Archive for December, 2004

Torrent feature

Wednesday, December 29th, 2004

Wired has an interesting feature on BitTorrent including an interview with Brian Cohen. I've been fascinated by BitTorrent since I encountered it - far more than with other, earlier, P2P formats. In the manner in which it distributes the distribution burden it adds another link to the 'chain' that is ...

Analysis of Overseas Development Aid figures

Wednesday, December 29th, 2004

As I've reported previously the Irish government has abandoned its commitment to reach by 2007 the target for overseas development aid (ODA) of 0.7% of GNP. The Labour Party has, as I mentioned previously, launched a campaign to bring them to task.In the wake of this, however, and in light ...

Head and tail

Tuesday, December 28th, 2004

The Guardian, belatedly, point to a Wired article on The Long Tail. The thesis is that, in an era of unlimited content availability, the 'tail' is more profitable than the items at the 'head' - those which would be carried in physical stores. This is of course an enticing idea for ...

News from the Ukraine

Friday, December 24th, 2004

If you want to keep up to date with the situation in the Ukraine you could do worse than watch Orange Media, an English language news site. The site is partial - Orange is the (theme) colour of Yushchenko's campaign - but you're likely to get more, and faster, news ...

Petitions, farmers, aid and AIDS

Friday, December 24th, 2004

An interesting story in the Guardian today about a Europe-wide petition calling for some CAP funds - specifically half of those going to the top 2% of farmers, or 12.5% of the total funds - to be instead allocated to help children orphaned by AIDS in Africa. The petition is ...

Recent Media Minutes Items

Thursday, December 23rd, 2004

Media Minutes 2004-11-12 Media Minutes 2004-11-19 Media Minutes 2004-11-26 Media Minutes 2004-12-03 Media Minutes 2004-12-10 Media Minutes 2004-12-17 Media Minutes 2004-12-24

Recent Media Geek shows

Thursday, December 23rd, 2004

Media Geek 2004-11-12 Media Geek 2004-11-19 Media Geek 2004-11-26 Media Geek 2004-12-03 Media Geek 2004-12-10 Media Geek 2004-12-17

Recent editions of Media Matters

Thursday, December 23rd, 2004

Media Matters 2004-11-14 Media Matters 2004-11-21 Media Matters 2004-11-28 Media Matters 2004-12-05 Media Matters 2004-12-12 Media Matters 2004-12-19

Copyright fees and libraries

Thursday, December 23rd, 2004

Sometimes press releases draw attention to the darnest things... Hands up everyone who knew that an EU Directive requires that libraries pay fees to copyright holders based on materials borrowed? I'd been unaware of the requirement, though it is consistent with the European approach to copyright. The only reason the matter came ...

New Adventures #5

Thursday, December 23rd, 2004

The BCI has just announced the fifth New Adventures in Broadcasting scheme. Some of my U.S. based readers (or indeed others) may find it interesting that the regulatory body that licenses broadcasters should run a scheme aimed at subventing quality programmes on stations. In a way this is like having ...