Here are some of the hot topics that are being talked about in the tech blog community that I came across while skimming through them with Bloglines:

• Guy Kawasaki's talent is clearly to start discussions about lists he creates. This time he got probably 80% approval for its How to kick Silicon Valley's butt.
• Of course among the coolest gadgets has to be something about the World Soccer Cup which - finally - starts today. Take a look at a Philips Remote Control with Bottle Opener.
• James Eck comments on the latest Ericsson acquisition and gives his opinions on some of their previous business decisions that did not make too much sense in retrospect. This gives a hint that large corporations in high tech are challenged with getting their day-to-day work done and at the same time making smart product decisions. I assume one major reason why we have startups in the first place.
• Spam is and will be a huge problem for everyone as Brad Feld pointed out with some recent numbers that show a huge increase. Not too long ago we were under attack as well and were just able to close the doors in time to avoid being filled up to the roof with garbage.
• The world's biggest solar power plant is being built in Portugal and will cost 58 million EUR, powering some 8,000 people. Another one that is smaller but still one of the biggest in the US, comes to the Fetzer winery north of San Francisco.
• Finally, Jurvetson looks the bird in the eye. I assume that's what VCs are used to when they entrust money to startups. His comment: "Out in the parking lot. She was not injured, just confused and dehydrated, clutching the windshield wiper." Great shot!

Guy Kawasaki, a VC in Silicon Valley, comments in his latest post on all the folks in the world that constantly try to rebuild a Silicon Valley and might even think that, with the help of some tax money, a management consultancy (whose name we won't disclose) with a "master plan" could do so anywhere else in the world. All of these people should think for a second about this comment here:

Second, to my knowledge, there has never been any “master plan” for the creation of Silicon Valley. What stands before you is an amalgamation of hard work, luck, greed, and serendipity but not planning. Indeed, Silicon Valley has probably worked because there was no plan.