Google Reader Gets More Social With Commenting

Google has added a lot of sharing-based features to Google Reader in recent memory, but it has now launched the ability to have conversations among those who are sharing items. Google acknowledges that this is a key element of sharing that the service has been lacking. I would have to agree.

Google Launches Preview of Google Voice

Google has launched a preview of Google Voice, which is an application that lets you manage voice communications by converting voicemails to text. Google Voice is the new version of GrandCentral, which Google acquired back in 2007. For now, GrandCentral users are the only ones that get Google Voice.

Law, Order, Facebook, And Twitter

Not too long ago, the most important things discussed on Facebook and Twitter related to people's relationships and what was for lunch.  Then we moved into job-loss and non-fatal-plane-crash territory.  Now, a couple of stories with links to the criminal justice system have cropped up.

Congressman, Open Access Guru Spar Over Internet Publishing

US Representative John Conyers (D-MI) is on the defensive regarding legislation that would prevent the public posting of taxpayer funded scientific research on the Internet. Opponents argue the bill is a step back for science and that the powers that be behind it are shilling for the paper publishing industry.

The New Facebook Arrives

Last week Facebook announced that it would be rolling out changes to its home page sometime this week. That has now begun. Enthusiasm has been building greatly over the past week. Within 20 minutes of an official Facebook blog post on the launch it had already received 98 comments, most of which were pretty positive.