I use Google chat to keep up with a few friends, but my use of it is limited. A few of those friends and I are like-minded politically, which means that The Obama gets called a lot of choice names in our conversations. Our electronic banter is no doubt lost in an ocean of electrons out there, but sometimes you have to wonder: is anybody listening?

I found out about Brosix 3 BETA, a business oriented instant messaging client. What intrigues me about it is its claim to use "strong encryption." For business, the usefulness of such a feature is obvious. For personal use, and personal protection, it could be useful, too. The unrest in Iran is an example of times when tools like these come in handy.

I'll have to get into this one later. I've got a grill waiting to be lit and bratwursts waiting to be grilled.