Thursday, December 07, 2006
Remembering John Lennon...
Tomorrow will mark 26 years since the life of John Lennon was so unfortunately taken away from him and all of us who appreciated what he stood for.
So instead of mourning his death, celebrate his life and all that he gave to us.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-11-26-ono_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA
“A dream you dream alone is only a dream.
A dream you dream together is reality...”
-John Lennon
So instead of mourning his death, celebrate his life and all that he gave to us.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-11-26-ono_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA
“A dream you dream alone is only a dream.
A dream you dream together is reality...”
-John Lennon
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
U.S. tailors sanctions to annoy N. Korea's Kim
The Bush Administration is planning a unique strategy in response to North Korea's recent secret nuclear weapons program by making it more difficult for the North Korean president to buy certain electronic entertainment devices he favors in order to capture attention. This would be employed by means of enforcing certain foreign trade sanctions on items such as the ipod, plasma TV’s, music and sports equipment.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Wal-Mart to open retail stores in India
India has become a keen target for the global retail industry because of its increased income of their middle class and a heightened demand for name brand products. Even though government regulations avert foreign multi-product retail chains from conducting business there, Wal-Mart stores may soon be able to set up operations in India due to Wal-Mart constructing a deal that will link them up with a local company.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Papers Embrace Enemy
This article discusses ways in which newspapers are working with Web industries to increase advertising opportunities since many companies have gone to advertising only online and no longer in local newspapers. This is another interesting article on newspapers and how they are becoming less popular (and could soon be extinct): http://www.newassignment.net/blog/john_mcquaid/nov2006/20/charles_lewis_on
Mac fans clamor for 'iPhone'
The long-rumored arrival of a hybrid mobile phone and iPod music player from Apple Computer Inc. has morphed from a question of "If" to "When" among fans and analysts.
Since Apple's introduction of the iPod five years ago, the company has sold more than 67 million of the devices and more than 1.5 billion songs from its iTunes online music store.
Now, Chief Executive Steve Jobs and Apple are poised to roll out what has been dubbed the "iPhone," perhaps as soon as January next year at the Macworld conference that kicks off every new year, analysts say.
Since Apple's introduction of the iPod five years ago, the company has sold more than 67 million of the devices and more than 1.5 billion songs from its iTunes online music store.
Now, Chief Executive Steve Jobs and Apple are poised to roll out what has been dubbed the "iPhone," perhaps as soon as January next year at the Macworld conference that kicks off every new year, analysts say.
Mac fans clamor for 'iPhone'
The long-rumored arrival of a hybrid mobile phone and iPod music player from Apple Computer Inc. has morphed from a question of "If" to "When" among fans and analysts.
Since Apple's introduction of the iPod five years ago, the company has sold more than 67 million of the devices and more than 1.5 billion songs from its iTunes online music store.
Now, Chief Executive Steve Jobs and Apple are poised to roll out what has been dubbed the "iPhone," perhaps as soon as January next year at the Macworld conference that kicks off every new year, analysts say.
Since Apple's introduction of the iPod five years ago, the company has sold more than 67 million of the devices and more than 1.5 billion songs from its iTunes online music store.
Now, Chief Executive Steve Jobs and Apple are poised to roll out what has been dubbed the "iPhone," perhaps as soon as January next year at the Macworld conference that kicks off every new year, analysts say.
Private US firm buys Oz network
Foreign markets, such as the private American firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), are taking advantage of Australia's recent lift on foreign media restrictions. KKR is entering into a joint-venture with Seven Media (in Australia) that is valued at $4 billion. This investment will give Seven Media the opportunity to expand the dynamics of its media operations.
Kazakh president laughs off Borat
Kazakhstan's president has laughed off the film Borat, which mocks his country, saying that "any publicity is good publicity".
Nursultan Nazarbayev, in the UK for talks with Tony Blair, said: "The film was created by a comedian so let's laugh at it - that's my attitude."
Sidenote- we were talking about this movie before class, I found out this was a real country, and am very surprised that they did not get so upset. It displays the country in very poor lighting, and with tasteless (yet funny) descriptions.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, in the UK for talks with Tony Blair, said: "The film was created by a comedian so let's laugh at it - that's my attitude."
Sidenote- we were talking about this movie before class, I found out this was a real country, and am very surprised that they did not get so upset. It displays the country in very poor lighting, and with tasteless (yet funny) descriptions.
Is the web going mobile at last?
The new X-Series mobile phone, offered from 3G network operator 3, plans to offer everything from viewing movies, watching TV from your home cable network, podcasting, bidding on Ebay, etc...pretty much everything you can do on your PC. The thing that will distinguish them from their competitors is they are offering all of this for a flat rate so users don't have to worry about using their minutes or paying high prices for internet use. Since 3 billion people use mobile devices and only 1 billion use PC's to access the internet, 3G is really hoping their new phone package will appeal to the market.
Egypt arrests another blog critic
Egypt (along with other countries) has started to arrest people based on their views posted in personal blogs. This goes along with what we talked about in class the other day...how the U.S. government could eventually start to monitor our personal computers in search for terrorists.
Universal and MySpace: The Copyright Battle
Universal Music Group is mighty upset with MySpace, enough so as to file a legal complaint against the site, alleging copyright infringements.
The music company is demanding $150,000 apiece for the material unrightfully present on MySpace. Universal’s owner, French media giant Vivendi, is claiming that MySpace.com “encourages, facilitates and participates in the unauthorized reproduction, adaptation, distribution and public performance”. The statement added, “Our music and videos play a key role in building the communities that have created hundreds of millions of dollars of value for the owners of MySpace. Our goal is not to inhibit the creation of these communities, but to ensure that our rights and those of our artists are recognized.”
The music company is demanding $150,000 apiece for the material unrightfully present on MySpace. Universal’s owner, French media giant Vivendi, is claiming that MySpace.com “encourages, facilitates and participates in the unauthorized reproduction, adaptation, distribution and public performance”. The statement added, “Our music and videos play a key role in building the communities that have created hundreds of millions of dollars of value for the owners of MySpace. Our goal is not to inhibit the creation of these communities, but to ensure that our rights and those of our artists are recognized.”
New software promises to unlock iPod, iTunes
Not even the lure of one million songs could separate Stanford University student Rolf Steier from his iPod.
When Stanford partnered with Yahoo to offer students a free subscription to Yahoo Music Unlimited, Steier - like most other people he knew - didn't bother to check it out because his iPod won't let him play songs bought from other online music stores...
This could be music to the ears of consumers and good news for Apple rivals looking to cut into the company's enormous share of the digital music market.
Searching for the holy grail of Web-to-TV video
A new way to look at media is currently being created (it could even be available by Christmas) in which a special chip (called a Quartics chip) is used to transfer videos from your PC to a TV screen (or projector). The product will be able to process any kind of video (iTunes, YouTube, Flash, Real, WindowsMedia, etc) and will only require a small box to be set up to your TV and will use Wi-Fi to connect to your PC. Apple is launching a Web-to-TV product called iTV sometime early next year, but will only be able to stream videos from iTunes. Analysts think the Quartics chip is going to reinvent the media industry and become HUGE...
Wake up and smell the copyright
The Vice Chairman of EMI Music is going after musicians who are artistically modifying songs to which EMI has the copyright. This discusses the use of intellectual property and argues that other companies, such as Google, use content which they don't own to their economic advantage.
Big media seeks new Web blood
The Big 5 media corporations are making significant managerial changes...and the new hires all have significant backgrounds in digital media business. (This has to do with the rise of online videos, which we talked about in class today.)
The race to create a 'smart' Google
Similar to Amazon's "recommender system", Google is attempting to create a system which will tap into consumers' personalities and help them "discover" what all is out there that appeals to them, rather than making the consumers have to "search" for it.
Google's Purchase of YouTube
Who's sweeping whom?
By Jim Ledbetter
Maybe you think, along with Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, that Google paid way too much money for YouTube. And from a strict investment banker's point of view, $1.65 billion, even in Google (GOOG) stock, seems like a huge chunk of change. But you don't have to be as smart as Michael Hirschorn to see that Web video is the driving force behind American media right this second.The latest piece of evidence is Michael Richards' inexplicably racist eruption at a Los Angeles comedy club last Friday, caught for all eternity by someone who flipped it to TMZ.com. (That site, which the New York Times declared on Monday is the nation's leading entertainment news site, is owned by Time Warner, which also owns CNNMoney.)As recently as five years ago, a moment like this would have made it into a gossip column in one newspaper in New York or L.A., a publicist would furiously spin behind the scenes, and the incident would be a stain soon forgotten. But now, thanks to nifty phones and the power of Web video, Richards was forced to apologize within 24 hours of the thing being posted online--on network TV during sweeps.It's not The Browser's job to meditate on the psychological motivation behind any of this (although for the record, we think The Malcontent pretty much nailed it). And our cynical side suspects that Jerry Seinfeld made room on the Letterman show for his old costar partly out of affection, and partly as damage control, lest Richards' spewing interfere with sales of a certain DVD. The point here is that video news now breaks on the Web first, leaving even the biggest networks to scramble to catch up. In and of itself, that's not a business model for YouTube, but it suggests that whomever can build an advertising platform around Web video will be able to host the next generation of Lettermans and Seinfelds.
By Jim Ledbetter
Maybe you think, along with Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, that Google paid way too much money for YouTube. And from a strict investment banker's point of view, $1.65 billion, even in Google (GOOG) stock, seems like a huge chunk of change. But you don't have to be as smart as Michael Hirschorn to see that Web video is the driving force behind American media right this second.The latest piece of evidence is Michael Richards' inexplicably racist eruption at a Los Angeles comedy club last Friday, caught for all eternity by someone who flipped it to TMZ.com. (That site, which the New York Times declared on Monday is the nation's leading entertainment news site, is owned by Time Warner, which also owns CNNMoney.)As recently as five years ago, a moment like this would have made it into a gossip column in one newspaper in New York or L.A., a publicist would furiously spin behind the scenes, and the incident would be a stain soon forgotten. But now, thanks to nifty phones and the power of Web video, Richards was forced to apologize within 24 hours of the thing being posted online--on network TV during sweeps.It's not The Browser's job to meditate on the psychological motivation behind any of this (although for the record, we think The Malcontent pretty much nailed it). And our cynical side suspects that Jerry Seinfeld made room on the Letterman show for his old costar partly out of affection, and partly as damage control, lest Richards' spewing interfere with sales of a certain DVD. The point here is that video news now breaks on the Web first, leaving even the biggest networks to scramble to catch up. In and of itself, that's not a business model for YouTube, but it suggests that whomever can build an advertising platform around Web video will be able to host the next generation of Lettermans and Seinfelds.
YouTube and eBay, meet O.J.
Bootleg versions on Ebay or YouTube are probably the only way someone will be able to see O.J.'s interview, which was scheduled to air on Fox (but was cancelled). O.J. Simpson recently wrote a book called "If I Did It" explaining how he would have killed his ex-wife, had he done it. The publisher, HarperCollins, has recalled the book (although the copies have already been published and distributed to warehouses) due to the negative publicity it has gotten so far. The chances of another publisher picking it up isn't likely because "It's the public equivalent of doing a snuff film," said Viner, referring to films that claim to show a person being killed.
"People can make money by doing snuff films, but no one wants to be associated with it."
"People can make money by doing snuff films, but no one wants to be associated with it."
Kazakh president laughs off Borat
"Kazakhstan's president has laughed off the film Borat, which mocks his country, saying that "any publicity is good publicity".
Nursultan Nazarbayev, in the UK for talks with Tony Blair, said: "The film was created by a comedian so let's laugh at it - that's my attitude"
I wonder how this movie effects other countries opinions of the US and our opinions on kazakhstan?TiVo stretching into the Internet
Here is an instance where the companies are working with the technology, in this case broadband video on the web, to make it work for them.
"SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- In its ongoing bid to be a central conduit of media, TiVo Inc. plans to broaden its digital video recording service later this year so users of its set-top boxes can download videos from the Internet and watch them from their television sets. "
Since we've been talking about digital piracy, it's interesting to know that The videos aren't copy protected yet but TIVO hopes to make them in the future.
"SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- In its ongoing bid to be a central conduit of media, TiVo Inc. plans to broaden its digital video recording service later this year so users of its set-top boxes can download videos from the Internet and watch them from their television sets. "
Since we've been talking about digital piracy, it's interesting to know that The videos aren't copy protected yet but TIVO hopes to make them in the future.
wikipedia unlocked in China
BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- Online encyclopedia Wikipedia was accessible again in China on Thursday after being blocked for more than a year, a move hailed by free media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders.
The main page of the Chinese-language version of Wikipedia (zh.wikipedia.org) could be displayed and searches for apolitical terms turned up results, but searches for subjects taboo to China's Communist leadership, such as "June 4", remained blocked.
June 4, 1989, was the date that China's military crushed a student-led movement for political change centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds and possibly thousands. The incident remains among the most sensitive subjects for the country's state-controlled media.
The main page of the Chinese-language version of Wikipedia (zh.wikipedia.org) could be displayed and searches for apolitical terms turned up results, but searches for subjects taboo to China's Communist leadership, such as "June 4", remained blocked.
June 4, 1989, was the date that China's military crushed a student-led movement for political change centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds and possibly thousands. The incident remains among the most sensitive subjects for the country's state-controlled media.
Court OKs broad Web libel immunity
"SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- Web sites that publish inflammatory information written by other parties cannot be sued for libel, the California Supreme Court ruled Monday.
The ruling in favor of free online expression was a victory for a San Diego woman who was sued by two doctors for posting an allegedly libelous e-mail on two Web sites.
Some of the Internet's biggest names, including Amazon.com, America Online Inc., eBay Inc., Google Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc., took the defendant's side out of concern that a ruling against her would expose them to liability."
appearently, you can post anything as long as you aren't the original source, including information that can be harmful to another party. Only the original source is held accountable for statements. This is justified through the Communications Decency Act of 1996.
This is good for free speech but it may be harmful in that it allows posting of offensive material? Is there a way to protect both individuals with opinions and those who have harmful information about them out there?
Journalist denies Colombian allegations of terrorism
"Colombian authorities arrested Munoz on Sunday, accusing him of participating in attacks on the electrical infrastructure in and around the coastal cities of Barranquilla and Cartagena. No one was killed in the explosions which occurred in 2002.
Munoz, a Colombian national, said in a note published on Telesur's Web site that he believes he was detained because of his reporting critical of U.S. policy.
The Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders called the arrest "an abuse of power, an arbitrary measure."iPhone
Thought this new mac product was exciting!
The long-rumored arrival of a hybrid mobile phone and iPod music player from Apple Computer Inc. has morphed from a question of "If" to "When" among fans and analysts.
Since Apple's introduction of the iPod five years ago, the company has sold more than 67 million of the devices and more than 1.5 billion songs from its iTunes online music store.
The long-rumored arrival of a hybrid mobile phone and iPod music player from Apple Computer Inc. has morphed from a question of "If" to "When" among fans and analysts.
Since Apple's introduction of the iPod five years ago, the company has sold more than 67 million of the devices and more than 1.5 billion songs from its iTunes online music store.
Humiliated frat boys sue over "Borat" portrayal
If you haven't seen Borat yet, stop reading here. There are some portrayals in the movie that are controversial and are resulting in lawsuits. If you have seen Borat, you will understand that these lawsuits will not end up as anything but a Hollywood joke.
News Corp. Accused of Hush Money Offer
CNN's Nancy Grace Sued
I wonder if CNN has a "do no harm" policy??? Nancy Grace's interview with the mother of a missing child drove her to commit suicide! Apparently the woman was misled about the reason for the interview by being told it was to help bring attention to her missing child, and then she was continuosly questioned about her whereabouts the day her son was missing and basically accused by Nancy Grace. I personally don't think that it is a newsreporters job to interogate a potential suspect? The goal of the media is to report and remain unbiased...not to try to force a confession or solve a crime? Anyway, the story is below...
ORLANDO, Fla. - Relatives of a missing boy's mother who killed herself after aggressive questioning by CNN's Nancy Grace sued the network and the talk-show host Tuesday, claiming Grace caused emotional distress that led to the suicide.
Melinda Duckett committed suicide Sept. 8, a day after Grace's show on CNN Headline News aired a segment in which Grace grilled Duckett about her whereabouts Aug. 27 — the day 2-year-old Trenton Duckett was reported missing.
Authorities, who said last week they believe the boy is alive, have named Melinda Duckett as the prime suspect in his disappearance.
Jay Paul Deratany, the attorney representing Duckett's estate, said Tuesday that Grace encouraged Duckett to appear on her show by saying the goal was to draw public attention to help find Trenton.
"It's not just about the questioning, it's about the misrepresentation with the knowledge that she was emotionally distraught," Deratany said. The attorney said Grace improperly took on the role of a law enforcement officer.
CNN Headline News declined to comment specifically on the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages.
"We stand by Nancy Grace and fully support her, as we have from the beginning of this matter," a spokeswoman said in a news release Tuesday.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Relatives of a missing boy's mother who killed herself after aggressive questioning by CNN's Nancy Grace sued the network and the talk-show host Tuesday, claiming Grace caused emotional distress that led to the suicide.
Melinda Duckett committed suicide Sept. 8, a day after Grace's show on CNN Headline News aired a segment in which Grace grilled Duckett about her whereabouts Aug. 27 — the day 2-year-old Trenton Duckett was reported missing.
Authorities, who said last week they believe the boy is alive, have named Melinda Duckett as the prime suspect in his disappearance.
Jay Paul Deratany, the attorney representing Duckett's estate, said Tuesday that Grace encouraged Duckett to appear on her show by saying the goal was to draw public attention to help find Trenton.
"It's not just about the questioning, it's about the misrepresentation with the knowledge that she was emotionally distraught," Deratany said. The attorney said Grace improperly took on the role of a law enforcement officer.
CNN Headline News declined to comment specifically on the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages.
"We stand by Nancy Grace and fully support her, as we have from the beginning of this matter," a spokeswoman said in a news release Tuesday.
Muslim Group Removed from Plane for saying prayers
Last evening a group of men known as imams, which is a muslim group, was removed from an airplane because they were saying their evening prayers and a passenger complained. They were retained and questioned for several hours before they were allowed to fly home. They are planning to sue the airline. We have talked so much about the different freedoms and civil rights in our class when relating to new technologies, etc. (such as my groups media project about sentiment analysis program) and I think that we forget that there are still cases like this that are completely unacceptable! I am curious to the airlines response to this news story and the lawsuit.
Google shares hit $500
Google stock prices hit $500 today, putting it close to the ranks of giants like Exxon. This is just another milestone in the internet search engines journey to the top. More than just its performance, Googles stock success goes along with its shares that they issue. The company has plans to continue to grow even larger with newspaper advertising in the works.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Calif. court says bloggers can't be sued
The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that bloggers and participants in Internet bulletin board groups cannot be sued for posting defamatory statements made by others.
In deciding a case closely watched by free speech groups, the court said a federal law gives immunity from libel suits not only to Internet service providers, like AOL, but also to bloggers and other users of their services.
"Subjecting Internet service providers and users to defamation liability would tend to chill online speech," today's unanimous ruling said.
The decision (http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S122953.PDF) is a victory for Internet free speech advocates, who warned that a contrary outcome could have affected users of newsgroups, blogs, listservs, and bulletin boards who enter those forums to discuss the views of others. A loss could even have jeopardized websites run by students to evaluate their professors, said the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation in friend of court briefs.
The case involved a lawsuit against Ilena Rosenthal, a women's health activist, who created an e-mail list and a newsgroup (alt.support.breast-implant) to discuss issues related to breast implants. Six years ago, she posted a letter written by a man who was highly critical of the efforts of a doctor to discredit advocates of alternative health treatments.
In the letter, the doctor, Terry Polevoy, was accused of trying to get an alternative medicine radio program canceled by using "scare tactics, stalking, and intimidation techniques" against the program's producer. Polevy, who maintained a website himself to expose what he called "health fraud and quackery" sued Rosenthal for libel.
She argued that because she did not write the letter herself and instead posted the work of another to her newsgroup, she was immune from suit under a section of the federal Communications Decency Act, passed by Congress in 1966. It protects both Internet service providers and their users from lawsuits.
In today's ruling, the California Supreme court said that granting such broad immunity for posting defamatory statements "has some troubling consequences."
Nevertheless, the court said, "Until Congress chooses to revise the settled law in this area" people who contend they were defamed on the Internet can seek recovery only from the original source of the statement, not from those who re-post it."
In deciding a case closely watched by free speech groups, the court said a federal law gives immunity from libel suits not only to Internet service providers, like AOL, but also to bloggers and other users of their services.
"Subjecting Internet service providers and users to defamation liability would tend to chill online speech," today's unanimous ruling said.
The decision (http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S122953.PDF) is a victory for Internet free speech advocates, who warned that a contrary outcome could have affected users of newsgroups, blogs, listservs, and bulletin boards who enter those forums to discuss the views of others. A loss could even have jeopardized websites run by students to evaluate their professors, said the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation in friend of court briefs.
The case involved a lawsuit against Ilena Rosenthal, a women's health activist, who created an e-mail list and a newsgroup (alt.support.breast-implant) to discuss issues related to breast implants. Six years ago, she posted a letter written by a man who was highly critical of the efforts of a doctor to discredit advocates of alternative health treatments.
In the letter, the doctor, Terry Polevoy, was accused of trying to get an alternative medicine radio program canceled by using "scare tactics, stalking, and intimidation techniques" against the program's producer. Polevy, who maintained a website himself to expose what he called "health fraud and quackery" sued Rosenthal for libel.
She argued that because she did not write the letter herself and instead posted the work of another to her newsgroup, she was immune from suit under a section of the federal Communications Decency Act, passed by Congress in 1966. It protects both Internet service providers and their users from lawsuits.
In today's ruling, the California Supreme court said that granting such broad immunity for posting defamatory statements "has some troubling consequences."
Nevertheless, the court said, "Until Congress chooses to revise the settled law in this area" people who contend they were defamed on the Internet can seek recovery only from the original source of the statement, not from those who re-post it."
Online encyclopedia offline in China
Dr. Weber your favorite online encyclopedia is unavailable in China! You should be happy!
Wikipedia reportedly unavailable again in parts of country.
BEIJING - China's easing of a ban on the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia appears to have been short-lived.
Users reported Friday that the site was unavailable in several parts of China, barely a week after it suddenly became accessible.
It wasn't immediately clear if user-contributed encyclopedia was unreachable due to technical glitches or because government censors had blocked the site again. The Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Information Industry did not immediately respond when contacted for comment Friday.
Beijing first blocked access to the English and Chinese versions of Wikipedia in October last year, apparently out of concern about entries touching on Tibet, Taiwan and other sensitive topics.
China's communist government has waged a battle to control the anarchic Internet and filter the information Chinese can get. Police employ an array of measures, from sophisticated filters and detection software that hunts for sensitive words to having officers monitor Web traffic.
As a result, surfing the Web in China is a very different experience from that in much of the world. Because almost anyone can add to and edit listings in Wikipedia, the site is famously freewheeling, addressing sensitive topics that pose a challenge to Beijing's control.
The site's English version was unblocked last month, while the Chinese version became available late last week, until Friday when users said both versions could not be accessed.
"China's Internet users are not different from other countries' users," said Yuan Mingli, 33, a software engineer in Shanghai who has contributed articles on computer science and Chinese historical figures to the site. "Wikipedia is a very important source of information for us."
Experts had earlier expressed skepticism over the government's unannounced lifting of the ban on the popular site, saying it could be only temporary. "It's great to see Wikipedia unblocked, though in China an unblocking is probationary: it might be blocked again in a day, a week, or a month," Jonathan Zittrain, professor of Internet governance and regulation at Oxford University, said at the time.
Wikipedia contributors such as Yuan said they recalled at least two instances before the ban when censors teased Internet users by sporadically blocking access to the site for weeks at a time.
It was also not clear why Beijing had earlier allowed access to the site.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Thursday she had no information on the issue, but added China "actively supports and promotes the development of the Internet." "We manage the Internet in accordance with our laws and regulations," Jiang said.
Wikipedia reportedly unavailable again in parts of country.
BEIJING - China's easing of a ban on the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia appears to have been short-lived.
Users reported Friday that the site was unavailable in several parts of China, barely a week after it suddenly became accessible.
It wasn't immediately clear if user-contributed encyclopedia was unreachable due to technical glitches or because government censors had blocked the site again. The Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Information Industry did not immediately respond when contacted for comment Friday.
Beijing first blocked access to the English and Chinese versions of Wikipedia in October last year, apparently out of concern about entries touching on Tibet, Taiwan and other sensitive topics.
China's communist government has waged a battle to control the anarchic Internet and filter the information Chinese can get. Police employ an array of measures, from sophisticated filters and detection software that hunts for sensitive words to having officers monitor Web traffic.
As a result, surfing the Web in China is a very different experience from that in much of the world. Because almost anyone can add to and edit listings in Wikipedia, the site is famously freewheeling, addressing sensitive topics that pose a challenge to Beijing's control.
The site's English version was unblocked last month, while the Chinese version became available late last week, until Friday when users said both versions could not be accessed.
"China's Internet users are not different from other countries' users," said Yuan Mingli, 33, a software engineer in Shanghai who has contributed articles on computer science and Chinese historical figures to the site. "Wikipedia is a very important source of information for us."
Experts had earlier expressed skepticism over the government's unannounced lifting of the ban on the popular site, saying it could be only temporary. "It's great to see Wikipedia unblocked, though in China an unblocking is probationary: it might be blocked again in a day, a week, or a month," Jonathan Zittrain, professor of Internet governance and regulation at Oxford University, said at the time.
Wikipedia contributors such as Yuan said they recalled at least two instances before the ban when censors teased Internet users by sporadically blocking access to the site for weeks at a time.
It was also not clear why Beijing had earlier allowed access to the site.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Thursday she had no information on the issue, but added China "actively supports and promotes the development of the Internet." "We manage the Internet in accordance with our laws and regulations," Jiang said.
Aerosmith Concerts- for those who love good live music
So I attended two Aerosmith concerts this weekend, as well as two Burden Brother concerts and they were all amazing! I seriously have been to over 75 concerts, but its what I love and I guess its what my credit card loves too. Ha, I guess I will worry about that later?
I first saw Aerosmith in San Antonio on Friday which was amazing of course, but I sat in the lawn which is pretty much against my religion, because I never sit farther back than 15 rows when it comes to seeing those Aerosmith boys. However, I was with a bunch of people so it was best.
I saw them again in Houston last night and we had 7th row seats, and of course, they sounded better than awesome-even when it was sooooooooo cold outside. I seriously get dumb founded with how good they sound. Steven Tyler's voice is one of my favorites to hear live, as well as the whole band because of their talent, and plus its one of the best and most fun shows to see. That's why I keep coming back for more. it's crazy, but seriously it seems to sound better and better each time I see them.
AHAHA I might be quite biased, but they are my favorite band of ALL TIME. I have had the opportunity to see them 7 times and meet Steven Tyler and the boys twice. They have been around for more than 30 years, went through pretty much everything possible a band can go through, and still do what they love and with every original band member still intact. That’s hard to come by these days. Anyways because of their dedication and passion for what they do, as well as what they represent, is precisely why I want to be in the music business. I have to say, I’m pretty ambitious and I would love to have my own record label someday. I don’t think I would have ever gone in this direction if it weren’t for Aerosmith. They have been through and learned so much and still remain on top. They are a prime example of excellence- getting through the tough times and continually growing. A lesson everyone should learn. So ya, I could go all day but enough of that. Here is the article from the Houston concert last night- check it!
I first saw Aerosmith in San Antonio on Friday which was amazing of course, but I sat in the lawn which is pretty much against my religion, because I never sit farther back than 15 rows when it comes to seeing those Aerosmith boys. However, I was with a bunch of people so it was best.
I saw them again in Houston last night and we had 7th row seats, and of course, they sounded better than awesome-even when it was sooooooooo cold outside. I seriously get dumb founded with how good they sound. Steven Tyler's voice is one of my favorites to hear live, as well as the whole band because of their talent, and plus its one of the best and most fun shows to see. That's why I keep coming back for more. it's crazy, but seriously it seems to sound better and better each time I see them.
AHAHA I might be quite biased, but they are my favorite band of ALL TIME. I have had the opportunity to see them 7 times and meet Steven Tyler and the boys twice. They have been around for more than 30 years, went through pretty much everything possible a band can go through, and still do what they love and with every original band member still intact. That’s hard to come by these days. Anyways because of their dedication and passion for what they do, as well as what they represent, is precisely why I want to be in the music business. I have to say, I’m pretty ambitious and I would love to have my own record label someday. I don’t think I would have ever gone in this direction if it weren’t for Aerosmith. They have been through and learned so much and still remain on top. They are a prime example of excellence- getting through the tough times and continually growing. A lesson everyone should learn. So ya, I could go all day but enough of that. Here is the article from the Houston concert last night- check it!
Down with DRM
This goes along with our presentation tomorrow. People are mad because the people that are working against piracy... Zune and I-tunes are not compatible with each other but they are competing, so music lovers are forced to chose.
NewsCorp pulls O.J. Simpson book
There has been a lot of debate in the last week over the potential release of a biography by O.J. Simpson. People are upset that he would write about such a touch subject, especially titling it "If I Did It...". The idea was quickly pulled by NewsCorp after such outrage came of the idea.
Branson and Murdoch clash over future ownership of ITV
English Al-Jazeera expects scrutiny
I know you guys already posted, but I found this yesterday and thought you might think it was interesting.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
New Bond is dandy in solid 'Casino'
(CNN) -- By rights he should be well into middle age, but James Bond turns 21 (movies, that is) here with a new look and a fresh start...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/16/review.casino/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/16/review.casino/index.html
Thursday, November 16, 2006
McCain calls for "common sense conservatism"
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Arizona Sen. John McCain, taking the first step toward a 2008 White House bid, said on Thursday a return to principles of limited government and "common sense conservatism" would carry Republicans back to power after last week's election drubbing.
"We lost our principles and our majority. And there is no way to recover our majority without recovering our principles first," McCain told the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group, in the first of two high-profile speeches kicking off his expected presidential campaign.
McCain, an early favorite in what promises to be a crowded Republican presidential field, filed papers with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday forming an exploratory committee that allows him to raise money for a White House campaign.
Iranian papers: Great war to wipe out Israel coming...
ranian newspapers Kehyan and and Resalat have urged Muslims around the world to prepare for a 'great war' to destroy the State of Israel.
The newspapers published the editorials, translated from Persian by MEMRI , the Middle East translation service, to mark 'Quds' day on October 20, an Iranian 'holiday' calling for the "liberation" of Jerusalem and war against Israel.
"Hizbullah destroyed at least half of Israel in the Lebanon war... Now only half the path (to its destruction) remains," an editorial in the conservative Keyhan newspaper declared.
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).
