Google Search: superfund near East Palo Alto, CA 94303: Here's an interesting example of Google's new local search.  Instead of searching for hotels near my house, I asked for "superfund" (as in toxic waste sites).  Its top 10 results includes 4 toxic sites, 3 city agencies, 2 consulting firms that advise about superfund issues, and one newspaper.  The newspaper link is an odd one: it points to a page where an environmental advocacy group asks people to write letters to the newspaper!  Changing the query to "superfund site" adds a company that sold software to a superfund-related company.  I also looked for "USAID" as a way to find local people in international development, and got a similar mix with a few interesting bits and some odd ones.  Google calls it a beta version; it's US only.  It'll be interesting to see if it improves.  11:15:29 PM    

FBI adds to wiretap wish list: "Legal experts said the 85-page filing includes language that could be interpreted as forcing companies to build back doors into everything from instant messaging and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) programs to Microsoft's Xbox Live game service. The introduction of new services that did not support a back door for police would be outlawed, and companies would be given 15 months to make sure that existing services comply. "  It's now before the FCC.  1:17:21 AM