Google Power Meter

An article on stuff presents a device made by Current Cost that monitors energy consumption in real time and sends data usage to Google Power Meter.



A user though has to keep a computer running all the time in order to collect data wirelessly from the device and update it to Google.
Through Powershop, that is also possible today. I've personally spent a few nights working with Powershop's developer API and managed so far to collect data from Powershop and then send it to Google.
Check this thread out: http://groups.google.com/group/powershop-developers/browse_thread/thread/54460039ec71fa1b

My aim is to develop a Google App Engine application that could collect that for me at a set interval.
Powershop's Ari Sargent  has also experimented with Google Powermeter and they may provide a link with that tool themselves.
By the way, their web site is excellent and they could provide similar, or better, gadgets.

ASB has blocked all credit card electronic transactions to Italy (this week)

I tried a couple of days ago to purchase a domain from a reputable Italian provider and for the first time it was denied. I managed do it via Paypal though.
Today ASB rang me to say that credit card transactions to the whole italian country are blocked, as a (hopefully) temporary measure. Here's their e-mail:

Recently you attempted a transaction at an Italian merchant.  This transaction was declined.  Unfortunately we have had to take action to prevent any and all transactions from being processed at any Italian merchant where the card is not present.  This is a result of recent fraud activity and while we understand that this has inconvenienced you, and we apologise for this inconvenience, we feel this is necessary to protect our customers by preventing any possible  fraud.  Should you be travelling to Italy your card will be accepted where you present it at the merchant just not available for internet, mail order or phone transactions.