Our Sun, the star closest to our home planet, is the source of life for every living thing on Earth. It is the reason why our planet continues to exist. Our planet cannot survive without the sun. It keeps the world’s climate and our atmosphere at sustainable and survivable levels.

The Sun’s rays enable plants to process the nutrients they need to survive and grow. Animals, including us, also need the Sun to keep their bodies strong and healthy. Sunlight gives us vitamin D for our body.

Without the Sun, the Earth would perish and all that live on the planet would ultimately vanish.

That is why I believe that among the sustainable energy ideas being bruited about, those that have to do with the Sun will prove most practical and doable.

Solar-Powered Keyboard

Computer peripherals vendor Logitech seems to agree with this notion. Recently, the company introduced the K750, a wireless solar-powered keyboard. More than being solar-powered, however, the keyboard can be powered by any form of light. Even indoors, the keyboard’s built-in solar panel can harness ambient light to power the unit up.

The lean and sleek Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 not only looks good. The low-profile keyboard also comes with a solar power software tool that includes a lux meter that lets users measure light levels, provides information on battery levels, and also tells users when they need more power. This wonder keyboard comes with a suggested retail price of $79.99 or about Php3,440.
 
Digital Piracy

A jury in Minnesota has told Jammie Thomas-Rasset, a single mom, to pay $1.5 million for illegally downloading 24 songs. The jury’s ruling is the third favorable verdict won by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), an industry group waging war against digital piracy.

The RIAA hopes that through the thousands of lawsuits it has filed against Internet users who allegedly downloaded music files illegally it would be able to help the music recording industry turn the tide against online piracy. But cases like the one against Thomas-Rasset, I believe, would not frighten hard-core pirates into ceasing and desisting from their happy peer-to-peer ways.

And even if they did, would that be worth risking the ire of the general music-consuming public?

Ultimately, the group and the industry it represent might be able to win a million or so dollars. Still, the industry’s legal victories could end up Pyrrhic. This corner hopes that all stakeholders rethink their positions regarding the Internet and its implications for copyright and intellectual property.

Soon.That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.