News & Notes Web producer Geoffrey Bennett updates Farai Chideya on the latest topics on our blog, including folks who are fed up with all things Obama, a recent interview with Obama attorney general pick Eric Holder, and an in-studio performance by singer Darius Rucker.

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Energy Star has posted new energy ratings for TVs to help consumers evaluate potential purchases. But an Energy Star listing alone doesn't mean the TV uses less energy. It means the TV is efficient — compared with others in its class.

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Last week, All Things Considered launched All Tech Considered. The first segment — about how to scan bar codes and comparison shop with your cell phone — spurred listener questions. Technology expert Omar Gallaga of the Austin American-Statesman answers a few.

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With hotels sold out across Washington for the inaugural festivities, many Washingtonians are offering up their homes for rent on Craigslist. The Web site might be the place to find a cheap futon, but not Jan. 20 rentals.

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Just a little over a week ago, voters elected Democratic Sen. Barack Obama as the country's next president. In this week's BackTalk, hear more perspectives about Obama's win. Also, find out how a recent segment on Michelle Obama's sense of style has some voters playing fashion police. Also, listeners weigh in on the gay marriage debate brewing in California.

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Could social networks be the answer in a painfully tight job market? Plus, President-elect Barack Obama might be the most tech-savvy White House resident ever, but will he make good on his broad tech proposals? Farai Chideya sorts out the bytes from the bits with NPR's technology contributor, Mario Armstrong.

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Google CEO Eric Schmidt endorsed Barack Obama during the campaign. Now the most powerful CEO in Silicon Valley is part of a team of advisers to the president-elect.

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With flu season fast approaching, people who feel themselves getting sick are turning to the web to self-diagnose. Aggregating Google's flu-related searches can yield interesting trends about where outbreaks are occurring — and might even provide earlier regional warnings than the CDC.

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The nation is scheduled to convert to digital TV on Feb. 17. But most of Hawaii will make the switch a month early because of a volcano-dwelling bird. Federal wildlife officials recommended hastening the transition in Hawaii so the Hawaiian petrel's nesting season on the slopes of Maui's Haleakala volcano won't be disrupted by the destruction of the old analog transmission towers nearby.

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Tech expert Omar Gallaga of the Austin American-Statesman talks about some of the newest cell phone applications. One allows you to scan bar codes on products like books to comparison shop. Another will identify music you're listening to if you're in the car or in a store.

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President-elect Barack Obama is expected to create a position of chief technology officer. Technology commentator Mario Armstrong says the position is important because some agencies already have chief information officers, and the effort needs to be centralized to make sure everybody is using the latest technology.

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Darren Lynn Bousman thinks his "genetic opera" has the potential to be the next Donnie Darko or Rocky Horror Picture Show. But can you engineer a cult classic? Or is it only fans who can decide what's worthy of devotion?

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A new theatrical production ponders how technologies designed to bring us closer can create greater distances between us.

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Craig Schulz, Charles Schulz's son, talks about the release of 20 Peanuts digital shorts online that are based on the classic comic strips from 1964. Schulz, president of Creative Associates, which approved and manages all of the licensing for Peanuts-related products, says the webisodes are an attempt to get children to turn to the comic strip in books and newspapers.

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A generation of young Americans has grown up with high-tech tools and toys — how will this "Net generation" shape the 21st century? Author and entrepreneur Don Tapscott investigates tech-savvy youth in Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World.

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The Federal Communications Commission votes Tuesday on whether to open up broadcast airwaves to deliver high-speed wireless Internet access. Tech companies like the idea. But they're facing powerful opposition from broadcasters, religious leaders and entertainers.

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In this regular feature, listeners and bloggers react to the recent stories heard on the program. This week, hear feedback on actress Jennifer Hudson's family tragedy and what folks have to say about a group of men who are choosing to sit this election out. Plus, producer Lee Hill talks about TMM's special Election Night plans.

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Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable service provider, announced Wednesday that earnings were up. The company says it lost some basic cable subscribers, but that the decline was offset by new digital subscribers. One non-profit group is urging Congress to investigate whether Comcast and other cable companies are trying to profit from the upcoming transition from analog broadcast TV to digital.

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MTV Networks announced Thursday a deal to use songs by The Beatles in its popular "Rock Band" video game series. This would be the group's first digital licensing deal. It would also be a huge coup for Viacom, which owns "Rock Band." The company's been vying with rival video game, "Guitar Hero," for the valuable repertoire.

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Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports says Comcast and other cable operators appear to be trying to profit from the upcoming transition from analog broadcast TV to digital, and that Comcast is forcing consumers to upgrade or accept fewer channels for the same price.

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