A Nice Little Moment of Geekness

I just got this from a friend, and I think it has an IT geek factor of at least 8 (scale of 1-10), not to mention it is simply some cool coding.

Click here, and follow these directions:

Place your mouse at the top of the photo. You will notice it is 6:10pm. Bring the mouse down slowly over the photo……. Night time appears, and the lights come on.
At 7:40pm, it’s dark! Photo technology at its best!

Tres cool, my friends. Tres cool.

Hat-tip to the one and only Gunny Moe. ;)

The Global Warming Debate Continues

Okay. I’m following up a global warming article with another global warming article. I know. However, my level of concern increases as the evidence or lack of becomes more apparent, and the scientific testimonies keep rolling in.

I live in arguably one of the most eco-friendly places on the planet, Sweden. Swedes are usually on top of their game when it comes to things green. Nevertheless, when it comes to the global warming debate, some of them, like a lot of folks in the U.S., approach the issue with a zealousness normally seen in some fundamentalist groups. I like to try and follow the evidence on such matters. Here’s some more evidence to consider.

After reading such an article I can’t help but wonder why I’m not hearing about such testimony in the mainstream media. Personally, I like the idea of cleaner alternative energy sources, but getting them deceitfully takes a toll on public trust which is crucial for good government. In other words: don’t lie to us to get us on your side. If the evidence for man-made global warming is lacking, it needs to be said so. Surely after the recent oil pricing roller coaster, folks can see a need for alternative energy sources existing. Just be honest about it! I can’t count how many times I’ve heard or read stories of imminent climate danger that we need to act against now lest the earth suffer damage on an apocalyptic scale. The science says otherwise.

It was quite predicatble that governments and the United Nations would latch onto the man-made global warming issue with vigor, eventually proposing tax-increases to try and solve the problem. Tax increases aren’t always bad (though I usually look with suspicion on the bulk of them nowadays), but if they’re going to be raised let’s at least be sure why. This does not seem to be the case with global warming. When I see entire multi-billion dollar industries (e.g. automobile, food) being affected without the science being even slightly conclusive I get concerned. I know I can’t be the only one.

I leave it to you to make up your own mind, of course, but the least I can do is shed light on what you’re not likely to see in the press. However, I do ask that you honestly consider following the evidence where it leads.

Good and Bad News for Apple

There is good news and bad news for the folks in Cupertino. The good news is that Apple has passed Acer and is now the number three computer vendor in the U.S. This is big news! That’s pretty impressive, and I know more than a few Windows fans who will be surprised to read that. Granted, they’re a long way from number one, but if things continue, and I believe they will, Apple will become more commonplace than a lot of folks expected.

Unfortunately, bad news tends to get more attention than good news (just look at newspaper front pages and TV news and you know what I mean). The launching of the 3G iPhone and iTunes was a bad deja vu of last year’s not-so-successful iPhone 1.0 launch, and the continuing woes of MobileMe isn’t helping take the focus off of the negative for Apple at the moment. While their apology and 30 free days of MobileMe to MobileMe members like myself is appreciated, I find myself pessimistically wondering if all of the problems will be resolved in 30 days. I don’t want to think this way, but honesty compels me to admit it.

All that said, let me quickly point out I still enjoy — probably more than I should — heading home knowing my MacBook Pro user experience will make up for working on a Windows network all day long. ;)

MobileMe Woes

It helps to be humble because it’s impossible to humiliate the humble. That said, I can only imagine what some iZealots must be going through with the MobileMe situation. This article, from a very Mac-friendly source mind you, isn’t the best of news for MobileMe users.

I have to say, and I’m speaking as someone who has a .Mac account that is now a MobileMe account, I’m glad I have a Google account. Sorry Apple.