mobrec

So
CNet has an article on how RSA is looking to turn PDAs, cell phones and other common gadgets into security tokens than can be used for strong authentication.

technorati tags: rsa, security, authentication, gadgets

So
The BBC has a posting on how Britian Lags Behind on Languages. I thought that was the USA's job!

technorati tags: bbc, language

So
PBS is set to release six new Monty Python specials this year, one for (and focusing on) each of the original Pythons.

technorati tags: montypython, pbs, humor, fun

So
Just got back from a long, rainy, cold weekend in Paris. Some pictures on Flickr.

technorati tags: paris, travel, photography, flickr

So
I just discovered that you can get the 'word of the day' emailed to you by no less than the folks who bring the world the Oxford English Dictionary.

I find the OED a great resource to have around. We have the Compact OED version of it that has 9 pages reduced onto a single page (versus the pricy 20 volume edition). To read the entries you need to use this sort of half crystal ball magnifier that is provided along with the Compact OED. It's a little funky, but thats part of the fun.

If you are curious as to what went into producing the OED, I highly recommend The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester.

technorati tags: oed, wordoftheday, dictionary, vocabulary

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What will those crazy kids come up with next? Have a listen, and check out the comments for the tracks as well.

technorati tags: fun, electronica, music, technology

So
Current style in web design describes what is 'hot' in web page design. According to the post, great sites share a common set of attributes:

* Simple layout * 3D effects, used sparingly * Soft, neutral background colours * Strong colour, used sparingly * Cute icons, used sparingly * Plenty of whitespace * Nice big text

I tend to agree with most of these attributes, but find some of the sites that use somewhat jarring color combinations and not enough contrast between background and font color annoying. For me, simple and clean is always better — which is a far cry from web design 10 years ago when it was all about 'spinning logo, flaming logo' eye candy.

technorati tags: webdesign, webdev

So
A version of the famous London tube map where the station names have been turned into anagrams is online. I have always found the original to be quite a good guide at getting around London and navigating stations and line changes. Perhaps having an anagram version of it is the only confusing bit about it.

technorati tags: london, tube, tubemap, fun, humor

So
Any theories on Perth's 'hovering car'? (More Google Earth fun).

technorati tags: google, googleearth, satelite, perth, fun

So
Here is an example of a blatantly self serving article on Publish. Running under the tabloid-ish title of 'AJAX Poses Security, Performance Risks' the author goes on to make some vague statements about security and AJAX then segue nicely into a company that has a product (gasp!) that addresses the froth stirred up in the previous paragraphs. Frankly, I would strongly recommend against considering a product that 'advertises' itself in such as disengenuous and sensational manner.

Perhaps it should be pointed out that the security statements made in the article are generally true of any web development technology (basically, if you are dumb about securing your app, someone will exploit it) and that other fact-based explorations of the topic have shown that AJAX can actually improve performance significantly (on the order of 61%).

technorati tags: ajax, webdev, security, performance, bsdetector