Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Eliminating the Human ~ David Byrne
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/608580/eliminating-the-human/
We are beset by—and immersed in—apps and devices that are quietly reducing the amount of meaningful interaction we have with each other.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Craven Arsenal abandon Mesut Özil over his stance on China’s Uighur persecution
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/16/arsenal-mesut-ozil-uighurs-china
The decision by CCTV not to show Arsenal’s match against Manchester City is another reminder that there is no middle ground here. No way to stick up for human rights and free speech without angering China. You are either for such values or against them.
As Simon Chadwick, a professor of sports enterprise at Salford University who specialises in China, puts it: “The world is in the midst of an ideological battle: western liberalism versus eastern authoritarianism. And sport is one of the front lines.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Arsenal distance themselves from Mesut Özil comments on Uighurs’ plight
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/13/arsenal-distance-themselves-from-mesut-ozil-comments-china-uighur-people
The club sought to limit any damage caused to its business in China, where it has numerous commercial interests including a chain of restaurants, by releasing a statement on Weibo – a leading Chinese social media site – as well as other platforms stressing it is apolitical and does not associate itself with Özil’s views.
The club sought to limit any damage caused to its business in China, where it has numerous commercial interests including a chain of restaurants, by releasing a statement on Weibo – a leading Chinese social media site – as well as other platforms stressing it is apolitical and does not associate itself with Özil’s views.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Russian TV axes show starring Ukraine's leader after Putin joke
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/12/russian-tv-axes-show-starring-ukraines-leader-after-putin-joke-volodymyr-zelenskiy
The word Hublot resembles another that translates, less crudely, to the word “dick” in Russian’s swearing sub-language known as Mat. The phrase “Putin’s a dick”, using the swearword, became a popular slogan in Ukraine after the outbreak of the conflict in south-east Ukraine, and could be heard at anti-Putin rallies and seen in graffiti dabbed on walls across Ukraine.
The word Hublot resembles another that translates, less crudely, to the word “dick” in Russian’s swearing sub-language known as Mat. The phrase “Putin’s a dick”, using the swearword, became a popular slogan in Ukraine after the outbreak of the conflict in south-east Ukraine, and could be heard at anti-Putin rallies and seen in graffiti dabbed on walls across Ukraine.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Amazon breaks into Champions League with German deal
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/dec/10/amazon-sky-champions-league-germany-premier-league-football
Under the three-year deal, Sky Deutschland is the main rights holder and sub-licensed a smaller package of games to DAZN, which reportedly paid an estimated €600m (£505m). The deal, which runs until 2020-21, marks the first time that no Champions League games have aired on free-to-air TV in Germany, after the public broadcaster ZDF was outbid.
Under the three-year deal, Sky Deutschland is the main rights holder and sub-licensed a smaller package of games to DAZN, which reportedly paid an estimated €600m (£505m). The deal, which runs until 2020-21, marks the first time that no Champions League games have aired on free-to-air TV in Germany, after the public broadcaster ZDF was outbid.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
China tells government offices to remove all foreign computer equipment
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/09/china-tells-government-offices-to-remove-all-foreign-computer-equipment
The government directive is likely to be a blow to US multinational companies like HP, Dell and Microsoft and mirrors attempts by Washington to limit the use of Chinese technology, as the trade war between the countries turns into a tech cold war.
The government directive is likely to be a blow to US multinational companies like HP, Dell and Microsoft and mirrors attempts by Washington to limit the use of Chinese technology, as the trade war between the countries turns into a tech cold war.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Facts are under siege. Now, more than ever, we need to invest in journalism
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/02/facts-are-under-siege-now-more-than-ever-we-need-to-invest-in-journalism
Donald Trump’s presidency marks the culmination of these trends. Schooled in reality television and New York tabloids, Trump understands how to drive ratings and get attention. As the 2016 presidential race heated up, Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS, admitted the Trump phenomenon “may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS”
Donald Trump’s presidency marks the culmination of these trends. Schooled in reality television and New York tabloids, Trump understands how to drive ratings and get attention. As the 2016 presidential race heated up, Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS, admitted the Trump phenomenon “may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS”
Of course Facebook and Google want to ‘solve’ social problems. They’re hungry for our data
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/02/big-tech-social-remedies-public-ownership-facebook-google
'In the years to come, this will give the state a far stronger negotiating position on resources, both digital and physical, as well as on the practical applications of this potentially world-altering technology. It is absolutely essential that publicly powered technology is answerable to public power'
'In the years to come, this will give the state a far stronger negotiating position on resources, both digital and physical, as well as on the practical applications of this potentially world-altering technology. It is absolutely essential that publicly powered technology is answerable to public power'
Friday, November 29, 2019
'A very nice guy': how Godfrey Gao made it to the top
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/28/how-godfrey-gao-made-it-to-the-top
“Because of the success of the mainland Chinese film industry, they all decided to go back to Asia to start their career there,” says Dr Ruby Cheung, lecturer in film studies at Southampton University. “For Chinese, Taiwan or Hong Kong-born actors who have emigrated, there are more opportunities there for them to become really big. If they started out in Hollywood, they would have to work extremely hard to achieve the same level of stardom.”
“Because of the success of the mainland Chinese film industry, they all decided to go back to Asia to start their career there,” says Dr Ruby Cheung, lecturer in film studies at Southampton University. “For Chinese, Taiwan or Hong Kong-born actors who have emigrated, there are more opportunities there for them to become really big. If they started out in Hollywood, they would have to work extremely hard to achieve the same level of stardom.”
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Monday, November 25, 2019
Read Sacha Baron Cohen's scathing attack on Facebook in full: 'greatest propaganda machine in history'
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/22/sacha-baron-cohen-facebook-propaganda
In a speech, the actor argued that Facebook would have run ads by Hitler. Here are his remarks in full ~ The Guardian
In a speech, the actor argued that Facebook would have run ads by Hitler. Here are his remarks in full ~ The Guardian
Friday, September 13, 2019
How Turkish TV is taking over the world
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/13/turkish-tv-magnificent-century-dizi-taking-over-world
Shows such as Magnificent Century have come to rival US TV for international popularity, sweeping through the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. What explains their global success?
Shows such as Magnificent Century have come to rival US TV for international popularity, sweeping through the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. What explains their global success?
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Monday, March 4, 2019
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Friday, February 15, 2019
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Monday, February 4, 2019
Facebook turns 15
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2019/02/02/facebook-turns-15
Though it has just posted record quarterly profits, it seems unlikely that Americans are going to increase the time they spend on Facebook proper. Time on its core social network is declining, probably because users are questioning whether it is as enjoyable as it used to be. Adults in America spent 11.5% of their online time on Facebook’s main platform, a fifth less than two years earlier, according to Brian Wieser of Pivotal Research. Instagram use is rising, but not enough to make up for the core social network’s decline. As more people question whether social media are good for them, Facebook could loosen its grip on America. The relationship with Facebook continues, but the love affair is over.
Though it has just posted record quarterly profits, it seems unlikely that Americans are going to increase the time they spend on Facebook proper. Time on its core social network is declining, probably because users are questioning whether it is as enjoyable as it used to be. Adults in America spent 11.5% of their online time on Facebook’s main platform, a fifth less than two years earlier, according to Brian Wieser of Pivotal Research. Instagram use is rising, but not enough to make up for the core social network’s decline. As more people question whether social media are good for them, Facebook could loosen its grip on America. The relationship with Facebook continues, but the love affair is over.
Friday, February 1, 2019
Has Comcast bet against technology?
https://www.economist.com/business/2019/02/02/has-comcast-bet-against-technology
...Comcast-watchers worry about football. Sky has top-flight football rights, such as the Premier League in Britain, a huge draw for customers. But these are put up for sale every three years, and would become more expensive if a new competitor, like Amazon or Facebook, bid. Yet the tech giants have yet to show real interest in sports rights, and it may be years before they can reliably deliver live events to millions of viewers concurrently. Britain is short on high-speed fibre connections. Mr Darroch says if he tried to deliver Sky Sports entirely over Britain’s broadband infrastructure, “it would simply crash”.
...Comcast-watchers worry about football. Sky has top-flight football rights, such as the Premier League in Britain, a huge draw for customers. But these are put up for sale every three years, and would become more expensive if a new competitor, like Amazon or Facebook, bid. Yet the tech giants have yet to show real interest in sports rights, and it may be years before they can reliably deliver live events to millions of viewers concurrently. Britain is short on high-speed fibre connections. Mr Darroch says if he tried to deliver Sky Sports entirely over Britain’s broadband infrastructure, “it would simply crash”.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Monday, January 28, 2019
Friday, January 25, 2019
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Monday, January 14, 2019
Friday, January 11, 2019
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Monday, January 7, 2019
Disney goes back to the future
https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2019/01/05/disney-goes-back-to-the-future
“Cinderella” (2015) made $535m from a budget of $95m. “The Jungle Book” (2016) took $963m from $175m. The $300m marketing and production budget of “Beauty and the Beast” (2017), starring Emma Watson, Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor and Ian McKellen, made it the most expensive musical ever. Within ten days of its release it was the highest-grossing film of its genre, eventually making $1.2bn in ticket sales. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Disney has been the most profitable studio for the past four years, earning more than $7bn at the global box office in 2016 and 2018. Its share price has risen by more than 150% since 2012.
“Cinderella” (2015) made $535m from a budget of $95m. “The Jungle Book” (2016) took $963m from $175m. The $300m marketing and production budget of “Beauty and the Beast” (2017), starring Emma Watson, Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor and Ian McKellen, made it the most expensive musical ever. Within ten days of its release it was the highest-grossing film of its genre, eventually making $1.2bn in ticket sales. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Disney has been the most profitable studio for the past four years, earning more than $7bn at the global box office in 2016 and 2018. Its share price has risen by more than 150% since 2012.
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