Well, I heard some interesting questions, comments and such about my blog this weekend. It’s always nice to get feedback whenever you can (of course anyone can always drop me an e-mail with questions or feedback).
But several people said they didn’t understand why/how they had to register to leave a comment on my blog.
I introduced new rules for leaving comments due to the large amount of spam I’m now getting as comments. Luckily my spam filters stop most of it but since Thursday of last week, I’ve had nearly 200 spam comments. Gripes.
Anyways, I thought I’d walk everyone through the registration process and show you how to comment on SSL.
Continue reading Just how does this blog thing work?
Category: techno
ProgrammableWeb launches insanely useful hub of open source government data and APIs
More from the Sunlight Foundation…
Continue reading ProgrammableWeb launches insanely useful hub of open source government data and APIs
Tech Talk: Track Congressional spending via Google Earth
I thought I’d try and revive my Tech Talk column I did for the WDL. I haven’t heard back from them yet, but as I understand it, The Belton Journal is picking it up and I’m working on a couple other papers. If you’re interested in picking it up for your blog, newspaper or column just let me know. Or if you’ve got a tech product/software you’d like me to review let me know as well.
Continue reading Tech Talk: Track Congressional spending via Google Earth
Alternative fueled cars not a new idea
While electric fueled and bio-diesel vehicles sound like a new technology, it’s really nothing new.
From NPR:
The desire to build vehicles that run on alternative power is nothing new. An exhibit on early hybrid, solar, and even atomic vehicles sheds light on the challenges of innovation.
Listen to the full story, including information on the alternative fuel museum.
The story suggests that the next great alternative fuel source to come down the pike may come from a 17 year old in his garage rather than one of Detroit’s big 3.
Where’s Congress spending your money
A new Google Earth layer keeps tabs on political spending by pinpointing where and for what projects U.S. government officials are budgeting funds for across the country:
Members of Congress know where the money is going: now citizens can, too. The Sunlight Foundation today released a Google Earth application that plots the locations for almost 1,500 earmarks in the House Defense Appropriations bill. This graphic illustration of defense earmarks gives anyone with an Internet connection a bird’s eye view of exactly where Congress is directing federal spending—and the ability to investigate whether the earmarks address pressing needs, favor political contributors or are simply pure pork.
Download the free Google Earth layer from The Sunlight Foundation
via lifehacker
Random news
a. We bought a new truck last night
b. I love it, but I think Laurie may be more excited than I am – I think she may try and sneak off with it one day before work and leave me the Xterra
c. Our Community group is finishing up Colossians this week (hopefully)
d. We’re going to start on Mark Batterson’s series Chase the Lion next week
e. I’ve done some real searching today on my family history.
f. Found some confusing information and it turns out, as I suspected, two Strother sisters, married two Gaines brothers
g. Once that was confirmed, everything else started making sense again.
h. While I’m not completely sure on one or two generations, it would appear that one relative on my mom’s side signed the American Declaration of Independence, and another signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. Crazy!
i. It may be crazier to think that they were only a generation or two apart.
j. In the meantime, I posted a challenge on our Wiki page – but unless you’re still reading this, I doubt you care anything about my family’s history. But if you do, feel free to join in – or start your own Wiki for your family tree. Maybe we’ll find they connect somewhere in the not to recent past.