Monday Links: August 25th, 2008

• Hey folks–sorry for the light blogging lately.  Deadlines at work and fun weekend trips combine for precious little bloggin’ time.  Thanks to everybody in NYC for a terrific visit this weekend…always good to see you all, and I enjoyed exploring a bit more of the big city.

A few links:

• Consider this a Tropophilia bleg (blog+beg=you get the idea): if you’ve studied abroad, head over to our friend Henry’s site and rate your program: Rate Your Study Abroad.com.  They’re starting to build the database of programsfor the first time, and they would really appreciate a few minutes of your time.

• Thanks to Jack for sending along what he called “the clearest and most scientifically sound explanation of electric cars I’ve ever seen.”  The whole thing is brief and worth reading, as it provides an answer to the question I’ve heard often:

If the electricity used to charge up an electric car is created by burning fossil fuels, is it better to stick with a gas-powered car with good fuel economy?

• Apparently 80% of Facebook users have rejected the new site design in favor of the old layout…that is, while they still can: Facebook plans to make the new version mandatory in September.  Are you using the old layout or the new?

• For all of you New York folks, here’s a great Google Maps mash-up site that plots out safe biking routes between any two points.  I’m incredibly jealous, and I would love an easy bike route-generator for my neighborhood.  Jarred, could you get on that please? [Hat Tip: TechCrunch]

• Dan at techPresident honors the anniversary of the “Macaca Moment”:

Just two years ago, the modern age of YouTube/Web Video Politics began:

On 8.11.06, Sen. George Allen, a shoo-in for reelection and early favorite for the GOP 08 pres nomination, called Web Campaign video tracker S.R. Sidarth “Macaca”.

On 8.14.08, the Webb campaign, unable to get TV stations to take the video and run with the story, posted it on the new video service, YouTube, which as of then was not on anyone’s political radar.

The rest is history.

Here’s the moment that started it all:

More new stuff to come this week, but that’s all for now.