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Category Archives: Globe

January 19, 2007 Internet Singularity

Gary Flake runs Microsoft Live Labs, MS Research unit which is concentrated solely to the Internet.

His one-year-old presentation “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Imminent Internet Singularity” indicates the Road Ahead for Microsoft’s Internet strategy. 

When I hear the word “singularity”, it brings an image to my mind of all things united to one place, then Boom!!! – and a silence that lasts forever…

IMO Microsoft has been quite silent about Artificial Intelligence in the past. But now it seems that they are really starting to focus on that, utilizing the massive amount of data in the web and its feedback mechanisms.

November 17, 2006 “From Dust to Dust” Study- How Green Is Your Car?

CNW Marketing has published a two-year study of cars’ total environmental impact. They take into account fuel consumption, factory manufacturing costs, R&D costs, recycling, etc. The entire life of a car is factored in, from dust to dust. According to the study, hybrids are not the most eco-friendly because of their extensive R&D, complicated engine and other issues. Range Sport is greener than a Prius, it says. 

Quite surprising. It seems that it really is possible to make a comprehensive study supporting any view or opinion imaginable.

I’m not saying that the study has errors in it – how would I know. If you take millions of details and add them up, end result can be chaotic and unexpected.   

November 15, 2006 North Korea – Open for Tourists in 2016?

It is interesting to see for how long North Korea is able to hold its current political system. I’ll bet that in ten years time, its borders will open. And Kim Jong-il will have a blog of his own.

The photo below is from Korean Friendship Association’s website. It was taken in Kaesong, in 2004.

The little girls in the photo look uncannily similar. I think there’s some kind of a selection process for them along the lines of: “See this picture here. Now look at your child. As you can see they look the same. Be very happy. With her beautiful smile, she will become a worthy representative of this great country.”

Heck, I do not know really. I’m just speculating. Maybe they look like that in reality. It is in the water or something. Anybody visited North Korea lately? Please correct me on this one… 😉

[17.11.2006] What’s your opinion: do they look uncannily similar or should I clean my laptop screen?

Korean Friendship Association, Children in Kaesong

[Image copyrighted (c) by the Korean Friendship Association]

October 11, 2006 Web 2.0

Wow, what an excellent article – Tim O’Reilly discusses about the history of the web, its current incarnation as a platform and a harvester of collective intelligence, among others.

What is great about the web is the way it unifies us people – we are in this together, on this common playground nearly without any borders. Compare this to the ancient times when everything outside the home village was quite easily portrayed as evil or harmful. We now have the power to know, we all have a voice.

[originally posted 08.02.2006]