Wikipedia Entry Scanner

A Caltech graduate student, Virgil Griffith, has written a program which the popular free online encyclopedia Wikipedia can be searched for edits. 

Wikipedia is a very popular source of information that can be edited by everyone.   The theory is people who know information about "The Report of 1800" or some obscure topic, can update and change entries.  Ideally these changes are for the better.   Those who edit entries only have their IP address recorded.  This is where what Griffith did gets interesting.

Most IP addresses of government agencies, companies, organizations are public information.  So what Griffith did was write a program that would search know IP address sources (Democratic Party, Republican Party, Fox News, New York Times,  ACLU, Vatican) so that the entries that were changed from a computer inside these organizations can be viewed.   This is a brilliant idea - and will definitely get some traction since it can be searched by anyone.  Here are some entries to get started:  The links show the actual differences in pages.  The left side is the old page - the right side is new revisions highlighted in red.

New York Times - IP address 199.181.174.146

What inspiring did they have to say about Bush

Changes to NYT liberal bias. Looks like they wanted to soften it.

The NYT thought Tom Delay's entry was inaccurate.

Remember all this is taking place on computers at New York Times offices - not at the home of a journalist.

What pages did the Democratic Party need to update:

Rush Limbaugh

How about the ACLU:

Pope Benedict XVI

Lots of fun.  These are just a few examples.  Of course most are "real" changes to pages, but it is interesting to see what changes groups are making - while they are "unbiased."  

Moving Towards Socialism

From a recent speech: 

In her address to about 250 people in a Derry elementary school gymnasium, Clinton criticized unscrupulous mortgage brokers who push customers into borrowing more to pad their commission or are dishonest about the true cost of the loan. To help curb the number of foreclosures, Clinton proposed setting up a $1 billion fund to assist homeowners in making arrangements with lending companies to stay in their home.

She also discussed the lack of affordable housing, an issue that is particularly a problem in New England. To promote more affordable housing construction, Clinton proposed another $1 billion fund which would be distributed to state, county and local affordable housing programs.

Who's fault is it for sub-prime loans?  Clinton seems to blame the mortgage brokers.  I would say it is both the brokers and the buyers.   The brokers are guilty for extending a loan to someone who they knew could likely not pay it back.  And the homeowners for signing up for a loan that they can't afford.  

Here's an idea SELL THE HOUSE!  

I guess Clinton would prefer that people look to the government to solve all their problems instead of taking personal responsibility for their actions.

Handling of the War

The latest Zogby poll:

The percentage of people who approve of the handing of the war:

President Bush: 24%

Congress:  3%

I won't hold my breath waiting to see this on the nightly news.  

You knew this was coming.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0807/5228.html

Reid even suggested that Bush has been too distracted by the Iraq war and post-Sept. 11 national security needs to focus on the country's water, sewer and transportation infrastructure. 

Guess we'll just ignore this.