There was a column over on BusinessWeek about how the iPod is going to save Apple's ass. Apparently they sold 110,00 iPods in the first week alone, after announcing the 2nd generation models, and purportedly dominates the market with a 51% share (yeah, I know, Macs used to have that kind of marketshare once too). The argument goes, further, that once Apple releases their Windows version of iTunes, they'll be selling iPods by the millions. I don't know if the iPod should be their main product (as the column suggests) but anything that'll keep Apple healthy, I'm all for it.
Speaking of iTunes, the really nifty thing about the iTunes Music Store is that you can listen to high quality 30 second samplers for all the music they have. It's fun to just browse through their stuff and see what's out there. And if you find something you like, you just switch over to LimeWire and... er, I mean, you click on that "Buy" button. Yeah. Because downloading music is bad. Or something like that.
Speaking of bad things, my PowerBook still rocks. I haven't had to listen to the HD grind away since I threw in a 512MB stick of RAM, although Safari does seem to get rather sluggish when I have a few dozen tabs open. The only other problem is the heat. This thing gets so hot I'm tempted to stick some heat sinks on the bottom or something (or maybe apply some ice packs). On the bright side, I know I won't freeze in Chicago as long as I have my PowerBook with me...
The MIT Media Lab has unleashed their version of TIA, and stood it on it's head (via Wired). Instead of gathering information on citizens, the Government Information Awareness site gathers and tracks information on government officials.
From the GIA site:
In the United States, there is a widening gap between a citizen's ability to monitor his or her government and the government's ability to monitor a citizen. [...] If we believe the United States should be a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" it is of central importance to provide citizens with the power to oversee their government.
Sounds like a noble cause to me, and a good way to feed those people in power their own medicine.
It's July 4th, the day all Americans should show appreciation for the French for saving our bacon during the Revolution. After all, if it weren't for them, we'd be calling this day the "Failed Attempt to Gain Indepence Day". So, to the French: thank you.
p.s. I like French cheese too.
