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[Technology] WordPress Comes To iPhone (ReadWriteWeb)

ReadWriteWeb — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:08:10 GMT

Do you have an iPhone? Are you a blogger? Then you're going to love this news - there's now a WordPress app for iPhone available for download from the iTunes App Store. The software lets you update your WordPress blog from anywhere. We're not forgiving Apple for that MobileMe nonsense just yet, but we have to admit, this is pretty good stuff. WordPress on iPhone The new WordPress App for iPhone supports both WordPress.com installations as well as self-hosted Wordpress.org blogs that are version 2.5.1 and above. The app includes the following features : - Embedded Safari previews of posts - Full support for tags & categories - Photo support for both camera phone pics and library photos - Support for multiple blogs - Ability to password protect a post, save as draft, or mark for later review - Auto-recovery feature recovers posts interrupted by phone calls You can see WordPress on the iPhone in action in the video below or check out screenshots here : More information can be found on iphone.wordpress.org where you can review the Frequently Asked Questions and/or report issues with the application. To download this app from iTunes, click here . Thanks to Digital Inspiration for breaking the news.

Planet Intertwingly : WordPress for iPhone! ...
Mashable : WordPress Launches Mobile Blogging App for iPhone ...

blogs : TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home,YugaTech | Philippine Technology Ne,Awakened Voice Blog,iPhone.best-blog.co.uk,Blah! Blah! Technology...
(38 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 15:08)

[Politics] Never mind the quantity... (A Pint of Unionist Lite)

A Pint of Unionist Lite — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:47:49 GMT

One day to go before the Glasgow East by-election (or The Westminster v Holyrood referendum as Salmond is labeling it) and some interesting figures in The Scotsman: IN NUMBERS LABOUR 250,000 leaflets handed out 0 visits by party leader 2,000 activists 111 miles walked by Margaret Curran, the party's candidate 3,000 posters put up on lamp posts 40,000 households visited 20,000 telephone calls made 14,000 hands shaken by Ms Curran SNP 560,000 leaflets handed out 10 visits by party leader 1,000+ activists 114 miles walked by John Mason, the party's candidate 5,000 posters put up on lampposts 40,000 households visited 60,000 telephone calls made 14,000 hands shaken by Mr Mason Now, I guess that some of those figures have been pulled out of the ether (hands shaken') but my main observation is that with apparently double the “activists”, Labour has handed out less than half the leaflets, put up two-thirds of the numbers of the posters and made less than a third of the phone-calls that their nationalist opponents have managed. That indicates a serious problem with organisation and/or motivation or...maybe someone, somewhere along the line is telling porkies.

Scotsman.com : Glasgow East: High risk for Salmond as he fronts bid to trigger 'earthquake' ...
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness : It's all about me! Alex Salmond wants a popularity contest in Glasgow East ...

blogs : News Scotsman,A Pint of Unionist Lite,Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness,Scotsman.com...
(4 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 17:47)

[Other] Eva Mendes strips for Calvin Klein (In Case You Didn't Know)

In Case You Didn't Know — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:07:24 GMT

Eva Mendes is set to raise temperatures in a scorching new Calvin Klein underwear campaign...

Contactmusic Ltd : Eva Mendes - Mendes Strips For Calvin Klein ...
MakeUsHot.com : Eva Mendes Strips For CK ...

blogs : MakeUsHot.com,In Case You Didn't Know,PR-Inside.com Entertainment News,Contactmusic Ltd,HotOnlineNews.com...
(5 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 18:07)

[Politics] Cameron 'prayed' that Brown wouldn't hold autumn 2007 election (ConservativeHome's ToryDiary)

ConservativeHome's ToryDiary — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:55:00 GMT

David Cameron on Monday night reflected on this time last year: "William Hague warned me that if he was smart, Gordon would go for a snap election in early October, just after the conferences - and that he would win....

ConservativeHome's ToryDiary : Information fundamentalism? ...
Matt T : The Times today ...

blogs : ConservativeHome's ToryDiary,ConservativeHome,Matt T,Re-cycle of Life...
(5 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 11:55)

[Business] "Cherished myths fall victim to economic reality" (naked capitalism)

naked capitalism — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:07:07 GMT

This comment by Paul De Grauwe in the Financial Times, deserves more discussion that I can provide at this juncture (I am about to do a face plant), but I trust readers will find it a worthy offering. De Grauwe focuses on sacred cows that have been gored in the credit crunch. He has written before, i n more technical terms , on central bank reliance on models that deviate in key ways from observable reality. Nevertheless, despite his view that these constructs are taking a mortal blow, he also acknowledges that they still play a central role due to lack of obvious replacements. From the Financial Times : The financial crisis continues to create victims. Not only people but also some of our most cherished ideas risk falling by the wayside. Take the hugely influential idea that financial markets are efficient. Its proponents told us that when financial markets were left free, they would work miracles. Savings would be channelled to the most promising investment projects, thereby boosting economic growth and welfare. In addition, these financial markets would spread risk around over a large number of participants, thereby lowering the risk of doing business, again boosting growth and welfare. In order to achieve these wonders, financial markets had to be freed from the shackles of government control. The country that embodied these principles most was the US. Helped by the missionary zeal of successive American administrations and pushed by international financial institutions, country after country freed their financial markets from pernicious government controls, hoping to share in these economic wonders. The credit crisis has destroyed the idea that unregulated financial markets always efficiently channel savings to the most promising investment projects. Millions of US citizens took on unsustainable debts, pushed around by bankers and other “debt merchants” who made a quick buck by disregarding risks. While this happened, the US monetary authorities marvelled at the creativity of financial capitalism. When the bust came, a large number of Americans who had been promised a new life in their beautiful homes were told to move out. This boom and bust cycle cannot have been an example of efficient channelling of savings into the most promising investment projects. The fact that unregulated financial markets fail to deliver the wonders of efficiency does not mean that governments should take over. That would be worse. What it does mean is that a new equilibrium must be found in which tighter regulation is reintroduced, aimed at reducing the propensities of too many in the markets to take on excessive risks. The need to re-regulate financial markets is enhanced by the fact that central banks, backed by governments, provide an insurance against liquidity risks. Such insurance inevitably leads to moral hazard and excessive risk-taking. The insurer cannot avoid monitoring and regulating the be haviour of those who obtain this insurance. There is a second idea that is likely to become the victim of the financial crisis. This is the idea found in macro economic models, that individuals are supremely well-informed creatures. In these models that are now being used in central banks and universities, individuals understand the most complex intricacies of the world in which they live and they have no disagreement about this. All these individuals understand the same “truth”. If we have learnt one thing from the credit crisis it is that individuals did not understand the “truth” and, it must be admitted, neither did economists. Individuals who sold the new financial instruments did not understand the risk embedded in these instruments, nor did the buyers. When the bubble started many interpreted the happy turn of affairs as permanent and took on massive levels of debt that turned out to be unsustainable. When the bubble burst, they did not understand what had happened and nor did most experts. Our world is one of a fundamental lack of understanding of the “truth”. But that is not the world of the macro economic models that are now in use in central banks. The world of these models is one of supernatural and God-like creatures for which the world has few secrets. These creatures can perfectly compute the risks they take and estimate with great precision how an oil price shock will affect their present and future production and consumption plans. They may not be able to predict each shock, but they know the probability distribution of these shocks. Thus the risk involved in financial instruments is correctly evaluated by individuals populating these models. These superbly informed individuals want the central bank to keep prices stable so that as consumers they can optimally set their consumption plans with minimal uncertainty, and as producers they can set prices equal to marginal costs (plus a mark-up). If the central banks keep prices stable, these individuals, helped by well-functioning markets, will take care of all the rest and ensure that the outcome is the best possible one. This is a world in which free and unfettered markets are always efficient. This is also a world where individual agents cannot make systematic mistakes. Their consumption and production plans are optimal. They will never build up unsustainable debts. In the world of these macroeconomic models financial crises should not occur. And if they do, it cannot be because of malfunctioning markets. Governments that impose silly constraints on rational individuals are messing things up, and central banks that do not keep their promises to maintain price stability are the source of macroeconomic instability. This intellectual framework helps to explain the single-minded focus of many central bankers on inflation. Clearly, inflation is important and maintaining price stability is an important task of the central bank. It is not the only task, though. Financial stability is equally important. But this dimension is completely absent from the macroeconomic models now in use. In addition, since financial stability these days also depends on avoiding deep recessions, stabilising the business cycle should also be of the concern of the central bank. Inflation in the euro area stood at 4 per cent in June. That is a problem. But is it an acute problem, compared with the disequilibria in the financial markets and the banking sector? When the European Central Bank raised the interest rate two weeks ago it took the view that inflation is the most important problem we face. No wonder the intellectual frame imposed on one’s mind by current macroeconomic models said that inflation is the number one enemy. There is a danger that the macro economic models now in use in central banks operate like a Maginot line. They have been constructed in the past as part of the war against inflation. The central banks are prepared to fight the last war. But are they prepared to fight the new one against financial upheavals and recession? The macroeconomic models they have today certainly do not provide them with the right tools to be successful. They will have to use other intellectual constructs to succeed.

Financial Time : Cherished myths have fallen victim to economic reality ...
Real Time Economics : Secondary Sources: Myths, Infrastructure Stimulus, Modest Proposal ...

blogs : Real Time Economics,Financial Time,naked capitalism...
(3 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 16:07)

[Politics] The new 'Iraq + 9/11' (Bloggerheads)

Bloggerheads — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:27:53 GMT

Chicken Yoghurt - Check on delivery: There's a small but significant difference between the transcript of the speech Gordon Brown made to the Knesset today and what he actually said... Is this how he plans to later get away with...

Chicken Yoghurt : Check on delivery ...
British Blogs : Check on delivery ...

blogs : Bloggerheads,The Earth Times Online Newspaper,British Blogs,Chicken Yoghurt...
(4 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 12:27)

[Technology] Top 5 web 2.0 sites account for 1 in every 15 UK Internet visits (Hitwise)

Hitwise — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:39:52 GMT

We issued a press release today containing our latest social network market share data. Facebook continues to grow its market share in the UK and reached a new high of 45% in June. However, that growth has been at the expense of Bebo and MySpace, which have both lost share in the UK over the last 12 months. The table above is based on a specific custom category of social networks, and therefore excludes a number of sites with social media features. Taking a broader definition of Web 2.0 sites, the declining market share of Bebo and MySpace is even more marked. As the chart below illustrates, YouTube.com overtook Bebo to become the second most visited Web 2.0 property in the UK during June, while Wikipedia overtook MySpace to move into fourth position. Combined, these five sites now account for one in every 15 UK Internet visits.

Inside Facebook : June ComScore/Hitwise Social Networking Numbers in for US, UK ...
This is Herd : The Facebook-isation of Britain ...

blogs : Hitwise,Inside Facebook,This is Herd...
(3 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 10:39)

[Politics] The London Array Is Back On (Peak Energy)

Peak Energy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:48:05 GMT

TreeHugger reports that the huge London Array wind project is back on again, with buyers found for Shell's unwanted share. A few months ago, when Shell pulled out of the London Array, leaving its partners E.ON and Dong Energy in the lurch, the future of Britain’s and the world’s largest offshore windfarm was up in the air. Now it seems that the Array’s future is a bit more certain. German-based E.ON and Danish Dong Energy have agreed to buy Shell’s 33% stake in the 1 gigawatt project for an undisclosed sum, The Guardian reports. The two remaining backers will form a new 50-50 partnership to continue development of the wind farm located off the shore of Kent. There is little word on exactly how this new arrangement will change the production schedule for the Array, other than Paul Golby, chief executive of E.ON UK saying that project should remain on track to complete the first phase of development by the end of 2012. Further north, the Scotsman reports that a 584 MW wind farm is to be built in South Lanarkshire . ALEX Salmond declared Scotland on the brink of a renewables revolution yesterday as he gave the go-ahead for the largest wind farm in Europe. The First Minister told the World Renewable Energy Congress in Glasgow the green light had been given to a 152-turbine project in South Lanarkshire. The chairman of the congress then hailed Mr Salmond as the "saint of renewable energy". Mr Salmond now expects Scotland to become the green-energy capital of Europe and a major exporter of renewable energy – a move that could bring billions of pounds into the economy. With plans lodged for hundreds more wind turbines, as well as Scotland's huge potential in wave, tidal, hydro and solar power, and biomass, he said approval for the Clyde wind farm "demonstrates that we are only at the start of the renewables revolution in Scotland". ... Mr Salmond's announcement was met with a round of applause by delegates from more than 80 countries. It means more than 4.5 gigawatts of renewable energy has been approved in Scotland, putting it just 400MW away from meeting its targets of generating 31 per cent of its electricity demand from renewable sources by 2011. Mr Salmond told the congress: "The initial target of 31 per cent will be exceeded long before 2011, and by 2011 we will be through that target by a very, very substantial margin." He was confident of meeting the target of producing 50 per cent of energy from renewables by 2020. He told The Scotsman: "I am even more confident about that than about the 2011 target. By 2020, we will be able to mobilise some of our gigantic stuff offshore." He predicted that, in the future, it will be offshore energy, such as wind, wave and tidal power, that will hold the most potential for Scotland. By about 2050, he forecast that offshore renewables would be able to generate 60GW of power – ten times the amount consumed in Scotland each year. This means Scotland has the potential to become a huge exporter of renewable energy. Mr Salmond wants to see a sub-sea "supergrid" connecting Scotland with the rest of Europe.

Scotsman.com : Wind farms: now we've got the biggest in Europe ...
Science Pal : World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Back on Track ...

blogs : Science Pal,Treehugger,Peak Energy,Scotsman.com...
(4 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 11:48)

[Other] Don't Blame Christian Bale (PerezHilton.com)

PerezHilton.com — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:55:56 GMT

Something smells a little fishy in the Bale family and we don't think it's Christian! Mommy Jenny Bale and sister Sharron have finally spoken out about Christian's arrest and said an "incident" had taken place on Sunday but refused to give any details. Batman's sis originally denied knowing anything about it but then said, "OK, there was [...]

The Telegraph : Batman actor Christian Bale released after assault allegation arrest ...
Usmagazine : Christian Bale's Sister Calls His Arrest "Sensitive Situation" ...

blogs : Extra Weblog,Usmagazine,The Telegraph,Cele|bitchy,In Case You Didn't Know...
(7 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 14:55)

[International] Another return (EU Referendum)

EU Referendum — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:51:00 GMT

Some readers may have noticed that I have been blogging lightly recently. The reason was preoccupation with other work. That is now finished and I can return to duties though the boss, as ever, managed to fill those gaps. I shall not write about Obama's trip to Europe as I think I should follow neo-neocon's example and start weaning myself off the subject. Instead, here is one of my favourite subjects, the behaviour of that defender of the nation state, Russia, under its new President, who just happens to say exactly what the old President, now Prime Minister, said. After the Czech Government signed an agreement on the placing of a radar tracking system in the country Russia voiced her displeasure (one wonders if it is fear of that displeasure that is making the Poles so hesitant - an interesting historic reversal, if true) by cutting down the amount of oil , agreed and contracted for, that would be allowed to flow. Oil supplies dropped about 40 percent on July 9, the day after the Czech government signed the antimissile deal with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Prague, and have remained at that level since. Never mind. Putin has stormed to the Czechs' rescue. Well, sort of. According to the article he has instructed Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, who is in charge of energy policy, to make sure that all partners remain satisfied. Apparently, there was a certain amount of discussion between the two as to why this rather regrettable situation might have arisen. Nothing to do with the anti-missile deal, which was not even mentioned. The Czechs appear to have crossed their neighbour in another way as well: The two then ruminated on the possible causes for the shortfall, according to the report. Putin said he agreed with Sechin's conclusion that "the immediate blame is not on Russian oil suppliers" but rather on unspecified offshore oil trading companies that deal in Russian oil. Sechin noted that the Czech Republic had declined to sign a energy agreement proposed by the Russians last year. Putin added that, as a result, the Czechs were purchasing oil "not directly from Russian producers, but through offshore companies." Russian oil supplies should be back to the agreed levels by August but, it seems, that unlike Germany, the Czech Republic is looking round for alternative suppliers. Incidentally, as far as I understand it, the much-heralded and much-trumpeted Obama visit will not take in any East European capital. I wonder why that is. Have his 300 foreign policy advisers not managed to tell him that Berlin is no longer the frontline? Ooops, I have failed at the first hurdle.

neo-neocon : A twelve step program is needed… ...
If Sam Tarran Was In Charge : Warm Welcome ...

blogs : If Sam Tarran Was In Charge,neo-neocon,EU Referendum...
(3 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 01:51)

[Technology] Skypephone S2 from 3 will have email capabilities (TameBay)

TameBay — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:40:11 GMT

Today 3 mobile let me see one of new Skypephone S2 and it has some fantastic new features that make it even more desirable than the first. Built into the phone are a host of new upgrades. The main physical changes from the original Skypephone are the larger screen which is upgraded to 2.2 inch QVGA [...]

Giusec&frienz : Skypephone 2 at 3 August 18? ...
Giusec&frienz : Blackberry Bold with a Skype Client? Introducing Some Truth into the Rumor ...

blogs : TameBay,Giusec&frienz...
(3 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 04:40)

[Politics] Not supporting Iain Dale’s top blogs competition (Liberal Conspiracy)

Liberal Conspiracy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:59:02 GMT

Tory blogger Iain Dale wants to do his annual ' which are the top political blogs ' competition again and is inviting submissions to through this post . He's asked us to link to it naturally, but this year I won't be submitting a list of my top blogs for two reasons.

The Devil's Kitchen : You see? I told you... ...
Luke's Blog : Decide the Top 100 UK Political Blogs ...

blogs : Jo Christie-Smith,Liberal Conspiracy,Chris Paul: Labour of Love,Paul Linford,The Debatable Land...
(11 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 12:59)

[International] Wordle (Crooked Timber)

Crooked Timber — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:32:00 GMT

I’ve seen various textcloud applications before, but Wordle (via Steve Poole) is the first one that I’ve seen that makes it easy to produce aesthetically attractive pictures of the information. Below is the textcloud of my book, “The Political Economy of Trust: Institutions, Interests and Inter-Firm Cooperation” which I’m preparing for publication in Cambridge’s Comparative [...]

Crooked Timber : Last Best Wordle ...
Cosmic Variance : Words in the Clouds ...

blogs : Signifying Nothing,Cosmic Variance,La Profesora Abstraída,Kieran Healy's Weblog,Slugger O'Toole...
(9 posts, last update: 22/07/2008 20:32)

[Other] ‘Cease and desist’ demand from Mark Brewer (The Cartoon Blog)

The Cartoon Blog — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:15:25 GMT

This morning I was sent a ‘cease and desist’ demand from Mark Brewer relating to the posts I have made about the former SPCK bookshops. The demand says ‘Confidential - not to be redistributed or posted’, so I am not posting the text. The demand says that if I do not remove all SSG-related material by [...]

The Wardman Wire : The Mark Brewer Saga … Dave Walker, SPCK and Saint Stephen the Great ...
The Wardman Wire : My Name is Dave Walker: People posting about Mark Brewer’s Cease and Desist Notice ...

blogs : The Cartoon Blog,The Wardman Wire,Lingamish,St. Aidan to Abbey Manor...
(5 posts, last update: 23/07/2008 12:15)

[Technology] Open letter to PR agencies: It doesn’t have to be that way, you know… (that canadian girl)

that canadian girl — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:12:38 GMT

Recently, there has been a rise in the number of press releases I’ve received, an observation many bloggers around me have confirmed. But these PR emails are accompanied by intros as uncomfortable as the teenage “Will you go on a date with me? Yes/No” scribbled by the nerdy girl who sat next to you in [...]

Technobabble 2.0 : Blogger relations - 3 tips from the experts ...
Perfect Path : We don’t have to write anything ...

blogs : that canadian girl,Technobabble 2.0,:: gia's blog ::,Perfect Path...
(4 posts, last update: 22/07/2008 19:12)