Buzz Out Loud 1373: The Singularity is knocking at the door (podcast)

On today's show, the Internet revolts over Yahoo's plans to shutter Delicious, the U.S. is looking into a privacy "Bill of Rights," and Facebook suffers an embarrassing code leak.Plus, using augmented reality to translate information in real time, plus all the world's information organized to show us how language has evolved over the last 200 years? Dudes, the Singularity is seriously right outside the door, and it wants IN. --Molly

Watch this: Ep. 1373: The Singularity is knocking at the door

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NEWS

U.S. Seeks Web Privacy ‘Bill of Rights’
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703395204576023521659672058.html?mod=WSJ_Tech_LEADTop

Yahoo shutting down Delicious
http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/16/is-yahoo-shutting-down-del-icio-us/
Also, MyBlogLog and Yahoo Buzz
http://networkeffect.allthingsd.com/20101216/following-layoffs-yahoo-cuts-products-mybloglog-delicious-yahoo-buzz/

Facebook briefly shuts down after code leak
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/12/facebook-crashes/

U.N. mulls Internet regulation options
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/242051,un-mulls-internet-regulation-options.aspx

Good read: Why the U.S. government attacking Wikipedia is a bad idea
http://www.zeropaid.com/news/91588/why-the-us-government-attacking-wikileaks-is-a-bad-idea/

E.U. Deepens Investigation Into Google
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/technology/18google.html?_r=1

EA launches 99-cent sale; App Store bully?
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2010/tc20101216_991998.htm

Does video game music deserve more respect?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/dec/15/games-soundtracks-grammys

QUICK HITS

RIM CEO says there’s huge pent-up demand for Playbook in the enterprise
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/rim-playbook-redefines-what-a-tablet-should-do/42840

Dropbox updated to 1.0; selective syncing and improved performance
http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2010/121710-dropbox-updated-to-10-brings.html?hpg1=bn

Google launches “Body browser” http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2374462,00.asp

The official PlayStation app, coming soon to iPhone and Android handsets
http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/12/16/the-official-playstation-app-coming-soon-to-iphone-and-android-handsets/

GADGETS

Photos Emerge of Super-bright, Super-slim LG Android Phone
http://www.dailytech.com/Photos+Emerge+of+Superbright+Superslim+LG+Android+Phone/article20428.htm

Word Lens augmented reality app instantly translates whatever you point it at
http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/17/word-lens-augmented-reality-app-instantly-translates-whatever-yo/

SCIENCE NEWS

New Google Database Puts Centuries of Cultural Trends in Reach of Linguists
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704073804576023741849922006.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_tech

Email (buzz@cnet.com)
Hey Buzzcrew,

Here’s a little insight about the Department of Defense blocking
access on government computers and ordering us not to access Wikileaks
even on our home computers to articles containing ‘classified’
documents. My commanding officer broke it down like this: Just because
Wikileaks, NYT, etc. releases a classified document publicly, that
doesn’t remove the classification from that document. Possession of
classified documents by military members without “”need-to-know”" and
the proper security clearance is a violation of the Uniform Code of
Military Justice. A visit to the Wikileaks watercooler isn’t worth
losing my 15 year career.

Also, yes, we do mind that our internet access is limited…it can be
a real pain in the arse…but it’s your tax dollars funding our
paychecks, do you really want to fund our Farmville exploits?

Anthony, no longer in Louisiana, now serving proudly in South Korea.

—–

So if we continue to move towards saving our information and running applications/entertainment through the cloud, can we really expect data levels/caps to be a viable solution for phone and internet pricing?

Love the show
Taylor

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COMPUTER LOVE

Dear Buzz crew,

I have been talking to this one guy online for a couple of months now. We usually talk once a week on the phone and the rest of the week text or email. I would like to meet him, but he lives 2 and half hours away. How do I make that work? Should I invite him to something like a movie or concert in a city that is about an hour away from both of us or what?? I am kinda of stuck on how to further my contact with him. Please help me… :( – Nerissa

Hey guys, I am of the geeky, internet based culture and technology loving, sci-fi watching group that most of my fellow listeners belong to. Where does a fairly ordinary geek such as myself go to meet girls? Specifically, like minded, geeky, intelligent girls.
I have tried going out with friends to bars and clubs and such, not really my scene. I dont do well meeting or talking to girls in the loud, drunken, crowded environment. Dating at work is obviously tricky, often not ending well. I also dont do well in places like the grocery store, striking up a random conversation is a skill I lack. I wont say I am too good for such things, but dating or match-making sites dont seem like a good idea to me either. Maybe im being too stubborn or difficult, but where else does a geek go to find potential love or at least a few descent prospects?

Thanks and love the show!
Josh in Denver

—–

The year was 1999. I was taking an intro to computer programming class
at the junior college. My, now wife, and I were quickly approaching
our six month dating anniversary so I wrote a choose your own
adventure program that told the story of the night we met using a ton
of if/else statements. I gave it to her on a 3 1/2 inch floppy…and
she loved executing from my floppy.
-KevIn the Morning

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