Odds and Ends:

Anatomy of Cross Site Scripting. I haven't read this yet (it got slashdotted and I couldn't get to it), but it looks to be interesting.

The first Jedi was reported in Star Wars Galaxies. I've never really gotten into the MMORPG games, however the new Final Fantasy and the Star Wars Galaxies are definitely piquing my curiousity. I may just have to try it out.

I had a chance to read an article at the Harvard Business Review entitled "Contextual Marketing: The Real Business of the Internet". It's pretty good. From the search result page:

The painful truth is that the Internet has been a letdown for most companies--largely because the dominant model for Internet commerce, the destination Web site, doesn't suit the needs of those companies or their customers. Most consumer product companies don't provide enough value or dynamic information to induce customers to make the repeat visits--and disclose the detailed information--that make such sites profitable. Instead of trying to create destinations that people will come to, companies need to use the power and reach of the Internet to deliver tailored messages and information to customers. Companies have to become what the authors call "contextual marketers." Delivering the most relevant information possible to consumers in the most timely manner possible will become feasible, the authors say, as access moves beyond the PC to shopping malls, retail stores, airports, bus stations, and even cars. The authors describe how the ubiquitous Internet will hasten the demise of the destination Web site--and open up scads of opportunities to reach customers through marketing "mobilemediaries," such as smart cards, e-wallets, and bar code scanners.

If you have a chance to read the whole article (for instance if you can request it from the library), check it out. It's interesting and thought provoking. I hope to have more to say on this shortly.