Category Archives: Events In The Real World

The Death of Liberty – Internet V2?

I dint do nuffink guvnor.

I dint do nuffink guv'nor.

I found an extremely worrying article today from the New York Times  regarding ‘redesigning’ the internet.

The content of the article revolves around the flaws (in their eyes) of the existing Internet; security and anonymity.

While I’m sure there are many technical faults with the Internet itself, it was founded on altruism and a libertarian ethos which has directly contributed to its growth and popularity. This is what makes the Internet one of the most dynamic, and progressive things mankind collaboratively created for many years.

Some people feel differently however, and when comments like this appear-

“What a new Internet might look like is still widely debated, but one alternative would, in effect, create a “gated community” where users would give up their anonymity and certain freedoms in return for safety.”

-we should all be worried.

I’m sorry to say it but a large amount of this noise is emanating from the US, the base of many corporations who lose money on the Internet, and feel they are being robbed by its users. They still struggle to walk the line between remembering internet users are their customers, and treating them like career criminals (see the Pirate Bay trial which commenced today for more).

There is a fierce debate raging over the potential introduction of tiered services (vs neutrality – more from Google here) which would allows ISPs to restrict access to free content, and force users to pay for it. A move like this will only increase the level of piracy, as it completely contradicts the community spirit of the online community.

In the UK people are very reluctant to sacrifice their civil liberties for so called ’safety’ measures. Such a move is seen as a slippery slope toward an Orwellian future where content is controlled and we are constantly presumed guilty until proven innocent.

Tracking internet criminals is a problem, but it is not going to be resolved by asking for proof of ID before signing on, or digital monitoring. Identity theft will still be rife, and could easily be exploited to mask your true identity online, just as it is in real life now. In my opinion proposals of this nature are a knee jerk reaction from companies who see control of their marketplace slipping from their grasp, and who don’t like it. Rather than attempting to move with the times however and compete with online businesses fairly, they are seeking to regain control by restricting not only people’s freedom, but also the internet as a whole.

Microsoft Store – Is This A Good Idea?

The first of the new Microsoft stores

The first of the new Microsoft stores - maybe ;)

So Microsoft have decided to follow in the footsteps of Apple and launch a line of high street retail outlets for their products – but what many of us are probably thinking is, will this work?

Can you imagine a store full of this?

Considering the massive number of existing channels to market MS has, combined with the fact that they do not directly produce and sell a lot of their products suggests to me that this store could turn out to be just as confusing at the MS website. Seems simple on the surface, but try and find something and you’d better set aside several hours of your life…

If this is just a brand building exercise it seems even more ridiculous, MS is already a massive brand and in a time of economic recession why would you take on the extra cost of opening physical stores, when the majority of your sales are online (cheaper) and through partners/third parties (cheaper and easier).

Here’s a glimpse of the plan:

TOP SECRET - Do Not Show To Apple/Mac Fans

TOP SECRET - Do Not Show To Apple/Mac Fans

This whole idea just seems to be another ill founded attempt to do something, rather than addressing the real problem at Microsoft – Windows.

Real Blog Shocker

That’s right my ardent followers, I am actually going to sort out some hosting and turn this monstosity into a real blog. This will be roughly timetabled for the next two weeks, and then I will post something that is not complete drivel. Until then though  I’ll post whatever the hell I like. including pointless posts like this.

:P

New Year, New, er, Stuff…

I hope everyone had a ruddy good Christmas and a memorable new year – I got drunk and had a water fight, which I cannot remember.

Anyway, after not thinking about search, marketing or the internet for at least one day (the one where I was sleeping til 6pm) I am back on it.

Yay work!

Ah who I am kidding…

Bloom Media Charity Moustache-Off

My glorious employers, digital agency Bloom Media have decided to have a moustache off this Christmas – yay!

That means all the male Bloomers will be growing that face hair like crazy from today, up to the 19th of December, when it will be lovingly sculpted into a moustache.

As it’s the season of giving this is a sponsored event, so please head over to Just Giving and donate - all proceeds are going to St Gemma’s Hospice (Charity Registration No 1015941 ) – so instead of buying another packet of mince pies put that cash to good use!

As I still can’t grow a real man’s beard this should be interesting, keep your eye out towards Christmas for moustache photos here or on the Bloom Blog.

Internet Watch Foundation – Another Draconian Censorship Issue

Once again we have a case of heavyhanded uncalled for censorship, as the IWF cesors an album cover on Wikipedia, claiming it could be considered an indecent image.

The album cover in question is the ‘Virgin Killer’ by Scorpions:

In bad taste, maybe- but is this the first step to full internet censorhip?

In bad taste, maybe - but is it indecent?

While it’s certainly not the most beautiful cover I’ve ever seen, and is in fairly bad taste, does this cover warrant censorship?

What irks me about the action the IWF is that it is only a partial, tiny censorship – this album is available in shops selling cds and records across the world – I very much doubt the IWF will go to every HMV and put a little black sticker over every one. Aside from the fact that this album was released in 1976. That’s 32 years of uncontroversial existence and syndication – until now.

Wikipedia and potentially Amazon may have to permanently remove this image from their sites, which raises the ugly question – should we be told what we can and can’t see online? The IWF would do well to remember that the things which are unacceptable in society are also unacceptable on the internet – one old album cover is not going to flood the internet with child pornography.

The danger of censoring Wikipedia is that it is a macrocosmic version of what could happen to the whole internet – Wikipedia is a community resource, created and maintained by the community. If the community felt this image was unacceptable it would have been removed. What the IWF has done is break that model, and overrule the community.

This action is in danger of undermining theIWF as an objective body of appeal, as people will now feel they are there as the ‘internet police’ rather than a watchdog.

If they are allowed to do it here, where will it end?

So while you’re at it IWF I’ve got two more for you:

Here’s what the BBC have to say, and The Guardian.

P.S. Just had another thought, if the far reaching arm of the censors stretches out to me (i.e. if they want to force their opinion on everyone instead of crediting them with the mental maturity to decide themselves) I will let you know – equally if people feel the image is offensive then I will remove it in true democratic spirit.

SEO Makes You Hot

That’s right, you heard it here first. At of all things, an SEO and online marketing get together women were literally DESPERATE to talk to us, and maybe more. And here I was thinking you had to buy drinks, talk, generally have some charisma. How wrong I was…

So thanks Harrogate, and thanks to everyone who turned up on Friday. It was good to meet a few of the pictures I see around the internet everyday, so cheers!

P.S. Tom, Will, you are totally not hot.