Internet Memes

Ever wondered when that Internet meme started? Have a look on this Internet Meme Timeline.

Google indexes one trillion unique pages (1,000,000,000,000)

From the blog:

"The first Google index in 1998 already had 26 million pages, and by 2000 the Google index reached the one billion mark. Over the last eight years, we've seen a lot of big numbers about how much content is really out there. Recently, even our search engineers stopped in awe about just how big the web is these days -- when our systems that process links on the web to find new content hit a milestone: 1 trillion (as in 1,000,000,000,000) unique URLs on the web at once!"

Net firms in music pirates deal

The BBC reports that "BT, Virgin, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse have all signed up" with the music industry to tackle piracy online.

"The Motion Picture Association of America has also signed up."

What's the next headline going to be? BT to listen in on all phone calls to identify crimes? Electricity companies told to cut off supplies to suspected criminals? Hammers made illegal because they could be used to main or even kill!

I don't see policing music piracy as the responsibility of the ISP any more than it is a shop's responsibility to report all kitchen knife sales to the police because they could be used in a crime.

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI, is also quoted as saying, "File-sharing is not anonymous, it is not secret, it is against the law."

What a load of crap. Illegal file-sharing is illegal, but don't start spreading your propaganda to stop the progress of technology. Many legitimate services uses file-sharing to serve content, and file-sharing is NOT illegal.

Pastafarian Families needed for Wife Swap

"Wife Swap, ABC’s hit primetime reality show, is looking for Pastafarian families for an upcoming episode", according to a post at the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

So if you are a family of two parents and at least one child between 7 and 17, living in the US and have been touched by his noodly appendage, then email Greg and you could spend a week with the most devout Christian family on the planet.

500GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive for 50 quid

Amazon have a great deal on a Western Digital Elements 500GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive - yours for £50!

Google must divulge YouTube logs

The BBC reports:

"Google must divulge the viewing habits of every user who has ever watched any video on YouTube, a US court has ruled.

The ruling comes as part of Google's legal battle with Viacom over allegations of copyright infringement.

Digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) called the ruling a 'set-back to privacy rights'."


Viacom has no right to this personally identifiable information, and I hope Google countersues Viacom on behalf of YouTube users once this case is thrown out of court.

Schneier on Security: CCTV Cameras

Schneier on Security: CCTV Cameras: "Pervasive security cameras don't substantially reduce crime."

Great article with lots of good examples.

When Daddy Loves Mommy...

When Daddy loves Mommy... he buys her a Windows Home Server.

Wordle Word Clouds

Wordle allows you to create word clouds. Just paste in the text you want to use (song lyrics work well), or give your Delicious username to create a tag cloud.

Here's mine:



Requires Java.

[ via JoCo ]

Firefox Download Day 2008 - Tuesday 17th June 2008

With more than 15,000 improvements, Firefox 3 is faster, safer and smarter than before.

Help set a Guinness World Record for most software downloads in 24 hours.



I pledge to get Firefox 3 during Download Day to set the Guinness World Record for Most Software Downloaded in 24 Hours.

Your Freedom In The UK

Your Freedom In The UK



[ via Adam Curry ]

Shops track customers via mobile phone

Shops track customers via mobile phone - Times Online: "Signals given off by phones allow shopping centres to monitor how long people stay and which stores they visit".

On it's own not such a massive concern, but it isn't a big step to tie this to credit card usage, CCTV photos, etc. to identify people.

I can haz Linux?

I can haz Linux?
Originally uploaded by Surferbill.

cd /dev; cat > mouse
IM IN UR COMPUTR INSTALLIN GENTOO LINUX...
^D

Hacker Posts Personal Info on 6 Million Chilean Residents

ABC News: Hacker Posts Personal Info on 6 Million: "An anonymous hacker has posted personal data about 6 million Chilean residents on the Internet, highlighting wider privacy problems in the country."

Interactive GTA 4 Liberty City Map

Grand Theft Auto 4 is so big IGN have created an interactive GTA 4 Liberty City Map.

Have fun!