Without an Apostrophe

I’ve written before that some folks really need lessons on how the Internet works. Nothing you post is completely private and even once deleted, it’s not necessarily gone.

This more true now than a few years ago, too.

Facebook, which was originally a fairly private network where only people you’d authorized as “friends” could see what you were posting has been gradually opening up more and more data to the public.

And now openbook is here to show us why this is a problem.

openbook scans updates that people may think are private for search terms like “rectal exam,” “cheated on a test,” and “I hate my job,” and displays the results neatly for the whole world to see.

So, while one should double-check their privacy settings on whatever social network they’re using, it might also be best to just not announce getting a rectal exam to the entire Intertnet.

I’m going to come off some like some old writer lamenting that using a computer doesn’t feel as “right” as using a typewriter.

But with that out of the way, I will say: I think modern keyboards are too quiet.

I miss the clickety-click, while typing along.

Well, I suppose it was for someone like me that someone else created an IBM Model M keyboard simulator.

That’s right. Go to the website and start typing. It plays back the sounds of the old timey IBM keyboards.

It makes me glad that people with too much time on their hands exist.

For many years, one of the biggest weaknesses of Apple’s Macintosh computers was the severe lack of games.

Well, today that starts to change as Valve Software is opening up their online game store and platform Steam to Mac users.

There aren’t too many games available for Macs yet, but there’s one big thing.

Valve’s incredibly awesome puzzle game Portal is free until May 24th.

Canadian Magazines

A blog tracking what’s left of the Canadian media industry – a topic without enough information sources.

PostSecret

PostSecret started as an art project that has since spawned several books.

Frank Warren invites people to send him post cards anonymously that reveal a secret the sender has kept.

The responses range from absurd and humourous, to outright tragic.

The blog is updated Sunday mornings has well, become a regular part of my Sunday morning routine.

Indie Games Blog

Easily my favourite site for finding crazy independent and often free video games to play.

Not much else to say about this one.

Start-Up Ottawa

Stories from Ottawa’s start-up community told by the people making them happen.

It’s the go-to source to find out what local tech events are happening and other resources for start-ups.

The Renegade Writer

I discovered this blog shortly after finishing journalism school and was getting extremely frustrated with my inability to find a staff job.

This resource for freelance writers got me over my reluctance to go the freelance route and has been providing helpful posts ever since (a good book, too.)