Thursday, November 16, 2006
Clear Channel agrees $18.7bn sale
The channel of the guy who donated 10M to build Mays business school, has been sold.
Clear Channel Communications, which owns and operates more than 1,500 radio stations, has agreed to be bought by an investment group for $18.7bn (£9.9bn).
Clear Channel Communications, which owns and operates more than 1,500 radio stations, has agreed to be bought by an investment group for $18.7bn (£9.9bn).
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
MTV launching guidebook series
HOBOKEN, New Jersey (AP) -- A venerable name in travel is partnering with the network that brought you music videos, "Pimp My Ride" and "Cribs" to produce a new series of trendy guidebooks for young travelers.
"MTV Italy" ($24) and "MTV Ireland" ($22) are the first books in the series from Frommer's, an imprint of New Jersey-based Wiley Publishing.
"MTV Europe" ($25) is due out in early December. Guides to Spain, France, England, American road trips and Mexico's beach resorts will be published in 2007.
The publisher says the books will lead readers "to some of the world's hottest party scenes and outdoor adventures" while also listing traditional museums and world-class attractions.
The MTV series is ideal for inexperienced travelers who need basic advice, especially those on a budget. They start out with "Best of" chapters that can help anyone come up with a good itinerary for a trip covering a lot of ground in a short time, combining authentic, offbeat experiences with local must-sees.
But the paperbacks are also filled with easy-to-digest tips on everything from arranging affordable cell phone service overseas, to making sure you have the right converters and adapters for your electronic gear, to explaining that it's hard to find a rental car in Europe with an automatic transmission (most are stick shift). Other advice includes calling your credit card company before you leave the U.S. so that your account isn't frozen because your charges from overseas look suspicious.
The "best of" recommendations in "MTV Italy" include "most awesome ancient ruins" like the Colosseum and Roman Forum, best seen, according to the guide, after dark when the floodlights come on. Best churches, according to "MTV Italy," are St. Peter's Basilica, the Duomo in Florence and St. Mark's Basilica.
The book also recommends the Riviera Romagnola towns of Rimini and Riccione on the Adriatic Coast as anything-goes destinations for serious partying, and Perugia and Bologna as "best college towns." For bars, the Drunken Ship in Rome and the Red Garter in Florence are described as places where "body shots and Power Hour drink specials" will remind you of spring break.
Less wild but also highly recommended bars include Vineria Reggio on Campo de' Fiori in Rome, Rock Castle in Perugia, Corto Maltese in Bologna and Bar Magenta in Milan. Best hostels in "MTV Italy" include Archi Rossi in Florence, The Beehive and Colors in Rome, and Hostel of the Sun in Naples.
Recommendations from "MTV Europe" include the continent's hottest nightclubs and bars, from London's celebrity-studded Boujis to Munich's retro Atomik Cafe to the Kulimnator in Antwerp, Belgium, where you can choose from 700 types of beer.
A chapter on Lisbon, Portugal, compares the city's Avenida da Liberdade, "with its marvelous mosaic walkways and rows of high-end shops," to the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Lisbon listings also include the Lisbon Lounge Hostel, described as "one of Europe's funkiest hostels" with an "irresistible lounge ... for hanging out"; Bom Apetite, a small, no-frills restaurant recommended for cheap eats; and Cafe A Brasileira do Chiado, where stopping in for tea or coffee is a local tradition.
"MTV Italy" ($24) and "MTV Ireland" ($22) are the first books in the series from Frommer's, an imprint of New Jersey-based Wiley Publishing.
"MTV Europe" ($25) is due out in early December. Guides to Spain, France, England, American road trips and Mexico's beach resorts will be published in 2007.
The publisher says the books will lead readers "to some of the world's hottest party scenes and outdoor adventures" while also listing traditional museums and world-class attractions.
The MTV series is ideal for inexperienced travelers who need basic advice, especially those on a budget. They start out with "Best of" chapters that can help anyone come up with a good itinerary for a trip covering a lot of ground in a short time, combining authentic, offbeat experiences with local must-sees.
But the paperbacks are also filled with easy-to-digest tips on everything from arranging affordable cell phone service overseas, to making sure you have the right converters and adapters for your electronic gear, to explaining that it's hard to find a rental car in Europe with an automatic transmission (most are stick shift). Other advice includes calling your credit card company before you leave the U.S. so that your account isn't frozen because your charges from overseas look suspicious.
The "best of" recommendations in "MTV Italy" include "most awesome ancient ruins" like the Colosseum and Roman Forum, best seen, according to the guide, after dark when the floodlights come on. Best churches, according to "MTV Italy," are St. Peter's Basilica, the Duomo in Florence and St. Mark's Basilica.
The book also recommends the Riviera Romagnola towns of Rimini and Riccione on the Adriatic Coast as anything-goes destinations for serious partying, and Perugia and Bologna as "best college towns." For bars, the Drunken Ship in Rome and the Red Garter in Florence are described as places where "body shots and Power Hour drink specials" will remind you of spring break.
Less wild but also highly recommended bars include Vineria Reggio on Campo de' Fiori in Rome, Rock Castle in Perugia, Corto Maltese in Bologna and Bar Magenta in Milan. Best hostels in "MTV Italy" include Archi Rossi in Florence, The Beehive and Colors in Rome, and Hostel of the Sun in Naples.
Recommendations from "MTV Europe" include the continent's hottest nightclubs and bars, from London's celebrity-studded Boujis to Munich's retro Atomik Cafe to the Kulimnator in Antwerp, Belgium, where you can choose from 700 types of beer.
A chapter on Lisbon, Portugal, compares the city's Avenida da Liberdade, "with its marvelous mosaic walkways and rows of high-end shops," to the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Lisbon listings also include the Lisbon Lounge Hostel, described as "one of Europe's funkiest hostels" with an "irresistible lounge ... for hanging out"; Bom Apetite, a small, no-frills restaurant recommended for cheap eats; and Cafe A Brasileira do Chiado, where stopping in for tea or coffee is a local tradition.
Don't be anti-US, says Murdoch
ANTI-Americanism is on the rise in Australia, fuelled by the unpopularity of the Iraq war among young people, Rupert Murdoch said last night.
Speaking in Sydney, Mr Murdoch warned Australians against allowing doubts about the US administration to fester into an irrational antipathy that saw America as a greater threat to world peace than al-Qaeda.
"Australians must resist and reject the facile, reflexive, unthinking anti-Americanism that has gripped much of Europe," said Mr Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, publisher of NEWS.com.au.
Addressing a star-studded audience, including Prime Minister John Howard, at the inaugural American Australian Association benefit dinner, Mr Murdoch said America had to work to address criticisms that it took Australia too much for granted "and not come calling only when in need".
"Australian sentiment is thankfully nowhere near Europe's level of hostility - but it could get there, and it mustn't," Mr Murdoch said.
"In the coming century America will find Asia more important than ever - and its alliance with Australia more useful than ever."
He spoke about the importance of finding new sources of energy to avoid the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change and to lessen dependence on oil "whose profits in some instances help to finance terror and prop up hostile regimes".
Political, business and academic leaders joined media and sporting personalities including golfer Greg Norman, designer Collette Dinnigan and filmmaker Baz Luhrmann at the dinner.
Lachlan Murdoch and wife Sarah shared a table with family members, while PBL chairman James Packer and partner Erica Baxter sat with PBL bosses.
The benefit dinner honoured Mr Murdoch for his contribution to Australian-American relations and launched the new United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
Mr Murdoch said the centre, an initiative between the American Australian Association and the Federal Government, would "raise awareness, dispel myths, groom new leaders" and increase ties between the two countries.
Speaking in Sydney, Mr Murdoch warned Australians against allowing doubts about the US administration to fester into an irrational antipathy that saw America as a greater threat to world peace than al-Qaeda.
"Australians must resist and reject the facile, reflexive, unthinking anti-Americanism that has gripped much of Europe," said Mr Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, publisher of NEWS.com.au.
Addressing a star-studded audience, including Prime Minister John Howard, at the inaugural American Australian Association benefit dinner, Mr Murdoch said America had to work to address criticisms that it took Australia too much for granted "and not come calling only when in need".
"Australian sentiment is thankfully nowhere near Europe's level of hostility - but it could get there, and it mustn't," Mr Murdoch said.
"In the coming century America will find Asia more important than ever - and its alliance with Australia more useful than ever."
He spoke about the importance of finding new sources of energy to avoid the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change and to lessen dependence on oil "whose profits in some instances help to finance terror and prop up hostile regimes".
Political, business and academic leaders joined media and sporting personalities including golfer Greg Norman, designer Collette Dinnigan and filmmaker Baz Luhrmann at the dinner.
Lachlan Murdoch and wife Sarah shared a table with family members, while PBL chairman James Packer and partner Erica Baxter sat with PBL bosses.
The benefit dinner honoured Mr Murdoch for his contribution to Australian-American relations and launched the new United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
Mr Murdoch said the centre, an initiative between the American Australian Association and the Federal Government, would "raise awareness, dispel myths, groom new leaders" and increase ties between the two countries.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Iran, Syria and Israel
I hate when I write a great blogg comment and suddenly, my magical fingers erase it. Anyway, here it goes again:
Basically Israel tells the US: "Hey, listen, Iran has weapons and there is also Syria, and you are inside Iraq, and you cannot leave Iraq because then that will cause a civil war; and guess what I live on that area so, yeah, stay there and also do something with Iran and Syria; and just in case you forget we have to do something with the democrats because now there are too many as the opposition leading force....yeah, we need more jewish republicans and lobbyists to support Israel"
Ok.....so, the US says: HOOOOOOKAY.....even though you have nuclear weapons, yes we will look into Iran....WE KNOW YOU DON'T WANT A WAR....but if so, we will be there to back you up.
In the meanwhile....Israeli troops kill people in Gaza and nobody says a thing; which is ok because afterall; Israelis are doing IT on the sake of peace....becasue yes people, they are very peaceful people.
Just read the article
THE END
Basically Israel tells the US: "Hey, listen, Iran has weapons and there is also Syria, and you are inside Iraq, and you cannot leave Iraq because then that will cause a civil war; and guess what I live on that area so, yeah, stay there and also do something with Iran and Syria; and just in case you forget we have to do something with the democrats because now there are too many as the opposition leading force....yeah, we need more jewish republicans and lobbyists to support Israel"
Ok.....so, the US says: HOOOOOOKAY.....even though you have nuclear weapons, yes we will look into Iran....WE KNOW YOU DON'T WANT A WAR....but if so, we will be there to back you up.
In the meanwhile....Israeli troops kill people in Gaza and nobody says a thing; which is ok because afterall; Israelis are doing IT on the sake of peace....becasue yes people, they are very peaceful people.
Just read the article
THE END
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Microsoft to pay Novell $450m
MICROSOFT has agreed to pay Linux software maker Novell $450 million to make its software interoperate with Windows, the open source specialist revealed in filings to the US securities exchange regulator.
The payments, which will be made in two tranches, are part of an agreement under which Microsoft and Novell will adopt a broad set of business and technology measures to make their products work together better. Novell lodged documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which said that would Microsoft would pay Novell $US240 million ($300 million) up front in subscription fees to allow the world's largest software maker to use its Linux software.
Microsoft will also pay Novell an additional $US108 million for use of its patents, Linux is the most popular variant of open-source software. Unlike proprietary software, open-source software lets developers share code and add functions, and users only pay for custom features, maintenance and technical support. Microsoft agreed not to sign a similar agreement with any other Linux distributor for three years. Microsoft's pact with Novell dealt a blow to other Linux distributors such as market leader Red Hat, according to analysts. Under the pact, which will run until at least 2012, Novell will also pay Microsoft at least $US40 million over five years for use of Microsoft's patents based on a percentage of its revenue from open-source products.
The payments, which will be made in two tranches, are part of an agreement under which Microsoft and Novell will adopt a broad set of business and technology measures to make their products work together better. Novell lodged documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which said that would Microsoft would pay Novell $US240 million ($300 million) up front in subscription fees to allow the world's largest software maker to use its Linux software.
Microsoft will also pay Novell an additional $US108 million for use of its patents, Linux is the most popular variant of open-source software. Unlike proprietary software, open-source software lets developers share code and add functions, and users only pay for custom features, maintenance and technical support. Microsoft agreed not to sign a similar agreement with any other Linux distributor for three years. Microsoft's pact with Novell dealt a blow to other Linux distributors such as market leader Red Hat, according to analysts. Under the pact, which will run until at least 2012, Novell will also pay Microsoft at least $US40 million over five years for use of Microsoft's patents based on a percentage of its revenue from open-source products.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
death by hanging
Finally, former Iraq's tyrant receives what deserves. I wonder if the court that sentenced him could have figured a more humane way for him to die, regardless of how inhumane he was.
Saddam, his brother, a judge and some others have been finally sentenced to death for the crimes commited against the people of Iraq.
Saddam, his brother, a judge and some others have been finally sentenced to death for the crimes commited against the people of Iraq.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Media Exercise 6: Digital Piracy
Group
Julie Jones
Jacque LaCroix
Allison Coggins
Liz Knol
Digital priacy has posed significant problems for the recording industry with new technologies empowering the user to copy, distribute and exhibit music without having to pay the high costs for CDs charged by the industry's Big 5. As a result, the industry responded by issuing law suits, purchased offending companies, and introduced technological enhanced products that are designed to protect copyright and the companies' extensive profits.
While the emergence of online music providers iTunes has provided ways for people to download music and protext copyright, the ethical and moral issues continue to exist for the industry, artists and users over copyright, particular as movies and television programs have become the next frontier for digital downloads.
Your task is to examine the issues surrounding digital music and answer the following questions in preparation for your presentation:
Julie Jones
Jacque LaCroix
Allison Coggins
Liz Knol
Digital priacy has posed significant problems for the recording industry with new technologies empowering the user to copy, distribute and exhibit music without having to pay the high costs for CDs charged by the industry's Big 5. As a result, the industry responded by issuing law suits, purchased offending companies, and introduced technological enhanced products that are designed to protect copyright and the companies' extensive profits.
While the emergence of online music providers iTunes has provided ways for people to download music and protext copyright, the ethical and moral issues continue to exist for the industry, artists and users over copyright, particular as movies and television programs have become the next frontier for digital downloads.
Your task is to examine the issues surrounding digital music and answer the following questions in preparation for your presentation:
- What position does the Big 5 music media companies take in relation to copyright and digital music and how does this differ in relation to independent artists and some users?
- What ethical and moral issues exist in relation to the different positions these stakeholders have over issues of copyright?
- What implications do these issues have for the movie and television industry as video streaming becomes more of a reality over the Internet?
- What impact will "The Secure Digital Music Initiative" (see McCourt and Burkart) have on the distribution and exhibition of movies and television programming in the online environment?
The following resources will help get you started:
http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-5161871.html
http://news.com.com/RIAA+steps+up+file-trading+suits/2100-1027_3-5160262.html?tag=st.rn
http://news.com.com/Court+RIAA+lawsuit+strategy+illegal/2100-1027_3-5129687.html?tag=st.rn
http://www.halexandria.org/dward667.htm
http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=140&subsecID=289&contentID=252145
Deadline: Saturday, November 11 at 5pm.
Media Exercise 5: Sentiment Analysis Program
Group 6:
Jody Warner
Marcie McSwane
Daniel Ebert
Trisha Morrow
A RECENT report indicated that the Bush Administration had funded a Homeland Security initiative that would see $2.4m spent on developing "sentiment analysis" software. This initiative would allow the government's "security organs" to sift through millions of news articles for "negative opinions of the United States or its leaders in newspapers and other publications overseas". The software would be developed by academics in some of the US's leading institutions, including Texas A&M University.
Your task is to critical assess this development through the following questions:
Jody Warner
Marcie McSwane
Daniel Ebert
Trisha Morrow
A RECENT report indicated that the Bush Administration had funded a Homeland Security initiative that would see $2.4m spent on developing "sentiment analysis" software. This initiative would allow the government's "security organs" to sift through millions of news articles for "negative opinions of the United States or its leaders in newspapers and other publications overseas". The software would be developed by academics in some of the US's leading institutions, including Texas A&M University.
Your task is to critical assess this development through the following questions:
- What are the key objectives in developing the sentiment analysis software?
- How will the information gathered from these searches be used in relation to security?
- What concerns are raised in relation to freedom of speech, civil liberties and privacy that reflect similar issues foudn in the US government-Google wranglings over access to user information?
- What implications does this software development have for the roles and responsibilities of the media?
- How will sentiment analysis impact on the delicate balance between government, media and society?
Resources:
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10C1EF73F540C778CDDA90994DE404482
http://www.rense.com/general73/crtic.htm
http://www.alias-i.com/lingpipe/demos/tutorial/sentiment/read-me.html
http://www.trnmag.com/Stories/2004/111704/Software_sorts_out_subjectivity_111704.html
http://www.iwr.co.uk/information-world-review/comment/2159993/search-moves-notch-emotional
Due Date: November 9, 5pm
Burma, a paradise or hell?
Burma is one of Asia's poorest countries and it has been under military rule since 1962. There are many regimes around the world, but most people are not even aware of these contry's existence. Anyway, I was reading about this lady's wedding and tehn I went to youtoube.com to see the video...and It was breath taking, not because of the beauty but because it is was outrageous....CHECK OUT THIS LINK....and if you can read further.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300003.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300003.stm
Monday, October 30, 2006
Presentations
Media Exercies: Problem-Solution
You have explored a series of media-related problems through a set questions in your media exercises. Responses to the problems will help you to formulate your solution to these problems.
In your presentation, you will deliver a brief overview of the problem from your combined weblog entries (to refresh our memories). You will then outline what strategy/s you would employ to solve this problem. Now it is clearly understood that these problems remain substantial (sometimes through inactivity and sometimes because of other factors). So your solution will be limited in various ways. Therefore, you will be required, in your presentation, to provide a critique of the strengths and weaknesses of your solution. All members of the group must present a sectiion the delivery must be professional in design, style and content.
Time: 30 minutes (including 10 minutes for Q&A)
Technical: PowerPoint
Participants: All group members
Criteria:
Presentation Skills 20%
Content 25
Argument 20%
PowerPoint 15
Q&A 20 (10 minutes)
You will be assessed as a group and provided feedback on the presentation in relation to the criteria above.
Assessment is worth 75 points (of a possible 400 total points).
You have explored a series of media-related problems through a set questions in your media exercises. Responses to the problems will help you to formulate your solution to these problems.
In your presentation, you will deliver a brief overview of the problem from your combined weblog entries (to refresh our memories). You will then outline what strategy/s you would employ to solve this problem. Now it is clearly understood that these problems remain substantial (sometimes through inactivity and sometimes because of other factors). So your solution will be limited in various ways. Therefore, you will be required, in your presentation, to provide a critique of the strengths and weaknesses of your solution. All members of the group must present a sectiion the delivery must be professional in design, style and content.
Time: 30 minutes (including 10 minutes for Q&A)
Technical: PowerPoint
Participants: All group members
Criteria:
Presentation Skills 20%
Content 25
Argument 20%
PowerPoint 15
Q&A 20 (10 minutes)
You will be assessed as a group and provided feedback on the presentation in relation to the criteria above.
Assessment is worth 75 points (of a possible 400 total points).
