The beauty of this article is its unwillingness to question the basis of what it dubs “Corporate” IT while obviously, what it dubs “Shadow” IT, seems to be the more successful school-of-thought for supplying immediate IT solutions (and thats even by the articles account). Oh, and by the way, just for the record, I agree: Shadow IT works better.

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I’ve been watching Apophis for at least a couple of years now, and so has NASA, yet only just now is “The World” — in the form of the U.N. — becoming aware or suggesting we need to take action. CNNs brought this guy up a couple times, I’m sure… heres the latest. 2004MN4 also called Apophis, is one of the objects NASA has had flagged on its Impact Risk website as having a significant chance of potential impact with our planet, and for quite a while. I’ve been watching it, you should have a look for yourself at

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/

Without trying to sound like an alarmist, the math seems to indicate that this guy not only comes close to us in 2036, but that its orbit brings it continually closer to Earth as time goes on.

This is an interesting approach to trying to understand, and discuss computer-related security. It looks at the differences in Open-Source and Closed-Source software development models and their methodologies. The article looks at some of the well-known schools of thought like “security through obscurity” or “security through visibility”. And, at the same time it offers some insight on exactly how niche environments can dictate their preferred method. I found it to be unbiased, well conceived, and well written.

Google acts questionably. This time around, documents surface showing Google asked public officials to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements about their new North Carolina facility. They also seemingly won themselves an estimated $89 million dollar tax break.

In reading this article several things hop out at me that scream “spin”. Admittedly many of the articles I have read that contend an opposite view also do so with spin-tactics — thats just persuasive writing for you. However, within two paragraphs of this article, Global Warming is called a religion. If this is the case, its one with no church the world is aware of. Moreover, I don’t think an issue like this (existent or fictional) is served very well by sarcastic and rather dramatic claims made by either side.

Also, points of contention like “Because the sun is warmer .. and all of these scientists don’t seem to be willing to credit a warmer sun with any of the blame for global warming” are ridiculous in virtue, as well as inaccurate. There are theories related to Global Warming that directly connect our local star’s energy output with changes in our planets climate. Just dig a little deeper, and you will find these theories and many others. I suggest everyone make it their duty as members of our species to learn as much as they can about all this.

Being a skeptic means not taking a side… its about asking questions, and seeking truths.