What's that equation? (Aug 11th 2010)

Question for Aug 10, 2010

Connect the following images (not in any order). This might be a tad difficult, so use google if you have to, but mention it in the comments.

1)

2)

3)

4)

Qn for Aug.6th.

The following conversation occurred between two operators of the American Telegraph Line between Boston and Portland, Maine, on the night of September 2, 1859:

Boston operator (to Portland operator): "Please cut off your battery [power source] entirely for fifteen minutes."
Portland operator: "Will do so. It is now disconnected."
Boston: "Mine is disconnected, and we are working with the X current. How do you receive my writing?"
Portland: "Better than with our batteries on. - Current comes and goes gradually."
Boston: "My current is very strong at times, and we can work better without the batteries, as the X seems to neutralize and augment our batteries alternately, making current too strong at times for our relay magnets. Suppose we work without batteries while we are affected by this trouble."
Portland: "Very well. Shall I go ahead with business?"
Boston: "Yes. Go ahead."

The conversation was carried on for around two hours using no battery power at all and working solely with the current induced by the X, and it was said that this was the first time on record that more than a word or two was transmitted in such manner.

Identify X. Who or what caused it?

Question for August 5, 2010

X began the service in 1995 as an email distribution list of friends, featuring local events in the SFO bay area, before becoming a web-based service in 1996. After incorporation as a private for-profit company in 1999, Y expanded into nine more U.S. cities in 2000, four in 2001 and 2002 each, and 14 in 2003.

In 2009, Y operated with a staff of 28 people. It's main source of revenue is paid job ads in select cities and paid broker apartment listings in New York City.

The site serves over twenty billion page views per month, putting it in 33rd place overall among web sites worldwide and 7th place overall among web sites in the United States, with over 49.4 million unique monthly visitors in the United States alone. With over eighty million new classified advertisements each month, Y is the leading classifieds service in any medium. The site receives over two million new job listings each month, making it one of the top job boards in the world.

Identify Y. Bonus points for getting X.

Question for Aug 4 - PS

Connect the following pictures:

1.

2.

3.

Question for Aug 3

Who would sign the check shown in the visual?

Hint: The quote
                  
               "   Intelligence: Finding an error in a _____ text.
                   Stupidity: Cashing that $2.56 check you got.  "   

Progression - August 2nd 2010

This is the progression through 8 years of X. X = ?