Do You Know What the Country Origin Is for the URL Shortening Service You Use?
Eliot Van Buskirk has written a nice short piece on the originating countries for many URL shortening services. Quoting from the article:
"To help you navigate the mess, we put together an interactive map of the countries where today's URL shortening services registered their wacky domain names, the authority that registered them and a short political summary of each country. The results might surprise you. Bit.ly — the most popular URL shortener in the world — is registered in Libya, a dictatorship with historical ties to terrorism.
Check out the article for additional details. Or, you could just create your own service for your personal use (or public use, if you like).
Using a Linux Live CD/USB for Online Banking
Did you know there is a method you can use to log onto you online banking or financial services account which protects you from online thieves? If you are using Windows, you are (or should be) aware that online thieves can easily obtain your login information by using malware that tracks your keystrokes. However, there is a secure way around it. Kevin Purdy provides some excellent information over at Lifehacker (be sure to also read the comments). The original story, authored by Brian Krebs, can be found here (once again, check the comments). Then again, you could just permanently switch to Linux. One of the easiest versions to use is Ubuntu. It makes switching from Windows almost completely pain-free. (A big bonus of switching to Linux: the operating system is completely free, as is 99.99% of the software!)
Trick or Tweet: How Usable is Twitter for First-Time Users?
Social networking Web sites have become common tools people use for communication and sharing media such as photos. Currently, one of the most popular social networking Web sites is Twitter. A usability study was conducted with first-time users to determine ease of use and satisfaction with the site. The evaluation revealed several issues involving signing up for a new account, site terminology, and basic communication. The results, authored by Justin W. Owens, Kelsi Lenz, and Stephanie Speagle, can be found here.
ZaReason's New Linux Netbook, How to Thrive in a Tough Market
Carla Schroder of Linux Planet has a Q & A with Cathy and Earl Malmrose who founded ZaReason several years ago. Schroder says that ZaReason is a Linux OEM that has long intrigued her for a number of reasons: they encourage customers to open their boxes and tinker, they specialize in OEM Linux boxes, and they demonstrate that there is still room for independent shops in the rough-and-tumble world of computer retailing. In many ways the independents out-perform the big businesses as they understand Linux and Linux users, and a Linux-only shop doesn't have to contend with the pressures and restrictions that Microsoft puts on its partners.
[read the article]
Book Review: A Pictorial History of Groveland, Florida
If you're looking to learn more the history of Florida, or maybe you just want to return to what seemed like a much simpler time, then be sure to check out Doris Bloodsworth's Images of America: Groveland.
[read the review]
Is the Linux Desktop Really Useless?
Preston Gralla, a columnist for Computerworld, recently wrote a column titled, "Why You Shouldn't Care About Linux on the Desktop". When I read the column in the printed weekly edition of the magazine, I was a bit shocked. Gralla claims that the Linux desktop should be ignored as it is not easy to use.
[read the article]
Using Twitter to Find a Job
Out of work? Looking for a different way to find a job? This system will give your job search an extra boost.
[read the article]
Fixing the Internet
Popular Science has a good article on maintaining the undersea cables that carry Internet transmissions. It's called, "Who Protects the Internet?."
We usually think about organizations like ICANN doing the protecting but these guys "protect" the actual cable (actually, they repair it). The story gives some interesting insights for those who don't really have any conception of the enormity of the cables it takes to transmit the data on the information highway.
Adding Content on the Fly
Sometimes, when you're laying out a page, you need to fill it with content to check the flow of the layout. You could always just copy and paste some lorem ipsum text. But you'll need to keep pasting it to the page, saving the page and then reload it in the browser. There is a much simpler method.
A few years ago Alessandro Fulciniti created a small script to do just that. It adds filler text to the page, in designated areas, by clicking on a link. He created an example page to show how it works.
Here's another one that also includes a feature to remove inserted text. That could be beneficial in some cases.
10 Excellent Twitter Tools
There must be hundreds (if not thousands) of tools and services that can help you use Twitter more efficiently and effectively. Here are 10 that should help you in that direction.
[read the article]
Book Review: Content Rich
If you're in need of a good book on copywriting to help you gain a better understanding of the subject, Content Rich would be a nice addition to your library. This review will tell you why.
[read the review]