Starved of the truth - George Monbiot article on the current Biotech debate, and asks: what is the real question....?

Biotech firms are out to corner the market, so they have to persuade us something else is at stake.
The question is as simple as this: do you want a few corporations to monopolise the global food supply?"

Slashdot | Protecting Our Parents' PCs?
nice article/thread on being "PC Support Man"

The Singhsons
This is a really nice (flash animation - needs sound) indian-remix of everyones favourite cartoon family... funny and reverential ! [thanks to GarryS for the link]

First e-ink e-book reader from PHILIPS
e-paper/e-ink has been talked of for a while now... however, with this becoming a reality(?) this year.. and the wider availability of wireless networkin.... the promise of "all the worlds books available all the time" draws nearer (if the stupid content/copyright would allow us to have access at a reasonable price)... can you say "convergence" ?

Gyoza.org - Gyoza - Japanese Dumplings One For Ray !

How News Travels on the Internet
this is one of those "Blog's will eat themselves" postings which has already become part of the thing it's describing. i think this is all very fascinating, watching the changes in publishing and news-consumption rules changing.... then observing 80% of london tube users reading the awful and free "Metro"... sigh....

Magnatune."We're a record label. But we're not evil."
Interesting approach to re-inventing the recording industry "the way it ought to be"... look at his "reasons why" page (under "information").

Personal Update I haven't managed to post much recently - due to travelling for work... plus Charlie has had Chicken Pox, which has somewhat distracted me from my usual distratcions - thankfully he's getting much better now.
Here's a bunch of things i caught up on over the weekend...

Spam is 10

5th March marks the tenth anniversary of what is generally considered the first spam message

More "New Journalism"
Dan Gillmor: Boost for Personal Journalism in New Gadget Blog

Downing Street Says...

"Every day the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. We've built an unofficial site that lets you read summaries of these briefings and add your own comments"

Far Side cartoons made real in Photoshop

world subways: "subway systems of the world, presented on the same scale"

Yahoo! News - Enthusiasts Call Web Feed Next Big Thing
Story about RSS Newsfeeds on Yahoo, a good introduction and update on the subject.

I've been using bloglines.com for a while now, and find it's a great way to track subjects I'm interested in...

Try It Out here on some of the feeds I follow.

[see earlier item]

Guardian Online Web watch
Some interesting things in this weeks edition, including "Six of the best: Hotspot finders", and "Un-googling".

What We Learned In The New Economy
Interesting and insightful article from Fast Company Magazine. I particularly like the part on "The Brand Called You"... makes a lot of sense:

Boom-Time Buzz: Free Agent Nation is a utopia. The Brand Called You makes you more marketable than ever.
Cold Reality: Free Agent Nation is a jungle. The Brand Called You is the only way to survive.

Simon Hoggart pokes fun at our honarble MP's register of members interests, lovely :-)

"Meanwhile, the new register of members' interests was published yesterday. It's always fascinating, and here are a few nuggets.
Most boring freebie: Richard Allan, visit to Ottawa to Centre for Collaborative Government, a Canadian thinktank.
Most meaningless job: 'Peter Mandelson, adviser to AM Conseil, an industrial consultancy on strategic development, including internal and external communication and change management issues.' Does one single word of that convey anything at all?
Most disappointing perk: Alistair Burt, 'upgrade to business class on flight from London to Paris'. Can anyone sink eight gin and tonics in a 35 minute flight?
Most obvious legal tax wheeze: Barbara Follett, 'communication consultant to Ken Follett, author'. ('Pick up the phone Ken, then you punch the numbers in that order ...')
Most politically incorrect trip: Edward Garnier, 'a day's shooting in Bedfordshire as guest of the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association'. Just make that 'shooting endangered species', and you have a full house."

The DrumSolo Collection
One for Ciaran...:DRUMMERWORLD: The DrumSolo Collection - from Steve Gadd to Dave Weckl

Barcode Yourself
You are a number, you are not a free man.

Independent journalists blog from Iraq and Iran
These are interesting blogs worth a look. Some good points on "embeded journalism" and the nature of reporting, as well as first hand accounts.

http://www.kevinsites.net/"Kevin Sites is a freelance solo journalist currently on assignment for NBC News in Iraq, but this site is a personal website not affiliated with or funded by NBC News"
http://www.stuhughes.co.uk/"DISCLAIMER: Stuart Hughes works for BBC News, but this is a personal website not affiliated with, endorsed by, or funded by the BBC. Archives of Stuart's work are available here, and at www.bbc.co.uk/news"

Curry KitKat anyone?

"As well as the cumin and masala flavour, NestlÈ is considering offering lemon cheesecake, liquorice, saffron and passion fruit."