We Feel Fine

Speaking of making you happy, check out what they've done with blog mining over at WeFeelFine.


For over a year, they have been mining blogs to find how people are feeling. But that's not all, as they gather the 'feelings' they also snag as much about the location, weather, person blogging, gender, age -- and then do a cool visualization with a self-organizing particle system....

You just gotta check it out!

Kipp

Sunsets

Sunsets
Originally uploaded by kippster.

As reported in 'Good Morning Silicon Valley' by John Paczkowski, Despair: When silent suffering isn't enough

Despair.com which launched in 1998 to combat the motivational art infestation, has provided a new homework avoiding tool.


It just makes you happy!

Kipp

Johnsons

Wired
Originally uploaded by kippster.

We recently lost a couple of great friends and some of the best people you'd ever meet. My friend's parents from back home (Nebraska/Kansas) passed away -- Viron and Christa Johnson -- we'll miss them.

Very sad and tragic.

Of course these events are the only time groups of people get back together, so I did get to see my Bro and old man while I was there. I also took the opportunity to get a couple of photos since it was such a beautiful fall like day. These photos were taken as I drove across Kansas and into Nebraska.

This one is interesting -- wireless is everywhere!

And this just seems appropriate for the event...

Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

President Johnson-Sirleaf
Originally uploaded by kippster.

I'm involved in a project that is focused on figuring out ICT's role in the post-conflict rebuilding of Liberia. There is a lot to be done, and I'm excited to have a chance to visit Monrovia in several weeks.

Through much effort on Mike Best's part, we were able to host the President of Liberia recently on Tech's campus. She has a daunting task ahead of her, but it was inspiring to hear her talk about the opportunities for a fresh start and moving the country forward.

This was one of the first time she has given a speech focused on ICT's role in development in Liberia. After the public event, we were able to spend some time at lunch with her and her staff.

Then came a working meeting with a number of agencies, private entities, and academia to try to layout some of the issues and roles that the different parties can/should play in Liberia.

For my part, I'm hoping to help establish a baseline understanding of the current capabilities and the beginnings of a needs assessment and policy roadmap.


Some additional information about her visit made it online:

• AJC
  
• College of Computing (where I actually get a mention!)
  
• mp3 of the President's speech (14.3MB)
  
• AllAfrica coverage