This thread contains mini-reviews of several DJ tools including:

• PCDJ Red Mobile
• DJ Surface
• DJ Legend

Nice roundup today on MakeUseOf.com about some good hardware review sites.  They recommend the following sites:

• Tom’s Hardware Reviews
• Overclockers Club
• HardOCP
• Legion Hardware
• Hardware Canucks

http://www.makeuseof...r-the-pc-enthusiast/

Nice philosophical take on how cynical and wrongheaded the iPad is in terms of openness:

The iPhone can, to some extent, be forgiven its closed nature. The mobile industry has not historically been comfortable with openness, and Apple didn’t rock that boat when it released the iPhone. The iPhone was no more or less open than devices that preceded it, devices like those from Danger that required jumping similar bureaucratic hurdles to develop for.

That the iPad is a closed system is harder to forgive. One of the foremost complaints about the iPhone has been Apple’s iron fist when it comes to applications and the development direction of the platform. The iPad demonstrates that if Apple is listening to these complaints, they simply don’t care. This is why I say that the iPad is a cynical thing: Apple can’t – or won’t – conceive of a future for personal computing that is both elegant and open, usable and free.

http://al3x.net/2010/01/28/ipad.html

I am thinking to buy a new trackball. At the moment I mainly use my Wacom pad, Logitech G9(good mouse), n52 Gamepad and Logitech marble trackball, but I need a convenience trackball for my left hand when it is not on the keyboard. The L marble trackball is fine for general work but I need something better. I am looking for non wireless devices(sick of changing batteries)

I read couple good reviews about this laser one for example. It is little pricey but if it is good I am sure I can get some juice out of it. Also my wrist is more important than the price of the trackball in the long run.. Plus it will be an office investment.

Do you use any other trackball that can be the pinnacle of trackball design?

Red Hat launches OpenSource.com. Should be interesting.

We want to shine a light on the places where the open source way is multiplying ideas and effort, even beyond technology. We believe that opensource.com will be a gathering place for many of the open source stories we'd like to share--through articles, audio, web presentations, video, or open discussion.

What I especially love about this book is how each thing is written up as an experiment that a child can do and record their notes on their experiments.  Love it.

Fifty Dangerous Things (you should let your children do) is the first book from the people who created Tinkering School. With projects, activities, experiences, and skills ranging from "Superglue Your Fingers Together" to "Play with Fire," along with 48 other great ideas, the book is a manifesto for kids and parents alike to reclaim childhood. Easy to follow instructions, fun facts, and challenging undertakings that will engage and inspire whole households... More importantly, there are many "dangerous" things that are interesting, eye-opening, enlightening or just plain fun! And while there are aspects of danger in virtually everything we do, the trick is to learn how mastery actually minimizes danger. Most of us learn how to walk without toppling over at a very young age, so that walking is no longer dangerous. Next we learn to negotiate stairs. Why stop there? Why not practice and become proficient at walking on the roof or walking on a tightrope?

http://www.amazon.co...dos/ASIN/0984296107/