The Japanese are having fewer children:

Mainichi Interactive - Top News: "As of April 1, those under 15 totaled 17.81 million, 200,000 fewer than on the same date last year and the 23rd consecutive year the number has declined.

Soon there won't be any more Japanese people!

Microsoft has hinted at their long-term expectations for the PC market. These are supposedly the system requirements for the next version of Windows:

Longhorn to Steal Limelight at WinHEC: Microsoft is expected to recommend that the 'average' Longhorn PC feature a dual-core CPU running at 4 to 6GHz; a minimum of 2 gigs of RAM; up to a terabyte of storage; a 1 Gbit, built-in, Ethernet-wired port and an 802.11g wireless link; and a graphics processor that runs three times faster than those on the market today. That's according to developer sources close to the company. Microsoft officials would not comment on the Longhorn reference implementation.

Does everybody need/want a supercomputer in the home? I'm quite happy with my 700MHz laptop. I just upgraded my RAM to 256k earlier this year. I seem to be one of the few people left who uses computers for computation -- solving scientific problems. It is amazing to me that "average" users need so much more power for office and entertainment use.

Yet another example of how hiphop persists in being America's stupid-assest cultural phenomenon:

The National Enquirer: Black Eyed Peas resist being 'Punk'd: The joke was on Ashton Kutcher and MTV's prank show 'Punk'd' when they staged a mock arrest of the hiphop group The Black Eyed Peas at a phony brothel -- and the rappers' entourage started punching out the pretend police! One friend of a band member slugged an off-duty cop hired to lend authenticity to the raid and another actor was tackled and knocked into the swimming pool. 'The masterminds at 'Punk'd' will think twice before they try to pull another prank on The Black Eyed Peas!' said an insider.

Mirror.co.uk - A LOAD OF OLD TATT!: "[Brittney Spears] has had a series of Hebrew symbols etched into the back of her neck in an act of devotion to Kabbalah, the mystical form of Judaism she was introduced to by Madonna. "But unfortunately for her they are absolute gibberish. "...both singers should really realise that tattoos are forbidden under Jewish law."