Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Monday, November 7, 2016
Doctor Strange epitomizes the girlfriend problem in Hollywood superhero films
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/07/doctor-strange-female-characters-comic-book-films
It’s hard to criticize Morena Baccarin, who more than held her own with Ryan Reynolds’ scarred antihero for deadpan badinage and saucy bedroom oneupmanship. But once again a potentially intriguing female comic book player was downgraded to common or garden love-interest status. Perhaps Baccarin will get powered up in the sequel, as the film-makers have hinted, but don’t bet on it.
It’s hard to criticize Morena Baccarin, who more than held her own with Ryan Reynolds’ scarred antihero for deadpan badinage and saucy bedroom oneupmanship. But once again a potentially intriguing female comic book player was downgraded to common or garden love-interest status. Perhaps Baccarin will get powered up in the sequel, as the film-makers have hinted, but don’t bet on it.
The rise and rise of fake news
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37846860?SThisFB
"Recently we did a story about Hillary Clinton being fed the answers prior to the debate. There was already some low level chatter about that having happened - it was all fake - but that sort of headline gets into the right wing bubble and they run with it."
"Recently we did a story about Hillary Clinton being fed the answers prior to the debate. There was already some low level chatter about that having happened - it was all fake - but that sort of headline gets into the right wing bubble and they run with it."
Friday, November 4, 2016
Tech firms shell out to hire and hoard talent
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21709574-tech-firms-battle-hire-and-hoard-talented-employees-huge-pay-packages-silicon-valley
To maintain their grip on top employees, the tech giants use several tactics in addition to handing out stock. Some provide generous signing-on bonuses that can be clawed back if an employee leaves within three years. Amazon heavily weights stock grants to an employee’s third and fourth year with the company, as an incentive for them to stay and continue to work hard. Another common practice is to offer a “retention” bonus to make employees who are considering going elsewhere reconsider. Apple, Google and Facebook are rumoured to keep a list of companies they do not want to lose talent to, and supervisors are empowered to offer large bonuses to prevent people moving in that direction. A famous example of this occurred in 2011, when Neal Mohan, a senior Google executive, was considering leaving for Twitter. Some say he was offered a bonus of $100m in stock to stay at Google.
To maintain their grip on top employees, the tech giants use several tactics in addition to handing out stock. Some provide generous signing-on bonuses that can be clawed back if an employee leaves within three years. Amazon heavily weights stock grants to an employee’s third and fourth year with the company, as an incentive for them to stay and continue to work hard. Another common practice is to offer a “retention” bonus to make employees who are considering going elsewhere reconsider. Apple, Google and Facebook are rumoured to keep a list of companies they do not want to lose talent to, and supervisors are empowered to offer large bonuses to prevent people moving in that direction. A famous example of this occurred in 2011, when Neal Mohan, a senior Google executive, was considering leaving for Twitter. Some say he was offered a bonus of $100m in stock to stay at Google.
Digital advertisers battle over online privacy
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21709584-escalating-fight-over-users-data-and-targeted-ads-digital-advertisers-battle-over-online
For advertisers, the result is an increasingly lopsided industry. Any new restrictions on companies, such as Verizon, which are vying to expand their digital ad businesses, will bestow more power to the already mighty Google and Facebook, points out Brian Wieser of Pivotal Research Group. For consumers, the result is a muddle: limits for gathering data depend on the identity of the gatherer. “Nothing in these rules will stop edge-providers from harvesting and monetising your data, whether it’s the websites you visit or the YouTube videos you watch or the e-mails you send,” declares Ajit Pai, an FCC commissioner who voted against the order.
For advertisers, the result is an increasingly lopsided industry. Any new restrictions on companies, such as Verizon, which are vying to expand their digital ad businesses, will bestow more power to the already mighty Google and Facebook, points out Brian Wieser of Pivotal Research Group. For consumers, the result is a muddle: limits for gathering data depend on the identity of the gatherer. “Nothing in these rules will stop edge-providers from harvesting and monetising your data, whether it’s the websites you visit or the YouTube videos you watch or the e-mails you send,” declares Ajit Pai, an FCC commissioner who voted against the order.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Russian media's love affair with Trump
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37837432?SThisFB
If you were to base your view of the US election solely on pro-Kremlin newspapers and state TV, you might easily conclude that the election is rigged, that the result almost certainly will be contested and that America faces a prolonged period of post-election chaos.
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-10-31/why-bettors-take-a-flier-on-trump
There are good reasons to ignore each of these predictions. Big-data analysis is a young discipline, and the methods are still relatively untested. All the models based on economic performance and the previous administration’s performance could be unreliable in this year’s race because it is so intensely personalized and scandal-ridden. Besides, these models do not boast perfect historical accuracy.
If you were to base your view of the US election solely on pro-Kremlin newspapers and state TV, you might easily conclude that the election is rigged, that the result almost certainly will be contested and that America faces a prolonged period of post-election chaos.
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-10-31/why-bettors-take-a-flier-on-trump
There are good reasons to ignore each of these predictions. Big-data analysis is a young discipline, and the methods are still relatively untested. All the models based on economic performance and the previous administration’s performance could be unreliable in this year’s race because it is so intensely personalized and scandal-ridden. Besides, these models do not boast perfect historical accuracy.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Monday, October 31, 2016
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Vine-al countdown: fans share favourite Vines before app shuts down
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/30/vine-al-countdown-fans-share-favourite-vines-before-app-shuts-down
Users of the platform remind us what we stand to lose when this weird and wonderful corner of the internet ceases to exist
Users of the platform remind us what we stand to lose when this weird and wonderful corner of the internet ceases to exist
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Meet the super-agent behind Pogba and Ibrahimovic ~ Simon Kuper
https://www.ft.com/content/548155cc-9bcf-11e6-b8c6-568a43813464
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This chubby, bespectacled little Dutch-Italian is arguably the world’s most influential football agent. It’s no coincidence that Manchester United this summer signed three of his clients: Paul Pogba (for a world record transfer fee of £89.3m), Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Raiola’s select stable also includes Mario Balotelli, the great unfulfilled talent of the current generation. Like Raiola or hate him (as Sir Alex Ferguson does), he helps shape the transfer market. He is one of the major forces determining which players end up at which clubs.
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This chubby, bespectacled little Dutch-Italian is arguably the world’s most influential football agent. It’s no coincidence that Manchester United this summer signed three of his clients: Paul Pogba (for a world record transfer fee of £89.3m), Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Raiola’s select stable also includes Mario Balotelli, the great unfulfilled talent of the current generation. Like Raiola or hate him (as Sir Alex Ferguson does), he helps shape the transfer market. He is one of the major forces determining which players end up at which clubs.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Angela Merkel: internet search engines are 'distorting perception'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/27/angela-merkel-internet-search-engines-are-distorting-our-perception
A lack of transparency about algorithms is endangering debate, German chancellor tells media conference
A lack of transparency about algorithms is endangering debate, German chancellor tells media conference
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