We’ve previously explained why you should ditch your extensions for bookmarklets when you can to save on browser bloat. Whether or not you’ve taken your bookmarklets that far, the Bookmarklet Directory is a one stop directory of both new and popular bookmarklets worth checking out.

We’ve featured countless great bookmarklets in the past, highlighted ten of our must-haves, ten more very useful bookmarklets, and even released a couple of our own, but it’s great to have a repository to go searching for new bookmarklets (sort of like what Userscripts.org is for Greasemonkey scripts).

You can find a bookmarklet by using the search field or—if you don’t know what you’re looking for—browse Bookmarklet Directory’s highest rated, newest, and most popular list on the site’s homepage. Among today’s offerings is FontFriend, which lets you check how different fonts look on your screen without you having to hit refresh and Count, which is a bookmarklet for counting characters, lines, and words on a web page.

You can access any bookmarklet without registering, but you do have to sign up to comment, rate or add your own. The site promises to “to index every bookmarklet online,” though it bears saying that they’re a ways away from that goal.

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It’s just been a few short months since a proposed bill called for the creation of a National Cybersecurity Advisor, but it looks like there’s now not one but two new positions in the offing, with both the Pentagon and President Obama himself announcing plans for some newly elevated offices charged with keeping the nation’s networks secure. While a specific “Cybersecurity Czar” hasn’t yet been named, the White House position will apparently be a member of both the National Security Council and National Economic Council and, in addition to coordinating U.S. response in the event of a major attack, the office will also be tasked with protecting privacy and civil liberties. Details on the new Pentagon office, on the other hand, are expectedly even less specific although, according to The New York Times, it’ll be a military command that will work to coordinate efforts now scattered across the four armed services, and will apparently serve as complement to the civilian office in the White House.

Read - Reuters, “Obama to name White House cybersecurity czar”
Read - The New York Times, “Pentagon Plans New Arm to Wage Cyberspace Wars”

[Thanks, Ryan]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Networking

White House, Pentagon announce plans for new cybersecurity positions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re a regular reader of this site, you already know that food can be used for more than its stated purpose. Ketchup is no exception. Read on to find out how the condiment can help soothe wounds, add shine to your car, and more.

Photo by STeRnDaL.

Environmental weblog The Daily Green has listed nine alternative ways to put your ketchup packets to work. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Shine your copper: The article claims that you can “massage ketchup over the copper and watch it dissolve the tarnish away (thanks to the acid).” If you’re dealing with an especially stubborn spot, try adding in a pinch of table salt.
• Get healthier hair: There are other foods that can do this—avocados, for one—but you can also use ketchup. Rub it in you hair, then let it linger for about 20 minutes before washing.
• Soothe wounds: Freeze ketchup packets—or for that matter soy or other packets—and place them over your finger and other small wounds. It’s basically like a miniature version of those reusable, freezer-friendly ice packs.

Head to the full post for the complete list of suggestions and feel free to add yours—ketchup, mustard, or otherwise—to the mix in the comments.

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