barbara haven: My Interests

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:46:28 GMT

Radio 8.1 and Macbook: Current Platform

Coming Soon: improved left navigation!

This summer I've started a blog improvement plan so stay tuned for further moves and content plans.

Blogs Falling in an Empty Forest. Why do blogs have a higher failure rate than restaurants? [NYT > Technology]

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:44:52 GMT

Ubuntu's New Features

Why Microsoft should fear Ubuntu's Cloud efforts. Ubuntu is soon to feature 'cloud-computing inside'. Microsoft must take this threat seriously before they lose more control of cloud platforms. [CNET News.com]

Alternative operating systems and cloud computing: the nexus of two interests I have. We could all use the same operating system only if we all did the same work.

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:26:35 GMT

Cloud Cost Savings: Open-source and Virtualization Savings also

With cloud computing, open-source software and virtualization, we all could save some money in our personal computing as well as government computing on all levels. Personal I use some cloud and open source only because they work so well from day one.

Study: U.S. gov't could save billions with cloud computing, open-source. The U.S. government could save billions of dollars by moving to more open-source software, cloud computing and virtualization, a recent study suggests.
[Latest from Computerworld]

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:49:12 GMT

UK Government Report on Digital Future

Mixed reaction to digital plans. Official plans to prepare the UK's digital infrastructure for the future need fleshing out, say experts. [BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

"An action plan to secure the UK's place at the forefront of innovation, investment and quality in the digital and communications industries will be developed by Stephen Carter, the first Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting. " Full Report

BBC, part of the report's subject, write(s):

The 86-page report sets out ambitious targets for the government to make broadband ubiquitous across the UK, reform radio spectrum, and sort out public broadcasting.

Some have been positive about its conclusions but opposition politicians criticised the wide-ranging report, saying it was light on specifics.

"We're very disappointed," said Jeremy Hunt, shadow culture minister. [me: isn't that a great title "Shadow Culture Minister" that the U.S. and California are missing?]

"We thought the report was going to contain a strategy," he said. "In France and Germany they are laying fibre, in Japan they already have it. In Britain the average broadband speed is 3.6Mb so what [Andy Burnham] is talking about is getting half the current speed."

[Emphasis mine.]

For the US consider the 2008 'Digital Future Report' from the Center for Digital Future at the University of Southern California. Now in its seventh year, this report forms part of a longitudinal study on the impact of computers, the Internet, and related technologies.

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:59:23 GMT

Hail to the (Open Source) Chief!

In the news recently Open government: Sun co-founder Scott McNealy urges Obama to adopt open source [BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

Today Java World writes and quotes:

One intriguing change that could come in the tech realm is hinted at by a request put to Sun co-founder Scott McNealy: the Obama administration has asked him to prepare a paper on open source software for the US government. McNealy's initial comments on the subject are clearly aimed at a cash-strapped federal government: "It is intuitively obvious that open source is more cost effective and productive than proprietary software."

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:46:58 GMT

Green Stimulus Progress

House panel approves green-tech portions of 'stimulus' bill. Republicans and Democrats were at odds Thursday in the House Energy and Commerce Committee over which energy technologies should receive additional loan guarantees. [CNET News.com]
I heard of a California Community College receiving some federal funds for training in preparation for green jobs like working with solar panels. More later.

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:11:52 GMT

LA Fire Department Uses Social Media

Los Angeles Fire Department blogs their news and information at http://lafd.blogspot.com/

At the moment probably everyone in LA is busy containing current fires. They provided:
Social Media Users...

Twitter hashtag: #LAFIRE
Flickr tags: "SayreFire" and "LAFD" and add to LAFD Photo Pool
YouTube tags: "SayreFire" and "LAFD"

I hope you and all the people you care about are all safe from these and other fires.

In Northern California people have commented how unseasonably warm it's been, but fortunately we had some rain recently. The landscape does not feel very dried out at the moment.

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:34:18 GMT

Tuesday New Apple Laptops

Bits: Apple Plans Laptop Announcement. Apple invites analysts and the press to a laptop-related announcement next Tuesday. [NYT > Technology]

Later in October I have a birthday: Macbook Air appeals to me most because I cannot lug around a Thinkpad or other heavy computer. More and more I'm relying on only an iPod Touch when I'm out and carrying my own things. Without a sherpa I don't take along a heavy laptop.

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:38:02 GMT

Climate of the Nation and Internet

Andreessen's nuclear winter: Here it comes. The latest round of warnings comes as Internet advertising starts to suffer fallout from the financial meltdown on Wall Street--and it's just the start. [CNET News.com]
Some of the free internet services especially Web 2.0 communities I enjoy are supported by ads.

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:28:59 GMT

US Lawmakers Inquire about Online Tracking by 30+ Internet Companies

Lawmakers Demand Information on Web Tracking Practices. A Congressional committee sent letters to more than 30 Internet companies demanding to know whether they track where their users go online and use that information to deliver personalized advertising. [NYT > Technology] They are only asking. I wouldn't be surprised if 28+ out of 30 Internet companies track where users go. Have they looked at the evidence of tracking? In the past when I did research for another person, I would be amused how much my online ad displays would radically change.

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:01:23 GMT

Law Resources Coming Online

Lawyers Open Their File Cabinets for a Web Resource. Services are appearing on the Web that may make it easier for consumers to do their own preliminary homework on legal issues before seeking professional help. [NYT > Technology] So many services about laws and legislation want to charge subscriptions, so it's good to see some without subscriptions.

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:03:54 GMT

Interesting to Watch How Hosted Services Go

Google Offers to Host Services on App Engine. Google is offering to host enterprise Web applications on its own infrastructure with a new tool for developers, App Engine. [NYT > Technology]

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:58:27 GMT

Green IT Strategy Whitepaper

3 Building Blocks for a Profitable Green IT Strategy. (Source: Verdiem) This practical white paper compares "greening" your IT department to "greening" your home: the key to a lasting return is starting with small steps. Learn how to create an IT carbon footprint baseline, draft a list of objectives, and implement for the best ROI. [Computerworld Breaking News]

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 05:44:56 GMT

Wikileaks.org Was Not Really Disabled

Judge Reverses His Order Disabling Web Site. The ruling let a Web site that allows the anonymous posting of documents to discourage unethical behavior in governments and corporations continue operating. By JONATHAN D. GLATER. [NYT > Technology]

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 05:41:12 GMT

Security Policy is Difficult but Necessary

Five basic mistakes of security policy. Distilling an appropriate security policy for your company can trip you up in obscure details -- but don't discount the possibility of face-planting on the basics, as Anton Chuvakin explains. [Computerworld Breaking News]

Personally I wish logs were easier to process and read or interpret, perhaps with better filtering. They are often messy or misleading. This weekend I need to download and delete logs on a couple sites (personal)--or they'll be growing beyond storage limits.

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:21:52 GMT

What Price for Greater Reliability?

How reliable? Frankly Speaking: Frank Hayes thinks the latest BlackBerry outage gives IT managers a chance to chat with users about how much reliability they're willing to pay for. [Computerworld Breaking News]
Also the recent (Feb. 15) Amazon S3 storage outage could also trigger the discussion about service levels customers need and are will to pay for.

In other reading, I encountered a comparison of Microsoft Windows Search with Spotlight search on Apple's Mac OS X like a Ford Pinto and BMW Z4. Big difference in prices too. Chris Pirillo wrote:

10. Spotlight is to Windows Desktop Search as a BMW Z4 is to a Ford Pinto (in terms of performance, usability, and UI). No contest. I'm sure some would argue the opposite, but... they're also probably the extreme developer "but it works if you just learn how to use it right" types.

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:35:45 GMT

Energy-Saving Open-Source Software

Developed by the EPA, EZ GPO provides a way to control power management settings using resident APIs.

Snohomish Public Utility District. The Snohomish Public Utility District, ranked as the No. 5 Green-IT organization, puts its more than 1,000 desktops to sleep when they become inactive, through the use of customized software originally developed by the EPA .[Computerworld Breaking News]
Their IT staff decided to use an open-source tool called EZ GPO (Group Policy Objects) to shut down computers when they're not in use.

The EPA's free software worked well on some PUD equipment. Still, applications installed on many of the computers would override EZ GPO's attempts to put them to sleep, even though the devices weren't in use.

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:30:41 GMT

Green IT

The Green Maze. Reducing IT's energy bill is the easy part, but going green gets complicated when you try to master issues such as renewable energy and responsible recycling. [Computerworld Breaking News]

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:26:06 GMT

Make Me Sustainable

Images: The greening of social networking. Many Web start-ups are trying to attract green consumers through media and social networking. [CNET News.com]

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:28:54 GMT

Energy In the California Sun

A Green Energy Industry Takes Root Under the California Sun. Solar power is booming in California, the product of billions of dollars in investment and mountains of enthusiasm. By MATT RICHTEL and JOHN MARKOFF. [NYT > Technology]

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 20:57:16 GMT

Feds Propose Greener Computer Purchases

U.S. to require agencies to buy 'green' PCs, monitors. The federal government has published a proposed rule requiring agencies to use the EPEAT environmental rating system on all purchases of desktop PCs, laptops and computer monitors. [Computerworld Breaking News]

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:39:12 GMT

News from Rainy Northern California

Bay Area traffic site melts in the rain. Traffic planner fails when it's most needed. [CNET News.com] I had trouble with Yahoo live traffic. Possibly the best advice I had was from another person in the elevator.
I drove home through streets strewn with branches--some rather large. In the morning Saturday if it's light and decent to travel I'll go out to take photos. I have electricity and internet for the evening, so I'll bundle up and stay in for now.

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:14:39 GMT

Probably Only Interesting to other Bloggers

How to Lose Your Job on Your Own Time. The Web is a window on personal lives, and employers can peer in. By RANDALL STROSS. [NYT > Technology]

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:49:43 GMT

Tesla Transparency

Tesla CEO blogs explanations. Info on changes and delays for the electric sports car reiterated on Tesla blog as a follow-up to town hall meeting. [CNET News.com] In addition to a good looking car, the website seems to have newer ways to disseminate information.

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:26:39 GMT

Good Prices for New Solar

Start-Up Sells Solar Panels at Lower-Than-Usual Cost. Nanosolar, a heavily financed Silicon Valley start-up whose backers include Google[base ']s co-founders, plans to announce Tuesday that it has begun selling its innovative solar panels. By JOHN MARKOFF. [NYT > Technology]
This article give an energy price information as follows:

Nanosolar's founder and chief executive, Martin Roscheisen, claims to be the first solar panel manufacturer to be able to profitably sell solar panels for less than $1 a watt. That is the price at which solar energy becomes less expensive than coal.

"With a $1-per-watt panel," he said, "it is possible to build $2-per-watt systems."

According to the Energy Department, building a new coal plant costs about $2.1 a watt, plus the cost of fuel and emissions, he said.

So eventually will paying a premium price for "Greenergy" be a thing of the past?