The importance of internet access in the development of nations has led to a number of efforts to get third world countries connected, and has been met with mixed results. The infrastructure, topography and/or the remoteness of many areas has presented a challenge in getting much of the world online. The following are ten attempts to provide internet access to third world countries:

1. One Laptop Per Child – With a mission to empower the world’s poorest children via education, OLPC seeks to provide every child with an affordable connected laptop. They are currently working on connecting Latin America, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Haiti, and Mongolia, among other countries.
2. Google – Google’s Internet Bus Project brings an internet-enabled bus to India in order to educate people about the internet and how it can benefit them. You can follow the project as it progresses at this site.
3. Green Wi-Fi – Using solar Wi-Fi, they provide “last mile internet access with nothing more than a single broadband internet connection, rooftops and the sun” in places like Lascahobas, Haiti.
4. Connect Africa Initiative – begun in 2007, the program sought to bridge technological gaps in the African region employing the aid of several IT companies as well as the European Commission, China, and India.
5. Connect the Caribbean Initiative – Attempting to “connect the unconnected by 2015”, this project is the Caribbean version of the ITU’s (International Telecommunication Union) Connect the World initiative, and is hosted by the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Operators (CANTO).
6. Connect Asia-Pacific Summit – One of ITU’s projects, which seeks to establish global connectivity by the year 2015, this one is an effort to provide information and communication technology to the Asia-Pacific region.
7. Connect Arab Summit 2012 – Partnering with the League of Arab States, the United nations agency for information and communication technology, the ITU has established this region as part of its over-arching initiative to connect the world by 2015.
8. O3b Networks – In an effort to connect the “other 3 billion (O3B) people to the internet, O3b networks is creating a global internet backbone to serve several billion consumers, businesses, and other organizations in 177 different countries.
9. United Villages – A company whose mission is to bring the internet age to remote communities utilizing a “store and forward” concept. Villagers store their data and email on a local server, and United Villages’ internet-equipped vehicles gather all this data, drive to a Wi-Fi or cellular -equipped city, and forward it over the internet.
10. The United Nations, on June 3, 2011, declared internet access to be a basic human right. “Given that the Internet has become an indispensable tool for realizing a range of human rights, combating inequality, and accelerating development and human progress, ensuring universal access to the Internet should be a priority for all states.”

It’s only a matter of time before the internet bridges connections in third world countries around the world, helping to catch them up with all of the countries who already have unlimited access. Soon enough we really will be fully connected.

One of the great things about Facebook is the ability to tag photos that you post on your profile. It turns a simple photo album into a communal experience, where everyone can share memories and comments. So, we wondered how some images might have looked way back when if they were posted and tagged for Facebook:

1. General George Washington Ah, memories. Here’s a shot of me and the boys crossing the Delaware River. Unfortunately, Corporal James Wilson was not so fond of the memory, having complained non-stop about the cold:



2. Jerome Einstein Here’s a candid photo of old Uncle Albert, in a rare display of mirth and candor. Guess he was having some fun with those guys down at the lab who joked about his theory of relativity.



3. Leo DaVinci I could not get this chick to smile for anything. My best Michelangelo jokes, pope impressions; I even mooned her – nothing. Oh well, she was photogenic, so I figured what the hell.



4. Alfred Eisenstaedt I have no idea who this gal was. Never got her name, didn’t care. Home sweet home, America!!! Woot!



5. Vito Clemenza Here’s a pic of the boys on lunch break. There’s Tony Knuckles on the left, bummin’ a smoke as usual. Great buncha guys. And can they work? Fuggettabowdit!



6. Anthony Eden – How about this for an historical photo – our man Churchill ordering up a round of drinks for us. Never thought I’d see the day.



7. TheKing Met these boys at Graceland last week. Nice bunch of fellas, but I don’t see them catchin’ on over here in the States myself.



8. Eliot Ness LOL We got him! Let’s see him wriggle his way out of this one. The drinks are on me!



9. Penelope Pussycat Awww, here’s Pepe trying his best, as usual, to impress me. I didn’t have the heart to tell him this wasn’t my real hair color … or about his B.O.



10. Michelangelo I swear I don’t know how I ever got this one done. It was murder trying to keep everyone still. All the twitching, and the giggling. Everyone wound up looking great though.

There’s an old rule of social etiquette that cautions, “Never discuss religion or politics”, and for good reason. The idea was to steer clear of any subject as polarizing and incendiary as these. Of course, that bit of advice is from a quainter time before online flame wars, when polite conversation was the norm. Ah, the good old days. But if you like your political discourse with a bit of an edge, we’ve got some great news. The web is full of blogs made just for you. Here are seven of them:

1. Alex Jones’ InfoWars.com  – Alex Jones is out there. He loves his conspiracies, as do the minions who frequent both his website and radio show. All you really need to know about this blog is right here, a conversation between Jones and that bastion of rational thought, Charlie Sheen, about their views on 9/11.
2. FreeRepublic.com – For those of you who like your politics served up just right – like way right – this may the right exit for you. There’s plenty of good old-fashioned grassroots conservative spleen-spilling going on, with lots of associated links.
3. TheBlaze.com – This sites purports: “Our goal is to post, report and analyze stories of interest on a wide range of topics from politics and culture to faith and family.” So pretty much same as above, except with a zesty religion tang tossed into your salad.
4. RightWingWatch.org – Formally, People For the American Way’s Right Wing Watch. Their mission: “… dedicated to monitoring and reporting on the activities of right-wing political organizations, in order to expose the agenda of the extreme Right”.
5. Daily Kos – Progressive and liberal-leaning blog founded by Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, the site boasts entries from such names as Senator Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former President Jimmy Carter.
6. Wonkette – A personal favorite, this blog is chock full of snarky political commentary. Humor is always welcome in the cutthroat business of politics. Women’s views and issues are especially strong on this blog’s list of things to talk about.
7. Thinktown USA Report - They have a cable TV show in SW Louisiana and their website mirrors the show with a few extras, including archived video and shows and their blog. They are “regular people simply fed up with the current administration”. Complete with tons of YouTube videos, this blog is great for the conservative crowd.

If you’ve ever wanted to debate without impunity, try one of these seven blogs. Comment, interact, and share your own thoughts. You’ll be bound to find one blog that agrees with most of your views. If not, then maybe you should start a blog of your own!

Companies who reimburse their employees business expenses can end up spending countless hours and file space dealing with employee expense reports. They have to go through and make sure all the claims being filed are legitimate and that their business isn’t paying for an employee’s personal expenses, which can end up being a fairly arduous task. They also don’t want to lose good employees because they aren’t being reimbursed in a timely manner. Since travel expenses are a large portion of expense reports, it stands to reason that these employees are often out of town and need some way to file these reports remotely. To meet this demand several web technologies have been developed that employers can use to quickly and efficiently go file their expense reports.

1. ExpensePoint – Globalpoint Technologies has developed an online expense reporting system called ExpensePoint. The reporting process is fully automated with company credit card purchases imported directly into the system. Review, approval and accounting are all done in an instant.
2. Concur Premier – This web based technology takes the expense reporting to a new level by also providing corporate travel bookings in conjunction to basic expense reports. This streamlines the reporting process since the expenses are uploaded automatically into their paperless transaction process.
3. Verian – An online accounting software provider, Verian has the capabilities for employees to submit their expense reports from any computer or smart phone. Expenses are automatically posted to the proper accounts and employees can get reimbursed through direct deposit.
4. SmartDoc – This free iPad app is a fully functioning expense report application. Employees can keep track of their expenses with SmartDoc while they travel and have a full report ready to submit when they return.
5. Chrome River – Another online accounting and expense reporting system, Chrome River offers a user friendly and painless way for company personnel to submit their reports in a timely manner. Approvers and finance managers enjoy a flexible system that can be customized to their specific needs.
6. ExpenseNet – Developed by InterplX, this is the first web-based reporting software built to conform to the Sarbanes/Oxley legislation. ExpenseNet has the sophisticated capabilities to handle the most complex businesses with a diverse workforce.
7. ExpenseWatch – Employers who want to manage their expense reports online can use ExpenseWatch to track their travel and entertainment costs from anywhere. This software integrates with existing business workflows while also providing added flexibility.
8. Paybackable – This simple online application tracks employee mileage and expenses and is integrated with QuickBooks accounting software. Paybackable is an easy way to keep track of and submit out-of-pocket expenses.
9. Expensify – Employees can submit their expense reports online by importing directly from their credit card or bank account or by scanning their receipts. Expensify has free mobile apps and flexible reporting and reimbursement options.
10. Certify – Making expense reporting painless and simple, Certify has revolutionized the game of corporate expense management. Business travelers and their employers have a comprehensive system to handle global contingencies.

All of these web technologies help to free up employees from the hassle of keeping track of paper receipts and filling out tedious reports. Tracking and verifying expenses can be done more efficiently, thus reducing any time-consuming errors and verification processes. The risks of fraud and waste are greatly minimized because the expense approval is much less cumbersome. Many of these technologies integrate directly with accounting programs to eliminate data entry errors. Submitting travel expenses online has revolutionized the corporate world.

There’s an old saying that the three quickest ways to spread news are telephone, television, and tell a friend. Of course that saying predates the internet by about four decades, and now there’s really no hope for keeping a secret. In fact, there are so many ways to ruin a secret online that we’re going to share a list. It’s what we do, after all. Here are 10 ways that secrets told online don’t stay secret:

1. Shared Computer – One of the most common ways to compromise confidential info is when a computer or terminal has multiple users. Strong password protection and a screen-saver time-out setting are keys to safeguarding your secrets.
2. Joint Accounts – As in the above scenario, you share access with another user. Email, social network, or blog access for someone other than you means your secrets are not your own. You may want to look into creating an independent account.
3. Privacy Settings – It is not uncommon for social network users to leave their privacy settings open for non-friends to see their messages. This won’t jeopardize the really secret stuff you share only via private messaging, but it can give other users access to your Facebook wall, where they can get info you may not want just anyone to see.
4. Mobile Hackers – We’ve all seen examples of celebrity accounts being hacked in order to gain access to private date and photos. It can be done to just about anyone’s mobile device, so use adequate security and privacy settings on your browser and wireless network.
5. Screenshots – Remember, deleting a comment or an update doesn’t mean it’s gone forever. You never know who may be saving something you wish you hadn’t shared. Screenshots are a common way for information to say live forever.
6. Skype – A 21^st century version of the aforementioned telephone, Skype can dish your dirt worldwide in a heartbeat. Mind who you’re sharing your business with, girlfriend. And watch out what is going on behind you. It’s not a blank screen.
7. Hijacked Accounts – It’s rare, but it does happen. Social media and email servers provide multiple layers of security, but it’s a cat-and-mouse game that even the best measures only keep you one step ahead of the hackers. Change your passwords often, and make them strong. By the way …
8. Compromised Password – Many people choose passwords that are easy for them to remember, making them easy to decode in the process. Don’t use obvious number sequences like birth dates and anniversaries. Use a mix of special characters, numerals, large and small case letters, with a minimum of 8 total characters.
9. Friend of a Friend of a Friend … – Social networks like Facebook have a way of expanding beyond what you may be comfortable with, before you know it. Often times, users will gain access to others’ profiles by friending their way in, one layer at a time. Choose your friends carefully. It’s your network, after all.
10. Unfriending Friends – You may have justification in deleting someone from your circle of friends; but that doesn’t mean they will keep your secrets, secret. Remember, once it’s out there on the web, it’s out there for keeps. So keep that in mind before spilling your beans online.

Always remember that what you put online stays online. Forever. So think before you post anything, even if it is marked private. It is hard to argue that you kept a secret when it is typed out in black and white for the world to see.

Betting on the spread can be one of the toughest bets in sports gambling; it’s also one of the most popular when it comes to online betting. When oddsmakers place the spread, they predict the winner of the game. Here are ten of the most popular and trusted sites for point spreads on the internet.

1. Point-Spreads – From the site: “Established in 1997, Point-Spreads.com was one of the first sports information websites on the internet and quickly became the preeminent provider of sports editorial news, free sports picks and information services for the professional and novice sports enthusiast.”
2. Vegas – The official Las Vegas, Nevada travel site Vegas offers, in addition to travel information, point spreads that are constantly updated throughout the day. The line is only provided for informational purposes; there is no gambling on the website.
3. Vegas Insider – Known as the “global leader in sports gaming information,” Vegas Insider is a clearinghouse for all things gambling. In addition to professional sports, there are also options for betting on awards show results.
4. America’s Line – Filled with sports betting information in addition to the spreads, America’s Line is a can’t-miss resource for dedicated gamblers and sports bettors.
5. Doc’s Sports Service – With a live lines and odds that are updated every five minutes, Doc’s Sports Service is also a handicapping advice service owned and operated by the same proprietor since 1971. With offices in both Wisconsin and Las Vegas, Doc’s also employs a full staff.
6. Armchair Analysis – The owner of Armchair Analysis states, “This site is run by a true NFL fan with a passion for neat statistics that can be leveraged to beat the point spread. My hope is that you’ll find it to be a refreshing change from the industry norm.”
7. Vegas-Spreads – Established in 1997, Vegas Spreads has made quite a name for itself in the online sports betting world. According to their About Us, “Vegas-Spreads.com plays host to an advanced, integrated software system which delivers real-time sports betting odds and live Vegas point spreads from the world’s largest and most respected online sportsbooks. From a single web browser window, Vegas-Spreads.com readers are able to monitor streaming betting odds from several of the internet’s best online sportsbooks completely FREE.”
8. Sports Betting Lines – In addition to providing spread information, Sports Betting Lines also offers an extensive selection of online betting information, explanations and advice. An ideal choice for beginners, SBL provides concise information.
9. Football Locks – Another sports betting handicapping service that features points spread information, Football Locks staff considers the site to be the go-to resource for “NFL picks, predictions, point spreads and odds.”
10. The Spread – According to their About Us section, The Spread “…has been an industry leader in the publishing and delivery of sports and sports wagering information. Our dedicated staff of sports writers, editors, publishers and statisticians work 365 days a year to provide our visitors and partners the very best unique and accurate sports and wagering information available anywhere online.” Established in 1999, this site is a favorite of seasoned sports gamblers everywhere.

No need to call your ‘bookie,’ as seen in the films of yesteryear, to get the odds on the coming game. Just go online and a check a few of these sites to find out who the favorites are and how big of spread is being shown.

open to debate. And if debate is your thing, then there are indeed some topics that, more so than others, will get sparks flying.

To establish the safest, and most agreeable environment in which to build social networks, sites such as Twitter will provide terms of service (TOS) for its members. Included in those terms are topics and content that are designated as taboo, or off limits.  In addition to illegal and socially unacceptable topics, there are also issues that  are peculiar to online communication that are best to avoid as well. The following is a list of 10 topics that are taboo on Twitter:

1. Spam – Unwanted solicitations, with an evolving definition of what constitutes spam, based on certain factors which Twitter considers when addressing the issue.
2. Pornography – Twitter TOS declares: “You may not use obscene or pornographic images in either your profile picture or user background”.
3. Malware/Phishware – It is taboo to post, or link to, malicious content that is intended to damage or disrupt other members’ computers or browsers.
4. Third Party Sites – Promoting websites that promise to help you get more followers on Twitter is a no-no.
5. Racist Content – Although not expressly forbidden by the TOS, this is one of those areas where common sense and moral standards ought to make it unnecessary to spell out for you.
6. Threats/Violence –  On the other hand, you would think this one would go without saying also, but it is in fact listed in Twitter’s TOS.
7. Copyright – When posting content that infringes upon any copyright, a user is in violation of Twitter TOS, as well as whatever copyright laws that may apply.
8. Privacy – Posting private or confidential information, or any content that is intended to compromise the privacy of other members is prohibited by Twitter.
9. Impersonation – Content that is intended to deceive or mislead others, by impersonating someone else, is against the rules.
10. Illegal Activities – Any content that promotes, advertises or encourages illegal activities, or use of the Twitter service for unlawful purposes of any kind.

Heavy metal fans around the world have revered former Black Sabbath frontman and successful solo artist Ozzy Osborne for more than forty years. The following ten websites are among those that the Godfather of Heavy Metal should consider adding to his favorites list.

1. Alcoholics Anonymous – Osbourne’s battle with alcohol addiction has been well-publicized over the years. He has openly stated that he’s baffled by the fact that he managed to survive the years of extreme alcoholism and his resulting behavior.
2. The Alamo – One of the most well-known pieces of Ozzy-related history is the story of his decade-long banishment from the city of San Antonio, Texas. In a drunken stupor and his wife’s clothes, Osbourne urinated on the cenotaph honoring those who died at the Alamo. His antics led to an arrest and the refusal of city officials to allow his return.
3. PETA – In an infamous stunt that horrified record execs and outraged animal rights activists, Ozzy once bit the head off of a dove during a meeting. The original plan was for the birds to be released as a symbol of peace, but an inebriated Osbourne snatched one from the air and orally decapitated it. After spitting the bird’s head onto a table, he’s said to have smiled peacefully with blood dripping from his lips. Later, he also accidentally repeated the incident on-stage with a bat that he mistakenly thought was made of rubber.
4. Motley Crue – The 1984 tour that Osbourne shared with legendary party-animal rock stars Motley Crue has been called the “craziest drug and alcohol-fueled tour in the history of rock and roll.” Rock legend states that Ozzy snorted a line of ants after Crue bassist Nikki Sixx set fire to himself.
5. Tony Iommi – The relationship between Ozzy and founding Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has been a tumultuous one, by all accounts. After legal battles and artistic differences, the original members of the seminal outfit announced a reunion tour and new album in 2011. Fan celebrations were cut short in the earliest days of 2012 with Tony Iommi’s announcement of a lymphoma diagnosis. Plans for the album, with high-profile producer Rick Rubin at the helm, have not changed. Iommi insists that his treatments will not delay the long-awaited album.
6. Ozzfest – The massive touring metal festival that Ozzy and his team put together each year, Ozzfest, is always one of the concert season’s biggest draws. Each year’s lineup is a balance of the long-established heavy-hitters in the metal world and new up-and-coming acts.
7. IMDb – In addition to an impressive list of soundtrack contributions, Ozzy Osbourne has a handful of acting credits to his name. His turn as a televangelist anti-metal crusader in the 1986 cult film Trick or Treat is certainly one of Osbourne’s career highlights.
8. Ozzy – Like any self-respecting rock star, Ozzy’s sure to have a bit of a narcissistic bent. In order to satisfy those urges, his own official website is a must on the bookmarked list.
9. Scientific American – As the first (and only, to date) rock star to have his entire genome sequenced, Ozzy has also made a significant contribution to the scientific world. The data may, as science advances, aid researchers in the area of addiction science as well as isolating a propensity for musical skill on the genetic level.
10. The Sunday London Times –  Osbourne’s weekly contribution to the Sunday London Times in the form of a column entitled Ask Dr. Ozzy makes their website another must-visit on his list. The column draws upon the hard-living legend’s wide array of experiences and wisdom, covering the topics of addiction, music and witty advice.

Social media have such great potential for marketing, raising awareness, and sharing information that it’s become a natural resource for fundraising as well. There have been a number of innovative approaches employed already for that very purpose. In fact, here’s a list of ten ways to raise money for charity using Twitter:

1. ChipIn – ChipIn is a widget that you can download which will automatically accept donations for your cause and send them to your connected PayPal account. All you need to do is embed it on your web page, and direct followers to it in your tweets to get the ball rolling.
2. Join groups and follow tweeters that would most likely share an interest in your cause, and invite them to contribute donations. In fact, you can multiply the effectiveness of a fundraising campaign by working together as a network.
3. Ask followers and/or volunteers to re-post your fundraising message as their status.
4. Create a hash tag that can be retweeted, and easily searched in order to spread the word about your charity; it will also help you to monitor the effectiveness of your networking efforts.
5. Use resources such as Twtvite to schedule tweetups with your followers and volunteers to work in tandem on raising funds across the network.
6. Use Twitter’s advanced search feature to help you identify and locate members who would fit your target market. Search for organizations and individuals who are tweeting about your cause, or would share interest in it.
7. Find an organization that will sponsor your hash tag, and link it to your blog.
8. Set up your fundraising drive around a specific goal, rather than just a general cause. This will will create more focused effort, and instill more of a challenge in your audience.
9. Set up a schedule of tweets and status updates using resources like HootSuite, or Threadsy.
10. Join Twitpay to set up an easy method for collecting your donations. You can create embeddable tweets with Twitpay which allows your tweets to be retweeted by visitors to your blog without having to leave your website.

When social networking giant Facebook instituted an identity verification policy, many users were confused and upset by the development. The idea of sharing our cellphone numbers with an internet entity, regardless of its size, flies in the face of everything we’ve been told about identity protection and privacy. If you’ve been troubled by this development and unsure of the ramifications, here are ten of the reasons why Facebook wants to know who you are.

1. One Account Policy – Facebook’s policy regarding multiple accounts is very clear: they only allow one per person. By requiring an identity verification, they can eliminate a large percentage of superfluous profiles in one fell swoop.
2. Ensuring That Accounts Are Individual – Just as Facebook policies state that each person can only have one active account, they’re also vocal about their stance on shared accounts. In the interest of compromised security, Facebook insists that only one person use a profile or timeline.
3. No Pet or Inanimate Object Profiles – While creating a fan page for your pet (or pet rock) is acceptable, an active personal profile for pets, children and inanimate profiles is forbidden. Requiring that each identity attached to a profile be verified greatly reduces the number of incorrectly-built timelines.
4. To Avoid Fake Celebrity Profiles – Though they may seem harmless, false celebrity profiles are prohibited by Facebook policy. Reputation management is a priority for those in the public eye, and those reputations can be damaged by the actions of someone posing as a celebrity. By requiring that accounts be verified, Facebook has made it much more difficult to create and maintain these timelines.
5. Sex Offender Prohibitions – When a convicted sex offender’s profile is reported to Facebook, they require proof of the conviction before the profile is removed. By verifying the identity of Facebook users, they can ensure that a case of mistaken identity won’t lead to the loss of a timeline.
6. Curbing Spam – In the heyday of MySpace, there were more fraudulent spam bot profiles than legitimate ones. Facebook is actively taking measures to prevent a similar problem with spam by requiring an identity’s verification.
7. Personalizing Data Collection – While this sounds nefarious, it’s important to realize that most websites participate in some sort of data collection in order to personalize advertising. When Facebook collects information, they’re connecting it to a specific online persona to tailor the experience.
8. Identity Fraud Protection – Identity fraud isn’t limited to theft for financial gain; your online presence is also valuable and should be guarded. By instituting the verification policy, Facebook is helping to protect your online presence from anyone posing as you and maligning your reputation.
9. To Maintain the “Real Life” Connection – You may have noticed that Facebook asks if you know a person in real life before adding them; this is because they are committed to maintaining the “Real Life” social connection tenets that they were founded on. Verifying an actual identity ensures that profiles belong to real people.
10. Memorializing a Profile – When a loved one passes away, being bombarded by reminders of them can make a tragic situation even more upsetting. Verified members of a deceased user’s family can request that a profile is memorialized, which preserves the account but ends notifications that are randomly generated.

Facebook is a constantly-evolving network, with security measures that change periodically. It’s important to be sure that your security measures are customized and that you monitor these settings each time the Facebook model is updated.