Heavy hitting Yahoo! News Features Leave New York Times Scrambling

NEW YORK — The editorial board of the venerable newspaper that has long thrived as the purveyor of “All the news that’s fit to print” called an emergency meeting last week to confront the growing problem of disillusionment in readers who have traded up for harder-hitting news sources in an increasingly diversified online environment of competent journalism.

Yahoo!’s headlines on its homepage have begun to take the lion’s share of readers away from this 157 year old New York institution of news, with effective news headlines catering to America’s growing concerns for itself. “Does the color of candy influence how much you eat?” headlined a October 25th Yahoo! feature section under the banners of other resources linking viewers to relevant matters such as Entertainment, Sports and Life issues.
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Webmasters For All
In 1997 the cost for a professionally built website began at ten or twenty thousand dollars, not including e-Commerce .... Today, that type thinking and a dollar-fifty will get you a ride on the bus .... But for $500 and a small amount of time, a business can publish a website and fulfill the four necessities for a small business website: Identity, Mission, Function and Reference.
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Beating Airport Security
Getting your ticket and passing through airport security with speed and dexterity separates the adept traveler from the amateur tourist .... After stepping through the framed metal detector, my cover was blown as a bulb beamed red overhead and a siren went up. A pair of uniformed men mobilized and pointed the way to the side. I looked back at a businessman take off his shoes and place them in the plastic tray for scanning. The flight attendant smiled and pursued him toward the boarding area.
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Almond Thieves are Terrorists - 10/09/2006
http://newyorktimes.com/...
RIPON, Calif. — For many, it’s just another indication of a total failure in local government’s ability to deal with terrorist elements dominating local and national newspapers in recent weeks. For almond farmer and industry advocate Charlie Jiff, it points to the broader issue of border security and ongoing debates about what to do about an influx of illegal immigrants that often include Middle-Eastern fundamentalists.

Mr. Jiff points to a rash of heists in this quaint western farming community on the outskirts of urban sprawl and million-dollar vacation homes catering to those seeking refuge from California’s frenetic cities.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that America’s most precious jewels are dangling from foraged trees under siege,” he said during an impromptu gathering at a local coffee shop. Across Central Valley on 18 of 27 almond farms, the wrath of political desperados capitalizing on lack security and what many believe is the federal government’s unwillingness to deal harshly with obvious turmoil has resulted in no arrests and general head-scratching by law abiding citizens powerless to counter the attacks.

Terrorists made off with more than 88,000 pounds of premium, shelled almonds, with a street value of some $260,000 (See New York Times – Oct. 3, 2006). A sophisticated network of almond thieves referred to by local farmers as “nut-nappers” have orchestrated a series of overt gender-targeted robberies.

“Our nuts are under siege by terrorists who want to compromise traditional American values of freedom and prosperity,” commented Peter Franton, a spokesman for the US Department of Agriculture. “We’re actively concerned with corruption and infiltration on any and all farms.”

Yahoo! 'Professional Web- 10/09/06
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/...
Yahoo! is the king of the individual experience on the web, but recent attempts to delve into the web hosting business have left some small businesses high and dry. Take for instance a customer who wants to host her email service on her own server, but needs a robust, external service to host the website. "No can do," says the Yahoo! help desk after she commits her credit card to the order. That's because the company does not offer a dedicated IP address for any of the web hosting packages. The most robust plan costs $39.95/month, but doesn't offer a dedicated IP address, nor do they have the capacity to upgrade the account to add one.

There's three potential reasons Yahoo! keeps their "Anti-dedicated IP address policy":

1. Implement a business strategy whereby gaining control of customers' domain names, by insisting to be Registrar, will give Yahoo! better leverage and stengthen control of the users' future hosting requirements.
2. Too cheap to offer it on their "Professional Package" and too incompetent to know how to charge customers extra to enhance the plan.
3. Don't really want Small Business clients.

Be warned that Yahoo! charges a $25.00 activation on top of the monthly charges. However, they will refund you that month's hosting fee.

In review, keep using their free email services, but when it comes to web hosting, read their fine print closely, and use professional business services from a company geared toward technology, not just pedantic email services.

Counterfeiters target money orders - 5/4
http://www.nytimes.com/...
It is worthy to note the bad notes circulating on the Internet, specifically the tried and true currency being counterfeited by scoundrels duping well-intentioned people out of real money. The scenario goes like this: I live in a third-world country and can't buy a laptop computer, but I'll send you a money order to cover the cost of one and you mail me the computer. The mail order you receive is easily deposited at your participating bank and you send the computer thinking everyone has lived up to their part of the deal. A week later the bank calls to tell you that the money order was bogus. A fake hundred dollar bill is caught at a bank immediately, but the money order may not be. Watch out!

Academics turn to blogs for feedback - 5/3
http://www.villagevoice.com/...
"I've published a bunch of articles in law reviews, and I think I've gotten maybe a total of 10 letters about them in the history of my career as an academic," says Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig, who blogs at lessig.org. "I publish stuff on the blog, I get literally hundreds of e-mails about things all the time." Mr. Lessig understands how critical blog readers can be, but he's willing to stick his neck out and give a larger and more critical audience access to his work. The truth of the matter is that most academics DON'T want feedback on their work because they fear the petty minds can't possibly construct criticism that's helpful to their cause. Elitism has always plagued academia, so it's good to hear about people like Mr. Lessig who have faith in the collective cause of advancing knowledge while making accessible to everyone.

Websites offer rounded look at America - 4/21
http://www.watchingamerica.com/...
Keeping tabs on other countries who are keeping tabs on America has been a depressing endeavor lately—or has it? Liberals have blamed conservatives for creating hate for America following the unilateral invasion of Iraq, and conservatives have blamed liberals for not defending freedom by listening to what other countries think. Perhaps the polarized country should stop pointing fingers and see that, in fact, the world doesn't hate us but takes a decidedly journalistic view of what's going on. Just don't read the editorial pages.

Dual-band phones offer unlimited roaming - 4/20
http://www.cnet.com/...
Sure, analogue service is old school and often sacrifices audio quality, but for those of us who find themselves far from the city and desperately needing to make and receive phone calls—analogue services is a lifesaver. Advanced Mobile Phone Service, or AMPS, can come in handy despite it's expensive service fees; nevertheless, when making that important call to secure the deal it can be peanuts compared to losing the sale! Digital technologies such as GSM and CDMA are standard on most phones today, but make sure that AMPS function is also an option when buying your next phone.

Search engine offers hope for fans of stars - 4/19
http://www.findagrave.com/...
Words such as "macabre" or "tacky" come to mind when a website exploits the deaths of the famous, but a feature on this site lets visitors sign their condolences on the pages of their dearly departed, and entries are as sentimental as they come. One entry for the late and great NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr. follows:

To the Intimidator, Even to this day i still can`t root for any other nascar driver or drivers. You are the reason I became a fan. Your still so sorely missed by millions #3 will live on Forever in are hearts FOREVER A FAN, FOREVER MISSED #3 FOREVER Rest in peace my friend. God bless you and yours Sir - Jimmie C

U.K. grapples with cheating in classroom - 4/18
http://www.silicon.com/...
Perhaps America could take some advice from the crown when it comes to clamping down on cheating in the classroom using mobile telephones and similar wireless devices. 284 children were banned from A-levels and GCSEs by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, UK's largest exam board, with many others receiving penalties including having marks docked from their exams. The time has come for electronic devices to be banned from the classroom—at least those not approved by teachers. "Crip" sheets have gone high-tech and it's time to implement a zero-tolerance policy with phones in the classroom.

AirScooter II latest gadget to hit market - 4/15
http://airscooter.serverbox.net/...
Priced at under $50,000 for the average citizen who doesn't have a pilot's license, this double rotor aircraft weighs less than 300 lbs. and packs enough punch to cruise along at more than 50 knots. "What we've done is package the coaxial design in a modern light-weight craft that allows for intuitive control and incredible maneuverability," says Inventor Woody Norris. If they have their way the AirScooter II will be parked in every garage. No word yet from the FAA says about the device's safety—or what it's potential will be in the hands of terrorists. Sounds like a good way to find an early grave either way one looks at it.

Philadelphia to be biggest Wi-Fi in U.S. - 4/14
http://www.news.yahoo.com/...
"People are watching all over the world to determine whether a city of 135 square miles can become one big hot spot," Philadelphia Mayor John Street told reporters. But to start, for under $20/month users can subscribe to Wi-Fi service within a radius of about a mile of downtown's Love Park. The mayor has grand intentions to bloom city-wide, which sounds like a great idea until overloaded log-ins crash the network. It remains to be seen just how they'll manage the load.

Googling self? Don't forget the pictures - 4/13
http://www.google.com/...
It's a common practice placing quotation marks around a name to see if success reflects that person. Of course we never do this to ourselves—that might be considered vain! But for the curious and privacy paranoid, the biggest search engine on the Internet also offers a feature that lets you search for images using the same method. On a lighter note, Googling yourself to see the pictures of those who have your name might also be interesting if not a little weird.

Spammer gets his due - 4/12
http://www.latimes.com/...
It's music to our ears when someone is finally prosecuted for sending out dastardly SPAM. Jeremy Jaynes of Raleigh, N.C. was sentenced to nine years for sending out millions of emails daily. But the nation's first felony conviction will have to wait; the sentence is suspended pending his appeals.

'City that Never Sleeps' goes Wi-Fi - 4/11
http://www.newyork.citysearch.com/...
With more than 60,000 visitors to its streets everyday, New York City is the most visited city in the United States and one of the most visited in the world. With all those tourists it's no wonder that competition has been fierce in hotels and cafes to get them in and buying their services. Many are now offering free wireless Internet connections, or "Wi-Fi", lending cards to insert into a laptop computer during the stay. Here's a list to get you started during your next visit: Click Here

Butter Couple compares couples - 4/8
http://www.buttercouple.com/...
If you've ever wondered how superficially compatible you are with the opposite sex, then why not upload your photograph to buttercouple.com and see how the masses rate your mug next to the girl next door? Perhaps you're looking at pictures of your next date and thinking they're not good enough for you? Take the buttercouple.com test and see how your own ego ranks against the collective opinions of Internet users everywhere.

Modem Hijacking for long distance calls on rise - 4/7
http://www.usatoday.com/...
For the grandfathers still stuck with dial-up Internet connections, there's yet another reason to upgrade to high-speed connections. It seems that a few scammers have figured out how to trick users into clicking on a banner ad that downloads software which, in turn, makes international phone calls at the expense of the user. The problem is serious enough for New York lawmakers to unveil a bill that would allow telephone companies to prosecute these scammers.

Three steps to building your own blog - 4/6
http://www.blogger.com/...
It goes without saying that if you want respect on the Internet for your opinions, then you've gotta produce an online version of your opinions—web log, referred to as a "blog." Many believe that this form of online journalism will eventually replace traditional forms of journalism. While that seems a stretch, there's no doubt that the blog has uncovered the truth behind the traditional journalists in recent years, including the infamous "Rather-gate" scandal leading up to the last Presidential election. Since it's free to create one, why not put your two-cents in and start your own blog today?

Google looks into your own backyard, really! - 4/5
http://www.google.com/...
Privacy advocates have a new villain to go after in their losing battle against the ever-expanding Internet. With satellite images that let users zoom in on physical properties, these advocates suspect http://maps.google.com might allow users too much access to their lives. However, nobody has yet to point out exactly what a bird's eye perspective of his property will compromise in the way of privacy. Sunbathers beware?

Top ten gadgets advertised on CNET - 4/4
http://www.cnet.com/...
The electronics world continues to expand as prices for amazing things we don't need continue to drop. People are doubling up on the number of MP3 players in their possession and it no longer suffices to have just one computer either. Video games can be played on phones, computers and televisions, and digital cameras have been integrated on watches. This list reminds is a reminder to techies of the things they really don't need but will end up buying anyway.

Video camera/phone hits market - 4/1
http://www.pcworld.com/...
For those of us who are impatiently waiting for the all-inclusive cell phone that includes camera, MP3 player, Palm Pilot, email station and kitchen sink, the PH-L4000V from Pantech&Curitel deserves attention for their strides in bringing to market the first bona fide video camera/phone. Although its quality is not quite that of other cameras, it's good to know that strides are being made on the elusive request for the all inclusive, Swiss Pocket Knife of phones. Web geeks everywhere applaud.

Computers for the poorest proves a bad idea - 3/31
http://www.yahoo.com/...
God bless the techies who think up these things, but when are they going to realize that computers cannot help poor villages where the basest needs are for food and drink? Throwing technology at poverty will do little to help the world other than making a few people feel better about themselves for offering "affordable computing solutions." They should have gone into the bio-sciences to develop better crops.

Government threatens to regulate blogs - 3/30
http://www.news.com/...
While campaign finance laws seem to have overwhelming support by most citizens in the United States, bring up the idea of regulating it on the Internet and people quickly change opinion on the subject. The six members of the Federal Election Commission are exploring ways to restrict emails, bloggers and websites from engaging in politics outside the realm of legislated rules that limit how and where endorsements for political causes originate. Think it can't be done? Think again.

Pez dispensers to dispense MP3s - 3/29
http://www.zdnet.com/...
Leave it to America to evolve a traditional candy dispenser into a cutting edge music storage device. Ever since the rock band U2 was featured on Apple's iPod device, companies have worked to mimic the commercialization of the mundane MP3 player. With the new 'Star Wars' movie on the way, the Yoda dispensers promise to take this trend to a new level.

Online file sharing tested in Supreme Court - 3/28
http://www.newsfactor.com/...
Stopping the tide in this age of piracy is becoming the top priority of companies whose profits rely on individuals buying individual copies of compact discs with music or movies. Critics say legislating software that enables users to share media freely over the Internet is a losing battle, but lawyers bringing this recent suit contend it is important to clamp down on "... networks of members whose only common characteristic is apparently their desire to download copyrighted music and movie files without paying for them." Courts will most assuredly attempt to stem the tide of this era of piracy being ushered in, but the question remains: Does the law have enough power to find the many thousands of networks on the Internet and terminate those they deem illegal?

Web titans compete, free space increases - 3/26
http://www.yahoo.com/...
First the buzz was about Google offering Gmail users with a whopping one gigabyte of storage space and all Yahoo! could do was increase their allotment for email customers to a measly 250 megabytes—unless you're one of those with money to burn and spent 20 bucks/year for 2 gigabytes and other added features. Beginning in late April Yahoo! will match Google by increasing mailboxes to 1 Gigabyte. Increased files sizes for photos and other monstrous files require it, says Yahoo!. Hotmail still offers 250 megabytes to its customers but will probably file in line soon enough. When it comes to email it remains that the best things online are free!

Wireless access replacing cyber-cafes - 3/25
http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/...
The next generation of Internet connections is spawning and available to anyone with a wireless modem. These "Wi-Fi Hotspots" are located throughout the world and Wi-Fi Planet has a search engine that can assist in finding one near you. While wireless connections may be commandeered through open-access portals, some companies require daily or monthly fees for accessing their signals.

Adult Webmaster Culture - 3/24
http://www.fukin-a.com/...
It's commonly said that the only webmasters making any money off the Internet are the porn site operators. Many of these "Cyber-pimps" meet up each January in Nevada's Sin City to bear witness to online porn strategy ... only that's not all that's being bared at these seminars. Defenders say they not only discuss ways to increase traffic on their websites, but how to prevent underage exploits from occurring within their realms. Porn opponents say this kind of business is a shame.

ICANN: where domain names are disputed - 3/23
http://www.icann.org/...
There's a special organization which devotes its time to mediating disputes between trademark holders and those who infringe upon their names. For instance, a cyber-squatter might register "Paypalnow.com" and use this name to their own design separate from the official Paypal.com business. Those who believe their company's name is being misappropriated must file legal papers in their respective districts, but since most municipals don't know the ins and outs of this new realm called Internet Law, it falls to ICANN to take over and sort out the mess. A list of Proceedings by Domain Name is available on their website as well as instructions on how to file a complaint.

Most popular words announced by dictionary - 3/22
http://www.merriam-webmaster.com/...
Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year have been announced, and it should be no surprise that the word blog tops the list as the most looked up word on the Internet. It should also be little surprise that political terms garnered many of the other top ten spots, including insurgent, electoral and partisan. While dictionary.com is the easiest to remember for looking up words online, they charge a fee for membership to access added features like audio pronunciations of a word. Merriam-Webster currently offers this service for free.

Students' websites steeped in networking - 3/21
http://www.thefacebook.com/...
College is the place where many learn the fine art of procrastination. Social networks offer an alternative to schoolwork. The Internet has become the temptation of choice, so easy to open up a website and socialize. TheFaceBook.com is the hottest site for killing time in college, a site where students manage their own social identities while networking with others. Population contests are nothing new, but this online environment allows students to manage their own identities while endorsing others. Managing cyber-personas is the new distraction of choice for college freshmen—it's different because they've moved beyond posting personal information on the Internet in search for love, now they're looking for acceptance in the broader sense of community.

Evolution of browser welcomed by many
http://www.pcworld.com/...
Those fed up with the browser standard—namely, Microsoft's Internet Explorer—can't complain any longer these days since new browsers are now readily available (and better at what they do). Surfing multiple websites in split windows (instead of cascading windows on top of one another) has been a major innovation in design, and speed issues are supposedly addressed in these new software platformsl. How about the cost? Well, for now, most of the new browsers such as Opera and Firefox have free versions available for download. What are you waiting for?

Webmasters out, Metrosexuals in
http://www.metrosexual.com/...
Metrosexual: "A straight, usually heterosexual urban man, with a keen interest in fashion, shopping and elaborate grooming, who is really passionate about clothing and body hair, sometimes wears make up and nail polish, a man with refined aesthetic sense, not afraid to exhibit his feminine sides."

Yahoo! offers new job search section
http://www.yahoo.com/...
With Monster.com and Hotjobs.com obtaining the major portion of online searchable databases for available jobs, it's a wonder it took this long for Yahoo! to get aggressive about garnering its share of this ever-growing market. Nearly half of all job searches in the United States are conducted using a job board on the Internet. The job-advertising service on Yahoo! will cost companies between $39 and $275 per listing, depending on geography and the number of listings purchased.

Google integrates libraries into searches
http://www.sfgate.com/...
Soothsayer have long been fans of saying that the Internet would replace the need for traditional libraries. Google has announced that it will team up with 5 major libraries, including Harvard and Stanford, to scan in books for placement on the Internet, made searchable through their search engine. Google says they will scan in more than 15 million books to start. Legally, the task is relatively easy for books published before 1923. Such books are no longer protected by copyright law and are in the public domain. Newer books are more problematic. Google must get permission from the publishers to reproduce the books online.

Cell Phones may get go ahead on airplanes
http://www.cnn.com/...
Chatting it up with the person sitting next to you on an airplane might get a little harder if the FCC decides that using them on commercial airlines doesn't interfere with navigation systems. Questions of etiquette aside, there's no reason why one shouldn't be able to use a cell phone while flying, that is if a signal can carry that high in the sky, considering there is little evidence supporting that they interfere with pilots' transmissions. Nevertheless, there is the question of etiquette.

Online smoking breaks provide fix
http://www.lottridge.com/...
The guilt-free cigarette is now available for consumption on the Internet. The classic argument concerning the physical/psychological addiction of nicotine may, at last, be proven with this new online virtual smoking test. Choose menthol or regular, king size or slim, then smoke up!

Desperate airlines implement fees
http://www.americanairlines.com/...
With commercial airlines such as US Airway and Delta begging more money to avoid impending bankruptcy, the pressure's on traditional commercial airliners to cut expenses or face demise. (Remember Eastern Airlines and Pan Am?) In a once heavily government subsidized industry, now airlines are forced to make changes to their business models by following the example of discount airlines—such as Jet Blue—whose innovative business models are way ahead of the learning curve. Travel website foes beware ... airlines are beginning $5 - $10 service charges for each ticket bought over the phone or at a service desk. Use the Internet for all your ticket purchases or pay the price!

Surrogate Tourism
http://www.vainglory.com/...
Surrogate Tourism is the hottest rage. In this ridiculous online journal based on the children's book Flat Stanley, one little girl's trip through the city that never sleeps provides a comic look into how a webmaster can befriend a paper doll and document their adventures together.

Zoot Suits and Bongos
http://www.theatredance.com/...
This Hipster's Dictionary claims to be the copasetic compendium of hep cat hype and swing-era slang that some say is the new way to speak in the webmaster culture. Perhaps it's time to revisit an era when the beatniks ushered in the peacenik movement?

Adult Webmaster Culture - 12/9
http://www.fukin-a.com/...
It's commonly said that the only webmasters making any money off the Internet are the porn site operators. Many of these "Cyber-pimps" meet up each January in Nevada's Sin City to bear witness to online porn strategy ... only that's not all that's being bared at these seminars. Defenders say they not only discuss ways to increase traffic on their websites, but how to prevent underage exploits from occurring within their realms. Porn opponents say this kind of business is a shame.

High maintenance girl offers no privileges - 12/8
http://www.news.yahoo.com/...
Ever been in a relationship where no matter how many times you compliment her hair and shoes, or tell her, "No, you don't look fat in that dress," she just keeps expecting more and more attention? There's something programmed in some guys advertising "Suck me dry!" to the high-maintenance girls of the world. Exploiting these fellows is a Hong Kong company that's betting their "virtual girlfriend" will match any material girl's demands. She responds to voice and text messages and appears on the screen of your phone to demand flowers and jewelry. If she's neglected she won't respond to you. Question is: Where's the lovin'?

Red Roof Inn goes Wi-Fi - 12/6
http://www.yahoo.com/...
Because it's tough to get high speed access while traveling, the necessitous web professional often must check into a high class hotel for a decent connection. Forget that, says Red Roof Inns. They've contracted T-Mobile to outfit each of their motels with the wireless connection one needs to get a laptop online, free to T-Mobile subscribers and $10/day for others. Need to download a big attachment during a business trip in your car? Just pull into the parking lot of one of their hotels and power-up your T-Mobile connection, or try sitting in the lobby for your Internet session at this nominal fee. You don't even have to check into a room.

ICANN: where domain names are disputed - 12/3
http://www.icann.org/...
There's a special organization which devotes its time to mediating disputes between trademark holders and those who infringe upon their names. For instance, a cyber-squatter might register "Paypalnow.com" and use this name to their own design separate from the official Paypal.com business. Those who believe their company's name is being misappropriated must file legal papers in their respective districts, but since most municipals don't know the ins and outs of this new realm called Internet Law, it falls to ICANN to take over and sort out the mess. A list of Proceedings by Domain Name is available on their website as well as instructions on how to file a complaint.

Most popular words announced by dictionary - 12/2
http://www.merriam-webmaster.com/...
Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year have been announced, and it should be no surprise that the word blog tops the list as the most looked up word on the Internet. It should also be little surprise that political terms garnered many of the other top ten spots, including insurgent, electoral and partisan. While dictionary.com is the easiest to remember for looking up words online, they charge a fee for membership to access added features like audio pronunciations of a word. Merriam-Webster currently offers this service for free.

Students' websites steeped in networking - 12/1
http://www.thefacebook.com/...
College is the place where many learn the fine art of procrastination. Social networks offer an alternative to schoolwork. The Internet has become the temptation of choice, so easy to open up a website and socialize. TheFaceBook.com is the hottest site for killing time in college, a site where students manage their own social identities while networking with others. Population contests are nothing new, but this online environment allows students to manage their own identities while endorsing others. Managing cyber-personas is the new distraction of choice for college freshmen—it's different because they've moved beyond posting personal information on the Internet in search for love, now they're looking for acceptance in the broader sense of community.

Travel websites offer alternatives - 11/30
http://www.news.yahoo.com/...
The monopoly on selling travel services over the Internet is coming to an end as new and better websites compete for pieces of the multi-billion dollar online travel market. With Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com and Expedia.com adding surcharges to ticket purchases, other websites such as Sidestep.com and Cheapflights.com have stepped in to offer cheaper and more innovative searching tools for ticket buyers who want, also, to avoid the added costs. As thrifty buyers continue to demand better search tools and better access to last minute E-Saver tickets, and the market is delivering.

Cyber-addiction on rise - 11/29
http://www.healthyplace.com/...
Support groups have burgeoned during the last few years because of the Internet. No matter what your addiction, obsession or depression, surfers can take comfort in any one of the hundreds of online refuges where others with your same problems are waiting to hold your cyber-hand. But while people have been helped with their old addictions, many have replaced them with new ones. Definitions for those addicted to porn, online personals, gambling, gaming or just plain web surfing are available. Choose your addictions wisely.

Outsourcing moves beyond India to nobody - 11/24
http://www.transformmag.com/...
When companies in the U.S. reduce the high cost of American-based call centers, countries like India and Pakistan are likely destinations for their new help-centers. But automation is becoming a better option for their bottom lines, rapidly replacing expensive human voices with costless automated ones. Automated systems are already used widely in the airline industry for reservation confirmation phone calls; just speak your keyword and the computer will return an automated answer. An Internet search works much the same way by using textual interface, although the programs to sort out queries are much more complex. The science to evolve a better search engine is on—here is the next generation of help desks.

Website generates fake caller IDs - 11/23
http://www.star38.com/...
Go to this website, enter the number you wish to call and fill out whatever number you want to appear on the recipient's caller ID. That's the idea behind this service targeting collection agencies, but nobody would know if a telemarketer could be using it. Need an alibi? Here's your answer.

Google taps scholars with new search engine - 11/22
http://www.usatoday.com/...
The problem with using most search engines for scientific research is that you're more likely to to get a paper published by an 8th-grader than one published by someone tenured in the sciences. The good information is out there—mixed with the bad, so keeping searches academically sound has been a challenge for scholars. Making money by offering an atmosphere for scholarly pursuits has become Google's latest endeavor, and they've pulled it off with aplomb: www.scholar.google.com. "Google has benefited a lot from scholarly research, so this is one way we are giving back to the scholarly community," said Anurag Acharya, a Google engineer who helped develop the new search tools. But don't think they're doing this pro bono: the potential advertising royalties are expected to be very good.

Wireless access replacing cyber-cafes - 11/19
http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/...
The next generation of Internet connections is spawning and available to anyone with a wireless modem. These "Wi-Fi Hotspots" are located throughout the world and Wi-Fi Planet has a search engine that can assist in finding one near you. While wireless connections may be commandeered through open-access portals, some companies require daily or monthly fees for accessing their signals.

TV to accompany cell phone conversations - 11/18
http://www.sprint.com/...
Whether in line at the supermarket or waiting at a stoplight in a car, now you can chat on the phone and take in a little television if the conversation lulls. Sprint now offers streaming video on handsets allowing users a little mind-numbing escape no matter where they are. If cell phone usage reflects society's dependence on communication, this add-on delivers the other great fixation for modern culture—television. Once a necessity for keeping in touch with one another, cell phones now offer games, cameras and streaming video on handsets so that the real reason for owning one is less about communication and more about entertainment. You better think twice before writing one of these phones off on your taxes.

The problem with gun control revealed - 11/17
http://www.spamlaws.com/...
A law is only as good as its enforcement or that law may become ineffectual; furthermore, unenforced laws encourage the public's skepticism of a government's ability to enforce code of conduct, and many argue it's better not to have an unenforceable law on the books at all. Sending SPAM is illegal in the United States. The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 outlines what constitutes a violation in explicit legal jargon. But the question remains: How to enforce it?

Real-time gas prices available online - 11/16
http://www.gasbuddy.com/...
If you're one of those people who obsess over gas prices while the needle nods on empty, this site is for you. Comprehensive listings by city promise to save cheapskates those precious pennies that would usually have them driving around and around surveying the penny's difference. Pull the car over and download the list from your web phone and fill-er-up!

Cyberbullying to replace playground bullying - 11/15
http://www.cyberbullying.ca/...
Parents and concerned citizens are making a big fuss about a trend in intimidation. Instead of barking words or using fists to express loathing, the new generation of bullies has taken to sending hate-filled emails and instant messages, in some cases posting private or derogatory information for others to see, humiliation resulting. Where we once expected the bucktoothed bully's face on the playground, now even the sweetest face can hide behind a monitor and post a poll for the "ugliest bitch in class." This new type of intimidation may be bad, but no matter how you slice it a traditional ass-whippin' is worst. Remember: Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt.