Transforming a 2D image into 3D

Very cool. Sort of reminds me of Microsoft's soon-to-launch Photosynth.

The nut jobs in San Francisco are going to ruin it for everyone

Davis Freeberg details a recent town hall about Google's efforts to bring free wireless Internet access to San Francisco:

The lunacy of San Francisco politics can take several forms and town hall meetings are sure to attract some of San Francisco’s craziest nut jobs. While I was surprised not to see San Francisco’s representative from the 12 galaxies, Frank Chu, attend the meeting, I did get to see Chris Sacca from Google face a parade of activist oddballs who neither understood technology nor the positive social impact that free wifi could bring to some of the city’s most disadvantaged citizens.

At the meeting, Sacca did an excellent job or remaining calm and explaining the technology in language that anyone could understand, still these local political gadflies seemed to feel that EarthLink and Google providing free WiFi to the citizens was akin to killing kittens because, they attacked Sacca with a venom that was absolutely shocking.

Some of the crazier demands that were suggested at the meeting included a “requirement” for every San Francisco renter to sign a lease addendum with their landlords before being allowed to install a WiFi card in their PC, forcing Google to agree to transport kids back and forth to the Zoo in their Google busses and a requirement for EarthLink to pay the electrical costs for running computers in order to prevent brownouts.

Another argument for requiring more science, math and logic courses in school.

Link

Court Told It Lacks Power in Detainee Cases

Where have I read this story before? Oh that's right, here.

Firefox still faster than IE 7

Or so says former Microsoftie Robert Scoble. Alarmingly, IE was especially slow in rendering AJAX-heavy sites such as Google Maps. So much for Steve Ballmer's vow that the company would own Web 2.0.

Judging from the beta I've used, IE is a big improvement, but still no Firefox. One big problem: IE breaks compatibility with some Web sites. So it's basically the worst of both worlds.

Microsoft designs an iPod box

Video: MS iPod

Old but funny.

I spoke just a little too soon

It looks like Sony is formally recalling batteries in its own laptops.

Link

Partying like it's 1991

My work e-mail has been down the entire day. On the whole, I think it's actually made me more productive, at least today. But, boy, has it reminded me how dependant we are on e-mail. How did journalists do their job before? I can't remember life before e-mail.

Kuo: White House ‘Seduces Christians’

More on the Bush's No. 2 guy on "Faith-Based" initiatives:

In some ways White House power is like [J.R.R.] Tolkien’s ring of power. When you put it on, it feels good and it’s dazzling. But after a while it begins to consume you in ways you don’t realize. That’s the nature of White House power. I have no doubt that Christian political leaders have gotten involved for all the right reasons. I just think over time it becomes harder and harder to stand up against that ring of power and the White House, to say no and walk away.

Source:  Newsweek, via MSNBC.com