Author Archives: J B

The Google Personal Blocklist for Chrome was the first meaningful shot across the bow in Google’s war on content farms. While the Personal Blocklist was an excellent extension for anyone who is already sick and tired of the useless drivel that’s spamming up the web, Google’s latest move brings its anti-search spam crusade to those [...]

I’m determined to read this entire speech. So, in order to do so, I’ve put it in a PDF so I can read it in iBooks on my iPhone. After all, what this guy just did was essentially create his own audiobook documenting where we are and how we got here re: taxes, class warfare [...]

With hurricane season on the horizon and the efficacy of the federal government’s emergency preparedness being questioned in the headlines, many citizens are choosing to take their personal safety into their own hands. “As we’ve learned from recent catastrophic events, it can take the federal government days, even weeks to respond to emergencies,” says David [...]

I’m a Dropbox man—always have been, always will be. So, when an assignment to review SugarSync came across my desk (not really, MrGroove didn’t give me a desk…), I raised a skeptical eyebrow. At first blush, SugarSync struck me as the Dropbox alternative that I never asked for. I must not be the only one [...]

From Google, Verizon and the FCC to BlackBerry in India, we’re seeing technology companies interfacing with policymakers more than ever today—and for good reason. Technology—particularly mobile and web technology—factors heavily into almost every facet of society, from education and research to commerce and national security. But one of the greatest strengths of cutting edge technology [...]

Back in December, I unpacked some of the “scary” and “exciting” potential of Google Goggles, the new visual search technology for smartphones. I did so a bit jealously, since I am not an Android phone owner, and due to some quirks in the relationship between Apple and Google, most cool new Google features take a [...]

See that picture? That’s Silas. He’s my five year old, 22 pound, snorting, sniffling, drooling, panting black pug. And in the few years since I’ve been in charge of him, I’ve done an immense amount of growing up. How can such a dainty little nugget of an animal make anyone more manly? (Believe me, I [...]

Hello! I recently submitted a My 15 Minutes playlist to 91.3FM WYEP. The goal was to feature violin/loop pedal virtuosos, but unfortunately they didn’t have any Final Fantasy. So, here’s how the final playlist shaped up: Andrew Bird – Anonanimal Arcade Fire – No Cars Go Theresa Andersson – Birds Fly Away Anyway, to appreciate [...]