Web/Tech

That corner around which we will have convergence -- and we can do everything with one smallish device -- is getting closer and closer. We can now call people directly on their phones from our Gmail accounts. And Dell has a combination netbook and smartphone; it's generally getting savaged by critics, but, hey, it's a start.

Do you know what these are?

1) jetblue flight attendant, 2) steve slater, 3) bleach episode 283, 4) lindsay sloane, 5) ind vs nz, 6) shanna mclaughlin, 7) parenthood, 8 ) dish network, 9) rachel bilson and, 10) portia de rossi.

Public Access Michiana Inc. wants a share of cable franchise fees collected by South Bend so it can bring back Channel 99, the public accesc channel they once had there. Fort Wayne gets a good mention:

Mr. Early Adopter gets burned again:

Kindle is our #1 bestselling item for two years running. It's also the most-wished-for, most-gifted, and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon. Now it's even better.

Despicable:

Jasonville, Indiana (CNN) -- Last Christmas, Stacey Chapman hung a stocking, anxiously awaiting the homecoming of the all-American soldier she had met online and planned to marry.

The increase in e-book sales continues, but don't write the obit for the dead-tree version quite yet:

 Amazon says its Kindle e-book sales are three times larger than they were last year, and it sells 43 percent more Kindle e-books than hardcover books on average. It's pretty clear that people are adopting Kindle Books, and e-books in general, at a faster rate than any other book format.

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Anybody think this will work?

Anxious to lift an outright ban on comments, The Attleboro (Mass.) Sun-Chronicle has begun requiring two things of online readers who want to leave their thoughts on stories: 99 cents and their real names.

The newspaper should expect much criticism from various quarters, but it's a fascinating experiment and a bold response to the endless trolling, vitriol and drivel that is enabled by anonymity in online forums.

A blow against censorship and for the First Amendment:

Sign of the times:

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — With most students now using cell phones, Indiana State University officials plan to remove telephone service from individual residence hall rooms.
Campus residential life director Rex Kendall says usage of residence hall land lines has plummeted over the past few years as cell phone use has soared nationwide.

I agree:

Last week we asked you to share your favorite to-do list manager, we rounded up the most popular responses, then you voted for your favorites.