for the first time ever." See "PBS Intros Downloadable Videos."

What Does Intelink Look Like?

"Christine Axsmith clearly thought that the US intelligence community was mature enough to discuss CIA interrogation techniques on its Intelink private intranet," David Batty at the Guardian's superb News blog opined in a July 25, 2006 post headlined "The fine line between love and pain."

"Most of us have little idea what this secret network looks like, although the author and former intelligence agent Fredrick Martin claims that its homepage looks like this," Batty wrote.

He added: "This Powerpoint presentation by Intelink's Randy Marks claims that the network has 60,000 users at top secret level - a good slice of the 100,000 employees claimed for the US intelligence community by Washington's spy chief John Negroponte."

Batty, in commenting on Axsmith, noted that, "In a post titled something like "Waterboarding is torture, and torture is wrong" (the actual title is of course classified), she took issue with the CIA's claims that the practice of strapping a prisoner to a board and ducking them in water does not constitute torture."

He said, "Axsmith's British employer BAE Systems has now sacked her at the CIA's behest and she may face criminal charges for the posting, which the Washington Post claims discomfited "seventh floor" staff - the CIA's director and managers. She describes her tribulations on her own site, Econo-girl."

"The fascination of the thought-police aspects of this story - if you're going to encourage intelligence analysts to write classified blogs, why can't they discuss their opinions of their workplace with their colleagues? - are equalled by the hints it gives of the US intelligence community's massive intranet."

A High Tech Geek Lineup

I stopped by WordPress co-founder Matthew Charles Mullenweg's informative Photo Matt blog this evening and learned that he's "speaking at the Future of Web Apps summit ... in San Francisco September 13-14 with Kevin Rose (Digg), Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia), Evan Williams (Odeo), Steve Olechowski (FeedBurner), Cal Henderson (Flickr), Tom Coates (Yahoo!), Tantek Celik (Technorati),  Michael Arrington (TechCrunch), Jeff Veen (Google) and Ted Rheingold (Dogster)."

Now that's a high tech geek lineup. As Matt says, that "should be a good show."

Sage: McAfee's Online Security Journal

The computer "security company McAfee unveiled a new online journal" July 17, 2006, according to the San Jose Mercury News. See "Web security a hot topic for bloggers, journals."

"The first edition of Sage, which will be released semiannually, discusses how the motivations of hackers who spew malware have grown more sinister than simply seeing who can break into a system first," the publication said.

See McAfee's press release headlined "McAfee, Inc. Debuts Security Research Journal 'Sage.'"

ADN: 'Bloggers Heap Derision On Stevens'

Liz Ruskin of the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News reported July 15, 2006  that  Republican Senator Theodore Fulton “Ted” Stevens of Alaska "is enduring no end of ridicule in the blogosphere for his recent explanation, in a Commerce Committee debate, of how the Internet works." He was quoted as saying:

The Internet is not something you just dump something on. It's not a truck. It's a series of tubes," he said during a June 28 committee session.

"And if you don't understand, those tubes can be filled. And if they are filled, when you put your message in, it gets in line and it's going to be delayed by anyone that puts into that tube enormous amounts of material, enormous amounts of material.

For more, see "Bloggers heap derision on Stevens." Wired's 27B Stroke 6  Bloggers Ryan Singel and Kevin Poulsen have a transcript of Steven's speech.

Public Knowledge, the "Washington DC based advocacy group working to defend your rights in the emerging digital culture," has links to the speech.

Rupert Murdoch's Space

Wired magazine's Spencer Reiss has a fascinating profile of News Corps' Rupert Murdoch in the July 2006 edition of the publication. He quotes the elite media mogul as saying, among other things:

To find something comparable, you have to go back 500 years to the printing press, the birth of mass media – which, incidentally, is what really destroyed the old world of kings and aristocracies. Technology is shifting power away from the editors, the publishers, the establishment, the media elite. Now it’s the people who are taking control.

Reiss, who calls Murdoch "the T. rex of mass culture," also quotes him as saying:. “We’re looking at the ultimate opportunity, The Internet is media’s golden age.”

To read the profile, see "His Space " at Wired online.

How Spyware Hijacks Our Computers

Business Week Online's Ben Elgin and Brian Grow provides a fascinating look into the widely criticized practices of Direct Revenue, perhaps the most aggressive purveyor of spyware in the world. The company has been sued by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer because of its tactics.

To read their eye-opening report, see "The Plot To Hijack Your Computer."

Kentucky Blocks Several Internet Sites

According to The Associated Press, "A site dedicated to Bible study was included on a [Kentucky state] government "blacklist" of Internet pages blocked to state employees in an effort by administrators to boost workers' efficiency."

Kentucky's Commonwealth Office of Technology has "also blocked employees' access to other Web sites including at least three Jewish-related sites, newspaper blogs and the University of Kentucky's Institute for Rural Journalism."

To read more, see "Fletcher bans Bible study Web pages."

The Peer Production Era

Chris Anderson at Wired magazine notes in an article in the June 2006 issue that "There’s... gold in the casual Web droppings we all leave online." See "People Power." It's a look at how "armies of amateurs, happy to work for free," created, and continues to improve, what Anderson calls "the peer production era."

Brian Yap: 'Google And The Fine Art Of Compromise

Back on June 14, 2006, Brian Yap, columnist for the New Straits Times of Malaysia and  "a writer at the Klang Valley monthly magazine KLue," posted a commentary headlined "Just Sayin': Google and the fine art of compromise."

 

Yap makes a thought-provoking observation about his own compromises designed to reach a larger audience in Malaysia, while criticizing Google for its compromises in China.

Is There A Security Flaw in PayPal Web Site?

On June 16, 2006,  Paul Mutton at Netcraft  wrote that, "A security flaw in the PayPal web site is being actively exploited by fraudsters to steal credit card numbers and other personal information belonging to PayPal users."

 

"The issue was reported to Netcraft today via our anti-phishing toolbar," Mutton wrote.

 

This week I received several e-mails regarding my PayPal account. It was immediately obvious they were from scammers. 

NY Times Becoming Search Engine Friendly

SearchEngineWatch Editor-In-Chief Danny Sullivan and Executive Editor Chris Sherman published an informative article June 15, 2006 on how Marshall Simmonds, "vice president of enterprise search at The New York Times," is making The Times "more search engine friendly."

"Online newspapers have often ignored search engines, or viewed them with mistrust, relying on the power of their brands to drive traffic," they wrote. "That attitude is changing dramatically at the New York Times, and with powerful effect."

Sullivan and Sherman said, "The NYT acquired Marshall as part of the Times' About.com purchase last year." For more, see "Getting The New York Times More Search Engine Friendly."

eBay's Contextual Ad Program

If you haven't heard of  eBay chief strategy officer Michael van Swaaij's "plans to allow eBay's army of auctioneers to run contextual ads on other Web sites in exchange for a cut of the resulting eBay sales," see Reuters correspondent Eric Auchard's article "eBay plans to sell ads through other Web sites." Also see Forbes magazine's "EBay's Ad System Raises Questions."

The Independent : 'Bloggers Take On Telecoms Giants...'

Stephen Foley of The Independent of London reports in June 10, 2006 dispatch that , "Campaigners across the political spectrum are massing against plans to introduce "congestion charging" on the World Wide Web, which they say could kill the spirit of the internet."

"An army of bloggers has been joined by celebrities including the singer Moby and the founders of Google and Microsoft to fight a decision in the US House of Representatives that allows telecoms companies to charge popular websites for priority access to the Web," Foley wrote.

For more, see "Bloggers take on telecoms giants to save spirit of Net."

Brett Arends: 'Is the newspaper columnist doomed?'

"Is the newspaper columnist doomed?" asks Boston Herald Business Columnist Brett Arends. For his answer, see "Will Web bloggers turn today’s news columnists into tomorrow’s dinosaurs?"

 

'Blog Search Tool Launched' In Australia'

"Australian bloggers will no longer be a small voice in the world wide wilderness following the launch of a local search tool (Gnoos)  that aggregates the most current Australian blogs," according to the June 1, 2006 edition of The Age, an Australian publication.

 

For more, see Louisa Hearn's "Aussie blog search tool launched."

 

NY Times: 'Blogging Liberates 'Web 2.0'

The New York Times' Sara Ivry, in an article reprinted in the May 29, 2006 issue of the International Herald Tribune, asserts that, "Web 2.0, a term that has come to represent the latest incarnation of the Internet, a place where Web sites are more dynamic and interactive, has a certain Internet utopianism at its heart. But that image took a hit last week when a dispute broke out over who was allowed to use the term."

 

To read why, from Ivry's perspective, see "Blogging liberates 'Web 2.0 '"