The Mind on Fire in San Francisco

The only book Thoreau had at Walden Pond was Homer's Iliad. I just bought a copy from a bearded woman for $1.47 in the Mission District in San Francisco.

My mind has been racing lately, but I've been pouring my energy, not into blogging, but into understanding the strange Google universe and the fascinating and murky overlap between the fields of telecommunication policy and international development. More on that soon, but...

In Kigali, Josh Ruxin says Rwanda needs Microsoft's billions and its managers.

In Washington, Nicholas Carr writes that the Internet probably ruins are ability to be literate. I think he is right.

In Nairobi, Hash is geeking out with Barcamp Nairobi.

In New York, Paul Graham explores, in the best article I've read in a while, the unique character of global cities.