Protocols, protocols, everywhere, and not a drop to drink. OAuth, OpenID, UX, Shibboleth, SAML, XRI, FOAF, Facebook Connect, that is a small sampling of some of the technologies that have been invented to move Internet Identity forward forward for the web.

Come this summer, US citizens can expect to see the first mobile handset capable of connecting to Sprint Nextel’s 4G network.

If you read technology websites, the sheer mention of “4G” probably has you wondering if Apple are moving to announce an update to their iPhone range. In reality, the fourth generation (4G) mobile infrastructure is a super-fast wireless broadband network that allows USB modems, PC cards and selected mobile hotspots to connect supported gadgets to a nation’s mobile network.

It’s a brand new week, which means it’s time for Mashable’s guide to upcoming social media and web events, parties, and conferences. For more upcoming event listings, check out Mashable’s Events section.

Is your event not on this list? Contact us at least one month before your event and let’s establish a media partnership.

Disney is getting involved in the White House's new "Let's Move" campaign. Their goal: Cure the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. 

Mamma always said you can do anything you put your mind to. But that's both a blessing and a curse. Science has made some amazing strides in medicine, but where minds—and money—aren't applied, progress sputters.

Chagas is a parasitic disease spread by a bug. Somewhere between 8 and 20 million people—mostly in the Americas—are infected. No one knows for sure. Most of the victims are poor.

WASHINGTON — Fewer banks are erecting new hurdles for people and businesses to get loans, a fresh sign credit problems are easing.

In a quarterly survey released Monday, the Federal Reserve found that "commercial banks generally ceased tightening standards on many loan types" at the end of last year. The one exception: commercial real-estate loans.

Decades ago, rightwingers began championing cuts in income taxes for the rich and -- when that lowered government revenue -- turned around and claimed that government could no longer "afford" to maintain vital public services like education and healthcare. Unfortunately, in an effort to curry favor with the wealthy and their corporations, many state and national office-holders began to adopt the rightwing's tax-cutting model. In New York State, the tax rate for top income earners was reduced from over 15 percent to less than half that amount.

DAVOS, Switzerland — The world's foremost gathering of business and government leaders wrapped up a five-day meeting Sunday with widespread agreement that a fragile recovery is under way but no consensus on what's going to spur job growth and prevent another global economic meltdown.

In a group of big egos and many power players attending the annual World Economic Forum, there was even some humility and a realization that overcoming the first global financial crisis is uncharted territory.

I felt like I was in suspended animation as I read the Supreme Court decision which essentially enables a corporate coup d'état of America's Democracy.

Our country's Founding Fathers never intended for monarchs or the business establishment to rule our nation. No, the Founders of our country began the Constitution with the words, We the People of the United States...

That sentiment was again expressed when President Lincoln in his famous Gettysburg Address said it simply but powerfully, that our government was of the people, by the people and for the people.

In all likelihood the unemployment rate will be higher in October than it is now, yet somehow the White House thinks it's appropriate to begin reducing domestic discretionary spending at that time. Reducing overall spending when tens of millions of Americans remain out of work would be a disaster. It will condemn millions of families to years of avoidable economic hardships.

So I'm on my way to do a TV interview last night on a set of middle-class initiatives we announced yesterday, when I learn that what they really want to talk about is our proposed freeze on non-security discretionary spending. Ok,I'm flexible -- and in fact, the two are related in an important way that folks need to understand.

Both YouTube and the White House announced today that this year's State of the Union address will be broadcast on the YouTube channel Citizentube, as well as streamed live and broadcast to your iPhone.