The Future of Blogging?

Otto asks - “We´re reading almost the same posts on every top blogs - it makes me feel that either there´s nothing really new on making blogs and/or that blogs are past. So, what´s next? (Read on Source)

Leverage ASP.NET in Your Enterprise

Give your IT Web development organization a boost by guiding it to ASP.NET. by Barry Bloom For this solution: ASP.NET, .NET Framework M oving your organization to ASP.NET offers several advantages over the traditional Active Server Pages (ASP)/Visual Basic 6 platform. ASP.NET introduces an integrated development environment (IDE), a single development library for all types of applications, and a true object-oriented approach to Web application development. In this column, I'll explain...

Why Doesn't iTunes Include Song Lyrics with Songs?

Just over a year ago, Apple's legal department told a 14 year old girl to shut her pie-hole after she suggested to the company in a hand-written letter that they include song lyrics with songs purchased through the iTunes music store so she could read them while listening to songs on her iPod Nano. (Read on Source)

EU probe to look at all search engines (AP)

AP - A European Union probe triggered by concerns over how long Google Inc. stores user information has widened to include all Internet search engines.

Arch Voodoo Install

Techzone: "Arch has been my primary Linux distribution for two years and I dual boot it with Windows XP on my Thinkpad..."

Forty Strangers in a Virtual Room Talk About Religion

For six weeks, 40 volunteers from across the United States meet in an online "Open Source Religion" forum discussing their deepest beliefs. Assignment Zero explores how their respectful curiosity defies the old warning never to talk about religion with strangers.

Nintendo Prez: Wii Will Bury PS2

Jazzed perhaps by a successful showing at last week's E3 Media and Business Summit, as well as continued strong sales of his Wii video game console, Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, said Thursday he believes the console could touch the stratosphere and top the PlayStation 2 in sales. The PS2's over 100 million sales since its release in 2000 was an "extraordinary number" that the Wii has not yet reached, said Iwata.

SEM Awards: A snake in the midst?

Every now and then people in this industry, like most others, get together for a little shindig, an awards ceremony. I was poking around for local and national award shows and came across this little gem, appropriately named SEM Awards. I entered the site to check it out because I had never heard of these [...] (Read on Source)

Ask.com on the Upswing

That seems to be the message from the latest American Consumer Satisfaction Index, the University of Michigan?s well-known barometer of consumer satisfaction. (Read on Source)

And The Number Crunching Continues

Okay, these polls are probably flawed in various ways, but our recent offering reveals a certain aprehension among our readers about a new semester. It's oddly encouragint to know we aren't the only ones... (Read on Source)

Investment Forum to Award $150,000 to Early-Stage Companies in Pacific Northwest -- Zino Society Off

Pacific Northwest start-up businesses will be awarded a total of $150,000 in investment funds at the 2007 ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum (ZZIF). 28 early-stage companies will vie for the capital infusion Tuesday, September 11, 2007, at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. The investment fund is coming from ZINO Society investment group. (PRWeb Aug 23, 2007) Post Comment:Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/WmV0YS1aZXRhLVByb2YtSGFsZi1UaGlyLVplcm8=

NI figures boost Iraq peace talks

They were chaired by Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein, and former South African government minister Roelf Meyer. (Read on Source)

Tri-towns weigh broadband options

To BT or not BT? -- the multi-million-dollar question vexed residents of Jericho, Underhill and Westford on Monday night as they considered alternatives to stalled plans for a broadband link-up with Burlington Telecom.

Google Launches Map Maker

Google has introduced a new feature to Google Maps called Map Maker, which allows users to edit different regions around the globe.

From the Google Lat Long Blog, "Map Maker allows you and your peers to add, edit and moderate most features you see on maps including roads, lakes, parks, points of interest, businesses, cities and localities. You will be able to trace many of these features using satellite images; as you trace, maps are immediately updated."

Controlling the Web cache gives you power over your site

Web caches add an illusion of speed to Web pages, but they can cause your pages to look stale or old if they aren't well built. Also, as a Web...

Netgear ProSafe VPN Firewall 8 with 4...(min. 39,24)

Spotted a wrong product in this list? Attention: It's possible that the products offered by the shops above are not 100% identical to the ...

Rumor: GTA 4 DLC Adds 15 Hours of Gameplay, Updated Xbox Dashboard Coming in November

The first of the two pieces of Xbox 360-exclusive downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto IV will add approximately 15 hours of gameplay to the 360 version when it hits this November, according to an unconfirmed report from web comic RPG-TV.

Allegedly sourcing a Microsoft London representative, writer Chris Thomas further claims that the new Xbox 360 dashboard--packing an updated look, game install support and Netflix streaming--is likewise slated to arrive in November. ...

Susceptibility To Cleft Palate Revealed By Genetic Profile

For the first time, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine have identified a series of genetic mutations that appear to be linked to significant risk for cleft palate and other dental abnormalities. These are devastating conditions that cause tremendous social isolation, and also are associated with decreased ... (Read on Source)

Questions, issues to address on missile defense system for the next US President

NPR : The Missile Defense Agency at the Pentagon imagines a future where the threat from hostile ballistic missile attacks is growing, but so is the arsenal of weapons to neutralize it. (Read on Source)

Federal Charges Filed Against Alleged Cyber Peeping Tom

A college student who allegedly rigged a woman's laptop to snap nude photos through her webcam faces federal charges this week, and tops Threat Level's roundup of cybercrime in the federal courts. Wired.com (Read on Source)

Proper Etiquette When Writing A Thank-You Note

You don't need a 10-week crash course from Ms. Manners to use proper etiquette when writing a thank-you note. As the old saying goes, a little common sense goes a long way. Here are five every-day tips to remember for showing appreciation.

1. Show some effort.

Always handwrite your note of appreciation, don't print it out from your computer. Even if you're handwriting is "horrendous", slow down and make an effort to write legibly for this occasion. Don't use a pre-printed or pre-worded greeting card, unless you're significantly adding to the message in your own handwriting. The extra time you take will be appreciated by the person you are thanking. After all, they went out of their way to do something for you, how you choose to express your appreciation can communicate to them that you care about them or give the impression that you don't care. Be sure to write at least three sentences in the body of your note. It doesn't have to be a novel.

2. Make it personal but don't talk about yourself.

In coming up with what to say, reference the gift or what they did for you. Even if you didn't particularly like the gift, say something descriptive about it instead of avoiding the subject. You don't have to lie, just be sure to recognize the importance of the gift -- like it or not. And don't use the thank you note as a gossip column or go into a long tirade about your bad hair day and the flat tire you got on the way to work. Don't say anything negative -- EVER -- even if you try to follow it by adding a "just kidding" and a smiley face. Your recipient may not get the joke, and in any case, a thank you note is not the proper occasion to showcase your special brand of sarcastic humor.

3. Better now than never.

Thank you's should be written "as quickly as possible". So what exactly does that mean? For most occasions such as dinner parties and birthday gifts, that means roughly 7 to 14 days. Weddings and baby showers generally command a little more slack, perhaps 2 months or so, but if you can, make life easier and tackle it one thank-you at a time as gifts come in. That means if you receive a wedding gift delivered to your house two weeks before a wedding, put a thank you note in the mail within the next two days. Then cross it off your to-do list! Regardless of the situation, sooner really is better. However even if it's been a year and you think it's too late, go ahead and write that note of appreciation. Maybe the person had forgotten about it — chances are they didn't forget. If you send a thank-you now, he or she will at least know that not only did you think of them when you received the gift, but you thought of them now, even after all this time, and you took the time to thank them.

4. Every deed deserves its own recognition.

Would you even think of thanking your best friend for a birthday present by writing something like: "Thank you for cute the sweater. You are so thoughtful! And thank you for all the gifts I know you will give every year for my birthday since we are BFF"? Of course not! Don't do the same thing retroactively by sending one combined thank you note for the last three gifts you received from somebody. In this case, it is totally NOT okay to "kill two birds with one stone." Can you imagine, "Hey Grandma, thank you for little Johnny's christening present and oh yeah I almost forgot to thank you for the wedding gift. I use the blender every day. And you know what, come to think of it, thanks for the money you sent me for my birthday. You really are a great grandma!" Sound ridiculous? You will too if you recognize separate acts of generosity with one stingy act of faux gratitude.

5. Address with respect.

Not sure whom to thank? A good rule of thumb for birthdays, showers, weddings and other "gift" occasions is to address your thank you note to the person who signed your gift card. Address the card to both husband and wife if both of their names were on your gift. Children living in the home of the couple should be recognized in the inside salutation or body of your thank you note. Tip: if you received a wedding gift from your young adult cousin who does not live with Aunt Sally and Uncle Harry -- send them their own thank you note. It is NOT okay to tell Aunt Sally and Uncle Harry to thank them for you. If you don't know the address, call somebody or try Googling it. For business associates, job interviews, and pretty much anyone older than you that you don't know very well -- err on the side of formality. Envelopes should definitely use Mr. or Mrs. and the person's last name. To address a business woman, if you're not sure whether she is married or what title she prefers, it is best to use Ms. as the title. If you don't feel comfortable with that, you may use just her first and last name together. Try not to use anyone's first name in the salutation of your letter unless they have given you permission to do so.

So you see, proper thank you etiquette is not rocket science. For most of us, the standard manners our parents and teachers gave us should do the trick. The key is remembering those manners -- and more importantly, acting on them. Whenever someone gives you a present or does something nice for you, such as preparing dinner or babysitting in a pinch, recognize that kindness. Don't delay. A little appreciation goes a long way!

Shawn Thomas is a freelance writer who writes about writing rules and grammar, letter writing and etiquette, often focusing on specific products used in writing such as <a href="http://www.americanstationery.com/">stationery</a>.

What Will WinHEC Bring?

With PDC out of the way, Microsoft turns its attention to hardware vendors as part of its big rollout plans.

With Time Warner Cable You Get Superior Digital Technology Posted By : Terry Jennings

Time Warner Cable provides a digital service with nearly 300 different stations. You can choose from many packages.

Femtosecond, Chirped Laser Pulse Trains Could Reduce Decoherence

A physics professor is proposing to use femtosecond, chirped laser pulse trains to reduce decoherence. Controlling coherence can overcome current barriers in a variety of fields, from quantum computing to molecular selective bio-imaging.

Twits and Such for 2008-11-12

having been forced to use WinXP at work for the past year only validates my choice to abandon this platform whenever possible. # (Read on Source)

KEYLOK® Now Offers Anti-Piracy Protection For Developers Wanting to Secure Their Valuable Excel

Copy protection for Microsoft Excel workbooks with KEYLOK® USB security dongle and DoneEx Excel compiler. A brand software Anti-Piracy solution for developers from KEYLOK® a leader in software security products. (PRWEB Nov 20, 2008)

Read the full story at http://www.emediawire.com/releases/protect/excel/prweb1501924.htm

Q Of The Day: Is Controlling Anti-LGBT Sentiment One Of Our Primary Jobs?

When discussing civil rights for LGBT people, I'm more than occasionally found referencing Bayard Rustin's take on what "our job" is as LGBT people and/or civil rights activists: "[T]he job of the gay community is not to deal with extremists who would castigate us or put us on an island and drop an H-bomb on us. The fact of the matter is that ... (Read on Source)

Delicious to go

We?ve just launched a mobile version of Delicious. You can find it at http://m.delicious.com. This is a beta and represents our first real dabbling in mobile browsing, so we?ve started conservatively. The site is designed to work on as many devices as possible, although YMMV. (Read on Source)

In Boost To Franken, Minnesota Restores Missing Ballots To The Count

Some good news for Al Franken: The state canvasing board just voted unanimously to compensate for the loss of those 133 missing ballots in Minneapolis by going back to the recorded Election Night vote totals for this precinct, sparing Al the loss of a net 46 votes. This means Franken has survived a major threat, as his campaign's calculations of ... (Read on Source)