Sad but true

Posting my [1] Lifestream, confirms what I already know but didn’t want to hear - that I spend WAY too much time on the web and my computer (even though it’s part of my daily work routine). Sad but true.

Facebook buzz

The buzz yesterday was Microsoft buying a piece of [2] Facebook - a $240 million stake and the rights to have exclusive third party advertisement rights possibly paving the way for a Microsoft Live Facebook search engine too. There are also reports that they may have [3] secured another $500 million from two New York investors.

Although being only 3 years old, the company is already valued at $15 billion and is currently the 5th most valuable US internet company (via [4] Techcrunch) behind the likes of Google, Ebay, Amazon and Yahoo. Facebook currently has about 47 million users/ members, records 15 billion page views a month and registers about 150,000 new users a day.

[5] Mark Zuckerberg has really done well for himself, especially for a 23 year old that initially started Facebook in his Harvard dorm to keep in touch with his old friends. Mark has since held off selling off the company, apparently turning down a $750 million buyout offer. Good for him to keep his baby close to his heart, taking the extra risk and having business savvy.

No one really knows for sure what the revenue of Facebook is but [6] Techcrunch reports that it may bring in an estimated revenue of about $1.5 million a week. I personally think it’s a good move to hold out on a sale as Facebook has not even matured as a company yet and its potential is tremendous.

I just love to hear about success stories like Mark Zuckerburg and Kevin Rose (of the Digg fame). It gives us hope and the proof that if you put your mind to something, dreams can be achieved.

Cryptology is not for kids

Came across a site called [7] Cryptokids. It’s designed by the governmental branch [8] NSA (National Security Agency) and tailored to teaching kids [9] Cryptology in a fun and amusing way. While I love Cryptology, I do think introducing it to young kids isn’t entirely appropriate. Teaching and encouraging the use of Cryptology at that young an age opens up the possibilities of kids using it negatively and illegally for their own amusement e.g hacking. The majority of kids out there just aren’t mature enough to appreciate it.

Last.fm rocks!

Recently joined the free music site [10] Last.fm after hearing rave reviews about it. I’ve not regretted my decision! It is a great site to find and listen to the music you like, listen to music recommendations and network with those who have the same taste in the music.

Using a unique music recommendation system known as “Audioscrobbler”, Last.fm builds a detailed profile of each user’s musical taste by recording details of all the songs the user listens to, either on the streamed radio stations or on the user’s computer or portable music device. This information is transferred to Last.fm’s database (”Scrobbled”) via a plugin installed into the user’s music player. The profile data is displayed on a personal web page.

Users can create custom radio stations and playlists from any of the audio tracks in Last.fm’s music library, but are not able to listen to individual tracks on demand, or to download tracks unless the rightsholder has previously authorized it. Registration is required to acquire a profile but is not necessary to view any part of the site or to listen to radio stations.
([11] Via Wikipedia)

Since I’ve downloaded their software, I’ve used it as an internet radio. All I have to do is put a singer or type of music of my choice into the software, and it will then stream music indefinitely until you stop it (advertisement free). You can see the songs I’ve listen to so far in [12] my Lifestream or going to my [13] Last.fm profile. I happen to like Indie, India Pop and Alternative music and my song list reflects that.

On the Home Front

On the home front, Miles (my cat) keeps following me around the house. Doesn’t he know he is a cat? Only dogs follow.

I keep killing fruitflies but they just keep coming back. At first we thought it may come from the pumpkins and apples we had but the apples are now gone and the pumpkin is outside. There are also no food lying about or in the trash. Weird and annoying! J has a home remedy of soap, vinegar and water which seems to attract and kill them — know any other ways?