Technology is a strange business because it has a lot of financial backing before it even has any way to make money.

Take Twitter, for instance, which has grown to around 58 million users but doesn't seem to have a real business plan. That seems to be changing now that Twitter co-founder Biz Stone told reporters the social media darling is planning to start charging companies for using its platform. The new accounts will be rolled out in 2010.

The FTC has finally updated a long-overdue guide on endorsements and testimonials to address changes in technology and advertising mediums. The new rules are designed to bring greater truth and disclosure to blogs, TV ads relying on testimonials and social media.

The updated guide has garnered the most press for its ruling that bloggers can be fined up to $11,000 if they don't disclose that they got cash or products for posting a testimonial. While most bloggers and respected word-of-mouth marketing firms have required this disclosure, the ruling and its large penalty should help consumers trust online reviews.

• For education: "Steep limits on advertising during children's programming, bring back School House Rock!"
• For elected officials: "Sarbanes-Oxley Act makes corp. officers sign off on their books. Apply same standard to state officers -- make leadership certify budget" and "Furlough them and make them go COBRA for healthcare."
• For energy and alternative fuels: "Build state-owned generators on the aqueducts. That water never stops flowing. Use it!"
• For the environment: "Mandate that developers install solar panels and energy efficient windows on all new sprawl homes."