The Hidden "Ads by Google" - Back in Black11/04/2003 02:28 PM For the past several weeks, publishers were able to hide the "Ads by
Google" link by using a light colored border. This would make the ads
appear like a part of the site itself, rather than ads provided by
Google, particularly when the border and background matched the
website's page color. Many reported a much higher CTR when doing this.
Black Market Press: Back Again04/18/2005 11:06 PM Black Market Press:
Back Again The Popular Tri-State Area Zine Team, Black Market
Press is back again, older, wiser, and broadcasting to a much wider
readership thanks to the popularity of the Blog. Social and political
commentary from the pamphleteering team that brought you Media
Blitz back in 1995. We encourage you to send us links, news, or
hate mail.
Memory maker Micron back in black
Memory maker Micron back in black06/23/2004 08:28 PM The company returned to profitability in the past quarter, thanks to
higher memory prices and a diversifying customer base.
Black Watch heads back to Iraq
Black Watch heads back to Iraq05/27/2004 09:13 AM The Black Watch regiment is heading back to Iraq after Defence
Minister Geoff Hoon announced more UK troop deployments.
Computer game company gets back in the black after major 2001 losses
Apologies for my unannounced silence since
last Saturday. The power supply on my Dell failed, draining the
battery
so I couldn't even back up my files to another computer. I just got it
back now. More on this spectacular failure next week. This week has
given me the chance to work on my novel, The
Only Life We Know, and my book Natural Enterprise, as well as a chance to catch
my breath and think about (a) what to blog about next, and (b) what to
do with myself once the three books are finished.
Here are some of the things I'm planning on blogging about in the next
few weeks. If there's anything else you'd like me to write about, let
me know.
The Consequences of Failure: What
Eco-Collapse Will Look Like (coming up later today)
Book
Review - The Wisdom of
Crowds
Why We Should Set Higher Standards for
Everything
How to Save the
World Reading List - Updated
and Annotated
Book Review - Bird by Bird
Self-Selecting Communities: How
We Might
Build Some
Are There Any Large Innovative Companies
Left?
How Can We Reconnect Children to Nature?
Natural Enterprise Chapter 7:
Organic
Financing
My Favourite Canadian Francophone Blogs /
Mes Blogs Canadiens-Francais Favoris
Critical Thinking: More
Than Just Adjusting
for Spin
I hate commercials. They're an
insult to the intelligence. They're grating. They're repetitive.
They're unimaginative. They're a colossal waste of money that could be
spent on something useful to society. Mostly, they're depressing --
they show the low level of intelligence that big corporations can
profitably pander to, to hawk their dreadful, overpriced crap. And
they
show the low level of creativity of Western society -- with untold
millions of dollars to spend in a medium that can present almost
anything imaginable, this garbage is the best they can come up with.
How can these bloated corporations and slimy advertising agencies be
surprised that the biggest hit of the last television season was TIVO
-- a tool that finally allows us to skip their god-awful tripe
permanently? And what can be more pathetic than millions of people
watching a football game each year just
for the ads, which are mostly for companies that sell
third-rate
mass-produced beer and other products that are either bad for you or
manufactured in third-world sweatshops anyway?
Why get so worked up about this? Why don't I just turn them off?
Because they're one of the engines of corporatism, the means by which,
from a young age, we're brainwashed to believe that our possessions,
what we buy and wear and eat, determines our identity, our value and
rank in society. And because, just like politicians who bribe us with
our own money through 'tax cuts' (which are in reality simply service
cuts), corporations in their advertisements are pressuring us to buy
their product with our money.
The cost of advertising, which can amount to up to 80% of the 'cost'
of
a brand-name breakfast cereal or sneaker, is passed along to us, the
consumers. And we pay it because (a) the ads thatwe're paying
for coerce us into
believing that their brand name is somehow worth the hugely inflated
price, and (b) the huge market share that this coercion brings allows
these brand names to monopolize retailers' shelf space and drive those
that produce small, local, reasonably-priced products out of the
market. Such oligopolies control
every industry in our economy.
What's the answer? The usual solutions to deal with this problem are
to
boycott
the overpriced, overhyped brands and the goods of socially and
environmentally irresponsible corporations and oligopolies, to educate
ourselves on alternatives by belonging to organizations like
Consumers
Union, and to pledge to
buy local.
These are good ideas, but they are not enough, by themselves, to reach
a tipping point to bust the oligopolies, make expensive and deceptive
ads unprofitable, and squeeze the hidden inflationary cost of
exhorbitant ads out of the price of the products we buy. What we need
to do is to take back
the airwaves, to realize that the media bandwidth is a public
resource and it should be owned by, and for the interests of, the
people, not corporations and advertisers. As the owners of the
airwaves, we should allow them to be used only for public purposes. As
radical as it may seem to those of us in North America (it's not a
radical idea elsewhere in the world), advertising should be prohibited
on our airwaves -- it is not
in our best interests.
How then should programming be funded? Publicly, with the budgets for
programs determined by a public foundation with a mandate to support a
mix of entertainment, cultural and information programming, and guided
within limits by what viewers actually watch, and by a code to be
inclusive, politically and culturally balanced and courageous, and to
encourage creativity and investigation, and stretch the limits of the
media and the minds of the people. Yes, this would be paid for by tax
dollars. But remember, we're already
paying for it. Not only would public funding of the airwaves
let
the people, not the advertisers, determine what we can and should
watch
for our money, but the
profligate waste of billions of dollars in advertising could instead
be
spent on real programming.
And the taxes that pay for the programs would be progressive (income taxes), based
on ability to pay, instead of regressive
(consumption taxes), based on how much you've been duped to buy.
Because of the savings on advertising, the cost (and hence price)
savings on products would more than offset the cost of publicly funded
programming.
We'd end up with, almost certainly, better, more varied,
commercial-free programming. The cost of many consumer products would
plunge. Oligopolies would be unable to sustain their stranglehold,
making many industries much more competitive, opening the door to more
small, local, entrepreneurial businesses with the commensurate boost
in
jobs, and rewarding innovation more and brand less, which would
benefit
the whole economy.
To those that find the idea of public ownership of the airwaves too
radical, think about information and the arts as a public good -- like
education, health, parks and public spaces. The neocons want to
'privatize' all of these things, too -- run them for corporate profit
and to hell with what the public wants. Most of us can see that in
education, health, parks and public spaces the benefits of public
ownership and stewardship in the people's interest far outweigh the
'efficiencies' of private, corporate ownership. We need to fight back
against the greedy corporatists -- in the private sector and in
government -- who try to bribe us with our own money and denigrate the
value of public goods. They're every bit as great a threat to our
democracy as terrorists.
P.S. Last week CBS refused to carry the Moveon anti-Bush
spot. Since those that control the media, our airwaves, won't allow you to
see this important message, you'll have to see it here. Too bad tens
of millions of others won't have that opportunity.
Thanks to
Torontonian AllSeasons for
providing this simple list:
Peanut Butter Canned Fish Baby Formula Mac & Cheese Cereal & Bread Soup Pasta & Sauce Rice Fruits &
Vegetables
It's the list of suggested items on the brown paper bag from the local
food bank. "Your grocery list is
someone else's wish list" it says above the list.
Speaks for itself.
And the very next blog I visited was another Torontonian, Daily Dose of Imagery, who, to
my astonishment, had just posted the extraordinary shot below.
Check out these two great blogs, and then...well, you know what to do
next.
WHY IS KERRY HOLDING BACK ON BUSH'S DISREGARD FOR THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS?
There has been a lot of
discussion lately, at least in moderate and left-wing circles, about
the growing evidence of the Bush Regime's deliberate abrogation of the
Geneva Conventions, on the basis that respecting it compromises the
'war on terror'. The best report was Friday on Bill Moyers NOW
on PBS, which included a lengthy interview with Scott Horton, the
lawyer for the NY Bar Association, about the Association's report
on the Bush Regime's arguments for ignoring the Conventions, and their
implication for the safety of American troops, and the integrity of
international law. The report was commissioned in part because of
concerns expressed by the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) office about
alarming and inconsistent instructions that military personnel were
receiving about non-application of the Conventions. These concerns
stemmed from a whole series of classified memoranda from the very top
of the Bush Regime, justifying widespread setting aside of the
Conventions on flimsy grounds, notably a memo
from Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo developed to
pre-justify systematic contravention of the Conventions. Or as
Newsweek
puts it
"a legal framework to justify a secret system of detention and
interrogation that sidesteps the historical safeguards of the Geneva
Conventions."
There is a great deal more on this story. The NOW site above has links
to additional stories. And Joe Conason at Salon.com has a good
summary of it this week.
So the question is: Why is John Kerry not raising this as a serious campaign
issue,
a defining distinction between his policy and Bush's? In the interview
with NOW, Horton says that all the major media, especially the TV
networks, have refused to provide significant coverage of this issue
because "it is too complex to be understandable or of interest to the
public." This is an astonishing position for the media to take, and a
total abrogation of their journalistic responsibility. So, for the
benefit of these media, allow me to make it simple, so that even a
media mogul could understand it:
The primary purpose of the Geneva Conventions is as a
mutual code of civility, to safeguard prisoners on all sides from
torture, murder and atrocities. As long as all sides in a war agree to
be bound by the Conventions, the war is unlikely to deteriorate into
gruesome and barbaric abuse and slaughter of the innocent. But when
one
side, as the US has now done, disregards the Conventions, it provokes
the other side to abrogate the Conventions as well. So the first
consequence of the Bush Regime's decision that the Geneva Conventions
does not apply in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo, and other secret US
prisons in the ill-defined and boundaryless 'war on terror', is to
imperil the lives and safety of
American troops, peacekeepers and civilians worldwide. We have
already seen some despicable instances of this.
Respect for
and adherence to the Geneva Conventions is a
backbone of international law, but it is equally enshrined in American
law. Secret papers calling for the ignoring and abrogation of the
Conventions, from the highest levels of the Bush Regime, are in fact
instructions
to commit illegal acts, and a statement that this government considers
itself above, and not bound by, the rule of law in America.
So we have a government that, by its actions, is threatening the lives
and safety of American troops, peacekeepers, and civilians worldwide,
and putting themselves outside and above the law by commissioning
illegal acts. Surely this is simple enough for anyone to understand,
and surely it is grounds for Kerry to express outrage, demand an
impartial and unimpeded investigation (not another of these farcical
and impotent commissions we have seen so far), and in fact seek
criminal charges against the people responsible. The NY Bar
Association
believes there are ample grounds for this, and they should know
something about the law.
If we reserve our outrage and only prosecute those on the front lines
that follow the orders they are given, and even then only when there
are provocative photos, and if by our inaction we actually encourage
those that commission the illegal and dangerous acts, give the orders,
and then hide behind executive privilege and secrecy, what does that
say about us?
It's time for John Kerry to speak up.
Photo: Interrogation
room at Guantanamo, where Bush has declared that no prisoners are
protected by the Geneva Conventions.
Apple Hits Back
Apple Hits Back12/17/2003 07:21 AM Apple's PC market share might be as little as three percent, but the
pundits have lately queued up to praise its sense of style and
innovation. By Russell Brown (New Zealand Listener via MyAppleMenu)
Shine Comes Back To Apple
Shine Comes Back To Apple07/15/2004 06:56 PM "The upside surprise in core Mac businesses this quarter was an
important indicator, in our view. We have been waiting for signs that
the anticipated 'halo effect' from Apple's retail stores and iPod
would materialize." By Ronna Abramson, TheStreet.com (via MyAppleMenu)
Apple Bites Back
Apple Bites Back01/04/2004 09:37 AM Buoyed by a host of winning machines, from the iMac to the iPod, Apple
is enjoying a renaissance. By Stephen Lynch (New York Post via
MyAppleMenu)
A look back: The best of 2003 from Apple Computer
A look back: The best of 2003 from Apple Computer12/16/2003 05:17 PM Columnist Yuval Kossovsky picks the evolutionary -- and revolutionary
-- products from Apple in 2003. Some of them may surprise you.
A Look Back: The Best Of 2003 From Apple Computer
A Look Back: The Best Of 2003 From Apple Computer12/16/2003 08:54 PM Apple is not a computer company, but a solution company. Apple
delivers innovative, elegant and friendly solutions to a specific
community with a problem. Apple delivers utility in a decidedly
nonutilitarian way. By Yuval Kossovsky (Computerworld via MyAppleMenu)
Steve Jobs back at Apple09/08/2004 04:14 PM After undergoing successful surgery in July for a rare form of
pancreatic cancer, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is now attending some company
meetings and plans to return to work full-time later this month...
Glancing back at Apple in '04, looking ahead to '05
Glancing back at Apple in '04, looking ahead to '0501/04/2005 05:41 PM Columnist Yuval Kossovsky takes a quick glance back at the Mac news of
2004 and then focuses on what's coming in '05. Hint: Keep your eyes on
Apple's Xsan technology.
nVidia holding Apple back?
nVidia holding Apple back?09/07/2004 03:51 PM The Inquirer
is reporting that graphics giant nVidia is holding back Mac giant
Apple. When Apple launched their big new LCD's a month ago, many
people rejoiced and raved about how great they were. True, although
the 20" and 23" models have been shipping, the Inq reports
that the 30" is having problems.
The 30" displays are running with the new line of G5 machines;
however, because of the sheer size of the display it requires a
special graphics card that currently only nVidia ship (the GeForce
6800 Ultra DDL). The card has dual DVI outputs (both going to one
screen) to handle the data.
However, apparently nVidia just isn't producing the cards; be it chip
problems, reliability / stability issues, whatever, the company is
unable to provide a good enough supply to allow Apple to start
shipping them. How long it will take to get the cards shipping /
working is unknown; if nVidia fall short on contractual agreements
with Apple in terms of supply, it wouldn't be surprising to see them
head elsewhere.
Bringing Apple Back Into The Race01/16/2004 11:04 AM Thanks to IBM (once regarded by Apple as its greatest competitor) that
Apple is back in the race. By Chris Chong (Malaysia Star via
MyAppleMenu)
PlayFair defies Apple; Web site back up05/11/2004 08:01 AM The PlayFair free software project is back online, with both the
maintainer of the project and the hosting service willing to face a
legal challenge from Apple Computer Inc.
PlayFair defies Apple; Web site back up (MacCentral)
PlayFair defies Apple; Web site back up (MacCentral)05/11/2004 07:47 AM MacCentral - The PlayFair free software project is back online, with
both the maintainer of the project and the hosting service willing to
face a legal challenge from Apple Computer Inc.
Apple Hits Back At Sony 'Misleading' Walkman Marketing
Apple Hits Back At Sony 'Misleading' Walkman Marketing07/07/2004 06:09 PM Sny's 13,000 song measurement is based on it ATRAC3 compression system
at the relatively low rate of 48Kbps while Apple's measurement is
based on the AAC compression system at 128Kbps. "ATRAC3 at 48Kbps is
nowhere near CD quality." By Jim Darlymple, MacCentral (via
MyAppleMenu)
Eminem, Apple in settlement talks, want trial pushed back
Eminem, Apple in settlement talks, want trial pushed back09/23/2004 11:05 AM Lawyers for Eminem's music label, Apple and MTV have asked a federal
judge to delay the trial following settlement talks in the rapper's
copyright infringement suit, according to a Detroit News report...
Apple hits back at Sony's 'misleading' Walkman marketing
Apple hits back at Sony's 'misleading' Walkman marketing07/07/2004 02:24 PM Sony Corp.'s new hard
disk-based Walkman is the product with the biggest brand
recognition that Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading iPod has had to
face since its introduction. But it's not the Walkman's 25-year
history that bothers Apple executives, it's Sony's marketing message.
When Sony released the 20GB Walkman they claimed to have trumped Apple
with the number of songs that their device could hold -- 13,000
compared to the iPod's 10,000 -- even thought the total capacity was
half of the iPod's. That message is misleading to consumers, according
to Apple.
Apple hits back at Sony's 'misleading' Walkman marketing (MacCentral)
Apple hits back at Sony's 'misleading' Walkman marketing (MacCentral)07/07/2004 03:00 PM MacCentral - Sony Corp.'s new hard disk-based Walkman is the product
with the biggest brand recognition that Apple Computer Inc.'s
market-leading iPod has had to face since its introduction. But it's
not the Walkman's 25-year history that bothers Apple executives, it's
Sony's marketing message. When Sony released the 20GB Walkman they
claimed to have trumped Apple with the number of songs that their
device could hold -- 13,000 compared to the iPod's 10,000 -- even
thought the total capacity was half of the iPod's. That message is
misleading to consumers, according to Apple.
Real shoots back at Apple, reaffirms commitment to Harmony (MacCentral)
Real shoots back at Apple, reaffirms commitment to Harmony (MacCentral)07/29/2004 01:32 PM MacCentral - Apple Computer Inc. issued a statement on Thursday
accusing RealNetworks of hacker-like tactics for its Harmony
technology that will allow content from Real's music store to be
played on Apple's iPod. Several hours later RealNetworks shot back
saying they have done nothing wrong and reaffirmed its commitment to
developing Harmony.
Ill. gov. seeks violent video game ban Review: E-mail program lacks 'wow' factor Apple fights back a
Looks like all those pastel
PSPs Sony was showing at E3 were just a tease. According to an
interview in Japanese game magazine Famitsu, Sony claims the
various color PSPs were "just for reference. We plan to make the
system black." I wouldn't worry too much, though. I'm sure if the PSP
does well at all, color models will start showing up in no time at
all. Read
[IGN via Portagame]
Grok Description matches for Apple: Back In Black GrokA matches for Apple: Back In Black
Apple: Back In Black
The following phrases have been identified by the grok system as matching this entry:
Apologies for my unannounced silence since
last Saturday. The power supply on my Dell failed, draining the
battery
so I couldn't even back up my files to another computer. I just got it
back now. More on this spectacular failure next week. This week has
given me the chance to work on my novel, The
Only Life We Know, and my book Natural Enterprise, as well as a chance to catch
my breath and think about (a) what to blog about next, and (b) what to
do with myself once the three books are finished.
Thanks to
Torontonian AllSeasons for
providing this simple list:
View: Discussion
Looks like all those pastel
PSPs Sony was showing at E3 were just a tease. According to an
interview in Japanese game magazine Famitsu, Sony claims the
various color PSPs were "just for reference. We plan to make the
system black." I wouldn't worry too much, though. I'm sure if the PSP
does well at all, color models will start showing up in no time at
all.