The Web is one of the most important technical innovations of our generation. It has changed the way we communicate, learn, shop, do business, and entertain ourselves. The Web is still evolving, becoming more ubiquitous and smarter, and will probably be a driving force in the development of our lives and societies for the coming decades. The Web is an artifact that we all have helped to create: the engineers who design the underlying computing, communication, and software infrastructure, the startups and businesses that develop use cases and applications and the billions of users who create content and serve as perpetual beta testers.

The World-Wide Web Foundation has launched the Web Index as a multi-dimensional measure of the Web’s growth, utility and impact on people and nations. It covers 61 countries with indicators assessing the political, economic and social impact of the Web along with metrics of Web connectivity and infrastructure.

The W3F explains why they have created the index this way.

"Much of the Web research that exists today measures quantifiable metrics, such as the number of Web users, speed of access to the Web, the number of broadband subscribers, or covers particular single-dimensions such as economic impact or censorship. Tim Berners-Lee recognized that in order to better measure progress to developing a more open and meaningful Web, and for the Web to attain its full potential as a transformative tool that can improve living standards, reduce conflict and improve governance and well-being, it is important to understand how the Web impacts social, developmental, economic and political dimensions as well. By compiling data across many different dimensions of Web health and making it freely available, the Web Index will help deepen and broaden our understanding of how countries can maximise the impact of this powerful tool. The results can be utilized by decision makers across the public and private sectors, as well as academia, NGOs, and the technology industry itself."

The Web index measures and ranks countries along three dimensions:

• "Web Readiness: The Index examines the quality and extent of Communications Infrastructure (facilitating connectivity to the Web) and Institutional Infrastructure (policies regulating Web access and skill and educational levels enabling the full benefit of the Web).
• Web Use: The Index looks both at Web usage within countries (such as the percentage of individuals who use the Internet) and the content available to these Web users.
• The Impact of the Web: The Index uses social, economic and political indicators to evaluate the impact of the Web on these dimensions. This includes measures of social networks, business internet use and e-participation."

The Web index is based on an impressive collection of data (available for downloading, including an RDF linked data version) and some thoughtful analysis. The site is well worth exploring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDVJ60ZELTw

Kyle Leighton of TalkingPointsMemo’s PollTracker gives us some insights into the polls following Mitt Romney’s nomination at the Republican National Convention.

The main theme is that nothing is really going to change. Despite all the mud slinging, fibs, fabrications, misquoting, and pandering, the battle lines seem to be set.

Conventions have historically been massive pep rallies, whipping their members into a passionate frenzy going into the last leg of the election. This energy typically gives the respective party a bump (if only temporary) in the polls. But coming out of the RNC and going into the DNC we’re seeing none of that.

Even the much hyped vice presidential pick of Paul Ryan lead only to a “micro bump” for Romney in the polls.

We can draw from this that in a season of polarized parties the trenches have been dug. We won’t see much movement across no-man’s-land for the remainder of the campaign.

But as Mr. Leighton points out, it’s the internal poll numbers that are the most interesting and perhaps the most important.

This election may come down to who has the more energized and active base of supporters.

In 2008 President Obama famously used a successful “ground game” mobilizing a massive network of fans to get out voters.  The Republicans this year are trying to do the same.

Who of the candidates can rally his supporters just a little more than his opponent will likely be the winner in this close contest.

In the past few weeks, dozens of speakers have addressed nationwide audiences at the national political conventions.

Some were good, others less so.

But before judging a speaker it may be worth asking : How well would YOU do speaking in front of a big crowd? or even a small crowd?

Public speaking is a tough but very necessary skill to master.

If you are concerned about your speaking abilities, or just don’t want to sound like a dope when you raise your hand in class, the good folks at Ragan.com have some useful speaking tips for you.

The first is, ummm… try to avoid the word “ummm”.

It’s like a security blanket, a nice little touch of warmth when you have run out of time to search for that elusive word. Filler words like um, well, and hmmm are like pieces of verbal debris that assail a listener’s ear and distract from your point.

While we’re on the subject, there are other filler phrases that can be just as painful. Ending a sentence with “right?”, “yes or no?”, or “ok?” or beginning it with phrases like “very quickly”, “basically”, or “to be honest”

There are a few basic rules to be observed to sound your best.

• Don’t repeat any phrase more often than you can help it.
• Slow down and relax. Jumbled, panicky speech doesn’t impress anyone.
• Don’t try to sound smarter than you really are. This means no big words (you may or may not know the meaning of).
• Every time you feel like you want to say “umm” say . . . nothing.

A good way to practice is to stand in front of a mirror (or non-judgmental friend… if that is possible), and talk about anything. Try your best to avoid these verbal ticks.

Do you have some speech tips? Speak up!

1 Peter 4:7-11 (NIV)

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Reflection

In this passage, Peter speaks again of loving each other with this deep love. He says that this deep love covers over sin – a multitude of them. What love covers a multitude of sins? It is the outstretched love of our savior, Jesus, who blood covers your sin and mine. It is with this kind of love that we love one another. And it is this kind of love that undergirds all else that Peter encourages his readers to do. With deep, out-stretched love, we can we genuinely offer hospitality without grumbling and serve others with deep humility. With this love, we can be stewards of God’s grace and speak the very words of God. Above all, we can bring joy to our Heavenly Father and shout out His glory and power.

Response

God’s love that covers over sin is the very undercurrent of power for all that we do for each other. Believing this above all else, let’s pray that we will open our lives to serve others – our family, neighbors, roommates, coworkers and strangers. May we be the stewards of God’s grace and be the speakers of His life-giving words.