Around the Web 3.13.09: Tim Armstrong speaks, the Pre gets raves, Apple hints at new iPhone

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Pentagon’s blimp will float 65,000 feet over Earth and will not be made of LEGO building blocks. Credit: jimw via Flickr.

-- The 38-year-old Tim Armstrong talks about his new CEO job at AOL. AllThingsD

-- The new iPod shuffle, when compared with a Pez dispenser, is pretty small. AppleInsider

-- Analysts have some pretty good stuff to say about the Palm Pre. Maybe McNamee was right. AllThingsD

-- Second Life, trying to help companies feel more comfortable in the virtual world, creates a red light district. PaidContent.org

-- Tech billionaires lost some pretty hefty sums in 2008, according to Forbes. Bill Gates’ net worth supposedly went down $18 billion. TechCrunch

-- The Pentagon is building a giant blimp that will float over the Earth for 10 years and spy on us all. LAT

-- Police were monitoring a sex offender on GPS when he allegedly killed a teenage girl. CNN

-- Apple is previewing the iPhone 3.0 on St. Patrick’s Day. Wired

-- An iPod Touch allegedly sets a kid’s pants on fire when it exploded in his pocket. ArsTechnica

-- Is Google Voice bad for Android? Silicon Alley Insider

-- Biotech deals in the Bay Area heated up Thursday when Roche agreed to buy Genentech. LAT

-- Oprah and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg face off today. Let’s hope one of them cries. WSJ

-- The CEO of TheStreet.com, which was founded by Jim Cramer, is leaving. Maybe he just couldn’t watch the Stewart/Cramer beatdown anymore. Silicon Alley Insider

-- Alana Semuels