Archive for August, 2009
When Will Digital Music Sales Overcome CDs?
August 19th, 2009 | No Comments »When will digital music sales overcome CDs?
I’m guilty.
In this era, where digital seems to dominate every other format, I am still a sucker for purchasing a physical CD. Something about holding the album art in my hand, turning the shiny music disc over and over, sliding the device into the drive — I just don’t get the same satisfaction from a digital download. Call me a Luddite, call me what you will. I just can’t accept that I may never own a physical piece of music again. This is the same attitude that keeps me from joining…
Who Is in Danger fom Hurricane Bill?
August 18th, 2009 | No Comments »Who is in danger fom Hurricane Bill?
Just two weeks ago, we brought you a story about the strangely calm Atlantic hurricane season. As part of that story, we reported that tropical weather analysts had lowered their Atlantic hurricane expectations yet again. Also part of that story, a memory of 1992 — when a ridiculously quiet hurricane season was punctuated by the very destructive forces of Hurricane Andrew in Florida. We also predicted that a major storm was brewing off the coast of Africa, and that people living in areas affected by hurricanes shouldn’t let the weak early season…
Why Is the Swine Flu Vaccine Creating Controversy?
August 18th, 2009 | 5 Comments »Why is the swine flu vaccine creating controversy?
Flu season is approaching, and fear is riding along. Many people are aware that the H1N1 virus could re-emerge with a vengeance once the time for seasonal flu is upon us. Thankfully, a vaccine is currently being tested for potential release before “traditional” flu and the H1N1 virus or “swine flu” have a chance to hit us with a double whammy.
However, there are still other people who are afraid of the vaccine itself. In fact, fears surrounding the swine flu vaccine are growing by the day. First we heard from…
Why Is the Stock Market Struggling Again?
August 17th, 2009 | No Comments »Why is the stock market struggling again?
For the second straight trading session in a row, stocks on Wall Street slumped considerably. From the Dow Jones Industrial Average to the Nasdaq composite, numbers were lower across the board. Is this a new downward trend for a market that appeared to be recovering?
According to market analysts, recent losses are due to a loss of confidence among consumers. Companies are nervous that these consumers and their lack of confidence will put even more pressure on an economy that is barely crawling out of a recession. We’ve had five or six…
What Is Facebook Lite?
August 13th, 2009 | No Comments »What is Facebook Lite?
Social networking giant Facebook is reportedly in the midst of a major test of their ability to adapt to a changing internet.
They are working on something called Facebook Lite — a slimmed down version of the popular Facebook web phenomenon. By creating a “lite” version of their page, Facebook is attempting to appeal to mobile users and parts of the world where broadband service and other fast internet speeds are simply not available.
So what is Facebook Lite? Right now it is hard to say — not many people have even seen it. According…
Who Was Recently Honored with a Presidential Medal of Freedom?
August 12th, 2009 | No Comments »Who was recently honored with a Presidential Medal of Freedom?
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered one of the highest awards given to civilians in the United States — the other being the Congressional Gold Medal. The Presidential Medal of Freedom itself is a decoration handed out by the President of the United States. The medal is meant as a major recognition on the part of the President to recognize citizens who have “made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”…
How Can You Get Paid for Driving Your Car?
August 12th, 2009 | 1 Comment »How can you get paid for driving your car?
The phrase “get paid for driving your car” has been at the top of search term rankings for a few weeks now — what do these people know that you don’t?
There has been a lot of buzz around this concept lately — and for good reason. With the economy in a slump, tons of people in unemployment lines, and gas prices stuck solid between $2.50 and $3 bucks, all of us are looking for ways to keep afloat. The solution for some? Turn your car into a billboard.
That’s…
What Sports Are Being Considered for Addition to the Olympics?
August 12th, 2009 | 1 Comment »What sports are being considered for addition to the Olympics?
There are pretty strict rules about what sports get added to the Olympic program. Without going into too much detail about how new sports are added to the roster of games, the basic criteria are as follows: a new Olympic sport or discipline must be “widely practiced”. This means that a men’s sport must be played in at least 75 countries across at least four continents. For women’s sports, the number’s a bit lower — at least 40 countries participating on at least three continents.
For the 2016 Olympic…
Why Has President Obama Changed His Message on Health Care Reform?
August 11th, 2009 | No Comments »Why has President Obama changed his message on health care reform?
The Honeymoon is over for President Barack Obama — actually, it may have been over for a couple of months now. With most of his approval ratings peaking or starting to drop off, the President and his Cabinet have begun reworking their overall message on health care reform. The big question now is this — can Obama and company win over Americans who already have insurance? Those of us that have little or no insurance coverage are quick to jump on the Obama bandwagon. How can Obama change…
What Is Google’s New Search Engine Technology?
August 11th, 2009 | No Comments »What is Google’s new search engine technology?
Google’s ubiquitous search engine, a feature of the Internet that many businesses depend on for revenue, is getting a bit of a makeover. Or, to put it more plainly, a shot of caffeine. In a major announcement late last week, Google decided to show the world a bit of the “next gen” search functions it has been hard at work on for the past few months.
Soon we’ll have a web preview of the new search system and design, known in the industry as “Caffeine”. Google said the new code will help…