links for 2009-03-24

Very cool multi-platform framework for mobile phones. "The creators of PhoneGap think it's nonsense that developers have to write the same app in several different programming languages to reach the widest swath of mobile phone customers, so they developed an open source, cross-platorm framework that bridges the gaps among them."

"US home sales rose last month, as buyers took advance of bargain priced houses that had previously been repossessed, industry data has shown." Makes sense.

The inner workings of an essay mill: writing papers for students too lazy to do them on their own.

"A reward of $2m (£1.37m) each will be paid to informers who help arrest Mexico's 24 most-wanted drug gang chiefs, the attorney general has said." So maybe something will happen?

"Global trade flows are set to shrink by 9% during 2009, according to a forecast by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Hardest hit will be developed nations, where trade is set to fall 10%. Poorer countries will see exports fall 2-3%." That's a whole lot of money.

iPhone app that generates a news feed for your city, very cool.

"Economists here say much of the blame lies with Mexican leaders, unable or unwilling to take on oligarchs and unions controlling key sectors of the economy like energy and telecommunications. But they say some blame goes to the unintended consequences of Nafta." So what do you think of free trade?

"France is to compensate people who suffered health problems as a result of three decades of nuclear weapons tests, its government says." That's quite a shift for France.

Good news for social media marketers.

Open source iPhone classes.

"In an effort to stimulate discussion, resolve party conflicts, and increase legislative productivity, members of the 111th Congress were once again required to watch an instructional video on bipartisan collaboration this week." Haha.

The clouds make everything easier.

"Summary: In separate reports, Fox News' Bret Baier and Megyn Kelly misrepresented the reported plans of the Obama administration to rescind a December 2008 Bush administration regulation to falsely assert that the Obama administration's decision could result in doctors' being prosecuted or discriminated against for refusing to perform abortions. In fact, federal law — which the Obama administration cannot "repeal[]" — prohibits public officials from requiring recipients of public funds to perform abortions or sterilizations in violation of their religious or moral beliefs." I got an email today regarding this very issue, so publicizing.