A new RSA video’s been released that discusses the different ways in which the Internet has been used to both promote and stifle free speech and democracy.

Never underestimate an intelligent man’s abilitiy to adapt things for his own purposes–whether bad or good.

Security
UN atomic agency says Japan situation ‘very serious,’ but not deteriorating significantly
White House declines to endorse Japanese government crisis response
More smoke rises from Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant
Cable reaches Japan nuclear plant
Radiation plume likely to reach California today
Dearth of Candor From Japan
UN security council backs Libya no-fly zone and air strikes
Libya crisis: Britain, France and US prepare for air strikes against Gaddafi
Libyan rebels prepare to defend main stronghold as Gadhafi’s forces besiege closest major city
Gaddafi threatens retaliation in Mediterranean as UN passes resolution
Europeans say intervention in Libya possible within hours of U.N. vote
China expresses ‘serious reservations’ about UN resolution on Libya
Bahrain arrests opposition leaders after crackdown
Bahrain’s Kleptocracy in the Crosshairs
U.S. Navy: Fifth Fleet operations ‘remain normal’, evacuation optional
Rally set for Friday in DC protesting Saudi military’s incursion into Bahrain
Eighty-four wounded in new anti-gov’t clashes in Yemen
Saudi king warns against unrest
Why the Saudi Dynasty Will Endure
Egypt’s ‘Youth Of The Revolution’ Call For A Stop To Demonstrations In The Country
Egyptians fear that even after agency disbanded, agents of secret police could be a threat
Egypt releases brother of Al-Qaeda’s Zawahiri
Jordanian King: We’ll Hold Early Parliamentary Elections
Syrian VP: Significant Reforms In Syria On The Way
Organizers Of Qatar Revolution: We Failed
Reports: WMD components intercepted en route to Iran
Iran Reformist Party Outlawed
Shiites in Iraq’s holy city of Karbala rally against Saudi-led Sunni troops sent to Bahrain
Turkey detains 20 suspected members of anti-Erdogan militant group
Turkey sends aid to Russian Far East
Barak warns ‘tsunami’ of sanctions awaits Israel
White House appears reluctant to take hard line with Arab monarchies
The Region: A model for unrest against Israel?
Muslim World: Revolution! (for Muslim Arabs only)
The Arab counter-revolution is winning
Time to Lead in the Middle East
U.S. Silence on Middle East Turmoil Hurting the West
For Want of a Strategy
Armenian opposition marches on Yerevan’s central square
Shelling kills 12 in Ivory Coast market
South Sudan army clash with heavily armed militia
Clinton presses Tunisia on democratic reforms after revolt that shook broader Mideast
Unusually deadly US strike kills 38 near Afghan border; Pakistani officials argue over dead
Pakistan army chief condemns U.S. drone attack
Pakistan anger over Davis release
Editorials in Pakistani Dailies Warn of Expanding Middle Eastern War
When Tribes Go to War in Pakistan
Tibet monk death ‘sparks protest’
Panic buying of salt sweeps Beijing, parts of China in wake of Japan nuclear crisis
China: The Next Nuclear Meltdown
Narco-capitalism grips North Korea
Mekong Damned in Laos
Rioters torch buildings, try to escape immigration detention center off Australian shores
Drug-resistant TB threat grows in Europe
Jean-Bertrand Aristide defies US by heading back to Haiti
Venezuelan officials say swine flu cases detected, 1 person dies

Military
Roughead says Russian, Chinese navies growing
America’s Navy and the rise of China
China Outpacing India’s Military
Iran test fires latest space rocket — IRNA
Russian Military Considers the United States its Main Enemy in the Far East
Russia may lose $6 bln on Algeria, Syria arms contracts – expert
Diversity panel wants military to look like U.S.
U.S. Navy Orders Two More Littoral Combat Ships
Navy stops moving sailors to Japan

Environment
Deadly heatwaves will be more frequent in coming decades, say scientists

Technology
Shockwave-Generating Wave Discs Could Replace Internal Combustion Engines

Economy
US Backing For World Currency Stuns Markets
US inflation rate picks up speed
Inflation Rears Its Ugly Head
Average rate on 15-year mortgage falls below 4 percent, first time since mid-December
Economic Aftershocks From Japan
G7 agrees concerted action to tackle threat of rising yen
India Central Bank Raises Key Rates

Politics
House rejects quick drawdown from Afghanistan
Congress passes second bill to avert shutdown
Democrats’ Proposed Cuts Amount to One-Seventh of Deficit . . . for Tuesday
Poll: 81% fear for Social Security
U.S. Corporate Tax Rate Set to Take over Number One Spot
Taming Leviathan: The Ever-Growing State

Religion
Future US envoy may worship at Chinese ‘house church’
Coptic Christians attacked by Egyptian military after suspending demonstrations
Ethiopian Muslim Group Says More Attacks against Christians are Coming
Kathmandu, high risk of attacks against Christians
Iran: Dismantle Evangelism
W.H. mum as .xxx nears approval

I remember being geeky excited as a kid to go to the Corning Museum, mostly because they had a submarine periscope you could play with. Well, it seems the folks at Corning are still making–or at least planning to make–more cool stuff out of glass. Behold:

Yes, the technology in this promotional video is amazing, but the Orwellian possibilities are a little, you know, unsettling.

I’ve been thinking hard recently about getting an eReader (or possibly a tablet to serve in this role).

Anyone out there got one (or more) and have some thoughts?