Often we come across things that we want others to know about. On this page we introduce various things we have come across and that we think you might be interested in. Our reviews are organized by category and date.

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Title: Gmail
Company: Google
Date added: June 28, 2004
More info: Click here for more info

Google, this April 1st, unveiled its new plan to take over the world of email. Central to its effort is the promise of 1 GB of storage space. Of course the plan was met with controversy by privacy advocates when it was said that text ads that matched the content of your emails would be displayed. Today, I finally got my hands on an account using Gmail Swap and started using the service. I have only been playing with it for a few hours but the service seems to be a good one. New ideas include using conversation patterns to organize emails, and the ability to quickly archive, but not delete, mail in the inbox. I think I am going to like it. Right now I haven't been given the ability to invite others to try the service but I should be given that discretion soon, so if you want to be first in line for one of my invitations drop me a line at dsrinssyb@gmail.com and I will see what I can do.

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Title: The Stepford Wives
Directed by: Frank Oz
Date added: June 28, 2004
More info: Click here for IMDB info

Interesting premise to the movie but it doesn't go far from there. This movie is based on a novel by Ira Levin and was already made into a movie once. This effort, while it has it moments, falls a little flat. It has an edited feel and is slow in parts. Just the fact that it gets you thinking about issues related to gender in society is its redeeming quality.

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Source: Slashdot
Date added: June 28, 2004
To visit the site: Click here

Site I have been reading more of lately. News as chosen by the people. This site allows anyone to write in with news they think would be interesting to the digerati. Then even taking it one step further, the site allows for discussion of the topics raised. As the site is wildly popular the links users on the site suggest are often overwelmed by traffic and crash, a phenomenon known as "slashdotted". It's users are quite insightful though and reading just about any article would be considered educaitonal.

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Title: The Irresponsible Investor
Author: Michael Lewis
Source: NY Times Magazine
Date added: June 6, 2004
To read the article: Click here

Article that gets to the root of some important issues regarding business and corporate ethics. We often think that investing is pretty safe territory ethically. This article points out the effects of a corporate culture that is propagated by the desires of the shareholders. The end of the article is a fascinating case study on the Birkenstock company (of whose sandals I am proud owner!!) and their take on the costs that would be involved in going public. Worth reading right to the end.

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Title: Don't Know, Should Care
Author: Jeffrey Sachs
Source: NY Times
Date added: June 6, 2004
To read the article: Click here

Jeffrey Saches is one of the world's foremost experts on international policy and development. He serves as an advisor to Kofi Annan and was a professor at Harvard before recently moving to Columbia to head the Earth Institute. When he speaks about the relationship between the developed and the developing world, it is wise to listen. In this op-ed piece he explains why it is in America's interest to be engaged in helping developing countries develop. He states that USAID needs a complete overhaul and more prominence among government agencies. Most importantly though, he states that government officials need more knowledge and experience of the developing world, a prognisis I agree whole heartedly with.

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Title: Lost Boys of Sudan
Directors: NY Times
Date added: June 6, 2004
Official website: Click here. Make sure to check out the trailer, reviews and places near you it might be playing.

Amazing movie about two of the Dinka boys who arrived in the US as part of the massive resettlement effort around 2001. It briefly tells the story of how the boys came from Sudan and describes the conditions at the refugee camp where they stayed for ten years. The main part of the film is about thier adjustment to life in the US after they arrive. It is hard breaking to see how they have to basically fend for themselves in a new and different country. The documentary film makers really capture the feelings of the boys and the challenges they face. Their portrayal is completely natural and has a matter of fact feel. One of the best parts is hearing the two boys, Santino and Peter, express themselves in their new language. Their innocent use of the langauge helps them to crack through the true and tried expressions of someone on the outs and makes you face their situation for what it is. A cannot miss movie.

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