Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Blockbuster merging with Sounds under pressure from net
Movie rental business Blockbuster is merging with music retailer Sounds in a sign of changing times for both business sectors.
Icon Digital Entertainment - a new company owned by Blockbuster's New Zealand master franchisee Steve Dods - has bought the local management of the Blockbuster brand, the 50-store Sounds music chain and specialist gaming retailer Games Plus.
The merger will see Blockbuster, which has about 40 stores, expand into new areas, including digital downloading and retailing DVDs, CDs and computer games, The New Zealand Herald reported today.
Users can now download movies, music and mobile phone ring tones over the internet, posing a threat to traditional movie rental and music retail businesses.
Icon Digital Entertainment - a new company owned by Blockbuster's New Zealand master franchisee Steve Dods - has bought the local management of the Blockbuster brand, the 50-store Sounds music chain and specialist gaming retailer Games Plus.
The merger will see Blockbuster, which has about 40 stores, expand into new areas, including digital downloading and retailing DVDs, CDs and computer games, The New Zealand Herald reported today.
Users can now download movies, music and mobile phone ring tones over the internet, posing a threat to traditional movie rental and music retail businesses.
China oppresses citizens by banning strippers at funerals
Leave it to China to put an end to a good thing. The communist nation has made some bad decisions in the past, but last month it went too far.
On Aug. 28, government officials put an end to an interesting rural tradition that Americans should consider adopting.In certain parts of the country, it is customary to hire a group of "adult entertainers" to perform at a funeral.
Just as in the United States, naked people always draw a crowd in China. Coincidentally, in Chinese culture, a large number of funeral attendees brings honor to the deceased.
So, these stripteases are actually tributes to the dead that happen to be a lot of fun. But now the funeral stripping industry may be shut down, and there will be no more debauchery with the deceased.
As usual, the Chinese government screwed up on this one. Lawmen arrested the leaders of five traveling stripper groups, two of which recently performed at a farmer's funeral in rural China.
Official statements have called for an end to the practice, and there is now a sort of crime stoppers hotline that scrupulous neighbors can call to report any lewd funeral performances.
The Chinese government has also offered a reward for anyone who calls in an incident of funeral "misconduct."
This is an outrage. China seriously needs to take a step back and look at what really matters. Promiscuous pallbearers shouldn't be a top priority for China. Besides, the average Chinese farmer has a hard enough life as it is. Why take away the simple pleasure of seeing naked women at funerals? ... [more]
On Aug. 28, government officials put an end to an interesting rural tradition that Americans should consider adopting.In certain parts of the country, it is customary to hire a group of "adult entertainers" to perform at a funeral.
Just as in the United States, naked people always draw a crowd in China. Coincidentally, in Chinese culture, a large number of funeral attendees brings honor to the deceased.
So, these stripteases are actually tributes to the dead that happen to be a lot of fun. But now the funeral stripping industry may be shut down, and there will be no more debauchery with the deceased.
As usual, the Chinese government screwed up on this one. Lawmen arrested the leaders of five traveling stripper groups, two of which recently performed at a farmer's funeral in rural China.
Official statements have called for an end to the practice, and there is now a sort of crime stoppers hotline that scrupulous neighbors can call to report any lewd funeral performances.
The Chinese government has also offered a reward for anyone who calls in an incident of funeral "misconduct."
This is an outrage. China seriously needs to take a step back and look at what really matters. Promiscuous pallbearers shouldn't be a top priority for China. Besides, the average Chinese farmer has a hard enough life as it is. Why take away the simple pleasure of seeing naked women at funerals? ... [more]
"Edumacational"
How awesome!
I wonder what wouldthe assistance ration will be?
People at this UK university are probably not worried about their 7 or 8 am class...sincethey will be able to miss it and still be able to listen to whatever lecture was given.
There are many who say "no" to this educational tool...but I say yes; because after all, our generation is pretty anti-social anyway. Otherwise ask all those who listen to their ipod 24-7.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/5319258.stm
I wonder what wouldthe assistance ration will be?
People at this UK university are probably not worried about their 7 or 8 am class...sincethey will be able to miss it and still be able to listen to whatever lecture was given.
There are many who say "no" to this educational tool...but I say yes; because after all, our generation is pretty anti-social anyway. Otherwise ask all those who listen to their ipod 24-7.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/5319258.stm
Digital Divide Separates Students
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Many more white children use the Internet than do Hispanic and black students, a reminder that going online is hardly a way of life for everyone.
Two of every three white students -- 67 percent -- use the Internet, but less than half of blacks and Hispanics do, according to federal data released Tuesday. For Hispanics the figure is 44 percent; for blacks, it's 47 percent.
"This creates incredible barriers for minorities," said Mark Lloyd, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and an expert on how communications influence civil rights.
Not using the Internet "narrows their ability to even think about the kind of work they can be doing," Lloyd said. "It doesn't prepare them for a world in which they're going to be expected to know how to do these things."
The new data come from the National Center for Education Statistics, an arm of the Education Department. It is based on a national representative survey of households in 2003.
Two of every three white students -- 67 percent -- use the Internet, but less than half of blacks and Hispanics do, according to federal data released Tuesday. For Hispanics the figure is 44 percent; for blacks, it's 47 percent.
"This creates incredible barriers for minorities," said Mark Lloyd, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and an expert on how communications influence civil rights.
Not using the Internet "narrows their ability to even think about the kind of work they can be doing," Lloyd said. "It doesn't prepare them for a world in which they're going to be expected to know how to do these things."
The new data come from the National Center for Education Statistics, an arm of the Education Department. It is based on a national representative survey of households in 2003.
