What men daily do, not knowing what they do!
The Internet provides minimal information about us when we go online, but compensates by providing immediate, dynamic exploitation of that information. This post in the identity article series shows what we tell others just by connecting to the Internet. Previous posts in this series explored the various identifies that track you in real life. Now we can look at the traits that constitute your identity online. A little case study may show how fluid these are. Read more.

See Bacteria-Powered Micro-Machines. This and more in today's Four Short Links.

End of year is a time when companies and departments reflect on the previous year and begin planning for new projects and challenges in the coming year. It's also a time when departments usually restructure to bring more focus and fortification to the challenges ahead. It's a time to re-org. Re-orgs can be stressful. If you've spent the previous year in one role it's natural to be a little intimidated if your role has changed. But re-orgs are a good thing. Read more.

Reading this morning's New York Times story, Mobile Phones Become Essential Tools for Holiday Shopping, I was reminded again of the fundamental shortsightedness of so many of our economic decisions, that flaw in human nature that makes us seize on temporary advantage without thinking of the long-term consequences. The article focuses on the use of applications like ShopSavvy and RedLaser to do comparison price checking while in the store. On the surface, these are great tools for consumers (and there are other applications besides price comparison.) But remember, cutthroat pursuit of the lowest price will hasten the demise of many retailers, while strengthening others (usually, the biggest and most efficient, who can make money on the slenderest margins.) But what happens once those mega-retailers are the last one standing? Prices are likely to go up. Read more.

I was perusing the Google Code blog recently, and stumbled across a post explaining the new Google Browser Size tool. This is a tool that allows you to compare the size & layout of your design against data showing the most common browser sizes of client machines. Read more.

To be or not to be: that is the question.
Hamlet's famous utterance plays a trick on theater-goers, a mind game of the same type he inflicted constantly on his family and his court. While diverting his audience's attention with a seemingly simple choice between being and non-being, Hamlet of all people would know very well how these extremes bracket infinite gradations. Our fascination with Hamlet is precisely his instinct for presenting a different self to almost everyone he met. Social networking gives us an impetus to review how we appear online. When people ask who we are, questions multiply far beyond the capacity of a binary "to be" digit. Read more.

O'Reilly is launching the first-ever Global Ignite Week, to bring together as many local Ignites as possible. Read more.

'Twas a night during the holidays, when all through the house
Everyone was connecting and using their mouse.
The screens were alight and holding their stares,
While holiday music from iTunes loudly blared.

The children were chatting and texting their friends,
Searching for YouTube clips they just had to send;
And Daddy with his iPhone and I with my RIM
Were synching our calendars to meet at the gym.
Read more.

The Importance of What You Say — "People laugh when I tell them I'm a professional speaker. They assume at first that I'm some kind of self-help guru or infomercial star," writes Scott Berkun in a new O'Reilly Insights column on Forbes.com. In the column, the bestselling author of the newly released Confessions of a Public Speaker discusses how to choose what to say and which angle to take. Read more.

Holiday Gift Guide — Need a gift for the hard-core geek in your life? How about the DIYer or digital photographer? O'Reilly has something for every techie and crafter on your list, from hobbyist to pro. Check out our Gift Guide to see our new titles, and pick up some great gifts for the holidays. Give O'Reilly.

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