Brian Gongol
What website developers need to do to prepare for Internet Explorer 9
Microsoft is rolling out the ninth edition of its Internet browser, and they're claiming that it's going to be more compatible than previous editions were with generally-accepted standards for website development.
The New York Times website is going back behind a paywall
Apparently they didn't learn from past experience that most people simply don't want to pay for content on the Internet, any more than they want to pay for it on television. The mental space taken up by the cable bill or the cell-phone bill is the space that's reserved for "What I pay to get news and entertainment online". When most people go any farther than that, it's to get a whole new type of content -- like a Netflix streaming-video subscription -- not access to a single site. The paywall will be sufficiently limited that people will still end up getting most of the access they want to the NYT, but it's just not a great idea to think that even the heaviest users will be aching to drop $15 to $35 a month to read the Old Gray Lady online.
Iowa's first redistricting proposal will be released in two weeks
Iowa's losing a seat in the House of Representatives, so a whole new map must be drawn. Public hearings follow.
Do yourself a favor: Take two minutes for a self-exam today
Take a minute or two and conduct some basic self-screenings for cancer. Early detection saves lives. There's lots of misinformation about cancer that finds its way around the Internet, largely because we've been trained to wait expectantly for some sort of magic-bullet solution to cancer. But cancer risks can be significantly reduced through a balanced diet, exercise, and early detection and treatment. Meanwhile, science is making great progress towards improving genetic detection, which holds great promise for some types of cancer. Instead of forwarding hoax-ridden e-mails about "cancer cures" and false threats, people should instead remind their friends and family to assess their health once a month.
