Thoughts on potential tech directions...

Why the US tech lead is in danger (it’s based on pursuing Exascale).
http://www.infoworld.com/d/data-center/five-reasons-the-us-tech-lead-in-danger-179930

And some future news stuff…..
Dart Review. Dart is Google’s potential answer for Javascript. One glaring catch (that will not really be a catch if Dart catches on):

But there may be deeper practical issues. The very simple program that prints "Hello World" is converted into 231,503 lines of code, many of them fairly long. I pushed this code through the built-in optimizer, and the result was still 183K. This overhead, or the ensuing bandwidth bills, will give developers for any popular site a reason to pause.
http://akamai.infoworld.com/d/application-development/first-look-google-dart-vs-javascript-179852

CVS
Very good summary of a version control systems (and why to use them and why you are already using them!).
http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-visual-guide-to-version-control/

Neat tutorial/tips:
Cool tips for Excel users.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/the-10-most-important-things-to-teach-your-excel-users/2854

A big giant list of HTML5 and CSS3 resources.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/webmaster/stay-on-the-design-cutting-edge-with-these-html5-and-css3-resources/912
t

Stuff about programming....

Thesis:
Cool list of top web design books.
http://www.netmagazine.com/features/top-25-books-web-designers-and-developers

Antithesis:
20 web design horrors ;-)........
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/webmaster/web-designs-gone-wrong-a-gallery-of-digital-horror/893

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Notes about pursuing programming…..

Very good case study on how to become a programmer. I should listen.
http://mattdeboard.net/2011/11/23/how-i-became-a-programmer/

Crass, but I like the core concept. To sum, learn, don’t just copy-paste. But I think the author goes a little far with it (for example, don’t ask if you feel the urge).
http://blog.appamatto.com/2011/11/22/how-to-rtfm.html

Phone and Android stuff......

Cool stuff. Some "why is Androind good" points!
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-things-android-does-really-well/2848

And......the 20 most useful apps (as seen by Jason Hiner)
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/hiner/the-20-most-useful-android-smartphone-apps-of-2011/9202

FUD: Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. Never heard that before. That concept is rampant among software vendors these days (I agree with the author here). Amazon (for one) is fighting Microsoft back on an apparent FUD campaign on the grounds of prior artwork.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/are-microsofts-patent-claims-against-android-fud/16394

Interesting take on the mobile phone space right now. A “State of the Union”:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-news/2012-mobile-state-of-the-union-part-1-of-3-smartphones/5593

Privacy, privacy, privacy.........

Well, the good news is that Verizon doesn’t do this particular invasion of privacy….
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-57326974-245/you-say-rootkit-i-say-diagnostic-tool/

Please, please tell me that your password isn't on this list.....
http://www.infoworld.com/t/password-security/stop-using-these-25-passwords-today-179885

Interesting security take on Pass The Hash attacks.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security/defeat-dreaded-pass-the-hash-attacks-179753

Kind of tongue-in-cheek look at Facebook making a phone.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/facebooks-phone-oversharing-to-go/64030

Very, very useful graphic about identity theft.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/infographic-the-price-of-a-stolen-identity/6957

Just amusing.....

Just some amusing stuff.....

:-) Windows desktop hijinks. Can’t do that with a phone…..yet…..
http://www.zdnet.com/photos/ten-epic-windows-7-pranks-you-absolutely-must-try/6329975

Pretty neat fitness app. Or apps.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-effective-mobile-fitness-apps/1139

Just in time for Thanksgiving..... Pretty neat fitness app. Or apps.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-effective-mobile-fitness-apps/1139

I found this one funny. Things plugins don’t do…..
http://camendesign.com/plugin_without

Oops....missed posting yesterday....

I meant to line up a post (and not actually post on Thanksgiving). Didn't happen. Well, here is today's....

Random work and related stuff.....

One take on enterprise trends (things to look out for in the enterprise this next year):
http://www.infoworld.com/t/cloud-computing/infoworlds-top-10-emerging-enterprise-technologies-179458

And, along with that, here is a rare positive look at Microsoft products.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-microsoft-apps-that-will-change-it/1156

This guy has a two folder system. E-mail inbox and the task list. I think he hits a key point with:

"...I've found that the most important feature of any personal workflow management system is not how powerful it is in theory, but how easy it is in practice."

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222010/The_ultimate_productivity_guide_for_lazy_procrastinators_like_me_

We are not multi-taskers! How to get back on track if you get distracted.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-ways-to-stay-focused-on-the-task-at-hand/2829

Funny. I'm not a coder, but good thoughts even if I'm not. Stop writing beautiful code and start writing beautiful software. ;-).
http://blog.alexobenauer.com/stop-writing-good-code-start-writing-good-sof

IT Tools And Suggestions

Info on replicating motion and such using HTML5 and CSS3. Cool.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/webmaster/html5-and-css3-animation-without-flash-or-javascript/873

Not hip on the language, but a good triage when assessing something is wrong .
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/webmaster/html5-and-css3-animation-without-flash-or-javascript/873

5 free alternatives to Windows Explorer.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/itdojo/replace-windows-explorer-with-a-free-feature-rich-file-manager/3050

Cool computing stuff.....

These are very cool. Future computer ui’s.
http://www.infoworld.com/t/computer-hardware/the-future-computer-user-interfaces-178762

I have to agree. But I still don’t use BSD.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/data-center/why-arent-you-using-freebsd-178119

Very cool. The beginnings of the usable internet.
http://www.w3.org/Proposal.html

I think the ultrabook concept could be a solid tablet alternative……if they get an app engine and hit the battery life targets.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221877/HP_unveils_its_first_business_ultrabook

OK, this is just cool…..a single chip reaching supercomputer speeds.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221870/Intel_s_Knights_Corner_chip_hits_supercomputing_speed

More thoughts on professional stuff (progamming-related)

Great advice for anyone looking to freelance. This is slanted toward programming, but is good practical advice in general.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-things-to-consider-when-venturing-out-on-your-own/2825

Very cool thoughts on browser support (and, if you are a professional, charging for it).
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/11/03/%e2%80%9cbut-the-client-wants-ie-6-support%e2%80%9d/

Very cool set of web-based utility apps (not that I need it, but the POS app looks really cool).
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-cost-effective-web-based-tools/1099

If I want to learn Linux, here are 12 links to do so. Hmmm….a link to several links. I think there’s a mirror challenge in there.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source-software/need-linux-skills-12-places-learn-online-178694
(and here’s why it’s of interest. Linux is in demand)
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/217545/linux_skills_are_hot_on_improving_it_hiring_front.html

Steve Jobs and a couple of related flash posts

Fascinating perspective on Steve Jobs’ barbs about Bill Gates. Very short and worth the quick read.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19255/steve_jobs_on_microsoft_they_just_have_no_taste

“…the biography has actually made me think twice about buying anything Apple-branded again.”
http://james.cridland.net/blog/think-different-about-jobs/

Interesting. In the Mac vs. PC discussion, a lone voice crying out for the simplicity of a windows installation ;-). Just a single data point, mind you…..
http://blog.jitbit.com/2011/11/trying-rails-mac-confessions-of-net.html

I found this interesting. For all you flash-haters.
http://occupyhtml.org/
and
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221963/_Occupy_Flash_movement_wants_Adobe_s_plug_in_dead

Such bad mojo.....

Mostly, the staggering numbers associated with malware are mentioned. Including a third of all malware detected was created in 2010.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221755/CI_pinpoints_200_millionth_piece_of_cloud_based_malware

I have to say that yea, this is slightly upsetting. Opting out of being tracked is being made a hassle.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19275/heres_how_to_opt_out_of_googles_wifi_snooping

I have an HTC. This is not pleasant to read. Essentially an HTC logger that collects, oh, pretty much everything about your phone use. Sigh.
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/the-rootkit-of-all-evil-ciq/

Yea, this still makes me cringe all the more. Getting our wi-fi data is easy since we give it willingly. Sigh.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/networking/how-google-8211and-everyone-else-8211gets-wi-fi-location-data/1664

I like this….I think. Privacy measures foisted on Facebook and Twitter. But when businesses sign stuff like this it makes me assume it’s not as we think it is. But that’s just me. Or is it That’s just I?
http://www.infoworld.com/t/cringely/the-privacy-gods-must-be-crazy-178824

Professional Thoughts

If I were in IT, this might be a little more impactful to me .
http://www.infoworld.com/t/it-management/5-hot-tech-projects-boost-your-it-career-177927

Good mention on feature creep. Actually, this is merely a reflection of traditional scope creep that affects all projects (home, work, etc.), but gives a good app-centric slant on the issue.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/app-builder/keep-feature-creep-out-of-your-app-development-work/646

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Some thoughts on career development...

Wish I knew Objective C. But still, teach yourself iPhone app dev.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobile-technology/iphone-apps-diy-skill-thats-in-big-demand-178494

Dumb joke, but a very succinct tutorial.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/app-builder/a-dog-limps-into-a-saloon-a-tutorial-on-androids-viewflipper-widget/634

I’ve never used these folks, but it’s worthwhile to pass on things like this. Good resource to think about if you’re developing Sharepoint (well, there are other technologies listed on the site, too).
http://www.left-brain.com/product?productid=1533

Just plain good info to have.....

Not necessarily related or equally important.....

First, two safety notes:

The internet can be very dangerous. This is a fantastic case study (and, uh, scary).
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/are-you-to-blame-for-your-childs-identity-being-stolen-case-study/4130

Very interesting. Robbers posit that social media could be used by their colleagues. Again, kinda scary.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/infographic-how-social-media-carelessness-can-help-criminals/6825

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And a couple of tips:

Cool 10 things to know about Windows 7!
http://www.zdnet.com/photos/ten-tricks-every-windows-7-power-user-should-know/6327164

In the growing worlds of phones and gadgets we have shrinking talk time, etc. Here’s a good set of Android battery life apps.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobile-technology/the-best-android-apps-boosting-battery-life-177749

Just some cool random techie stuff......

Very nice. A computer finds cancer.
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/104407-computer-more-accurate-than-human-doctor-at-breast-cancer-diagnosis

Create an app and then translate it to js and css. Pretty cool sounding….
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/australia/set-up-an-environment-for-android-eclipse-and-phonegap/207

But then....

Cross compatibility compared to native-running app. Interesting data point.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/app-builder/phonegap-plugin-vs-a-native-solution-in-android/653

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And a few DIY kind of stuff.....

Now this sounds slick. Credit card-sized mother board. A hobbyist’s toy but some nice potential otherwise, too!
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221330/New_89_open_source_motherboard_runs_full_Linux_OS

If you are into open-source projects (I’m not skilled quite enough), here are some cool sources for you…..
http://www.datamation.com/open-source/60-new-open-source-apps-youve-probably-never-heard-of-2.html

Are you brave, build your own java virtual machine language (jvm).
http://blog.efftinge.de/2011/11/build-your-own-jvm-language.html

For Crazy Dave......

I think he would appreciate....

For Crazy Dave at Parcom (titles say it all)...
http://wikibon.org/blog/untangle-this-the-worlds-worst-cable-clutters/
http://wikibon.org/blog/the-art-of-cable-organization/

I found this cool just from the understanding of content farms, etc. Another of my pet peeves. I try to make sure and filter those out when I can. I think you should, too 
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/hiner/can-google-survive-its-blind-faith-in-the-algorithm/9654


I think the title says it all. 5 free CMS tools for do-it-yourself Web site builders.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-free-cms-tools-for-do-it-yourself-web-site-builders/1133

Facebook not too great at detecting spam accounts. Not that anyone else is better, just an interesting tidbit. Now, Dave is great at detecting spam.....
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security/facebook-easily-infiltrated-data-harvesting-bots-177856

How 'bout a little apple.......

Hmmmmm…..this guy got kicked out of iOS developer program for discovering a security flaw. On the one hand I fathom it, on the other, it makes Apple seem like it’s screaming “STOP POINTING OUT OUR FLAWS!”. A la the late Mr. Jobs.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/after-latest-iphone-hack-charlie-miller-kicked-out-of-ios-dev-program/9773

I really agree with some of his points, but I also agree with some of the commenters (-ors?). He could have waited a few more days to bring it up……..But great points nonetheless……
http://www.infoworld.com/d/the-industry-standard/bill-gates-not-steve-jobs-the-real-hero-177864

Well, it’s good that Apple actually admitted a problem. I think this is an early crack in the post Steve Jobs Apple era. Admission of a problem would probably never have come in prior days, just a silent software fix.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221430/Apple_promises_software_fix_for_iOS_5_battery_woes
[NOTE: There are reports that the iOS 5 patch made things worse, so maybe more to this....]


Very cool link on Apple’s siri and the method of the technology…
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/smart-takes/say-command-how-speech-recognition-will-change-the-world/19895

Time wastes....

Enjoy.....

Kinda cool time waste. Best browser-based apps:
http://www.infoworld.com/t/free-tools/20-best-browser-apps-2011-177966

Yea, as one commenter said, there are idiots on both sides. Some preference, some truth.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221503/What_Android_fans_think_of_iPhone_users

Wow. How……pointless ;-)…..
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/australia/make-anything-barrel-roll/227

And, right with that, Google easter eggs…..
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/googles-whimsical-easter-eggs-screenshots/6326430

Interesting graphics on browser shares (what % each browser is used)…..
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/11/the-end-of-an-era-internet-explorer-drops-below-50-percent-of-web-usage.ars

Security, security....and how facebook can get you fired....

Interesting run down of the biggest cyber attacks of all time (of course, some of these are more perspective-based….).
http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/241238/20111101/biggest-cyber-attacks-time-hacking-china-google.htm

Potentially an invasive piece of legislation. Don’t know what to think, exactly. Lawmakers debating a bill to allow financial cutoff for sites suspected of allowing illegal sharing…..
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/new-house-of-representatives-bill-may-strangle-the-internet-or-nerf-the-first-amendment/10963

Think your FB post is personal/private? Maybe. Always consider what you write as potentially discoverable in a legal sense ;-).
http://www.infoworld.com/t/technology-business/private-facebook-posts-can-rightly-get-you-canned-177929

Go find if your e-mail address has been hacked……
http://www.infoworld.com/t/hacking/how-find-out-if-your-email-address-has-been-compromised-177847

Really cool graphic on how facebook security really works!
http://sophosnews.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/facebook-security-infographic.pdf

Here’s a note about Facebook privacy. Great things to revisit! If you notice, this is a recurring theme……
http://www.cio.com/article/690992/Facebook_Privacy_11_Settings_to_Revisit_Now


Great site. Self explanatory link…..
http://net.tutsplus.com/

Pretty cool javascript library to put charts on your page.
http://www.highcharts.com/

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In the world of plugin-oriented, platform-independent languages….

I like java since it’s what I’m still learning. This sounds exciting……
http://www.cringely.com/2011/10/the-second-coming-of-java/

Not applicable to me directly, but a good spot on Silverlight…..and it’s a lengthy piece (well, multi-part!)!
http://www.silverlightshow.net/items/Silverlight-5-Part-1-of-10.aspx

HTML5 and random privacy stuff.....

Some privacy/safety-related stuff:

I like this. How do I protect myself online? A: Pay attention to your surroundings and don’t be stupid. Or, a la Hitchhiker’s Guide, Don’t Panic…….
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/stay-safe-online-5-secrets-every-pc-and-mac-owner-should-know/3542

Have you paid for or used OnStar? Yea, it’s kind of like Supercookies J…….
http://blogs.cio.com/security/16518/your-car-spying-you

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Some slick HTML5 stuff.....

Very cool presentation of html5 tags!
http://joshduck.com/periodic-table.html

While not an HTML coder, some cool stuff with HTML5……..
http://www.infoworld.com/d/html5/10-apps-pushing-html5-the-limit-699

More on HTML5. The canvas tag. Pretty cool.
http://www.kevs3d.co.uk/dev/index.html

Anonymity, Google sites and phone programming...

One of my little pet peeves. Anonymity breeds stupidity. OK, a lack of thought.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/career/whats-with-all-the-angry-people-on-the-web/3230

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Do you use Google sites? Some cool stuff to know about what’s up there…. BTW, I
enjoy Bill Detweiler.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/itdojo/five-things-every-it-pro-should-know-about-google-sites/2938

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This is windows team, not window steam. But an interesting way windows is trying to stay competitive (I think).
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2011/10/10/more-guidance-and-tool-for-porting-iphone-amp-android-apps-to-windows-phone.aspx

Again, not an android programmer, but hope to be!
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/app-builder/best-practices-for-designing-android-apps/535

Cookies, droid development and Tech Skillz 2012.....

I hope to get into ‘droid development soon. Meanwhile I have been taking note of some of the little gems that others have found. This one? Some work-arounds for the troubling parts that this person (Anand?) found:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/app-builder/what-i-hate-about-developing-for-android-and-some-workarounds-that-help/517

Right along with that article, here’s some additional items about the (lack of) appeal of Android. Don’t agree with the WP7 thing.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smartphones/androids-apps-are-comparatively-ugly-is-linux-to-blame/3601

And a note about drafting a mobile strategy. Not that I intend on employing any Android skills I acquire in a professional sense, but it’s always good to go into something with as much info as you can….
http://www.cio.com/article/690621/How_to_Craft_a_Mobile_Application_Strategy
BTW, if you don’t have logins for some of these sites (and their content is protected), it’s worth it to get one!

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Good fodder to know. Toni Bowers highlights some skills (through their poll) that will be in demand in 2012 (pretty good, I think).
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/career/top-it-skills-wanted-for-2012/3503

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Two more security articles (do you see a trend?). First is how to stop some tracking from going on….
http://www.infoworld.com/d/data-center/how-stop-facebook-google-and-twitter-tracking-you-174549

Then more info on SuperCookies (congress is thinking about getting involved!). Mostly just a good cookie monster quote…
[[Edit! forgot the link]]
http://www.infoworld.com/d/the-industry-standard/lawmakers-want-investigation-supercookies-174168

As Allan Sherman says....

Good Advice.....

Are you having trouble sleeping. Or, rather, are you staying up too late? Go to bed!
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tech-manager/do-better-in-your-waking-hours-by-sleeping-better/6755

Always remember that we should at least be sensitive about what we do with our electronic devices. Windows collects data even when it says it doesn’t?
http://www.infoworld.com/t/windows-phone/windows-phone-7-sends-location-data-without-your-approval-173986

A listing of several official Design UX. Companies like Adobe, etc.:
http://usabilitygeek.com/official-usability-user-experience-user-interface-guidelines-from-companies/

Do you sent automated e-mail? Pay attention!!
http://www.diaryofaninja.com/blog/2011/09/27/what-all-good-web-developers-should-know-about-sending-email

Working Stuff......

Very cool article about a guy who applied to work in an Indian call center. Very enlightening.

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/05/indian-call-center-americanization

Nine crafty projects for geeks. Now if I only had a spark of motivation....OH! Rocket powered matchbox cars. Perfect!
http://www.infoworld.com/t/consumer-electronics/nine-diy-projects-the-crafty-geek-323?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_2011-07-08

Internal Hack-a-thons. If I were in my company's IT department......we probably wouldn't do this ;-). Cool idea and I think it would achieve its said goals!
http://blog.mumm.me/?p=174

Some cool HTML5 apps. I'm all for new technology and things that showcase it!
http://www.infoworld.com/d/html5/10-apps-pushing-html5-the-limit-699

XKCD cartoons......

Funny.......if depressing......
http://xkcd.com/53/
http://xkcd.com/58/
http://xkcd.com/63/
http://xkcd.com/71/
http://xkcd.com/72/
http://xkcd.com/101/

Code Review, Comment Review and Safety Review

Some good thoughts on doing code review. In a nutshell, do it. And think about why you do it.
http://scientopia.org/blogs/goodmath/2011/07/06/things-everyone-should-do-code-review/

Some thoughts from TechRepublic

Take a moment before you touch the keyboard and ask yourself:

• Will what I’m about to say solve the problem I’m having with this person or is it just satisfying my need to lash out?
• Is what I’m about to type a productive comment or am I just feeding my desire to call someone an idiot and, indirectly, make myself feel superior?
• Am I addressing the right person about this problem? For example, if an ad feed is messing up a page, the blogger has nothing to do with it. If the website is having a problem, the blogger has nothing to do with it. If there is a typo, there is a way to point it out without calling the blogger’s character into question.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/career/whats-with-all-the-angry-people-on-the-web/3230

A good set of "please help us make fewer bad decisions" rules. 5 Rules you should know about being online.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/stay-safe-online-5-secrets-every-pc-and-mac-owner-should-know/3542

And right along with that, supercookies! What are they and how do you get rid of them.
http://www.pemphigus.org/wordpress/2011/09/supercookies-what-why-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html

Start With A Little Privacy

Here are a couple of links about Facebook tracking. The gist for me is that using InPrivate (or similar browsing) is now the norm for Facebook (and google).

http://nikcub-static.appspot.com/logging-out-of-facebook-is-not-enough

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220402/Facebook_tracking_prompts_call_for_FTC_probe?source=CTWNLE_nlt_pm_2011-09-29

And for anyone thinking about the new Kindle Fire, here is a consideration. By default it runs all web browsing through their cloud servers. Provides some great benefits but they'll catalog everything you do. And you can turn it off. Just a consideration.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220403/Amazon_s_Silk_browser_raises_privacy_security_eyebrows?source=CTWNLE_nlt_pm_2011-09-29

With Apologies To Tim Challies

I so enjoy Tim Challies' blog. I am blatantly thieving his a la Carte style posts. Mostly I am doing this for the sake of cataloging neat links that I have run across......across which I have run....that I found interesting. If you happen across this, please take a few moments to visit Tim's site and take a look at the really great stuff he does day in day out. Then, if you have more time, take a look at the included links here. I can't guarantee that they will remain operational forever, but hey, football doesn't have windshield wipers.

Oh, and yes, mostly for me, but it is "blogspot" hence audience style.