Posts by Karl A. Anderson

Google crossbreeds search with spreadsheet

Prior art

Battelle, for whom I once worked, developed an application (http://in-spire.pnl.gov/index.stm) for representing search results as a dynamic 3-D landscape, with higher "elevations" indicating the most relevant hits. The user can zoom in on landscape features of interest for more details. I thought it was pretty cool when they announced it in 1996.

Most home routers 'vulnerable to remote take-over'

ActionTec DSL Gateway

When I signed up for DSL with Qwest, they sold me the GT701-WG, similar to the GT704-WG I have now. In both devices, uPNP is OFF by default. A good policy.

The Electric Car Conspiracy ... that never was

Re: CSI-Miami Hummer

I'm glad you mentioned that. The first time I noticed the Hummers on the show, I said to myself, "nice product placement!". So I wasn't surprised to read (http://www.insidebrandedentertainment.com/bep/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000976529) that GM paid to get their vehicles on TV shows. "Asked whether his placement of the Hummer on CSI: Miami—one of the most dominant placements this year—actually sells vehicles, Norm Marshall of Norm Marshall & Associates in Sun Valley, Calif. replied, [IRONY ALERT!]

'I don't think so . . . you don't get that call to action. Not once has David Caruso jumped down from his Hummer and said, 'Get down to your local Hummer dealer!'"

One wonders just how much car-buying decisions are influenced by advertising in all its forms.

Cloudy outlook for climate models

Re: Pot, meet kettle

In response to Tim Chase, Ashley Pomeroy says "[saying] 'Every one of the authors is closely associated with at least one organization that is receiving funding from Exxon' is an extraordinarily vague accusation." Fair enough. Here's a detailed account of who paid whom to say what:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/32482