Paul Graham has an excellent essay entitled Why TV Lost. In it he names four forces that have lead to TV's downfall. 1.) The Internet is an open platform, "So innovation happens at hacker speeds instead of big company speeds." 2.) Moore's Law, "...has worked its usual magic on Internet bandwidth." 3.) Piracy, "Users prefer it not just because it's free, but because it's more … [Read more...] about The Days of the Internet as Haven for Citizen Production are Numbered
Poor And Homeless In The 21st Century
You gotta have a cell phone... … [Read more...] about Poor And Homeless In The 21st Century
The U.S. Uses Diplomatic Linkage With Moscow
But will it work? Here's one view. … [Read more...] about The U.S. Uses Diplomatic Linkage With Moscow
The Real Big Battle: Is It Between Twitter And Facebook?
A roundup looks at the issue here. … [Read more...] about The Real Big Battle: Is It Between Twitter And Facebook?
The Media Is Again The Last To Get It. But Will Bush Administration Perps?
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE I take not one freaking iota of satisfaction in having been out well ahead of the mainstream media -- as were a goodly number of bloggers -- concerning Bush administration excesses, especially its serial abuses of power. The handwriting was on the wall, in some cases writ large in blood, but the MSM was for the most part looking the other way as … [Read more...] about The Media Is Again The Last To Get It. But Will Bush Administration Perps?
Just For a Moment: A Tiny Story
Have you ever noticed there's a time in life, I mean on earth, when it is not day and it is not night. and if you look only down, and see only the dark over the land, you might not realize that day is already flying through the air, sun-hook at the ready, poised to pull back the blanket, revealing all the ugliness on earth, again, it is true. Yet... Long … [Read more...] about Just For a Moment: A Tiny Story
Depression Memories
Well since Elrod officially declared we are in a depression, I thought I'd pass along this very interesting piece on a memoir of the Great Depression. (H/T Financial Armageddon) … [Read more...] about Depression Memories
Indian Business Tycoon Gets Gandhi Memorabilia
There was a high drama. Despite Government of India's attempts to prevent the auction of Mahatma Gandhi memorabilia at New York, the auctioneers went ahead...And there was furious bidding. Finally, representatives of Vijay Mallya, the billionaire chairman of United Breweries Group and Kingfisher Airlines, outlasted other collectors. Mahatma Gandhi's five personal items, … [Read more...] about Indian Business Tycoon Gets Gandhi Memorabilia
The Economic Crisis Presents: Bad Banks
Click the cartoon for a full size image. For more, visit Small World cartoons. … [Read more...] about The Economic Crisis Presents: Bad Banks
Interesting Video On Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac
This is a video from 2004 where Democrats seem to oppose and Republicans seem to favor stricter review and regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This is not to say that the Democrats did not favor stricter review or that the Republicans are innocent from blame and I do blame both sides for the mess. But for those who try to paint the other picture, the Democrats being … [Read more...] about Interesting Video On Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac
How Is This Depression Different from the Great Depression?
There, I said it. We are in a depression. Not a recession but a depression. We haven't yet hit the textbook definition of a "depression": a fall of GDP by 10% over three years along with a 10% unemployment rate. But we are fast approaching the official definition. And let's be honest...it sure FEELS like a depression. Take a look at this index of the stock market … [Read more...] about How Is This Depression Different from the Great Depression?
Proposition 8 Arguments Seem To Favor Supporters
Arguments were held today in the California Supreme Court regarding the validity of Proposition 8. I had planned to watch them but was distracted by work issues so I have had to rely on summaries. Those summaries do not fill me, as a strong opponent of Proposition 8, with confidence though given the strength of the arguments I have read would seem to favor those who oppose the … [Read more...] about Proposition 8 Arguments Seem To Favor Supporters
Americans Must Prove Their Even-Handedness: Al Gomhuria, Egypt
So how is Hillary Clinton's visit to the Middle East playing in the Arab world? According to this editorial from Egypt's most widely-read newspaper, Al Gomhuria, America has a lot to prove before the Arab world can take it seriously as an honest broker between Israelis and the Palestinians: "America have to understand that security must be conditioned upon returning the land … [Read more...] about Americans Must Prove Their Even-Handedness: Al Gomhuria, Egypt
Moscow, Tehran and Obama’s Bag of Tricks?: Financial Times Deutschland
Days ago it emerged that President Obama had written Russian President Medvedev with a proposition: If Russia were able to use its influence with Iran and get it to give up its nuclear weapons program, the United States would halt the construction of the U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe. According to this editorial from the Financial Times Deutschland, the Obama foreign … [Read more...] about Moscow, Tehran and Obama’s Bag of Tricks?: Financial Times Deutschland
Obama And The Teleprompter: Words Are A Spirit
I'm trying to figure out something dear readers. Can you help me out please? If you write your own speeches the majority of the time and use a teleprompter the majority of the time so you can read from that speech, does that mean what Ed Morrissey says at Hot Air: Look, a TelePrompter is a tool, like anything else, and using the right tool for the right job is part of … [Read more...] about Obama And The Teleprompter: Words Are A Spirit
Socialism? We Already Have It, Fool
President Barack Obama launched a summit of health field representatives Thursday in the first step to reform the nation's beleaguered health care system. “Those who seek to block any reform at any cost will not prevail this time around,” Obama said in opening a White House conference, where he promised to reduce health costs and expand coverage. He said doing nothing is not … [Read more...] about Socialism? We Already Have It, Fool
Blowing Concerned Conservatives Clear of Rush
Whether they agree or disagree with President Obama's direction for the nation, Americans are quickly forming the opinion that his team doesn't miss much. For example, someone on the team last fall jotted some notes on the success of "Sarah's Base Hardener" in continuing the work of the late icon of conservatism, William F. Buckley. Buckley's work: "I've spent my entire … [Read more...] about Blowing Concerned Conservatives Clear of Rush
White House Health Care Rally, Web Site
On a day dominated by news of falling retail sales and a diving stock market, the President held a pep rally for health care. He told 150 members of Congress and heads of labor unions, business groups, doctors, hospitals, insurance companies and consumer organizations: “Since Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform nearly a century ago, we have talked and tinkered. We … [Read more...] about White House Health Care Rally, Web Site
The Gift That Keeps on Giving… Or Not
I may not agree with the course being taken by President Obama on the economic crisis, and a couple of his cabinet appointments could have been more thoughtful, but I've tried not to pile on him too much and support what he does well. Some news today from our friends in England, however, has truly set my teeth on edge. I'll let the Daily Mail explain the details of the Great … [Read more...] about The Gift That Keeps on Giving… Or Not
Save What You Can?
The French have a lot of experience with economic loss. Not only the kind generated by collapsing markets, but loss generated by revolutions, wars, invasions and occupations. It is thus not surprising that they have sayings, even just phrases, that tell a story of dire financial straits in dramatically straight forward and unmistakable ways. One such phrase roughly translates … [Read more...] about Save What You Can?