Web 2.0 - an exciting new world

This coming fall, I'll be teaching our program's capstone class. Over the past couple years, other professors have taught this class by requiring students to design and build an AJAX application, connecting to various APIs, to create clever mashups. Following this theme, I will be requiring students to do the same. Only one little problem. Although I'm well versed in web programming, I shifted to academia before I had a chance to learn AJAX. Its about time I got caught up. So I'm going to have to teach myself a thing or two about this new technology in the next 3 weeks. I already understand the basics of how it works and have bought and browsed through Professional Ajax, 2nd Edition (Programmer to Programmer) published by Wrox. It doesn't look like I'll have much trouble getting a simple AJAX program created.

Of the technologies I would like to understand at the intermediate level this semester:
AJAX
JSON
RSS syndication and reading
Google maps API

Some other technologies that I may learn in the coming year:
Google Base Data API
REST vs. SOAP
Silverlight/ FLEX/ Flash/ JavaFX
Facebook API
Wiki
Google adWords/ Analytics

All kinds of exciting things are appearing in the world of web technologies. Hopefully, I will be able to keep up.

Facts are stubborn things

Professor John Lewis of Duke University has performed an invaluable service by carefully analyzing the health care bill. His result provides answers to the below questions by quoting relevant sections from the bill:

1. WILL THE PLAN RATION MEDICAL CARE?
2. Will the plan punish Americans who try to opt out?
3. what constitutes “acceptable” coverage?
4. Will the PLAN destroy private health insurance?
5. Does the plan TAX successful Americans more THAN OTHERS?
6. Does THE PLAN ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO set FEES FOR SERVICES?
7. Will THE PLAN increase the power of government officials to SCRUTINIZE our private affairs?
8. Does the plan automatically enroll Americans in the GOVERNMENT plan?
9. Does THE PLAN exempt federal OFFICIALS from COURT REVIEW?

Thank you Dr. Lewis. If any of these answers sound "fishy", be sure to report the bill to the White House.

Guice 2 released

Google has annouced the release of Guice 2. Bob Lee, one of the creaters of Guice and my cousin's husband, is a Senior Google developer. While I am not a Java developer I can appreciate the work he has done in developing Guice.

According to Google, Guice is a "a lightweight Java dependency injection framework" currently used in "AdWords, Google Docs, Gmail, and even YouTube"

New email list - OGrownups

Diana Hsieh of Noodlefood has created a new email list for Objectivist adults who either have kids, want to have kids, or just like talking about kids. Its called OGrownups.

OGrownups is:

OGrownups is an informal mailing list for Objectivists interested in raising and educating children well. Its basic purpose is to facilitate discussion amongst Objectivists about child development, discipline techniques, education methods, parenting resources, and more.

Any Objectivist interested in polite and practical discussion about raising and educating children rationally may join OGrownups -- parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, caregivers, and friends. Anyone considering parenthood is also welcome.

If you're interested, sign up. RationalJenn is moderating.