Software as a Service and Cloud Computing

I've been doing a little research recently into Software as a Service (SaaS) and Cloud Computing, and have come across a couple of interesting articles. A couple of weeks ago, The Economist ran a special report on the evolution of Corporate IT (here, or in PDF). Tim O'Reilly posted a concise but interesting post on the O'Reilly Radar about Web 2.0 and Cloud Computing.

Damien does Radiohead

A friend of mine is in dire need of your vote for his remix of Radiohead's "Reckoner". If you think it's any good, please oblige by clicking on the "+ Vote" button below!

Bye bye bluefin

Yet another study on the population dynamics of the Bluefin Tuna, soon to be published on Conservation Letters, points to the almost inevitable collapse of the Mediterranean and North-East Atlantic stocks, even if a complete moratorium were to be imposed. Even this possibility seems unlikely: the current management plan of ICCAT (the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) calls for a gradual reduction in quotas to 25,500 tonnes by 2010, far above the recommendations of the scientific community.

Although it's clear that only concerted action by governments can bring about change in this situation, the WWF offers some advise on what you can do as a consumer. Greenpeace also manages a petition calling for the creation of marine reserves aimed at improving the conservation of tuna and other species.

The Amen Break

A fascinating video explaining the history and evolution of the Amen Break, one of the world's most important drum loops, used extensively in hip hop, jungle, breakcore and drum and bass music.

Tom Holler

Tom Holler, a trader at the Frankfurt stock exchange, is quickly attaining celebrity status as the personification of the financial crisis in many newspapers. Daylife has a good collection of Kai Pfaffenbach's photos. Well done Kai and good luck Tom!