Why does Google offer these services for free? They tell us that they want to organize the world's information. Google offers free wireless internet for the same reason they offer the new analytics service: Information. Using their internet allows them to see all where everyone using their service is going. Analytics allows them to see who is coming to your website. Properly analyzed Google could personalize advertisments information to be targeted directly for you. As everyone knows information is power. Big brother, anyone?

And for those of you who miss the tunes of those good old games, check out Gaming FM, they've got a classic and a modern selection for your listening pleasure.

Click the continue button to play the game!

PS: My birthday is November 2nd. Feel free to spoil me.

Google, IBM and Motorola have all announced investments in BPL. State and federal legislation have also begun to push for easing up on standards required by the power lines. Is this good or bad? That remains to be seen. On to my FAQ:

• Q: Does the electric utility provide the internet access directly?
  A: No, the internet company partners with an ISP, the provider connects the network to the Internet and the electric utility connects the ISP to their power grid.



• Q: Will I really be able to plug my compter into any room in the house and gain internet access?
  A: Sort of. If by any room in the house, you mean any room that has an electrical current, and if by plug in you mean take the BPL router that is provided and plug it into the wall along with your computer, then yes. If that's not what you mean, then unless you get the wireless version, you will not be able to gain instant access by plugging your comptuer into the wall. Which means you will still have to route internet cables throughout the house, just like you would with Cable or DSL broadband.



• Q: Is BPL more accessible than other forms of broadband internet?
  A: Kind of. For those who cannot get cable or are not within the short range to the telephone companies DSL stations, BPL will be a great alternative to that 56k modem! However, the electric company must deploy repeaters to reach the areas that are far out there, and this can be expensive.



• Q: What are the technical problems/constraints associated with BPL?
  A: This gets a bit technical, but I've tried to tone it down so hold onto your butts: BPL, unlike DSL and Cable, is inherently unsuited for carrying the frequencies that BPL uses. Power lines, telephone lines, and cable all act like natural low pass filters, meaning higher frequencies are reduced more than lower frequencies when attempting to transmit them through the line. Telephone is generally suitable up to 100 Mhz and cable can go up to about 3 Ghz. Power lines would be suitable for up to perhaps 20 Khz, maybe at most 350 kHz.
  However, power lines are designed to carry electrical power. They were not designed to carry radio signals. They do this very poorly, loosing much of the signal to losses and, more importantly, radiating them as radio signals that can and do affect nearby receivers using those frequencies. Amateur radio operators, CB operators and shortwave listeners are all found commonly in the residential neighborhoods where BPL will be installed. They will all suffer strong interference if BPL uses their frequencies at the permitted levels. Other uses of HF spectrum include business, government, military and aeronautical. Many of these users and their organizations have expressed strong concern about BPL and its interference potential. Telephone and cable don't present this problem, so this is the obstacle that must be overcome before the system is put into place.



• Q: How fast can BPL get?
  A: BPL can travel at speeds up to 200Mbps. Although speeds of up to 600Mbps have been reported.

A diagram on how BPL works (swiped from Ameren):

As my first entry on my World Takeover edition of joshmaag.com I will introduce you all to the Urinal Game. Men, when you play this, just think of common bathroom etiquette and women, just do your best to imagine having to deal with urinals and how easy it is to see the "stick" next to you. Enjoy!

Oh and as a tip, one of the answers isn't completly obvious. If you're a female and you get them all on the first time without having played before I'll give you props! (I'm not exactly sure what you can do with props, but I'll let you figure that out.)