Internet Moments

Bored?  Looking for something to do?  How about taking some time to patrol the Texas border?  The Texas Border Sherif’s Coalition would love to have your help as a “Virtual Texas Deputy”.  Using a $2 million dollar grant from the Governor of Texas they contracted a private company called Blue Servo to create a website where ordinary people can log on and watch the border using strategically placed webcams.  Once you set-up an account and log in you can choose the camera(s) you’d like to watch and begin your “patrol”.  Each camera comes with instructions on what to look for and how to report anything suspicious  annonymously.  Here are some examples of what they’ve seen.

Give it a try!  Live the dream of being a Virtual Texas Deputy:
TexasBorderWatch.com

Composed and Conducted by
ERIC WHITACRE
“Lux Aurumque”

This original composition went live on YouTube on March 21st, 2010.   You can read about previous projects and the development of this virtual choir at Eric Whitacre’s Offical Blog.

How much do you know about the Internet?  Can you remember how you did things without it?  You might take it for granted, but it’s still a relatively new invention.  The BBCrecently completed a series on the development of the Internet called “SUPERPOWER” and it’s worth checking out. 

Things to check out:  Observe the growth of the Internet worldwide, What happens when a remote Nigerian village gets Internet access, how the internet works,  how the Internet might be changing our brains, and lots more.   It’s well worth a few minutes of your day to explore SUPERPOWER by the BBC.

We live in an era of unparalleled innovation.  New technologies are popping up every day and how often do we contemplate the origins of it all?  Well NASA would like you to take a moment to do just that.

NASA.gov/cityis a highly interactive website that gives you a chance to see exactly how the developments made in the space program effect your daily lives.  For even more information about the technological “spinoffs” that have come from the space program check out the NASA Spinoffs website.  And if you like what you find don’t forget to share it with someone else!

BankRate.com is a publically traded company (Nasdaq: RATE) that went online in 1996.  The site is sort of like “consumer reports” for banking.  BankRate.com monitors almost 5,000 financial institutions and provides users with a quick comparison of them all.  They track mortgage rates, CD rates, credit cards, financing college, all kinds of loans and insurance.  It’s a great resource for anyone who needs to research their financial options and it can provide information to anyone no matter how money savy they are.

Some features to check out:  Comparing CD Rates, Comparing Mortgage Rates, Comparing Credit Cards, Comparing Auto Loans, and various Financial Calculators.