What do we tell our students about WikiLeaks?

WikiLeaks’ impact on foreign policy is considerable, even as we struggle to fully understand the magnitude of their latest disclosures. However, for our students, the questions of ethics and digital citizenship will need to be addressed right now.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/what-do-we-tell-our-students-about-wikileaks/4374?tag=nl.e623

The five most overhyped tech products of 2010

The pace of technology innovation quickened in 2010 but there were still plenty of overhyped products floating around. Here are the top five.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/the-five-most-overhyped-tech-products-of-2010/42155?tag=nl.e539

Denmark weighs making Chinese an official subject in schools

Tina Nedergaard, Denmark's education minister, wants all students to learn Chinese because China may soon become one of the country's biggest export partners. Nedergaard wants Chinese to be made an official subject in public and private schools -- an idea endorsed by business and other government officials. 

http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/50481-chinese-language-classes-for-danish-kids.html

The virtual classroom comes of age

Virtual classrooms aren’t just for distance education; they’re game changers for in-class interaction and out-of-class extended learning. By Christopher Dawson
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/the-virtual-classroom-comes-of-age/4338?tag=nl.e623

Microsoft launches Games for Windows Marketplace Today

As promised last month, Microsoft Games for Windows Marketplace launched today.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/microsoft-launches-games-for-windows-marketplace/20062?alertspromo=&tag=nl.rSINGLE

E-mail mania: Why does everyone want to be your inbox?

For a messaging medium that is reportedly dead, there sure is a lot of interest in e-mail these days. The lowly inbox has some mojo or it wouldn't attract the Web's heaviest hitters. By Larry Dignan

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/e-mail-mania-why-does-everyone-want-to-be-your-inbox/41644?tag=mantle_skin;content

Who's the biggest U.S. e-mail service of them all? (Hint: It's not Gmail)

On the day Facebook is expected to throw its hat into the crowded and competitive e-mail ring, it's worth noting what the current landscape looks like. By Mary Jo Foley
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/whos-the-biggest-us-e-mail-service-of-them-all-hint-its-not-gmail/7967?tag=nl.e539

Microsoft vs. McAfee: How free antivirus outperformed paid

How effective is free antivirus software? Ed Bott had a chance to see a real, in-the-wild example just this month, and the results were, to put it mildly, unexpected.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/microsoft-vs-mcafee-how-free-antivirus-outperformed-paid/2614?tag=nl.e539

Google Copies Bing. There. I Said It. By Stephen Chapman

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/google-copies-bing-there-i-said-it/982?tag=nl.e540

Robots speak up and defend global warming

Nigel Leck developed a robot, that scans Twitter every five minutes for people tweeting negative things about global warming, and then answers them with scientific evidence showing them they are in fact wrong.  

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/weblife/robots-speak-up-and-defend-global-warming/2000?tag=nl.e540

RockMelt: The Next Social Browser

Rich Harris thinks RockMelt is a cool concept that was designed and engineered exceptionally well.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/feeds/rockmelt-the-next-social-browser/3119?tag=nl.e540

Firefox 4 beta 7 - Fast, but Chrome and Opera are faster

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/firefox-4-beta-7-fast-but-chrome-and-opera-are-faster/10325?tag=nl.e539

Medical travel to U.S. is growing, too

When people think about the idea of medical travel, they usually envision an American heading to a foreign land, such as Thailand, India or Mexico, but the inbound market for medical travel is also growing, a study by HealthCare Tourism International said. Neilesh Patel, executive director, said the growing upper and middle classes in India, South Korea, the Middle East and elsewhere are increasingly traveling to Western countries for medical procedures. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/world-travel-market/8124182/Adventure-holidays-for-the-over-50s.html

20 Small Businesses of the Future

What seems like fantasy or science fiction today could yield "the small businesses of the future," according to Joel Stonington, who goes in search of 20 examples that could make trend-savvy entrepreneurs very rich indeed. 3D printing, bio-engineered body parts and holographic theater all get a mention, as does lunar tourism and lab-grown steak.
http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/20101105/20-small-businesses-of-the-future/ 

Macy's gives employees a little "magic"

Macy's strives to generate passion and excitement among its workers so they'll fall in love with their jobs, says Lisa Gick, vice president of employee engagement at Macy's. Among her tactics: engaging workers through informal conversations that encourage feedback, and dubbing the employee handbook "100 ways to make magic." 
http://smartblogs.com/workforce/2010/11/08/lisa/

How It Works: What Happens When You Search Google?

What actually happens when you type a search into Google? Just 5 minutes of your time and this post will have you up to snuff on how Google works - as well as a few SEO takeaways!

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/how-it-works-what-happens-when-you-search-google/1211?tag=nl.e540

Justify 30 Minutes of Exercise

Some useful tips on justifing 30 minutes of exercise, by Chris Brogan.
1. Step Away from the Desk 
2. Learn Something
3. Schedule Calls
4. Clean Your Inbox
5. Just a Start
http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/lifestyle/article/justify-30-minutes-of-exercise-chris-brogan

The Criticism Sandwich: A Stale Idea

Some practical tips for taking the sting out of critical remarks, byBruna Martinuzzi:
1.  Focus the conversation on the future rather than the past.
2.  Replace the long diatribe with a dialogue.
3.  “Let silence do the heavy lifting.”
4.  Use the conversation as an opportunity to grow the relationship.

5.  Help the person save face.

6.  Use the salami-method when you establish goals for others.

7.  Give praise en route

http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/the-world/article/the-criticism-sandwich-a-stale-idea-bruna-martinuzzi

Latest browser stats: Chrome, Safari, Opera, IE9 up, Firefox suffers enthusiasm gap

Has the initial enthusiasm for IE9 been able to sustain itself? Ed Bott just got the latest browser usage stats for this site. 
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/latest-browser-stats-chrome-ie9-up-firefox-suffers-enthusiasm-gap/2533?tag=nl.e539

The Tech Scares That Weren't: Urban Myths of Technology

Technology is scary! Turn off the lights, wrap yourself up in a blanket, and prepare to be terrified! Or mildly concerned. You know, whatever.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/the-tech-scares-that-werent-urban-myths-of-technology/14354?tag=nl.e539