PRI's The World: Technology Podcast 209

September 05, 2008

No doubt about it. Google leads this week's Testament to Eventual Podfade, WTP 209. And why shouldn't Google lead it? Not only is it a vainglorious attempt to drive listeners to the podcast, it also just so happens that the company announced a shiny new web browser named Chrome that's got the Interwebs all abuzz...except those of us who tend to use a Mac. Bummer. Well, the news came during a week that marks the 10th anniversary of the company, so the BBC went after an assessment from tech journalist and blogger Wendy Grossman.

But, even as one Silicon Valley former-startup edges toward the petulant teen years, another more freshly minted startup turns one next week. It's called Seesmic, and it's a dream come true for anyone who has asked the question: "what would happen if someone made a Twitter, but for video?" We find out more about the French team behind Seesmic from Cyrus Farivar, who also invites any WTP fans in the Bay Area to a real-life meet up next week, Tuesday, September 9th, at a Belgian beer bar called The Trappist in Oakland. The fun starts at 7PM -- West Coast Time, of course.

And then, the BBC explores the world of online poker. Lots of money being made by lots of folks sitting around, alone, in dark basements, presumably. Like a train wreck, you can't turn away from it. Oddly fascinating, given the vast sums of money being won and lost with each and every mouse click.

And here's question for you? What's the best way to cut your fuel costs and fight global warming? Ride a bike, yes. Maybe skip the flight to the Bahamas this year? Perhaps. Or, you could continue to charge your extravagant American lifestyle to your AmEx, and put your faith in something called geoengineering. Why not think about fighting the rise in the planet's temperature by, say, spraying clouds with sea water? After all, it might work. And the BBC finds out more in an interview with Dr. Ken Caldeira of Stanford. Not all of these proposals, by the way, look to be magic bullets.

And we end this week's podcast with something for the mega-geek in all of us. Yes, the Large Hadron Collider rap. Word:

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Photo: AP Photo/Ric Feld

Comments

[Ian]

I listen to the podcast and like it very much. Keep up the good work. Personally, I listen to a ton of podcasts and read many websites regularly. I do not get this social networking thing. I do not use instant messaging very often and find the tech podcasts talk about twitter and social networking to be rather silly. The blog is nice, but most of the info does not get out until the podcast. I think that your website serves as the main source of info for your show. Social networking seems to be geared to getting info on individuals who lack their own websites or web presence.