Today in New York, TV networks and advertisers are in the thick of “the upfronts.” This is when the networks parade out their fall line-ups and advertisers move in to start the bidding. Lingering over the proceedings this year is The Hopper. That’s a new commercial-skipping device from DISH Network. What does this mean for TV and advertising?

Elections come and go and many issues change, but one seems to remain: electronic voting. Two years ago, four years ago, eight years ago — the story’s been about the same: the machines don’t seem ready for prime-time, but we’re using them anyway. Also, the anti-piracy warnings on your Blu-Ray discs get serious.

Facebook is courting investors this week for its upcoming initial public offering. But a new report from the Kauffman Foundation declares venture capital is broken — specifically, the method by which large “limited partners” supply the money venture capital firms invest. And it seems lately investments just aren’t paying off, and investors are pulling out.

The roads of Nevada are going to be filling up with more cars — but not as many drivers. After extensive testing, Nevada has approved Google’s application to test driverless cars on public streets. So why go driverless? It could be safer — no worrying about distractions — and it could help traffic, too. Also, a new vacuum from Sharp makes us feel like we’re in “The Jetsons.”

If you’re in an emergency, you call 911. But what if you’re in a situation where making a call would put you in danger? What if you’re deaf and can’t call? Starting next year, Verizon customers will be able to text to 911 instead of calling. But is it coming too late or being pushed ahead too soon? Also, folks at the Boston Globe newspaper are getting rid of the words yesterday, today and tomorrow in stories.

Millions of Facebook users are making life easier for thieves and snoops. New research from Consumer Reports says millions of Americans share their birth date with the whole world on Facebook that could be used by identity thieves. Or they talk about being out of town, which is an invitation to burglars. Protecting yourself means managing your privacy settings carefully. Plus, a new Tech Report vocabulary word: Microsub.

Target and Amazon are at war. Target is going to stop selling the Amazon Kindle in its stores. The issue seems to be a practice known as “showrooming.” That’s when a web retailer like Amazon encourages customers to go to a store like Target, scan the barcode of an item with a smartphone, then see if they can get it cheaper online. Maybe buy it from Amazon while they’re standing in Target. Showrooming is on the rise, and retailers are getting nervous. Also, email and the stress levels of workers in an office environment.

Venerable educational institutions like Harvard and MIT are giving away education online for free in a new partnership called Ed X. Classes start in the fall — online. Students do five to 10 minute videos, interlaced with online exercises that give instant feedback. There’s no emails — it’s all browser-based and online. And at the end, if you master a subject, you get a Certificate of Mastery. Which is neat but not quite a Ph.D or anything anyone’s ever heard of. So what good is it?

Facebook is helping people become organ donors. You can now go to the site, search ‘organ donor,’ find links to sign up and list yourself as a donor on your timeline. The hope is that more people sign up on Facebook because it’s more pleasant than the DMV, where you can become a donor when you renew your license. Plus, the latest in boom box technology — and there is such a thing.