Star Mapping the Law Docs and ‘Digg’-ing Legal Opinion

Great press release from the fed-facing open-source activist site public.resource.org.

The news in the announcement is worth celebrating and well worth the wait: a huge, free, digital archive of federal case law, including all Courts of Appeals decisions from 1950 to the present and all Supreme Court decisions since 1754!

But what I really like is the last paragraph, explaining how open-source archives circa 2007 are taking the extra step to convert two-dimensional, law record formatted content into the online sphere:

Public.Resource.Org intends to perform an initial transformation on the federal case law archive obtained from Fastcase using open source “star” mapping software, which will allow the insertion of markers that will approximate page breaks based on user-furnished parameters such as page size, margins, and fonts. “Wiki” technology will be used to allow the public to move around these “star” markers, as well as add summaries, classifications, keywords, alternate numbering systems for citation purposes, and ratings or “diggs” on opinions.

Latest Broadband Penetration Data: Average Speed Up, Coverage Flat

The OECD Broadband Portal has been updated to reflect data as of June 2007. The enhanced and increased data makes the U.S. look a little better but U.S. high speed internet penetration remains in the bottom quarter of the 32 OECD countries, as it has since it’s ranking dropped 25 percent earlier this year. The U.S. is on par with the OECD average, however, when broadband penetration is calculated in terms of landmass populated by 50% of the population, perhaps a more fair measure, considering the U.S. does 30% of broadband subscribers in the OECD survey, but also covers a vast and sparsely populated area.

speedmattersTake a look at the main press release re: these latest penetration data. Of note:

The strongest per-capita subscriber growth over the year was in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Luxembourg. Each country added more than 5 subscribers per 100 inhabitants during the past year…. Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Korea and Norway and Iceland lead the OECD in broadband penetration, each with over 29 subscribers per 100 inhabitants.

Full press release below:

Continue reading “Latest Broadband Penetration Data: Average Speed Up, Coverage Flat”

Google Announces Android OS

From Andy Rubin:

We have developed Android in cooperation with the Open Handset
Alliance, which consists of more than 30 technology and mobile leaders
including Motorola, Qualcomm, HTC and T-Mobile.

Will the concept of Open Handsets coincide with the opening of mobile networks, etc? All essential in the building of trust in a neutral net. Can the GOOG be trusted remains to be seen.

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Facebook Vulnerabilities

Noticing some weirdness today in Facebook. Earlier this morning, I was unable to login, getting an error=105.

Then I was told that I “annoyed someone,” which apparently entailed using some “poke me” application. I neither have said application, nor was I online at time of said annoyance.

And now, the top item in my Facebook “news feed” claims that 5 of my friends posted the new Eagles video, which I highly doubt. Anyone else noticing weirdness on FB lately?