I am awash in links to software I’ve been meaning to try:

* Installspy (yet another spyware detector), noticed at Lockergnome. * FirelogXP (ICS log analyser), also via Lockergnome. * Outlook Junk Filter Upgrade via Chris Meirick * Newsgator service release. * Markdown markup processor for MT via Aaron Swartz (tho I am already a Textile user) * Xbox friends tracker, via Scott Hanselman * Feedburner rss processor, via Martin * Co-citer and Onfolio, both via Scoble, both for organizing my collection of web findings * Artrage paint program via Don Park * A bunch of CSS tweaks at Mandarin Designs, via Weblogg-ed News * Blognavigator, yet another rss reader, via Scoble. * Some math symbol fonts via Lockergnome. * the latest BitTorrent via emergent report * Anagram from Marc’s Outlook on Productivity (Marc has consistently cool stuff) * Ebay RSS feeds via Sebastien Paquet * Style Master, a css editor, from Digital Web Mag. * Windows Installer Cleanup Utility to get rid of annoying install turds, from Lockergnome. * Motherboard Monitor from Lockergnome. * Dodgeit for throwaway email addresses (checkable via RSS!) * Onenote via Marc’s Outlook again. * Knoppix via Matt Croydon and Rich. * some of these recos from Pirillo. * Windows Services for Unix from Anil Dash. * Drag and Drop attachments for OWA via Tosh Meston * Whizfolders to organize writing snippets. * Icecast streaming media server. * Tasktracker from Marc’s Outlook * Mute filesharing software via Slashdot. * FTPEditor via Betanews.

All these great packages and I haven’t tried a one. Why? I am a huge consumer of software and am generally willing to install anything. The impediment is state management. Increasingly I use 5-6 machines interchangeably on a regular basis – 2 at work thru a KVM, 3 or 4 at home in different places, and public machines at other workplaces, hotels, etc. It is not helpful to have an app installed on just one machine – and it is too time consuming to install it on all. Really I want to install stuff just once, on my webserver, and have it be available on any machine that I work from. I am a bleeding edge PC user but I think this is going to become a more prevalent issue for all consumers…

Some recent posts – Marc Andreessen explains comparative advantage on John Robb’s blog. Also goes on to explain what the US’s comparative advantages may be. Per Tyler Cowen, small businesses are outsourcing too.

These mostly have me thinking about this question: What guidance should we be giving our college-age and high-school-age kids as they think about their educational and career paths? Offshoring/globalization/whatever you call it is going to be a big fact of their lives. Complaining about it is like complaining about gravity; you just have to embrace it and learn how to use it to your advantage. Some of the points of guidance I am formulating:

* Educate yourself to the top of the world. A bachelor’s degree by itself doesn’t cut it. Plan on a masters or phd. Take advantage of today’s higher standard of living here in the US and spend more money and a longer time on education.

* Be multi-lingual. The US has historically not emphasized language education. It might be more important now.

* Consider the fusing of multiple domains in education. In a world where everyone has a batchelor’s, expertise in two domains will still stand out and be valuable. Engineering AND economics, materials science AND computer science, materials science AND law, etc. I know in my own case having MSs in both business and engineering made a huge difference in the number of job offers I received as well as average salary offer – that will only be more true in the future.

Forgot to mention this last week – congrats to UIEvolution (an Ignition portfolio company) on their acquisition by Square Enix [PDF]. Good luck guys!

Via Shifted Librarian, you can add infocombot as a buddy in AIM and play a whole range of old infocom games. way cool.

Interesting study at Marginal Revolution: Income inequality over time: War and other disruptions appear to damage capital income more than labor income. If that is the case, a healthy and peaceful society might have increasing income inequality. In other words, if we are lucky, income inequality will increase even more.

In the spirit of Jive and other past efforts, the Shizzolater. Via Scobleizer: Microsoft Geek Blogger. Very funny.

Note to self – read Release Notes for latest software/firmware build and see if I need to update my halloween lighting controller.

I was reading the Coca-Cola annual report tonight. What was most interesting to me was the partial list of all the brands they have worldwide.

* Diet Pop. Now that is marketing magic. Ditto 187168. * Bimbo Break. I guess we know the target market for that one. * Diet Almdudler, Drim, Tuborg Squash. Now don’t those sound refreshing? * Beat, Burn, Hit, Shock, and Slap. For the masochists in the crowd. * I knew about Dr. Pepper and Mr. Pibb, but did you know about their buddies Disney Winnie the Pooh, Fraser & Neave, Master Chill, Master Pour, Mickey Mouse, Pepe Rico, the Pocket Dr., the Robinson Brothers, Samantha, and the Thextons? * Chivalry and Neverfail sound very uplifting. * Combine Ripe N Ready and Love Body, which via a Wink, leads to an Urge, and then Joy – but don’t forget Safety First. * Chaudfontaine, Diet Inka Kola, Guarana Jesus, Jurassic Well, Sparletta Iron Brew, Water Salad. No idea what these are, but I’d buy a can of any of them in a second.

Installed James Seng’s blog: Bayesian filter for MT tonight to deal with the increasing flow of comment spam. Decided to try this solution because it intrigued me, and because mt-blacklist seemed like a pain to install. We’ll see how it goes.

Senators are really good at stock-picking – nice find from Raymond Chen. As the comments point out, the causality here is not totally clear. Though a strong suggestion that Senators benefit from their position.

Now I thought that Presidents put all their assets into trust when they were elected – should not US Senators do the same?

BuckeyePlanet - All things Ohio State

Pointer to PPT by the CEO of Northern Light – good articulation of the needs for the future – certainly suggests that Google won’t be the last great new company in the search space.

Good list of basic principles for network markets.

I am tired of fighting spam. I have 4 different spam filters installed on email, they catch 99% of it, but it is still a pain to keep the filters up to date, check for false positives, etc.

So I decided Wednesday to quit fighting. I am just going to totally surrender to spam and take advantage of all these great opportunities in my inbox.

This is going to take some money. So first I took out 2 loans, and consolidated my existing debt to get my payments down. Nice little seed of cash flow. 3 spam down, and I have a nice little nest egg to work with.

But I really need to grow that money. So I took 1/3rd to an offshore casino – 1 cent slots with million dollar jackpots! And I invested 1/3rd in US Government Tax Certificates, whatever they are – 50% returns guaranteed! And then sent the last third to poor Mrs Mariam Abacha in Nigeria. From this last deal alone I’ll make $8M dollars! 6 spam down.

First off, I am going to focus on personal growth. I’m going to pick up that PhD I’ve been wanting – apparently I don’t need to deal with any annoying classes or thesis. I’ve signed up for that Sales training course. I’m going to stop smoking. I’m getting stars named after me and my whole family. And I’m promoting my blog, on two different services. 12 spam down.

After all this self improvement, I deserve a break. I’ve signed up for two vacations – a free weekend at a resort, and a cheap flight to Europe. I’m getting free cable tv installed. I just got a great price on Adobe Photoshop. I’ve signed up for an extended warranty on my car. 17 spam down.

But after all this selfish focus and rampant consumerism, I am filled with self-loathing. I’ve started smoking again, so I am going to pick up cigarettes for cheap by the carton. I buy two banned CDs the government doesn’t want me to see. I visit a great porn site, delivered privately to my home. 21 spam down.

My short dive into the seedier side has cleansed me – I am going to pursue a purer life with renewed enthusiasm. What has really been missing is love. I’ll accept offers for 3 different blind dates that apparently have been set up for me. I am quite optimistic, I order viagra online from 18 different services! And I order one batch of size enhancement pills. 43 spam down.

I’m headed out for a big evening. Quickly now, before I run – scan my PC for bugs and spyware that may have entered my system after opening all this spam. And then open 6 email worms so I can keep the email flow going for all of you.

All 50 spam dealt with. It really wasn’t that bad.

* My number one source of Google hits is “omarosa”. Based on one blog entry on my site. * Heidi Bressler seems to have purchased the “Omarosa” keyword on Google. * Omarosa of course has her own website. * Of course a million blogs covering – here’s one.